THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

IS MAKING ITS WAY INTO PPE

Every year, millions of safety glasses are used in industries, laboratories, workshops, and logistics platforms. Yet once they reach the end of their life cycle, the vast majority still ends up in general waste.

This is paradoxical when we know that these products contain materials that can be recycled and recovered.

So why are safety glasses still among the forgotten products of the circular economy?

AN UNDERESTIMATED PARADOX

Today, the circular economy is progressing across many industrial sectors. Companies are looking to reduce waste, extend product lifespans, and develop more responsible recovery solutions. However, personal protective equipment (PPE) is still too often left out of this transition.

Fewer than 4,000 pairs of safety glasses were collected in France in 2025 by Eco’Logic Recyclage.

This volume remains extremely low compared with the millions of PPE products used every year. By comparison, safety footwear and high-visibility clothing are already more widely integrated into collection and recycling channels.

Why are so few safety glasses recycled?

In many companies, used safety glasses are still disposed of with general waste. There are several reasons for this: lack of information, absence of clearly identified processes, and difficulty identifying locally available solutions.

Yet recycling channels already exist. The real challenge is no longer the absence of solutions, but their large-scale adoption.

Designing for Circularity from the Start

At Bollé Safety, we believe that the performance of PPE should no longer end with its use. Its end-of-life must now be fully integrated into its design.

That is why we are working to develop safety glasses that are easier to disassemble, simplifying material separation and recycling through specialized recycling channels. Anticipating product end-of-life from the design stage is an essential step toward reducing environmental impact.

Did you know?

Some safety glasses can be disassembled to facilitate material sorting and recovery.

Recycling solutions already exist

However, manufacturers’ commitment alone is not enough. To accelerate the transition toward more circular PPE, companies must also have access to simple and practical solutions.

With this in mind, Bollé Safety has conducted an inventory of PPE recycling solutions available worldwide. This overview highlights the existence of numerous programs led by distributors, specialized recyclers, and international organizations.

Find a recycling solution near you

View the Bollé Safety inventory of recycling solutions

Focus: Eco’Logic Recyclage

Among the leading players in France, Eco’Logic Recyclage handles various types of PPE, including safety glasses. The collected products are sorted and then transformed into plastic pellets reused in the manufacturing of new products, such as office furniture.

Eco’Logic also provides a traceability tool enabling companies to monitor collected volumes and estimate the CO₂ emission savings generated by their recycling efforts. A practical way to measure the positive impact of recycling.

How to implement PPE Recycling?

Identify PPE waste streams within the company
Choose a suitable collection partner
Install dedicated collection bins
Raise employee awareness
Monitor and measure environmental results

Towards a new generation of PPE

Tomorrow, the recyclability of PPE could become just as important as comfort, performance, or durability. Companies that anticipate this transition today are actively contributing to a more responsible and circular industry.

The solutions already exist. What remains now is to adopt them on a large scale.

Disclaimer: the recycling solutions inventory provided by Bollé Safety may evolve over time and does not claim to be exhaustive. The services and scope of the organizations mentioned may change. It is recommended to verify conditions directly with the relevant organizations.

PRODOTTI ECO-PROGETTATI

con >20% di materiale riciclato o a base biologica