AUCKLAND, Today: Got old specs stuffed in a drawer or empty contact lens packs piling up? You might be one of the 81% of Kiwis unknowingly gloarding*.
New research from Specsavers shows New Zealanders are collectively holding onto 5.25 million pairs of old prescription glasses** and 660,000 empty blister packs. End to end, that’s further than the distance from Auckland to Christchurch*** — a massive environmental problem.
To tackle the issue, Specsavers has partnered with Opticycle to roll out a full end-to-end recycling solution across Aotearoa, helping Kiwis declutter while keeping hard-to-recycle optical waste out of landfill.
To unpack the habit, Specsavers teamed up with Professional Organiser Kristina Duke from Decluttering Diva. Kristina says, “Physical clutter isn’t just a visual nuisance; it significantly contributes to our mental load, creating subconscious stress and distraction.”
“By making it easy to recycle old eyewear, we’re helping people declutter their homes while protecting our planet. It’s a win-win for the environment and for personal peace of mind.” – Cathy Rennie Matos, Specsavers ANZ Head of Sustainability
“Many of us hold onto old glasses – often as a backup pair or simply because we don’t know what to do with them. This gloarding behaviour can weigh us down.
“Specsavers’ new recycling program provides a perfect opportunity for a home reset, allowing you to declutter your space and mind, knowing your old clutter is being responsibly transformed into new resources.”
Over half of Kiwis (59%) didn’t know old glasses could be recycled, and 69% were unaware that blister packs can be recycled too.
Specsavers ANZ Head of Sustainability Cathy Rennie Matos says, “This initiative is a cornerstone of Specsavers’ broader commitment to positive social and environmental impact.
“By making it easy to recycle old eyewear, we’re helping people declutter their homes while protecting our planet. It’s a win-win for the environment and for personal peace of mind.”
* Adults aged 18 or above currently have at least one ‘old’ pair of prescription glasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, or empty contact-lens blister packs, even if they no longer use them regularly.
** Adults aged 18 or above who wear prescription glasses who report having at least one pair of old glasses (including prescription ones) in their homes.
*** When laid end-to-end, 5.25 million pairs of old eyeglasses (average pair of eyeglasses, when laid flat is about 15 cm (0.15 meters) and 660,000 empty contact lens blister packs (approximately 0.04 meters per pack) would stretch for an estimated 813.9 kilometres. The distance from Auckland to Christchurch is approximately 745 kilometres.
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