Tortoiseshell-patterned sunglasses with dark rectangular lenses and slim arms featuring subtle metallic accents.

May 26, 2021

Safilo produces first branded glasses made from Evonik's sustainable transparent polyamide TROGAMID® myCX eCO

Safilo, a leading Italian global eyewear design, manufacturing, and distribution company, will be the first eyewear manufacturer to introduce TROGAMID® myCX eCO, a sustainable transparent polyamide optimized specifically for the optical industry and introduced by Evonik Industries

  • CO2 footprint reduced by 50%
  • High quality confirmed for branded products
  • Expansion of long-standing partnership

Essen/Marl. Safilo, a leading Italian global eyewear design, manufacturing, and distribution company, will be the first eyewear manufacturer to introduce TROGAMID® myCX eCO, a sustainable transparent polyamide optimized specifically for the optical industry and introduced by Evonik Industries in March, in the licensed market for premium lenses for sunglasses. The high-performance polyamide is produced partly from a bio-based monomer and entirely with renewable energy, reducing its carbon footprint by 50 percent.

Long-term Partnership

"This innovative transparent polyamide will enable Safilo to increase the sustainability of its products across its broad portfolio of brands," explains Vladimiro Baldin, Chief Licensed Brand and Global Product Officer at Safilo Group. "We have been working closely with Evonik's developers for 20 years. We are pleased that for Evonik, just like for Safilo, sustainability is an integral part of the business philosophy and that the company provides us with this material as another building block on our path to sustainability." Safilo will launch eyeglass lenses made of TROGAMID® myCX eCO in January 2022 with the BOSS Spring Summer 22 collection and gradually expand its use across its broad brand portfolio, especially in its Made in Italy brands.

"It was particularly important for us to offer a premium manufacturer like Safilo a sustainable polyamide whose properties differ in nothing from those of the TROGAMID® myCX they already use," says Viviane Papa, who is responsible for Evonik’s high-performance polyamides granules and compounds business. "We are working in many areas to make our products sustainable, but their quality must not suffer in the process. Premium lenses or high-quality visors for ski and snowboard goggles made of TROGAMID® myCX eCO stand for long durability and high safety, as well as excellent wearing comfort due to the low material weight." The material offers transparency of more than 90 percent, excellent mechanical properties, stress crack resistance, and fracture strength.

Customized Plastic Materials

TROGAMID® myCX eCO is a high-purity microcrystalline high-performance polyamide specially optimized for the optics industry. The name eCO stands for "eliminate CO2". On the one hand, this is achieved by replacing a petrochemical-based raw material with a biomass-based one. In the mass balance, this results in a proportion of 40 percent biobased raw material in the polymer. Secondly, only renewable energy is used in the production of the granules. This and the resulting halving of the carbon balance compared with the fossil-based product are confirmed by a certification from TÜV Rheinland. The analysis was prepared in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and includes the Cradle to Gate stage.


TROGAMID® stands for a product family of transparent polyamides that have been successfully used in the optical industry for over 20 years. The portfolio includes innovative high-performance plastics for lenses and frames as well as other materials, for example for UV protection or pole films for high-contrast vision.

Evonik: Leading beyond chemistry

Evonik goes beyond the boundaries of chemistry with its combination of innovative strength and leading technological expertise. The global chemical company, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is active in more than 100 countries and generated sales of €14.1 billion and earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.9 billion in 2025. The common motivation of the approximately 31,000 employees: to provide customers with a decisive competitive advantage with tailor-made products and solutions as a superforce for industry, thereby improving people's lives. In all markets. Every day.

About Advanced Technologies

The Advanced Technologies segment includes Evonik’s market-leading businesses that leverage technological expertise and process know-how. These businesses feature high-performance polymers and crosslinking agents, hydrogen peroxide and silica, as well as feed ingredients. In 2025, the segment generated sales of €5.9 billion with around 9,200 employees.

About Safilo Group

Established in 1934 in Italy’s Veneto region, Safilo Group is one of the eyewear industry’s principal players in the design, manufacturing and distribution of optical frames, sunglasses, sports eyewear, goggles and helmets. The Group designs and manufactures its collections by blending stylistic, technical and industrial innovation with quality and skillful craftsmanship. With an extensive global presence, Safilo’s business model enables it to monitor its entire production and distribution chain. From research and development in five prestigious design studios, located in Padua, Milan, New York, Hong Kong and Portland, to its company-owned production facilities and network of qualified manufacturing partners, Safilo Group ensures that every product offers the perfect fit and meets the highest quality standards. Reaching approximately 100,000 selected points of sale worldwide with an extensive wholly owned network of subsidiaries in 40 countries and more than 50 partners in 70 countries, Safilo’s well-established traditional wholesale distribution model, which encompasses eyecare retailers, chains, department stores, specialized retailers, boutiques, duty free shops and sporting goods stores, is complemented by Direct-to-Consumer and Internet pure player sales platforms, in line with the Group’s development strategies.

Safilo Group’s portfolio encompasses own core brands: Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Safilo, Blenders, Privé Revaux and Seventh Street. Licensed brands include: Banana Republic, BOSS, David Beckham, Elie Saab, Fendi, Fossil, Givenchy, havaianas, HUGO, Isabel Marant, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, kate spade new york, Levi’s, Liz Claiborne, Love Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, M Missoni, Moschino, Pierre Cardin, PORTS, rag&bone, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Jeans and Under Armour.

The parent company, Safilo Group S.p.A., is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (“MTA”) organized and managed by Borsa Italiana (ISIN code IT0004604762, Bloomberg SFL.IM, Reuters SFLG.MI). In 2020, Safilo Group recorded net revenues for Euro 780.3 million.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.