Thélios, Mazzucchelli 1849 and Eastman join forces to push forward sustainable innovation in the eyewear industry

LONGARONE / CASTIGLIONE OLONA (Italy) / KINGSPORT (USA),

Thélios, the eyewear expert of world leader in luxury LVMH, today announces they are joining forces with leading acetate-sheet manufacturer Mazzucchelli 1849 and with specialty materials provider Eastman – a pioneer in molecular recycling – to push forward sustainable innovation in the eyewear industry.

Carlo Roni, R&D Director of Thélios declared, "Sustainability has become a business imperative. We have chosen to team up with the best in class players - Mazzucchelli for acetate transformation and Eastman for molecular recycling - to work jointly on the development of new sustainable materials, which we hope will drive change in our industry."

The three entities, who are each committed to excellence in innovation in their respective fields, are working jointly on the release of acetate eyewear frames which will be significantly more sustainable than the current offer.

"This project is part of a sustainability path that Mazzucchelli has been pursuing for several years. We believe in sustainability and we are proud to be part of this virtuous cycle together with Eastman and Thélios," declared Giovanni Orsi Mazzucchelli, Chairman and shareholder of Mazzucchelli 1849. "It is thanks to the commitment of each individual player that it will be possible to achieve a full sustainable transformation of the eyewear industry."

With the aim to limit the environmental impact of acetate frames to a minimum, the partners are jointly exploring a series of eco-responsible formulas, using certified recycled content* and bio-sourced materials.

Based on Eastman Acetate Renew, these new formulas will match both the technical and aesthetic qualities of traditional acetates, while being highly sustainable.

The first collections composed of these innovative acetates are planned to be released by Thélios in 2022.

*Via its Advanced Circular Recycling technologies, Eastman produces circular products that are certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) by mass balance allocation.

About Thélios

The name "Thélios" is the synthesis of the names of the Greek gods Theia, goddess of light and sight, and Helios, god of the sun. Born from the will of LVMH Group, world leader in luxury, to establish itself in the eyewear sector, Thélios designs, produces and distributes sunglasses and optical frames for some of its most prestigious Maisons: Dior, Celine, Loewe, Stella McCartney, Kenzo, Fenty, Fred, Berluti and Rimowa. With its Manifattura, located in Longarone, Italy, Thélios blends the distinct identity of each Maison with Italian craftsmanship to create exceptional luxury eyewear. Thélios offers its own "enlightened look" on the sector, providing the highest level of quality and excellence both in its products and service.

About Mazzucchelli 1849

Mazzucchelli 1849 is a worldwide leader in the manufacture and distribution of Cellulose Acetate products for the eyewear industry. Thanks to its technologies, nowadays it processes a wide range of polymeric materials. Mazzucchelli products are aimed at markets ranging from spectacles, sunglasses and fashion accessories, to interior decoration and design objects, where the quality and aesthetical values are greatly appreciated. The products with technical qualities are valued by safety, sports and automotive industries. Mazzucchelli has strong values based on product innovation, direct contact with the customer and strength of the brand. Constant innovation has led to improvements in the manufacturing process, promoting the handcrafted work of highly skilled workers and turning Mazzucchelli 1849 into a prestigious representative of Made in Italy and a key leader for the whole optical market.

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