Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo) announced the development of a new technology that chemically recycles shavings and waste lenses generated from the production and processing of the company’s MR-brand ophthalmic lens materials so that they may be repurposed into MR ophthalmic lens materials. The company has also launched efforts toward the practical implementation of this technology.
Ophthalmic lenses go through various processes on their way to becoming final products, including lens molding by the lens manufacturer, prescription processing, surfacing, edging, and fitting into frames at retail stores. Currently most of the lens swarf and waste lenses generated through out these processes are simply discarded.
The chemical recycling scheme for MR ophthalmic lens materials (Source: Mitsui Chemical)
With this new effort, Mitsui Chemicals aims to recover the lens swarf and waste lenses to subject them to chemical recycling utilizing the company’s new technology. This new technology allows the materials to then be reused for MR ophthalmic lens materials while maintaining the highest quality standards. This requires high levels of transparency, strength and more. Mitsui Chemicals aims to achieve a circular economy by building a business model that spans the entire ophthalmic lens value chain.
As a manufacturer of ophthalmic lens materials, Mitsui Chemicals provides lens manufacturers worldwide with numerous products, including the MR series of high-refractive-index lens materials.