Eyecare professionals tackling climate change are to be honoured at a major new awards ceremony, sponsored by Optical Express.
The Eyes on the World Environmental Awards will celebrate the actions ophthalmologists, optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical advisors, optical practices and universities across the UK are taking to reduce their environmental impact. Awards will be presented to “exceptional eyecare professionals and organisations who are judged to be making real changes to how they practice, whether that be cutting down on plastic waste or reducing their carbon footprint”.
Iconic figures from the world of education, the arts, sports, medicine and philanthropy – united by a shared passion for protecting the environment – will join some of the world’s best known environmentalists in honouring the eyecare professionals’ contributions.
Applications for the awards will be open to all eyecare professionals, optical practices and university vision sciences departments making efforts to go green. Entrants will be judged by a panel of preeminent environmentalists and climate change experts. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in November during the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow.
Further information on the categories, ambassadors and how to apply will be announced in the spring.
Optical Express founder and CEO, David Moulsdale, said: “Eyecare professionals across the globe are doing inspirational work for their patients and our planet. Whether you’re cleaning beaches, cutting down on single use plastic waste, or going the extra mile to educate your patients on the environmental impact of vision correction solutions and eyecare treatments, Optical Express wants to recognise and support your efforts.”
Optical Express has already instigated a number of environmental drives in its own clinics – from cutting emissions in clinics to cleaning plastic off local beaches.
The company said it was now on track to be the first global ophthalmic business to be carbon negative by 2030, adding that it wanted 2020 to be the year the whole UK eye sector joins them in going green.