Eastman Chemical’s Acetate Renew Powers Sustainable Luxury Eyewear Frames

Eastman Chemical Company of Kingsport, Tennessee, is supplying its Acetate Renew—a high‑performance cellulose diacetate that blends 60 % biobased feedstock with 40 % certified recycled content—to Italy’s Mazzucchelli 1849. Mazzucchelli, a global leader in premium cellulose acetate sheet manufacturing and distribution, has long been trusted by top eyewear brands.

Produced via Eastman’s carbon‑renewal chemical recycling technology, Acetate Renew delivers the same performance as virgin material while substantially cutting greenhouse‑gas emissions compared with conventional acetate manufacturing. It also incorporates recycled acetate scrap from eyewear production, further closing the loop.

In a joint effort, Mazzucchelli, Eastman, and luxury eyewear house Thelios have teamed up to accelerate sustainable innovation in the industry. “Sustainability is now a business imperative,” says Thelios R&D director Carlo Roni. “By partnering with world‑class players—Mazzucchelli for acetate transformation and Eastman for molecular recycling—we are developing new sustainable materials that we hope will set a new standard.”

Mazzucchelli’s portfolio spans a wide range of polymeric materials, catering to markets from spectacles and sunglasses to fashion accessories, interior décor, and design objects. The brand’s technical offerings are also prized in safety, sports, and automotive sectors.

Together, the three companies are working on acetate frames that are far more sustainable than current options. They are testing a suite of eco‑responsible formulas that combine certified recycled content with bio‑sourced materials. Built on Acetate Renew, these new formulations will match the technical performance and aesthetic appeal of traditional acetates while delivering a lower environmental footprint. The first collection of these pioneering frames is slated for launch by Thelios in 2022.