Are you not willing to compromise style to go green? Now thanks to Zeal you don’t have to. The Ace by Zeal are super stylish sunglasses produced from 100% US-grown cotton. I couldn’t believe that not only are these made from cotton, they are also biodegradable. I thought it was such a cool concept, but was a little bit curious to experience what the sunglasses would feel like in my hand.
I was not at all expecting a “normal” pair of sunglasses. I was expecting something really light, kind of flimsy, and not very durable. I was wrong in every regard! The Ace’s are extremely durable, clean, and very stout feeling in my hand. It really is mind boggling that they are produced from cotton.
The frame, which is produced from cotton, is called M49 material. Zeal’s explanation is way more comprehensive than any explanation I could give: “M49 is a natural material produced from cotton and wood pulp fibers and manufactured solely with renewable resources. It keeps all the performance characteristics of traditions acetates and is free of toxic substances used in most plastics” (www.zealoptics.com). This frame material will begin to biodegrade after 18 months if left in water or soil.
Between hiking, rafting, skiing, or any other outdoor activity, I would have to guess that about 90% of outdoor enthusiasts have at one point or another, lost a pair of sunglasses while doing something outside. While it would be extremely disappointing to lose a pair of Zeal Ace’s, I would at least know I’m not littering.
The E-llume lens is also a plastic-based lens although they look and feel like a normal lens. Between the polarized protection and color enhancers, the lens on the Ace is a great lens for variable light conditions throughout the day. There is also added impact resistance built into the lens, which is an incredible feature to have. It really works too! These sunglasses have fallen off my head, my motorcycle (many times), and from my shirt collar many many times. They still look good as new, including the lenses, which are unscathed.
The Ace by Zeal have become my daily sunglasses. From skiing to motorcycling through Baja, they are comfortable, extremely stylish, and very durable. I hope I never have to take advantage of their biodegradable qualities, because I would be very sad to give these up!
