Acetate is a transparent material used mainly in the printing industry as the main material for photographic film.
It is also one of the most widely used materials in the production of eyewear and is very different from plastic. At first glance there is no big difference between the two materials but their production and impact are not at all the same.
Acetate is made from natural raw materials, such as cotton or wood fibers, which are harvested, dried and ground into a soft powder that is then mixed with some type of acetic acid to become granules. This is where we come across the difference between acetate and bio acetate. Acetate is usually mixed with oils or plasticizers made from chemicals, while bio acetate is mixed with bio-based plasticizers from renewable sources or bio polymers. This also makes it a hypoallergenic material, it has a low risk of producing allergic reactions. In Parafina, we combine bio acetate (present in the frame of HURACÁN II, TIFÓN II and TORNADO) with recycled aluminium for the temples.
This aluminium is extracted from soft drink cans, for example, obtained from uncontrolled landfills with which we have agreements to provide us with this waste.
We then take it to our factory, where the aluminium is melted at a high temperature, which allows it to be separated from other elements, such as paint or dirt.
The molten aluminium is stored in ingots which are then crushed to create aluminium plates of great flexibility and strength, resulting in glasses that are very stable and durable over time.
Therefore, when comparing bio acetate with other non-ecological materials, we must take into account that these frames are sustainably manufactured, environmentally friendly, resistant and of high quality. Can you ask for anything more from a pair of sunglasses?
