Bausch + Lomb Reports More Than 84 Million Units of Contact Lenses, Lens Care and Eye Care Materials Collected Through Innovative Recycling Programs

Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO), a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, today announced its ONE by ONE and Biotrue® Eye Care Recycling programs have collected 84,343,540 units, or 510,116 pounds, of used contact lenses, eye care and lens care materials in the U.S., which is greater than the weight of the Statue of Liberty.1

“Eye care professionals, patients and consumers have helped us collect hundreds of millions of these used materials through our recycling programs over the years, making a positive impact in the world. In conjunction with our other sustainable business practices, we continue to do all we can to help reduce waste and promote environmental responsibility throughout our organization,” said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability, Bausch + Lomb.

Contact lenses, eye care and lens care materials are typically not processed in standard recycling facilities due to their small size and the type of plastic used to manufacture them. As a result, these materials are frequently diverted to landfills or make their way to waterways where they break down into microplastics and threaten aquatic animals and their environments. In the U.S., an estimated six to ten metric tons of contact lens packaging waste ends up in wastewater each year. Eye health packaging materials collected through the Bausch + Lomb recycling programs are used to create various post-consumer products like picnic tables and benches.

“The Bausch + Lomb recycling programs are an important part of our practice’s efforts to reduce waste and practice sustainability,” said Jennifer Tsai, OD, LINE OF SIGHT, New York. “It's gratifying to know that the materials we collect in partnership with our patients are repurposed rather than ending up in a landfill or ocean."

The ONE by ONE Recycling program has collected nearly 84 million used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since the program’s launch in November 2016. The Biotrue Eye Care Recycling program, which launched in April 2021, has collected nearly 825,000 eye drop single dose units, lens cases, lens solution caps, as well as all Biotrue-branded eye drop bottles2. In addition to the U.S., Bausch + Lomb has a similar contact lens recycling program in Canada called Every Contact Counts.

Bausch + Lomb is committed to implementing, maintaining and enhancing sustainable business practices that support customers, consumers, eye care professionals, patients, employees and communities around the world. Its impact initiatives are measured against several key environmental metrics called “FEWW” - fuel, energy, water and waste. Each Bausch + Lomb facility has annualized goals against these metrics to harness new opportunities and evolve in a sustainable way as it continues its mission of helping people see better to live better. Visit www.bausch.com/impact for more information.

About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program

The Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling program is the first and only contact lens recycling program in the United States. This program collects used contact lenses, top foils and opened plastic blister packs from any brand and is available to contact lens wearers and eye care professionals. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these practices, which collect the used materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the eye care practice ships the materials using a Bausch + Lomb pre-paid shipping label to TerraCycle® where lenses are cleaned and melted into hard plastic pellets that can be used to make new recycled products. To learn more about the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com.

About the Biotrue Eye Care Recycling Program

The Bausch + Lomb Biotrue Eye Care Recycling program is the first and only eye care and lens care recycling program in the United States. This program allows consumers who participate to properly recycle all brands of eye drop single dose units, lens cases and lens solution caps, as well as all Biotrue-branded eye drop bottles. Once consumers collect these items, they can be mailed to TerraCycle using a pre-paid shipping label. When the waste arrives at the TerraCycle facility, it is cleaned and melted into hard plastic pellets that can be used to make new recycled products. To learn more about the Biotrue Eye Care Recycling program, visit www.biotrue.com/terracycle/.

About Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world – from birth through every phase of life. Its comprehensive portfolio of approximately 400 products includes contact lenses, lens care products, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Founded in 1853, Bausch + Lomb has a significant global research and development, manufacturing and commercial footprint with approximately 13,000 employees and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Bausch + Lomb is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario with corporate offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.bausch.com and connect with us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

References

1. All About Lady Liberty: The Statue of Liberty. Accessed on April 12, 2024. https://www.royalcoachman.com/blog/all-about-lady-liberty-the-statue-of-liberty/#:~:text=Total%20weight%20of%20the%20Statue,tons%20(or%20450%2C000%20pounds).

2. Contact lens solution bottles are recyclable through standard recycling.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240418353518/en/

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