The initiative forms part of Specsavers’ national roll-out of recycling boxes across all UK stores, supporting the business’s ambition to reduce waste and work towards becoming a climate-positive business.
Delivered in partnership with recycling and waste management company MyGroup, the scheme ensures hard-to-recycle plastics that might otherwise end up in landfill are separated, sorted and repurposed into new materials for products such as joinery boards and furniture.
In 2025, Specsavers and MyGroup recycled 72 tonnes of material, equivalent to the weight of a mature blue whale. The amount, collected from 659 stores and labs, represented an increase of almost five tonnes compared with the previous year.
Head of Sustainability for the UK and Ireland, Helen Curran, says:
“At Specsavers, we believe that sustainability must show up in our everyday operations.
“Investing in customer recycling in every one of our UK stores is exactly that: a practical, tangible step that keeps valuable materials in circulation and makes it genuinely easy for our customers to be part of the solution.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact of the increased rollout in the years ahead.”
The expansion of the scheme means a further 300 stores now offer recycling facilities and marks the latest milestone in the initiative, which began in 2022.
Sarah Thomas, optometrist director at Specsavers Gorseinon, adds:
“As a business serving the Gorseinon community, we’re always looking for ways to have a positive impact beyond eye and hearing care. We’re proud to introduce this initiative locally and hope customers will support it by bringing unwanted items into the store during their visits.’
Gorseinon residents wishing to donate old glasses can visit the store seven days a week.
To find out more information about Specsavers in Gorseinon, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/gorseinon.
Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.
