Our Sustainability Journey

Our Sustainability Journey

At Page & Small Opticians, sustainability isn't just something we talk about — it’s something we live and work towards every day.

Our journey began when Abi wrote an article for Dispensing Optics magazine, asking a simple but powerful question:
"How green are we, really, in optics?"
That conversation quickly grew into something much bigger. Abi became part of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians' Sustainability Working Group, helping to create the SEE (Sustainability, Ethical, Environmental) Hub, develop the industry's first sustainability self-assessment tool, and launch the SEE Roundtable and Summit — a project we're incredibly proud to have been involved in.

Closer to home, it inspired us to look at how we could be more sustainable within our own practice.

We’re proud to say that in 2022, we were finalists for the SightCare Sustainable Practice of the Year Award — a recognition that means a lot to our small team, even though we didn’t take home the trophy. Being part of a growing movement for positive change is what really matters to us.

What we’re doing (and always working on):

Reducing waste: We moved to a fully paperless clinical records system in 2020. We also minimise printing, favour digital communications, and encourage our suppliers to cut down on unnecessary single-use packaging.
Repairing and reusing: We offer repairs for glasses wherever possible — because reusing is always better than replacing. We encourage patients to keep their existing cases unless they genuinely need a new one.
We also have a clear frame reglaze policy, helping patients make informed decisions about reusing their frames.
Recycling: We run a recycling scheme for old glasses and demo lenses (the clear plastic lenses placed in frames before glazing). We also collect contact lenses and their packaging for recycling through TerraCycle, and we're setting up improved recycling points in-practice for harder-to-recycle items like pens, batteries, crisp packets and more.
Energy and water saving: We've already upgraded to energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the practice and continue to find ways to reduce our energy and water use. Later this year, as we expand into our second consulting room, we’ll be making further improvements to boost our sustainability even more.
Choosing better suppliers: We actively support frame and lens suppliers who are taking steps toward sustainable manufacturing, including using recycled or eco-friendly materials.
Inspiring small changes: From using reusable cups, offering refills on lens cleaner, and finding ways to reduce everyday waste, we believe that small everyday actions can add up to real change.

Looking ahead

We know we’re not perfect — but we are passionate.
Being greener is a journey, not a destination. Every small step we take, every conversation we have, moves us closer to the kind of future we want for our patients, our community, and our planet.

If you’d like to know more about what we’re doing or have ideas you'd like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you.

If you are interested in reading Abi's article, you can do so here.