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Coral conservation collaboration
By: Communications
A sustainable eyewear business set-up by a UEA student has launched a new pair of sunglasses to celebrate World Ocean’s Day (8 June), with profits going to the Marine Conservation Society.
Coral eyewear, a start-up which makes glasses and sunglasses from abandoned fishing nets is collaborating with the charity and is offering UEA staff and students an exclusive 20% discount.
George Bailey who studies Philosophy, Politics and Economics at UEA first started Coral Eyewear in 2019 with the help of UEA’s Student Enterprise Service and investment from the University’s ‘Scale It’ award of £50,000. Broadcaster Jake Humphrey has also backed the business after being inspired by George’s vision.
George has recently been accepted onto a brand new ‘Year in Enterprise’ course pioneered by the School of Economics which allows him to focus on his business full-time for the next 12 months. This is the first-of-its-kind at UEA and is different to the well-established ‘Year in Industry’ courses where students often work for large corporations.
The Marine Conservation Society campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection of marine life. 600,000 tonnes of fishing nets are thought to be abandoned in our oceans every year, taking up to 600 years to break down. During this time, tiny fragments called micro plastics are ingested by animals and World Animal Protection estimates just one abandoned net entangles 30-40 marine animals per year.
The sunglasses are bright blue in the popular ‘Hector’ design and manufactured with ECONYL® which is made with harmful nylon waste such as fishing nets and fabric scraps.
Anne Thwaites of the Marine Conservation Society said: “We are delighted to be in partnership with Coral Eyewear who are supporting our vital work towards our vision of a cleaner, better protected, healthier ocean. When using recycled materials, it's important we think circularly and the design of these frames does just that. Plus, they look great!”
George Bailey, UEA student and Co-founder at Coral Eyewear, said: "The Marine Conservation Society have been a leading voice in protecting our ocean for decades and I'm proud that this partnership will help to strengthen our collective fight against ocean pollution."
The frames are available for £149, with additional prescription lenses also available. As well as funding the collection of waste via the ECONYL® regeneration programme, £25 from each sale will go directly to the Marine Conservation Society.
UEA staff and students are able to get 20% off these and any of the brand’s other sunglasses by using the code ‘UEA20’.
To learn more about Coral Eyewear, visit their website.
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