Safilo has partnered with Coventya – a specialist in the development of chemicals for surface finishing treatments – as the group aims to enhance its sustainability credentials and drive product innovation.
Safilo said it will be the first company in the eyewear sector to use Metal X, a new Coventya solution aimed at reducing the use of precious metals in the production of optical frames and sunglasses by -90%.
According to Safilo, Metal X will enable the company to significantly reduce the use and consumption of palladium, an extremely precious and rare metal due to its natural scarcity.
“The use of Metal X will help contribute to reducing exploitation of the ground for the sourcing of precious metals leading to a lower production impact in terms of environmental sustainability,” Safilo said in a statement to The Moodie Davitt Report.
Metal X will feature in Safilo’s eyewear collections produced in Italy from its August 2021 release.
Safilo noted that the use of Metal X in production processes represents a further step forward in its sustainable production processes, initiated in recent years with nickel-free galvanic treatments.
Safilo Group Chief Product Supply Officer Fabio Roppoli said: “The partnership with Coventya is particularly strategic for Safilo as it allows us to be the first to introduce a new and effective sustainable solution in our eyewear production processes.
“By eliminating palladium in favour of Metal X, we take a further step forward in our business strategies focused on sustainability and we are sure that this innovation will be appreciated by our customers and consumers, who are increasingly concerned about these issues.”
Coventya International Product Manager Coline Nelias commented: “It was particularly significant for us to be able to create a material that offered the same qualitative and technical properties as palladium and could be used in replacement of natural precious metals
“Thanks to this collaboration, our patent has been introduced in the galvanic baths of Longarone [Safilo’s plant in Italy] effectively and with high-quality standards”.