In addition to creating a world's first rating system to help buyers make a more sustainable choice with their eyewear, Folkal orders are packaged and supplied in recycled cardboard packaging and sent using Australia Post's carbon-neutral parcel delivery service. In addition to this, every purchase made online at Folkal Eyewear, Folkal donates to Plastic Bank®. Plastic Bank® removes plastic from the ocean and landfill it also turns waste into an empowering form of income by creating positive economic opportunities for those who help collect the waste. The collected material is also reborn as Social Plastic® which can be easily reintegrated into products and packaging as part of a closed-loop supply chain. Plastic Bank prevents ocean-bound plastics from reaching our waterways, but they also reduce the number of new plastics being created by encouraging companies to switch to recycled sources.

Folkal Eyewear partners with brands that produce products made from bio-based, recycled, low carbon and/or biodegradable materials that meet a certain criteria to be featured on the website.

Folkal donates to Plastic Bank®. Not only does Plastic Bank® remove plastic from the ocean and landfill it also turns waste into an empowering form of income by creating positive economic opportunities for those who help collect the waste. The collected material is also reborn as Social Plastic® which can be easily reintegrated into products and packaging as part of a closed-loop supply chain. Plastic Bank prevents ocean-bound plastics from reaching our waterways, but they also reduce the number of new plastics being created by encouraging companies to switch to recycled sources.

Joint Venture partners behind Folkal are Safilo Australia. Improving people’s lives has always been the goal of Safilo not only with their glasses but also by promoting healthy lifestyles and behaviours. The idea of creating shared and lasting wellbeing is central to all strategic areas: relationships with employees, product integrity, their commitment to cultivating talents, the importance of protecting the sight of future generations and vulnerable people, environmental protection, and the opportunity to contribute to improving living conditions of local communities. Safilo’s Group Environmental Policy is based on five pillars: • Full compliance with environmental laws and regulations • Optimisation of processes to minimise environmental impact • Creation of greater awareness in the supply chain • Involvement and empowerment of all workers • Transparency towards stakeholders Safilo are also committed to ensuring that human rights are respected at all times, both within the company and throughout our supply chain. The Group Worldwide Business Conduct Manual outlines fundamental principles, including the prohibition of forced labour, the freedom to join trade unions and the right to collective bargaining etc.

Because eyewear is made up of multiple parts – the frames, the lenses, the case – that are often made by various suppliers who all have different processes and levels of sustainability practices. The Folkal team reviewed several different rating systems across different industries and consulted with sustainability experts within the eyewear industry and outside this niche. Products and cases are assessed by the material used to manufacture them. Those products and cases made from materials that have a lower impact on the environment are scored favourably. The process used to manufacture both the frames, lens and case is then assessed accordingly to whether it uses renewable energy and/or if low waste technologies have been utilised. And finally, the end-of-life protocol for the frames, lens and case is also assessed including whether it is compostable and/or recyclable, requiring no pre-processing. Folkal also looks at the type of materials used for transit and consumer packaging, the size of the case and packaging plus whether outbound transport emissions have been offset.

Folkal is passionate about ensuring that you are completely happy with your purchase. If something is not right or you change your mind about an item purchased on our website, you are entitled to a refund within 30 days of receipt of delivery. We have partnered with ReturnGo to make this process easy for you. Please click on: https://www.folkaleyewear.com/a/return and complete the prompts. Please note the following returns requirements: Proof of purchase provided (invoice or order number) Email associated with the order Tags are still attached Items are in original, undamaged packaging Sunglasses are in their original condition We may refuse returns of items where this has not been done. This policy applies to Folkal customers only. Our Returns Policy is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Refund Payment Please allow up to 14 days from date of return, for your return to be processed. All refunds will be processed through a secure payment gateway and via the original method of payment. It can take an additional 1 -2 days for the refund to be made into your account by your financial institution.