In Campania, the company Essequadro, which has been active for over 50 years and is already a leader in the eyewear industry, came up with an idea that is both simple and brilliant: recovering cellulose acetate from cigarette filters to produce eyeglass frames.

In fact, the company has embraced the cigarette glasses project, monitored during the 2023-2024 school year by the Smoking Glasses team at the “G. De Gruttola” Institute in Ariano Irpino, a vocational technical school in an area that has always struggled with poverty and the emigration of young people seeking work.

The cigarette filter is already primarily made of this material, cellulose acetate, the same used to manufacture eyeglass frames. This is truly a concrete project that not only reduces pollution but also creates a trendy and lightweight product. Additionally, there’s a significant environmental advantage: cigarette butts are among the top ten waste contributors to environmental pollution in Italy. The cellulose acetate fibers in cigarette filters break down due to thermal and mechanical stress, leading to the production of non-biodegradable microplastics.

These eyeglasses, made in Italy, are crafted in the artisanal way typical of Italy’s past tradition, but with the cutting-edge tools of Italy’s present and future. They are available for other brands as well as under the company’s own brand.

In short, this story teaches us that even in waste, there can be treasure—if we know where to look. It also teaches that, as often happens, a great Italian idea can lead to a business capable of transforming the world around us into a more beautiful and sustainable place. And it reinforces Italy’s leadership in the circular economy.