6 BPA Free Sunglasses for Staying Stylish & Safe
Sunglasses are supposed to help you protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. But many sunglasses come with a risk of their own: Bisphenol A, or BPA. This toxin is often found in plastics used to create cheap sunglasses, but it can have serious implications for your health. Fortunately, you can avoid toxins and keep your eyes (and body) truly safe with BPA free sunglasses.
What are BPA Free Sunglasses? The Problem with BPA
BPA free sunglasses are usually made out of plant-based acetate instead of traditional plastics. Acetate may be more expensive but doesn’t interact with carcinogens like petroleum or phthalates during manufacturing.
It’s worth it to avoid BPA when you can, especially given how prevalent it is in many home goods and personal items. You may not realize it, but BPA is known as an endocrine disruptor. It can impact hormonal balances, neurological processes, immune systems, and more. And to make matters worse, studies show that BPA can contribute to long-term health problems like heart disease and insulin resistance.
You don’t need BPA or plastics to look chic and stay safe. You can choose sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives that are better for your body – and the planet.
Top 6 BPA Free Sunglasses: How We Chose
When selecting our favorite products, we focused on sunglasses that we’re certain are BPA free. We also prioritized products from reputable brands dedicated to transparency around how they produce their sunglasses. Each pick is comfortable, beautiful, and safe to use, so you can rest assured that any choice you make is the right one!
Our List of BPA Free Sunglasses Brands
While we couldn’t feature all of them on this list, we appreciate these brands’ commitment to providing safe, sustainable products. Check out any of their collections for BPA free picks you’ll love.
Our Picks
- Proof Eyewear | Shop Now
- Sunski | Shop Now
- SOLO Eyewear | Shop Now
- Pala | Shop Now
- Quince | Shop Now
- TBC Eyewear | Shop Now
- Szade | Shop Now
- Woodzee | Shop Now
- Pela | Shop Now
All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author and DGHQ editors. However, Do Good HQ may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.
1. Proof Eyewear Sage Acetate Shades
| Materials | Cotton-based acetate, stainless steel |
| Price at Publishing | $85 |
| What We Love | Polarized lenses offer UVA/UVB 400 protection, handcrafted, water- and sweat-resistant |
| What We Don’t Love | No option for prescription lenses or frames only |
Is it truly possible to make stylish, functional, and affordable eyewear without cheap materials? Absolutely – the proof is in these BPA free sunglasses, which use a cotton-based acetate shell to frame your face.
Highlights
Proof Eyewear handcrafts these sunglasses carefully, and we think it certainly shows. Choose from one of five unique designs to find your perfect match. We also love that each sunglasses purchase helps plant five trees in Africa – you can even track your impact yourself!
Things to Consider
A one-year warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee protect these shades. That means you have plenty of time to address any issues or defects you notice!
2. Sunski Dipsea Sunglasses
| Materials | Recycled plastic resin |
| Price at Publishing | $58 |
| What We Love | Recycled materials, approachable price tag, lifetime warranty |
| What We Don’t Love | Not as durable as other picks |
Count on Sunski for gorgeous eco-friendly sunglasses at a fair price. We love this model’s unique shape and color.
Highlights
All Dipsea lenses are polarized and offer 100% UVA/UVB protection. These shades are medium coverage, so they’re large enough to cover your eyes without taking over your face.
Things to Consider
While we love that these frames use recycled plastic resin, they’re not as sturdy as some of our other picks. These are probably more likely to break or become damaged over time.
3. SOLO Eyewear Brazil
| Materials | Maplewood, reclaimed bamboo |
| Price at Publishing | $99 |
| What We Love | Sustainability, community efforts |
| What We Don’t Love | Limited style and color options |
Each pair of BPA free sunglasses from SOLO is an investment in a community that needs your help. SOLO works diligently to restore vision for thousands of people in need worldwide. When you purchase a pair, like this new Brazil model, you help support people in the region from which the materials are sourced.
Highlights
If giving back to the community isn’t enough, the sustainable wood composition of these sunglasses should impress even the most eco-conscious shoppers.
Things to Consider
Since each SOLO collection has a story, it may not be the most stylish or customizable pick. There is variety between sunglasses, but you probably won’t find as many aesthetic options as you might from another brand.
4. Pala Jabalí Sunglasses
| Materials | Plant-based bio acetate frame |
| Price at Publishing | £99 ($106.88) |
| What We Love | Sustainability, material quality, handmade in Italy, scratch-resistant |
| What We Don’t Love | High price point |
Pala is a trusted source of sustainable sunglasses that look as amazing as they feel. This retro-style pair is perfect for adding a pop of color to your wardrobe.
Highlights
A yellow bio acetate made using plant materials makes up the bulk of these shades. Their lenses also provide 100% protection against UVA/UVB rays.
Things to Consider
Despite all the benefits of these shades, they’re the most expensive pick on our list. We think their quality makes them worth the investment, but we know not everyone will want to splurge so heavily on a single pair of sunglasses.
5. Budget Find: Quince Ryder Polarized Acetate Sunglasses
| Materials | Plant-based acetate, stainless steel |
| Price at Publishing | $50 |
| What We Love | Stylish, affordable, made with plant-based materials |
| What We Don’t Love | Narrow fit, somewhat flimsy |
We love Quince clothing and home products because they’re beautiful, affordable, and reliable. Branch out into the accessories category with these polarized sunglasses.
Highlights
Quince uses CR-39 lenses, which are known for their durability and scratch resistance, in these frames for maximum visibility. The shades also come with a protective hard case, a microfiber fabric pouch, and a handy cleaning cloth.
Things to Consider
It seems that you largely get what you pay for with these sunglasses. They’re a great budget pick, but they’re also not as sturdy or as flexible as some of our other choices. The frame itself is fairly thin, as are its limbs.
How to Choose BPA Free Sunglasses You’ll Love
When choosing your BPA-free sunglasses, consider important factors like these before you make a final decision.
- Materials: Most BPA-free sunglasses will be made with acetate, but others might still be made of plastic. You might want to avoid plastic altogether if you want to be certain there are no toxins in your product.
- Style: Choose a cut and fit that works for your style and face shape or size.
- Features: Do your shades offer UVA/UVB protection? Can you swap out the lenses for prescription lenses?
We hope these tips and product finds help you make the right call and land on a pair of sunglasses you treasure for years to come.
Feature image via Sunski
