Standpoint on Sustainability (SOS): Marius de Beer

Marius de Beer, Chief Sustainability Officer at HOYA Vision Care, explains how global collaboration with other like-minded companies can improve sustainable outcomes for all, and why he believes ophthalmology as an industry is genuinely committed to meeting its environmental targets.

How are you working towards sustainability in ophthalmology?
 

Sustainability is fundamental to HOYA Vision Care’s long-term growth strategy as we strive to make a difference today for a better tomorrow. A sustainable future is not just an aspiration – it is a necessity. We drive this goal with initiatives that bring employees and external stakeholders together under One Vision, our employee-driven flagship sustainability program. One Vision is a shared promise for a more sustainable future that spans the entire value chain. This is our roadmap to achieving a future that is not only environmentally sound, but also socially responsible.

Sustainability is about creating shared value for every stakeholder and for the industry as a whole. It starts with a collective agreement: that the goal is to make a difference for tomorrow, starting with the actions we take today.

What are the most urgent sustainability priorities in the field right now?
 

From our perspective, the most urgent sustainability priorities in the field of ophthalmology include: reducing carbon emissions, managing water footprint, working on creating sustainable packaging solutions, and ensuring that quality eye care for all is a basic human right. These priorities reflect our responsibility not only to the planet, but also to those who deserve better access to life-changing eye care.

What has changed in terms of how practitioners and the industry have addressed sustainability in the last decade?
 

I believe that it starts with awareness – the “what” – which then drives a better understanding of the impact of our actions, or the “why” and “how” of what we do for our planet. This growing understanding of “what, why and how” across the last decade shows a collective move towards making the topic a real, everyday priority.

In the optical industry, practitioners and suppliers alike have shown a clear shift towards energy efficiency as renewable energy solutions have become more widely available. There are many examples of waste management solutions, moving from “dispose of” to “reduce, re-use and re-think,” and supply chain operations are being reviewed to reduce packaging.

Patients are playing their part too – they’re more aware and, in many cases, making choices that align with their values. This shift is seen not just with our customers and patients; many new employees join us because they see the purpose behind what we’re trying to achieve.

Is it realistic to achieve truly global buy-in to the sustainability mindset?
 

I genuinely believe it is possible. It’s a big task, but with the right mindset and collective effort, the answer is an absolute yes.

It’s not easy – it takes hard work and steady progress. For me, it starts with adopting a “glass half full” attitude and asking, “How and where can we make the biggest impact?” We have set clear, achievable mid-term goals and are working every day with a passionate, multi-functional team to hit those milestones.

HOYA Vision Care has been at the forefront of shaping the future of global eye care, and we are actively contributing to the WHO SPECS 2030 initiative. This initiative envisions a world in which everyone has access to quality, affordable, and people-centered eye care services, and aims to increase refractive error coverage by 40 percent by 2030.

Together, we are paving the way for a healthier future, demonstrating that change is not only possible but within our reach.

Sustainability is a topic that seems ubiquitous, but how genuinely is ophthalmology invested in it?
 

We are lucky enough to be in a field where people at every stage genuinely want to do better for their communities, their patients, and the environment. From designing and making a lens, to delivering it to our patients – meaningful work is being done at every step.

The work HOYA Vision Care is doing with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Coalition is an excellent example of global collaboration driving meaningful change through community development and awareness. In partnership with the IAPB, HOYA Vision Care plays a key part in advocating for healthy vision habits in workplaces globally. Each World Sight Day, we host eye screenings and awareness activities in offices around the world. In 2024 alone, we conducted multiple eye screening activities worldwide and, together with the IAPB and other partners, we have reached almost two million pledges to prioritize children’s eyesight. We also share a global partnership with Orbis International, supporting the REACH (Refractive Error Among Children) team, and our markets have committed to fundraising to build vision centers around India and Nepal.

In terms of sustainability, what would you like to see the profession achieve in the next 5-10 years?
 

In the next decade, we can redefine eye health care for the better by making a real difference in how we care for our planet. Here’s what I look forward to seeing:

• Sustainability as a distinctive generator for growth and progression. This will require fresh thinking, innovation, and a genuine shift in how we approach things daily with that mid-term horizon in mind.
• Significant reduction in environmental footprint. Through innovation and process adjustment, we can achieve huge reductions in our impact on the planet and deliver long-term sustainable growth as an industry.
• Universal vision access. This goal is close to our heart, and we are proud to contribute to the SPECS 2030 initiative to achieve this.

Sustainability is about creating value, driving growth, and delivering long-term benefits for all stakeholders in our industry, from patients of different ages to our customers and the planet. It is not a temporary trend or a buzzword – it’s here to stay. Every small action we take adds up to significant change, as all of us we have a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact. This is our vision – to focus on a better tomorrow, today.