Sustainability has become a driving force for purchasing decisions in nearly every industry – including PPE. And the numbers speak for themselves: 78% of consumers are willing to change their consumption habits to promote sustainability, and 80% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable goods.

Safety managers and procurement teams feel the shift in a big way; many companies now require environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals in their purchasing requirements.

Why ESG goals matter in PPE

ESG goals are rooted in global sustainability initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and have become a major factor in corporate decision-making worldwide.

For safety managers, ESG requirements influence purchasing decisions in three key ways:

• Environmental: selecting products that lower carbon emissions, reduce waste, and conserve resources.
• Social: ensuring PPE is ethically produced, with fair labor practices and safe working conditions.
• Governance: maintaining transparency and accountability in supply chains and reporting.

But meeting ESG goals comes with challenges, the biggest one being that not all “green” claims are what they seem. Safety eyewear, like a lot of PPE, now carries labels like “eco-friendly” or “sustainable,” but oftentimes, many of these claims don’t hold up upon closer inspection.

This is where greenwashing comes into play and why it matters for those tasked with keeping workers safe, while also meeting sustainability requirements.

So, what exactly is greenwashing? And how does it show up in the PPE industry?

What greenwashing means in safety eyewear

Definition: Misleading consumers into thinking a product/practice is more environmentally responsible than it is.

Sometimes, greenwashing is intentional to create interest around buzzwords like “eco-friendly” – but it often comes from vague or incomplete claims that give the impression of sustainability without the proof to back it up.

In PPE, greenwashing is especially concerning because it blurs the line between marketing and compliance. Safety teams rely on accurate information to meet standards, protect workers, and satisfy internal sustainability reporting – not vague claims that sound good on paper.

Recent studies highlight how common the problem is: the European Commission found that 53% of green product claims were misleading, and McKinsley research shows that at most firms, purchasing and sustainability strategies are misaligned. When companies exaggerate or misrepresent the sustainability of their PPE, it not only confuses buyers but it undermines brands that invest in real sustainability practices.

Greenwashing isn’t just frustrating; it carries real risks. Misleading claims can:

• Steer companies towards PPE that doesn’t actually support ESG targets
• Undermine brands that invest in authentic sustainability
• Lead to regulatory fines, lawsuits, and long-term brand damage as oversight increases
• Mislead customers who, overall, genuinely want to choose better

That's why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other regulatory bodies have issued guidance and brought enforcement actions against companies making these unsupported “green” or “biodegradable” claims. These actions aim to protect buyers, hold brands accountable, and ensure that sustainability claims remain accurate, specific, and backed by credible proof.

Examples of greenwashing in safety eyewear

Greenwashing shows up in safety eyewear in several ways. Here are some of the most common examples safety managers should watch out for:

• Vague claims: Using terms like “eco-friendly,” “green,” or “sustainable” without explaining what makes the product so.
• Irrelevant facts: Highlighting features that don’t actually improve sustainability, such as saying “BPA-free” on a product that never contained BPA to begin with.
• Hidden tradeoffs: Promoting recycled content while ignoring bigger issues in the supply chain, like energy-intensive production or poor labor practices.
• Imagery-only marketing: Relying on pictures of leaves, green colors, or nature scenes to imply sustainability without any real data or proof.
• Lack of proof: Claiming a product is “carbon neutral” or “biodegradable” without third-party verification or a clear methodology.
• Token sustainability: Releasing one “green” product in an otherwise harmful product line just to check a box.

In short, companies engage in greenwashing whenever they use sustainability as a marketing angle instead of a measurable standard. In safety eyewear, this doesn’t just confuse the market; it risks diverting buyers away from products that genuinely reduce environmental impact.>

Here's 6 ways HexArmor® glasses avoid greenwashing [FAQ]

In an industry crowded with vague sustainability claims, we built our newest product launch, Planet Series eyewear, on specific, measurable standards across the entire product lifecycle. Here’s how:

What materials are used in HexArmor's sustainable safety eyewear?

Our Planet Series eyewear is made with a blend of recycled and responsibly sourced plastics. Instead of saying “contains recycled content,” we publish the actual numbers:

• VS250 Planet Series: 22% recycled PET in the hard component, 45.1% PCR/PIR in the soft component, and 100% mass-balanced polycarbonate lenses
• MX225 Planet Series: 32.5% recycled material in the hard component, 47.4% PCR in the soft component, and 100% mass-balanced polycarbonate lenses

This level of detail replaces marketing buzzwords with transparent data.

Do HexArmor's sustainable safety glasses reduce carbon footprint?

Yes. We calculate and share actual carbon savings, rather than vague “carbon neutral” claims:

• VS250 Planet Series: 43% reduction in CO₂ footprint compared to the standard VS250 | Cradle-to-grave value: 0.15 kg CO₂e
• MX225 Planet Series: 29% reduction in CO₂ footprint compared to the standard MX225 | Cradle-to-grave value: 0.15 kg CO₂e

Fun fact: HexArmor® is one of the only safety eyewear manufacturers that actually shares its Carbon Footprint score. This is a huge deal – we want to be as transparent as we can to help you meet your sustainability goals.

How does HexArmor® prove sustainability in safety eyewear lenses?

Our Planet Series eyewear lenses are produced through a 100% mass-balanced approach. Mass balancing serves as a traceability method that enables producers to mix recycled or renewable materials with virgin materials during production while they track and allocate the recycled share. This ensures sustainability claims are verifiable, not inflated.

What makes our Planet Series packaging eco-friendly?

Every level of packaging has been redesigned with recycled content:

• Individual packaging: recyclable polypropylene bag
• Inner packs: made from more than 90% recycled material and reusable
• Case boxes: 100% recycled content kraft shipper

Can sustainable eyewear still be durable?

Yes, with HexArmor's Planet Series, sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing performance. Our Planet Series eyewear features our proprietary, premium TruShield® coatings for permanent anti-fog and scratch resistance, ensuring long-lasting protection, along with our robust dual-injection frame technology. Durable PPE reduces waste by reducing the need for replacements.

How does HexArmor® ensure ethical supply chains?

Beyond materials and emissions, the Planet Series reflects a broader commitment to ethical manufacturing. Our partners follow recognized frameworks such as SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) and conduct regular audits on labor rights, workplace safety, environmental impact, and business ethics.

Read more about this in our Truth in Safety article: The true cost of cheap PPE.

Why this matters for safety managers and buyers

For safety professionals, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it's a responsibility to your team. In fact, when picking personal protective equipment (PPE) for a team, suppliers are finding it increasingly important to choose PPE that prioritizes sustainability. The PPE you choose has to protect workers first while also standing up to the scrutiny of corporate reporting, compliance audits, and stakeholder expectations. That’s where transparency matters most. Here’s why:

• Confidence in numbers: ESG reporting requires verifiable data. Having clear metrics on recycled content, carbon footprint, and certifications means you can back up your purchasing decisions with confidence.
• Procurement protection: Choosing products with transparent sustainability claims reduces the risk of being accused of greenwashing. It protects your reputation and ensures that commitments made by your company are supported and credible proof.
• No tradeoffs: High-performance PPE and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. When eyewear is both durable and sustainable, you’re meeting your organization’s goals without compromising worker safety.

In short, sustainable PPE is about the planet – but it’s also about giving safety managers and buyers the green light they need to make smarter, safer decisions.

What questions should you ask when evaluating sustainable PPE?

Greenwashing thrives when buyers don’t push for specifics. To cut through vague claims, safety managers and procurement teams should ask questions like:

• Proof: What measurable data is provided to back up sustainability claims?
• Lifecycle: Does the product consider environmental impact from materials, to manufacturing, to end-of-life?
• Standards: Which internationally recognized certifications or audits support the claims?
• Quantifiable benefits: Are numbers provided for recycled content, carbon footprint reduction, or durability?
• Cost: Does the sustainable product perform as well and last as long as traditional PPE – without significantly increasing total cost of ownership?

What standards should you look for?

Certifications and standards matter because they help verify that sustainability claims are more than marketing. Our Planet Series eyewear is produced in facilities that are certified to:

• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
• ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems

In addition, product carbon footprints are calculated using the internationally recognized ISO 14067 standard (Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products). This method has successfully undergone independent compliance audits, ensuring that carbon footprint data is accurate and transparent.

For company-wide emissions tracking, our partners follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the world’s most widely used framework for greenhouse gas accounting. This information will be made publicly available as part of new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requirements.

Together, these frameworks provide a foundation of credibility, ensuring that sustainability data behind the Planet Series is transparent, consistent, and verifiable.

HexArmor® can help

Greenwashing can create confusion, undermine trust, and make it harder for safety managers to choose products that truly support worker protection and sustainability goals. It all comes down to transparency, measurable data, and proof that high-performing products can be sustainable.

At HexArmor®, that’s exactly the approach we’ve taken to the Planet Series eyewear. By publishing real numbers on recycled content, carbon footprint reduction, and certifications, we’re raising the bar on what sustainability in safety eyewear should look like.

Ready to learn more? Our Solution Specialists are ready to help see how our team can help integrate sustainable PPE into your program. Call 1.877.ARMOR or send us a message.