In March 2022, Millmead Optical Group announced a creative collaboration with renowned Sustainability Designer Yair Neuman. At the time, CEO James Conway commented on the issues surrounding the volume of industrial lens waste which ends up landfill each year in the United Kingdom. We felt we could shine a light on the subject by using art to draw attention to the issues and to help expedite a solution across the industry. We are pleased to announce that the collaboration with Yair Neuman has officially begun and the process of creating a sculpture from our factory’s lens swarf and discarded demo lenses is now underway. Since the project’s original conception we have also broadened its scope and focused on our Liverpool heritage. We are delighted to have offered a Summer Internship to a Fine Art Student from Liverpool John Moores University who is working as an artist’s assistant under Yair’s creative guidance, as they both bring the sculpture to life over the summer.

Millmead’s Head of Marketing, Peter Cronin, who is overseeing the project, commented: “As someone born and raised in Liverpool, it’s exciting to see how various strands of the project are coming together in a way that is bolstered by talent and resources from the local area. We couldn’t be prouder of the opportunity to lead the way as a sustainably-driven organisation. The finished sculpture will be exhibited here in Liverpool before commencing a short road trip to some key cities, and then will be exhibited at 100% Optical before finding its natural resting place at ABDO College in Canterbury”. Dr Robert Cubbidge, ABDO College Principal made comment about the sculpture project: “We’re thrilled that Millmead has chosen to donate their “See the Light” sculpture to ABDO College and we’re looking forward to its unveiling early next year. The industry has really begun to understand the importance of sustainable actions and business practices, and initiatives like this one will help shape the narrative in years to come”.