Bureo Yuco

Field Notes: Startup sunglasses brand Bureo is introducing the first ever pair made from 100-percent reclaimed and recycled material in its new Ocean Collection. The source of material used is discarded plastic fishing nets from Chile, melted down into pellets and repurposed as Bureo sunglasses complete with Carl Zeiss Polarized lenses.

Bureo established Net Positiva, a first of its kind program to collect and reuse fishing nets Chilean fishermen had grown accustom to simply throwing overboard, which not only contributes to ocean pollution, but also poses significant threat to local marine life. By setting up collection sites along the coast, Net Positiva collects and repurposes these nets as performance sunglasses, and their signature skateboards.

The aptly named Ocean Collection features three frames: Yuco, Newen and Kayu. Bureo recommends Kayu for smaller faces, with a more feminine design and rounded lenses.  Newen fits medium to large faces, with a more masculine shape. The Yuco is in the middle, with unisex style designed for small to medium faces. All three styles come in black frames (100 percent Net Positiva plastic) with either grey or amber polarized lenses. 

Bureo is a 1% For the Planet member, a certified B-Corp and a participating venture in Patagonia’s $20Million and Change fund. Sunglasses can be ordered from their website (which also keeps a running total of square feet of net recycle – now over 100,000 at the time of this review), or other online sources. For you skateboarders, check out their collection of decks made from Net Positiva, featuring the Ahi and Minnow cruisers.

Pros: Keeping plastic trash out of the ocean while providing eco-friendly solution to a local issue in Chile. Not to mention a solid and slick-looking pair of sunglasses that won’t break the bank.

Cons: None to mention with this pair, from creation to in-field use.

Tester Comments: “We were shocked at the quality of the lenses and the glasses overall, considering they are made from plastic trash upcycled by a few ambitious kids from L.A.”

Key Attribute: Optics

Best For: Sidewalk surfing in Ventura; choose amber lenses for foggy or low-light conditions, or grey for more versatile use