Break out the biodegradable confetti. The Dopper Wave has just gained the best launch partner we could ask for. Happy dance Every partner brings us one step closer to ensuring a crystal clear (pun intended) future for our oceans. By promising to:
Ban single-use plastic water bottles.
Drink from the tap whenever possible.
Always bring their own reusable bottle.
Encourage others to become a drop in the Dopper Wave too Who is this new addition, you ask? Meet Dutch eyewear brand Ace & Tate. A brand offering a top-quality product and services at a transparent price. Naturally, we’re fans. Even more so since they joined us to give the Dopper Wave a splashing launch, as true ocean-saving friends do. Also, they're embarking on a series of responsible initiatives. Which we’ll get to in a minute. First, let’s back up to how it started.
Many years ago, in a faraway land
Ace & Tate was founded in 2013 by Mark de Lange, after buying a pair of extortionately expensive frames abroad. Shudder Frustrated by the complex process (how hard can it be to buy some glasses?), he thought there had to be a better way. Turns out he was right. After researching the international eyewear market, he discovered that by cutting out the unnecessary middlemen in the value chain, he could retain high quality whilst lowering the price. Just seven years later, Ace & Tate strives to be the number one brand for the critical thinkers of Gen Y & Z. Offering a more responsible choice of epic eyewear online and in over 60 retail spaces across Europe.
Transparency
Responsible how? Well, a few years ago Ace & Tate began to prioritise doing business responsibly. Cleaner, without the crap. Just as we like our oceans, coincidently. With an honest and open voice the brand aspires to be a driver for positive change in the industry. What does that actually mean? For one thing, they’re sharing their journey via their website and through blog posts on Medium. Perfect for some casual, yet educational reading. They were also the first eyewear brand to publish a full Life Cycle Assessment and CO2 report. Gold star for that. Based on these reports they decided to cut back and improve their packaging. One of the improvements was the introduction of a cloth made out of recycled plastic bottles. Neat, huh? And they didn’t stop there. Responsible retail design is also a key priority for the company. So if you want to see something cool, we recommend paying a visit to their Antwerp store. Spoiler alert: the interior is made of waste material from the local area.
Bring on the future
In the spirit of ‘go big or go home’, Ace & Tate set some serious goals for 2020 and audacious ambitions for 2030 and beyond. By the end of this year, 100% of the acetate collection will be made out of bio- and pre-production recycled acetate - a first step towards producing a circular frame. Additionally, they’re working hard on joining Dopper in becoming a B Corp by 2021. You can read more about what that means in one of our other blog posts (here). Finally, because great minds think alike, they’re also committed to operating 100% carbon neutral by 2030. Take that, climate change.
They can see clearly now the plastic’s gone ♪ By signing the pledge, Ace & Tate vows to banish single-use plastic water bottles from its Headquarters in Amsterdam. And, drumroll please, its 60 stores (and counting) all over Europe. Oh, yes. That’s a total of almost 600 employees saying no to single-use use.
Shining some additional light on the decision to join the Dopper Wave, Mark (founder & CEO Ace & Tate) said: “It is our aim to join forces with like-minded companies while being an engine for change within our industry. By signing this pledge, we are taking a first step in helping to address the issue of plastic pollution at its core.”
Want to join Ace & Tate in saving large amounts of single-use plastic? Of course you do. Go to Dopper.com to sign the pledge. You won’t be just a drop in the ocean: you will be a drop in a massive wave. A wave powerful enough to turn the tide. Forceful enough to wash away the plastic trash. A wave with enough impact to actually save our oceans.
Find out more about Ace & Tate’s responsibility journey at aceandtate.com.or follow them on Medium.