James Merrill’s decade of experience as an USAID contractor led him to developing Opolis - a truly sustainable line of sunglasses. James first saw how single-use plastic led to degradation of natural resources, and impacted low-income communities. Through technological innovation, Opolis uses plant based and rPET plastic that is, or would end up in, the ocean as upcycled material for durable goods like sunglasses.
Opolis is intentional about the sourcing of the plastic to be reused through creating jobs in Kenya, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Eventually, the rPET will be able to be used in other durable goods to put plastic to use instead of the garbage. As consumers, James and Opolis wants to empower consumers to take accountability into their hands by researching products' supply chains to determine if it aligns with their own definition of sustainability.
 


It starts with shades. Yes. Opolis is making sunglasses out of plant based and recycled plastics. But that's just the beginning. That's just to get people’s attention. It’s to help people to see the world through, not Opolis’ eyes, but hers – Earth.