Oakley Flight Deck Sustainability Report

The Flight Deck is a solid long-term performer thanks to its sturdy build and widely available replacement lenses. While the lens-swap system is outdated and slower than magnetic options, the parts are durable and well-supported. Careful handling and use of the included soft-sided storage case should lead to a long lifespan.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

The Flight Deck is not made with recycled materials. EssilorLuxottica, Oakley’s parent company, reports that 40% of its 2024 collections were made with responsible materials across eyewear frames and select lenses. The company defines responsible as bio-based or recycled materials. However, very few of the Oakley products we have researched contain either material.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

Oakley offers replacement lenses for most of its goggles and sunglasses, including the Flight Deck. Replacing lenses is a good way to keep your goggles functioning for longer.

Providing replacement parts extends a product's lifespan and eliminates the need to purchase a new one. For example, some brands offer replacement lenses for ski goggles, should they become damaged, or provide an extra clip for a trekking pole if it breaks. We scale the points received for this category based on how robust the replacement part offerings are for the product category.

Oakley’s parent company, EssilorLuxottica, reports that 37 manufacturing facilities, 20 lens laboratories, five distribution centers, and three corporate offices are certified to the ISO 14001 standard—representing 32% of total manufacturing across its subsidiary brands. ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which allows companies to lower their environmental impact, follow legal requirements, and meet company sustainability goals through certification and annual compliance audits. However, we were unable to find out how much of this applies to Oakley’s own manufacturing, so it does not currently meet our standards for responsible manufacturing.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

EssilorLuxottica is working to reduce single-use plastics and find alternative packaging options, including foldable and “easy-to-disassemble” designs that optimize space. While the company does not disclose recycled content in its packaging, its sustainable packaging guidelines emphasize plastic reduction, the use of recycled materials, and FSC-certified components. In 2024, nearly all plastic bags for Oakley and Costa apparel, footwear, and accessories were replaced with paper alternatives, though it is unclear whether recycled paper was used. Overall, EssilorLuxottica has reduced over 150 tons of single-use plastics. However, specific information on Oakley’s use of recycled or reduced packaging is not available, so the brand receives only partial credit for this criterion.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

EssilorLuxottica began tracking its carbon emissions with a baseline assessment in 2022. By 2024, the company reported a 16% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. While progress on Scope 3 emissions has been limited, EssilorLuxottica states that it plans to work more closely with direct suppliers to promote responsible sourcing, optimize its supply chain, and reduce the impact of transport and logistics.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

EssilorLuxottica has published an annual impact report since 2019, and also publishes a summarized Eyes on the Planet presentation, with easy to understand information. While EssilorLuxottica publishes information on many of our sustainability criteria, there is limited information specific to Oakley.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.