Regenesis launches CARBONITE™, a groundbreaking recycled eyewear material that combines durability, sustainability, and AI innovation.
At SILMO Paris 2025, Regenesis unveiled CARBONITE™, the world’s first practically unbreakable recycled eyewear material.
Engineered with artificial intelligence and crafted from ocean-bound plastics, captured CO₂, recycled carbon fiber, and graphene, CARBONITE™ delivers TR90-level performance at a lower cost while actively healing the environment.
What began as a fragile fragment in founder Marcos Bulacio’s lab has evolved into a breakthrough that redefines what eyewear and sustainable innovation can be.
Back in 2023, Bulacio held the first prototype of what seemed impossible: a material made from waste that was feather-light yet nearly indestructible. In that moment, it became clear that plastic pollution could be reimagined as strength not weakness and that sustainability didn’t have to compromise performance. With Indonesia’s rivers choking on plastic and global carbon emissions climbing to record highs, Regenesis faced a decisive choice: allow the eyewear industry to continue relying on fragile, polluting supply chains, or prove that cutting-edge science could unite durability, affordability, and environmental regeneration.
That fragment has now become CARBONITE™, the world’s first practically unbreakable recycled eyewear material, officially launching at SILMO Paris 2025. This patent-pending composite represents more than performance; it’s a new era where eyewear strengthens both people and the planet.
The Genesis of Revolutionary Materials
Regenesis emerged from a fundamental belief that the fashion industry’s destructive linear model could be transformed into a regenerative force. The company recognized that traditional materials innovation focused solely on performance metrics, ignoring the environmental devastation left in their wake. This narrow vision created an opportunity for a materials company that could engineer solutions addressing both industrial needs and planetary health.
The breakthrough came through EcoFusion™, Regenesis’ proprietary technology that fuses discarded plastics with carbon-locking biochar. This process transforms what the industry considered waste into a climate-positive material that removes one kilogram of plastic waste per frame sold while locking CO₂ inside the product’s structure.
“With Carbonite, we are not just introducing another material, we are rewriting the rulebook for what eyewear can be,” said Bulacio, CEO and Founder of Regenesis. “This is performance that protects the planet. Every frame removes waste, captures CO₂, and empowers brands to lead the industry toward a regenerative future.”
Engineering the Impossible
The development journey from prototype to production presented seemingly insurmountable challenges. Traditional recycled materials struggled with durability and flexibility, forcing manufacturers to choose between sustainability and performance. Industry skepticism ran deep, with established players questioning whether recycled components could match virgin material standards.
CARBONITE™ breaks that trade-off. The composite combines ocean-bound plastics recovered from Indonesian rivers and mangrove forests with biochar derived from discarded coconut shells. Reinforced with AI-engineered recycled carbon fiber and modified graphene, 200 times stronger than steel, the material delivers unprecedented durability, flexibility, and comfort.
The technical specifications tell a compelling story: CARBONITE™ matches or exceeds virgin Nylon TR90 performance while reducing emissions by approximately 80 percent and delivering cost savings compared to traditional performance plastics.
From Vision to Global Recognition
The material’s debut at MIDO 2025 in Milan as a prototype, where it drew immediate industry attention and validated years of R&D. This early success provided the momentum needed to refine the technology and prepare for commercial production.
Recognition came in the form of a nomination for the SILMO D’OR Technological Innovation Award 2025, one of the most prestigious honors in the eyewear industry. This nomination positions CARBONITE™ alongside the sector’s most groundbreaking innovations, confirming its potential to reshape material standards.
The technology’s impact extends beyond performance metrics. Each frame provides full traceability through a digital passport, enabling brands to demonstrate measurable environmental benefits to increasingly conscious consumers.
Scaling Revolutionary Impact
Regenesis has established strategic manufacturing partnerships designed to meet global demand while maintaining uncompromising quality standards.
The company’s Jakarta facility, launching Q1 2026, represents a 10,000 square meter hub capable of producing up to 10 million pairs annually. This partnership with HiSight leverages over 20 years of manufacturing expertise for leading brands while pursuing GRS, ISCC, and Ocean Bound Plastic ISO certifications.
This Indonesian operation creates the industry’s first integrated supply chain from waste collection to finished eyewear, while providing brands with a 20 percent tariff reduction compared to traditional China-based manufacturing. The facility strengthens global supply chain resilience while directly supporting local waste collection initiatives.
Complementing the Jakarta operation, Regenesis maintains partnerships with proven Chinese facilities, ensuring high-volume manufacturing capacity with the flexibility to handle complex collections across diverse brand requirements.
The Circular Economy Vision
CARBONITE™ represents more than material innovation, it embodies a fundamental shift toward regenerative business practices. By transforming pollution into high-performance solutions, Regenesis demonstrates that environmental healing and commercial success are not mutually exclusive goals.
The material’s climate-positive properties create a new category where products actively improve planetary health through their existence. This approach challenges the industry’s traditional harm-reduction mindset, proposing instead that materials can be agents of environmental restoration.
As global brands face increasing pressure to demonstrate authentic sustainability commitments, CARBONITE™ provides measurable impact metrics that satisfy both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations. The technology proves that circular design principles can scale to meet industrial demands without performance compromises.
If your brand is ready to lead the eyewear industry’s transformation toward genuine sustainability without sacrificing quality or profitability, CARBONITE™ represents the breakthrough you’ve been seeking. Discover the future of eyewear materials at SILMO Paris 2025 and join the regenerative revolution that’s redefining what’s possible when innovation serves both performance and planet.
About Regenesis
Regenesis is a materials innovation company redesigning molecules, systems, and products to accelerate the fashion industry’s shift toward a circular economy that cleans and restores the planet. The company transforms waste into high-performance solutions, empowering global brands to make choices that genuinely improve planetary health. Learn more at the official Regenesis website and connect with the team on LinkedIn.
