French advanced materials major Arkema will take center stage at MIDO 2026 in Milan as it showcases a new generation of sustainable, high-performance materials for the global eyewear industry. The world’s leading eyewear trade show runs from January 31 to February 2, 2026.
A leading producer of bio-based transparent polyamides, Arkema will use the event to demonstrate how its materials are reshaping eyewear design by combining style, performance and sustainability at scale.
With eyewear now spanning technology, safety and lifestyle, Arkema’s MIDO showcase will focus on solutions tailored to four fast-growing segments: smart eyewear, safety eyewear, sports eyewear and children’s eyewear. Its portfolio is designed to enable ultra-light connectivity for smart devices, high impact resistance for protective eyewear, comfort and durability for sports use, and resilient yet playful designs for children.
At the heart of the showcase is Arkema’s Rilsan portfolio of advanced polyamides. Highlights include Rilsan® Clear Rnew G850 and G820 grades, offering up to 62% bio-based carbon content for injection-molded frames; 100% bio-based Rilsan® Polyamide 11 Fine powders for customized designs using powder bed fusion; and the Rilsan® Polyamide 11 Air series, engineered for ultra-light AR/VR and smart eyewear applications. High-impact Rilsan Clear grades will also be featured, delivering transparency and resistance suitable for lightweight safety eyewear.
Beyond materials innovation, Arkema is pushing circularity in eyewear manufacturing. As a global leader in high-performance thermoplastics recycling, the company works across the value chain to collect end-of-life materials and reintroduce them as high-quality recycled grades, helping brands cut carbon emissions without compromising performance.
Arkema will also highlight the results of a design challenge launched with partner Materialise, aimed at rethinking children’s eyewear through bio-based materials and advanced 3D printing. The winning concept, developed by Acuitis, was selected for its creativity, durability and comfort, and will now move toward production with support from Arkema and Materialise.
The MIDO appearance follows a major capacity expansion for Arkema, which recently announced the successful start-up of a new Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamide production unit in Singapore. The roughly US$20 million investment triples the group’s global capacity for the material and establishes the largest transparent polyamide production base in Asia.
Arkema’s presence at MIDO 2026 underscores its push to help eyewear brands meet rising consumer expectations for innovation, sustainability and performance in a rapidly evolving market.
