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The frames of PPEEQQ glasses are made from castor beans, a renewable resource. This involves a trip to the agricultural fields in India, where castor farmers play a crucial role in the production of the cycling glasses.

PPEEQQ consciously chooses castor as the base material for its eyewear frames. The sustainability aspect is the main argument. Thanks to the use of castor, petroleum-based plastics are hardly needed for PPEEQQ's glasses. Moreover, the cultivation of the plant works in its favor. Castor does not compete with food crops, as it can be grown on semi-arid land in India that is unsuitable for the cultivation of, for example, corn and rice.

Economical value

One of the castor farmers is Patel Somabhai Mafatlal (51). As a child, he practically grew up among the crops, and he has earned his living as a passionate farmer all his life. Mafatlal represents yet another generation on his farm, alongside a handful of family members.

The farm is located in a village called Sunok, in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, in western India. The farm spans about seven hectares of agricultural land, of which a quarter is owned by the family; the rest is leased. Over 40 percent of the land is dedicated to growing castor plants, which are of great economic value to the region.

It is the castor beans from this area that are ultimately processed into PPEEQQ glasses. "Day in and day out, we strive for the highest possible quality of castor beans," emphasizes Mafatlal.

Smaller Ecological Footprint

It is no surprise that Mafatlal has chosen to cultivate castor plants. Castor is a drought- and disease-resistant crop that thrives in the warm, tropical conditions and on the dry, sandy soil of India. About 80 percent of the global agricultural area where castor plants are grown is located in India.

Castor is of interest to the industry due to its oil, which is extracted from the beans of the plant.

Companies use it to create a variety of products, such as lotions and hair products, due to its excellent moisturizing properties.

"CASTOR THRIVES WELL IN WARM, TROPICAL CONDITIONS"

Additionally, castor oil serves as a base in biobased plastics. Castor also replaces plastics derived from petroleum, significantly reducing dependence on fossil fuels and substantially decreasing the ecological footprint. This is one of the reasons why PPEEQQ chooses castor oil.

Challenges

"About 80 percent of all castor oil in the world is produced in India," says Mafatlal with pride. That sounds easier than it is, because despite the generally good conditions, there are numerous challenges and threats facing farmers in India. Not all farmers have access to quality seeds, the right fertilizers, and crop protection. Additionally, there is not always sufficient access to irrigation facilities. Sometimes, there is simply a lack of knowledge on how to manage the agricultural land and farm in a proper, sustainable manner.

On the financial side, challenges arise from time to time. Just like with other crops, world prices for castor oil can fluctuate, making it difficult to create reliable budgets and develop plans for the near future. Castor can be stored for several years, and the farmer always has the option to sell the crop immediately after harvest or store it and sell it later when the price is higher or when they need money. Most farmers are smart and aim for more crops than just castor. This way, they are better able to be self-sufficient in terms of food.

"In our case, growing castor brings various challenges," says Mafatlal. Castor is an annual crop with a relatively long growing period, and in recent years, the number of disease cases has increased and rainfall has become unpredictable, which negatively impacts agricultural production in general. Sometimes, there is also a shortage of quality seeds."

From beans to glasses. 

When Mafatlal’s work on the farm is done, the castor beans are pressed into oil. Every 100 grams of beans yields about 46 grams of oil. The castor cake left over after pressing is usually sold as fertilizer. Arkema, which, like Solidaridad, is involved in the Pragati program, then takes care of the further processing of the oil. They create bio-circular polyamide 11 from it.

These polymers are known for their immense strength, flexibility, and low weight, and they form the basis of the PPEEQQ frames. Polyamide 11 is also used in automotive parts, helmets, medical catheters, pipes, and 3D-printed prototype parts, especially for the aerospace industry.

CASTOR DOES NOT COMPETE WITH FOOD CROPS. 

Pragati-programma

Fortunately for Mafatlal, his farm is part of the so-called Pragati program. This program promotes sustainable production of castor crops. Arkema, BASF, Jayant Agro-Organics, and implementing partner Solidaridad launched the Pragati program in May 2016. The program focuses on good agricultural practices for better yields, efficient use of water resources, preservation of soil fertility, and proper waste management. Another important aspect is improving social conditions on and around the farms.

"Thanks to the Pragati program, we have learned about the latest techniques and improved agricultural practices. Previously, we planted the castor plants too closely together, which was ineffective. Now we better understand how to increase productivity with more spacing while protecting the soil, water, and air. The program has taught us how to increase the oil yield and reduce cultivation costs."

The harvest from Mafatlal's farm and other agricultural enterprises is on average 36 percent higher due to Pragati compared to farmers not part of the program. More than 7,200 farmers have now been certified.