The CooperVision contact lens manufacturing facility in Alajuela, Costa Rica, has received LEED Silver certification for its environmentally-conscious design and operation. The 30,000-square-metre site, opened in 2016, produces the company's popular clariti 1-day silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) recognises buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

"Achieving LEED certification is more than implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, CooperVision demonstrates its leadership through LEED certification of its Costa Rica site."

The CooperVision site excelled in LEED evaluation categories including energy and water conservation, transportation, waste reduction, and human experience. Since opening, the Costa Rica team has improved its sustainable practices including recovery of organic waste for composting, reducing hot water use, implementing new energy and water consumption monitoring, and expanding LED illumination.

"Our efforts in Costa Rica have a clearly positive effect on employee wellness, health and productivity. They're appreciated by like-minded customers who see us as partners in their own sustainability initiatives. Of course, a green building such as this is a clear way of demonstrating our environmental practices to the community," said CooperVision’s senior VP of manufacturing in America, Rolando Torres.