Boulder-based Zeal Optics offers the world’s first and only plant-based lens for superior clarity and minimal environmental impact.

We tend to think of sunglasses as a fashion accessory, something to be coordinated with outfits, but they’re actually quite important for maintaining healthy eyes. Long hours of unprotected exposure increases eye stress (and squinting), which can lead to headaches. A lifetime of unprotected exposure to the sun’s harsh rays can even contribute to cataracts and growths on the eye, including cancer.

In the past, my clumsiness has prevented me from investing in high-quality sunglasses. What’s the use if I’m just going to forget, sit on, or scratch them within the first 3 days of ownership? A recent chance to test drive some fancy shades from Colorado’s own Zeal Optics changed my mind, however.

Located in Boulder, this boutique eyewear company recently debuted the world’s first and only plant-based, bioplastic lens, called e-llume. Combined with their with Z-resin frames, made from a castor oil-based material, Zeal hopes to lead the way towards completely removing crude oil from sunglass production.

To see how well all that fancy technology compared to my $60 conventional sunglasses, Zeal sent over two of their most popular styles: the Kennedy and the Felicity. After a few weeks of swapping back and forth between them and my usual pair, here are my thoughts:

The Kennedy – This is one of Zeal Optics’ many unisex styles, and the pair I tested came in Reflection Blue/Dark Grey (see above). The fit was a little wide, but not so loose that I felt they were in danger of falling off. I found the lens size and shape to be a little smaller than what I was used to, and upon trying them on, my boyfriend agreed. He also noted that the bright blue of the frame was a little distracting when seen out of the corner of the eye, but I found it kind of fun to get that flash of occasional color! The e-llume bioplastic lenses of the Kennedy style were a dark grey color that I absolutely loved. They also featured Hyperion polarization, a feature that protects your eyes from UVA, B, and C while also blocking a negative light range called High Energy Visible (HEV) light. According to Zeal Optics, it’s HEV that’s been cited as a possible cause of cataracts and macular degeneration.

The Felicity – This is one of Zeal Optics’ many women’s styles, and the pair I tested came in Demi Tortoise/Copper (above); they came in a medium fit that was perfect for my head and face. I loved the tight, hidden action of the frame hinges, something that’s normally missing from my (gas-station!) sunglasses. The e-llume lenses of the Felicity style were a copper color, something I didn’t like as well as the dark grey lenses of the Kennedys. Still, they too offered Hyperion polarization, which rendered a crystal clear perception of the world and almost no color distortion.

A favorite feature of both pairs of Zeal Optics glasses was the hypoallergenic ProFlex Rubber placed on the nosepad and stem areas. My previous sunglasses were always sliding down my face when I exercised outdoors. I wore the Zeal Optics glasses while running, on a long road trip, and at a 4th of July concert, and the rubber pads kept them in place–not a single sweaty slip!

Zeal Optics are available from $79, and can be found in their Boulder retail store, online, and at authorized dealers around the world.

Images: Zeal Optics
Main Image Photo Credit: susy ♥

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ColumnLocal Table Tours in Boulder show us why this Colorado town is a foodie hotspot.

Food tourism is nothing new, after all, how long have people gone to Paris in search of fresh baguettes? But as the internet continues to make the world seemingly smaller and inexpensive air travel flourishes, culinary tourism is on the upswing. But culinary tourism isn’t just for gourmands in search of authentically made foie gras or taking the legal steps to ensure that a sense of national food identity isn’t lost, showcasing food is just as important on smaller, local scales.

A local business in Boulder, Colorado is proving that point. Established in 2010, Local Table Tours brings small groups on a culinary walking tour to locally owned restaurants in the heart of this Colorado foodie hotspot. Owner and local food blogger Megan Bucholz launched Local Table Tours after a friend went on a food tour in Seattle and encouraged her to launch a similar venture at home.

With a lot of local residents from the nearby Denver area taking part in her tours, Bucholz has built her business to not only explore food, but benefit the local businesses of Boulder. “The idea of the tour is that at the end you get to decide where you want to return because I want to drive business back to the restaurants.” Her tours include downtown dining tours, market-to-tables tours and even more coffee-centric ones for the caffeine obsessed, because as it turns out, Boulder has a lot to offer.

Compared to New York, San Francisco or Seattle, Boulder is small, but it’s quickly becoming a foodie stronghold, even named Bon Appetit‘s Foodiest Town in 2010. “If you’re into food come to Boulder because you can experience so much in such a small place and the quality is phenomenal,” says Bucholz.

Part of that comes from the creativity and ingenuity of the local culinary crowd; Boulder’s mere location requires some thinking when it comes to food. “We’re in a tough region, our growing season is short. A lot of people want to embrace the farm-to-table approach but if you do you need a strategy,” says Bucholz, pointing out that some restaurants end up storing certain foods so that they’ll have it on hand in the future. She cites the well renowned Salt as an example, noting that last year they stored apples so they could serve them in February. “That takes serious planning.”

As with many aspects of the food movement, it’s easy to assume that these types of tours draw a crowd already obsessed with food and well versed on food issues, but on the contrary, Bucholz welcomes tour participants that come from all kinds of backgrounds, foodies or not, allowing her tours to not only focus on locally owned businesses, but to become a way of educating about local food and agriculture. “I get a lot of guests on my tours that learn in the process,” says Bucholz.

And this is where operations like Local Table Tours have the opportunity to change how we think about food. As Bucholz is quick to point out, not every restaurant that she works with is farm-to-table, but being locally owned businesses they are all committed to a heightened level of awareness when it comes to food. One example she cites is one of her favorite chefs, Theo Adley, who last year opened The Pinyon. “He’s one of the people representing American artisanal foods, and doesn’t have a single thing that’s imported.”

Ultimately, it’s not about promoting one food over another, it’s about promoting a community that’s committed to serving good food and engaging a conversation that addresses food questions.

The advantage of being in such a progressive and creative food-centric town full of locally owned businesses? “It’s always changing. You go in today for dinner, you go in next week there’s something else. It’s never boring unless you’re going to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch,” says Bucholz.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

Image: krossbow

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EcoSalon and Gaiam collaborate for a curated week-long sale.

All this week, EcoSalon, in partnership with Gaiam, is offering daily curated sales featuring ethical fashions that are sure to become some of the more well-loved additions to your wardrobe.

Familiar with Gaiam? Founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1988 by Jirka Rysavy, Gaiam is a valued resource to customers who appreciate the environment, a sustainable economy, healthy lifestyles, alternative health care and personal development. This week, Gaiam is offering a site-wide 10% off coupon so peruse the site and take advantage of the sale. Coupon code will automatically add to your cart. Expires 4.16.11 at Midnight MST.

This week’s curated sale line-up at Gaiam includes:

Tuesday: Natural Bean Necklace $24

Wednesday: Earth Gladiator Sandal $139

Thursday: Grecian Tunic $48

Friday:Gaiam’s Organic Cotton Camisole $30 and Organic Cotton Hipster Panties $32 (3 pack)

Saturday: Mini Thermal Shrug $58 and Organic Bootcut Pant $68

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