She Was 19 With An Idea. Now Her Glasses Recycling Startup Is Taking Over France

In a high school philosophy class, Ophélie Vanbremeersch found herself absentmindedly turning an old pair of glasses over in her hands when an unexpected question came to her: What happens to our glasses when we’re done with them? That passing moment of curiosity planted the seed for Lunettes de Zac — a sustainable eyewear startup now reshaping how France disposes of, refurbishes, and redistributes prescription glasses.

Now 25, Vanbremeersch is the founder and CEO of a fast-growing circular economy brand that collects used glasses across France, refurbishes them with the help of workers with disabilities, and resells them affordably via flagship stores and optical partners. It’s a business grounded in environmental and social impact — and one that took root while Vanbremeersch was still a student at IÉSEG School of Management in Lille.

“Launching a business so young, I knew I needed more than just an idea,” she tells Poets&Quants. “At IÉSEG, I gained the tools — and the confidence — to grow it.”

STUDENT PROJECT TO SCALABLE SOLUTION

Lunettes de Zac began as a university business game, where Vanbremeersch pitched her glasses upcycling concept instead of the expected craft beer project. The idea resonated. While finishing a bachelor’s degree in finance, she quietly launched her first test store in northern France. As the concept gained traction, she chose to stay in Lille and pursue a Master in International Business at IÉSEG, where she could continue building her company with academic support.

“I came from a finance background, but I needed to learn marketing, negotiation, and management to really lead this company,” she says. “The program helped me round out my skills and immediately apply what I learned to real deals.”

One of those deals came early: negotiating a major distribution agreement with a top French optical chain. Vanbremeersch credits a class on negotiation for preparing her. “We role-played complex deals in class,” she says. “When I was sitting across from decision-makers, I remembered what we’d practiced. That gave me an edge.”

HOW ZAC WORKS: A CIRCULAR MODEL FOR EYEWEAR

The Lunettes de Zac model is simple, effective, and designed for impact. Used glasses are dropped into branded collection boxes located at more than 1,500 partner sites across France — including optical shops, pharmacies, schools, and even supermarkets. Glasses are then sorted and refurbished in Zac’s ateliers, where each pair is handled by workers with disabilities through a partnership with an Établissement ou Service d’Aide par le Travail (ESAT).

Frames are cleaned, lenses are replaced or adjusted, and the glasses are recertified to meet hygiene and optical standards. The refurbished pairs are then sold at affordable prices in Zac’s flagship boutique in northern France, via pop-up stores, or through a growing number of optical partners — more than 400 locations to date. In 2024, Zac signed a major partnership with Atol, one of France’s leading optical retailers.

“The goal is to give every pair of glasses a second life,” Vanbremeersch says. “We reduce waste, promote reuse, and create meaningful jobs for people who are often left out of the workforce.”

RETHINKING THE VALUE OF BUSINESS SCHOOL

Vanbremeersch is aware of the debate over whether business school is necessary for entrepreneurs. In her case, she says, it was essential. “I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs. I didn’t have money or connections,” she says. “IÉSEG became my network. It gave me access to experienced professors, real-world feedback, and a supportive community.”

She also points out the emotional side of entrepreneurship: “At 19, launching a company is incredibly lonely. Being surrounded by other students and having a structure helped me believe I could do it.”

Her advice to aspiring founders? Choose a business program that aligns with your needs. “Don’t just get a general degree,” she says. “If you want to build something, study what will help you launch it — whether that’s marketing, supply chain, or negotiation. And build your network along the way.”

A MISSION-DRIVEN FUTURE

Vanbremeersch’s vision for Lunettes de Zac goes beyond retail growth. She sees the brand as part of a larger movement to make fashion and health care more circular, more affordable, and more inclusive. As France wrestles with sustainability targets and social inclusion goals, Zac offers a working model of both.

“We’re not just a brand,” she says. “We’re a way to think differently about consumption, about waste, and about how companies can have a human impact.”

DON’T MISS INSIDE THE BOLD TRANSFORMATION OF A ‘GRAND ÉCOLE’ BUSINESS SCHOOL

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