Moraleyes Combines Socio Eco Values into CSR Business Model

There are many companies who incorporate its CSR business values into the foundation of its business model. Combining philanthropy with (e)commerce has become a wildly successful (and beneficial) retail trend.

Companies such as Edun, Sevenly, and Project 360 base their model on making a monetary donation to a designated charity for every item purchased. Seven Virtues basis its CSR business model on responsible procurement geared towards improving lives globally.

Then there is TOMS Shoes and its “One for One” concept whereby the company donates a pair of shoes for each pair purchased. This simple yet meaningful concept really got the ball rolling and sparked TOMS Eyewear and Warby Parker which apply that same idea to eyeglasses and vision-based philanthropic initiatives. Moraleyes is another like-minded business inspired by TOMS “One for One” concept.

Moraleyes is an online eyewear retailer that will donate a pair of glasses to New Eyes for the Needy for every pair of eyeglasses purchased. “New Eyes for the Needy is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1932 to improve the vision of the less fortunate.” Over time, New Eyes for the Needy have given away 7.5 million pairs of free eyeglasses to those less fortunate in the US and abroad.

images courtesy of moraleyes.com/

Moraleyes’ partnership with New Eyes for the Needy extends beyond distributing the donated eyeglasses from customer purchases. Moraleyes also actively promotes New Eyes for the Needy’s recycling program online and facilitates donation drop-offs through select locations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The recycling program accepts donations such as:

• Plastic eyeglasses, reading glasses and sunglasses in good condition;
• Metal eyeglasses in any condition;
• Hearing aids;
• Pairs of prescription lenses;
• Watches, silver and gold jewelry, and costume jewelry,
• Silverware and giftware; and
• Dentures

If you have any of these items and cannot make it to a location, you can send your donation in a padded envelope or box (use least expensive method of shipping – cost of shipping tax-deductible in the US) to:
New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
PO Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078

“Eyeglasses in good condition are sent to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations. Proceeds from the sale of scrap metal, hearing aids, jewelry and giftware are used to purchase new eyeglasses for poor U.S. residents.”

Moraleyes has managed to differentiate itself for many reasons but the main one would be its holistic approach to CSR business plans. By donating a pair of eyeglasses to New Eyes for the Needy for every pair purchased, Moraleyes are improving the social condition of the world as they are giving the gift of sight to someone less fortunate. By promoting and encouraging the recycling of related items so they don’t wind up in landfills and can be put back to use, considers the environmental condition.

A successful CSR business strategy should grant equal consideration to the social and environmental impact of the business and Moraleyes seem to have gotten it right.

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values and advancing the missions of the non-profits we proudly serve.