Madrid, May 26, 2026. According to the World Health Organization, 90% of visual impairments are concentrated in low-income countries, and many could be prevented with appropriate measures. With the aim of reversing this situation and promoting a circular economy, the ALAIN AFFLELOU Foundation has established a strategic partnership with GLS, a leader in logistics services, to strengthen the “Give Your Glasses a Second Life” project.
This collaboration brings together the social commitment of four key players: the ALAIN AFFLELOU Foundation, which leads the project; the ALAIN AFFLELOU optical network, which makes its stores available to the public; GLS Spain, which integrates this initiative into its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy by contributing its logistics capabilities; and Lions Club International, which participates in the product refurbishment process.
A coordinated chain of solidarity
The process begins in the 384 ALAIN AFFLELOU optical stores across Spain, where customers and citizens can deposit their unused glasses in collection boxes. Once collected, GLS Spain takes over: its couriers pick up the donations and transport them free of charge to the Melvin Jones Refurbishment Center in San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante).
This center, managed by Lions Club International, is where each frame is sorted and refurbished. Thanks to the efficiency of GLS Spain’s transport network, collection and distribution are streamlined, optimizing process times so that the glasses can reach international humanitarian missions more quickly.
The role of citizens and the circular economy
To encourage participation, a circular economy component has been incorporated: those who donate their glasses can scan a QR code at the collection point to obtain incentives for their next purchase at ALAIN AFFLELOU. This promotes responsible consumption and raises awareness of the importance of not discarding products that still have useful life.
Real impact figures
The results of the past year reflect the scale of the project: of the 35,072 glasses donated by customers through the optical network, 9,325 units were refurbished. Since the initiative began, the total exceeds 136,000 glasses that have transformed the lives of thousands of people.
“We are very proud of this partnership with GLS, as it strengthens the bridge between our optical stores and the final destination of the aid. This alignment of values between the Foundation, our commercial network and a top-tier logistics partner allows us to be far more ambitious in our social purpose,” says Eva Ivars, CEO of ALAIN AFFLELOU Spain and secretary of the Foundation.
“For GLS Spain, it is a pleasure to put our logistics network at the service of initiatives that generate real social impact. Through this collaboration, we facilitate the collection and transport of donated glasses to the refurbishment center, helping the solidarity chain to operate efficiently. This project reflects how, through our ESG and corporate responsibility strategy, logistics can also become a tool to drive the circular economy and improve people’s lives,” says Félix Biedma, Senior ESG, Corporate Responsibility & Compliance Manager at GLS Spain.
About the ALAIN AFFLELOU Foundation
The ALAIN AFFLELOU Foundation has been working since 2007 with the conviction that good vision and hearing are fundamental rights for everyone. Its work focuses on promoting awareness, prevention, and diagnosis of visual and hearing problems, both in Spain and internationally, with special attention to children.
The Foundation’s activities are structured around three strategic pillars:
- Awareness and Prevention: promotes visual and hearing health through educational campaigns, encouraging the importance of early detection (+100,000 children’s eye tests and +70,000 glasses donated).
- Support for Vulnerable Groups: develops social initiatives and collaborations with organizations such as the Red Cross (+6,500 glasses donated), El Desierto de los Niños (+8,000 screenings carried out and +10,000 glasses delivered), and Lions Club, in order to bring visual and hearing health to those who need it most.
- Innovation and Research: supports projects and studies that contribute to scientific, technological, and social progress in the fields of vision and hearing.
The ALAIN AFFLELOU Foundation reaffirms its commitment to improving people’s quality of life by promoting healthy vision and hearing as a driver for equal opportunities.
More information: https://www.afflelou.es/fundacion/
About GLS Spain
GLS Spain is a subsidiary of the GLS Group, a leading provider of national and international parcel, freight, and express delivery services, with a presence in more than 50 countries. Thanks to its extensive network of logistics centers and strong knowledge of local markets, GLS connects its customers to millions of shipments daily through a high-quality, flexible, and customized service across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
As a group, GLS delivered 926 million parcels in the 2024–2025 financial year, supported by a structure of more than 1,700 centers, a fleet of over 42,000 trucks and delivery vehicles, and an Out-of-Home network exceeding 117,000 parcel drop-off and collection points.
In Spain, GLS operates more than 600 owned sites and agencies, complemented by over 10,000 GLS Points (convenience points and parcel lockers) and more than 4,900 delivery vehicles and couriers.
The Madrid KM0 Hub, with a surface area of over 33,000 m², is the main logistics center and headquarters of GLS Spain. It features advanced logistics technology, including automated sorting systems capable of handling up to 50,000 parcels per hour, enabling an operational flow of more than one million shipments per day during peak periods.
GLS has 3 Artificial Intelligence Hubs in Europe, each specializing in a key business area. Spain’s CX & Sales AI Hub is the driving force behind the Group’s digital transformation in customer experience, marketing, and sales.
For more information, visit: www.gls-group.com/ES/
APPLE TREE
Paula Valdés / Paula Fernández
T. 913 190 515
PR_AFFLELOU@APPLETREE.AGENCY