Major US retailer makes full changeover to MR™ series as of March 2021

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE )--Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo: 4183; President & CEO: HASHIMOTO Osamu) today announced that its MR™ series of high refractive index lens monomers has been picked up and launched as the standard option in glasses sold by major U.S. retailer Costco Wholesale Corp. (Washington; CEO: W. Craig Jelinek).

In previous years, Costco has mainly offered polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses, which are the standard in the U.S. market. But after having started to move over to lenses based on Mitsui Chemicals’ MR™ series last October, the company is now completing a full switch in March 2021.

Costco holds the optical performance of the MR™ series in high regard, seeing the MR™ series’ concept of lighter, thinner products with more refined performance as an ideal fit with its own goal of providing customers with high-performance products from excellent brands.

Spurred on by having its material adopted as the Costco standard, the Mitsui Chemicals Group will pursue further transition from polycarbonate to lenses based on Mitsui Chemicals’ MR™ series, and further sales growth, as it looks to improve people’s Quality of View (QoV)* in the U.S. market.

*Quality of View (QoV): a measure of quality and satisfaction in all areas related to eyes and eyesight in our lives. The term encompasses vision optimization and comfort, ocular health, and measures to prevent optical diseases.

High refractive index MR™ ophthalmic lens monomers: https://jp.mitsuichemicals.com/en/special/mr/

Making use of an unparalleled material known as thiourethane resin, the MR™ series exhibits characteristics not found in conventional resins. The series is rated highly as a lens brand of its own that underpins the superb quality of the world’s top brand lenses, and is used in many ophthalmic lenses throughout the world.

Miyako Otsuka Corporate Communications Division Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Tel:+81-3-6253-2100 E-mail: Inquiry.Mail@mitsuichemicals.com

Miyako Otsuka Corporate Communications Division Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Tel:+81-3-6253-2100 E-mail: Inquiry.Mail@mitsuichemicals.com