Reusable shipping bags for eyewear and optics

Eyewear & optics

Frames and uncut lenses go out for glazing, the finished pair of glasses comes back to the store - in optical retail, custom work travels every single day.

With reusable shipping bags from hey circle this turns into a closed loop: 94 % less packaging waste than a single-use cardboard box (Box L over 50 cycles, Ökopol life cycle assessment 2023) and better protection for frames and lenses.

Box L compared with a single-use cardboard box of the same size containing 80 % recycled material, calculated over 50 cycles. Data source: Ökopol life cycle assessment. The 53 % are an average from real customer calculations.

How the loop works

You ship frames and lenses in the hey circle bag to the glazing lab or the central warehouse. The finished pair of glasses comes back in the very same packaging. And the loop starts over - around 50 cycles on average.

If empty bags pile up, they go back with an enclosed return label or bundled together at low cost.

  • Pack & close

    • Place glasses, case or lenses safely inside the bag
    • Close the bag with the all-round zip for tamper-evident protection - no tape needed
    • Optionally secure the shipment with a security seal

  • Ship

    • Stick the shipping label onto the label holder
    • Hand the parcel over to your carrier as usual
    • hey circle is carried without issue by all major parcel services - specialised carriers such as Transmed work just as well

  • Return

    • The finished pair of glasses comes back in the same bag - or the empty bag returns with an enclosed return label
    • Peel off the old label without residue, stick on the new one
    • Fold empty bags flat, collect them or refill them right away - no single-use cardboard box per shipment

Eyewear & optics & reusables: a dream team

  • High frequency

    Between store, glazing lab and wholesaler, shipments run every day - the more often the bag travels, the bigger your advantage over single-use.

  • Save three times over

    According to the Ökopol life cycle assessment (2023), the hey circle Box L saves 94 % packaging waste and 76 % CO2 over 50 cycles compared with a single-use cardboard box of the same size containing 80 % recycled material. Packaging costs fall by 53 % on average, based on real customer calculations. In live use at pricon: up to 97 % CO2 saved per bag.

  • Protection

    Frames and lenses are precision work. Dimensionally stable bags with padding protect better than cardboard or a bubble mailer - verified in a drop test from 80 cm.

  • Regulation

    The PPWR has applied since 12 August 2026. From 2030 it sets reuse targets for certain transport packaging such as plastic crates and pallets; boxes made of cardboard or paperboard are exempt. Whether your shipping is affected depends on format and supply relationship - we are happy to check this with you.

Matching packaging

View all

pricon: 6,200 optical stores in a reusable loop

pricon GmbH, a leading wholesaler for optical stores, ships around 90 % of its deliveries to 6,200 stores in customised reusable shipping bags from hey circle - recognised with the German Sustainability Project Award 2025. Return management works without a deposit: enclose a return label, send the empty bag back with the next shipment. Read the full story

In hey circle we found a partner that offers quality and transparency. The environmental benefits and the tailor-made solutions in particular won us over.

Matthias Köste | Managing Partner, pricon GmbH

Frequently asked questions

How do frames and lenses travel safely between the specialist store and the glazing lab?

In a shuttle loop with reusable shipping bags - as at pricon, where around 6,200 eyewear and optics specialist stores are supplied in customised bags, including return management without a deposit.

How does the packaging come back in the health crafts?

Usually directly in a shuttle loop: the made-to-measure item comes back in the same packaging. Alternatively, collected and bundled return shipping works too.

Is reusable shipping worth it for small businesses?

What matters is shipping frequency, not company size: if you work with the same partners regularly, you benefit from the first loop onwards.

How can you save with reusables?

Our team will be happy to advise you on the benefits of reusable shipping packaging for your shipping loop.

Get advice now