VSP Vision Launches Sustainable Eyewear Shipping Boxes

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Today, VSP Vision^™ announced the launch of new responsibly-sourced shipping packages for online retailer Eyeconic^® and Visionworks^® retail locations. The California-supplied packaging is made from 100% FSC^®-certified recycled corrugated materials, non-toxic ink, and zero plastic. The new packages are also curbside recyclable which helps further minimize environmental impact.

Eyeconic ships tens of thousands of eyewear orders each year and transitioning to the new packages will reduce the online retailer’s materials usage by 65%. Visionworks is the sixth largest optical chain in the United States with more than 750 retail locations. The deployment of the new boxes across both VSP Vision companies will save the equivalent of 748 mature trees each year, resulting in the annual removal of 35,904 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air. [1]

“As a purpose-driven company, we embrace the opportunity to create meaningful solutions to protect the environment and the communities we serve,” said VSP Vision Chief Marketing Officer, Wendy Hauteman. “Launching more environmentally friendly shipping boxes is a great way for us to get beautifully designed packages to customers without having to sacrifice our commitment to more sustainable business practices.”

The move to sustainable packaging was conceived by the VSP^® Global Innovation Center (GIC), an arm of VSP Vision that works to reimagine the way eye care and eyewear are delivered to the world. In December 2021, the GIC explored several novel design concepts for eyewear cases made from plastic alternatives, including bamboo, coffee grounds, and mushrooms (mycelium). Those concepts inspired Eyeconic to rethink its existing e-commerce packaging, which resulted in more sustainable shipping boxes designed by the internal creative team at VSP and Berkley International, a California-based packaging supplier and manufacturer.

“The GIC researches emerging technologies, pilots and tests new products and services, and stays connected to the innovation ecosystem to ensure VSP Vision remains a leader in health-focused vision care,” said Senior Director of the VSP Global Innovation Center Ruth Yomtoubian. “Our role within VSP is to enable new thinking through the introduction of emerging solutions and fresh concepts; it's great to see our work in this space serve as a catalyst to the development of more sustainable shipping packages.”  

To learn more about VSP Vision’s commitment to sustainability visit vspvision.com/social-responsibility

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About VSP Vision
At VSP Vision^™, our purpose is to empower human potential through sight. As the first national not-for-profit vision benefits company, this is what drives everything we do. For nearly 70 years, VSP has been the leader in health-focused vision care. Every day, the people that power our complementary businesses—VSP^® Vision Care, Marchon Eyewear, Inc., Visionworks^®, Eyefinity^®, Eyeconic, VSP^® Optics, and VSP^® Ventures—work together to create a world where everyone can bring their best vision to life. That means providing affordable access to eye care and eyewear for more than 85 million members through a network of more than 41,000 doctors. It also means expanding access to vision care to those disadvantaged by income, distance, or disaster through VSP Vision^™ Eyes of Hope^®. To date, more than 3.8 million people in need have received access to no-cost eye care and eyewear through one of our Eyes of Hope programs. Learn more about how we’re reinvesting in greater vision, health, and opportunities for all at vspvision.com.

[1] Berkley International in partnership with the Forest Stewardship Council^® and the Corrugated Packaging Alliance