About us
We turn Disused
something Valuable.
Since 2004, we have been transforming discarded advertising materials into high-quality upcycled bags - handmade, sustainable and each piece is unique.
20+
Years of experience
in upcycling
500k+
Produced
Unique bags
97%
Recycled content
Original pictures from 2005 - the first unique pieces made from army and lorry tarpaulins
The story
Founded in 2004
An idea from the
Study programme. A company
for life.
It was one of those simple questions that change everything: What actually happens to all the banners, tarpaulins and exhibition walls when a campaign is over?
The idea was born during his studies to make rugged, unique bags from used advertising banners and lorry tarpaulins - each piece a one-off with a history.
„The idea was simple: make bags out of them. Cool and sustainable. Customised and durable. And for laptops! All at once.“
And as laptops started to become part of student equipment at the beginning of the 2000s, the first bags under the b.payne label were student bags with a padded laptop compartment.
In 2004, the study idea became a company. Every bag that leaves our factory is proof that sustainable management and genuine style need not be a contradiction in terms.
Today, 20 years later, we work with a well-coordinated team totalling 30 people - in Neu Wulmstorf near Hamburg and at our partner plant in Poland.
The team
Five people. One common conviction.
Berrick Payne
Founder & Managing Director
Berrick developed Recyclingbags.de from an idea he had at university and has continued to develop it ever since. His motivation was the same then as it is now: to combine sustainable business with genuine craftsmanship.
SINCE 2005
Jessica Payne
Marketing & Customer Relations
Jessica brings marketing expertise and knows the needs of our B2B customers inside out. She knows how to turn an upcycling project into a real PR story.
SINCE 2010
Aiga Höppner
Graphics & customer care
Aiga is the creative constant in the team. She looks after our customers from the first draft to the finished bag and ensures that every branding fits - visually and in terms of content.
SINCE 2019
Lia Payne
content & media
Lia is the youngest member of the team and brings a breath of fresh air. As a budding communications and media designer, her expertise flows directly into our external communications - social media, graphics, photography and video.
SINCE 2025
Carmen Haesloop
Accounting & Administration
Carmen pulls all the strings together in the background. She ensures that deadlines are met, bookkeeping is correct and accounting runs smoothly - so that the rest of the team can concentrate fully on the customers and production.
SINCE 2023
The plant in Poland
All bags are made by hand in our partner factory in Grünberg, Poland. Once a week, we bring the collected customer material to the factory by collective shuttle service.
There they are cleaned, cut, sewn, branded and packaged by hand.
30
Experienced specialists at the plant in Grünberg
01 Material delivery by collective shuttle service
02 Cleaning on both sides by specialists
03 Manual cutting according to pocket model
04 Sewing & customised equipment
05 Branding application & quality control
06 Packing & dispatch by DHL / forwarding agent
Our values
What drives us - since day one.
Upcycling as an affair of the heart
Our bags visibly carry the stories of their previous use - every banner, every tarpaulin tells of festivals, trade fairs and events or has been on the streets for years.
Upcycling instead of disposal
We believe that high-quality material deserves a second life. Every bag is proof that sustainability and quality are not a contradiction in terms.
Craftsmanship instead of mass-produced goods
None of our products come off the production line. Every cut, every seam, every piece is made by hand - you can see and feel that.
Unique pieces instead of off the peg
Because the source material is different every time, every bag is different too. That's not a mistake - that's the concept. Limited. Unique. With a history.
Transparency - no greenwashing
For us, transparency means open communication, comprehensible processes and honest insights into our production.
Becoming more sustainable together
Do you have materials that deserve a second life? Or are you looking for a special sustainable corporate gift? Talk to us!