Recycled plastics
Moving away from single-use plastics in materials and components
Plastic is used across many products because it’s durable, versatile, and cost-effective — but it’s also a problem when it becomes single-use waste. Wherever plastic is still required for performance or safety, our goal is to shift the material toward recycled, recyclable, or renewable alternatives.
That means updating raw materials and components over time, product group by product group, based on what can be changed without compromising quality or function.
We’ve also developed product options that use biodegradable materials where appropriate — for example PLA-based components — and pair them with responsible production choices like recycled paper where it makes sense.
A pinback button made from biodegradable PLA plastic, designed to break down under the right conditions over time
Lanyards are one of the fastest areas of change in our range. We’re steadily replacing traditional polyester lanyards with RPET options made from recycled plastic bottles — turning recovered PET into yarn that can be woven and printed for durable, high-use products.
We also use established recycled-yarn suppliers (including REPREVE® by Unifi®) to support consistent quality and availability at scale.
Some components, like safety breakaway buckles, still rely on plastic for performance and safety. Because these parts must work reliably, material changes require careful testing. Where possible, we also introduce reduced-plastic composites (such as wheat-straw blends) to lower overall plastic content without compromising function.
Lanyards made from recycled RPET plastic, with ongoing development toward lower-plastic safety components
We apply the same proven printing methods used for RPET lanyards to other products like tube scarves, microfiber cloths, and mousepads — expanding recycled-material options across multiple product groups.
RPET materials can cost slightly more than standard polyester, which can affect pricing. As volumes grow and sourcing improves, the goal is to narrow that gap while keeping quality and delivery performance consistent.
