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Logitech Using More Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic

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Logitech International recently committed to incorporating post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) into its products at an increased scale as it works to reduce its carbon footprint and boost product sustainability.

The computer products purveyor with U.S. operations based in Newark, California, said in a press release that in just over a year its most robust product portfolio will feature PCR in 50 percent of its keyboards and mice. The company estimates that this will eliminate 7,100 tons of virgin plastic and 11,000 tons of carbon per year, and that it will incorporate PCR plastic into products that comprise its most units sold worldwide “to drive carbon reduction at an even greater scale.”

Additionally, Logitech pledges total transparency on the PCR amount in each product in an effort to encourage industry innovation and widespread adoption of recycled plastic. 

“We are on a journey to design products for the future. The top area where we can make a significant and long-term impact to reduce carbon is by applying our design for sustainability principles across the product development process,” said Prakash Arunkundrum, Global Head of Operations and Sustainability at Logitech. “Since plastic is one of the most used materials at Logitech, we’re investing in the circular economy by recycling and reusing consumer products to push the limits of what is currently possible for recycled plastic.”

The recently announced initiative is part of a larger, company-wide, PCR push that has gained momentum in recent years.

“Over the last three years, Logitech has focused on increasingly moving to PCR plastic across its most popular product lines as part of its Design for Sustainability efforts,” the company said in the release. Since the launch of the PCR program, the company will have shipped more than 50 million devices made with PCR plastic by the end of next year. Some products containing PCR plastic include the top-selling Logitech K120 and K400 keyboards, C390 webcam, M100 and M190 mice, and the UE HYPERBOOM.” The company says that its latest product to feature PCR is the ERGO M575 mouse that began with a goal to maximize the use of PCR plastic in the designs of the black, graphite, and off-white models.

“Starting with the ERGO M575, each product’s PCR content will be validated by independent, third-party experts and transparently shared on the company’s website. The percentage of recycled plastic in each product will vary depending on the type, color, and material make up of a product. The percent of a product’s plastic parts made of PCR currently ranges from 80% PCR content to no less than 20% for the technically complex lighter color products. Logitech’s design goal is to continue to maximize the percentage of recycled content in each product.”

The company employs an estimated 6,600 people and has reported global sales of $2.98 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020–its best performing year of sales to-date.

Logitech said in the release that it is working alongside plastic designers to curate stronger resins in new colors to increase consumers’ range of possibilities. Not only does the company plan to use eco-friendly materials in its own products, but it will also share them with other companies to help lower the consumer electronics industry’s carbon impact overall. 

The company adds that it is collaborating with external partners to establish a sustainable materials plan for the future “as well as sustainable packaging advancements, ongoing innovation on making lower impact electronic devices and continuing to drive renewable electricity programs.”

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