Closing the Loop: How Lanyard Recycling Is Changing Promotional Merchandise for the Better
How many lanyards are sitting in desk drawers, glove boxes, or kitchen junk drawers right now?Lanyards are one of the most common items in the promotional merchandise world. We hand them out at conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, visitor sign-ins and staff inductions. They’re practical, affordable, and highly visible for branding.But there’s a problem.Too often, lanyards are used once… and then forgotten, binned, or sent to landfill.At Square Peg Promotions, we believe promotional merchandise should never be disposable by default.
That’s why we’re proud to offer a Closed Loop Lanyard Recycling Programme — a smarter, more sustainable way to use one of the industry’s most popular products.
Why Lanyards Deserve a Rethink
Traditional lanyards are usually made from polyester or similar plastics. While durable, they’re rarely recycled through household systems, meaning thousands of perfectly usable lanyards end up as waste every year.For organisations working hard to improve their sustainability credentials, this creates an uncomfortable contradiction: branded items designed to promote your business, quietly harming the planet.We knew there had to be a better way — and now there is.
What Is Closed Loop Lanyard Recycling?
Closed loop recycling means a product is collected, broken down, and remade into new products, rather than becoming waste. In this case, lanyards are transformed back into raw materials that can be reused again and again.It’s the circular economy in action — and it’s happening right here in the UK.
How Our Closed Loop Lanyard Programme Works
We’ve designed the process to be simple, practical, and effective for businesses of all sizes:
- We supply your branded lanyards
High-quality, custom-designed lanyards that still deliver on brand visibility and performance. - You receive a custom-branded eco collection box
Perfect for offices, receptions, conferences, exhibitions, and events. - Lanyards are returned after use
Attendees, staff, or visitors simply drop them into the collection box when they’re finished. - We collect and process them in the UK
The lanyards are sent to a specialist UK recycling facility. - They’re broken down into raw pellets
The fabric is recycled into pellets that can be used to manufacture new products. - Metal clips are removed and reused
Nothing goes to waste — even the metal components are recovered and repurposed.
The result?
No landfill.
No unnecessary waste.
Just a genuinely circular solution.
Why This Matters for Your Business
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore — it’s an expectation. Customers, employees, and event attendees are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of branded merchandise.By choosing closed loop lanyards, your organisation can:
- Reduce waste and carbon impact
- Demonstrate real, measurable sustainability action
- Align promotional products with ESG and CSR goals
- Show attendees that sustainability is more than a tick-box exercise
- Strengthen your brand reputation in a meaningful way
It’s a simple change that sends a powerful message.
Sustainability Without Compromise
One of the biggest myths around sustainable merchandise is that it means compromising on quality or branding.That’s not the case.Our recycled lanyards still deliver on durability, comfort, and visual impact — they just come with a far better end-of-life story.This programme proves that sustainability and effective promotion don’t have to compete. They can work together.
A Smarter Future for Promotional Merchandise.
Closed loop lanyard recycling is just one of the many ways we help our clients make smarter, more responsible choices with their branded merchandise.Whether you’re organising a large-scale conference, running regular events, or issuing lanyards for everyday business use, this programme offers a practical way to reduce waste while still promoting your brand effectively.If your organisation uses lanyards, we’d love to talk about how you can take part in this initiative and close the loop on your promotional products.Because better merchandise doesn’t just promote your business — it reflects your values.
