Logitech's Approach to Low-Impact Manufacturing
Logitech has spent the last three years embedding carbon reduction and circular design into product development and supplier relationships. The results show in the company's published figures. In financial year 2026, 81% of products were made with post-consumer recycled plastic. Scope 3 emissions fell by 33%. More than 100 suppliers now buy renewable electricity through a scheme the company runs. These are not commitments or targets. They are delivered outcomes in a sector where emissions typically sit in the supply chain, not in head office energy bills.
For UK businesses tracking how multinational manufacturers are responding to net zero pressure, this case offers useful detail. It shows what happens when a hardware company treats sustainability as a design constraint rather than a reporting obligation. It also illustrates the practical levers available: material substitution, supplier engagement, and manufacturing efficiency. These are the same levers that matter for UK SMEs facing questions in tenders, audits, or customer due diligence.
Recycled materials and renewable power now shape product lines
Logitech's approach centres on what it calls Next Life Plastics. In financial year 2024, 73% of products used recycled plastic. By FY25, that figure had risen to 78%. The company also reported 93% renewable electricity across major offices and production facilities in the same period. A year later, in FY26, 81% of products were manufactured with post-consumer recycled plastic.
The shift in packaging tells a similar story. Logitech replaced plastic with paper across its mouse category. According to the company, that change eliminated around 660 tonnes of plastic and avoided 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The figures are specific, attributable, and tied to product decisions rather than offsetting schemes.
Caroline Kennedy, Logitech's Director of Sustainability, has emphasised that the company focuses on hotspots in the product lifecycle. Speaking to Sustainability magazine, she explained that lifecycle and product carbon footprint data help identify which materials, components, and production stages contribute most to emissions. Consequently, the company prioritises those areas rather than spreading effort evenly across all products.
Her advice to other businesses is to start with one product. Prove the model works, then scale what you learn across the wider portfolio. That approach mirrors what many UK SMEs already do when they pilot energy efficiency measures or test lower-carbon materials in a single product line before committing to broader changes.
Supplier collaboration drives the largest carbon reductions
Most of Logitech's emissions sit in Scope 3. That means they come from materials, components, and manufacturing, not from the company's own operations. Therefore, reducing the carbon footprint depends heavily on what suppliers do. Logitech has built two mechanisms to influence that.
The first is the Renewable Electricity Buyers Club. More than 100 major suppliers now participate. Kennedy described this initiative as the largest driver of carbon reduction for the year. It works by pooling demand, which makes it easier for suppliers to secure renewable electricity contracts. For UK businesses working with international supply chains, this model shows how procurement decisions can shift supplier behaviour without requiring direct capital investment.
The second mechanism is the Future Positive Challenge. This programme supports suppliers developing lower-carbon manufacturing processes. One example is Elephantech, which has developed a printed circuit board process using metal inkjet printing and copper plating instead of traditional etching. The new method reduces waste and lowers carbon impact. Logitech has backed this work and integrated it into product development.
These programmes illustrate a broader point. Sustainability in manufacturing is rarely delivered by unilateral action. It requires coordination between buyers and suppliers, often involving shared investment, technical support, or commercial incentives. UK SMEs facing supply chain questions in public sector tenders may find similar opportunities to work with their own suppliers, particularly where renewable energy or material efficiency can be standardised across multiple customers.
Materials and manufacturing dominate the footprint
Logitech's public reports confirm that materials and manufacturing are the dominant sources of emissions. In FY24, the company stated that most Scope 3 emissions came from sourcing and manufacturing materials, components, and products. The company's Sustainability Databook also notes work towards closed-loop and open-loop recovery of critical materials such as copper and aluminium.
This focus on circularity reflects the reality of hardware manufacturing. Each product contains multiple materials, often sourced globally, processed through energy-intensive manufacturing, and assembled in facilities that may or may not run on renewable power. Small improvements in material selection or processing efficiency can therefore produce large emissions reductions when applied at scale.
For example, switching from virgin plastic to post-consumer recycled plastic in a high-volume product line affects thousands or millions of units. Similarly, reducing the number of components in a product simplifies manufacturing, cuts material use, and makes end-of-life separation easier. Logitech designs products for easier disassembly, which supports repair and recycling. The company also runs take-back programmes to recover materials and keep them out of landfills.
These are practical measures, not theoretical ones. They align with the principles that UK SMEs are increasingly expected to demonstrate: circular design, material efficiency, and end-of-life planning. Businesses bidding for public sector contracts under Procurement Policy Note 06/21 will recognise the same themes. Buyers now routinely ask for carbon reduction plans, evidence of supply chain engagement, and commitments to circular economy principles.
Published data from Logitech's sustainability reports
- 78% of products used recycled plastic in financial year 2025, an increase of five percentage points from the previous year.
- 81% of products were manufactured with post-consumer recycled plastic in financial year 2026.
- Scope 3 emissions fell by 33% in FY26, according to the company's published impact highlights.
- 93% renewable electricity usage was reported across major offices and production facilities in FY25.
- Switching from plastic to paper packaging in the mouse category eliminated an estimated 660 tonnes of plastic and avoided 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
- More than 100 major suppliers participate in Logitech's Renewable Electricity Buyers Club each year.
What this tells UK businesses about supplier engagement
The Logitech case demonstrates that supply chain carbon reduction is not a distant goal. It is happening now, driven by multinational buyers who are setting expectations, providing support, and measuring progress. For UK SMEs, this trend has immediate commercial implications. If you supply into international markets, particularly in technology, retail, or manufacturing, your customers may soon ask similar questions about renewable energy, recycled materials, and product carbon footprints.
Kennedy's comments about starting with one product are especially relevant for smaller businesses. You do not need to overhaul every product line or restructure your entire supply chain. Instead, identify the product with the highest emissions or the most straightforward opportunities for improvement. Test changes there. Measure the results. Then scale what works.
This approach reduces risk and keeps costs manageable. It also gives you evidence to share with customers, which strengthens your position in tenders and contract negotiations. Public sector buyers, in particular, expect suppliers to demonstrate ongoing improvement, not perfection. A credible plan with measurable progress often matters more than an ambitious target with no supporting data.
Similarly, the Renewable Electricity Buyers Club model shows how collaboration can unlock options that individual businesses cannot access alone. UK SMEs might explore similar collective purchasing arrangements with peers or through trade bodies. In addition, some suppliers may already participate in renewable energy schemes run by larger customers, which can provide a starting point for your own engagement.
Material choices also matter. Logitech's shift to recycled plastics and paper packaging reflects both regulatory pressure and customer expectations. In the UK, businesses face similar pressures through Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, plastic packaging tax, and buyer requirements. Understanding where your materials come from, what alternatives exist, and how changes affect cost and performance is becoming a core competency, not a niche concern.
Where to find further information and guidance
Logitech publishes detailed sustainability data through its annual impact reports and dedicated sustainability pages. These documents include figures on recycled content, renewable energy, and emissions reductions. The company also provides SASB and SDG disclosures, which offer standardised data useful for benchmarking and comparison. You can access these materials on the Logitech corporate website.
For UK businesses, the government's net zero strategy and supporting guidance provide context on national carbon reduction targets and the role of business. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintains resources on emissions reporting, renewable energy procurement, and supply chain engagement. You can find these at gov.uk.
If you are navigating carbon reporting requirements or preparing for PPN 06/21 compliance, we support businesses through our net-zero programme. This includes carbon footprint measurement, supplier engagement, and evidence gathering for public sector tenders. For businesses looking to build internal capability, SBS Academy offers training on Scope 3 emissions, sustainable procurement, and circular economy principles.
Finally, industry bodies such as the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment provide technical guidance on lifecycle assessment, carbon footprinting, and circular design. Their resources can help you understand the methods behind the figures that companies like Logitech publish, which is useful if you are developing your own measurement or reporting processes.