Logitech is not only one of the manufacturers whose products are the most widely used in offices and desktops around the world, it is also one of the benchmarks in gaming and, for some time now, in streaming. The company is betting heavily on new technologies at a time when teleworking has exploded enormously.
And it is doing so thanks to two fundamental factors, that are not only important for the companyalso for its relationship with users and the environment: sustainability and ergonomics.
At a time when all eyes are on energy efficiency, on the use of recycled materials and, above all, on making life easier for those who choose to work in mixed environments, home and office, the challenges to remain a benchmark in the industry have become extremely complicated.
The company has told us in depth about the challenge of combining sustainability and technology in its products and, at the same time, continuing to offer a portfolio of peripherals that remain a benchmark in the market. It is a strategy with which to build the workspace of the future, combining, as we say, the use of sustainable materials and generating an ecosystem that allows, not only Logitech, but also the entire industry, to offer cutting-edge and environmentally friendly products. and with the user.
With a user increasingly concerned about sustainability, Logitech has had to rethink some concepts when designing the workspace of the future, of which its products are the protagonists. The bottom line is that has integrated sustainability early in its design and development processes.
A process Logitech calls Design for Sustainabilityand which basically consists of rethinking the conception of its products with sustainability as a starting point from the earliest stages of each prototype, which in the future will become a viable product used by millions of people on a daily basis.
The workplace of the future is equal parts sustainable and hybrid
This change is crucial when it comes to proposing a product, it implies that the company has had to invest enormous efforts, not only in the design of new, more sustainable materials, but also in engineering, design and architecture throughout the entire production chain. . How?
- Designing for sustainability, to ensure that each generation of Logitech products is better than the last, with an increasingly lower carbon footprint.
- That all its partners and suppliers, a fundamental part of production, turn towards the use of renewables. Also the rest of the industry.
- That the total residual impact of its carbon footprint in each stage of the value chain is reduced, until it is 100% positive.
- Completely rethink the entire line of business, innovating in the materials used in its products, in the entire supply chain and in how it reaches users.
Logitech already uses 100% renewable electricity in all its production centers
The direct result is the launch of tremendously technologically advanced products, but very respectful of the environment. For example, taking the recently released MX Mechanical and MX Master S3 as a benchmark, Logitech has reduced carbon footprint by 40% while bringing to market a product that is the gold standard for productivity.
The challenges have not been few: they have had to optimize the architecture inside the keyboard to use fewer materials, but at the same time maintain the strength and rigidity of the chassis. The end product is made with recycled plastics and low-carbon aluminumenvironmentally friendly.
Along the way, 18 months of testing different materials and various prototypes on the drawing board. And it is an example that can be extended to the entire Logitech catalog and that will be much more so in the coming months and years. For now, the numbers are spectacular, considering that most Logitech products use plastic almost entirely; today, 65% of the mice and keyboards in its catalog include recycled plastics, and the objective, as is logical, is that they be 100%.
And it is that, although it seems simple, from Logitech they told us how complicated it is to work with recycled plastics for depending on what products. Not only because of the differences it implies with respect to virgin plastic, but also because it means rethinking concepts in terms of design and durability. And above all, why involve rethink the production process to continue offering the user an outstanding product.
How a Logitech mouse is designed to be sustainable from conception to end of life
It all starts with the idea of the product itself. Who is it for? It is a different approach from the rest of the industry, since the company designs products with individual use in mind, but that they serve everyone. From Logitech they affirm that their design processes they are focused on individual needs attending to specific needs.
Raised this, it’s time to get to the design. Although it varies from product to product, we at Logitech were told that the development process for a mouse or keyboard, for example, can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months from conception to when it hits stores. And along the way, all possible scenarios are considered.
Once it is clear what product is going to be created and to whom it is intended, the sustainability objectives are analyzed, in a process in which all parties participate, from design, engineering and business, to suppliers and materials that can be used. or cannot be used. Along the way, different concepts are designed using various materials, the internal components and everything that surrounds the product.
This is a fundamental section, since Logitech designs the product measuring at all times the impact of raw material extraction and manufacturing. And they take into account everything from the materials they can use to reduce the carbon footprint in the manufacture of the components, to the final assembly.
The entire process involves analyzing the possible carbon footprint during the production of all the parts and this point also includes the mechanical and electrical engineering components, as well as the final packaging that the user receives. Measurements are crucial for decision making, especially when choosing one material or another during manufacturing.
9,764 tons of plastic recycled to date and 22,835 tons of CO2 saved
In addition, the company does not only take into account the impact of the product itself when designing and producing it. You also have to analyze during the initial phases what is going to happen when the mouse leaves the factory. That is why the impact of all transport is taken into account, from the initial journey from the assembly line to the distribution centerand then from the distribution center to the store shelf.
Logitech’s ultimate goal is to be 100% emissions positive across its value chain by 2030, have all of its products designed for sustainability, and increase the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials across all product lines. .
Logitech is the first to bet everything on sustainability, but the most important challenge is not being the only one
However, the challenge is to push the industry to follow in his footsteps. This is perhaps the most complicated. In Logitech they have some ideas to carry it out. It was the first consumer electronics company to commit to providing detailed carbon impact labeling on its product packaging. In all. But they don’t want to be the last. It is a way to invite the rest to follow in their footsteps, while making the buyer a more informed consumer of the impact of the products he uses. And that’s why they designed the Carbon Clarity Index.
Here is an important note. Logitech wants the entire industry to follow in their footsteps, and they’re not holding anything back. The company says that they are willing to share their methodology and processes with everyone, with the idea that other companies will join, also their most direct competition.
The goal is as ambitious as it is important: that the workplace of the future be as sustainable as possible. And it seems that, at the moment, Logitech is getting it.