Trust cuts foam use & lifts recycled plastic share

Trust has released its 2025-2026 Impact Report, highlighting lower foam use in packaging and a greater share of recycled plastic.

Average foam use per package fell from 1.3 grams to 0.5 grams, while recycled plastic rose to 41.1% of Trust's packaging from 29.2%. Plastic's share of total packaging weight also declined from 6.1% to 5.6%.

The accessories maker attributed the changes to packaging redesign, greater use of recycled materials and the replacement of components that are harder to recycle. It presented the results as part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of its products without raising prices for consumers.

Trust also received an EcoVadis Gold medal for the fourth consecutive year, with a score of 81 out of 100. The company said this places it in the top 5% of all businesses assessed by EcoVadis and the top 2% in its industry.

The report outlines a wider sustainability programme covering product design, supplier oversight and waste reduction. During the financial year, Trust carried out 175 product life cycle assessments, giving it a clearer view of where emissions and material impacts sit across its portfolio.

That work is intended to guide decisions on materials, durability, repairability and energy use. Trust said most of its environmental footprint lies in the products themselves, making design choices central to reducing impact.

A consumer example featured prominently in the report was the Yvi+ Wireless Mouse, which uses recycled plastics and comes in plastic-free packaging while selling at the same price as comparable mice.

"Sustainability earns its place when it makes a product genuinely better to own, not when it asks you to pay extra for a good conscience. Take our Yvi+ Wireless Mouse. It's made with recycled plastics, it comes in packaging with no plastic at all, and it costs the same as any comparable mouse on the shelf. Nothing extra to pay, nothing to give up. That's the bar we set for ourselves," said Dorothee de Backer, Head of Product, Marketing and Sustainability at Trust.

The report also points to a wider commercial argument shaping parts of the consumer electronics market. Brands face growing pressure to cut waste, improve traceability and prepare for stricter European rules, while operating in price-sensitive categories where consumers may resist paying a premium for greener products.

Supply chain

At year-end, 85% of Trust's suppliers were covered by a valid social audit programme, including amfori BSCI, SMETA or SA8000. Those suppliers accounted for more than 96% of shipping volume, the company said.

The report says audits, supplier engagement and the Supplier Code of Conduct are being used to strengthen standards across the value chain. The focus extends beyond materials and packaging to labour practices and procurement.

Trust also highlighted work on ergonomics, which it linked to product standards rather than environmental measures alone. It expanded its ErgoCert-certified portfolio to five products: the Bayo II, Bayo II Wireless and Bayo+ mice, the Keyra Ergonomic Keyboard and the Rivara Ergonomic Mesh Gaming Chair.

Separately, the company said it donated more than 800 fully functional products to social and community organisations. These items could not be sold because of damaged packaging, and the initiative was intended to reduce waste while extending product use.

Regulatory pressure

The report also reflects a changing regulatory backdrop in Europe for makers of consumer technology and accessories. Trust said it is preparing for requirements including the Digital Product Passport and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.

Those rules are expected to increase scrutiny of product composition, repairability and lifecycle information. For companies in the accessories market, that could mean more detailed reporting and changes to design and sourcing processes.

Trust also said it is submitting a near-term emissions reduction target aligned with Science Based Targets criteria. While the report focuses mainly on materials, packaging and supply chains, the move indicates a broader effort to formalise climate targets alongside operational changes.

De Backer described product design as central to reducing environmental impact. "Most of our footprint sits in the products themselves, so this is where the real work lies: designing each product to have a smaller impact, year after year. That is the harder, more lasting kind of progress, and it is exactly where we are putting our energy now," she said.