How can I reuse or recycle lanyards?

LanyardsWe’ve had an email from Nicole asking what she can do with a big bag of lanyards from a conference that has already taken place.

I actually thought about them (but forgot again) a few weeks ago because we’ve got a few floating around from a conference we went to last year (shoutout to LUGRadio Live) – they’re great for hanging your nametag around your neck while you’re there but afterwards…

Actually one of our friends uses an old one to hang his keys around his neck (his trouser pockets are always holey, disturbingly holey) and another friend uses one on a USB key so it doesn’t get lost as easily – but that’s only a few uses, possibly only good for my disorganised friends.

Any other suggestions for Nicole?

(In case you’re not familiar with them, lanyards are usually just a loop for webbing, like a wide shoe lace, with a metal clip or ring at one end. They’re usually about 50cm in length.)

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14 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle lanyards?”


  1. Jo says:

    In Brighton and london there are a lot of community like conferences and events run – such as barcamp
    http://www.barcampbrighton.org/

    Barcamp is a free, community run event – and as such i am sure could make use of these… maybe you could find another mini conference or event which would welcome the use of them :)

  2. Kris says:

    Donate them to a women’s shelter or a children’s program. Somebody there might need them.

  3. Ebren says:

    Offer them to a local hospital especially the operating theatres. We all use various lanyards to hold our locker keys whilst at work ~ those theatre scrubs have a tendancy to ‘eat’ keys sometimes . . .

  4. Ashley Sue says:

    For about a year, I was obsessed with carrying a lanyard with my key on it… of course, it was my dorm key when I lived on college campus, so it made sense, and EVERYONE carried their dorm key that way…

    Then we couldn’t keep our phone hanging on the wall, so I actually finnagled the phone to a pole with my roommate’s unused lanyard.

    Maybe not that applicable of an idea, but you never know what will spark a great idea!

  5. Jodie says:

    I think I would cut the metal parts off (save them of course because they’ll be good for some other unforseen project)… and use the strap for handbag/ tote handles. You’d probably want to cover the straps with something (ribbon, fabric) since you don’t want the logos on your handbag, but the lanyard strap would give it a little bit more sturdiness.

    • Jodie says:

      I forgot to mention, you could also weave the straps since there are so many of them and make placemats, etc. The possibilities are endless!

  6. Andy says:

    Post them on freecycle, I had to pay £1 for mine to use at work!

  7. Russell says:

    Use them as leg straps for bicyclists. I use mine for that very purpose and it works fine.

  8. Kelly says:

    How about using them as yarn? You could cut off the metal parts and make really sturdy coasters or iPod pockets. That’s what I would do with them.

  9. stacey says:

    donate them to a school where kids ned to wear id’s or prizes are needed.

  10. Roger says:

    i aways loose my keys but always carry a bag with my coursework in it. depending on the thickness of the material you can cut then sew the metal clippy bit onto the inside of a bag and connect your keys.

  11. Kim says:

    Roger, I second your idea. They’d make really great straps for homemade grocery bags, and you’ve got a key holder already attached!

  12. Gulia says:

    Obviously, they can be used for sewing projects.
    Turm it into a pet leash.
    Key chain holder.
    Hang an Ipod on it.
    Turn them into laces, by gluing rolled plastic to the edges.
    Hang pictures on a wall Martha Stuart style.
    The cheerleading pom poms for little girls. You can even paint them.
    Attach to the stick and wash the floors ( without metal parts).
    Funky earrings for Halloween.
    Improvised measuring tape.
    Unique window curtains. Cut one side and let it hang. Place rings on a rod.



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