Lanyards started as a purely practical item: a strap to stop a whistle, knife or key from getting lost. Today a lanyard is often the most visible piece of branding an organisation owns. Here are the trends we see in what UK schools, businesses, charities and event organisers are ordering, and what they mean if you are planning your next batch of personalised lanyards.
1. Full-colour printing has become the default
Not long ago, most printed lanyards were limited to one or two flat colours. Digital dye sublimation changed that. The ink is bonded into the fabric, so logos with gradients, photos and fine detail print cleanly and don’t crack or peel. Both sides are printed for the same price, which is why dye sublimation is now our best-selling style.
Screen printing on flat polyester is still a great choice for simple logos in up to four Pantone-matched colours, and it is often the most economical option for large orders.
2. Sustainable materials are on the shopping list
More buyers now ask what their lanyards are made from and what happens to them afterwards. Our eco lanyards come in three materials:
- Recycled PET, made from plastic drinks bottles.
- Bamboo fibre, which is biodegradable in the right composting conditions.
- GOTS organic cotton, for a soft, natural feel.
The simplest sustainable choice of all is a lanyard that gets reused. A design without dates or event names can be handed out year after year instead of being thrown away after one day.
3. Colour-coding for security and safeguarding
Schools, hospitals and large workplaces increasingly use lanyard colours to show who someone is at a glance: staff in one colour, visitors in another, contractors in a third. It is quicker than reading an ID card and it helps people spot anyone who shouldn’t be there. Our pre-printed lanyards (Staff, Visitor, Contractor, Security and more) and plain lanyards in 24 colours make a colour system easy to set up.
4. Safety breakaways as standard
A lanyard around the neck can catch on machinery, door handles or playground equipment. Safety breakaway clips release when the strap is pulled hard, and they are now something most schools, hospitals and event organisers ask for by default. We recommend them for anyone under 16 and for public events.
5. Lanyards as merchandise
Festivals, sports clubs, universities and charities increasingly treat lanyards as merchandise people keep, not just disposable passes. That pushes demand towards better materials, bolder designs and full-colour print, and towards matching accessories such as silicone wristbands, badge reels and lapel pins.
6. Designing online before you buy
Buyers want to see what they are getting before they commit. You can now design your lanyard online, choose the style, width and colours, and see a preview straight away. Every order still gets a free digital proof to approve before production, so nothing is printed until you are happy.
What hasn’t changed
For all the new options, the basics still matter most: a clear design, accurate brand colours, a comfortable strap and the right clip for the job. If you are unsure which style suits you, tell us what the lanyards are for and we will recommend one.
