The greenest product may be the one you don’t have to replace. This World Sustainability Day, we’re highlighting how that idea shapes Secure it Forward, Yubico’s social impact initiative. By building YubiKeys to last and giving keys with minor cosmetic imperfections a second purpose, we’re making thoughtful use of the products we create while expanding access to strong security.
Why YubiKeys are designed to last
While much of the tech industry runs on constant upgrades, YubiKeys take a different approach. Their durable, one-piece design has no moving parts and is built to resist tampering, water and crushing. With no batteries or network connection required, they’re designed to deliver reliable security for years.
The YubiKey 5 NFC and YubiKey 5C NFC, the two keys available through Secure it Forward, share this design. Yubico also designs its products and packaging to be as light and flat as possible, helping reduce shipping volume and associated transportation emissions.
By designing products for longevity, we can help reduce the need for frequent replacements and the electronic waste that comes with them.
A second life for every key
Sometimes a YubiKey leaves production with a minor cosmetic blemish. It works exactly as it should, but may not meet the visual standards for commercial sale. Rather than discarding these keys, Yubico puts them to purposeful use through Secure it Forward, donating them to eligible nonprofit and civil society organizations around the world.
Every YubiKey distributed through the program is upcycled this way, delivering the same trusted security as commercially available YubiKeys.
The packaging itself tells the story: “Like you, this YubiKey is unique and has been upcycled to support our sustainability efforts. While this key may have a slight cosmetic blemish, it’s built with the highest level of security.”
The impact of this approach extends well beyond reducing waste. As of September 2026, Yubico has donated more than 115,000 YubiKeys, representing over $6.5 million USD in estimated retail value, through Secure it Forward since 2022. Those keys have supported more than 500 nonprofit and civil society organizations across 60+ countries and six continents, helping protect the digital systems and information they depend on to carry out their work.
That’s more than 110,000 opportunities to put functional hardware to work instead of letting cosmetic imperfections determine its future.
This World Sustainability Day, we’re celebrating keys that are built to last and the idea that a product doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference.
To learn more about Secure it Forward or apply for support, visit: https://www.yubico.com/why-yubico/secure-it-forward/
