5 ways businesses can boost profits with recyclable plastic cards

Guest post by Juliette Savage

Have you thought about how damaging the items in your purse or wallet can be to the environment?

The average person has 4 cards in their wallet, usually made from plastic and only used for one thing. To put that figure into perspective, this results in at least 271.4 million cards circulating just the United Kingdom at any given moment. These cards are often debit cards, credit cards and membership cards, and although they are vital to many people, they also cause a large amount of damage to our planet when they expire and are thrown away. Once discarded, these cards can take up to 450 years to decompose, due to the thickness and PVC that they are made from.

Having seen the damage that can be caused by plastic pollution, many brands are making changes to their processes, to ensure they play their part in tackling the crisis. For example, English retailer Selfridges made the switch to their retail gift cards. This transformation saw the retailer change their plastic gift cards to recyclable gift cards. This was part of their on-going plan to go plastic-free.

As a whole, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact their purchases can have on the planet. A survey conducted by Global Data showed that 45% of UK shoppers consider purchasing items that are better for the environment, and are often willing to pay a premium for them. There are many ways businesses can boost profits through their reduction in plastic waste. By making a switch to more sustainable options, brands not only an increase profits but also make a small impact on the environment. If a large number of businesses made this decision, it could have a big impact on the planet.

Here are six benefits of switching from plastic cards to sustainable and recyclable cards -- whether that’s a gift card, membership or loyalty card for your business.

1. Quicker turnaround

One of the main benefits of choosing non-plastic gift cards is that the production time is quicker compared to plastic substitutes. PVC cards can take up to a month to produce, due to more steps necessary in the manufacturing stage. Sustainable replacements have a shorter average turnaround time, meaning that this choice is beneficial for both businesses and the environment.

2. A cost-effective option

In addition to having a quicker turnaround, compostable cards  are a more cost-effective option for brands that want to be more environmentally friendly. Businesses can actually save money by transitioning to compostable cards, with gift cards costing up to  40% less.  This is due to not only quicker manufacturing, but also lower shipping costs, because compostable cards are frequently lighter than their plastic counterparts.

3. The environmentally friendly option

Single-use plastic cards are often made from PVC, which harms the planet. This plastic damages the planet throughout its lifecycle– from production to disposal. The toxins created to produce PVC  get released into the air, water and food chain. PVC is also extremely hard to recycle and isn’t accepted by most recycling systems. This leads to tons of gift cards accumulating in landfills each year. This adds to the existing 8 million tons of rubbish that is discarded each year. Once in the landfills, this waste then continues its journey into our oceans and impacts marine life. Thousands of whales, sea birds, fishes and turtles die each year because of plastic waste. Animals become tangled in discharged fishing nets and mistake rubbish for their prey.

4. The plastic crisis is affecting the food you eat

The plastic in our oceans doesn't only affect marine wildlife and the environment: it affects us as well. Once in the water, the plastic begins to decompose. This is an exceptionally long process that results in tiny pieces of plastic being broken downby the elements and marine life. As these micro plastics made their way through the ocean, they are consumed by ocean wildlife. Research shows that micro plastics make their way into the food we eat, with humans consuming between 39,000 and 52,000 micro plastic particles a year. Scientists are currently unaware of how much plastic the body can consume without it being harmful. However, researchers from Johns Hopkins found that eating seafood that had been contaminated by micro plastics, could result in damage to the immune system and gut.

5. Add to a brighter future

Small changes are essential for both businesses and individuals to reduce the amount of extraneous resources we are consuming. Making the switch from plastic cards to recyclable alternatives can help reduce a brand’s global footprint. By businesses implementing these steps now and being accountable for the actions, the issue of plastic waste can be slowly reversed. These steps must be implemented now before the crisis gets worse. A report by World Wildlife Federation (WWF) shows that CO2 emissions for the plastic life cycle are due to increase, whilst CO2 increase from plastic incineration is set to triple by 2030.

Improve your reputation

Being eco-friendly is becoming increasingly valued by customers. More customers

than ever are choosing brands that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. This has resulted in brands making changes to their products and packages, to be more appealing to their audience. A study conducted by Forbes stated that an astonishing 87% of consumers will have a more positive image of a brand if it supports environmental issues, with millennials being the most likely to share an environmentally friendly brand with friends and family. This evidence demonstrates that brands must start making eco-friendly decisions to stay relevant in the 21st century.

What are we doing to stop the plastic pollution crisis?

Some companies are committed to tackling the plastic waste crisis by offering a range of compostable cards. As more businesses realize the importance of plastic reduction, many are needing alternatives for their membership, loyalty and gift cards. The more businesses that make the switch, the bigger impact our planet and wildlife will see. Our range of gift cards are not only sustainably sourced but are recyclable and biodegradable. We offer also offer short run card printing on all of our card formats, meaning you can start your program with as little as 1000 cards.

Juliette Savage joined the Green Gift Cards, a leading loyalty card manufacturer offering gift card packaging and gift card printing in the UK in Nov 2020, bringing along with her over 12 years’ experience in the gift card industry having managed card programmes for some of the UK’s biggest retail brands.

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