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For many organisations, having sustainable solutions is
crucial to ensuring that their daily operations are as eco-friendly as
possible, and many see biodegradable materials as the solution. This, however,
is not always the case.
Whilst biodegradable sounds like the most natural form of material that can be accessed, it often has a bigger negative impact on the environment. Here at ID Card Centre, we research all eco-friendly options to ensure that they are as kind to the environment as they claim to be.
There are different types of biodegradable plastic, and the
impact they have on the planet is dependent on what they are originally made
from. Some biodegradable materials are made from naturally occurring resources,
but many of the products available today are standard PVC or other types of
plastic, coated in an additive which is then counted towards their
biodegradable status.
The issue with the latter is that whilst these products may
be biodegradable in certain conditions, most countries - the UK in particular -
does not have the correct facilities for materials to degrade in an
environmentally friendly way.
For these materials to biodegrade in a non-harmful way,
landfills must have a specific biological make-up which encourages microbial
activity. If these conditions are not met, the items do not degrade and
therefore contribute to plastic waste which may damage the environment.
Alongside this, some people may think that biodegradable materials can be discarded in their regular recycling collection. This is highly damaging to the recycling process, as the additive can contaminate recycled plastic and prevent it from being fully recyclable and used to make something else - therefore adding to unnecessary waste.
To prevent accidental contamination, we recommend switching
to plastics that are fully recyclable. To ensure you're using the right
products, we advise checking the type of plastic that the item is made from.
There are 7 types of plastics, but not all are commonly
recycled. There are two main ones:
Products made from these materials are marked with a 1 (PET)
or a 2 (HDPE).
Alternatively, if you can't find what you're looking for in an eco-friendly material, many products are made in Britain with a significantly lower carbon footprint when compared to similar items manufactured overseas.
There are a number of products which are made from eco-friendly materials, all of which can be combined to create a durable identity solution.
The very base of your identity solution is the cards that
you print onto, and traditionally these would be made from PVC (polyvinyl
chloride). PVC is widely used across a range of applications, but is difficult
to recycle due to the complex process. It can also contaminate regular plastic
recycling streams, preventing them from being reused for different products.
To prevent this and easily dispose of cards after their life
cycle, we recommend switching to paperboard cards. Manufactured by enviricard,
these paper cards are made from 100 % paper, whilst remaining durable and
versatile. The entire production process is motivated by sustainable
commitments, with all materials used coming from bioenergy and natural
sources.
Print in colour and produce double sided designs with a
standard desktop ID card printer (for full compatibility, please see
here).
These cards are ideal for replacing your plastic ID badges, especially for short term use such as event ticketing or membership cards. We recommend shredding them after use, before taking them to your local recycling centre for secure disposal.
If you require access control cards or a more long term solution, we stock a full range of eco cards made from more sustainable plastics. FOTODEK® offer white plastic cards that degrade into compost within three years of disposal. These can either be plain plastic ID cards or can feature magnetic stripes or signature panels, for the production of access control printed cards.
To display your ID cards, we recommend using ID holders made
from rigid plastic. These are ideal for ensuring your staff can always be
identified, and with our range of colours, you can match any branding.
But just how are they sustainable?
ID Card Centre's Evohold range are recyclable ID card holders, meaning they can be disposed of in your regular recycling collection. Alongside this, many recyclable card holders are manufactured in the UK. This reduces their carbon footprint as the products do not have to be imported and flown overseas, therefore making them a more green option for organisations looking for eco friendly products.
Many lanyards are made from RPET (recycled polyethylene
terephthalate), which is a material made from 100% recycled plastics. This is
usually things like plastic bottles and packaging, that have already been
post-consumer recycled and then turned into something new.
Alongside RPET, we also offer lanyards that are made from
bamboo. As a natural product, we can offer premium quality personalisation,
which can include printing your logo and other personal information. Bamboo
offers natural antibacterial properties, making it ideal for a range of
environments.
Lanyards that are made from natural and recycled material
are durable and comfortable, offering a range of different clip types depending
on your requirements.
All of our lanyards come with plastic j clips, metal clips or badge reels to help you attach them to your accessories.
To find out more about ID Card Centre's eco credentials,
please don't hesitate to get in touch with a member of our expert team. We
offer bespoke products, or alternatively, you can shop our range of stock items
for guaranteed high-quality customer service and fast delivery.
