Innovation in your hands: The future of sustainable card solutions

The real cost of plastic cards

Since at least 1959, cards have been made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They’re familiar, but as awareness grows, the full picture of plastic card production is coming into focus. Considering each plastic card will take 400-500 years to decompose, every time a new card is issued, it adds to the ever-growing pile destined for landfill. Even when cards are rarely recycled, the reality is that the infrastructure is limited, and the process is highly cost-ineffective.

The extent of this environmental impact of cards is not limited to just disposal. To manufacture PVC cards, it requires significant energy and resources, contributing to carbon emissions and environmental harm. For businesses that place ‌great importance on sustainability, this creates a fundamental misalignment.

A plant-based innovative solution

This is where innovation meets real world impact. enviricard presents a solution to this 70+ year old problem. Offering a complete rethinking of what cards can actually be. Made from plant-based materials instead of petroleum-based plastics, enviricards reduce your plastic waste to zero, all whilst reducing your carbon emissions by 57%. 

enviricard’s plant-based solution provides a genuinely sustainable solution. Our enviricards are crafted for a circular economy. Every enviricard is independently verified as fully recyclable in standard paper recycling (PFR) mills and are biodegradable and compostable in industrial facilities under EN13432 standards. This ensures that our cards are part of a truly sustainable system.

What makes our compostable and biodegradable cards so effective is their support from our paper source. Supplied by Holmen Board and Paper from their sustainably managed forests, enviricard can promise our cards are made from environmentally responsible paper production.

Why customers care more than ever

Consumer behaviour has shifted dramatically in recent years. Sustainability is now a mainstream expectation. Studies show consistently that consumers are happy to pay more for premium products and services that demonstrate genuine environmental commitment. 

Despite this clear change in customer perception, businesses often get this wrong. Consumers can spot greenwashing from a mile away. What matters is making genuine, tangible changes to improve your carbon emissions and environmental responsibility that customers can feel and experience. This is the kind of authentic sustainability that builds trust with your customer base and highlights your business is making meaningful environmental decisions. 

The Strategic Advantage

For small businesses competing against medium and large companies, differentiation is vital. An eco-friendly card programme isn’t just environmentally responsible, it’s a fantastic tool to differentiate your products or services and display forward-thinking leadership. Every time a customer uses an enviricard, you’re reinforcing positive brand associations with every interaction. As a result, each card enhances brand sustainability. 

The momentum around sustainability, especially in the UK, is accelerating. In a 2018 NielsenIQ study, they identified that 73% of global consumers say they would definitely or probably change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact. Furthermore, 81% of respondents said that it’s very important that companies implement initiatives to improve the environment. As customer expectations continue to rise, businesses that act now benefit from a more advantageous positioning for the future. 

Make the Switch

The path to a more sustainable business doesn’t require a complete business transformation, it can begin by simply replacing your plastic cards with enviricard. It’s about taking the first step and replacing your PVC cards for something more sustainable. 

Innovation doesn't always mean complexity. Sometimes, the most powerful innovations are the ones you can hold in your hands. Creating a more sustainable future with every interaction, one step at a time. 

Ready to make the change? The switch to enviricard is easier than you might think, and the benefits extend far beyond its environmental impact. Contact us today to get a quote and start the switch.