A Cheshire-based plastic card manufacturer has partnered with a South West green loyalty scheme to produce its cards using biodegradable materials.
Plastic Card Services (PCS) has already produced 100,000
biodegradable cards for the
Ice scheme, which launched in January to reward customers in the South West who purchase environmentally friendly products.
PCS won the contract with Ice on the back of a £2 million
investment by the company to upgrade to more eco-friendly manufacturing processes at its plant in Macclesfield. PCS claims to be the first company in the UK to be able to make biodegradable cards as well as use waterless printing.
"It is an ideal fit – a biodegradable card is the perfect partner for a scheme which is about encouraging people to shop more sustainably and being rewarded for choosing green goods and services," said Rob Nicholls, managing director of PCS.
Under the Ice scheme, customers receive points for purchasing items from environmentally conscious businesses. The points can then be used toward discounts on other products such as furniture, clothes, or even Eurostar tickets.
Green manufacturing
At its plant in Macclesfield, which is heated in part by the energy given off from the machines, PCS is now able to produce cards with less emissions and harmful compounds released because the print process does not involve water. While
production of these cards has less harmful effects on the environment, so does their disposal. When customers do throw out these cards, they will break down in a matter of months, unlike traditional cards that can take up to 1,000 years to do so.
"PCS – like us – has recognised the need for an environmentally sustainable approach to loyalty schemes and are ably supporting our vision to get people to think sustainably when buying products and services," said Sharon Hardcastle, Ice customer and client services director. "It is a great partnership for us and working well."
As well as the deal with Ice, PCS has won a contract to make two million green loyalty cards for Denmark’s Coop Danmark.
"We want 50 per cent of our business converted to bio in the next five years and we think this is very doable," said Nicholls. "It is an easy, low-cost switch to make, which we believe will appeal to many companies who are interested in investing in sustainable businesses, but don’t want to compromise on quality."
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