Written by Thea Monk, freelance writer on behalf of CPI Card Group, Europe's leading plastic card manufacturer offering services including gift card printing, plastic card printer and specialist plastic card manufacturer. For further information visit http://uk.cpicardgroup.com
Companies are now faced with difficult decisions when running their businesses and the effect this has on the environment, all companies have responsibility to minimise their impact. This is particularly relevant as many retailers are now converting their paper based gift vouchers to plastic based gift cards. There is now an alternative to using plastic cards for gift cards, loyalty cards, photographic id etc which is choosing to use corn cards.
Corn cards are an excellent alternative to the plastic card as they look and feel the same as plastic cards and are up to the same standard and high durability. The cards are made from a sustainable source and are bio-degradable – therefore don’t add to the huge amount of waste we create as humans just living day to day.
CPI Card Group is a plastic card company in the UK that offer to manufacture corn cards alongside the traditional plastic cards. CPI Card Group has made significant investments to make all its manufacturing facilities ISO9001, ISO14001 and FSC compliant. Achieving these accreditations means that customers can be confident that CPI Card Group are setting standards in the industry for quality and environmental processes. It also means that CPI Card Group are helping to reduce waste and energy consumption.
Corn cards are:
- PET-G Cards (chlorine free)
- Corn Cards (made from a sustainable source and bio-degradeable)
- Bio-degradable PVC
- Chlorine free and recycled paper products for gift card carriers
CPI Card Group are the first card company in the UK to supply Corn Cards and are very pleased to be working with the University of Salford:
“The University of Salford has over 100,000 alumni (graduates), many of whom enjoy continued contact with their alma mater.
“The benefits we offer to our alumni are wide-ranging, for example library borrowing rights, gym membership, theatre discounts and access to our forthcoming online networking space. To access these benefits, graduates need an alumni card, containing their unique ID number.
“In the past, we have issued cardboard cards, personalised by hand. This has become an increasingly resource-heavy, inefficient method. We needed cards that were longer lasting with automated personalisation. We wanted our graduates to feel proud to carry their alumni card.
“The University is committed to sustainability and encourages all staff and students to conserve the planet’s resources. It was therefore important that we identify the ‘greenest’ option that would also meet our needs. After some research, we decided on a corn product that we would test on our 2007 graduates, combining it with a welcome letter and envelope printed on FSC approved paper.
“Only a small number of suppliers were able to offer the corn product and of those who submitted quotations, CPI Card Group were the most able to deliver to our requirements, on budget and deadline.
“We are pleased with the look and feel of the new cards and we have already received some positive feedback from alumni. Over time, we plan to roll out the new cards to our whole alumni community.”
Kate Kemp
University of Salford
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