News

Jul
01
2015

The Gift Card Network Presents: Debunking the Myths - Using Paper or Wood Gift Cards instead of PVC

Each year, as an industry, we manufacture over 35 billion gift cards globally. Most of these cards are made with a common plastic; polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is a plastic that contains pollutants which are harmful to the environment and are slow to decompose. And, as there is no true recycle stream for these cards, they typically end up in landfills or get incinerated. As an alternative, there are many durable paper and wood substrates available in the marketplace which use less energy to manufacture, come from sustainable resources and are recyclable, compostable, and bio-degrade in a fraction of the amount of time when compared to plastic.

Over the past few years, paper and wood substrate manufacturers have spent large amounts of time and resources developing products specifically engineered for the gift card industry. The Gift Card Network Forest Materials Committee, made up of a diverse group of industry experts who are passionate about sustainability, has identified the top five reasons merchants say prevent them from making the switch from plastic to paper or wood and has set out to debunk these myths through an awareness campaign. This head on approach is meant to educate the gift card industry in an effort to move away from PVC to a greener solution.

 

Did you know that Travel Tags offers several unique and earth-friendly substrates? Click here to learn more!

 

5 Myths of Forest Materials Gift Cards

Myth #1: Paper and Wood are not durable enough for gift cards.
On the contrary, there are billions of paper cards in the market today, with no known consumer complaints or product failure.

Myth #2: Paper and Wood are more expensive to procure/print.
When comparing forest materials to traditional PVC, the price per sheet is comparable. Price can fluctuate based on many factors: Printer and processor’s pricing structure. Experience and production methods of the printer. Card run size.

Myth #3: No Merchants are using these products for gift cards.
That is not the case at all. In 2014, the Gift Card Network recorded over 20 major brands had a paper card in the market.

Myth #4: My Company doesn’t care about the environment.
In 2014, 53% of the S&P 500 and 57% of the Fortune 500 Companies reported on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts. For the first time, the non-reporters are in the minority.

Myth #5: Consumers don’t care what substrate their cards are printed on.
Not true. Just look around your grocery store, office space and gym. Reusable shopping bags and water bottles are now becoming the norm. The US market share for recycled content, reusable and degradable packaging is $34 billion.

To view the campaign and The Gift Card Network's full responses to these myths, click here.

The Gift Card Network would like to thank the members of the Forest Materials Committee for their contributions, passion for educating the industry, and deep product insight. The Gift Card Network would also like to thank it’s media partner, Powerhouse Brands, for developing the copy, design, and finished product.

The Gift Card Network Forest Materials Committee is made up of the following Industry Professionals:
Chairs:
John Fidalgo - ArjoWiggins
Jim Moriarty - PBM Graphics, an RR Donnelley Company
Jim O’Rourke - Monadnock Paper Mills

Contributors:
Elizabeth Corbett - Neenah Paper
Peo Akesson - Sustainable Cards
Lisa Berghaus - Monadnock Paper Mills
Matt Davies - Powerhouse Brands
Martha Weaver - The Gift Card Network

About the Gift Card Network
The Gift Card Network is the first gift card-specific marketing and collaboration platform. The network focuses on the identification of vital issues in the gift card industry and empowering its members to address these issues using connection, collaboration, and creativity. Members include companies that focus on the gift card industry. Find Everything Gift Card at thegiftcardnetwork.com.

Source: PRWEB.com; The Gift Card Network

MEDIA CONTACT:
KATY LASEE | MARKETING DEPT.
651 554 8533
KRLasee@traveltags.com

TAGS:   card fulfillment, card manufacturing, card services, Education, FSC Certification, Gift Card Network, Green Initiatives, trends

Jan
06
2015

Travel Tags, Inc. Renews Forest Stewardship CouncilĀ® Chain of Custody Certification

 

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN – January 6, 2015 – Travel Tags, Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of unique gift card solutions, announces the renewal of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification. Travel Tags is certified through the Rainforest Alliance to FSC Standard 40-004 (FSC® C007066), which allows the company to continue servicing customers who wish to print card carriers and other paper products on responsibly-sourced paper.

FSC certification is unique in that it links the entire forest-product supply stream through the chain-of-custody system – from an FSC-certified forest through processing, manufacturing, distribution and printing to the end consumer.

The standards of FSC-STD-40-004 specify requirements for tracking the management of FSC certified materials throughout the manufacturing process in order to ensure accountability for all use of the FSC certified product. This allows Travel Tags to use the FSC label on its products which are FSC certified.

“Continuing our commitment to FSC certification is a critical part of providing a complete “green” offering in the prepaid card industry,” said Ken Dishno, vice president of operations at Travel Tags, “By maintaining this certification, we are able to provide our customers with an effective tool for collaborating in the responsible usage of our world’s resources.”

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
KATY LASEE | MARKETING DEPT.
651 554 8533
KRLasee@traveltags.com

TAGS:   card manufacturing, FSC, FSC Certification