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Whatever your business, photo ID cards are likely to play an essential role in the day to day office life. Required for identifying staff, ensuring all visitors on site are authorised to be there and also granting access to certain areas for specific individuals, photo ID cards come in to use more throughout a working day than you may realise.
Many organisations choose to take the design and printing of their photo ID cards into their own hands and handle the process in-house and this is when a photo ID card system comes into play. Available at a range of price points with varying technical specifications, photo ID card systems allow you to design and print ID cards from the comfort of your office with ease and speed.
Having your own in-house ID card printing system not only speeds up the process from designing the card to holding the finished product but can also prove to be a more economical way of providing your business with the ID cards it needs.
Why You Should Go Eco With Your Photo ID Card System
So, you now know the reasons why photo ID cards are important and the basic benefits behind having your own in-house printing system but what are the environmental impacts of your ID cards?
According to statistics released by SAS, around 8 million pieces of plastic find their way into the oceans of the world every single day. In 2016, the global population of 7 billion had produced 320 million tons of plastic, a figure which is set to have doubled by 2034.
We’re all being encouraged to do our bit to help reduce the amount of non-renewable disposable plastic we’re using in an attempt to help save the planet and ID cards are one way you can help minimise the amount of damaging plastic we’re using.
Standard plastic ID cards are made from non-renewable PVC materials which cause environmental damage during manufacturing and disposal and although these cards are durable and hard-wearing, they refuse to break down over time and there are alternatives that are just as effective at doing their job but kinder to the environment.
By switching to eco ID cards, you can reduce the carbon footprint of your business, help the environment and enjoy the positive PR that will come from this too. Eco cards are no more pricey than regular PVC cards but are made from either biodegradable materials or recycled materials, both of which break down a lot quicker once disposed of.
How to Start Your Eco Friendly Photo ID Card System
So, you’ve decided you want to take a step in the right direction to make your business more eco-friendly by switching to more environmentally friendly ID cards but how do you get this system in place?
You can continue to print your ID cards in-house using a system bought from somewhere such as Digital ID, all you’ll need to do is swap your standard blank PVC cards for a biodegradable card of the same size. Most ID card printers are able to print on eco cards in the exact same way, so you needn’t worry about the results differing.
There’s a lot of brands to choose from when it comes to both the printers and the eco-cards, so before you purchase either, research is key. For instance, aside from 50% recycled PVC cards, there are also eco-friendly ID card options you may consider. Like the recycled cards, biodegradable ID cards may also be a popular choice for companies looking for an environment-friendly alternative. They have chemicals that let the plastic decompose between one and five years. Another option to look into is the chalk-based ID cards. They’re an excellent option to use for businesses wanting to stop using PVC plastics for their ID system. The best thing about these cards is that they can be completely recycled once they reach the end of their service lifespan.
With all these things being said, there are, indeed, a variety of ID card options for businesses to check out to start a sustainable photo ID card system. In that case, you need to weigh up the pros and cons of all the products you’re looking at and then decide which one is best for your business, but if the environment is at the forefront of your decision-making, something such as the Magicard 300 ID card printer is likely to be of interest. In an attempt to incentivise businesses to be more environmentally aware with their printing systems, Magicard will be planting a tree every time one of the Magicard 300 printers is bought through Digital ID, meaning you get a reliable printer and are making a difference to the planet too.
The Magicard 300 printer can be used with biodegradable cards, meaning you can print on eco ID cards, such as the Dyestar biodegradable plastic cards which can be bought separately or the Magicard biodegradable blank white cards that come as part of their Go Green printing bundle.
If printing in-house isn’t a feasible option for your business and you want to outsource then doing your research into a company that uses biodegradable materials is the best way to ensure you’re still considering the environment in your card printing. Make sure to consider your prospective printing company’s experience and reputation in the industry. Know if they offer various types of eco-friendly ID card options according to your business needs. For example, here at Digital ID, we’re the UK’s largest ID Card printing service, so it was only right for us to lead the way in eco-printing by offering biodegradable cards as one of our material options. Alongside standard PVC plastic cards, we can now print your bespoke ID card designs onto biodegradable PTEG cards for no additional cost.
Take Your Eco ID Cards One Step Further
PVC plastic ID cards aren’t the only non-environmentally friendly element of the ID card system as lanyards and badge holders are a problem too.
Plastic badge holders, in particular, are made from thick, robust plastic to ensure stability and longevity which although provides a quality product, means these badge holders struggle to breakdown after disposal, so if you want to take your eco-friendly ID card system one step further, switching to BioBadge cardholders is an ideal option.
Our BioBadges are still made using tough and durable PVC but during the manufacturing process, an additive known as ‘oxo-biodegradable’ is added which ensures that once the badge holder is disposed of, air is allowed into the plastic which speeds up the breakdown process. Still hard-wearing and long-lasting but once you’re done with your BioBadge, you can simply throw it in the green recycling bin where it will begin to decompose and become microbe food.
Pair your BioBadge holder with a bamboo lanyard for the ultimate eco-friendly ID card set-up.
Getting Your Staff Onboard
You’re likely to have staff who are naturally keen to get on board with your eco-friendly changes where others maybe a little more resistant but there are various methods you can use to help get your staff enthusiastic about helping the environment with your new ID card system.
- Enforcing That ID Cards Are to Be Worn At All Times On-Site – ID cards are used for purposes of security and identification, so it is important that all staff understand the reasons behind why these cards are part of their uniform
- Providing Knowledge On The Environmental Impacts of ID Cards – education is always the best way to get people on board with changes, so by providing your staff with knowledge about the environmental impacts of their old ID cards, badge holders and lanyards and explaining the difference with their new products, this is likely to get staff dedicated to the changes being made
- Create In–House Marketing Campaigns – email campaigns sent within your organisation is a great way to ensure everyone is notified about the change being made to your ID card system and allows everyone to have all the information on hand to read as and when they wish to
Opt For High-Quality Lanyards
For any office employee and employer, lanyards are the most crucial element of their attire. Customized lanyards with your office name and logo imprinted on them give your staff a sense of identity and professionalism. Also, lanyards are excellent for promotional use when your employees are going out on mid-break with your company’s ID holder on their neck then they become a walking marketing tool. As a result, your employees are able to help the business establish its brand identity.
Because of these things, I would recommend that you never compromise on the quality of lanyards, opting for a renowned brand like 4inlanyards is the best approach in this regard.
However, it’s important to know that there are also other lanyard providers out there who can help you create premium-quality customized lanyards as part of your photo ID card system. You can partner with them to have your lanyards printed with company details, such as business name, logo, the products or services you offer, employees’ names, and other essential information.
Spreading the Word on Your Eco-Friendly Changes
Although changing to an eco-friendly ID card system should be something you choose to do as a business for the benefit of the environment, it is also something that can be used to your business’ advantage for improving customer opinion and gaining good PR and building brand identity.
There are various things you can do to spread the word on the changes you’re making to ensure your customers, the press and the media are aware of what you’re doing and these can include:
- Social media posts on relevant sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc)
- Email campaigns/press release to customers and media contacts
- Imagery on the website homepage/blog post on the business website
So, by a simple switch to an eco-friendly photo ID card system, you could help reduce your business’ carbon footprint, help reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic being put into the world and get some good PR – all at the same time. Why would you not want to make the change?
You may also like: Use Biodegradable Plastic Bags to Make Your Business Environment-Friendly
