Photo ID cards are used by businesses across the world as a way of identifying workers and ensuring that all staff are granted access to the areas they need to be in. Photo ID cards are useful for businesses and many would struggle to operate adequately without them. Unfortunately, however, most photo ID cards are made from non-recyclable plastic.
Worldwide, around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, half of which is for single-use items. Although photo-IDs are not single-use, they are made from very strong PVC plastic that takes hundreds of years to biodegrade.
Adopting a sustainable photo ID policy is a great way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint and bring us one small step closer to an eco-friendly world.
We are going to take a look at how to make your photo ID policy sustainable, why it is important, and the difference it can make.
How To Make Your Photo Id Policy Sustainable?
Making your photo ID policy sustainable is easy and comes at little extra cost. You simply need to change the plastic on which the cards are printed and use eco-lanyard material to hold them. You can also opt to outsource the printing of the cards to a local business in order to reduce the transportation involved.
If all businesses made this small change it would make a big difference to the levels of plastic waste in the world. Not only is it better for the environment, but also having a sustainable photo ID card policy is also great PR for your business.
So let’s jump in and take a look at why plastic waste reduction is so important.
Why Is It Important To Make Your Photo Ids Sustainable?
It is a well-known fact that we produce and waste far too much plastic. In the UK alone, it is estimated that we use over 5 million tonnes of plastic every year. According to one report, 8 million individual pieces of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every single day.
And even if it is properly disposed of, plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills and the fumes it emits when burned are highly pollutant.
Plastic is ruining our land, seas, and air, and in recent years people have woken up to the issue and have begun to take action. For example, the introduction of a charge on single-use plastic bags has resulted in an 86% reduction in their use in major supermarkets across the UK. The UK government is also looking to outright ban single-use plastic cutlery, plates, and cups.
Reducing plastic waste is currently one of the most effective actions you can take in order to bring us closer to a more sustainable world. And using eco-friendly sustainable ID cards is just one of many ways that businesses can play their part in the wider sustainability project we should all be engaged in.
Why Are Id Cards So Unsustainable?
Standard photo ID cards are made from non-renewable PVC materials. PVC is the third most used synthetic plastic in the world, with around 44 million tonnes produced globally each year.
Because photo ID cards are designed to be durable, the plastic is stubborn and will take hundreds or even thousands of years to biodegrade. However, there are now plenty of environmentally friendly alternatives that are just as durable but far more sustainable.
Sustainable ID cards are made from biodegradable or recycled materials and break down much quicker than a standard PVC card once disposed of.
Introducing sustainable photo ID cards to your business is a small but effective way you can reduce the overall carbon footprint of the company whilst also attracting positive PR.
How To Start A Sustainable Photo Id Policy
Once you have decided to adopt a sustainable photo ID policy for your business, you need to know how and where to start to put it into action.
In-house Photo Id Production
If you produce your ID cards in house, the only changes you will need to make are the materials you use for printing. The cards themselves may be made of biodegradable plastic, recycled materials, chalk-based plastic, or only 50% PVC. Although these options have varying degrees of sustainability, they are all far more sustainable than standard PVC cards. Most ID card printers can print on these materials so you shouldn’t need to buy a new one.
You should also ensure your ID card policy incorporates eco-lanyard material. This is the material that forms the necklace to which the ID card is attached. You can get eco-lanyard material that is produced using rPET fabric that is made from recycled plastic bottles. As well as reducing landfill waste and limiting the amount of new plastic that is produced, rPET products last longer than traditional polyester lanyards and require less energy consumption in the production process.
Outsourced Photo Id Production
If your business’s photo ID cards are not produced in-house then you can look into outsourcing your printing to companies that use biodegradable materials.
Try to use local businesses to limit the transportation involved in bringing the cards to you. And see what sustainable practices they use themselves so you can opt for a printing company that has adopted a similar sustainable ethos.
What Difference Do Sustainable Photo Id Cards Make?
Introducing a sustainable photo ID policy reduces your business’s carbon footprint and plastic waste. It also shows the world that your business is environmentally conscious and is ready to make meaningful decisions to play its part in bringing about a more sustainable world. Research shows that customers value ethically minded businesses and want to see the negative impact of their consumption limited.
Although swapping your photo ID card policy may sound like a small change, it is through small collective action that big changes are realised. For example, more and more people are choosing to not buy single-use plastic bottles and plastic bags. Individually, this is a small change to make, but collectively this has a massive impact.
Adopting a sustainable photo ID card policy is a simple change that businesses can make to help bring about a better more eco-friendly world.
What To Include On A Photo Id Card
A photo ID usually uses a similar image to a driving licence or passport photos with the person standing before a blank white, plain cream, or light grey background. The person in the photo must not have a hat or full head covering, though some businesses will allow them if they are for religious or medical reasons.
Although a photo ID has a name and photograph on it, in most cases it does not count as a valid proof of ID outside the place of work. Do not include any personal or financial information on the card beyond a name and contact to avoid the possibility of fraud.
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