As we move into the future and become more conscious of our limited natural resources and carbon footprints, industries have started evolving to adopt "green" practices. Simply stated, this means keeping a keen eye on the size of your carbon footprint and taking efforts to reduce it.

The ID card printing business is among those that have begun to trim the fat on wasteful processes and adopt newer, more environmentally friendly alternatives. ID card companies are helping customers go green by providing alternative types of card materials that are better for the environment.

Energy Star Compliant

Card printers are increasingly becoming ENERGY STAR compliant. And eco-friendly card printer ribbon and alternatives to how they are used are also being offered as well as a variety of card accessories such as clips, lanyards, and badge holders featuring environmentally friendly materials.

Virgin PVC Plastic

You might not think of an identification card as a sustainable item, but in reality, it’s as sustainable as most other products. A great example of this can be seen in the raw material of the card itself. Most ID cards today are made from virgin PVC plastic. But an increasing number of manufacturers are offering cards made from recycled plastic, some up to 100% recycled.

The recycled plastic used in the manufacture of these cards can be pre-consumer…plastic waste previously thrown out by plastic manufacturers…or post-consumer…the plastic recycled by all of us in our homes.

Experimental and Bio-Degredable Cards

Experimental cards made from corn are beginning to see success in normal card practices (but don’t try to eat them!). And bio-degradable cards that disappear in landfills in 1-5 years are also gaining in popularity. These are great ways to get a high-quality ID card solution without harming the environment.

Reusable Cartridges

The green aspect of ID cards doesn’t just stop at their composition. The next time you insert ribbon into your printer think about the plastic in that ribbon cartridge. Many card printer manufacturers are offering printer cartridges that are “refillable” where the plastic portion of the cartridge is reused and only the ribbon is thrown out.

Ribbon Only Replacements

Other manufacturers have kept with “ribbon only” replacements using little to no plastic. And once that card is printed, think about using a clip made from recycled PVC, an eco-friendly badge holder made with PVC-free material, or a lanyard made with recycled PET material or bamboo, a fast-growing sustainable resource that is biodegradable, naturally bacteria-resistant, and very soft.

The Green Movement

And lastly, card printers themselves are following suit with this green movement. Manufacturers continue to drive down their energy usage in an effort to achieve the ENERGY STAR rating of the US Government. The ENERGY STAR label identifies high-performance energy-efficient solutions that support corporate green initiatives and help reduce costs.

ID cards, like many other commonly used items in our everyday lives, can be made environmentally friendly with little inconvenience to the consumer. By using green ID badge products and practices, you not only save yourself the money and extra resources, but also help to reduce your organization's impact on the planet.

If you would like to learn more about getting a green ID card solution for your organization, contact Evergreen ID Systems today.