From Sustainable Forests to Industrial Compost
What if the millions of cards your organisation uses annually for identification, access control, loyalty programmes or gifting were a force for positive environmental change rather than a source of plastic waste?
In an era where corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets have transformed from buzzwords and ‘nice to have’ into strategic imperatives. The choices you make for your supply chain matter more than ever.
The problem for corporate decision-makers is clear – conventional plastic cards are a significant burden on the planet. They contribute to deforestation, carbon emissions, and landfill waste that takes centuries to decompose. Even when they do decompose, they turn into toxic microplastics that are now found in everything from our food to our very blood and organs.
For procurement leaders, sustainability managers and operational heads, finding a viable alternative that is both scalable and cost-effective has been a persistent challenge.
This is where enviricard comes in. We created our eco-friendly cards to solve this problem. It is not merely a "green" card; it is a meticulously engineered, certified, and high-performance solution that offers a complete and transparent lifecycle.
This blog post will take you on a deep dive into the full journey of an enviricard, from its sustainable origins to its end-of-life as compost, providing the quantifiable data and business case you need to make a confident and impactful decision.
The Sustainable Forest
The journey of an enviricard begins far from the typical petrochemical factory. It starts in responsibly managed, certified forests. The primary material for our cards is Invercote paperboard, sourced from Holmen Board & Paper.
One of Europe's most respected and sustainably managed forestry companies. Holmen's operations are a model of circular production, where more wood grows than is harvested, and the entire production process is powered by biopower and hydropower, significantly reducing the associated carbon emissions. Every fibre used can be traced back to its origin, a level of transparency that provides our clients with the confidence to report on ethical sourcing and supply chain governance.
The card’s innovative design also incorporates Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biopolymer that offers a plastic-free alternative to traditional plastic coatings. Unlike conventional plastics, which are made from finite fossil fuels, PLA is derived from organic sources such as corn starch or sugar cane.
This bio-based coating is a critical component that ensures the card's durability and compatibility with existing card printing technologies without compromising on our commitment to a plastic-free card solution. This innovative combination of responsibly sourced paperboard and bio-based PLA is the foundation of a product that minimises its environmental footprint from the very start.
Quantifying Your Impact
The world of sustainability is littered with Greenwashing. Companies making claims is one thing; proving them with independently verified data is another. We understand that a "green stamp" is not enough—you need data to feed into your ESG reports and justify a return on investment. This is why we partnered with Carbon Quota, an independent environmental consultancy, to conduct a rigorous, scientifically backed product carbon footprint assessment.
Our process from start to finish meticulously measures the carbon emissions from the extraction of raw materials, through the manufacturing process and up to the point of distribution. enviricard’s complete lifecycle produces 57% lower carbon footprint than a conventional PVC alternative.
This isn't just a claim; it's an independently certified fact provided by Carbon Quota, providing you with the quantifiable data needed to demonstrate genuine environmental progress. By switching to Enviricard, you can make a meaningful and measurable contribution to your company's carbon reduction targets, enhancing your brand reputation and gaining a distinct competitive advantage.
A Certified End-of-Life Solution
The story of a sustainable product is incomplete without a clear and responsible end-of-life plan. While many "eco-friendly" alternatives fall short at this final stage. At enviricard was designed for a circular economy in mind.
We commissioned DS Smith, a global leader in sustainable packaging, to evaluate the recyclability of our cards. Their Recyclability Evaluation Service uses state-of-the-art methodology to test how our product behaves in a standard paper recycling mill. Proving that our sustainable cards can be recycled in a standard mill.
Beyond recyclability, the pulp-based and PLA components makes our industrial compostable cards suitable for composting. Unlike conventional plastics that persist in the environment for hundreds of years, the Enviricard’s materials can be broken down into their organic components in an industrial composting facility.
This end-of-life solution offers a truly closed-loop system, ensuring that the resources used to create the card are returned to the earth in a way that minimises environmental harm. This final stage of the lifecycle completes the business case for a product that is not just better at the beginning but better throughout its entire existence.
A Business Case for Sustainability
Choosing enviricard is a strategic business decision providing a scalable and secure solution that helps meet ambitious ESG and CSR targets.
The independent Carbon Quota certification and DS Smith report provide the hard data needed to justify the transition and demonstrate leadership in sustainability. Our reliable supply chain and product durability ensure a smooth and seamless transition, even for millions of cards used in high-traffic environments like events or closed-loop systems.
The enviricard is more than a product; it’s a commitment to a more sustainable and transparent future. From the responsible forestry that provides its raw materials to the certified processes that prove its low carbon footprint and its compatibility with industrial composting, the enviricard offers a complete, verifiable, and powerful solution.
Are you ready to move beyond plastic and make a strategic decision that drives significant positive change for your business and the planet? Request a quote today