Photo ID cards are a commonly used security measure in a lot of businesses. There are many uses for them, such as making it easier to identify staff, increase security and allowing the company to have complete control over access. With all these benefits, it should be an essential part of your company setup.
Why You Should Go Eco With Your Photo ID Card System
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.
One way you can reduce the amount of non-renewable plastic that is being used in your company is by implementing an eco-friendly photo ID card system.
The standard plastic ID cards that are commonly used by many companies are made from non-renewable PVC materials, causing damage to the environment during manufacturing and disposal. Luckily, some alternatives do the same job but are better for 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 breakdown a lot quicker once disposed of.
How to Start Your Eco-Friendly Photo ID Card System
Once you are ready to start an eco-friendly photo ID card system, there are few things you will need to consider. You can either print the ID cards in-house, swapping out the standard blank PVC cards for a biodegradable option, or outsource the printing from a company such as Digital ID that uses biodegradable materials.
Getting Your Staff Onboard
Once you’ve decided how you are going to start an eco-friendly system, your staff will need to be onboard with the idea if you want it to be implemented effectively. Some employees might be a bit resistant to the change, but some methods can help get your staff feeling enthusiastic about helping the environment and introducing them to your new 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 essential 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
Spreading the Word on Your Eco-Friendly Changes
Once you have implemented an eco-friendly photo ID card system, you should use it to your business’ advantage to promote the business, improve customers opinions and to gain good PR. Making the change to become more eco-friendly should be something you do for the benefit of the environment, but you should also be happy to promote your changes and share the news with your customers and followers.
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
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.
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, the 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. You can also pair your BioBadge holder with a bamboo lanyard for the ultimate eco-friendly ID card set up.