Gift and loyalty card specialist Tag Systems UK (member of AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS), is spearheading an innovative approach to sustainable gift and loyalty card production following investment in a Ricoh Pro C9500 digital colour sheetfed press.
Operating from a 120,000 sq. ft. Visa and MasterCard secure facility in Lancashire, Tag Systems UK has been co-innovating with Green Gift Cards, a developer of environmentally friendly cards, to produce a range of sustainable options on Ricoh’s Pro C9500 technology. The result is the creation of new long-term opportunities in the production of gift and loyalty cards.
Valued at $984.3 billion in 2023, the global gift card market is expected to reach a huge $3.09 trillion by 2030. But much of the production is plastic based. NatWest Bank research found that the lack of recycling options meant more than 76 million cards, or 380 tonnes of plastic waste went to landfill between 2017 and 2023 in Great Britain alone.
It is not only disposal that is an environmental challenge. Most cards are currently printed on non-recyclable PVC plastic that have an associated carbon emission impact of 46.97gCO2e per card when digitally printed. Cards that are digitally printed on a paper-based substrate are fully recyclable and have a carbon emission impact of just 4.28gCO2e each.
To date production of rigid, high caliper, digitally printed paper-based stock was not possible on dry toner presses, but the latest technology evolution of the Pro C9500 now enables printing on a range of Ricoh approved papers of up to 800 micron.
This versatile and responsive digital production process also supports the profitable and cost-effective provision of short runs, targeted offers, and localised promotion with inline personalisation and coding capabilities.
The crisp, vibrant, sharp, details possible present opportunities for producing a wide range of applications as well. These range from premium thick media brochures and bespoke luxury packaging to compostable food cartons, high impact direct mail inserts, and eyecatching point of purchase.
Data for customised production can be managed by FusionPro for versioning and personalisation, while RICOH ProcessDirector™ and Green Gift Cards’ own web to print solution JARVIS enable companies to create gift card orders, at any time, via a fast, intuitive step by step process. They can also track progress in real time. This saves time, speeds up proofing to production, eliminates unnecessary costs, and ensures the client has control over the whole process.
“This partnership is a perfect example of how Ricoh co-innovates with its customers and the wider market to address some of the most pressing challenges that we face and, equally, to benefit from the opportunities presented to us,” said Tim Carter, commercial print director, Graphic Communications, Ricoh UK. “I am very passionate about the future of our industry. True partnership and collaboration are crucial if we want to continue demonstrating the positive impact of print across different sectors.”
