Understanding the environmental impact of business cards
Paper business cards have been in use for a long time. A uniquely designed, informative business card can become the biggest tool for marketing. This is why businesses use this tool globally to enhance their brand awareness. It is estimated that 50–60 billion business cards are printed annually globally. And little is known about their fate.
Surprisingly, to make this amount of business cards, we cut millions of trees and use millions of gallons of water and other resources. Further, not to mention the amount of waste it produces.
Hence, it is imperative to understand the environmental impact of traditional business cards to stop or minimize their usage. Read on to learn how paper business cards greatly impact the environment.
Environmental Impact of paper business cards
Pulp mills around the globe are the major contributor to land, water, and air pollution. Further, in making paper business cards, industries also use printing chemicals. Today, while many responsible businesses are shifting towards electronic business cards, some shy away from change.
To help such businesses make informed decisions, we have listed some reasons not to opt for traditional business cards.
Environmental Damage
Besides cutting trees, the car printing process includes using air, water, inks, and solvents. Some industrial-grade solvents are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) or Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP), known as pollutants. Further, the impact on the environment varies based on the inks and technology used for printing.
In addition to harmful chemicals, discarded business cards make up around 67 million of solid municipal waste. Surprisingly, their small size makes business cards hard to recycle. Now, imagine the fate of billions of cards ending up in landfills.
Tree Destruction
Production of paper-based business cards leads to deforestation and habitat loss. Cutting forests for paper production disrupts the ecosystem, reduces biodiversity, and can negatively affect climate change.
Moreover, one tree is estimated to be equivalent to 20,000 average-weight paper business cards. Interestingly, the number becomes more surprising when discussing premium business cards.
Carbon Emission
The majority of the terrestrial carbon is stored in trees. As the wood gets processed to make paper cards, this stored carbon is released into the environment. Moreover, wood from old trees is the main material for making premium-weight business cards. And the more the tree is older, the more carbon it stores. Hence, paper business cards contribute significantly to carbon emissions.
Transportation
Once produced, paper-based business cards have to be transported to different locations, contributing to air pollution and carbon emission. The transportation process consumes fossil fuels, negatively impacting our environment.
Energy and water consumption
Different pulp extraction, bleaching, and card production stages involve extreme usage of energy, water, and other substantial resources. These paper manufacturing processes contribute to carbon emissions and water pollution.
Chemical usage
Several chemicals, like chlorine-based bleaches, inks, and dyes, are involved in paper manufacturing. If not managed properly, these are prone to water pollution and a severe threat to aquatic life.
Waste generation
Piles of business cards get accumulated as these are typically discarded after use. After the waste gets disposed of in landfills, paper decomposes anaerobically. The result is the release of methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas. Alternatively, if the paper cards are burnt, it too leads to air pollution.
Considering the overall environmental impact, several alternatives can be considered to mitigate the effects:
- Sustainable paper options: Go for recycled paper, sustainably sourced fibers, or environmentally friendly options such as bamboo or hemp paper.
- Minimalist design: Use a few colors and coatings to reduce ink and chemical usage.
- Responsible printing practices: Switch to eco-friendly options such as soy-based inks, low VOC(Volatile Organic Compound) coatings, or other energy-efficient equipment.
- Recycling and proper disposal: Recipients must be encouraged to recycle or compost to reduce impact.
- Digital or electronic business cards: Digital solutions eliminate the need for paper production and significantly reduce related waste generation. Above all, digital cards can be easily exchanged via. Messaging apps, email, or another compatible digital platform.
Endnote
Considering paper production’s negative impact on the environment, it is high time to switch to a smart and eco-conscious practice. Either choose to adopt sustainable practices or embrace digital solutions.
Luckily, there are several options available than ever before. The two newer approaches, digital business cards, and NFC, are the best way to give back positive environmental and social impacts. Above all, the cost associated is way cheaper than printing tons of paper-based cards.
So, when do you wish to start reducing your environmental impact?