Global gift and loyalty card producer, Tag Systems UK, is spearheading an ‘innovative’ approach to sustainable gift and loyalty card production following an investment in a Ricoh Pro C9500 digital colour sheetfed press.
Operating from a 120,000sqft facility in Lancashire, England, Tag Systems UK has been co-innovating with Green Gift Cards, a British 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 $3.09 trillion by 2030, according to Capital One Shopping – a free browser tool that automatically searches for online coupons and better prices. But much of the production is plastic based. Nat West 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.
To date production of rigid, high calibre, 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 microns, says the company.
Ronnie Hart, president of Tag Systems UK, commented, ‘It is clear the gift card market is ready for this innovative solution that has been co-created with Green Gift Cards and Ricoh. It can help brands deliver the same high quality, vibrant and attractive product, but in a responsible way that enables them to achieve their sustainable goals. They can also develop cost efficient short run, responsive, customised offerings that connect more engagingly to improve consumer experience and foster loyalty.’
Erwin Busselot, director business innovation and solutions, graphic communications, Ricoh Europe, said, ‘This new opportunity has been developed through co-innovation with all three parties – each of whom are leaders in their fields. The result is a clear approach to market for the production of sustainable gift cards that have a greatly reduced environmental impact compared to their plastic alternatives. Tag Systems UK is the latest of a growing number of clients in Europe and further afield take advantage of this wonderful high margin opportunity, particularly with the enhanced Pro C9500 and improved software capabilities.’
