eGift Cards - The Greener Way to Give

Gift cards have become an increasingly popular item, as more individuals find it attractive to give and receive "the gift of shopping". According to a 2008 press release issued by the financial services research group TowerGroup, each year millions of consumers venture to retailers to spend their hard earned bucks on these plastic cards, generating $70 billion in revenue in 2007. Despite their desirable status, these pesky plastic cards have hazardous repercussions, inflicting harm upon environment and the health of humans. The Alternative? eGift cards. Not convinced that the polyvinyl card in your wallet is really killing Mother Nature?

The process involved in manufacturing plastic gift cards wastes countless resources, causing destructive gases to be emitted. After production, they must be packaged using other ruinous materials before they can begin their long trek to their various destinations, further depleting valuable resources in transit. Unfortunately, the gift card's carbon footprint does not stop increasing upon arrival. After the millions purchase these irksome plastic cards, their lucky recipient must redeem them. What does this entail? One or more trips to the store, causing more greenhouse gases to be released into the air. Finally, once redeemed, these plastic cards are condemned to join other non-biodegradable substances in the depths of the local landfill. They are buried, but their carbon footprint is still very much alive, growing even after these cards are of no value to their owner.

According to a 2007 article in Plenty Magazine, plastic gift cards account for 75 million pounds of discarded Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) each year. PVC, the most prevalent material used in the manufacturing of plastic gift cards, is a toxic substance that has left many environmentalists, parents, and every day people up in arms at the prospect of this harmful substance seeping into water supplies. In a 2000 report issued by the EPA, studies found that exposure to PVC puts people at an increased risk for liver damage, reproductive and developmental health issues, and cancer.

In addition to harmful effects incurred by humans, the environment is also severely impacted by discarded plastic gift cards. Indeed, there is a way to keep plastic gift cards from piling up in landfills, but the recycling process is far more complex than simply tossing them in a recycling bin along side other household items. PVC is notoriously difficult to recycle due to the fact it must be separated from all other types of plastic materials, making the process extremely expensive and leaving little incentive for companies to develop PVC recycling centers. In order to ensure plastic gift cards won't end up releasing harmful substances, individuals must personally send their used gift cards to the rare PVC recycling plants, an extra step that many uninformed or unmotivated individuals do not take.

The solution? Eliminating the plastic involved in the transaction all together. eGift cards serve the same purpose, allowing consumers to give their friends and family a token of their admiration, but without placing a strain on the environment. There is no need to pull the car out of garage; instead, individuals are able to send eGift cards from the comfort of their home. By doing away with the plastic, the gift certificate phenomenon becomes an awesome and environmentally friendly way to show someone you care, not just about them, but about the planet we'd like to keep around for a while.