Card Factory and partyware company Amscan have launched a significant sustainability programme with leading recycling solutions company TerraCycle, making it easy for members of the public to recycle their foil balloons and banners, thereby reducing landfill.
This month sees Card Factory introducing an in-store facility into 500 of its stores nationwide, with the public able to drop off their foil partyware items irrespective of whether the items were bought from the retailer in the first place.
“As both a brand and retailer, we are looking into what we can do to improve recyclability and sustainability, with this being one step in the right direction. It’s important that customers are free to recycle any foil balloon, not just a Card Factory balloon. We know there is a need to make recycling easier and as an industry, we should be working together to minimise our overall impact on the planet.” commented Disa Keeling, head of buying at Card Factory. “By starting this initiative in 500 stores, we are making the recycling of foil balloons accessible on the high street, and are proud to be working alongside Amscan and TerraCycle.”
TerraCycle a leading recycling company that specialises in recycling typically hard-to-recycle waste which is not processed by local councils, such as crisp packets, coffee capsules and cosmetic product packaging. The addition of foil partyware is the latest in its sustainable solutions.
In this case, once collected from the Card Factory stores, the foil balloons and banners will be shredded and melted into plastic pellets that can then be remoulded into new products, thereby recycling a product which is otherwise extremely difficult to do.
As Raluca Runcianu, Amscan’s head of sustainability elaborated: “With foil balloons being one of our main areas of focus, we have partnered with TerraCycle to help recycle waste and reduce landfill.”
With its ‘Do not let go’ message, Amscan is also aiming to inform consumers that they should not let foil balloons fly away, but instead dispose of them responsibly. The tie-up with Card Factory and TerraCycle is part of this.
Reinforcing the company’s holistic approach to sustainability, Lisa Norris, Amscan commercial director, added: “As one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers, and distributors of party goods and party accessories, Amscan International is dedicated to leading the sustainability initiative in the party industry, making products that spread joy, but are also mindful of the environment.”
She elaborated that whether it concerns costumes, balloons, tableware, or its packaging, Amscan is taking a close look at all its product categories, “looking for new ways to make them better for the world around us.”
Moreover, it is not being partisan in its activities, seeing this as an industrywide responsibility.
“While Amscan is the partner for this activity, we welcome all brands of foil balloons to be added to the recycling cartons, really driving the way for our industry to think about sustainability as a whole, rather than individual entity.”
To find out more about the programme, what will happen to the collected items and see the drop off points visit https://www.terracycle.com/foil-balloons-uk
Top: Amscan is a world leader on foil balloons and partyware.
