GBCC and Nigel Quiney Publications have just announced independently that they are to supply all their greeting cards unwrapped as part of the two companies’ respective commitments to the environment. In addition, Nigel Quiney is moving to using biodegradable eco-glitter on its Pizazz cards as well as instigating other environmentally-friendly changes.
“We’ve actually been unwrapping our cards for a while, specifically to meet the needs of some of our customers, but as a business we felt we had to grasp the nettle and show our support for the hugely beneficial effects that a worldwide reduction in plastic would have,” Chris Wilcox, managing director of GBCC. “Hence GBCC, along with many other responsible publishers, will be unwrapping all our stock, a process that has already commenced. The only exceptions will be some handmade designs or cards with delicate die or laser cut finishes,” Chris added.
Ahead of this decision, the publisher discussed the matter with many of its customers about their needs. “Much to our delight found that there was widespread support for the unwrapping initiative. Of course there will be a transition period while the change takes place, but we are supplying some Point of Sale for retailers to place in their shops which explains to the consumer what is happening on the card displays,” said Chris.
However, for those retail customers who still require wrapped cards – “We understand the logistics and practicality issues being faced,” said Chris – the publisher is able to offer this service “although at some stage in the future we will have to charge for the work involved in this additional manual process.”
Meanwhile at Nigel Quiney Publications, the Essex-based publisher is instigated a whole series of improvements on the environmental front.
For the last 20 years the vast majority Nigel Quiney Publications greeting cards have been supplied unwrapped (unless requested by retail customers), however it is now going the full hog.
The current two ranges that are supplied wrapped, notably What a Picture and Designers Corner are to transition to being supplied unwrapped as existing stocks are used up.
Another notable change is that the publisher is shifting to using a biodegradable eco-glitter on its award winning Pizazz cards as well as on other ranges. “This means the glitter is made from eucalyptus tree cellulose, will biodegrade in soil, fresh water, waste water or marine environments where micro-organisms are present. It is also compostable,” assured Melanie Pollitt, export co-ordinator.
The company is also moving to using single paper bands instead of transportation bags. This measure alone is estimated to save approximately 5,000 plastic bags per month.
“We love our planet and believe it is time to start taking better care of it!,” added Melanie.
Nigel Quiney Publications will be fanfaring its environmental commitments on at PG Live next week (Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 5 June) on Stand 424.
Top: A portion of a Tracks Naughty by Nature card used in this instance only to represent that publishers, GBCC and Nigel Quiney are both adopting nakedness as the norm.
