Our Commitment to the Environment
At Spectrum Innovations we’re committed to minimising our environmental impact, we are working towards the directive ‘1.5 to stay alive’ limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We are focused on reducing our carbon footprint within our factory, manufacturing, products and materials by working closely with environmental specialists and waste management companies.
We are extremely conscious of the issues surrounding plastic and the blight in our oceans, we are very supportive of eliminating single use plastic products. 
Having investigated this situation in depth through a round table meeting we have discovered that recycling and carbon footprint do not make good partners, they can be opposing, and the decision needs be considered, “which is the most important way to go”? Recycling or Carbon Footprint. The idea is to keep items in use longer, rather than recycling, this keeps the carbon footprint down.
Spectrum’s polyester cards are made from PET plastic this is the preferred plastic to PVC, it is derived from petroleum, therefore comes from the ground. It is food safe unlike PVC which contains toxins which are emitted when placed in the ground, so the good news is that you would be using a card that you can be assured is produced with the environment in mind, as well as fit for purpose and economical.
Spectrum Innovations has been certified to ISO9001 for the following scope: The production and supply of lithographically and flexographically printed plastic cards and key fobs at the Stockport site. Certification is subject to periodic surveillance and re-assessment. For further information regarding the validity of the certification please contact Assured Origin LTD t/a Print and Media Certification on info@printcertification.co.uk.
Polyester vs PVC
Polyester is the greenest material currently available for practical plastic card use, especially
when compared to PVC. Polyester plastic is much kinder to the environment when placed in
landfill as it does not give off any nasty or harmful toxins as with PVC cards. Polyester also
breaks down in the ground much quicker, although whilst in use is actually more durable
than PVC.
We believe in moving towards a circular system where we keep plastic in the economy instead of relying on single use plastics that are then discarded such as plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda, water bottles and most food packaging.
Our plastic cards have a biodegradable core and are intended to last for many years.
We continue to work closely with one of the UK’s leading recycling, resource and
waste management companies – click below to find out more.