Lympstone Manor & The Cove join the Green Gift Cards community

2 Aug 2021 • 2 minute read

Green Gift Cards are delighted to announce that we have been selected by the Michael Caines collection to produce their new range of plastic-free gift cards for all the collection including Cornish restaurant, The Cove at Maenporth, The Harbourside Refuge in Porthleven and the newly opened Mickeys Beach Bar and restaurant in Exmouth, Devon.

Michael Caines, MBE is a chef-owner of Michelin starred Lympstone Manor and now the expanding Michael Caines Collection. Michael is known as one of Britain’s most celebrated and acclaimed Michelin-starred chefs. He has earned a global reputation for his modern cuisine and is now rooted in the South West. As a familiar face on television, appearing on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, Great British Menu and MasterChef, we were excited to work with them on producing sustainable gift cards for the collection. 

The new gift cards were produced by our team at Green Gift Cards using Iggesund’s Invercote paperboard. As Invercote is a high-quality paperboard it is used by several prestigious brands for packaging due to its strength and robustness. The board we use is a little thicker than plastic cards and less water absorbent than other paperboards, making it perfect for the Michael Caines Collection new range of eco-friendly gift cards.

Graham Lycett, our MD, had the opportunity to meet with Michael and speak to him about his restaurants and why he chose to work with Green Gift Cards over some of the other alternatives that are out there, whilst also having the opportunity to plant a tree together on the Lympstone Manor grounds.

When asked about the choice behind a greener alternative to a Plastic Gift Card Pippa Whiteley, Group Sales and Marketing Manager said, “Michael has long upheld the South West as the best larder in Europe on both land and sea and therefore the fantastic produce of the south-west of England has always held prominence throughout his menu and his cuisine.

Across the entire Michael Caines collection and across his career, Michael’s menus each change with the season this allows us to source produce of the highest quality as they are found in their natural season but also support a wide array of local producers and farmers and fishermen thus supporting the wider local communities and economy.

Our sourcing of local and seasonal produce also supports the biodiversity of the natural landscape around us, protecting heritage ingredients and sustainably farmed and fished produce whilst reducing food miles and our carbon footprint.

Michael’s recipes also work towards reducing food waste through carcass balance, utilising lesser known cuts of meat and using waste of the carcass from meat or fish to create base ingredients such as stocks and sauces. 

With such a strong sustainability ethos surrounding Michael’s cuisine, each property within the collection actively works to reduce its impact on the environment working with our local refuse and recycling centres and choosing products and services that share the same ethos and goals. Takeaway packaging is all bio-degradable even down to our ice cream scoops at the Café! Lympstone Manor has removed all plastic toiletries for bio-degradable amenities and refillable aluminium hair and body wash products.

With each of these conscious decisions, it was important that the gift cards chosen for the group did not compromise the ethos and brand value of protecting our environment and so choosing a plastic-free solution that also didn’t compromise both the guest experience and efficiency for the staff was important.

The ability to use the magnetic swipe option on a plastic-free card just symbolises how both technology and green credentials can work together in harmony. Our gift cards could be sent across the country or the globe so having the plastic-free accreditation meant that the consumer could see the efforts we make and feel confident in their purchase that it has not contributed to unnecessary plastic waste.

The plastic-free accreditation is just a small element of this product, the work that both Green Gift Cards and Holmen Iggesund do together behind the scenes gives us also as a company the added confidence in knowing that sourcing a niche product doesn’t contribute further to carbon footprint due to the carbon off-setting work they do through renewable energy and sustainably managed eco cycle forestry. “

Gift Cards are a great way to support the hospitality industry which has been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic due to temporary closures, social distancing and reduced capacity. They also give the recipient something to look forward to when they can visit their favourite restaurant or café again. 

According to the Gift Card and Voucher Association, gift cards have proved an increasingly important medium through which shoppers have been able to funnel financial support to local retail and leisure businesses. 17.6% of consumers purchasing for self-use cited ‘to support businesses that I like during the current crisis as a key driver of purchase.

If you want to know how Green Gift Cards can help your business be more environmentally responsible when it comes to gift, loyalty or membership cards, get in contact today.