Measuring the True Impact of Sustainable Gift Cards

8 Sep 2025 • 2 minute read

When it comes to measuring sustainability, every detail matters. From the energy used in manufacturing to the materials chosen for everyday products, businesses are increasingly expected to account for their environmental footprint. While gift cards may seem like a small part of the puzzle of your sustainable production. However, with millions produced and circulated every year, their impact is anything but minor. In fact, physical gift cards are responsible for an estimated 585,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually

That’s why we created the Green Gift Card Index. This index is designed to be a practical framework that helps businesses measure and improve the sustainability of their gift card programmes. We call this process Green Indexing.

It’s not about greenwashing. It’s about measuring what matters, holding ourselves accountable and making real, positive changes.

What is Green Indexing?

Green Indexing is the process of evaluating how sustainable a gift card programme really is. Instead of vague claims like “eco-friendly”, the index breaks sustainability down into measurable actions across the card’s entire lifecycle, from material choice to shipping and end-of-life disposal.

By introducing clear metrics and a scoring system, you can see exactly where they stand.  Gather information and focus on where you are excelling and where improvements can be made. In short, Green Indexing provides a roadmap for moving from “good intentions” to genuine sustainability.

The Four Categories of the Green Gift Card Index

The Green Gift Card Index covers four key areas. Together, they provide a comprehensive view of the environmental impact of a gift card programme and measure your sustainability impact. Download our full index card to see how well your business is performing.

Green Gift Card Download Link

1. Material & Production

The journey begins with what the card is made from and how it’s produced.

• Material choice: PVC is still common, but alternatives like FSC-certified paperboard or compostable materials score highest.
• Production transparency: Do suppliers provide Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)? Or is sustainability data absent altogether?
• Waste reduction in manufacturing: Forward-thinking manufacturers adopt zero-waste-to-landfill policies, while others may not document waste practices at all.
• Packaging & carriers: Sustainable packaging like paperboard carriers and biodegradable envelopes score well. However, plastic sleeves will drag scores down.

Why it matters: Choosing the right material isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s about setting the tone for the entire lifecycle of the card.

2. Distribution & Logistics

How your gift card is delivered has a big impact too.

• Shipping & transportation: Businesses using carbon-neutral shipping or offsetting schemes lead the way. Consolidating deliveries also reduces emissions.
• Inventory management: Made-to-order systems reduce overproduction and waste. Bulk, untracked orders risk excess stock ending up in landfill.
• Sustainable fulfilment & packaging: The greenest options are minimal, plastic-free packaging. Excessive or non-recyclable packaging lowers scores.
• In-store display: Cards presented without plastic sleeves or with minimal packaging reduce unnecessary waste.
   

Why it matters: Efficient distribution is often overlooked in sustainable business practices, but it’s key to lowering a programme’s carbon footprint.

3. Usage & End-of-Life

What happens once the gift card reaches the customer is just as important as how it’s made.

• Customer education: Are people told how to responsibly dispose of or recycle the card?
• Card recycle/return programmes: Take-back schemes, partnerships or take-back programmes with recycling providers ensure cards don’t end up as waste.
• Card lifespan & reusability: Reloadable gift cards extend the product’s life, reducing demand for new production.
• Incentives for responsible disposal: Rewards or promotions tied to recycling can motivate customer behaviour.
   

Why it matters: Without proper end-of-life planning, even the most sustainable card can end up contributing to landfill waste.

4. Programme Innovation & Communication

Sustainability doesn’t end with production. It also needs to be embedded into strategy, messaging, social and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

• Sustainable reporting: Are gift card programmes included in CSR or ESG reports? Transparency is key.
• Supplier partnership: Collaboration with suppliers to innovate and share data can drive industry-wide improvements and build customer sustainability trust.
• Circular economy initiatives: Partnering with others to reuse or repurpose materials keeps resources in circulation.
• Public communication: From websites to social media, do businesses proudly tell the story of their sustainable gift cards? A great way to build customer sustainability trust

Why it matters: Customers increasingly demand transparency. Communicating sustainability efforts builds trust and loyalty.

Why Green Indexing Matters

So why does all this matter? Because gift cards, though small, have a big collective footprint. This includes significant impacts on waste management and provides benchmarks for your sustainability.

By making more gift card sustainable choices, businesses can:

• Reduce waste: Moving away from PVC gift cards saves tonnes of non-recyclable plastic.
• Lower emissions: Smarter logistics and carbon-neutral shipping cut transport impact.
• Build trust: Customers increasingly choose brands that align with their values.
• Lead the industry: By adopting best practices, companies inspire others to follow suit.

In an era where “eco-friendly” is often used loosely, Green Indexing ensures sustainability claims are backed by real, measurable action.

How Businesses Can Use the Index

Whether you’re just starting out or already running a successful programme, the Green Gift Card Index offers a practical way to:

• Benchmark performance against industry best practices.
• Identify gaps across material, logistics, usage, and communication.
• Set improvement goals (e.g. moving from Silver to Gold).
• Communicate sustainability clearly to stakeholders and customers.

It’s not just about getting a score. It’s about using that score to drive continuous improvement and prove your commitment to the planet.

Ready to Discover Your Score?

The journey toward sustainability is ongoing, and every small change counts. Green Indexing is here to help you measure, improve, and share your progress.

Book your free consultation today by emailing info@greengiftcards.co.uk and find out where your gift card programme stands on the Green Gift Card Index.

Together, we can transform gift cards from a source of waste into a driver of positive environmental change.

Green Gift Card Download Link