is Gift Cards "green"?

With the holiday, I see hundreds of "gift cards". How I missed those gift certificates written on papers. I guess that is now considered "uncool" or "unusuable".

But I wonder, how many of these cards pilled up in our dump every year and how many years. Will these things ever degrade? if not, what's the impact in th environment?

Convenience has a price. The environment.

Any thoughts?

Imie

Originally Posted by imie

With the holiday, I see hundreds of "gift cards". How I missed those gift certificates written on papers. I guess that is now considered "uncool" or "unusuable".

But I wonder, how many of these cards pilled up in our dump every year and how many years. Will these things ever degrade? if not, what's the impact in th environment?

Convenience has a price. The environment.

Any thoughts?

Imie

Well, if a lot of people reload them or the company reuses them then it would be better for the environment. But it totally depends on how many people / companies do that..

Gift cards are plastic. They cost money to produce and they are garbage when used up. Money is ALWAYS the best solution. People that buy gift cards are suckers. The only conceivable circumstance to buy gift cards is to give a food voucher to a homeless person. Even then, they would probably sell it for booze. Better to go with the gift or money.

there's more plastic in my ipod shuffle's packaging than a mere gift card

let's attack this problem from another angle

Originally Posted by ItemFinder

Gift cards are plastic. They cost money to produce and they are garbage when used up. Money is ALWAYS the best solution. People that buy gift cards are suckers. The only conceivable circumstance to buy gift cards is to give a food voucher to a homeless person. Even then, they would probably sell it for booze. Better to go with the gift or money.

Also don't discount the fact that when you buy a gift card fror someone you're basically giving that company an interest-free loan of $50 or $100 or whatever. They're maing money instead of you.

Give cash. Gift cards are a huge scam. End of story.

Originally Posted by ShadowVlican

there's more plastic in my ipod shuffle's packaging than a mere gift card

let's attack this problem from another angle

I also didn't mention the wrapping of gift cards that stores like Future Shop like to include. Altogether, the invention is simply a way for the companies to raise their revenues without you actually buying anything. Anybody stupid enough to lend their money as an interest free loan, as stated above, deserves to lose his/her money. However, laws are in place to keep the stupid people from hurting themselves.

the only way to recycle these types of plastic at the moment is to either recycle it in York region, or to wait until Environment Day, I believe...

Originally Posted by ItemFinder

Gift cards are plastic. They cost money to produce and they are garbage when used up. Money is ALWAYS the best solution. People that buy gift cards are suckers. The only conceivable circumstance to buy gift cards is to give a food voucher to a homeless person. Even then, they would probably sell it for booze. Better to go with the gift or money.

I agree. Bank notes are always the best solution (who throws money in the garbage)? It's ALWAYS recycled.

I'd say that gift cards are far greener than most coinage.

The amount of pollution to manufacture your average old style nickel nickel is staggering. They usually have a "dead zone" of about 10 kilometers around a working nickel mine.

It takes a lot of gift cards to equal the amount of plastic used in a plastic chair, or even a plastic garbage can.

Don't forget the gift card will probably end up being used for something that is wanted, not some gift that will collect dust for awhile before being thrown out. So in some cases it could be considered green.

Originally Posted by ZenOps

I'd say that gift cards are far greener than most coinage.

The amount of pollution to manufacture your average old style nickel nickel is staggering. They usually have a "dead zone" of about 10 kilometers around a working nickel mine.

It takes a lot of gift cards to equal the amount of plastic used in a plastic chair, or even a plastic garbage can.

This is silly reasonnig. Those nickels and dimes are in circulation 25-50 years, maybe longer. I see pennies on a routine basis from the 40s and 50s to this day. You think that Wal-mart gift card is going to last that long? NO ONE re-uses them. They throw them in a slot at the till and they go in the trash. I guarentee a very small portion, if any at all, are even recycled.

Originally Posted by telman

Don't forget the gift card will probably end up being used for something that is wanted, not some gift that will collect dust for awhile before being thrown out. So in some cases it could be considered green.

So you think if you give someone cash it will sit "collecting dust"?

Gift cards are stupid. They show no more thought than a cash gift and are an interest free loan with no consumer benefit. On top of that they waste resources. Either give a gift, or if you have no idea and have to give something, give cash or write a cheque. End of story.

Originally Posted by brunes

This is silly reasonnig. Those nickels and dimes are in circulation 25-50 years, maybe longer. I see pennies on a routine basis from the 40s and 50s to this day. You think that Wal-mart gift card is going to last that long? NO ONE re-uses them. They throw them in a slot at the till and they go in the trash. I guarentee a very small portion, if any at all, are even recycled.



So you think if you give someone cash it will sit "collecting dust"?

Gift cards are stupid. They show no more thought than a cash gift and are an interest free loan with no consumer benefit. On top of that they waste resources. Either give a gift, or if you have no idea and have to give something, give cash or write a cheque. End of story.

We're doing Kris Kringle using Elfster. Giving cash makes no sense. We suggest places we like to shop and ask for giftcards or specific gifts. I hope I get that Sport Chek gift card. I got my friend one for the Lacoste Outlet. Since the range is around $75, it would make no sense and be rude to give cash.

I only usually buy giftcards through a rewards thing, so I get them at 20% off. That takes care of the interest. I just ordered $250 FS and $250 BB.

Originally Posted by Psubs

We're doing Kris Kringle using Elfster. Giving cash makes no sense. We suggest places we like to shop and ask for giftcards or specific gifts. I hope I get that Sport Chek gift card. I got my friend one for the Lacoste Outlet. Since the range is around $75, it would make no sense and be rude to give cash.
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No idea what "Elfster" is, but the bolded part of your statement is just plain dumb.

What logically is the difference between a cheque for $75 and a gift card for $75. The only difference at all is that one can be spent anywhere and the other can only be spent in some arbitrary place. Neither requires any thought on the part of the giver at all. What makes one "rude" and the other not?

Originally Posted by brunes

What logically is the difference between a cheque for $75 and a gift card for $75. The only difference at all is that one can be spent anywhere and the other can only be spent in some arbitrary place. Neither requires any thought on the part of the giver at all. What makes one "rude" and the other not?

Not true, a gift card can show desire of the type of gift. For example I working at chapters and a guy came in and bought 80 - $50 gift cards for his staff, of all the stores he could have chose he chose chapters becuase of the type of things they sell. He could have easily spent that $4000 on promo shirts, or on cases of wine, or what ever.
A hockey coach for example it would make sense to give kids sports check gift cards vs cash.

Of course buying any product as a gift is the same as giving the store an interest free loan as until that product gets opens and NOT returned its the same thing, Christmas must be very boring in your house santa only brings cash...

Back on topic, I dont think gift cards are green but not any less green then most gifts.

BTW, paper money is rather energy intensive with a bill only lasting a year or 2 and then being sent to the landfill.

Gift cards can now be recycled, at least in my area. I'm sure more cities will accept them in the near future.