York Gift Card goes green in time for Christmas

For three years, the York Gift Card has supported both city businesses – and people looking for a great present for friends and relatives.

And now there’s another great reason for buying one.

It has become sustainable. From this month, the York Gift Card has ditched plastic in favour of cards made from a strong paper board called Invercote, using Forest Stewardship Council certified material.

The strength, toughness and thickness of the board creates a Gift Card that is durable, without the need for plastic.

And the surface of Invercote has a patented coating which means the image on your gift card won’t fade any time soon.

You’ll still have a choice of stunning original images of either York Minster or Clifford’s Tower by local artist Jonathan Williams.

The inks used are also eco-friendly, and when the magnetic strip on the card is removed, the gift cards are 100% biodegradable and compostable, making them a thoroughly eco-friendly gift choice. 

More than 300 businesses

The York Gift Card is run by the York BID (Business Improvement District) and takes the headache out of choosing a gift, with over 300 local businesses in the city centre accepting the card.

The range of businesses includes both local and national businesses across a range of sectors, including fashion, food, drink, museums, and galleries, making it the most flexible and locally sustainable present around.

You can find a list of all the participating businesses here.

Operations manager of York BID Carl Alsop said, “As a business we’re always looking for how we can make sustainable changes in our operations, so it’s a really positive step to be offering these new greener gift cards and reducing our reliance on plastic.”

The York Gift Card can be bought online at yorkgiftcard.com or in person from the visitor information centre.