How to Upcycle Gift Cards
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA 
on 08.30.07
We all get them—gift cards, that is—simply because it's the most-convenient present you can give someone you haven't melded minds with. So unless you've openly vocalized your disdain for what are essentially plastic disposables, chances are, you'll run through a gamut of hard plastic gift cards that most retailers tend to chuck in the trash afterward. Here's a tip, though: You can ask for them back.
One graphic designer decided to hack the cards she received into smaller mosaic-sized pieces she then pieced together by brushing on a layer of PVA glue. Stick a piece of cork behind the tiles and voila! instant coaster (And instant gift, if you're not afraid of being called chintzy.) ::Etsy
See also: ::Target's Bioplastic Gift Card
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what type of plastic are gift,debit,credit cards normally made of?
The majority of gift cards are made out of PVC.
Currently over 90% of the retailers are throwing the gift cards in the trash once there is no longer any value left on them.
There is an up and coming company called Earthworks System that manufactures PVC sheet out of 100% recycled PVC from the gift card/credit card market. They also offer retailers the opportunity to recycle the cards by mailing them back to Earthworks for full circle recycling.
Over 200 million pounds of PVC per year end up in the waste stream from this industry.
Demand your retailers to use these recycled cards and to recycle them as well.
If you buy a gift card and it does'nt have the Earthworks seal of approval then it's not recycled or recyclable
check out their site: www.earthworksystem.com
I work for a retailer, and have been investigating new gift card options. We currently reuse our cards as much as possible, and send spent cards to Earthworks.
However, I am very disappointed in the selection of alternatives to PVC out there for our gift cards. Yes, there are certain bio-plastics and other biodegradable materials, but they all use food sources, and, worse, GMOs in production (whether intentional or not). Our company tries to stay away from GMOs so this is not an option.
So far, Recycled PVC from Earthworks is the best option I've found, but I'm curious if anyone has found anything better.
Thanks