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Well spotted.TrevA wrote: 29 Oct 2024, 1:06pm It says on the back of my CUK Membership Card that it is fully biodegradable, whatever that means.
[text removed by moderator]Jdsk wrote: 30 Oct 2024, 9:42am"Biodegradable plastic":...It's such a shame that we don't know whether it's even POSSIBLE to make plastic that breaks down within a year.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic
Jonathan
My National Trust card is definitely stiff card material . It even says on it “Please recycle with paper”. I think they only changed over recently, within the last couple of years.sjs wrote: 20 Nov 2025, 5:22pm The National Trust still sends out plastic membership cards. I don't know whether they are necessary to get into their places, never having tried not to use one. Cotswold Outdoor are happy to give a discount for NT membership without seeing proof.
You're right. I never noticed, but mine's made of card too. My old folk's bus pass is still plastic though, whereas the rail card is digital.TrevA wrote: 20 Nov 2025, 8:52pm
My National Trust card is definitely stiff card material . It even says on it “Please recycle with paper”. I think they only changed over recently, within the last couple of years.
You do need it to gain access to their properties, they scan the QR code on the front of the card.
Digital stuff is of no use when one refuses the far-too-smart phone and other expensive unnecessaries. I haven't got one and will resist having to have one until they introduce the oxygen-selling app necessary if one wants to breathe, as none of the new oxygen-enclosers will accept pound notes.TrevA wrote: 20 Nov 2025, 4:40pm Just noticed that the YHA has gone over to digital membership cards. Is it time for Cycling UK to follow suit? Or at least have membership cards printed on actual card - National Trust use paper/card membership cards.
A digital card would have the advantage that you’ve always got it with you, as long as you’ve got your phone with you. Useful when getting the discount at places like Halfords. I don’t routinely carry all my plastic cards with me, as I don’t have a physical wallet.
I get that not everyone has a smart phone, hence the suggestion of a paper alternative. My paper/card NT card doesn’t seem to be any less durable that a plastic one and we get a new one every year anyway.
That's pretty much my position.irc wrote: 4 Dec 2025, 1:01pm I am a fan of plastic cards. The standard size and durability are excellent for things like membership cards and bank cars. As a percentage of my overall plastic/rubber use it is trivial. Tyres/tubes/clothes/packaging etc. As I carry a wallet everywhere anyway it is more convenient than cluttering up my phone with another app
Thirded. Concentration on individual responsibility is one of the distractions that allows systemic problems (in this case, the overuse of plastic and other materials) to go unchecked. As for a digital pass, my phone is fuller than my wallet!mattheus wrote: 4 Dec 2025, 1:41pmThat's pretty much my position.irc wrote: 4 Dec 2025, 1:01pm I am a fan of plastic cards. The standard size and durability are excellent for things like membership cards and bank cars. As a percentage of my overall plastic/rubber use it is trivial. Tyres/tubes/clothes/packaging etc. As I carry a wallet everywhere anyway it is more convenient than cluttering up my phone with another app
I know every little helps, but really we need to tackle the big stuff.