Why source tag and Recirculate?

Energy Consumption:
The world is beginning to recognize the need to be more careful in the reliance upon disposable products that require carbon fuel energy to produce. A number of retailers are engaging in “environmental sustainability” initiatives that would “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development).

Like all products made from plastic, the production of EAS tags requires the use of energy. Manufacturing disposable tags, and then re-grinding them for recycling is a tremendous waste of global energy resources. If you think about it, a reusable plastic tag has a useful life of at least 7 years - with the capacity for multiple inventory turnovers per year (assume 4 per year, or 28 lifetime). Suppose a single tag requires a single unit of energy to manufacture? If the tag is reusable, a single unit of energy is all that is required to make a tag that can be used indefinitely. Suppose a disposable tag requires the same single unit of energy to manufacture, and an additional 1/4 unit to recycle (regrind, melt into ABS)? Manufacturing 7 years’ worth of disposable tags using virgin plastic and regrind, requires 28-35 units of energy. Which method is better for the environment?

Landfill Restrictions:
Plastic products take a long time to biodegrade. While a banana peel biodegrades in 2-10 days, it takes about 5 years for a milk carton; 10-20 years for plastic shopping bags; up to 100 years for a styrofoam cup; and an astounding 450 years for a six-pack holder ring. A number of municipalities and foreign countries have already restricted the disposal of plastic products into landfills.