Why the bands are single-use
The clasp is the whole point. The snap button on the vinyl band locks once, and the plastic clasp on the woven band has barbs that only let the band move one way. A band that can be opened and closed again can be handed to someone else, and then it is a free ticket. Read more in the guide to security and single-use clasps.
A band that has been on an arm is therefore taken off with scissors and cannot be used again.
The materials
| Vinyl wristband | Woven wristband | |
|---|---|---|
| Band | Soft vinyl (PVC) | Satin-woven polyester |
| Clasp | Snap button | Plastic clasp with barbs |
| Screen print, one colour | Sublimation, colour in the fibre |
Both are plastics. We do not call the bands eco-friendly, and we have no environmental certificates for them.
Fewer bands thrown away
Most of what you can do comes down to quantity and design:
- Count properly. You need a reserve, but a 30 per cent reserve becomes waste. See the guide to wristbands per day.
- One band for several days. A weekend-pass band that stays on for the whole event replaces one band per day. That needs a band that lasts several days, woven or vinyl.
- Staff bands without a date. A band that says STAFF with no year can be kept for the next event, as long as it has not been fitted. A band with a date is used up once the event is over.
- One band for several small groups. One shared band with accreditation is better than five variants of 100 pcs where half are left over.
- Lock the reserve away. Bands that disappear from the store room are often replaced with a new order.
After the event
Cut bands are waste. How they should be sorted is decided locally, and the rules differ between countries and municipalities:
- Household and public bins: a cut band is not packaging, so do not assume it belongs in a packaging or plastic recycling collection. Check your local rules.
- At the event: the waste usually falls under the rules for business waste or your contract with the waste contractor. Check with your local authority or contractor what applies to plastic and textiles.
Unused bands without a date are not waste. Keep them locked away for next time.
What we do not claim
We do not say the bands are recyclable, climate neutral or eco-friendly. If we get information that can be backed up, we will add it here.
Questions and answers
Can the bands be reused?+
Not once they have been worn. Both bands have single-use clasps and come off by cutting. Unused bands without a date can be kept for the next event.
Can the bands be recycled?+
We promise nothing about recycling. How a cut band should be sorted is decided by your local authority and, for an event, your waste contractor.
Are the bands eco-friendly?+
We do not call them that. The vinyl band is PVC and the woven band is polyester, both plastics. What you can influence is how many bands are made and thrown away.