Global payments and technology company Mastercard has launched what it describes as the world’s first directory of “rigorously assessed” sustainable alternatives to single use and virgin plastics in payment cards. The company’s sustainable card offerings are available to consumers in over a dozen countries globally and more than 60 financial institutions have issued cards with approved materials made from recyclable, bio-sourced, chlorine-free, degradable and ocean plastics. These institutions include Crédit Agricole and Mauritius Commercial Bank, as well as Santander, which will issue cards shortly.
This initiative is a new milestone in a multi-year effort that will lead to the launch of Mastercard’s (@Mastercard) global certification scheme for approved sustainable cards. It builds on the Greener Payments Partnership (GPP) formed by Mastercard and card manufacturers Gemalto, Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA in 2018 to establish environmental best practices and reduce first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing. Six billion payments cards are produced each year, typically from PVC. These cards are replaced on average every three to four years, with discarded cards going to landfills across the world.
“Our goal is simple: we want to help banks offer more eco-friendly cards to consumers, and we are taking concrete steps to bring about that change. This way, everyone benefits – it’s better for the environment, it’s better for business and it meets evolving consumer needs,” said Ajay Bhalla, president of Cyber & Intelligence, Mastercard.
Source: Bio Market Insights
Global site 
Finnish site