Mastercard announces phasing out single-use plastic payment cards with sustainable alternatives

        Mastercard has announced that it will remove virgin PVC plastic from payment cards on its network by 2028. All newly produced Mastercard plastic payment cards will be made from more sustainable materials, including recycled or bio-sourced plastics such as rPVC, rPET or PLA1, and approved through a certification process, which is the first step for the payment network. The company will support its global issuing partners in the transition away from virgin PVC.

        Mastercard’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Alan Jackovsky, added: “Mastercard is committed to driving climate action and reducing waste by driving our business toward net zero emissions and leveraging our network and scale to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, renewable economy.”

        Mastercard began its commitment to sustainability more than a decade ago, with a focus on financial inclusion, data responsibility and the environment. The sustainable card initiative was launched in 2018, and through the Mastercard Digital Security Lab, the company launched the Green Payments Partnership with card manufacturers Gemtalto, Giesecke+Devrient and IDEMIA, which aims to reduce the use of PVC plastics first used in bank card manufacturing. Since then, more than 330 card issuers in 80 countries have signed up, working with major card manufacturers to convert more than 168 million cards to recycled and bio-based materials through their networks. The company claims that this announcement further accelerates these efforts, while also praising the company's work in providing innovative digital-first card programs that completely eliminate the need for physical cards.

        “At Mastercard, we are leading and shaping our industry’s shared pursuit of a more sustainable, greener future,” said Ajay Bhalla, president of Mastercard’s Cyber & Intelligence division. “As our customers respond to the growing number of consumers looking to make greener choices, we are making a strong commitment to reduce our environmental footprint – for the benefit of people, the planet and inclusive growth.”

        Under the new regulations, all newly manufactured cards will be certified by Mastercard to assess their composition and sustainability claims; the certification will be verified by an independent third-party auditor. Once a card is verified, the eco-certification logo can be printed on the card.