Mastercard, a major payment technology provider, has announced its commitment to eliminate first-use PVC-based plastic from its payment cards by 2028.
From the 1st of January 2028, all newly produced plastic payment cards must be composed of sustainable materials, such as recycled or bio-sourced plastics including rPVC, rPET, or PLA, and be certified as environmentally friendly.
The company’s statement outlined that all newly made cards will be certified by Mastercard to ensure their sustainability claims and composition, which will be validated by an independent third-party auditor.
The company will also support its global issuing partners in the transition away from virgin PVC. The move is consistent with the firm’s sustainability commitments and aims to make more sustainable card options accessible to consumers. Mastercard launched its Sustainable Card Program in 2018, and more than 330 issuers across 80 countries have since signed up, working with major card manufacturers to switch over 168 million cards across its network to recycled and bio-based materials.
“Mastercard is committed to advancing 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, regenerative economy,” said Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer for Mastercard.
