Plastic is everywhere, from packaging and electronics to payment cards. Each year, more than three billion plastic payment cards are shipped globally, each containing approximately five grams of plastic. That adds up to nearly 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills or oceans, contributing significantly to long-term environmental harm.
The push to reduce plastic in payments
Organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have been vocal about the impact of plastic pollution. Each year between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic pollute ecosystems, damaging habitats and jeopardising food security. UNEP also highlights that plastic pollution is closely linked to climate change and must be addressed as part of a wider environmental strategy.
Despite the urgency, global initiatives, like the proposed Global Plastics Treaty, have encountered some resistance. Nevertheless, discussions are expected to resume in 2025, with the European Commission pushing for swift progress. Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny is increasing, with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) now assessing the toxicity of additives used in PVC.
In response to growing environmental concerns, the payments industry is moving towards more sustainable alternatives. Major players such as Mastercard, Visa, and Thales are leading the way in reducing virgin plastic in card production, supported by increasing regulatory pressure and consumer demand.
Rethinking the payment card
As the industry searches for more sustainable materials, several alternatives to PVC have emerged, each with its own strengths and limitations.
One innovation is the use of wood-based payment cards. Thales has introduced cards made from sustainably sourced wood, offering a renewable option with a distinctive, premium look.
Another promising material is polylactic acid (PLA), derived from plant sources such as corn.
In partnership with Parley for the Oceans, recycled ocean plastic allows the collection of plastic waste from coastal areas. The plastic is repurposed into Ocean Plastic® payment cards, helping to prevent marine pollution.
Thales has also developed a PVC-free card made from recycled PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol). This material is sourced from post-industrial waste. It is chlorine-free, reducing its toxicity and environmental impact during both material upstream production and card disposal, and is recyclable, supporting the principles of a more circular economy.
Why Thales’ PVC-free card stands out
With The PVC-Free payment card, Thales is the first on the market to provide such a product with the capability to deliver in significant volumes and on a worldwide basis meeting the evolution towards less toxicity. Thales also brings extensive expertise to the table, ensuring high-quality production and smooth integration into payment infrastructure.
Paving the way to a more sustainable future
The shift away from PVC is gaining traction across the payments sector. Recycled PETG provides a practical, scalable solution that can be deployed today. As environmental awareness continues to grow, Thales offers a wide range of sustainable products to support PVC free initiatives like PVC-Free card or Wood cards or any other more sustainable products, helping to move the industry and create a more responsible payments landscape.
