Cards made from paper and other sustainable materials continue to gain in popularity. In addition to being ecofriendly, paper cards are more cost-effective and perfect for single-use purposes, such as gift cards.

To explore the future of sustainable cards, Peggy O’Leary, EVP, Prepaid and Digital Solutions for CPI, spoke with Elisa Tavilla, Director of Debit Payments for Javelin Strategy & Research, on a recent PaymentsJournal podcast. They discussed the flexibility available to consumers and providers with sustainable cards and looked at where the industry might be headed.

PaymentsJournal
Paper or Plastic: Sustainable Cards Are the Wave of the Future
PaymentsJournal Paper or Plastic: Sustainable Cards Are the Wave of the Future

PaymentsJournal

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Paper Power

Sustainable cards are being made from a variety of materials, including paper, wood, recycled PVC and other substrates, as well as recycled plastic. All of these are much easier on the environment than traditional plastic cards.

“We’re seeing a greater effort toward fostering sustainability and protecting the environment across all industries,” Tavilla said. “For example, in the retail industry, there’s been greater attention and efforts toward things like consignment, thrifting, upcycling, focused on zero waste. In the payments industry and financial services, we’ve seen efforts to improve sustainability and help the environment, too.”

Single-use type prepaid cards (that is, not reloadable) are ideal for paper. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift products have increasingly moved toward paper cards. They are more environmentally friendly than traditional cards, and they don’t need to be as durable as credit or debit cards that people use more frequently. Paper cards are also more cost-effective for manufacturers than plastic cards.

Sourcing Matters

The market has been pushing for assurances that paper products—and even the packaging around the paper products—come from responsibly sourced materials. 

“At CPI, we’re heavily investing in ensuring our materials are FSC-certified,” O’Leary said, referring to the Forest Stewardship Council, a group whose mission is to promote economically viable management of forests. “We’re making sure that our products have a trackable chain of custody and that our paper products come from responsibly managed forests. Not only are we creating something from a natural product that can break down after use, but the source itself is coming from a more ecofriendly supply chain as well.” 

Financial institutions have seen plenty of new investment around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, indicating a desire by consumers to minimize their impact on the environment. Many of these customers may not even realize that the plastic cards in their wallet could be replaced by something more ecofriendly. The effort extends to finding partners to ensure that the types of materials used are responsibly sourced as well. That is an important part of CPI’s manufacturing process.

“From the ESG perspective, CPI’s approach and strategy are very thorough and well-rounded, whether it’s from the cards and the products that they’re producing or the sourcing and the supply chain of the material,” Tavilla said. “Consumers are increasingly environmentally conscious of the products that they’re using and the providers that they buy from. A Javelin survey asked the key factors that users consider when they apply for a new credit card, and 26% said that having the card being made of sustainable material is an important factor.”

Expanding Possibilities

Sustainable card manufacturing allows for more than just environmentally friendly transactions. It opens up a new world of design for the cards as well.  

“We have come up with innovative ideas such as gift packages that would have lights that lit up or scratch-and-sniff options for the holidays where you could definitely smell the peppermint,” O’Leary said. “When you think about what it takes to be able to deliver that kind of innovation, you need an extensive network of suppliers, partners, and innovators behind the scenes that help you bring that all together.” 

It’s a misconception that an ecofriendly production means giving up uniqueness or special designs. CPI has developed hundreds of designs suitable for all kinds of occasions and personality types. Indeed, moving beyond simple plastic can give cards a variety of distinctive tactile feels. Special embellishment and designs focus on strong tactile experiences, which consumers love when they’re shopping for gift cards. 

Similar developments can be expected in gift and retail cards. Even though these cards tend to be single use or limited use, consumers sometimes want them to have a certain degree of durability. Some people might leave a gift card in their wallet or in a drawer for months before they redeem it. Cards with a larger amount of funds attached may be used multiple times. 

There are other reasons to look toward more sustainable products. California, for example, has introduced legislation limiting single-use plastics, which could have ramifications across the country. Obviously, it would not be efficient for card manufacturers to produce one card to meet the standards of one state and different cards for other areas. The result is likely to be a standard based on the most restrictive state laws.

For card providers and their customers, these trends are likely here to stay.  

“From a cardholder perspective, it is ensuring that you’re meeting the new requirements that are coming more broadly from your market,” O’Leary said. “From a business perspective, businesses are taking steps to improve their impact on the environment. Overall, you can drive a really positive business outcome, not only from an investment perspective but also to win in the market.”