Exploring Mastercard's Commitment to Sustainable Cards

Mastercard is committed to eliminating first-use plastics from all new physical payment cards across its network by 1 January 2028.

Since the initiation of its Sustainable Card Program in 2018, Mastercard has issued over one billion cards using more sustainable materials like recycled plastics, agricultural waste, and sugar-based polymers.

This initiative complements a digital-first approach designed to gradually decrease the reliance on physical cards.

Standards and Partnerships for Broader Impact

The program is gaining traction globally, with over 330 issuers across 80 countries participating, including 90 issuers within 15 Asia Pacific markets.

Working collaboratively with major card manufacturers, Mastercard has already transitioned more than 168 million cards, including more than 31 million in the Asia Pacific, to using recycled and bio-based materials such as rPVC, rPET, and PLA.

By 2028, all newly produced cards on the network are required to meet a certification standard, validated by a third party to authenticate materials and sustainability claims.

Eligible cards will bear a Card Eco Certification mark, allowing issuers and consumers to identify credible, lower-impact options.

“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,” says Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer for Mastercard.​​​​​​​

Decarbonising Financial Transactions

The reduction in plastic use is just a part of the comprehensive approach.

Mastercard is actively working on digital-first issuance, tokenisation, and wallet-based experiences which aim to eliminate the need for a physical card entirely, thereby reducing material usage, production emissions, and end-of-life waste, while still maintaining security and convenience.

The company is also engaging in industry collaborations, such as the Greener Payments Partnership with leading manufacturers, to revamp supply chains in order to eliminate virgin PVC and scale up the use of circular materials.

Sandeep Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Products & Innovation, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, states: “The world has a plastic problem. Solving it will be a whole-of-society task, yet efforts are often taken in isolation or without coordination.

"With this sustainable cards effort, Mastercard is bringing its global network of banks, financial institutions, and consumers, who collectively hold more than three billion Mastercard cards, together to build a greener payments sector through collaboration and partnership.”

Integrating Sustainability in Finance

Mastercard’s expansive sustainability strategy focuses on climate action, nature restoration, and inclusive growth.

The company is on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and is engaging partners through the Priceless Planet Coalition to restore 100 million trees by 2025 through 18 global projects. It also involves consumers by offering the Mastercard Carbon Calculator, developed in collaboration with Doconomy.

The company’s vision of building a sustainable digital economy also promotes expanding access. It plans to integrate one billion people into the digital economy by 2025 and support 50 million small and micro businesses, including 25 million women entrepreneurs.

Mastercard’s comprehensive approach combines redesigning products, setting explicit standards, and leveraging its global network to realize sustainability objectives, effectively reducing plastic usage while accelerating a transition to a digital, low-carbon financial future.

Collaborative Efforts for a Sustainable Future

Mastercard’s sustainability initiatives at significant events like The Open illustrate its efforts to merge large-scale platforms with everyday transactions into climate-positive actions.

In 2022, Mastercard supported The Open's water initiatives to reduce single-use plastics while directing funds toward the Priceless Planet Coalition. Retail initiatives like planting a tree for every fifty transactions on ekko’s “good vibes” debit card also promote global reforestation.

Beyond retail and events, Mastercard is enhancing access to clean energy through a Pay-As-You-Go solar model in Uganda, as well as improving urban sustainability by collaborating with over 150 cities to streamline public transportation systems.

The company is further advancing landscape-level restoration with 15 new Priceless Planet projects across six continents, aiming at a 100 million tree goal, while continuing to expand sustainable commercial solutions.