Mastercard targets 100% renewable or recycled cards by 2028

In New York, payment processor Mastercard aims to replace polyvinyl chloride credit cards with recycled PVC, recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or bioplastic polylactic acid versions within three years.

All new cards issued after January 1, 2028—including those from issuing partners—will be made from one of these alternatives. “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,” Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer for Mastercard, says in a press statement. 

Mastercard launched its Sustainable Card Program in 2018, and since then, over 330 issuers across 80 countries have signed up, working in partnership with major card manufacturers to transition more than 168 million cards across its network to recycled and biobased materials.

This most recent announcement further accelerates these efforts, while also complementing the company’s work to deliver “digital-first card programs” that fully eliminate the need for a physical card.