Heritage Bank launches eco-friendly Visa Debit Cards
19 December 2022
Made from plants, not plastic – Heritage Bank has today released the first of its new eco-friendly Visa Debit Cards, taking another step forward in reducing its carbon footprint.
The new Eco Cards are made up of 90% PLA (Polylactic Acid) - a plant-based material - or ‘bioplastic’.
The remaining 10% of the card is made up entirely of the chip and magnetic strip on the back. Every aspect of the card is 100% petrol-plastic free.
Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock said, “As a customer-owned bank, we’ve always placed purpose over profit to create positive impacts for our members and the communities they live in.
“Taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint and encourage greater sustainability in the community is just one of the ways we’re doing this.
“Our new Visa Debit Cards are just as durable as conventional PVC plastic cards, but gentle on the planet.
“Manufacturing Eco Cards uses 65% less energy and produces 68% fewer greenhouse gases when compared with plastic cards. At the end of their life cycle, these cards will degrade up to 20 times faster and release no toxins into the environment.”
The new Eco Cards also feature tactile dots to support visually impaired members to identify the card and make it easier to use with Eftpos machines or insert in ATMs the right way.
“This may seem like a small change, but it makes a real difference to those with vision impairments,” Mr Lock said.
“Importantly, this new feature will be included on all eco cards issued, making our products more accessible and inclusive for all.”
In keeping with its environmentally conscious approach and reducing waste, the new Eco Cards will only be issued to members when their current Heritage Visa Debit Card expires, or for new Heritage Simply Access transaction accounts.
The introduction of Eco Cards for other Heritage products will follow in the near future.
To celebrate the release of the Eco Cards, Heritage is partnering with Landcare Millmerran to plant 2000 native trees in Millmerran in early 2023 to support the regeneration of vegetation in regional Queensland.
This initiative adds to the already strong ESG actions Heritage has taken this year including the appointment of its first ESG and Sustainability Manager and, most recently, achieving Carbon Neutral status under the Climate Active program.
More information about the Eco Cards is available at heritage.com.au/ecocard . Or visit heritage.com.au/about/sustainability to find more about sustainability at Heritage.
