DBS Taiwan Partners Thales to bring bio-sourced payment cards to Asia

• Thales will reissue over two million cards to DBS Taiwan to support the bank’s largest credit card renewal operation following its merger with Citibank. 
• Out of these, more than one million sustainable credit and debit cards are made from Polylactic Acid (PLA), a bio-sourced, more eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic, making DBS Taiwan the largest issuer of PLA cards in Asia.

In 2020, supported by Thales, DBS Taiwan issued Asia’s first bio-sourced credit card in their aim to promote customer awareness and use of environmentally friendly payment products. Fast forward to 2024, and Thales is now helping DBS Taiwan become the largest issuer of sustainable payment cards in Asia.

Through this project, Thales is helping DBS Taiwan revamp its Eco Card as well as supporting the re-issuance of over 2 million cards following DBS Taiwan’s acquisition of Citi’s consumer banking business in Taiwan.  Working within a tight timeline set by Taiwan’s financial authorities, Thales is helping produce up to 30 card body artworks to support DBS Taiwan’s ambition to become the largest and most environmentally friendly international commercial bank in Taiwan. More than a million of these cards are crafted from bio-sourced Polylactic Acid (PLA), aligning with DBS' ambitions to prioritise more eco-friendly products. The remaining selection showcases DBS commitment to innovation with Thales' range of premium metal cards and LED Artlight cards.

Derived from renewable resources such as non-edible corn, the Thales Bio-sourced PLA card is one of the most eco-friendly products in the market. The card is the world’s first UL Environmental Claim Validation (ECV)* certified eco-friendly payment card, and its bio-based component has been lab tested and accredited by worldwide science safety leader UL. Thales is a worldwide leader in modern and responsible payment solutions; the PLA cards are part of a comprehensive eco-friendly product portfolio, with over 50 million PLA cards already delivered globally. 

In addition, there is a forecast of 235 tons of carbon offset from the cooperation with Thales Carbon-Neutral Program. DBS Taiwan has also embedded the concept of green consumption into card value proposition such as rebate in low-carbon transportation, and cooperated with DBS Foundation to encourage cardholders to enjoy a more sustainable life with the goods and services through championing social entrepreneurship.