Sustainable payment cards

Thales promotes payment cards with inclusive, accessible and more sustainable solutions.

Enterprise
Financial services
Payment cards

Thales offers payment cards made from bio-sourced or recycled materials, along with services designed to reduce environmental impact. We also prioritise inclusion and accessibility for more inclusive payments.

Some key benefits of our sustainable payment cards

PVC-free card

100% recycled PETG
Wood card

0% plastic body
Ocean Plastic® card

70% are made from plastic waste
PLA card

> 70 million delivered worldwide
Recycled PVC

Removes first-use plastic

Payment cards for a more sustainable future

Thales sustainable payment cards are crafted from more responsible materials such as wood, recycled plastics and bio-sourced polymers, reducing waste and supporting global sustainability goals. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the cards feature tactile and visual enhancements to meet accessibility needs.

Thales Gemalto sustainable and eco-friendly payment cards

Thales sustainable payment cards use more eco-friendly materials such as wood, PLA and Ocean Plastic® PVC-free options to reduce waste and support sustainability. Designed with inclusivity in mind, cards can also feature tactile and visual elements for accessibility. With end-of-life collection and recycling services, we ensure a more responsible and accessible payments future.

Sustainable Payment Cards

The Thales Wood Card, made from FSC-certified wood, features a 0% plastic body, offering a unique differentiator without compromising sustainability. According to a recent survey, 65% of consumers are eager to adopt it thanks to its premium touch and feel. With its wood feel, visual appeal and engraved design, it’s the most natural card.

Wood payment cards — Thales sustainability portfolio with the Gemalto Wood Card © Thales

This recycled card is made of 100% recycled PETG, removing the toxicity of chlorine from plastic cards. The PVC-free card provides the easiest way to move to more sustainable payments for any and large volume card programs, while eliminating more toxic PVC.

Thales PVC-free 100% recycled PETG payment card — Thales sustainable payment PVC-Free card © Thales

Thales Gemalto Ocean Plastic® cards are made from 70% Parley Ocean Plastic® reclaimed from coastal areas, repurposing plastic waste to reduce ocean pollution. Partnering with Parley for the Oceans, Thales upcycles plastic bottles into payment cards.

The American Express Green Ocean Plastic Card won the 2020 Élan Award for innovation, showcasing strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

Thales Gemalto Bio-Sourced PLA cards replace over 80% of PVC with PLA, a more sustainable material made from non-edible corn. PLA is non-toxic, petroleum-free, and offers a lower carbon footprint than PVC card. Thales was the first to offer PLA banking cards, delivering over 70 million worldwide. Certified by UL ECV for bio-based content, these cards offer a renewable material based solution for consumers.

Thales Gemalto Recycled PVC cards help reduce first-use plastic by using waste from the packaging and printing industries. These cards are made with 100% recycled PVC, offering a more sustainable alternative. By repurposing post-manufacturing waste, Thales solution significantly minimises the environmental impact of traditional PVC, while offering durable, high-quality cards for financial institutions.

Thales sustainable rPVC payment card © Thales

Payment accessibility and inclusion

Research shows that 90% of visually impaired people have already experienced fraud or errors at the checkout. Thales developed the Voice Payment Card to bring trust and autonomy to low vision and blind users. It guides them through every payment step via audio. The solution also supports other disabilities and assists when travelling abroad with translation and local currency conversion.
Survey by Handsome & Ethik Connection, 2019

Thales Gemalto Voice Payment Card © COCO MALET

Thales supports financial inclusion with accessible payment solutions. Tactile, visual, and voice assistance features, along with biometric cards, help overcome PIN entry and usability challenges. These technologies empower people with disabilities to manage payments independently, enhancing autonomy and trust in daily financial access.

Collection and recycling services

Thales Gemalto Collection and Recycling Services manage payment cards' end of life, from their collection to their recycling and metals and plastic materials reuse. This allows the production of new objects made of recycled materials, reducing the amount of toxic waste ending up landfill or the atmosphere, protecting virgin resources and reducing Greenhouse gas emissions.

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Payment cards
Financial services

2025 Juniper Research Platinum Prize - Sustainability in Payment Cards

For the third year in a row, Thales is recognized by Juniper Research for leading sustainable payments with our PVC-free card and eco-driven innovation.