Become a part of the movement
to protect the planet®

Demonstrate a commitment to more sustainable solutions through the use of payment cards that incorporate recycled materials, like recycled PET-G, recycled PVC, or recovered ocean-bound plastic into the card’s construction.

As a leader in the U.S. market for eco-focused cards, CPI is proud to have sold more than 50 million Earth Elements™ cards since launch in 2019.

Together, we can help turn the payments industry into a positive force for sustainability by focusing attention on alternatives to first-use plastic.

In a CPI survey conducted by an independent research firm, debit and credit cardholders indicated they are “concerned” about plastic waste.

76% indicated that it is important that their financial institution is environmentally-conscious

89% are concerned about plastic waste in landfills

94% are concerned about plastic waste in the oceans

CPI consumer insights fielded September 2021 n2215

All Earth Elements™ cards are:

Compliant with EMVCo standards

Dual interface capable

Certified by the major payment brands

Earthwise®

rPVC – Recycled Polyvinyl Chloride

The rPVC card product is an economical, eco-focused option that makes an ideal entry-point for financial institutions looking to appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers. Substituting traditional PVC with a recycled option represents a reduction in first-use plastic and extends the useful life of plastic waste that otherwise may have gone directly to a landfill.

Earthwise oayment card example with flying hummingbird image

Earthwise®

rPET-G – Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol

These premium upcycled payment cards are created from rPET-G, the same plastic commonly found in clear plastic packaging. This card offers the highest percentage of upcycled plastic in a dual-interface payment card by utilizing post-industrial plastic for all card layers.

Second Wave®

Payment cards featuring a core made with recovered ocean-bound plastic

CPI estimates that for every one million Second Wave® payment cards produced, over one ton of plastic will be diverted from entering the world’s oceans, waterways and shorelines.

Introducing more eco-focused
payment cards requires a
knowledgeable partner and choice

CPI developed the Earth Elements™ suite of eco-focused card products featuring upcycled materials to reduce the use of first-use plastic in the card’s construction.

Leading the way towards a more environmentally-friendly future for payments, CPI offers three upcycled material options and can help you decide which material is best suited for your debit or credit card program. Carry your sustainability mission through to your carriers and collateral. We can help with recycled options for companion materials.

Our Certifications

CPI strives to lead the industry in eco-focused products and we’re proud to have had our efforts reviewed by independent organizations.

ICMA EcoLabel Standard Program

CPI was the first company to become a licensee of the ICMA EcoLabel Standard Program, created by the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA), to recognize card manufacturer members for their commitment to sustainability and for specific card products that meet program requirements. The program establishes measurable criteria for assessing the environmental impact of transaction and identification cards for the purpose of ICMA EcoLabel Standard Program certification.

All of CPIs eco-focused products have achieved certification under the ICMA EcoLabel Standard Program.

 

THE ECOLABEL LOGO IS ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CARD MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (“ICMA”), AN INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATION, TO THOSE CARD MANUFACTURERS THAT VOLUNTARILY MEET ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:  (A) AT LEAST 25% REDUCED MATERIALS, (B) CONTAINS NO LESS THAN 25% RECYCLED CONTENT, (C) THE CARD IS COMPOSTABLE IN MUNICIPAL, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, OR (D) CONTAINS NO LESS THAN 40% BIOBASED CONTENT.  VIRTUALLY ALL PRODUCTS IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON WHICH ATTRIBUTES ICMA EVALUATED AND THE REQUIREMENTS TO USE THE ECOLABEL LOGO, VISIT https://icma.com/ecolabel-standard-program/.

For further details on which attributes ICMA evaluated and the requirements to use the ecolabel logo, visit https://icma.com/ecolabel-standard-program/

Mastercard Greener Payments Partnership

According to Mastercard, “the Mastercard Sustainable Materials Directory aims to help issuers offer more eco-friendly cards to consumers” and they have issued a sustainability badge to identify cards that have been certified through the program as meeting current industry benchmarks.

CPI encourages Mastercard issuers purchasing Second Wave® and Earthwise® rPVC cards to add the Mastercard Sustainable Card Badge to their debit or credit cards.

Since 2020 CPI has also been a proud member of the Greener Payment Partnership (GPP) formed by Mastercard and other major card manufacturers with a goal to reduce first-use PVC plastic in card manufacturing.

In January 2023, the GPP collectively authored A Guide to Issuing Sustainable Cards.

 

Our Awards

2022 Winner

Business Intelligence
Group

Earth Elements™

Sustainability
Product of the Year

2022 Finalist

PayTech Awards

Earth Elements™

Best Green Initiative

American Business Awards Stevie logo

2021 Gold Stevie® Winner

American Business Awards

Earthwise® rPET-G

Product & Service
Business-to-Business Products Category

2021 Winner

International Card Manufacturers Association

Second Wave®

Best Secure Environmentally Friendly Payment Card

2020 Finalist

Second Wave®

Best Secure Payment Card

American Business Awards Stevie logo

2020 Gold Stevie® Winner

American Business Awards

Second Wave®

Product & Service
Business-to-Business Products Category

Make sustainability a part of transitioning card portfolios to contactless cards

Adopting dual interface chip and antenna technology can be a compelling reason to shift to eco-focused card materials and combine efforts into one initiative.

Download These Resources

Infographic – What are SME’s saying about Sustainability?

Infographic – What are SME’s saying about Sustainability?

White Paper – Aite – Transitioning to Enviro-Friendly

White Paper – Aite – Transitioning to Enviro-Friendly

Infographic – Ocean Plastic and Payment Cards

Infographic – Ocean Plastic and Payment Cards

Learn more about Earth Elements™.