Wise, the global tech company building the best way to move money around the world, has today launched its first eco card.

The environmental impact of the Eco-Wise Card has been significantly reduced through the use of Polylactic Acid (PLA), a sustainable plastic alternative made from renewable bio-resources such as inedible corn. . The material choice is not only more durable than plastic, it does not release toxic gases when burned.

Wise’s design also significantly reduces ink usage, as demonstrated by the card’s plain white design and small “fast flag” logo. With modern card validation moving to tokens and most of the necessary information available through apps, the information printed is as minimal as possible. The result is no signature sheet, PAN number, CVV, expiration date or Visa hologram. The Visa logo is printed on the back and in addition, there is a notch on the card to make it easier for the blind to use.

The delivery envelope is made from reusable fiberboard and also uses minimal ink. Wise has replaced the usual packaging details with a QR code on the website where customers can find more information. The Eco Card costs a total of £9 for new customers (Wise’s regular Green Card costs £7 for new customers). Existing customers can upgrade to a new card for £4.50 (replacement green cards cost £2.50 for existing customers). A green card is still an option for customers, but they now have the option of choosing a white card instead. New and existing Wise Account customers in the EU will be able to order the card.

“We always speak to our customers before launching new products to the market, and they were very clear they wanted the option of a more environmentally friendly card.

Some people can go completely plastic-free, using our digital cards and Apple / Google / Samsung pay, but we know that some people might still need to spend with a physical card. Ultimately, it comes down to choice, and we want to make sure we can offer our customers what they want, now in a more sustainable way.

At Wise, we’ve been carbon neutral since 2020 and are committed to being net zero by 2030. We aim to measure our footprint as comprehensively as possible, reduce that footprint as much as possible, and offset and remove that which we can’t reduce.”

                                                                         Nilan Peiris, Chief Product Officer at Wise.