By David Lubwama — 20 November 2025

Mastercard has crossed one of its most significant environmental milestones yet: more than one billion payment cards have now been produced using recycled, reclaimed, or bio-sourced materials. What began as a quiet shift in 2018 has matured into one of the most expansive sustainability programmes in the global payments industry — reshaping how banks, consumers, and manufacturers think about the plastic card that billions carry in their wallets.

Today, the programme stretches across over 330 issuers in 80 countries, a clear sign that sustainability is no longer a boutique experiment but a mainstream expectation in financial services. In practical terms, Mastercard reports that more than 168 million cards already in circulation are made from sustainable materials, including 31 million issued across Asia-Pacific, where demand for greener solutions has surged.

However, this movement is not limited to replacing PVC with recycled plastics or sugar-derived polymers. Mastercard is preparing for a decisive transition: as of January 1, 2028, every new physical Mastercard product must be made entirely from sustainable materials and backed by an independent certification process. The company is introducing a “Card Eco” mark to signal this commitment, a label designed to help consumers immediately recognise responsibly sourced cards.

This material transformation forms part of Mastercard’s broader climate strategy. The company has already cut 46% of its greenhouse-gas emissions from its 2016 baseline and continues to operate on 100% renewable energy. Through the Priceless Planet Coalition, Mastercard has supported the restoration of 26 million trees, linking environmental renewal to global financial ecosystems.

Yet the company is also looking past the physical card itself. By investing heavily in digital-first payment technologies from mobile wallets to tokenised transactions. Mastercard is gradually reducing reliance on plastic altogether. The company sees digital integration and material innovation as two sides of the same sustainability coin.

Mastercard’s milestone is therefore more than a statistic. It represents a shift in how payment networks relate to the planet, how consumers interact with everyday financial tools, and how global brands choose to measure impact. With its 2028 deadline and ongoing net-zero ambitions for 2040, Mastercard is not simply reacting to environmental pressures; it is attempting to lead a new standard for responsible, circular-economy payments at a global scale.

As banks and issuers prepare for the next phase of the transition, one thing is clear: the familiar plastic card is being redesigned for a world that demands cleaner choices, and Mastercard is betting that sustainability can be built into every tap.