What material is my card made from?
On 19 December 2022, we switched our Visa Debit Cards to be made from PLA (Polylactic Acid) - a plant-based material - or ‘bioplastic’. On 1 March 2023, we switched the rest of our Visa cards to PLA, including our Credit Cards, Business Visa and Business Debit Card.
PLA cards are as strong and durable as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cards but are far less harmful to the environment as they degrade a lot faster than any other petrol-based plastics.
The cards are made from fermented plant starch sourced from plants like corn and sugarcane. Although the cards do still require elements like a microchip and antenna to perform their job (making up about 10% of the card), the body of the card is completely free from petrol-based plastics and will safely break down in landfill without releasing any toxins or microplastics.
Read this article to learn more - Get to know the Heritage Eco-friendly Visa Debit Card.