BAC announced the change in the current material of its cards for an environmentally friendly material with its BIO cards. The goal is to reduce the use of plastic to generate positive environmental value.
Perspective Writing
The new BIO card is made up of 82% material derived from inedible corn (PLA: polylactic acid), whose production requires 26% less energy and emits 66% less greenhouse gases compared to plastic.
In addition, the material can be ground up and composted so that it returns to nature safely in a few months and not in hundreds of years as is the case with plastic.
The remaining 18% of the card corresponds to the chip, band, antenna and design, and for the latter, the inks used are water-based and not solvent-based, so they do not generate toxic gases. Likewise, the packaging of the cards will be replaced by a 100% recycled cardboard envelope, which will also be reused after its useful life, promoting circular economy in all processes related to this new BIO card.
“Less than a year ago, at BAC we set out to become the first Net Positive bank in the region and today we are carrying out concrete actions that bring us ever closer to achieving this vision. As a team, we have a very clear north, as well as the commitment and motivation to continue “reimagining banking to generate prosperity in the communities we serve”, commented Gisela Sánchez, regional director of Strategy & Corporate Relations at BAC.
This project is a strong step in that direction, which will generate positive environmental value thanks to the use of natural-based, non-petroleum-derived raw materials, but which are also compostablein the case of the card, and recyclable, in the case of the envelope and other electronic components.
Additionally, the use of paper is being reduced through digitization and the generation of positive social value by promoting the development of new ventures in the region that will be dedicated to composting the cards once they reach their useful life.
New projects
In addition, the financial entity made an alliance with FuncAGUA to establish the first BIO BAC Forest Nursery, in which the natural compost (obtained from the composting process of the BIO Card) will serve as a high-quality, useful and safe fertilizer to sow more than 30,000 trees of native Guatemalan species in the country’s protected areas. This is equivalent to 30 hectares that will be reforested through volunteer activities with BAC clients and collaborators. FuncAGUA will be in charge of providing the necessary care to the new BIO BAC Forest Nursery.