Precisely such sights should be avoided in the future, the days of chip-cutting perhaps over. A kind of take-back system for that?
Image: Getty
Increasingly, banks are switching to credit cards made from recycled plastic. A publicity stunt or a flimsy way to present yourself as an environmentalist?
BFor a long time it has always meant cutting up the expired credit card, removing the chip and throwing it into the trash. This recommendation has always been extremely borderline. Because of the plastic film made of PVC, the electronic part and the built-in mini antenna, it is hazardous waste and must be disposed of accordingly. Careless handling could sooner or later be a thing of the past. Because the 8.5 by 5.5 centimeter small plastic card should be made of environmentally friendly material; a take-back system is even being considered.
This week, the Consors Bank announced that it would be switching to environmentally friendly credit cards made from 100 percent recycled plastic. This is part of the group-wide sustainability strategy of the French parent company BNP Paribas. Since last February, the Munich Hypovereinsbank, which belongs to the Italian Unicredit, has even been offering plastic-free debit cards made from polylactic acid, a bioplastic. The Spanish Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) has been distributing a card made from completely recycled PVC since June.