Blackhawk Network (BHN) is taking significant steps toward sustainability by collaborating with Mastercard to shift its branded open-loop prepaid products from plastic to paper-based materials. This initiative aims to reduce the company’s environmental footprint and has already made strides since its launch in the United States and Canada last year.

Mastercard has been on a mission to eliminate first-use PVC plastics from payment cards by 2028. The partnership with BHN is a crucial part of this effort, significantly lowering plastic waste typically associated with card production. Notably, BHN reported that 60% of its distributed cards were switched to paper-based materials by the end of the previous year, with an aim to increase this figure to 75% by year-end 2024.

According to Talbott Roche, CEO of BHN, the rate of progress has been remarkable, and the company is actively pursuing additional collaborations with partners across the globe, including banks and merchants. Similarly, Linda Kirkpatrick, president of Mastercard Americas, emphasized the importance of this initiative as a key driver for change within the payment industry, noting that the widespread adoption of paper-based products could set a precedent for reducing plastic usage in other sectors.

Investing in sustainable product development, BHN continues to research innovative solutions that leverage environmentally friendly materials for various applications, reinforcing its commitment to corporate responsibility. With over 400,000 global consumer touchpoints, this initiative not only highlights BHN and Mastercard’s leadership in sustainability but also encourages other companies to join in reducing their environmental impacts.