Triodos Green Credit Cards Launched
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona on 08. 1.06
One more to add to the international list of green credit cards and the first one available in Europe is Triodos Bank’s ecological VISA credit card, launched last week in Spain.
Not only are these Visa credit cards made from PVC-free recyclable plastic, but Triodos also compensates 1 tonne of the client’s CO2 emission for free if the card is used more than 5 times a month. That’s the equivalent of driving 6000 km by car or the annual consumption of energy for heating and hot water of a one person flat. Plus with each first buy they plant a tree in their client’s name in the sustainable Triodos Forest in Albacete, Spain.
As the biggest Euopean ethical bank, Triodos is consistent with their respect towards nature not only when it comes to cards but also for paper and office furniture. They managed to become 100% carbon neutral by saving energy, using alternative energy and compensating for any CO2 emissions. The main differentiation between Triodos and ordinary banks is probably the fact that they only invest and finance social or ecological projects and businesses. Since they started in 1980 in the Netherlands they have opened branches in Belgium, the UK and Spain. ::Triodos Bank ::Triodos VISA card (Spanish only) & more on ::ethical banking
I think that WWF-UK and CAT may have beaten Triodos for some years. After all, Tom Robinson sang about the idea in 1994 ...
Thats a veyr good idea, the problem though is trying to convince the customer of the benefits of this "green" action put into dollars and cents!
My god bad credit have you been hibernating for the last few years? Here we go again a few cents v the world, well you certainly haven't got much have you, 'sense' that is.
Today every person within the western world carries an average of 13 plastic cards per wallet/purse, 20 by 2009.
Once the cards expire we cut them up and throw the remains in the waste, where it is carted off to be dumped in landfills.
It takes over 25 years for a standard multi-graded PVC plastic credit card to break down.
During this breaking down period the plastics leak numerous highly poisonous dioxins into our land & waterways. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gives off hydrogen chloride gas a toxic colourless gas which can cause severe respiratory, eye and skin disorders. Phthalates are also added to PVC, this chemical is linked to cancer and kidney damage. Chlorine and organic tin compounds (found in credit cards), also pose a real threat to our health and environment.
It's about the way we consume and not just dollars and cents, education is all we need. Why oh why do we think we need this many plastic cards in the first place? We should refuse to use them unless they are PVC free and environmentally sound. We have forgotten how to say no!
By the way Greenpeace have been producing environmentally friendly credit cards since 1997. Since its visa card launch the card has raised over £300,000 - vital funds for campaigning work to stop environmental abuse and promote solutions. Now that's what i call a dollar/pound well spent.
I think it's a brilliant idea. Going green is the way of the future, why not do it with credit cards, too?
More power to Triodos. I think more banks and businesses should follow in their footsteps to help improve our environment.
With global warming becoming a serious problem in our present world, every bit helps in preserving our lands for future posterities.
Well. That's a pretty good idea. I am sure that a lot of companies benefit in the modern economy by providing environmentally friendly products and services.
By the way, I would love to have this credit card :)