Propose an improved composition for payment cards, focused on the plastic components through a systemic approach, considering industry standards and regulations, costs, materials homologated for use in payment cards, and their end-of-life cycle.

Specific objectives:
· Analyse alternatives for payment card materials and advise issuers from an eco-innovative perspective.
· Influence issuers too increment/activate their brands in a socially responsible way, supporting local communities and increasing the role of sustainability in their strategies (social responsibility in a bank should be focused not only on a green loan portfolio, but also in the bank’s footprint of their own operations).
· Recognize the potential of changing the public’s perception of the retail financial service industry, by making sustainability part of the core values of institutions.

Method:
Systemic design, Circular economy

Project:
Introduction
Banks, their role in society and sustainability
History of plastic use and payment cards: past, present, and future of payments
Payment card composition, production cycle, industry standards, regulations, costs
Eco-innovation in payment cards: circular analysis of materials available for replacement of first-use PVC
Conclusion and recommendation for issuers: replacement of first use PVC, societal/activation role of the most used physical touch point of a bank, and communication