Introducing bio-sourced bank cards: another small step to a healthier, happier planet

A sustainable planet matters to us all, and our new, bio-sourced cards are one more step on the journey.

Did you know?

Older PVC-style cards can take up to 400 years to fully break down. Also their production releases significant amounts of CO2.
Plastic cards will soon be part of our BoI history. We’re planning to have moved away from PVC plastic debit and credit cards by 2026.
Our replacements cards are now made from 84% bio-sourced, renewable materials that come from field corn. Once they reach their expiry date decomposition takes around six months.
In addition, the introduction of our new sustainable cards will take around 17 tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere every year and reduce plastic use by 4.48 tonnes (imagine 500ml water bottles, 162,000 of them).

What else is new?

All cards will have a new modern design that is unique for each customer segment (personal / business, debit card / credit card) so those with more than one card can easily identify the cards in their wallet.
To increase durability our cards will now be flat printed instead of the traditional embossed method, so numbers won’t wear off so quickly.
To aid accessibility, the font size of the CVC number has been increased and guide notch (cut out of the card) included to help guide people, should they require assistance, on the direction they should insert the card into a card machine or ATM’s.

Bank of Ireland will start rolling out bio-sourced debit and credit cards across its entire cards portfolio from August to new and renewal cards. The initiative, which over time will replace all debit and credit plastic cards issued by the Bank, is supporting the reduction of single use plastic in Bank of Ireland’s products and services.