IST Expands IMPACT Pay Portfolio with 100% Recycled PETGa Card

IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST) is strengthening its more responsible card portfolio IMPACT Pay with a 100% rPETGa card, designed to reduce environmental impact across its lifecycle as part of IST’s newly launched IMPACT 2030 program.

Made from 100% recycled PETGa¹, the new card body offers an alternative to traditional PVC cards while maintaining the same technical characteristics, personalization capabilities, and compliance with Visa and Mastercard physical qualifications. Unlike traditional PVC, PETGa is chlorine-free, reducing the potential for harmful emissions during incineration and making it easier to integrate into recycling systems.

Supporting Banks and Fintechs on Their Sustainability Journey

IST’s IMPACT 2030 program is an invitation to clients and partners to support the transition to more sustainable payment methods. Over the next four years, IST has clear and measurable goals—from reducing CO₂ emissions, advancing more responsible sourcing, and investing in people. The card launch of the IMPACT Pay 100% rPETGa payment card is a concrete milestone in fulfilling this roadmap.

The rPETGa card is designed to support banks at every stage of their environmental transition. By using a recycled material rather than virgin plastic, the card provides a key advantage which is in its end‑of‑life profile. The card is:

• Compatible with open‑loop recycling systems
• Non‑toxic if incinerated, thanks to its chlorine‑free composition
• Capable of accelerated anaerobic degradation, with at least 27% of the material transforming into biomass within 180 days under ASTM D5511‑certified conditions.

Together, these characteristics help mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste towards the end-of-life cards.

Sustainable Design Without Compromise

Environmental responsibility does not have to come at the expense of card design or performance. The rPETGa card offers a wide range of physical design options, including smart textures, edge printing, advanced printing techniques and notches.

With this launch, IST is expanding the range of payment card solutions with a lower environmental impact for issuers, helping them take measurable action toward their low-carbon transition goals while continuing to deliver secure, reliable and distinctive payment experiences to customers.

¹ rPETGa is a recycled PETG material containing post-consumer recycled content and enhanced anaerobic degradation properties. It is designed to offer the durability and personalization capabilities required for payment cards while supporting improved end-of-life outcomes.