A Sustainable World
More OXYGEN, for a greener world!
As a smart card provider producing millions of plastic cards yearly, developing an eco-friendly strategy to further protect the environment has become one of Toppan Gravity’s main concerns. Aiming at being more sustainable, we are offering the largest portfolio of eco-friendly cards, continuously working on performing sustainable business operations and investing in green initiatives.
#MoreOXYGEN
Our contribution to a greener world
In 2020, we performed several Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies of eco-friendly smart cards made of the special sustainable materials Polylactic Acid (PLA), PET and PETg, and Recycled PVC. The LCA studies conducted follow five impact categories in line with ISO standards 14040 and 14044 as well as verified by a third party to assure the quality of the study. As the name Life Cycle Assessment already reveals, the LCA studies examined the environmental impact of all stages of the OXYGEN products’ life cycle, from the raw and recycled material extraction and processing as well as packaging through to the end-of-life.
OUR OXYGEN CARDS
Eco-conscious smart cards having the lowest environmental impact
Toppan Gravity’s OXYGEN products have been launched following several years of research and development by internal and external studies. As part of our research, we have evaluated a number of different sustainable materials, including Recycled PVC, Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET), Recycled Paper and Polylactic Acid (PLA), a polymer made from renewable resources. The outcome is our OXYGEN product line; a portfolio of eco-friendly cards having the lowest environmental impact than any other smart cards available on the market and certified by all major payment schemes, such VISA, Mastercard and UnionPay.
- POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA)
- RECYCLED PVC (PVCr)
- PET-G
- RECYCLED PAPER
POLYLACTIC ACID CARDS (PLA)
The base material of OxyPLANT PLA cards is made of Polylactic Acid (PLA), an eco-friendly bioplastic derived from the renewable, non-edible resource corn starch. The special base material of these cards is 100% biodegradable and has the advantage of absorbing CO2 while being cultivated. In addition, thanks to the lightweight texture of OxyPLANT PLA cards, a lower environmental impact due to lighter transport is generated. Along with being environmentally friendly, this card offers very similar durability, life span and printing properties compared to standard PVC plastics.
KEY BENEFITS:
- 100% biodegradable base material*
- Bio-based sources
- Energy Saving and Emission Reduction
- Advanced Technologies
- Light and Durable Material
- Excellent Mechanical Properties
- Innovative Design Features
- Customizable Cards
* Tested and certified by ISO 16929, DIN EN 13432, Annex E and ISO14855-1. Biodegradable under certain circumstances.
RECYCLED PVC (PVCr)
This is an OxyCYCLE PVCr card, the FIRST smart card made of 100% recycled PVC. OxyCYCLE PVCr cards are qualified by all major payment schemes. While being easily recyclable, this eco-friendly card offers an alternative to standard PVC cards with the advantage of having 100% non-virgin plastics and thus eliminating raw material production, resulting in lower water consumption as well as energy and emission reduction. Due to the excellent thermoplastic nature of recycled PVC, it can be heated and moulded or extruded to form new products without loss of technical performance.
KEY BENEFITS:
- 100% Recycled Material*
- 100% Recylable*
- Less Chemical Usage
- Less Water Consumption
- Energy Saving and Emission Reduction
- Advanced Technologies
- Light and Durable Material
- Excellent Mechanical Properties
- Innovative Design Features
- Customizable Cards
*Base material
PET-G
Our OxyCYCLE PETg cards are made of Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETg), the most commonly used plastic in the world. This Thermoplastic is a great alternative to standard PVC as it is 100% recyclable. To avoid using virgin PVC, we have launched our OxyCYCLE rPETg cards. These cards are based on recycled PETg. Both, PETg and rPETg are materials that have been chosen by us for our OXYGEN card portfolio as they are very durable, lightweight and impact-resistant while being eco-conscious. The OxyCYCLE PETg and rPETg cards are available for the payment, transport, commercial and telecom markets.
KEY BENEFITS:
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Resistant with highest shrinking capability of up to 80%
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Very lightweight
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Strong and impact-resistant
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Naturally colorless with a high transparency
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UV resistant and recommended for weather resistance
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Chemical resistant
RECYCLED PAPER
OxyCYCLE Paper cards are a great alternative to conventional papers. Made of 100% recycled paper, these cards support the nature by being energy-efficient, resource-saving, and low in emissions. While virgin papers, made of cellulose which is obtained from newly felled wood, recycled papers are environmentally friendly as significantly fewer resources are consumed when producing these papers. Thanks to using recycled papers we are helping to protect forests and preserve biodiversity.
KEY BENEFITS:
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100% less wood
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Lesser energy and water consumption
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Co2 emission reduction
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Available in different thicknesses
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Compatible with printing and magnetic stripe
A Rising Trend in Eco-Friendly Banking
THE GREEN MOVEMENT
A Call for Sustainable Banking
The majority of payment cards on the market today are made from virgin PVC. Statistics show that there were 20.48 billion payment cards in circulation worldwide as of 2017, the latest year for which aggregate figures are available. About six billion new payment cards are issued each year, primarily made from virgin PVC. Those six billion cards equal the weight of 150 Boeing 747s, producing a carbon footprint equal to 500,000 passengers flying from New York to Sydney.
We understand this issue and took the initiative to contribute to a more sustainable world by introducing our OXYGEN cards product line. These cards are qualified by all major payment schemes such as VISA, Mastercard and UnionPay.
UN’S GLOBAL COMPACT SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
We acknowledge that our parent company, TOPPAN INC., participates in the UN Global Compact, and we support the Ten Principles and advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as broader UN goals. We consolidate our support for this initiative fully under our parent’s commitment.
Therefore, we do not participate in UN Global Compact activities nor do we participate in activities of a Global Compact Local Network.
