The Costa Rican bank "BAC" recently launched the first "biodegradable" bank card in Central America. The card is made of an environmentally friendly material that can be processed to make fertilizer, thus having a positive environmental impact.
Costa Rica's "lateja.cr" website reported on December 6 that 82% of the bank card body is made of a non-edible corn-derived material also known as "polylactic acid" (PLA). Compared to plastics, the production of PLA requires 28% less energy and emits 68% less greenhouse gases. In addition, the material can be made into fertilizer and returned to the ecological cycle in just a few months, rather than taking thousands of years to degrade, as is the case with plastics.
The remaining 18% of the card body is other structures such as chips and antennas. The card body pattern was not drawn with solvent-based ink, but with water-based ink to prevent the production of toxic fumes when printing the card. In addition, the envelope used for the card packaging is made from 100% recycled paper. At the end of its useful life, the envelope will likewise be recycled to promote a circular economy.
