The visual above shows how credit card companies going green or biodegradable will prevent the waste ending up in landfills. It shows how credit card companies supporting the issue of our environment will end up in adding fewer pollutants to our land and water.

Curtis Arnold

Published April 20, 2012

CardRatings.com

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/04/18/best-credit-cards-for-going-green/

SUMMARY: 

Credit card companies have starting to follow the path of going environmentally friendly. Six of the best credit card companies supporting helping air quality, water and life on earth are Discover, Nature Conservancy Visa, ReDirect Guide Visa, Seacology Visa, and ZYNC from American Express. Credit card companies have made plans to help the environment and to add fewer pollutants to the Earth. Discover have made credit cards biodegradable and used material that breaks down in about five years. The Nature Conservancy Visa issues credit cards that are made from 55% recycled material. ReDirect Guide Visa has joined in on going green with One PacificCoast Bank and Sustainable Travel International  by offering discounts at green businesses and has made donations to pay for carbon offsets. The Seacology Visa supports helping to protect endangered species, island habitats, and coral reefs ranging around the whole world. ZYNC from American Express has offered double rewards if customers chose to add “Eco Pack” to their plans, which means they are supporting and encouraging consumers to go green as well. All six of these credit card companies are providing various ways to help out the environment and make sure that the community steps forward in going green as well. 

OPINION:

           I believe that the fact that credit card companies are going green is going to be very successful. Since, most people throughout our society are dependent on credit cards, seeing that these companies are going green to help the environment will cause a chain reaction on their customers. This reminds of how we watched the videos of Chris Jordan and his artwork in class. He showed how everyday products that we use, like plastic cups end up in landfills and how disposal of these products without care can result in harmful impacts on both animals and humans. Credit cards are no different than these products and will eventually end up in our Earths landfills and cause horrific impacts on the quality of air and water. The fact that many companies that sell products that can harm the environment are switching to eco-friendly materials is wonderful and it shows hope that our society will one day realize that they need to be more concerned with our environments safety and cleanliness. Now, that these six credit card companies are helping out by protecting endangered species, adding fewer pollutants, and making biodegradable products will make a big difference in the amount of pollution we get in our landfills and it will prevent the entrance of a product used everywhere in our oceans and eventually in our air.

QUESTIONS

1)  What materials do credit cards that are biodegradable use that make them be able to break down? If this works in credit cards, why don’t companies that use plastic to make their products switch to these materials as well?

               2)  How much extra does it cost to make items biodegradable and do companies see this expense worth it?

               3)  If credit cards do end up in landfills, after how long will they eventually start to disappear into the oceans? Not just credit cards, but all products, after how long do they end up in our oceans?

               4) Are there any other companies other than credit card issuers, that are planning to switch their products to be eco-friendly?

               5)  Will customers be impacted by seeing this switch and try to be more eco-friendly? If you were a customer of a product like credit cards and you saw them switch to environmentally friendly products, would this cause you to want to make a difference with your attitude towards the earth and why?