The Most Eco-Friendly Debit Cards Worldwide

From sourcing sustainable materials for card manufacturing to carbon offsetting and reforestation schemes to eco-friendly investments, there's no doubt that the prepaid debit card marketplace in 2024 is becoming increasingly competitive in the way of sustainability and eco-friendliness.

In this short guide, we rank the top candidates for the most eco-friendly debit cards in major countries worldwide!

Tomorrow: Best in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain

Tomorrow is a fintech partnered with German bank Solarisbank that claims to place sustainability before profit and strives to make a positive environmental impact on everyday finances.

Customers can choose between three sustainable current accounts, the first two with a plastic Visa debit card and the premium tier with a wooden Visa debit. We mainly think Tomorrow's basic 'Now' account is ideal for sustainability-oriented customers due to its low all-around costs and pro-sustainability investments.

Perhaps most noteworthy about Tomorrow is that they go beyond the standard reforestation incentive and eco-friendly debit card offerings to provide an entire sustainable securities account right from their website! With the Tomorrow app, you can invest in the 'Tomorrow Better Future Stocks Fund' with a low barrier to entry to help make an impact in more than just one way.

Below, we go over the 'Now' account in more detail:

• Account name: Now
• Account type: Current account (German 'DE' IBAN)
• Fee: €3 /month
• Reforestation benefit: Yes (≈ 1 tree for every €10 you spend)
• Debit card material: 90% recycled plastic or wood
• Banking license: Yes, via Solarisbank
• Availability: Germany, Austria, Italy, or Spain
• More info: See our full Tomorrow review.

Bunq: Best in the Rest of Europe

Though Dutch neobank bunq doesn't lift a candle to the other contenders on this list in terms of affordability, their accounts are packed with features and are (reasonably) eco-friendly nonetheless.

Bunq doesn't offer a free account, and many of its services come with additional fees. However, for those who don't mind paying higher monthly fees for an online bank account, bunq has many interesting features and perks to take advantage of.

• Account name: Easy Green
• Account type: Current account with different IBANs
• Fee: €17.99 /month
• Reforestation benefit: Yes (≈ 1 tree for every €100 you spend)
• Debit card material: Plastic
• Banking license: Yes, bunq is a licensed Dutch bank
• Availability: Entire EU
• More info: See our full bunq review.

Wise: Best in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore

If you're looking for an eco-friendly debit card and you frequently travel to foreign countries, then the Wise Account is a great choice.

Not only that, but Wise also offers the most eco-friendly debit card if you're from the UK (where Tomorrow and bunq aren't available) or other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, whose eco-finances markets are still relatively small.

It's worth stressing that Wise's default card is a green plastic debit card that's not very eco-friendly and that their sustainable corn-based debit card still needs to be specifically pre-ordered.

• Account name: Wise Multi-Currency Account
• Account type: Current account in multiple currencies
• Fee: $0.00 /month
• Reforestation benefit: No
• Debit card material: Plastic by default, inkless biodegradable corn upon request
• Banking license: No
• Availability: UK, EEA, USA, Singapore, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
• More info: See our full Wise Account review

Aspiration: Best in the USA

Aspiration is a popular US-based mobile finance app and debit card focusing on reforestation efforts and environmental protection schemes.

Aspiration offers two eco-friendly debit cards: one free and the other costing $7.99 per month. In addition, they provide an eco-friendly credit card for a $60 annual fee. We find Aspiration's free debit card particularly interesting; it gives you most of the eco-friendly benefits for almost zero monthly costs. Here's a bit more about the free card:

• Account name: Aspiration
• Account type: Checking account
• Fee: $0.00 /month
• Reforestation benefit: Yes (≈ 1 tree for every card POS transaction)
• Debit card material: Recycled ocean plastic
• Banking license: Yes, via Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC
• Availability: USA only

Neon: Best in Switzerland

Neon is a Swiss neobank that's secured by Hypothekarbank Lenzburg. It gives you a Swiss franc (CHF) IBAN account and low-costs for spending in foreign currencies.

With neon's most premium plan, neon green, you can join in on a rather attractive reforestation program, basic carbon offsetting (via neon's partner myclimate), and even sustainable investments (via Inyova). Here's more information about this account:

• Account name: neon green
• Account type: Current account (Swiss 'CH' IBAN)
• Fee: CHF 5.00 /month
• Reforestation benefit: Yes (≈ 1 tree for every CHF 17 you spend)
• Debit card material: Cherry wood
• Banking license: Yes, via Hypothekarbank Lenzburg
• Availability: Switzerland only
• More info: See our full bunq review.