“Earth Day 2021”: How Giesecke+Devrient is protecting the environment and climate

More than 175 countries around the world participate in the promotion of an eco-friendly lifestyle on today’s Earth Day – an annual day of action. This year’s international motto is „Restore our Earth“. In this regard companies are playing a crucial role. Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) stands as an example of how companies can help tackle this global challenge. The international technology group is pursuing a comprehensive sustainability and environmental protection strategy to conserve resources and boost energy efficiency. With its solutions, it also supports its customers in achieving their own sustainability targets.

This is reflected, among other things, in the company’s portfolio of eco-friendly payment cards, including cards whose bodies are made of 100 percent recycled PVC. Another type of card offered by G+D is made out of a material derived from biomass. It has similar characteristics to conventional PVC, but is not made of petroleum-based plastic and is fully compostable. G+D has also recently introduced cards launched in collaboration with the environmental organization Parley for the Oceans, which are made out of plastic waste collected from the world’s oceans and beaches.

The offering is completed by G+D´s collaboration with the Swedish fintech start-up Doconomy. At the heart of the cooperation is a digital service that enables end customers to measure their carbon footprint based on their purchasing behavior. Financial institutions can thus live up to their social responsibility and encourage their customers to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

In addition, G+D calculates the product carbon footprint (PCF) of payment cards troughout the entire life cycle and identifies potential savings at every stage. The company will also soon be in a position to offer climate-neutral products. Customers will be able to offset the CO2 emissions of their purchases by investing in a climate project.

G+D is working on sustainable and climate-neutral solutions in many other areas of its portfolio as well, such as in the SIM card segment. For example, the Half SIM, a half-size phone SIM card, not only saves 50 percent plastic in production, but the smaller card body is also approximately 40 percent lighter than similar products, meaning its transport-related CO2 footprint is significantly reduced. In addition, the company offers eSIM cards that are already permanently installed when the device is manufactured. They can be activated via the customer’s mobile network operator or Wi-Fi. A plastic body is no longer required. This means that SIM cards no longer have to be shipped to end customers and physically replaced when a customer changes its mobile provider.

In banknote paper production and printing, G+D also intensively focuses on improvement in the areas of raw materials, production, logistics, and recycling. For example, some of the energy used in the facilities comes from renewable sources. Modern banknote processing solutions also allow for considerable savings on plastic packaging.

G+Ds climate protection activities are embedded in a comprehensive corporate responsibility strategy. Since 2010, G+D has been committed to the principles of the UN Global Compact and strives to add value as a company in economic, environmental and social terms.

Further information on G+D’s corporate responsibility can be found in the company’s latest progress report.

About Giesecke+Devrient

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global security technology group headquartered in Munich. As a partner to organizations with highest demands, G+D engineers trust and secures essential values with its solutions. The company’s innovative technology protects physical and digital payments, the connectivity of people and machines, the identity of people and objects, as well as digital infrastructures and confidential data.

G+D was founded in 1852. In the fiscal year 2020, the company generated a turnover of 2.31 billion euros with around 11,500 employees. G+D is represented by 74 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 32 countries. Further information: www.gi-de.com.