Barclaycard has announced that it is developing a credit card that will
help consumers reduce global carbon emissions and offers cardholder
incentives to be more environmentally friendly.
The new card is being developed as Barclaycard responds to rising
customer demand for products that make it easier to “be green” and
support environmental causes.
Whilst final product details are being completed – the card is due to be
launched in the summer – it will help tackle a number of opportunities
identified during the research process development. Studies found that
UK consumers are very interested in products that will not only help
them do their part in battling global warming, but make it simpler to
understand how to make a personal difference, and also provide
information on how green projects, many of them global, make a
difference in tackling climate change. Features such as these will have
broad appeal, and in particular assist consumers (nearly a third of
those surveyed) who say they are either “not very confident” or “totally
lacking in confidence” when it comes to knowing what they can do to help
the environment.
Announcing the plans for the new card, Elizabeth Chambers, Barclaycard
Chief Marketing Officer said: “We have a history of providing customers
with innovative and flexible products that meet their changing needs.
Our research shows there is demand for products that make it easier to
do your bit for the environment; we are proud and excited to be the
first leading UK bank to offer a card which will help customers reduce
carbon emissions, donate to green causes, and give incentives to buy
green products. We think this product will have strong appeal to
customers around the world and plan to roll it out globally over time.”
The product development research, which questioned more than 1200 people
across the UK, also found that whilst 1 in 8 believe climate change is
an important issue, almost three-quarters (74 %) believe living a green
lifestyle is more expensive and incentives to buy ‘green’ products and
services would help them to live a greener lifestyle.
Initiatives identified by respondents that would help or encourage
them to live green lifestyles included:
* Cheaper environmentally friendly products – 82%
* Incentives to buy environmentally friendly products – 61%
* Greater accessibility to environmentally friendly products – 59%
