Swiipr, the platform digitally transforming airline payments, has launched an industry-first fully sustainable ‘eco card’ to replace single-use paper and plastic welfare compensation methods.

Swiipr’s Mastercard welfare cards enable airline ground staff to instantly distribute food and beverage payments when flights are delayed, offering instant, secure and compliant payouts that have universal retail compatibility. The cards eradicate the need for paper vouchers, which are typically time-consuming to process and issue, prone to fraud, and difficult for retailers and passengers to use.

Made entirely from left-overs from construction timber and other wood products, and sourced from a zero-landfill mill, the Swiipr eco card is fully recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable with the same rigidity and thickness of PVC cards. It is certified to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards and compostable to EN 13432 standard.

A leading low-cost European airline has become the first carrier to adopt the eco card.  The airline is using the card to supply passengers affected by travel disruptions with welfare payments to support them as they complete their journey.

Tara Spielhagen, co-founder and CEO at Swiipr, said: “Swiipr is thrilled to continue cementing its place as an innovator in the airline payments industry with the launch of its sustainable eco-card. Paper vouchers should be a thing of the past. But unfortunately, they’re still common-place and used by many airlines. The digital eco-card is an easy to use, much more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative that streamlines the issuing process for airlines and improves the passenger experience, with minimal impact on the planet.”

The card has been produced by paperboard company Holmen Board and Paper, listed by EcoVadis among the top 1% of global businesses for sustainability. The company sources its wood from sustainably managed forests, where more trees are planted than felled.

Mark Browne, Account Manager at Holmen Board and Paper, said: “We’re delighted to lend our expertise in sustainable forestry and manufacturing to help the travel industry become more environmentally friendly. Just like passengers, the eco cards have their own journey to make: from our growing forests, where we prioritise biodiversity and tree health, through our 99% fossil-fuel-free mill and into the customer’s hand. Then they can be recycled and the whole cycle starts again.”