7 Best Carbon Credit Cards for 2024: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money

-
As the world inches closer to crossing the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature limit, it’s becoming clear that our consumption patterns play a pivotal role in influencing the direction of climate change.

That’s because our individual actions contribute to our carbon footprint. What we eat, how we travel, and what we choose to buy daily all impact the environment and the planet’s available resources.

We cannot rely on governments alone to take action – being conscious of where we spend our money can help us choose environmentally-friendly options that protect the planet from further damage.

A recent innovation, sometimes called a ‘carbon credit card’, is a tool that helps mitigate the carbon footprint of an individual’s purchases, while still offering the many of the perks and services of regular credit cards.

carbon footprints by diet type

What is a carbon credit card?

A carbon credit card is a credit card that helps the user mitigate their carbon footprint, like how Aspiration plants a tree for each purchase made using the Zero credit card. Other carbon credit cards might help mitigate a person’s footprint in other ways, such as limiting purchases based on levels of CO2 emissions.

Some of these credit cards are go a step further by being made from recycled ocean plastics or bio-sourced materials that degrade easily, such as corn and polylactic acid. They may also be printed using special ink made from recycled air pollution particles such as soot from chimneys and car exhaust pipes.

How does a carbon credit card work?

Carbon credit cards work just like regular credit cards. They provide credit lines and are subject to annual percentage rates (APRs). The only difference is that carbon credit cards offer special eco-friendly perks that encourage customers to spend responsibly.

Unlike regular credit cards that simply show you the purchases you’ve made each month, carbon credit cards provide you with a report of the carbon emissions associated with your spending. The card calculates the carbon impact of each transaction using a cloud-based climate impact index that shows the amount of CO2 emitted by your spending in proportion to the national carbon limit.

Best Carbon Credit Cards in 2023

Trying to find the best carbon credit card can be overwhelming. There are dozens of different cards on the market, all with different benefits and drawbacks.

To help you make a decision, we have sifted the internet and short-listed the top 6 carbon credit cards for you to consider.

1. Climate Credit Card: Best Overall


  • Climate Credit Card Review: Comes with your own personal footprint calculator and reasonable rates, and helps the environment with every purchase.
  • Climate Credit Card Limit: No limit for qualified users.
  • Climate Credit Card Benefits: Detailed feedback on purchase impact, funds green projects.
  • Climate Credit Card Approval: Fast
  • Climate Credit Card Application: Easy
  • Climate Credit Card Credit Score Needed: Good credit score required for approval.
  • Climate Credit Card Annual Fee: None
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 (8billiontrees.com)
The Climate Credit Card is an award-winning card with a climate-carbon footprint calculator from a Swiss company that aims to influence climate-neutral shopping (R). It has a climate calculator that monitors your purchases and calculates the carbon emissions linked to your purchases. The company offsets the climate impacts by investing in projects that support emission reduction.

The initiative educates consumers on the impact of their carbon emissions and contributes to climate projects worldwide to create real change. The card comes in two types. One is for businesses, and the other one is for private clients.


2. Mastercard Carbon Credit Card: Best No Fee Card


  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Reviews: No fees andreward points the pile up. This card gets high marks for eco-friendliness and impact.
  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Limit: Yes, limits are issued by the bank
  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Benefits: Rewards and cash back bonuses
  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Approval: Fast
  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Application: Easy
  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Credit Score Needed: Good or excllent credit score required
  • Mastercard Carbon Credit Card Annual Fee: No
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 (8billiontrees.com)
The Mastercard Carbon Credit Card is one of the top carbon credit cards available today. This card allows cardholders to earn rewards points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. Cardholders can also redeem their points for travel, merchandise, or cash back.

There are no annual fees associated with this card.

3. Aspiration Credit Card - Aspiration Zero Credit Card: Best Carbon Neutral Card


  • Aspiration Credit Card Reviews: The annual fees are a drawback, but overall the card is excellent. Ranks high for eco-consciousness.
  • Aspiration Credit Card Limit: Yes, amount limits apply.
  • Aspiration Credit Card Benefits: Cash back and a welcome bonus.
  • Aspiration Credit Card Approval: Fast
  • Aspiration Credit Card Application: Easy
  • Aspiration Credit Card Credit Score Needed: Good to excellent (670+) required for approval.
  • Aspiration Credit Card Annual Fee: Yes, annual fees apply.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 (8billiontrees.com)
Aspiration is a credit card company that offers various cards, each with its unique benefits. The Aspiration Summit card, for example, offers cash back on all purchases, no matter where you shop. The Aspiration World Elite Mastercard, on the other hand, offers rewards points that can be redeemed for travel and other expenses.

But what sets Aspiration apart from other credit card companies is its commitment to sustainability. Aspiration is a carbon-neutral company, which means it offsets its carbon emissions by investing in clean energy projects.

It also offers a carbon-neutral credit card, the Aspiration Redwood Mastercard. This card allows cardholders to offset their carbon emissions from their everyday spending.

Then there is the Aspiration zero credit card that gives you a cashback of 1% on all purchases if you achieve zero carbon footprint with your purchases. They have an app that tracks the carbon offset on the things you purchase. The company also plants trees on your behalf when you make purchases using your card.

4. Mastercard Doconomy: Best Cash Back


  • Mastercard Doconomy Reviews: Users rank this card great for the features and sustainability.
  • Mastercard Doconomy Limit: Yes, determined by the bank.
  • Mastercard Doconomy Benefits: Cashback and rewards.
  • Mastercard Doconomy Approval: Fast
  • Mastercard Doconomy Application: Easy
  • Mastercard Doconomy Credit Score Needed: Excellent score required for approval.
  • Mastercard Doconomy Annual Fee: No annual fee.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 (8billiontrees.com)
The Mastercard Doconomy card is a great choice for those looking for a carbon credit card. This card offers a number of features that make it a top choice.

This can help you save money on interest charges if you plan to carry a balance on your card. Second, the Mastercard Doconomy card rewards you with 1% cash back on all purchases. This means you can earn cash back on every purchase you make with your card.

Third, the Mastercard Doconomy card has no annual fee.

This means you can keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket each year. Finally, the Mastercard Doconomy card comes with many built-in protections, including fraud protection and extended warranty protection. These protections can help you feel confident and secure when using your card.

Overall, the Mastercard Doconomy is a great choice for those looking for a carbon credit card.

5. Do Black Credit Card: Best Sign Up Bonus


  • Do Black Credit Card Reviews: Users rank this card goodm because of foreign transaction fees and higher interest rates, but love the metal carbon credit card.
  • Do Black Credit Card Limit: Yes, the card has limits set.
  • Do Black Credit Card Benefits: Cashback and rewards.
  • Do Black Credit Card Approval: Fast
  • Do Black Credit Card Application: Easy
  • Do Black Credit Card Credit Score Needed: High credit score required for approval.
  • Do Black Credit Card Annual Fee: No annual fee.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 (8billiontrees.com)
Do Black is a credit card that offers cash back on all purchases, plus a bonus for spending in certain categories.

There is no annual fee for this card. It also has a 0% APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (R). After that, the APR will be 14.49% – 24.49% variable.

This card also has a $200 sign-up bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. The biggest downside of this card is that it has foreign transaction fees of 3%. So if you plan to use this card while traveling outside of the United States, you’ll want to keep that in mind.

6. American Express Green Card: Best Rewards


  • American Express Green Card Reviews: American Express carbon credit card gets great marks for service and usability.
  • American Express Green Card Limit: No limits.
  • American Express Green Card Benefits: Reward Points
  • American Express Green Card Approval: Fast
  • American Express Green Card Application: Easy
  • American Express Green Card Credit Score Needed: 690-850 (Good - Excellent) scores required for approval.
  • American Express Green Card Annual Fee: Annual fee is $150.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 (8billiontrees.com)
The American Express Green Card is a carbon credit card that offers a rewards program. Cardholders can earn points for every dollar they spend on eligible purchases.

Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, and travel.The card also has a 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers and purchases.

7. FutureCard Visa® Card: Best Green Charge Card


  • No Credit Check
  • Pros & Cons
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No deposit required
  • Application requires no credit pull
  • Cash-back reward is immediate
  • Not a credit card
  • Does not report activity to credit bureaus
  • Currently only offers digital cards
  • Earn 6% cashback on select partner brands, 5% cashback on the first $25,000 of purchases spent on public transport, electric charging, bikes and scooters, secondhand clothes and furniture and plant-based meat, dairy and eggs and 1% cashback on all other purchases
  • “FutureScore” provided through the card’s mobile app helps cardholders track, measure and reduce their carbon footprint through their spending habits
  • No annual fee
  • No credit pull when you apply for the card

Bottom Line

To find an eco-friendly credit card from an issuer that won’t invest in fossil-fuels, seek out local options from nearby credit unions and community-focused banks. Among major issuers, American Express has announced the most sustainability-oriented measures, but its products don’t feature options for offsetting carbon footprint like the Aspiration Card does or provide rewards for more sustainable shopping purchases like the FutureCard secured charge card does.


Read More: ESG Series (Environmental, Social and Governance)

Comments

Post a Comment

Pages

Popular posts from this blog

Best 6 Retirement Villages in Malaysia 2024

-
Image
Are you thinking of finding the best retirement home  for your parents in Malaysia? The demand for retirement homes in Malaysia can only go up in view of the increasing number of senior citizens in need of retirement homes that are affordable with good quality related support services. Malaysia is one of the top 10 retirement destinations in the world, based on the  Annual Global Retirement Index for the year 2020 .  Malaysian cities are clean and modern, its public transport unrivalled, and its people the friendliest in Asia. And while other Asian countries offer great budget holidays, and some offer first-class vacations, Malaysia manages to cater extraordinarily well to both. Next, you may need to understand some of the retirement related jargons here. There are many related terms such as retirement village, retirement home, retirement resorts, old folks homes, nursing homes, dual-key etc. So that we are on the same page, let's stick to the terms as defined by the Malaysian Mini
Read more

Glutathione vs NAD: What's the Difference?

-
Image
What's the difference between glutathione and NAD? We will cover the essentials and explain about each of these nutrients below.  What is Glutathione? Glutathione or GSH (tripeptide of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine) is referred to as the body’s “master antioxidant” or the “mother of all antioxidants” because it is your body’s primary and most prevalent protector, found in all mammalian tissue. Types of Glutathione There is a lot of confusion about GSH and what makes an effective glutathione supplement. There are different types, different formulas, and a lot of different companies saying different things. L-Glutathione or Reduced Glutathione because it is the most commonly found, least expensive, and the true core behind other forms you will find. There is some debate whether L-Glutathione alone can be effective taken orally. The theory being the enzymes in your stomach break it down before it can ever reach the blood stream and become useful. Some  evidence  suggests using
Read more

6 Best Cloud Kitchens in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor 2024

-
Image
If you are looking for the best cloud kitchens in Malaysia, you've come to the right place. Like seemingly everything else, technology has been taking over the food industry. Traditionally, around  60% of new restaurants fail  within the first year, and almost 80% shut down before their fifth anniversary.  What are cloud kitchens (a.k.a. ghost kitchens, shared kitchens, dark kitchens or virtual kitchens)? They have been  in the news  a lot lately. So chances are that you have at least heard of them. On the surface, cloud kitchens are delivery-only restaurants.  Historically in tech, we have used the word "cloud" to mean either that the web-based processing happens at some remote data center or the files are saved at a data center. However, the meaning of the word has evolved lately to include anything that happens remotely so you can get the final product wherever you are. Cloud kitchens are restaurants that only have kitchens. They are essentially food production facilit
Read more

12 Best SME Business Loans in Malaysia 2024

-
Image
SME or also known as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises are businesses that maintain revenues, assets, or a number of employees below a certain threshold. These business entities are often regarded as the heartbeat of Malaysia’s emerging and developing economies. Apart from providing vast numbers of employment opportunities, SME businesses are generally entrepreneurial in nature, helping to shape innovation. Generally, there are two criteria to be met in order for your business to qualify as an SME -- your annual sales turnover and the number of full time employees in your company. This also implies differently for each economy sector: Manufacturing (Small SMEs) Sales turnover RM300,000 to < RM15 million Full time employees 5 to < 75 people Manufacturing (Medium SMEs) Sales turnover RM15 million to < RM50 million Full time employees 75 to < 200 people Services & Others   (Small SMEs) Sales turnover RM300,000 to < RM3 million Full time employees 5 to < 30 people Se
Read more

6 Best NMN Supplements To Buy In 2024

-
Image
NMN is one of the most popular supplements in the anti aging community. The global Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) market was valued at US$ 98.5 million in 2019 and it is expected to reach US$ 296.5 million ( R ) by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 7.3% during 2021-2026. NMN is the precursor to NAD, which our cells use to power metabolic activity. In other words, NAD is essential for our cells to generate energy and thrive. By middle age, our NAD levels have plummeted to half that of our youth. And this decline has been linked to various age-related diseases. The hope is that NMN, being the direct precursor to NAD, can boost levels and extend longevity. What actually is NMN? NMN is short for Nicotinamide mononucleotide and it's the precursor to NAD (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). In fact, two NMN molecules combined together make NAD. But NMN is actually one of many intermediary molecules before the fo
Read more

10 Best E Wallets in Malaysia 2024

-
Image
An e-wallet is a feature within an app that allows transactions to be made via a smartphone. Similar to a traditional 'wallet', the e-wallet stores digital cash instead of physical cash. The prominence of e-wallets in Malaysia has grown significantly in the past few years, with its huge growth mainly driven by the government’s efforts and active marketing efforts by various companies. Credit: CompareHero.my Let’s check out the popular eWallets in Malaysia now with their payment method, top up method and other features as below: 1) E Wallet Touch 'n GO Courtesy of tngdigital.com.my TouchnGO eWallet is owned by TNG Digital Sdn Bhd, It’s an all in one e-wallet service covering all existing and future Touch ‘n Go products & services, with the Slogan “Shaping the future of e-payments for Malaysians”. Payment Method : QR Code Transfer to Friends : Yes, with Phone Number Top Up Method : FPX, Credit or Debit Card, Reload Pin, or Auto Reload Merchants : Over 100K Merchants as at
Read more

Estate Planning in Malaysia: Importance, Process, Will vs Trust, and Challenging a Will

-
Image
Estate planning is the process of preparing for the management and distribution of one's assets and properties upon death or incapacity. In Malaysia, estate planning is crucial to avoid legal issues and disputes among family members and beneficiaries. In this article, we will discuss the importance of estate planning in Malaysia, the estate planning process, will vs trust in Malaysia, and how to challenge a will in Malaysia. Why is Estate Planning Important in Malaysia? Without proper estate planning, the distribution of a deceased's assets and properties will be governed by the Distribution Act 1958 or the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 (applicable to Muslims). These laws may not necessarily reflect the deceased's wishes or the family's needs, causing disputes and legal battles among the beneficiaries. Moreover, estate planning can help reduce the burden of taxes and administrative costs on the beneficiaries. Proper planning can minimize or eliminate
Read more

FLCCC I-Care Early Treatment Protocol (2023)

-
Image
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance was initially formed as a working group under “emergency” conditions of the early COVID-19 pandemic in response to multiple early reports of COVID patients with an inexplicably high need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and an excessive mortality associated with the prevailing “supportive care only” recommendations disseminated by the majority of national and international health care organizations. Early treatment is critical and the most important factor in managing this disease. COVID-19 is a clinical diagnosis; a confirmed antigen or PCR test is not required. Treatment should be initiated immediately after the onset of flu-like symptoms. The multiple therapies and drugs in this protocol have different mechanisms of action and work synergistically during various phases of the disease. About this Protocol The information in this document is our recommended approach to COVID-19 based on the best (and most recent) literature. I
Read more

FLCCC I-Recover Protocol: Post Vaccine Treatment Protocol (2023)

-
Image
Although no official definition exists for post-COVID-vaccine syndrome, a temporal correlation between a patient receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and beginning or worsening of clinical manifestations is sufficient to diagnose as a COVID-19 vaccine-induced injury, when the symptoms are unexplained by other concurrent causes. Note that there are significant overlaps between the symptoms and features of long COVID/ long-hauler syndrome  and post-vaccine syndrome. However, a number of clinical features appear to be characteristic of post-vaccine syndrome; most notably, severe neurological symptoms appear to be more common following vaccination. To complicate matters further, patients with long COVID are often also vaccinated, making the issue of definition more difficult. Since there are no published reports detailing the management of vaccine-injured patients, the FLCCC treatment approach is based on the postulated pathogenetic mechanism, clinical observation, and patient anecdotes. Treatment
Read more

Best 7 Executive MBAs in Malaysia 2022

-
Image
Executive MBA programs are designed for working executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders who have many years of work experience, to gain an MBA whilst still working for their companies. Courses are typically explored from a management perspective and are often scheduled at night and on the weekends to accommodate working professionals. Below is a list of executive MBA programs in Malaysia. We have gone beyond and shortlisted a list of top 7 recommended MBA programs so that it's easier for you to choose. The list is based on Google Search Results and information available on blogs, reviews sites and forums. The recommended MBA programs have been arranged in no particular order. Check out the list below. #1. Master of Business Administration Open University Malaysia The MBA programme is designed to enhance student's managerial skills and capability in managing organisations efficiently and effectively. The OUM MBA provides the opportunity for th
Read more