Barclaycard launches Barclaycard Breathe

Barclaycard is to launch the UK’s first credit card aimed at helping to tackle climate change and promoting greener spending.

Barclaycard Breathe, which launches on 2 July, will donate 50% of its profits to carbon reduction projects around the world and offer cardholders lower rates and discounts to promote greener spending. The card, which will make a guaranteed £1 million donation towards environmental projects in its first year, will also offer cardholders a greener customer experience with greener materials used to make the plastic itself.

Barclaycard Breathe is being launched to meet growing consumer demand for green products. Research carried out by Barclaycard found that 66% of the nation’s shoppers feel guilty about their impact on the planet when they shop and that 82% would live a greener lifestyle if environmentally friendly products were cheaper. The research also found different views between the sexes with female shoppers more likely to feel guilty about the environmental impact of their purchases with 73% admitting to guilty feelings compared to 54% of male shoppers.

Profit donations made by Barclaycard Breathe will support environmental projects in the UK and abroad that meet the proposed UK Government standards on offsetting and carbon reduction. Amongst the first projects supported are:

Solar4Schools – makes solar energy accessible for schools with the supply and installation of solar panels

Renewable Energy & Forest Preservation – A Brazilian project to promote using sustainable wood sources for fuel, replacing energy from diesel generators. The project will reduce carbon emissions by 145,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of emissions from a town of 60,000 people

Commenting on the launch of Barclaycard Breathe, Amer Sajed, Managing Director of UK cards said “Barclaycard has a long history of innovation as the first UK credit card provider and I’m delighted to launch another UK first. This card helps customers do their bit in the fight against climate change.”