Bank Australia + Parley Bank Cards

The core challenge was to create a suite of sustainable banking cards that embody the bank’s values, supported by its sustainable commitments and Responsible Banking Policy. During the design process, we encountered several challenges, primarily due to the limitations of the material. Our goal was to achieve translucency and accurate colours while ensuring that the card, beyond the mandatory electronic components, was made predominantly from Parley Ocean Plastic™. Additionally, we had to work within a limited space to accommodate requirements set by partners and financial systems, all while ensuring that the card remained fully accessible to its customers.

The design process took a year from the beginning of the partnership with Parley. The aim was to create a minimalistic design within the material’s limitations. The design features a translucent window that highlights the bank’s ‘open book’ logo. This serves both as a branding device that captures light when in use and as a symbol of Bank Australia’s commitment to transparency in its investments. We faced many challenges in achieving the right level of transparency and vibrancy with the raw Parley material, and ensuring all colours on the card’s reverse matched the correct brand Pantone specifications.

It’s estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans every year, whilst in Australia alone, there are around 14.8 million credit cards in use right now, which equates to 74,000kg of PVC. The new Parley banking cards offer a sustainable replacement to the bank’s current options. Commercially, the new Parley cards have created a $150,000 production saving compared to the previous PVC supplier. As a customer-owned bank and B Corp-certified, Bank Australia is committed to a sustainable supply chain that reflects the values of its customers.

Working alongside Parley for the Oceans™ we have produced the first translucent banking card issued in the Australian market, made from recycled plastic*, with 64% collected from coastal communities.