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Here to stay: sustainability as a business model

Trends

2 Mins.

There is a compelling argument to be made for considering eco-innovation as central to any organization’s business strategy. Sustainability has become something customers expect, and the numbers bear this out, say Gabrielle Bugat, CEO ePayments at G+D, and Simon Rosenberger, Head of Payment Card Program at Parley for the Oceans. Hear more at Spotlight Podcast!

Gabrielle Bugat in business attire, gesturing while speaking in a modern office setting — Gabrielle Bugat, CEO ePayments at G+D

In this episode of G+D Spotlight hosted by Jessica Antonacci, Marketing Manager, Giesecke+Devrient ePayments North America, we look at a huge issue for our times: is there a business case to be made for sustainability? Gabrielle Bugat, CEO ePayments at G+D, and Simon Rosenberger, Head of Payment Card Program at Parley for the Oceans, talked it over, and their answer is simple: yes, there is.

Rosenberger is, in his own words, “responsible for turning nasty marine debris into valuable payment cards.” When asked about whether he thought customers were interested in sustainability in their payments choices, and whether banks and fintechs would choose to comply, his answer was clear: “I don’t think eco-innovation is optional anymore. It has become a baseline expectation of customers now.”

Bugat was equally forthright. Based on the numbers her business unit was seeing, eco-friendly cards are no longer just “nice to have,” they’re “here to stay.” She pointed out that more than half of Gen Z respondents in a recent study said they chose their payments options based on ESG criteria.

**Simon Rosenberger**
Head of Payment Card Program at Parley for the Oceans

This approach isn’t limited to cards. Rosenberger pointed to the work his organization is doing in mobilizing support for communities whose livelihoods and even lives are at risk from marine pollution, among other threats. Banks and fintechs can partner in these endeavors. “We’re trying to push our collaborators to really be pioneers in this field, be bold, be creative. We are trying to really push the envelope on alternative methods and activation,” he says.

G+D and Parley for the Oceans have been partners since 2021, designing and producing environmentally friendly payment cards. Their range of cards are produced using plastic waste gleaned from the oceans, and marketed to clients who are committed to their own sustainability agendas through payment solutions.

Published: 02/10/2025