NatWest is to launch new environmentally-friendly debit and credit cards.

They will be made of 86 per cent recycled material, with the move expected to save over 50 tonnes of PVC plastic.

The move will see cards starting to be replaced with more environmentally-friendly ones from next month, as part of the bank’s aim to reduce the “climate impact of physical banking”.

Early next year, the bank will also be rolling out new uniforms for all its front-line staff, which include the use of sustainable fabrics made from recycled plastics.

Simon Watson, retail banking climate sponsor at NatWest, said: “We need big actions on climate and we’re collaborating with others as the finance partner for COP26 to help deliver those.

“But we also need to make millions of smaller, tangible changes. We have 16 million customers and changing our cards to recycled materials saves 50 tonnes of PVC.”

NatWest says it aims to “at least halve the climate impact” of its financing activity by 2030, and provide over £20 billion of additional funding for “climate and sustainable finance” this year.

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