More plastic means less marine life.
Our oceans are being devastated by plastic waste. ELGA Credit Union now offers Ocean Plastic® cards that are made using 70% plastic cleared from coastal areas. One card contains roughly the equivalent of one reclaimed plastic bottle.
Making Waves in Enviornmental Conservation
Ocean plastic pollution is a rapidly growing global concern, posing a significant threat to sea life and the delicate balance of our ecosystems.
As individuals, we all share the responsibility to address this critical issue and prevent a future where plastics outnumber fish by 2050, a prediction made by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
In an era where environmental sustainability is a pressing concern, we recognize the importance of doing our part to make a difference. We have taken a proactive approach by partnering with Thales and relaunching our suite of debit and credit cards, all Made with Ocean Plastic®! We are also the first in Michigan to have all our cards made from Ocean Plastic®. Each card is made using plastic reclaimed from coastal areas that would otherwise end up in the world’s oceans. One card contains roughly the equivalent of one plastic bottle!
When you use your ELGA Credit Union Debit or Credit Card you are using a brand that supports ocean pollution clean up efforts.
Apply for an ELGA Credit Card Here
91% of plastics are never recycled. 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste have been produced since 1950. Less than 9% have been recycled. Almost every piece of plastic ever made still exists on this planet in some form.
10 million tons of plastic is dumped in our oceans annually. That’s equal to more than a garbage truckload every minute.
During a five-year cleanup research project, nearly 7.5 million plastic straws were found on U.S. shorelines. Extrapolated globally, that is 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws on the world’s coastlines.
What You Can Do
Reduce Single-Use Plastics:
- Avoid single-use plastic items like plastic bags, straws, utensils, and bottles.
- Choose reusable alternatives such as cloth bags, stainless steel straws, and refillable water bottles.
Recycle Properly:
- Follow your local recycling guidelines to ensure that plastics are recycled correctly.
- Rinse and clean plastic containers before recycling to avoid contamination.
Reduce Plastic Packaging:
- Buy products with minimal or no plastic packaging.
- Look for products in glass, metal, or cardboard containers, or consider buying in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
Support Plastic Alternatives:
- Support products made from alternative materials like glass, paper, cardboard, and biodegradable plastics.
- Encourage businesses to switch to eco-friendly packaging options.
Choose Sustainable Products:
- Support companies that prioritize sustainability and reduce their plastic use.
- Look for products that are certified as environmentally friendly, such as those with the “Ocean Friendly” label.
Reduce Food Packaging Waste:
- Choose unpackaged or minimally packaged foods when shopping.
- Bring your own reusable containers for takeout and leftovers to reduce plastic food containers and wraps.
million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.
%
of the sea's surface is polluted by plastic waste.
billion pounds of plastic enter the marine environment every single year.
Additional Resources
Plastic Oceans™
Plastic Oceans International is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to ending plastic pollution and fostering sustainable communities worldwide.
Parley®
Parley for the Oceans is the global environmental organization and network where creators, thinkers and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.
More About Our Vendor
Thales Group
Thales has partnered with Parley for the Oceans, the award-winning global network whose members come together to raise awareness for the beauty and vulnerability of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.
The partnership between Thales and Parley empowers worldwide card issuers to offer their customers Thales Parley Ocean Card made with Ocean Plastic® – a premium material up-cycled from plastic bottles collected from coastal communities. Parley’s Code of Conduct further differentiates Ocean Plastic® from other recycled materials by prioritising traceability and the well-being of the employees and communities participating in the supply chain.
In November 2020, Thales won the prestigious 2020 Élan Award of Excellence in the Unique Innovation category from the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA) for the American Express Green Ocean Plastic Card.
ICMA’s Élan Awards of Excellence celebrate design innovation, security and technical achievements that power the card industry.
Information Sources