Infineon Introduces Eco-friendly Chip For Payment Cards

MUNICH, Oct 16 (Bernama-dpa) -- German semiconductor company Infineon has unveiled a new chip to make contactless payment cards more sustainable. The innovative module aims to improve the environmental footprint of hundreds of millions of cards worldwide, reported German news agency dpa.

According to Infineon, the new technology is expected to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint associated with card production, the global market leader for the chips used in cards. 

The new cards, which are expected to launch in Europe early next year, will feature a slightly larger electronic module, but Infineon assures consumers that their functionality will remain unchanged. 

The new cards do not need an additional copper wire antenna. Cards previously required about 3 metres of metal per card to capture energy from payment terminals and power the embedded chip, according to Infineon.

The new chip design is more efficient, allowing for a smaller antenna that is integrated directly onto the module, the company says, adding that this shift not only reduces the material footprint but also simplifies the recycling process.

Although a reduction of over 60 grams of CO2 emissions per card may seem small, it could have a significant impact, considering that more than 3 billion cards are produced globally each year.

The rollout of Infineon's sustainable cards is expected to begin in the United States later this year.

Experts predict that the market for eco-friendly cards, extending beyond those equipped with Infineon technology, could reach up to 900 million per year within five years.

--BERNAMA-dpa