Visa has partnered with Blackhub Networks (BHN) to transition the gift card company’s prepaid products distributed by third party retail networks from plastic to paper-based materials.

Blackhub Networks is a branded payments firm that provides prepaid products.

Visa said the partnership resonates with its aim to become an “engine of sustainable commerce”, while BHN suggested the pair up has the potential to impact over 350 million open loop and multi-branded products it produces and up to another 700 million additional third-party cards.

The partnership will roll out in the US, Canada and Australia later this year.

“Visa is committed to operating as a sustainable, responsible business,” said Douglas Sabo, chief sustainability officer at Visa. “In addition to our own ongoing initiatives, joining BHN in its sustainability efforts is a way we can join forces for a greater collective good.”

In addition to transitioning to paper-based and sustainable card products, BHN said it is also continuing to innovate with its digital card offerings to further lessen the demand for plastic-based cards.

“Our mission is to lead the prepaid and gift card industry’s shift from plastic to more sustainable and responsibly sourced materials—and we’re delivering,” said BHN chief executive and president Talbott Roche. “Collaborating with influential brands like Visa is helping us create a more sustainable payment card market.”

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