Netherlands-based RePay International Ltd. and Chinese loyalty-management company China Rewards Pvt. Ltd. jointly plan to introduce the ClimaCount Card Scheme, a carbon-offset program, to the Chinese market, the two companies announced on Jan. 11.
“We hope the program will help our customers to contribute to the environment while they are enjoying our services,” Phoebus Wu, China Rewards director of strategic planning, tells PaymentsSource.
Launched by RePay International in Europe in 2004, ClimaCount will be localized for the Chinese consumers, including a Chinese name, says Wu.
The ClimaCount scheme helps cardholders become aware of climate change by providing them insight into the carbon offset of their purchases and empowers them to make a positive contribution with every purchase.
Visa Europe launched a ClimaCount “green” card in 2008 (
Through a personal page on the ClimaCount website, cardholders may check the emissions of every item or service they buy, according to RePay. RePay also informs them of how ClimaCount compensates for the carbon emissions created from their purchase through carbon-offset programs, such as forestry, renewable energy, energy efficiency and the capture of greenhouse gases.
As a result, carbon emissions released into the atmosphere caused by a purchase will systematically be compensated, reducing the impact on climate change considerably, RePay claims.
Given that the concept of carbon offsets is still new in China, the Chinese version of ClimaCount’s carbon calculator initially will cover 25 products compared with the more than 400 products it covers on in Europe, Wu says.
“Long-term education is needed in the Chinese market, which also holds huge potential for growth,” he says, adding the company is seeking partnerships with card issuers and energy companies to promote the program.
Founded in 2008, Shenzhen-based China Reward serves customers in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and will expand to Beijing, Chongqing and Nanjing in 2011. It now serves more than 500 merchants and 3 million corporate members.
RePay International develops strategic alliances with banks, credit card companies, businesses and non-governmental organizations, which then link the concept under license to their own credit cards.
What do you think about this? Send us your feedback.
