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Mastercard CSO: ‘Making more sustainable choices is a megatrend’

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04 Jun, 2025

This post was originally published on Green Biz

Source: Green Biz

The Two Steps Forward podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and other platforms — and, of course, via Trellis. Episodes publish every other Tuesday.

Financial services is high on the list of the most fascinating and challenging sectors for sustainability. Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, is one of the sector’s leaders. In just a few years at the financial services giant, she’s helped pioneer approaches to using payment systems to inspire, inform and enable change at a mass scale.

Jackowski talks about her company’s role in effecting systemic change in this interview for the Two Steps Forward podcast with me and my co-host, sustainability “solutionist” Solitaire Townsend. Jackowski shares several examples of how the company innovates solutions for its customers and banking partners. Also in this episode, we discuss the state of greenwashing and greenhushing, including how much of it is a distraction from more ambitious sustainability work that companies need to do.

Mastercard’s footprint

Mastercard’s financial footprint is vast. Along with Visa, the two credit card networks control approximately 90 percent of all payment processing outside of China. Mastercard itself can be used at 150 million places around the world, with thousands of banking partners and more than 3.5 billion cards in circulation.

“Our carbon footprint is relatively small for the size of the company that we are,” Jackowski told us. She explained that Mastercard’s sustainability efforts are focused on reducing that footprint but equally on “creating tools and partnerships to influence consumption trends and support a regenerative economy.”

Frictionless choices

It’s important to make the sustainable choice frictionless, Jackowski said. An example of that is working with transit systems around the world — in New York, Singapore and London — to enable riders to tap a credit card on a bus or at a turnstile rather than having to purchase a card, ticket or token. That makes the sustainable choice — transit riding — easier.

“We’re spending a lot of time thinking about which technologies, which sectors, are ready to lean into these new behaviors and new models, where it’s win-win-win for everybody.” In this case, that’s transit riders, transit companies and credit card companies.

Another example is a calculator that allows consumers to see, in their billing statements, the estimated carbon footprint of their purchases alongside the financial cost. Jackowski acknowledged that to maximize the calculator’s impact, Mastercard needs to “work with our merchants to provide that data at the point of transaction or prior,” not after you’ve purchased something. “The role we can play is to provide better information, more insightful information, to inform those choices.”

Strategic, systemic thinking

Jackowski emphasized that such initiatives require collaboration across industries and sectors.

“This can’t be Mastercard sitting in our own little box thinking about the evolution of our business model, moving into more circular business models,” she said. “This takes all sorts of partners and thinkers and stakeholders and actors.”

Still, Mastercard can be an influential connector between merchants and consumers, creating tools to influence behavior and foster a circular economy. She and her team work to address questions such as: “How can Mastercard inspire both merchants on our network and cardholders to want to offer and to also want to purchase more sustainable products and services? How can we inform? How do we provide deeper information?”

She said: “We’re focused on the long game while staying responsive to new data, pressures and trends.”

The Two Steps Forward podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and other platforms — and, of course, via Trellis. Episodes publish every other Tuesday.

The post Mastercard CSO: ‘Making more sustainable choices is a megatrend’ appeared first on Trellis.

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City of Gosnells retains Gold for Waterwise initiatives

City of Gosnells retains Gold for Waterwise initiatives

The City of Gosnells has once again earned Gold Waterwise accreditation from the Water Corporation, recognising its strong commitment to sustainable water management.

Director of Infrastructure Martyn Glover was also honoured with an inaugural Waterwise Champion Award for his leadership in water efficiency initiatives.

The Gold Waterwise accreditation acknowledges WA local governments that demonstrate leadership in sustainable water management. The new Waterwise Champion Award celebrates individuals who demonstrate passion, creativity and leadership to drive change in water efficiency.

Mayor Terresa Lynes congratulated Glover on his achievement.

“Martyn has been a driving force behind the City’s efforts toward holistic and integrated water cycle management, green space planning and the Smart Drainage program, making him a worthy recipient of this award,” she said.

Martyn Glover with his Waterwise Champion Award. Image: Supplied.

Lynes said retaining the Gold Waterwise accreditation was a huge success given Perth had experienced record dry weather in the past two years.

“Our climate is getting drier each year, which makes this Gold Waterwise accreditation even more important,” she said. “By thinking carefully about where the City uses water and how we can make that more efficient and effective, the City continues to improve our environment while saving ratepayer dollars.”

Key initiatives contributing to the City’s recognition include:

planting over 1100 trees and 3000 understorey plants in Canning Vale with support from a $115,000 Urban Greening Grant;
promoting waterwise gardening through community programs like Plants for Local giveaway and a demonstration garden at Amherst Village Community Centre;
upgrading Mary Carroll Park to enhance community connection to water;
implementing irrigation efficiencies and the award-winning Smart Drainage project.
 

Top image caption: City of Gosnells retains Gold Waterwise status. Image: Supplied.

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