Mastercard and OpenRice join forces to work on sustainability initiatives

Mastercard and local online food and restaurant guide OpenRice have expanded their partnership through the Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition, working towards the restoration of 100 million trees worldwide by 2025.

This comes as Mastercard commissioned research on sustainability in 2021 found that 85% of consumers said they are willing to take personal action to combat environmental and sustainability challenges. Furthermore, 62% stated that it’s now more important than ever for companies to act in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.

To help encourage environmentally conscious consumer behaviour, Mastercard is engaging partners such as OpenRice to drive collective climate action, opening doors for customers to support related efforts through the Coalition’s global tree restoration projects. Under the Coalition, both parties have joined forces to work on environmental and sustainability initiatives.

OpenRice’s environmental efforts align with Mastercard’s sustainability efforts, which include action such as working with financial institutions globally to develop cards made from eco-friendly materials, such as recycled ocean plastic and bioplastic made from Thai sugar and Nebraska corn, with the aim of reducing the need for first-use PVC plastics.

Starting in December 2022, Mastercard cardholders with cards linked to OpenRice Pay will be contributing to the Coalition’s reforestation goals, as one tree will be donated with each transaction via OpenRice Pay. This initiative follows on from various paperless and digitalisation efforts by OpenRice, such as its acceptance of e-cash vouchers and electronic payments, virtual credit cards and other mobile wallets. OpenRice users can also enjoy a secure and convenient digital payment experience by scanning the QR code provided by the restaurants with their OpenRice app to complete their transactions.

Other environmental efforts initiated by OpenRice include the development of platform capabilities such as the scan-to-order function and takeaway service during the pandemic, which allows consumers to order food and pick it up themselves to reduce last-mile transportation as well as carbon footprint, encouraging merchants to use its eMenu, and the ability to opt-out cutlery when ordering in favor of using reusable ones. Consumers can also apply for reusable bags on takeaway services along with other options such as choosing “food-wise eateries”, “green restaurant” and sharkfin-free restaurants.

“OpenRice has been on a journey to digitalisation, continuously evolving as an all-inclusive online food and restaurant guide. Following the launch of OpenRice Pay, the business nature of OpenRice has become broader and it is important for the company to bear more social responsibility, which led us to expand our collaboration with Mastercard, reinforcing our dedication to sustainable development and giving back to the community via the Priceless Planet Coalition,” said Joe Yau (pictured right), chief technology officer and chief executive officer of OpenRice Group.

“Through the partnership with OpenRice, Mastercard not only emphasises its focus on environmental action, but also underlines its commitment to supporting local businesses. Mastercard is pleased to welcome OpenRice to the Priceless Planet Coalition, working together to attain the coalition’s reforestation goals, in addressing climate change and in ensuring sustainable development,” said Helena Chen (pictured left), managing director of Mastercard for Hong Kong and Macau.

Mastercard launched the Priceless Planet Coalition in January 2020 to unite companies, communities and consumers in collective, coordinated climate action. Guided by its restoration partners, Conservation International and World Resources Institute, the Coalition employs science-based best practices to identify new project sites, select the appropriate tree species and ensure long-term forest health through ongoing monitoring, while also providing economic opportunities for local communities. 

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