Visa Inc., a global leader in digital payments, enables transactions across more than 200 countries and territories, processing over 260 billion transactions annually. As a key infrastructure provider in the global economy, Visa’s role in shaping sustainable finance, responsible innovation, and climate resilience is growing in importance. The company’s services influence millions of merchants, financial institutions, and consumers—giving it both an operational footprint to manage and a unique opportunity to enable low-carbon, inclusive economic systems.

Visa has made strong commitments in recent years to reduce its environmental footprint, increase transparency, and enable climate-smart consumer behavior. The company achieved net-zero emissions in its operations (Scopes 1 and 2) as of 2020 and continues to work toward value chain (Scope 3) emission reductions. In addition, Visa is leveraging its payment network to promote sustainable consumption, climate innovation, and financial inclusion around the world.

• Visa achieved net-zero operations in 2020 and uses 100% renewable electricity globally.
• In FY2022, Visa’s total carbon emissions were 191,000 metric tons CO₂e, with Scope 3 making up 98%.
• Visa has committed to net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2040, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Source: https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/global/about-visa/documents/visa-esg-report-2023.pdf

Sustainability Strategy and Goals

Visa’s sustainability strategy is grounded in the company’s ESG framework, which includes environmental stewardship, inclusive economic growth, and ethical governance. On the environmental front, Visa has committed to:

• Achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
• Maintaining 100% renewable electricity for its global operations.
• Improving climate resilience and disclosures, aligned with TCFD and CDP standards.

The company’s 2030 climate roadmap includes Scope 3 initiatives focused on supplier engagement, green procurement, and business travel reduction. Visa is also advancing sustainability through climate innovation, offering tools that help consumers and businesses track and reduce carbon footprints linked to their spending.

Visa plays an enabling role by integrating ESG data into its platforms and supporting sustainable finance, green fintech startups, and climate-focused partnerships—like its work with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Sustainable Brands, and Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition.

• Visa aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by 2030, and Scope 3 by 50% per employee.
• Visa’s climate targets are validated by SBTi under the 1.5°C pathway.
• The company supports climate-smart financial products and partners with banks on green credit card programs.

Source: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/esg/sustainability.html

Key Sustainability Innovations and Technologies

Visa is using its payments infrastructure to support climate solutions at scale. One of its core innovations is the Visa Eco Benefits program, a suite of APIs that allow financial institutions to offer cardholders carbon footprint tracking, carbon offset tools, and rewards for sustainable purchases. This program is currently used by partners in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Visa is also investing in data analytics and AI to enable banks, fintechs, and merchants to better understand consumer sustainability preferences. In e-commerce, Visa supports merchants with tools to label eco-friendly products and encourage low-carbon behavior.

On the operational side, Visa continues to digitize its real estate portfolio with smart building systems, LEED-certified campuses, and energy-efficient HVAC. Visa’s largest data centers have achieved Energy Star certification, and its Austin office campus operates on 100% renewable energy.

• Visa Eco Benefits tools allow issuers to display transaction-based carbon estimates to consumers.
• Visa launched greener card materials (e.g., recycled PVC, PLA-based cards) with over 50 financial partners globally.
• Visa’s core data centers use 100% renewable electricity, with AI-based cooling and real-time energy optimization.

Source: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/esg/eco-benefits.html

Measurable Impacts

Visa has demonstrated real progress in reducing its direct environmental impact. The company achieved carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2020 and continues to operate with 100% renewable electricity across all offices and data centers. Between FY2019 and FY2022, Visa reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 40%, even as the company grew.

However, Visa’s Scope 3 emissions—particularly from purchased goods and services, employee commuting, and business travel—remain a challenge, representing 98% of total emissions. The company has begun working with suppliers to adopt sustainability criteria and is rolling out green procurement requirements.

Visa also helps reduce environmental impact across the financial ecosystem. Its Eco Benefits APIs, sustainable cards, and merchant climate tools reach millions of consumers, offering insights and incentives to support greener behaviors.

• Visa’s total emissions intensity dropped by 30% from 2019 to 2022.
• Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduced by over 40% in the same period.
• 100% renewable electricity usage across operations maintained since 2020.

Source: https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/global/about-visa/documents/visa-esg-report-2023.pdf

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

Despite its achievements in operational sustainability, Visa’s Scope 3 emissions remain its biggest challenge. Because the company relies on third-party suppliers, cloud infrastructure, and global business travel, it has limited direct control over most of its carbon footprint.

Visa also faces challenges in scaling consumer-facing climate tools, especially in regions with limited ESG literacy or where banks have not prioritized green offerings. Ensuring global consistency in reporting and expanding supplier engagement will be crucial in the next phase.

Moreover, Visa has opportunities to further integrate circular economy practices—especially in payment cards, facilities management, and product innovation. Expanding public reporting on lifecycle assessments and end-of-life strategies for physical products would strengthen Visa’s overall ESG transparency.

• Scope 3 emissions account for 98% of Visa’s total carbon footprint.
• Supplier emissions and travel-related emissions remain under-addressed, despite growing visibility.
• Visa’s climate disclosures are strong on Scopes 1 & 2, but Scope 3 tracking is still relatively high-level.

Source: https://www.cdp.net/en/responses/25532/Visa-Inc.-CDP-Climate-Change-2022

Future Plans and Long-Term Goals

Looking ahead, Visa’s environmental strategy focuses on scaling decarbonization across its value chain, empowering low-carbon finance, and enhancing ESG governance. The company aims to reach net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2040, with interim targets for 2030 focused on emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and supply chain sustainability.

Visa plans to expand its Eco Benefits platform globally, giving banks and fintechs the tools to offer climate-conscious financial products. It also intends to launch more sustainability-linked commercial payment solutions, targeting corporate clients looking to align their spend with ESG values.

Internally, Visa will continue improving its supplier ESG performance management, broaden adoption of green card materials, and pilot more carbon removal projects through offset partnerships.

• Net-zero across all scopes by 2040, with SBTi-validated targets.
• Eco Benefits APIs to be integrated with 100+ bank partners by 2025.
• Visa is evaluating carbon removal and nature-based solutions as part of its long-term offset strategy.

Source: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/esg/sustainability.html

Comparisons to Industry Competitors

Visa is in close competition with Mastercard, American Express, and PayPal on climate leadership and ESG reporting.

Mastercard: Net-zero by 2040, strong progress in supplier engagement, and the Priceless Planet Coalition aiming to restore 100 million trees by 2025.
Source: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/vision/corp-responsibility/sustainability.html
American Express: Net-zero by 2035, focused on low-carbon travel and ESG-linked lending.
Source: https://about.americanexpress.com/environment
PayPal: Net-zero by 2040 with climate finance tools and partnerships in inclusive fintech.
Source: https://publicpolicy.paypal-corp.com/sustainability

• Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition offers strong stakeholder collaboration and ecosystem restoration.
• Amex is targeting Scope 3 emissions via travel policies and vendor programs.
• PayPal is focusing on inclusive decarbonization, especially in developing markets.

Our Thoughts

Visa has built a solid foundation for environmental leadership in the fintech and payments industry. Its achievements in operational decarbonization and renewable energy are impressive, and its investment in sustainable finance tools gives it significant leverage to promote low-carbon behavior globally.

However, Visa must now address the bulk of its emissions—Scope 3—with more granularity, transparency, and supplier accountability. As consumer and investor demand grows for climate-aligned financial services, Visa is well-positioned to lead if it continues to innovate and partner across sectors.

With its global platform, Visa can be a powerful enabler of climate-smart consumerism, supply chain emissions reductions, and sustainable economic growth.

Source: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/esg/sustainability.html