Leo DiCaprio pushes green credit card

Leonardo DiCaprio keeps himself busy with a number of responsibilities -- Hollywood actor, supportive boyfriend to supermodels and concerned environmentalist.

During his first visit to Hong Kong, earlier this week DiCaprio combined his roles as Hollywood star and environmental activist in promoting a line of "green" credit cards from banking giant HSBC. "The green card is made of environmentally friendly materials and uses digital bills to cut down paper consumption," explains Web site ecorazzi.com. "Every transaction will also contribute to a local environmental protection project."

Ecorazzi reports that the credit card launch is a collaboration between HSBC and the thoughtfully named Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. "This pioneering initiative will enable people of Hong Kong to make their own green mark each and every day," DiCaprio said.

While also promoting his new environmentally themed documentary "The 11th Hour," DiCaprio took some time to discuss the benefits of this new green credit card. In a YouTube clip, DiCaprio explained the thinking behind a consumer's use of the credit card, saying, "Every time I buy a product, I know that a percentage is going to be given back to the environment."

Several media sites indicated the credit card will launch in early April (Earth Day is on April 22).

Even if a Leo-approved green card isn't in your future, you can still make more environmentally sound decisions when it comes to card payments. Like HSBC, your credit card issuer may also offer electronic-only credit card statements (I was able to opt for statements via e-mail and my credit card isn't even considered a "green" product). Paperless bills mean fewer trees get cut down and result in less waste. Additionally, cash back credit card users are free to donate their rebate checks to any charity (environmental or otherwise) that they choose.  

Finding a credit card outside Hong Kong made from environmentally friendly materials could be more difficult. Still, among the green card developments currently under way, some issuers are experimenting with creating cards from non-PVC materials that are apparently safer to manufacture and either biodegrade or can be recycled.

What about a green credit card for those of us in the United States, Leo?