This wooden debit card puts your money to work in saving the planet

Money makes the world go round, and it comes in many forms these days. While there are many proponents of e-wallets and digital forms of currencies, physical representations of money still make up the majority. Usually, cash has a minimal direct impact on the environment until they are used to fund activities or products that do harm to the planet in the long run. Credit cards and debit cards, however, are the clear exceptions because their very nature as pieces of plastic immediately makes them non-sustainable. That plastic design is mostly by convention, though, and this unique card proves that not only can these cards be sustainable, they can also help make the planet heal every time they’re used.

Designer: Treecard

The reason for plastic’s ubiquity is simply that there were no viable alternatives to it until recently. Plastic is cheap to make and durable, ideal properties for mass-produced products, including credit and debit cards that get distributed by the hundreds, if not thousands. Of course, there are no more sustainable options, like bioplastics or other newer materials. Some designers, however, have always preferred actual natural materials like wood, especially because of their unique characteristics and aesthetics.

Wood might not always be the best material to use for everything, and you might think that a card that sits in your wallet or jeans pocket isn’t a good place for it. Treecard, however, challenges that assumption with a debit card that is made from wood, at least except for the chip that is now standard in such cards. That does confirm that this isn’t just a decorative card but a fully functional one that can be used anywhere that accepts MasterCard. It also supports digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even Samsung Pay.

What makes Treecard extra special is that its commitment to sustainability goes beyond the card itself. It tries to give back to the environment by working with a partner so that a tree gets planted for every $50 spent using the card. Given how much people, especially in the US, make use of “plastic,” Treecard’s strategy will almost ensure that more trees will be available for future generations. It takes its mission one step further by promising never to use what it earns to fund fossil fuels or deforestation activities.

A wooden debit card is admittedly a novel proposition and one that actually looks handsome and eye-catching wherever you use it. There might be some concerns about its durability, though, since wood is less resilient under pressure and wear and tear, something that plastic does have over it. That said, the idea that you’ll be helping make the Earth greener while you spend might be enticing enough for environment-conscious consumers to make the leap of faith. They just need to take better care of their stylish debit card now.

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This credit card-shaped device can accurately capture an EKG better than most smartwatches

Priced at $89, it’s a whole lot cheaper than Apple’s watch, and works seamlessly with any smartphone while sliding right into your wallet when not in use.

Meet the KardiaMobile Card, the world’s slimmest EKG reader. Designed to be so thin that it fits right inside your wallet or card holder, this device is literally the shape and thickness of a credit card, but at the same time, it FDA-Cleared to detect AFib as well as recognize six of the most common arrhythmias. “Arrhythmias don’t wait for the doctor’s office”, the folks at AliveCor quite rightfully point out. The KardiaMobile Card sits right in your wallet or on the MagSafe card holder on the back of your phone, and can easily be used simply by resting your thumbs on its sensor panels for just 30 seconds while the card broadcasts EKG data to your phone via Bluetooth.

Designer: AliveCor

AliveCor’s come a long way with its range of portable personal EKG devices. While the previous versions of the KardiaMobile were just as portable and efficient, they don’t match up to how slim the KardiaMobile Card is, and the fact that it fits right in your wallet.

The KardiaMobile Card is a 1-lead EKG reader that can detect AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, and Normal Sinus Rhythm – along with other arrhythmias when you’re subscribed to the KardiaCare membership. The device is the shape, size, and weight of a credit card, and comes with one solitary power button that lets you turn the card on or off, with an LED light glowing to let you know its status. Electrodes on the left and right side of the card register either your thumbs or index fingers while the KardiaMobile app reads your heartbeat, and in a matter of just 30 seconds, you have your EKG reading – about the same time it takes on an Apple Watch.

Where the KardiaMobile Card really shines is in its ecosystem-agnostic approach. It works equally well with Android and iOS devices, giving you a medical-grade EKG without needing to go to the doctor’s office and without any of those wires, suction electrodes, and gels. The card itself has a 2-year battery and can be used multiple times in the day to give you a comprehensive EKG map of your heart. The KardiaMobile Card is FDA-approved and eligible to be used under your FSA/HSA.

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Malance teaches you how to balance and manage your finances better

Malance Credit Card Financial System

How do you manage your finances? That is a question that can be difficult to answer, especially when the livelihood of many people is being challenged. There is always the issue of failure to save money, the absence of emergency savings, and impulsive consumption of unnecessary things for many people.

We can learn many lessons and tips from different sources, but the most effective will depend on a person. For example, some will say cutting up credit cards has worked for them, while others live better by using them the correct way. Many mobile apps can help, but people tend to forget about them after some time.

Designers: Jinwoo Jang, Eojin Roh, Jungmin Park, Sungyean Na, and Dabin Won

Malance System Idea

Malance Design

It can be tough to keep track of your expenses, so you have to find a system or tool that works for you. A new concept called MALANCE has been designed to inform a user of his daily consumption. Malance can tell you how much you have to spend for a month more visually.

MALANCE helps you find your balance when it comes to your finances. It is an asset management tool that works through the principle of scale. Simply put, it will remind you about your daily consumption, so you can stop your impulsive shopping. It will tell you how much you have to spend for a month to be more aware of your finances. It’s like having a visual reminder of your financial goals.

Malance C

The act of weighing on a scale is used here. First, you need to set the target consumption amount using weights. Then, you have to place the card on the scale to see and compare the target amount with what you have already spent. It comes with a compatible app so you need to record, manage, and save consumption in a more convenient and accessible manner.

Malance App

The key here is for a user to really track and record his expenses. Then, you can manage consumption by comparing the cumulative amount with the target amount. You can also set the date range of your consumption. The whole system also inspires you to save up. The more often you see your savings, the more you can be motivated to achieve your goal successfully.

We haven’t seen anything like this before, but we understand the principle behind the project. Balancing one’s finances is not an easy task as we need all the help in the world. If mobile apps don’t help much, then maybe a tangible reminder like the Malance can.

Malance Features

Malance Idea

Malance System Features

Malance System Features

The post Malance teaches you how to balance and manage your finances better first appeared on Yanko Design.

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