metal cards as with coins may have a bigger carbon footprint because extracting metals is environmentally damaging and energy-intensive. Metal has to be mined, smelted, transported.
Interesting read,
https://www.chipandpinsolutions.co.uk/blog/cards-better-environment-compared-cash/
For every bank card we have in our wallets, many of us have probably handled 1000 times more banknotes, and polymer ones at that, If I want a new debit card then that’s my prerogative, I would like to think I am still doing my bit for the environment by choosing to live my life as cashless as possible.
Edit: Sorry @_ed that last paragraph wasn’t aimed at you specifically, that was in response to the general conversation around the desire to replace my debit card 