Card Materials
The material is half the message
Two cards with identical chips can say opposite things about your brand. Here is how our eight card materials compare — and how to choose.
Every material below is production-proven in real hotel programs and carries the same chip options, so your locking system works identically regardless of what the card is made of. The differences are feel, cost, durability and the story you can honestly tell your guests.
Standard PVC
Roughly nine in ten hotel key cards worldwide are PVC — and ours starts as the same card-grade film and sheet stock used for bank cards: white, clear and seven through-pigmented colours, superb to print on.
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Degradable PVC
Same press, same locks, same durability — but engineered to break down in landfill conditions, with independent ASTM test reports to prove it.
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Wood & Bamboo
No two wooden cards are identical — which is exactly the point. For boutique, luxury and eco-flagged properties, wood turns a utility into a keepsake.
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Waterproof Paper
A coated, wood-free paper body that handles wet hands and humid climates for the length of a stay — with no plastic in the card at all.
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PETG
The chlorine-free copolyester specified for national ID and social-security cards — tougher than PVC in daily use, with a high-heat grade (Vicat 88–100 °C) for climates where PVC taps out.
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ABS & Composite
Every SIM card ever snapped from its holder was ABS. That same impact strength — plus a −30 °C to 90 °C service window — makes it the pick for fobs, staff credentials and rough duty.
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Polycarbonate (PC)
PC is what national identity documents are made of: a fused tamper-evident body, laser engraving instead of ink, and years of service without visible wear.
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Bio-Based (PHA/PLA)
PHA and PLA are polymers grown from plants, not pumped from wells. After service, microbes take the card body fully back to CO₂ and water.
Learn moreAll eight materials, side by side
The numbers that actually decide a material spec — softening point, service life and disposal path — in one table.
| Material | Feel & look | Service life | Heat stability | Eco profile | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVC | Classic smooth bank-card feel, brightest print | 2–5 years of daily reuse | Vicat 80–86 °C | Petro-based; rarely recycled in practice | $ | Big fleets and the tightest budgets |
| Degradable PVC | Indistinguishable from standard PVC | 2–5 years of daily reuse | Vicat 80–86 °C | ASTM D5511 landfill biodegradation | $ | The eco swap with zero workflow change |
| PETG | Slightly silkier; chlorine-free chemistry | 3–5 years of daily reuse | Vicat 74–82 °C · high-heat grade 88–100 °C | Chlorine-free; burns clean to CO₂ + H₂O | $$ | Hot climates and clean-chemistry brand standards |
| Wood & bamboo | Warm matte grain, laser-engraved branding | 1–3 years of daily reuse | No softening point; stable past 70 °C | FSC-certified renewable veneer | $$$ | Boutique and eco resorts making a statement |
| Waterproof paper | Light matte board, editorial offset print | Weeks–months of reuse | Heat-tolerant; avoid soaking | Plastic-free body, paper-stream recyclable | $ | Events, hostels and short stays |
| ABS & PVC-ABS | Rigid, colour-through matte body | 3–7 years of hard duty | Vicat 90–110 °C · service −30 to 90 °C | Petro-based; longest hard-use life | $$ | Key fobs, staff IDs and rough environments |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Glass-smooth fused body, laser-marked | 5–10 years | High-heat and flame-retardant grades | Longest life per card issued | $$$ | Casinos, VIP and security-critical programs |
| Bio-based (PHA/PLA) | Matte, slightly warm touch | 1–2 years indoors | Vicat 50–60 °C — keep away from heat | Plant-derived; composts to CO₂ + H₂O | $$ | Eco-flagship indoor guest cards |
Component & specialty materials
The engineering layer beneath every card: the films, coatings and inlay materials that decide how long a card lasts, how it prints and how hard it is to copy.
Overlay Films
A 40–100 μm clear film takes the keys, coins and disinfectant wipes so your printed brand never does. It is the least visible material in the card — and the reason it still looks new next season.
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Digital-Print Sheets
An ink-receptive coating lets digital presses and desktop card printers put sharp, durable graphics on card stock — no plates, no minimums, every card can differ.
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Inlay & Antenna
An etched aluminium coil on PET film, bonded by adhesive engineered for a pairing ordinary glue fails. You never see it — every read at every door depends on it.
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Luminous PVC
A photoluminescent coating over card-grade PVC charges in room light and glows for hours — no batteries, no electronics, no interference with the chip.
Learn moreHow to think about material choice
Match the property, not the trend
A 900-key convention hotel and a 30-key eco lodge have different math on cost per card and return rates.
Check the claims
We back eco materials with FSC chain-of-custody papers and ASTM test reports — ask for them, from any supplier.
Test in your locks
Material never changes chip behavior, but antenna placement can. Free samples let your doors vote first.
Start your order
Need key cards that just work at check-in?
Send your lock brand and quantity — you will get a factory-direct quote and a free sample pack to test in your own locks before you commit.