In our blogs we’ve been exploring the future of passport technology, from advanced security measures to a fully realised digital ID. However, another element of consideration is ID cards and passports.
One of the most important developments in this space is transitioning to more sustainable materials. While traditional passports remain the go-to authentication document, the materials they are made of is a critical consideration across the industry. In fact, with more passports being produced and shipped across the world each year, creating a more eco-friendly passport and supply chain is essential to minimising our impact on the environment.
Starting in 2024, we now offer renewable polycarbonate in the passports and ID cards produced in three of our factories. But what is it, and what does it mean for the future of identity documents?
First though, let’s have a look at the use of polycarbonates in passports…
Polycarbonates in ID documents
Have you ever wondered why the page in your passport with all your details on is plastic, whilst the rest are paper? The data page is the most important page in the whole document and therefore needs to be the most secure against forgery and wear-and-tear. This is where polycarbonates come into the picture. A polycarbonate is made up of long chains of molecules linked together by carbonate groups, and is a material that is incredibly durable, and difficult to modify or change.
The data page, or the ID Card, is made up of layers of polycarbonate. Our age, names and photographs are all laser engraved onto different layers of the polycarbonate, rather than printed in ink, making the page much safer from attempts to modify it. Any attempts to peel this page apart would damage some of the security features in place, making it immediately clear that it’s been tampered with. Polycarbonates therefore provide a much more robust material for passports than traditionally laminated paper pages.
Renewable polycarbonate-based card and data page
So, beyond the heightened security advantages, what are the sustainability gains of this material? Renewable polycarbonate is produced with less fossil fuel-based materials, with those select materials replaced by renewable alternatives. These include bio-circular materials, such as waste from the paper and wood industries. These renewables are then mixed with the conventional materials to manufacture a more sustainable product.
The ISCC Plus (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certification verifies that a percentage of the final polycarbonate is derived from sustainable materials and presents a substantial opportunity to deliver meaningful reductions in carbon footprint. When compared to traditional polycarbonate, identity cards and passport data pages with 100% certified polycarbonate can achieve a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of the card body and data page material.
Renewable polycarbonate: What’s next?
The most important feature of certified polycarbonate, aside from its benefits environmentally, is the ability for it to be utilised in the manufacturing of passports without any reduction in security capabilities. Neither security nor sustainability has to be compromised. Beyond renewable polycarbonate, our R&D is already investigating new materials with improved sustainability characteristics for the future.
But it doesn’t end there. The physical materials in passports is just one aspect of the overall carbon footprint of passport production. In our recent blog on more eco-friendly passports, we take a closer look at the environmental impact over its life cycle and what else the industry can do to create a more sustainable future for passports.