Zwipe and HID bring recycled PVC to biometric smart cards, a first in the market

AUSTIN, TEXAS and OSLO, NORWAY – 12 December 2023 – Zwipe, the global leader in biometric payment and access cards, has partnered with HID, the worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, to release a recycled PVC prelaminate for its biometric smart card Zwipe Pay.

Recycled card materials are vital for achieving sustainability goals. Every year, about 3 billion payment cards, predominantly made of PVC, are issued globally. Replacing new PVC with recycled ones reduces waste and limits the influx of new plastic. More than 500 million “eco-friendly” cards, from recycled materials, PLA or PET-G, will be distributed in 2023, and this number is set to exceed 1 billion cards by 2025.

HID offers a prelaminate exclusively made from 100% recycled PVC designed specifically for producing biometric smart cards. When paired with the Zwipe Pay IC Module and fingerprint sensor, smart card manufacturers have the essential components to produce eco-friendly biometric smart cards that meet Mastercard Card Quality Management (CQM) requirements, including the use of sustainable materials in any new card issued as of 2028.

The recycled PVC prelaminates for Zwipe Pay are globally available for order now.

“With a strong focus on sustainability, HID is driven by the belief that technology can be harnessed to not only enhance security and convenience, but also minimize our environmental footprint. Our partnership with Zwipe represents a bold step towards a future where secure, convenient, and eco-friendly solutions meet at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and environmental responsibility,” said Martin Brezina, Vice President of Lux-Ident Business Unit at HID.

Patrice Meilland, Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Zwipe, added, "We are delighted to be first to market a recycled PVC biometric smart card platform. We are very happy that HID was able to support our request for a recycled PVC option timely and with impressive quality."
 

About HID

HID powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID has over 4,500 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand.
For more information, visit   http://www.hidglobal.com.

About Zwipe

Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work passionately across networks of international organizations, industries, and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We pioneer next-generation biometric card technology for payment, physical and logical access control, as well as identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit https://www.zwipe.com/.