Eco Card Materials Compared
A standard plastic card is made from new (virgin) PVC. We supply four alternatives: recycled PVC cards made from 98% recycled PVC, PVC-free EcoTough cards with 20% recycled content, biodegradable cards with an additive designed to speed up breakdown in the right conditions, and Plastic-Free Board cards with no plastic at all.
They differ in thickness, in the finishes and extras they can take, and in what happens to them at the end of their life. This page puts all five side by side. Every card is 86 x 54mm, printed in full colour on both sides in England, from 25 cards.
The short versionFor a card that matches a standard one in every way, choose recycled PVC. For no plastic at all, choose Plastic-Free Board, as long as you don’t need a magnetic strip or a gloss or matt finish. EcoTough is the thin, lower-cost option you can write on anywhere. Biodegradable cards suit schemes where cards are replaced every year and the old ones thrown away.
The five materials at a glance
All five are the size of a bank card and are printed in full colour (CMYK) on one or both sides at the same price. Where they differ is the material itself.
| Material | What it’s made of | Thickness | Standard production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard PVC | New (virgin) PVC, with the print sealed beneath the surface | 760 microns (0.76mm) | 7 working days |
| Recycled PVC | 98% recycled PVC, with the print sealed beneath the surface | 760 microns (0.76mm) | 7 working days |
| EcoTough | A PVC-free, laminate-free synthetic material made with 20% recycled content | 360 microns (0.36mm) | 5 working days |
| Biodegradable | Solid plastic with an additive designed to speed up breakdown in the right conditions | 800 microns (0.8mm) | 7 working days |
| Plastic-Free Board | Recyclable board, with no PVC | 620 microns (0.62mm) | 7 working days |
Production times run from proof approval and payment. Need cards sooner? Ask us about express production.
How thick is each card?
Recycled PVC is exactly the thickness of a standard card, and biodegradable is slightly thicker at 800 microns, so both work wherever a standard card does: wallets, card holders, lanyard clips and card readers. Plastic-Free Board is a little thinner at 620 microns. EcoTough, at 360 microns, is less than half the thickness of a standard card.
There’s more on what thickness changes, and on the other card types, in our guide to plastic card thickness.
Which finishes and extras can each card take?
Recycled PVC and biodegradable cards take every standard optional extra, just as a standard PVC card does. EcoTough and Plastic-Free Board cards take fewer, so check this table before you choose one of them.
| Standard PVC | Recycled PVC | EcoTough | Biodegradable | Plastic-Free Board | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Gloss or Premium Matt finish | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Barcodes and QR codes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sequential numbering and personalised details | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Writing on it with a pen | Panel On a signature strip or write-on panel | Panel On a signature strip or write-on panel | Yes Anywhere, with a pen or pencil | Panel On a signature strip or write-on panel | Yes Anywhere, and it takes ink stamps |
| Magnetic strip | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Scratch-off panel | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Metallic foiling | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Embossing | Yes | Yes | Ask us | Yes | Ask us |
| Holes and slots | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask us |
Each extra is explained, with sizes and positions, on our optional extras page. For writing on cards, see can you write on plastic cards?, and for the two finishes, High Gloss vs Premium Matt.
What happens to each card at the end of its life?
What differs between the five is what each card is made from, and how it can be disposed of when it’s finished with.
Recyclable where PVC is accepted
A standard card can be recycled where facilities accept PVC. Not all household collections take plastic cards, so check with your local council or recycler first.
Made from recycled PVC, and recyclable again
Made from 98% recycled PVC rather than new PVC, and it can be recycled again where facilities accept PVC. The same check with your council applies.
Recyclable where this plastic is accepted
PVC-free and made with 20% recycled content. It doesn’t degrade in landfill, but it can be recycled where facilities accept this type of plastic.
Designed to break down faster
An additive is designed to speed up breakdown in biologically active conditions, such as some landfill sites. The rate depends on moisture, temperature and microbial activity, so we don’t quote a timescale. The cards won’t start to degrade while they’re in use.
Recyclable board, with no plastic
Made from recyclable board rather than plastic, so it can go in household or commercial recycling that accepts card. If you’re unsure what your collection takes, check with your local council.
Keeping a card in use counts tooA card that stays in someone’s wallet for years is one card instead of several. EcoTough is often chosen for gym entry passes and staff ID that are expected to last several years, while biodegradable cards suit schemes where cards are renewed every year and the old ones are usually thrown away.
Which one should you choose?
Start with what matters most to you, then check the extras table above to make sure the material can take everything your card needs.
| If what matters most is… | Choose | Because |
|---|---|---|
| A card that’s the same as a standard plastic card | Recycled PVC | The same 760 micron thickness, finishes and extras, made from 98% recycled PVC. |
| No plastic in the card at all | Plastic-Free Board | Board instead of PVC. Fine for everyday wallet use and scanning; for door entry, outdoor use or long-term gift cards, PVC or EcoTough may suit better. |
| Writing or stamping anywhere on the card | EcoTough or Plastic-Free Board | Both take a pen anywhere on the card, so there’s no write-on panel to plan around. Board takes ink stamps too, which suits stamp-style loyalty cards. |
| A thinner card at a lower cost, made quickly | EcoTough | 360 microns, tear resistant and waterproof, with 5 working day standard production. |
| A magnetic strip for a swipe system | Recycled PVC or biodegradable | Both take magnetic strips; EcoTough and board cards can’t. |
| Cards renewed every year, with old ones thrown away | Biodegradable | They look, print and feel like standard PVC, with an additive designed to speed up breakdown in the right conditions. |
Compare them in your handOur sample pack has the different types of card we supply, so you can feel the difference in thickness before you order. Its cost is deducted from your order if you order within 30 days.
How much does each one cost?
These are the prices for 25 and 1,000 cards, taken from each card’s own price table. They’re for one design printed in full colour, with delivery within Great Britain included, and exclude VAT and optional extras.
| Material | 25 cards | 1,000 cards | Each, at 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard PVC | £75.00 +vat | £245.00 +vat | 24.5p |
| Recycled PVC | £88.00 +vat | £280.00 +vat | 28p |
| EcoTough | £75.00 +vat | £206.00 +vat | 20.6p |
| Biodegradable | £88.00 +vat | £280.00 +vat | 28p |
| Plastic-Free Board | £89.00 +vat | £318.00 +vat | 31.8p |
Other quantities are on each product page, and our guide to what plastic cards cost explains what’s included and what costs extra.
Questions & Answers
-
What eco-friendly plastic cards can I get?
We supply four alternatives to standard PVC cards: recycled PVC cards made from 98% recycled PVC, PVC-free EcoTough cards made with 20% recycled content, biodegradable cards with an additive designed to speed up breakdown in the right conditions, and Plastic-Free Board cards, which have no plastic in them at all.
-
Are recycled PVC cards as good as standard plastic cards?
Yes. They’re 760 microns thick, the same as a standard card, with the print sealed beneath the surface, the same High Gloss or Premium Matt finishes and every standard optional extra. The only difference is that they’re made from 98% recycled PVC rather than new PVC.
-
How long do biodegradable plastic cards take to break down?
There’s no fixed timescale. The additive is designed to speed up breakdown in biologically active conditions, such as some landfill sites, and the rate depends on moisture, temperature and microbial activity. In a wallet or a card reader they last like a standard card: they won’t start to degrade while you’re using them.
-
Can EcoTough cards be recycled?
They can be recycled where facilities accept this type of plastic. Not all household collections take plastic cards, so check with your local council or recycler first. EcoTough cards don’t degrade in landfill.
-
Can Plastic-Free Board cards be recycled?
Yes. They’re made from recyclable board rather than plastic, so they can go in household or commercial recycling that accepts card. If you’re not sure what your collection takes, check with your local council.
-
Which eco cards can have a magnetic strip?
Recycled PVC and biodegradable cards can. EcoTough and Plastic-Free Board cards can’t take a magnetic strip, and board cards can’t take a chip either.
-
Which eco cards can you write on?
EcoTough cards take a pen or pencil anywhere on the card, and Plastic-Free Board cards take pen and ink stamps anywhere. Recycled PVC and biodegradable cards are like standard PVC: add a signature strip or write-on panel for anything written by hand.
-
Do eco cards cost more than standard plastic cards?
It depends on the material. For 25 cards, prices start at: standard PVC £75.00, recycled PVC £88.00, EcoTough £75.00, biodegradable £88.00 and Plastic-Free Board £89.00, all +vat, with delivery within Great Britain included. Each card’s own page has its full price table.
Ready to order?
Tell us what your cards are for and which material you’re considering. If you’re unsure which suits you, we’ll advise.
Every order comes with a free photorealistic email proof to approve before anything is printed.