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Eco-friendly smart card launched
19 Nov 2009

A new environmentally-friendly smart card will be ready for mass production within the first three months of 2010, according to digital security group Gemalto.

The cards have been described by the firm as the "world's first bio-sourced degradable smart cards" and are packaged using vegetable inks and recycled paper to reduce the environmental impact of the cards.

Gemalto notes that the cards can be recycled and composted and also can be incinerated without releasing toxic emissions.

Tan Teck Lee, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Gemalto, said that the firm is "extremely proud" to have developed the product.

He added the cards are in line with the firm's corporate strategy, which includes developing products and ways of manufacturing that cut down on environmental impact.

Earlier this month, the firm debuted an expanded portfolio of eco-friendly products for governments, telecoms providers and banks.

In addition to the bio-sourced smart cards, these include the PC Twin reader - a smart card reader which is easier to recycle and has been developed according to strict eco-criteria - and PVC-free ABS molded cards, which cut down on waste emitted during the manufacturing process.