Choose the complete card, not a label
Compare wood, PPH BioBoard and recycled PVC against the same reader, artwork and service conditions. The body gives the card its surface and feel; electronics, bonding layers and finishes complete the credential. A material change does not automatically preserve radio performance or establish a reporting benefit.
Procurement comparison
| Material | Specify | Request evidence for |
|---|---|---|
| Wood body | Species, thickness, engraving/print and finish | Wood sourcing and any claimed certification for the selected construction |
| PPH BioBoard body | Paperboard layers, print finish and RFID construction | Composition and any claimed disposal conditions of the finished card |
| Recycled-PVC body | Recycled-content boundary, overlay and print finish | Content percentage, source and applicable documentation |
Price and delivery scope
Request comparable quotations for the same chip configuration, artwork, quantity, quality plan, freight and destination. Do not assume recycled PVC is budget-neutral or that wood always has a fixed premium. Standard card orders start at 500 units; confirm any exceptions, sample route and delivery plan in the quotation.
Reader and encoder approval
A material change still needs a finished-sample test on the intended reader and encoder. Agree durability and inspection requirements rather than promising identical performance or a fixed number of stays. Carbon comparisons need product-specific data and consistent system boundaries; wood is not automatically a carbon-negative finished card.
A useful approval sequence
- Record the reader, encoder, chip and identifier requirements.
- Agree body, print, finish and dimensions in the specification.
- Test the finished sample, including encoding and the actual installation.
- Use the approved sample and acceptance criteria as the production reference.
Recycled PVC may reduce virgin-PVC input, but its percentage and verification boundary must be documented. Wood and bio-fibre bodies are alternative constructions, with electronics and assembly materials assessed separately. Compare the same reader requirements, service conditions, artwork, order quantity and freight scope. Prices and environmental results need like-for-like evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can different materials share one lock system?
They may, provided each approved construction meets the reader and credential requirements. Validate every selected material; matching frequency alone is insufficient.
Is one material always more durable?
No universal ranking is established. Compare the exact construction under the hotel’s moisture, handling, cleaning and reader conditions. Record the agreed tests and observed results.
What evidence supports sustainability reporting?
Request composition, recycled-content boundaries, applicable certificates and the actual end-of-life route. A material name does not make a hotel compliant or replace product-specific environmental data.
Can the order use a magnetic stripe?
Specify the installed reader and encoder. Stripe, RFID or combined constructions need separate approval; do not infer availability or compatibility from the body material.
Request a project quote · Request reader-test samples