Recycled & rPVC Key Cards
Recycled & rPVC hotel key cards — ocean-bound rPVC, rPET and seed-paper cores with a 13.56 MHz inlay that drops straight into your existing hotel locks.
Overview
Recycled RFID hotel key cards are standard-format key cards built on recycled cores — ocean-bound rPVC, rPET or plantable seed paper — around a 13.56 MHz inlay, so they look and read like conventional cards while diverting plastic from landfill and waterways. American Hotel Cards prints them to your brand and ships them blank or pre-encoded for every major U.S. hotel lock system.
If you love the price, print quality and durability of a plastic card but want to cut its footprint, recycled cores are the most direct swap. We build cards on recycled PVC (including ocean-bound rPVC reclaimed from coastal waste streams) and recycled PET, which print and laminate just like virgin stock and drop into your existing readers, printers and slots with zero change.
For properties that want a visible end-of-life story, we also offer seed-paper cards: a biodegradable card embossed with embedded wildflower seeds that a guest can plant after their stay. It is a memorable, single-use option for events, eco campaigns and welcome kits rather than a long-term reusable credential.
Across all three cores the credential is identical to our standard card: a 13.56 MHz MIFARE or NTAG inlay, CR80 format, encoded blank on your system or pre-programmed to your profile. You keep the workflow and the security model you already trust — you just change what the card is made of.
- Hotels wanting a lower-footprint card with no workflow change
- Brands with an ocean or coastal conservation commitment (rPVC)
- Single-use event, festival and campaign keys (seed paper)
- Eco welcome kits and sustainability-certified properties
- Cost-conscious sustainability swaps from virgin PVC
Specification
The technical sheet
Real, verifiable specs — the numbers your facilities and procurement teams will ask for.
| Format | CR80 — 85.6 × 54 mm |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.76 mm (rPVC/rPET); seed paper ~0.9 mm |
| Material | Recycled PVC (ocean-bound), recycled PET, or seed paper |
| Chip options | MIFARE Classic 1K · MIFARE DESFire EV1/EV2/EV3 · NTAG213/215 |
| Protocol | ISO/IEC 14443-A |
| Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Full-bleed CMYK, Pantone, foil, spot UV | |
| Encoding | Blank or pre-encoded to your lock & PMS profile |
| End of life | rPVC/rPET recyclable; seed paper plantable / biodegradable |
| MOQ | From 500 cards |
| Lead time | Approx. 2–3 weeks after artwork approval |
Compatibility
Works with your lock
Recycled & rPVC Key Cards carry standard 13.56 MHz credentials, so they drop into the readers you already own. Pick your system to confirm the exact chip — or send us your lock model and we will spec it for you.
All lock systemsSustainability
A credential with a lighter footprint
Recycled cores divert plastic from landfill and waterways: ocean-bound rPVC reclaims coastal waste, rPET reuses post-consumer plastic, and seed paper biodegrades into wildflowers. All three keep the same RFID performance and printability as virgin stock, so lowering your footprint costs you nothing in workflow or security.
Our sustainability approachQuestions
Recycled & rPVC Key Cards, answered
What is ocean-bound rPVC?
It is recycled PVC made from plastic collected from coastal areas and waste streams at risk of entering the ocean. Using it for card cores diverts that plastic from waterways while giving you a card that prints and performs like virgin PVC.
Do recycled cards perform as well as standard PVC?
Yes for rPVC and rPET — they use the same 13.56 MHz inlay, CR80 format and print processes, so durability and read performance match standard cards. Seed-paper cards are a biodegradable single-use option rather than a long-term reusable card.
How do seed-paper key cards work?
The card body is a biodegradable paper composite embedded with wildflower seeds. After a guest’s stay they can plant it, and it composts as the seeds grow. It is ideal for events and eco campaigns rather than as a reusable room key.
Will recycled cards work in our existing locks?
Yes. The recycled core only changes what the card is made of; the inlay, format and encoding are identical, so they drop straight into your existing RFID readers and card printers.
Can recycled cards still be fully branded?
Absolutely. Full-bleed CMYK, Pantone matching, foil and spot UV all work on recycled cores, so your card looks exactly as designed while carrying a lower footprint.
Keep exploring
Pairs well with
Eco Bamboo RFID Hotel Key Cards
Fast-renewing bamboo blanks — light, durable and fully recyclable.
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Eco Wood RFID Hotel Key Cards
FSC®-certified maple, walnut & birch cards with a natural, warm feel.
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RFID Hotel Key Cards
MIFARE® & NFC key cards encoded for any U.S. hotel lock system.
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Key Card Sleeves & Holders
Printed paper sleeves, eco kraft holders and welcome-folder inserts.
ViewReady when you are
See and feel recycled & rpvc key cards first
Request a free sample pack to check the stock, the print and the fit with your locks — or send us your lock model and quantity and we will come back with a tailored quote.
Prefer email? sales@americanhotelcards.com · samples@americanhotelcards.com