Teslin Laminated Cards vs. PVC

Teslin laminated cards (pronounced Tez-lin) are the main competition to PVC cards. PVC cards are what most people are used to. They are what credit cards are made out of. Many, many millions of PVC cards are sold each year. They look very nice and are usually very cheap. Hence, its what you see everywhere.

Teslin cards are somewhat newer and definitely not as prolific as its competitor. They often cost more than PVC cards, but last much longer. Your usage is what will determine which type you should use.

If you need a throw away cheap card meant to last a few months at the most, then PVC is likely for you. If you want a loyalty card or membership card that is meant to last for years, then the Teslin laminated card is a better fit.

The reason Teslin cards are so much more long lasting than PVC is that Teslin is a synthetic substrate that can be printed on with fantastic results. The Teslin is then laminated with heavy duty laminate. The Teslin literally bonds directly to the laminate and makes a card that is exactly the same thickness as the cheap PVC cards.

But since the printed artwork (and usually a barcode for customer identification) is under the laminate, it stays intact for years. I've put Teslin cards in a cup of water and left them there for months. When I pulled them out, they were like new. No fading. No de-lamination.

• Teslin and PVC meet ISO, ANSI, and ABA standards for transaction cards.
• Teslin and PVC can be cut with steel rule dies or with male-female dies. The quality of the cut depends on  the quality of the card manufacturer.
• Teslin and PVC can both be printed with very high quality results.
• Teslin and PVC can both have magnetic stripes applied. Different processes for each, but virtually the same result.
• Teslin cards will never crack. PVC cards can crack.
• Governments around the world are restricting use of PVC. Many companies are voluntarily eliminating PVC from their products. It is very toxic to the environment.
• Teslin is a synthetic material. Not plastic, so not oil base. Not paper, so no tree killing. It is laminated with a polyester film. Much more environmentally friendly than PVC.

Teslin is a non-cellulose, non-toxic recyclable material that by weight is 65% inorganic filler (silica - derived from sand). When Teslin makes its way to a landfill (as everything eventually does), there is nothing to leach into the groundwater since it is mostly made up of sand. PPG makes Teslin and states that Teslin "incinerates in an atmosphere of excess oxygen to yield only water, CO2, energy, and a clean ash."

Each option has some benefits. If cost is your only concern, then PVC is likely the way to go. Though the Teslin card makers have been more and more aggressive in their pricing lately, so that's not even a given anymore. If a long lasting card that is eco-friendly sounds like something you might be interested in, then Teslin may be the way to go. 

I hope this Teslin Laminated Cards vs. PVC debate has helped you in your decision.