Welcome to our
FAQ section.
Here, we answer frequently asked questions about Copecto GmbH and our TIMBERCARD®. Below, you will find the categories listing all FAQ topics
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What is this world novelty about your TIMBERCARD® anyway? Wooden cards have been around for a long time - the first ones came on the market 20 years ago.
Our world novelty is the the first card body for payment cards crafted entirely from 100% pure wooden layers. It consists of multiple layers of maple wood and paper from sustainably managed and FSC-certified forests in Europe. Other wooden card bodies either do not meet the high international requirements for the payment sector or have a plastic inner core, for example. That's why we are proud of our disruptive new TIMBERCARD® as a contribution to sustainability in the payments business.
Raw Materials and Composition
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Where does the wood come from?
The wood is local and comes from sustainably managed and FSC-certified forests in Europe.
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What type of wood is used?
The first TIMBERCARD® is made of maple. Other domestic wood species are also possible, and we are currently working on expanding the range.
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Are the wood based raw materials used in the card certified?
The wood currently comes from sustainably managed and FSC-certified forests in Europe. The wood-based paper for the antenna inlays is also FSC-certified.
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How many card bodies can be made from 1m3 of wood?
Around 100,000 TIMBERCARD®s can be produced from 1 m3 of logs. In the German forest, this volume grows back in only about a third of a second.
(Source: BMEL - 4. Bundeswaldinventur 2022) -
How big is the plastic content in the card body?
The card body of our TIMBERCARD® consists solely of biodegradable materials (wood, paper and bio-adhesive). This clearly distinguishes our card body from conventional plastic cards or from other so called "wooden cards" on the market. Because in these plastic-wood hybrid-cards, the card body often contains a plastic core layer.
Our card body has been certified with the flustix LESS PLASTICS | PRODUCT seal of the highest certification grade: MIN. 99.25% PLASTIC-FREE. The laboratory results show 0.00% plastic in the card body, confirming that it is 100% plastic-free according to the Single-Use Plastics Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/904).
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What exactly does "card body made out of 100% pure wooden layers" mean?
The card body is made up of multiple layers of specially modified wood. Unlike hybrid cards, which combine plastic and wood layers in their construction, the TIMBERCARD® is composed entirely of wooden layers. These layers are crafted from wood that has been modified exclusively through temperature, pressure, and humidity - without the use of chemicals or plastics. The carrier material for the antennas is also plastic-free, as it is made of normal wood-based paper.
This is confirmed by the seal flustix LESS PLASTICS | PRODUCT – MIN. 99.25% PLASTIC-FREE, which our card body received. 99.25% is the highest certification grade for this certification and the laboratory results found 0.00 plastic in TIMBERCARD®s card body, confirming that it is 100% plastic free according to the definition of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/904).
Of course, when TIMBERCARD® is processed into a payment card, additional components such as a security chip module, antenna, and magnetic stripe are required to enable full payment functionality. These regulatory and technologically essential elements are the same as those used in all standard payment cards and include small amounts of metals, semiconductors, plastics, and adhesives.
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What kind of glue is used in the wooden cards?
The adhesive is biodegradable and is certified by TÜV Austria as "home-compostable".
Sustainability
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Are the TIMBERCARD® card bodies biodegradable?
Yes, because the card bodies are made of wood and paper bonded with a bio-adhesive. The TIMBERCARD®s are therefore completely biodegradable, except of the antenna, the chip and – if present – the magnetic stripe. The bio-adhesive has been verified as home-compostable by TÜV Austria, and the card body has been certified with the flustix LESS PLASTICS | PRODUCT seal at the highest product threshold category: MIN. 99.25% PLASTIC-FREE. Laboratory testing confirmed 0.00% plastic in the card body, underlining that TIMBERCARD®s are plastic-free and biodegradable, as proven by these certifications.
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What is the detailed ecological aspect and life cycle of the card?
According to a current life cycle analysis, the TIMBERCARD® has a CO2 footprint that is 45 % lower than a card made of PVC, 43 % lower than PLA and 34 % lower than rPVC.
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Wouldn't it be better to leave the trees in the forest instead of turning them into wooden cards?
No, because forests from which wood is regularly removed through sustainable timber harvesting achieve higher volume growth rates per year and finally store more CO2. In addition, the forests in our regions fulfill three main functions that are mutually dependent. Sustainable use of wood and regular care lead to:
- income for the forest owners
- preservation of the protective and recreational function
- stabilization of the forest ecosystem.
Very important in everything: The wood must come from certified and sustainably managed forests.
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Has recycled wood been considered in the production of the cards? Again, we are talking about using new material and not focusing on the circular economy.
Trees are felled for the TIMBERCARD® but maple wood from sustainably managed and FSC-certified forests in Europe and Switzerland is used exclusively. This means that only enough trees are removed from the forests to ensure that their natural vitality is not restricted and that the wood can grow back quickly. In addition, the quantities required for the wood cards are comparatively small: around 100,000 cards can be produced from just 1 m³ of round timber. (To put this into perspective: in German forests, this volume grows back in only about a third of a second).
Technical characteristics
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Can my TIMBERCARD® do everything that a plastic card can?
Yes, all technical features such as antenna, chip, magnetic stripe, contact and contactless functionality are identical to conventional cards.
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Is the surface of the TIMBERCARD® treated?
No, the surface is untreated and uncoated. It is a pure wooden surface that is absolutely smooth and closed-pored thanks to our patented modification process - without any chemicals or plastics.
Usage properties
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How durable is the TIMBERCARD® with regard to the 4-year term?
The TIMBERCARD® is designed for use with a term of four years. Like all other cards made from different materials, the card has been subjected to extensive ISO-testing and has also gone through the load scenarios according to the Mastercard CQM.
The card was finally approved by Mastercard on CSI-basis with restrictions on breaking strength and moisture resistance, since wood is a hygroscopic material (reacts to moisture changes) and is more rigid than plastic.
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How shatterproof is the card?
Our TIMBERCARD® is more rigid than a conventional plastic card and requires significantly more effort to bend. In contrast to plastic, the card cannot be deformed over very tight bending radii, but then breaks. However, such a load does not occur in normal use and can only be generated willfully with great effort.
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Is the TIMBERCARD® prone to damage in daily use?
No, the TIMBERCARD® is made for everyday use. This means that the mechanical and environmental stresses associated with regular use of a card do not affect the wooden card. But one thing is clear: wood is neither plastic nor metal.
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What happens to the wooden card if it gets wet or is exposed to high humidity?
Since the card body is made of specially modified, but still natural wood without additional plastic layers, it absorbs moisture to a small extent. However, this effect is significantly reduced compared to normal wood. Short-term exposure to moisture is therefore not a problem, and immediate re-drying leads to complete restoration of the initial condition. It is therefore acceptable for the card body to be briefly wet if it is subsequently dried off.
Prolonged exposure to extremely warm and humid climates (tested successfully for 2× 48h at 50°C at 80% Relative Humidity) may cause slight swelling and visual brightening of the card surface. However, this will not affect the function of the card.
In general, contact with liquids should be avoided and the card should be kept in a closed wallet.
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Why does the card warp under high humidity?
Due to the one-sided contact with moisture, the wood expands slightly and – like a bimetallic strip – the card then curves slightly. However, due to our special modification, this effect is greatly dampened compared to an ordinary wooden card. And – once the humidity on both sides of the card has equalized again – the curvature is also completely reversible.
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Can I use the TIMBERCARD® in a humid climate, e.g. on a skiing holiday/in the mountains or in the tropics/beach?
Yes, of course. The TIMBERCARD® is designed for everyday use. That means the mechanical and environmental stresses associated with the regular use of a bank card don’t bother the TIMBERCARD®. But one thing is clear: wood is neither plastic nor metal.
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What happens to the wooden card when it gets warm, for example under the windscreen in a car?
The TIMBERCARD® is made for everyday use. This means that the mechanical and environmental stresses associated with regular use of a card do not affect the wooden card.
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How do I stow the wooden card correctly?
No special precautions need to be taken with regard to safety against breakage.
In order to avoid bending the card, it should not be stowed away loosely in a damp environment, e. g. individually in a trouser pocket. It is recommended to keep the card in a purse, cardholder or wallet at all times.
If the card nevertheless bends sharply due to incorrect storage, it must not be used in an ATM in this condition. However, contactless or contact-based use with other card readers is not critical. The warping will reduce itself if you keep the card in a dry environment and in your wallet for a long time.