Few people consider the environment when they consider security. e-DATA Biometrics allows users to achieve higher levels of security with reduced environmental impact. The reason is simple: biometrics eliminates access cards (made of PVC) and keys, providing the best technology with no production of harmful waste.
 
The story with biometrics is easy to understand. It has zero environmental impact because it does not require any accessory products. Unlike keys or access cards, biometrics does not use a manufactured good to gain access into a building, cabinet or other secure area. When you use your finger as your access credential, you are not adding any new product into the environment.
 
Knowing that fingerprint biometrics produces no residual impact, it is important to understand the environmental danger of using the biggest alternative to biometrics, access cards. Access cards are made from polyvinal chloride (PVC). Dr. John Thornton in his paper “Environment Impact of Polyvinal Chloride” states, “The manufacture, use and disposal of PVC poses substantial and unique environmental and human health hazards. Across the world, governments, companies and scientific organizations have recognized the hazards of PVC.”
 
The danger posed by PVC is realized in every access card produced and used throughout the world. Access cards typically have a useful life of one to three years and then are disposed of in landfills throughout the U.S.
and rest of the world. The impact of these cards may seem minor given their relatively small size, but when you consider the impact of the millions of cards produced and discarded each year, the environmental impact is notable.
 
Keys, although not containing the same harmful PVC material, are produced and discarded in the billions. The impact of the production of keys and the waste they produce is substantial.
 
Also, since e-DATA Access Control doesn’t require local servers at each location, the system footprint and power consumption are greatly reduced.