New Smart Chip Chinese ID Cards - Image courtesy of Eastman Chemical Company

KINGSPORT, Tenn., March 23, 2005 - Jobwerx News - Cadence copolyester, from Eastman Chemical Company, to be used for manufacturing next generation identity cards in China and can improve everyday life.

The new cards are now being used in several Chinese cities by the Chinese Government, with 200-300 million cards expected to be produced annually. More than one billion Chinese citizens will be using the new ID cards by 2008.

Eastman Chemical Company manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide, as well as, providing coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products.

Featuring Eastman's innovative copolyester cards, with encapsulated integrated circuits; these new Chinese cards hold machine-readable personal information and replace 'dumb' ID cards that were first issued in the 1980s. To make life harder for counterfeiters, the new cards consists of several layers of Cadence copolyester, these range from a clear outer layer through two white printed inner layers and finally a white core into which the 'brains' of the ID - the data chip - are embedded.

Though exceptionally durable, the cards will need to be replaced. Another Cadence benefit is its recyclability. While one discarded ID card may not be much of an ecological threat, the sheer volume being issued in China makes for a lot of plastic.

Old 'dumb' ID cards issued by the Chinese Government in the 1980s - Image courtesy of Eastman Chemical Company

Supplying environmental friendly products, is a key factor in building businesses in China by providing smarter and greener solutions. A process called calendering is used to produce the films made of Cadence copolyester, which is an environmentally superior, halogen-free alternative to many other resins used in the film calendering industry.

As the world’s largest producer of PET polymers for packaging, and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers Eastman is leveraging its heritage of innovation and strength in polyester, acetyl and organic chemistry technologies to drive growth and meet increasing demand in four select markets: building and construction, packaging, health, and electronics.

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