Sony develops biodegradable smart card

September 9, 2004 TOKYO - Officials at Sony Corp. said the company has created a contactless smart card made from biodegradable plastic or a plant derived material. The smart card is made from polyactic acid mixed with special additives. But despite it’s make-up, chips embedded between sheets of the plastic can still transmit signals. The smart cards are also as strong as their oil-based plastic counterparts. Sony Corp. and Mitsubishi Plastics worked together to develop the material for the smart card. It’s unclear when the product may hit the market, due to the cost to make the biodegradable plastic.