In 2005, I was traveling through Sweden and stayed at a Scandic Hotel. The stay was pleasant as always but what really caught my eye was a wooden key card handed to me at check-in. I used the card through my entire stay and really felt proud of my Swedish heritage in that this Scandanavian Brand used (and as I learned have been using for over 5 years) such a uniquely green concept at all of their properties. I felt compelled to bring the same concept back to the United States upon my return. I tracked down the producer of the wooden key cards, Johan Motensson in his small wood shop in Hede, Sweden. Together Johan and I formed EcoCard LLC and eventually added Greg Hartmann, Managing Director of HVS, the largest hotel consulting firm in the world, who ratified my enthusiasm and then joined our team.

Since 2006 we have learned that the wooden card is not only unique and great looking, but they are far more environmentally friendly than PVC, Bio degradable PVC, Corn-cards or even recycled plastic or paper cards. We also learned that some in the hotel industry wanted the high quality wood product produced by Johan for the past seven years and some wanted a wood-based card competitively-priced with traditional plastic (PVC) cards. With that in mind, I have spent the past two years visiting suppliers, refining specifications and establishing contacts throughout the world.

The result is the most environmentally friendly, low cost, and high quality wooden key cards available today. We formally changed our name to Sustainable Cards LLC in 2008. Since then, the response by individual hotel operators and hotel brands alike has been overwhelming. We thank you for your interest and patronage of Sustainable Cards LLC and the earth thanks you for taking steps to minimize the over 500 million tons of PVC sent to US landfills each year.

Peo Akesson