Secure document materials – Covestro Elevates Global Trust With Breakthrough Secure Document Materials Designed to Strengthen Identity Protection, Boost Personalization Power, and Improve Passport and Polycarbonate Security 20-11-2025
Secure document materials
Covestro is setting a new benchmark for secure document materials with a portfolio of polymer technologies built to improve identity protection, enhance personalization, and strengthen long-term durability. At TRUSTECH 2025 in Paris, the company highlights how next-generation substrates and personalization methods are shaping a more secure and sustainable future for global identity systems.
A New Era of Trusted Materials for Identity Security
Under the theme Trusted materials for a secure future, Covestro demonstrates how secure document materials are evolving to meet modern challenges. With fraud prevention becoming increasingly complex, government agencies and document producers need substrates that improve security features without sacrificing recyclability, longevity, or design flexibility. Covestro’s newest material advances answer this need with clear, scalable solutions.
Certevo® Expands Its Role in High-Security Printings
Following its launch in 2024, the Certevo® polymeric substrate is now moving rapidly from research labs into real-world applications. It is being integrated into certificates, diplomas, vehicle documents, fiscal papers, and other essential credentials that rely on durable and tamper-resistant structures.
Certevo® is engineered as a high-security, single-polymer substrate designed to deliver reliable printing, crisp laser engraving, and superior resistance to wear. Its printability and durability enable secure document materials that not only reduce fraud risk but also support circularity through full recyclability.
Daniel Hentschel, Global Segment Manager for ID & Security Printing Specialty Films at Covestro, explains that the material meets two major industry needs: reinforcing document integrity and enabling circular design. Its combination of intaglio tactility, laser personalization capability, and long lifecycle helps conserve resources and maintain trusted document authenticity.
Laser-Personalized TPU Passport Covers Add New Protection Layers
One of the standout innovations at TRUSTECH 2025 is Covestro’s new laser personalization technology for passport covers made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Traditionally, passport covers could not be customized with standard laser systems, but Covestro’s concept transforms them into active security components.
This advancement enables document manufacturers and personalization hubs to engrave fine details, micro-patterns, and authentication marks directly into the cover using common laser equipment. It converts the cover into a tamper-evident feature and strengthens overall document protection. The method can also apply tactile Braille markings, supporting accessibility alongside enhanced security. This multi-functional approach positions TPU covers as a major advancement in secure document materials.
Decentralized Color Personalization for Faster, Safer Issuance
One of the most significant industry challenges today is balancing security with flexible issuance. Covestro’s Secure Color Personalization technology offers a powerful solution by enabling decentralized, high-security color portrait integration for polycarbonate documents.
This process combines digital printing, laser personalization, and a specialized polycarbonate overlay film to structurally embed the portrait directly into the document body. The method acts like a three-step tattooing process, creating tactile and visually unique patterns that are extremely difficult to alter without detection.
For governments and issuing authorities, this approach delivers the benefits of centralized production—such as strong anti-tampering safeguards—while offering the agility and speed of local issuance. This flexibility improves citizen experience, reduces bottlenecks, and enhances the resilience of national ID systems.
Strengthening the Future of Secure Documents
Across all innovations, Covestro demonstrates how secure document materials can evolve to meet increasing expectations for safety, accessibility, sustainability, and operational efficiency. The company’s commitment to polymer engineering, circular material design, and personalization technologies positions its portfolio as a key enabler of next-generation identity systems.
Visitors to TRUSTECH 2025 at Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles can explore the full materials range at Pavilion 5.2, booth C055, and attend an Expert Innovation Talk by Georgios Tziovaras on Secure Color Personalization of Polycarbonate Documents. Covestro’s continuous drive for innovation ensures that secure document materials remain at the forefront of global trust, protection, and personalization.
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