Paragon ID, which supplies magnetic rail tickets to UK train operators and is a global leader in identification solutions, has reduced by 87% the environmental impact of the process that it uses to produce rail tickets.

The company previously used a solvent-based system to produce the magnetic strip on the reverse of the familiar orange rail tickets that holds passenger journey data and is read by entry and exit barriers. Working in partnership with the Rail Delivery Group, Paragon ID worked on a £230k two-year-long project to change the solvent-based production system to a water-based one.

During the project, 11,000 tickets were tested for their durability and compatibility with Britain’s rail network using facilities at the Rail Delivery Group and by working with various ticket machine manufacturers and operators such as Fast Rail Tickets, Flowbird, London North Eastern Railway, and Hull Trains.

It shows the success of the programme by its achievement of an average reduction of 69 tonnes of solvent emissions per year. It is also more environmentally friendly, whilst Hull City Council has recognised the production process’s potential by nominating it as a Best Available Technique (BAT).

Although the UK rail industry is a pioneer of the new process, the project is a major stepping stone to a new standard for producing train tickets worldwide, with UK demand for paper-based tickets currently around 500m per year.

Paragon ID is keen to exploit its process by expanding the solution to benefit other transport operators around the globe, and helping them to reduce their environmental impact, including in Europe operators such as the Paris rail network.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said:

“We are excited about the launch of these water-based environmentally friendly tickets. The new tickets are the outcome of a successful two-year partnership between RDG and Paragon ID. We are getting closer to a low carbon future and making rail not only the convenient but also the most sustainable choice for all.”

Ryan Mellors, General Manager – BBP at Paragon ID. said:

“We are proud of our long-standing relationship with RDG, producing millions of magnetic rail tickets and associated travel products each year. This project is an excellent example of our successful collaboration, this time with the shared goal of protecting the environment and increasing sustainability while continuing to provide a quality product for rail customers across the UK”.