Markers made from biodegradable materials, such as polylactic acid (a polymer made from sugar which is used in absorbable surgical sutures, as an alternative to collagen injections in cosmetic surgery, and in replacement discs in spine surgery) can be used to mark foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and seeds (some applications may require regulatory approval). The rate of marker degradation can be controlled by polymer design, so it can vary to accommodate specific features of the marked product.
Markers made from durable materials, such as polycarbonate or fluoropolymers, can be used to mark industrial or aerospace parts, particularly those requiring machine-readable marks (see MIL 130 for details). The marker material and the adhesive that bonds it to the marked product can be chosen or modified to assure that the service life of the marker is the same as the service life of the marked product.
