Intergraf is the European printing industry association, representing employers in the graphical sector across 21 countries. It is best known in the banknote community for its biennial conference Currency+Identity and for its certification scheme for security printers. But it provides a range of services and tools for the broader print industry , two of which have relevance to banknote printers.

Austrian-based film and foil specialist Hueck Folien, a leading supplier of security threads and foils for banknotes, is taking a number of steps to put its products at the forefront of sustainability and reach its goal of ecologically-neutral production by 2035.

Researchers at Griffith University of Australia have investigated the representation of native fauna on banknotes to identify geographic hotspots and taxonomic patterns, and determine whether threatened and endemic species were more readily represented.

In an age where consumers, companies and central banks are seeking to reduce raw materials use and close the loop on waste, banknote recycling has never been more important.

Some were in Frankfurt for the European football in the final week of June, but not all. The second Cash Sustainability Forum saw two and a half days of discussion, presentations and debate focused on reducing the environmental impact of cash and the cash cycle.

A bulletin published by the Banque de France describes its work on environmental sustainability. The paper offers up a model for others to consider, detailing the Bank's work on areas it controls directly and its collaborative work with others in the cash cycle.

Just over a year ago, CPS announced that it was exiting the market for high-speed banknote sorting systems and pivoting to software and services. It was then back in force at the Banknote Conference, unveiling its new strategy for sustainability, flexibility and digitisation for the banknote fitness sorting and authentication sector.

Gary Spinks of Security Fibres introduced his presentation in one of the Innovation Sessions at the Banknote Conference with the acknowledgement that, in the great scheme of things, security fibres are an infinitesimally small element of security paper, and therefore the impact of more sustainable fibres is limited. Even so, he said, everyone needs to do their bit.

The intensive focus on sustainability and greener solutions has been developing rapidly in the banknote industry. In the July 2023 edition of Currency News™, G+D described its rationale for sustainable products, and highlighted, firstly, the introduction of the Green Banknote initiative in 2022 and, subsequently, the introduction of Green Longlife™ in 2023.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has been working to reduce the environmental impact of euro banknotes and the Eurosystem cash cycle since the introduction of the euro in 2002. Although it has made progress, it has further goals to reduce the environmental footprint of current and future euro banknotes.