Banknotes. Repurposed. Reborn – How Fibre-Based Banknotes are Redefining Sustainable End-of-Life in the Cash Cycle

In the July edition of Currency News™, Alexandra Peppmeier outlined the first part of G+D Louisenthal's recent Sustainability Whitepaper, focused on Sustainable Banknote Substrates. This month's topic outlines the second part – namely, Sustainable End-of-Life Solutions.

For decades, sustainability discussions in the banknote industry focused on what goes into a note – the substrate, the production process, the inks. What happens when a banknote reaches the end of its life is also a measure of sustainability. And the numbers make the case unmistakably.

As central banks face growing expectations to align their cash strategies with broader sustainability agendas, end-of-life solutions are emerging as one of the most decisive factors in a banknote's overall environmental profile. Substrate and end-of-life: these are the two factors that truly determine whether a banknote is sustainable. And on both counts, fibre-based banknotes are in a league of their own.