The Green Banknote Initiative

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Papierfabrik Louisenthal have been working on reducing the environmental impact of their banknote production and cash cycle related activities for many years. G+D signed up to the UN Global Compact, which includes a focus on sustainability, in 2010, and the current focus on sustainability by the wider community is welcomed by both organisations. Louisenthal’s environmental work was recognised when it won IACA’s Sustainability Award.

G+D and Louisenthal are now launching a Green Banknote Initiative. It will involve the currency community, with the aim of working together to ensure that banknotes based on natural fibres are making cash a greener payment system by applying the principles of the circular economy, by decreasing emissions in the complete cash cycle and by driving resource efficiency across global value chains and operations.

G+D’s ambition is that the Green Banknote Initiative should be the work of many and serve as a discussion forum and platform for intensive exchange. The initiative will be presented at the Intergraf Currency+Identity in April, as well as at the Global Currency Forum 2022 in May.