Using Unfit Cotton Banknote Shreds to Grow Trees

Composting unfit cotton banknotes that have been shredded sits higher in the waste disposal hierarchy than sending it to landfill or burning it for energy recovery. Biobanknote is a leader in developing practical composting solutions and it has now developed an additional option, BIOBANKMULCH®.

Biobanknote was founded in 2020 to promote initiatives, activities and projects that reduce the environmental impacts generated by the banknote industry. It is a partnership between two Colombian companies – ConTREEbute and Cruz Díaz e Hijos; with Control Ambiental as a strategic partner. It has worked with the Central Bank of Colombia to plant trees to help offset the environmental impact of Colombia’s cash cycle, and to compost banknote waste for use as fertilisier (BIOFORT), which is being used in the reforestation programme.