How Regional Recycling Solutions Support Global Success

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.

The reasons for this go beyond environmental impact alone. The cultural cachet of banknotes is such that they are often described as a nation’s business card, and this is apt: few products are more ubiquitous in everyday life.

Globally, there are approximately 550 billion banknotes in circulation, and every year, between 150 and 180 billion banknotes are produced to replenish them. By weight, this equates to roughly 153,000 metric tonnes of spent banknotes annually.

Their end-of-life treatment can represent a particularly powerful declaration of our shared desire for a more sustainable future – but not all banknotes are created equal.

Genuine recycling process for polymer

Rather than languishing in landfill or being incinerated, GUARDIAN™ banknotes are converted back into polypropylene pellets that are on-sold as a commodity input for use in durable, end-of-life products.