Sustainable Cash: Why Fibre-Based Banknotes Lead the Way

G+D Louisenthal has established itself as a sustainability driver in the industry, with comprehensive ESG measures across all sectors of the business. Sustainability in the banknote sector is a major priority, and a Whitepaper has been produced to illustrate the key elements of the sustainability strategy. The Whitepaper addresses two key topics: 

1.Sustainable Banknote Substrates, and

2.Sustainable End-of-Life Solutions.

The first topic is summarised in this edition. The second topic will be presented next month.

To illustrate the sustainability of cotton banknotes, it is instructive to begin at the origin of their principal raw material: cotton combers.

Cotton is the most abundantly produced natural fibre globally. The textile industry, rather than the banknote sector, is the primary driver of cotton cultivation, utilising only the long fibres for apparel. In contrast, paper banknotes are manufactured from short-fibre cotton, a by-product generated during the spinning process in textile mills. This is a miniscule proportion of total cotton output. Therefore, practice illustrates an inherently circular approach, as the use of this material constitutes an initial step in recycling.