Do You Take Plastic?
Have you seen the new £10 note circulating? These new polymer banknotes were issued on the 14th September and the old £10 notes go out of circulation in spring 2018. The new polymer £20 note will be issued in 2020.
These polymer banknotes are cleaner, more secure and more durable than paper banknotes. They increase the quality of banknotes in circulation and will provide an enhanced counterfeit resilience and increase the quality of banknotes currently in circulation.
Why use polymer?
Polymer banknotes are manufactured from a transparent plastic film, specially coated with an ink layer that enables it to carry the printed design features of banknotes. The material allows the inclusion of ‘windows’ or clear portions in the design which enhance protection against fraudulent imitations.
The benefits of polymer banknotes:
- Resistant to moisture and dirt so they stay cleaner for longer.
- They are secure so will help to boost counterfeit resilience.
- They are stronger, as they can withstand more wear and tear than their paper counterparts and are expected to last 2.5 times longer.
Furthermore, polymer banknotes are also more environmentally friendly than paper due to their durability. The Carbon Trust have confirmed that over their full life cycle, the carbon footprint of a £10 polymer banknote is 8% lower that the £10 paper bank note. The waste from old polymer banknotes will be fully recycled, which is the option with the lowest environmental impact.
The new £10 banknote also includes a cluster of raised dots in the top left hand corner. This tactile feature helps blind and partially sighted people identify the value of the note. The new £20 will also have this tactile feature but with a different pattern.
Plastic has become a fundamental material to everyday life, whether that’s within the manufacturing industry or in your everyday modern life, plastic is incorporated into everything. For more information on the development of plastics, please see our infographic here.
Added: 03 Oct 2017 13:09
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