Eco-designing the third series of euro banknotes. First steps

The European Central Bank (ECB) is an environmentally conscious institution, pioneering environmental initiatives in all activities under its responsibility, including those related to euro banknotes.
In 2004, the ECB concluded the first-ever Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted on banknotes along the whole cash cycle. In 2022, it has completed the first-ever Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) conducted on banknotes along the whole cash cycle.
The ECB has committed to improve the environmental performance of future euro banknotes in comparison to those currently in circulation. This presentation describes the first steps taken to integrate all lessons learnt from past environmental activities and improve the environmental performance of future series of euro banknotes under the principles of eco-design.