Digital Printer can reveal that no representatives of the printing industry have been consulted by the Bank of England on the matter of using polymer bank notes instead of paper.
When asked by Digital Printer which commercial institutions were involved, a spokesman for the bank, said, ‘Due to confidentiality we can not reveal which companies were consulted with, but they included major retailors, high street banks and ATM manufacturers who would all be affected by the change to polymer notes. No representatives from the print or paper industry have been consulted.’
Two Sides, a non-profit organisation whose goal is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper has said, ‘Two Sides, alongside many I suspect, are concerned about this development. Traditional paper banknotes have a unique look and feel about them and paper currency is still preferred by the vast majority of nations. We should not stand in the way of progress but we are glad that, before a move to plastic notes, the British public is being given a chance to give its opinion.
‘We have not studied the life cycle statement in full yet, and such things can be based on a sometimes arguable set of assumptions, but paper, whether made from trees or cotton, is a renewable and sustainable resource which should only be replaced after the most serious consideration.’
News that the Bank of England will search the nation for opinions on using polymer bank notes instead of cotton paper notes, was broken last week as it embarks on a public consultation programme until 15 November 2013, with the final decision being made the following December.
Tim Bowler, director of the National Association of Paper Merchants, said, ‘I wouldn’t exactly call it in itself ‘another nail in paper’s coffin’, although printing paper consumption supplied by the NAPM members to the UK printing industry is 30% down in five years.’
