CCL Secure –Circular Banknote Waste Management Support Program – Latin America

The Circular Banknote Waste Management (Circular BWM) Support Program is a structured environmental sustainability initiative that enables central banks to transition polymer banknotes from landfill disposal to circular, zero-waste end-of-life management.

While the foundations of the program were established earlier, the period from 2023 onwards marks a substantial expansion and formalisation of the program across Latin America, transforming it from an ad-hoc recycling option into a fully embedded regional sustainability solution. During this eligibility period, CCL Secure intensified engagement with central banks, expanded recycler capacity, standardised operating procedures, and implemented measurable environmental reporting frameworks.

The enhanced program supports central banks through a clearly defined journey, covering waste assessment, security and compliance requirements, recycler selection, testing, staff training, logistics optimisation, and ongoing performance monitoring. Importantly, it provides multiple recycling pathways—domestic, regional, or overseas—ensuring that environmental outcomes are achievable regardless of local infrastructure maturity.

As a result of this expanded implementation phase, all Latin American central banks using GUARDIAN™ polymer banknotes now actively recycle end-of-life notes, eliminating landfill disposal across the region.

The Circular BWM Support Program delivers proven environmental benefits while maintaining security, traceability, and operational continuity. It represents a mature, scalable sustainability solution that has moved decisively from concept to region-wide implementation during the IACA eligibility period.

During the 2023–2025 implementation phase, the Circular BWM Support Program was substantially expanded across Latin America, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Chile.

CCL Secure worked closely with each central bank to establish the most appropriate recycling pathway based on regulatory, logistical, and infrastructure considerations. Countries such as Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico and Paraguay implemented or expanded domestic recycling solutions, while Nicaragua transitioned to secure regional or overseas recycling routes supported by CCL Secure’s processing hub in Mexico.

This period marked a shift from isolated recycling activities to a coordinated regional network, enabling consistent environmental outcomes and shared best practices across the continent.

The innovation of the Circular BWM Support Program lies in its transition from concept to scaled regional execution during the eligibility period.

From 2023 onwards, CCL Secure formalised the program into a repeatable, auditable framework tailored specifically for polymer banknotes—addressing challenges unique to security printing, such as traceability, contamination control, and regulatory compliance.

A key inventive aspect is the program’s adaptive recycling model, introduced and refined during this period. Central banks are no longer constrained by local recycling limitations; instead, waste can be securely routed to domestic, regional, or overseas recyclers without compromising environmental or security standards.

The eligibility period also saw the introduction of standardised impact metrics, including the Banknote Circularity Index and verified CO₂ avoidance calculations, allowing central banks to report sustainability outcomes with confidence and consistency.

Rather than relying on offsets or future pledges, the program delivers immediate, physical circularity—turning end-of-life banknotes into durable plastic products such as outdoor furniture, signage, and construction materials.

This structured, scalable approach—fully implemented across Latin America between 2023 and 2025—distinguishes the Circular BWM Support Program as a genuine sustainability innovation within the banknote industry.

At the start of the eligibility period, many Latin American central banks still relied on landfill disposal for end-of-life banknotes, despite the recyclability of polymer substrates. Key barriers included limited recycler capability, uncertainty around secure processing, and a lack of proven regional models.

Between 2023 and 2025, CCL Secure worked intensively with central banks to overcome these challenges, converting sustainability intent into operational reality. This phase focused on removing practical obstacles—training staff, validating recyclers, improving shredding quality, and establishing secure logistics chains.

The result was a decisive shift away from landfill disposal across the region. End-of-life polymer banknotes are now treated as a resource rather than waste, enabling circular reuse while maintaining security and regulatory compliance.

By addressing both infrastructure and behavioural barriers during the eligibility period, the program solved a long-standing environmental problem that had previously stalled progress in the region.

The expanded implementation of the Circular BWM Support Program has delivered proven, measurable environmental impact.

More than 500 million polymer banknotes are recycled annually across Latin America, preventing landfill disposal and avoiding over 750 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. Additional benefits include carbon absorption through plastic timber production and the avoidance of virgin timber harvesting.

Cumulatively, recycling volumes and impact accelerated significantly during the eligibility period as additional countries transitioned fully to circular end-of-life management. Environmental performance is tracked using verified conversion factors, ensuring transparency and consistency.

Beyond emissions reduction, recycled materials are converted into long-life products used in public infrastructure, national parks, and community projects—extending material value and reinforcing the circular economy.

These outcomes demonstrate that the program moved from partial adoption to region-wide, fully operational sustainability impact from 2023.

The expanded Circular BWM Support Program reflects CCL Secure’s strategic commitment to environmental sustainability across the entire banknote lifecycle.

During the eligibility period, CCL Secure invested additional resources, infrastructure, and expertise to scale the program regionally demonstrating accountability beyond product supply. This work complements broader initiatives such as polymer durability, reduced replacement cycles, and material substitutions including GUARDIAN™ ENVIRO.

By embedding circular end-of-life solutions into standard customer support, CCL Secure has ensured sustainability is not optional or aspirational, but operational.The Latin American implementation provides a proven blueprint is replicable globally, reinforcing CCL Secure’s role as a long-term sustainability partner to central banks.