Environmental Impact of Euro Banknotes

Using euro banknotes for a year has a minimal carbon footprint, roughly equivalent to an 8 km car journey or 0.01% of an average person's annual carbon consumption, as per a study from European financial institutions.

- The study takes a comprehensive look at the life cycle of euro banknotes, considering stages from production to disposal, identifying ATM usage and transportation as major contributors to the environmental impact.

- Efforts have been made since 2004 to reduce this footprint, including the use of sustainable materials and improved energy efficiency in ATMs, achieving a 35% reduction in ATM-related environmental impact.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/43416/how-sustainable-is-payment-by-cash