Canada is going green with the release of the new polymer bank notes. The polymer notes are estimated to last for seven-and-a-half years versus the three-year life span of the current cotton-paper based notes. Through an independent study commissioned by the Bank of Canada, it is estimated that the use of polymer bank notes will create a 32 per cent reduction in Canada's global warming potential, and a 30 per cent reduction in primary energy demands. And if that wasn't great enough, currently cotton-paper notes are burned when deemed unacceptable for circulation, where the polymer notes will be shredded and converted into small pellets to be recycled. The pellets will go into making new Canada-made products like compost bins, ice scrapers, flowerpots, and garden furniture. Thanks to our new polymer notes, it's a lot easier to be green.
