Britain’s New Bank Notes: Secure. Durable. Not for Vegetarians.<br />The Bank of Scotland, one of three banks that prints the new polymer bills in Scotland, posted on Twitter in November<br />that its notes were vegan-friendly after receiving assurances from its manufacturer that the notes were free of animal products.<br />On Thursday, the Bank of England, which prints bills circulated in England and Wales, said<br />that it would continue to use the polymer for the 5-pound note, worth about $6.50, introduced last year, as well as the £10 bill that debuts in September and the £20 note that will enter circulation by 2020.<br />Bank said that This decision reflects multiple considerations including the concerns raised by the public, the availability of environmentally sustainable alternatives, positions<br />of our central bank peers, value for money, as well as the widespread use of animal-derived additives in everyday products, including alternative payment methods,<br />It said it had chosen the polymer notes for their durability and for their ability to incorporate new security features, adding<br />that they were better for the environment than the traditional cotton-based paper notes.<br />The bank apparently did not anticipate the pushback on the use of a trace amount of animal products — typically less than 0.05 percent — in the notes.<br />Of those who expressed a preference, 88 percent were against the use of animal-derived additives, while 48 percent were against<br />the use of additives derived from palm oil, which the bank had explored as a possible alternative to the tallow.
