In addition to impressive security features to combat counterfeiting, these notes will last longer than those made from paper – at least two-and-a-half times longer – and will therefore be more economical and have a smaller environmental footprint. When they are eventually withdrawn from circulation, they will be recycled into other products here in Canada.
Safer, cheaper, and greener: indeed, these new bank notes are a 21st century achievement of which all Canadians should be proud and in which they can have full confidence. This last point is very important. According to Bank of Canada research, when Canadians shop, they use cash for more than half of their transactions.