The Central Bank of the Philippines published an update on its Banknote-to-Armchair Project, under which unfit polymer banknotes and related manufacturing byproducts are recycled into classroom furniture. In the latest turnover, the BSP Employees Association donated close to 100 armchairs made entirely from recycled Philippine polymer banknotes to Doña Pilar L. Marfori Elementary School in Davao City. The project is carried out with Envirotech Waste Recycling, Inc. and is presented as part of the BSP’s end-of-life management approach for polymer banknotes. The central bank linked the initiative to the durability of polymer notes, noting that from 2022 to May 2026 only 0.02% of PHP 1,000 polymer banknotes issued to banks were returned as worn-out or damaged, compared with 54.75% of PHP 1,000 paper banknotes issued over the same period. It also said it has not yet received any lower-denomination unfit polymer banknotes since those notes were first issued in December 2024. The BSP said sustainable management will become increasingly important as more polymer banknotes complete their circulation cycle in the coming years, with the recycling project intended to prevent end-of-life notes from becoming waste.
Central Bank of the Philippines2026-07-24
Central Bank of the Philippines showcases polymer banknote recycling through donation of about 100 armchairs
The Central Bank of the Philippines highlighted its Banknote-to-Armchair Project, with close to 100 classroom armchairs made from recycled unfit polymer banknotes donated to a Davao City elementary school. The BSP said the project forms part of its end-of-life management approach for polymer notes and pointed to far lower return rates for damaged PHP 1,000 polymer notes than for paper notes.