Interview With Astrid Drexler, Product Manager at Louisenthal
A subsidiary of Giesecke+Devrient, Louisenthal is a key supplier of speciality paper to the European Central Bank. It also supplies many countries with security paper for identity documents. Chemist Astrid Drexler is the product manager for Louisenthal’s line of banknote substrates and security paper, and she also played a key role in developing the first “green” Banknote. Louisenthal’s partnership with CmiA, says Astrid Drexler, represents an important step towards making the value chain for banknotes more sustainable.
If you look back through Louisenthal’s history, you will notice sustainability was part of its agenda from the very beginning, as its goal was to develop long-lasting banknote paper. However, we now want to go beyond the durability of the product itself to improve sustainability in the wider value chain. This goal harmonises with our clients’ ambitions to be more sustainable too. As long ago as 2017, for example, Louisenthal conducted a study to identify the key levers for sustainability embedded in our products and processes. Since then, we have set up a number of projects with the goal of continually reducing our environmental footprint.
What specific changes have you made in the value chain?
Last year, we launched the Green Banknote, a product providing an environmentally friendly solution for banknotes. It incorporates a mix of certified natural fibres and contains minimal amounts of plastic, much of it recycled. As the first banknote manufacturer to partner with CmiA, we support sustainable cotton cultivation, both for its contribution to environmental sustainability and as a way to establish fair working conditions.
Your banknote substrate is based on cotton noils. What do you look for when procuring this raw material?
In addition to quality requirements, we have both an obligation and a desire to ensure it is produced under equitable social conditions. Naturally, we would also like to see organically cultivated cotton, including noils, become more widely available in the near future. Our sector is quite sensitive to trends in the textile industry; rising demand for sustainable cotton in that industry means that more sustainable cotton also becomes available for the production of banknote paper.
You are the first manufacturer of banknote paper to use Cotton made in Africa–verified cotton in its supply chain. Why did you decide to partner with CmiA?
The partnership with CmiA offers African central banks an excellent opportunity to support their local cotton industry while also promoting organic cotton cultivation. Thanks to the Aid by Trade Foundation’s timely and straightforward support and collaboration, we were able to build up the supply chain very quickly. The fact that the European Central Bank listed CmiA as an authorised source of raw materials was also an incentive.
How highly do your international clients value sustainability?
Sustainability has become significantly more important for central banks over recent years, although, as I say, we believe the top priority is still to ensure banknotes are durable and fit for purpose. Sustainable cotton is attracting a great deal of interest in our sector as the most suitable raw material for banknotes, and demand is rising steadily.