Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan informs students of Doña Pilar L. Marfori Elementary School in Davao City that recycled polymer banknotes are raw materials used in producing armchairs donated to the school during turnover ceremonies on 22 July 2026.
What was once Philippine currency is now helping students learn more comfortably.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Employees Association, Inc. (BSPEAI) has donated nearly 100 classroom armchairs made entirely from recycled Philippine polymer banknotes deemed unfit for circulation, turning retired currency into a tangible investment in education and sustainability.
The donation was formally turned over to Doña Pilar L. Marfori Elementary School in Davao City on July 22, 2026, as part of BSPEAI’s environmental and community development initiatives.
Leading the ceremonial turnover were BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan and BSP Mindanao Regional Office Officer-in-Charge Jason P. Capocao, together with BSPEAI President Brent S. Lucero and Currency Policy and Integrity Department Director Eloisa T. Glindro. They were joined by school principal Eloisa Questo, who received the armchairs on behalf of the school community.
The armchairs were produced through the Banknote-to-Armchair Project, an innovative recycling initiative that transforms unfit polymer banknotes and polymer manufacturing byproducts into durable classroom furniture. The project is being implemented through BSPEAI’s partnership with Envirotech Waste Recycling, Inc.
“Polymer banknotes follow a planned lifecycle from circulation to recycling. End-of-life management is built into their design,” Tangonan said, underscoring the BSP’s commitment to sustainability beyond the issuance of the country’s polymer currency.
Lucero explained that the beneficiary school was chosen based on an assessment of its needs and priorities, ensuring that the project delivers meaningful support where it is most needed.
The initiative highlights one of the key environmental advantages of polymer banknotes—their ability to be recycled at the end of their circulation life. Designed to be smarter, cleaner, and stronger than traditional paper currency, polymer banknotes are significantly more durable, reducing the need for frequent replacement.
BSPdata reflects this durability. From 2022 to May 2026, only 0.02 percent of the P1,000 polymer banknotes issued to banks were returned to the BSP as worn-out or damaged. In contrast, 54.75 percent of paper P1,000 banknotes issued during the same period were returned for the same reason.
Meanwhile, the BSP has yet to receive any lower denomination polymer banknotes deemed unfit for circulation since their introduction in December 2024—a testament to their resilience in everyday use.
As more polymer banknotes eventually reach the end of their lifecycle in the years ahead, initiatives such as the Banknote-to-Armchair Project provide a sustainable pathway for their proper disposal and reuse, ensuring they do not end up as waste.
More than a recycling effort, the project demonstrates how innovation can extend the value of currency beyond commerce—transforming retired banknotes into tools that support learning and uplift communities. It is a powerful reminder that sustainability can create lasting value, even long after money has changed hands.
