Currently, the issuance of 10 and 20 rupee polymer notes is being discussed in India. Polymer banknotes, which have a plastic appearance, are used in many countries. Although work is underway to create such notes, there is a strict requirement to exclude the use of animal fat in their production. This raises the question of why animal fat is mentioned and whether similar components are used in the currency of other states.
In the UK, a scandal arose in 2017 related to the use of animal fat in national currency. When the public learned about the presence of this component, there was significant resonance. In particular, representatives of Hinduism opposed it, calling it a serious issue because it could offend people's sentiments, especially in the context of donations in temples, where the funds were considered contaminated.
Following this, the Bank of England stated that it had no information on the matter, but later admitted that a small amount of animal fat is present in the polymer granules used as the basis for these notes. Despite strong opposition and online petitions, the Bank of England decided to retain traces of animal fat because the alternative—palm oil—is not environmentally friendly, and the replacement process would be too costly.
The use of animal fat is not limited to the UK; several other countries also include it in the composition of their polymer banknotes. Countries mentioned among these include Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The main reason for this approach is the use of tallow, derived from animal fat, in polymer notes. Tallow itself is not used directly; instead, chemical compounds containing tallow are applied, which are produced using animal fat. This is done to ensure proper material processing. The use of animal fat helps reduce friction and improve material flow in machines.
Thanks to this process, the sheets do not stick together during note manufacturing, preventing problems with sticking (stacking) during printing and cutting. Thus, the entire banknote production process proceeds more smoothly and efficiently.