ICA Sustainability Charter
Cash is a public good – it promotes social inclusion and protects personal freedom and privacy. Around the world, cash is used in the vast majority of payments. It should also be as sustainable as possible across its supply chain.
Global Currency Forum
The GLOBAL CURRENCY FORUM, created by the ICA, is a future-focused, thought leadership event addressing the future role of cash in a rapidly changing payment landscape.
Cash Matters
Smart and online technologies are changing the way we pay, however, cash is still the most attractive means of payment for a huge majority of people worldwide. We look at 10 key reasons for the relevance of cash.
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ICA Sustainability Charter
Cash is a public good – it promotes social inclusion and protects personal freedom and privacy. Around the world, cash is used in the vast majority of payments. It should also be as sustainable as possible across its supply chain. The ICA Sustainability Charter adopted at the ICA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2020 specifies our global industry aims and commitments on sustainability.
Many companies in the currency industry are already making progress on sustainability, but for the first time, the Sustainability Charter holds the industry to an agreed framework that encompasses economic, environmental and social equality aspects which all need to be addressed simultaneously.
It recognises that cash plays a key role in integrating every citizen of the world into a global economic system, by providing safe, reliable and largely accessible means of payment. Specifically, the ICA membership commits to a number of ambitious goals. The charter calls on members to:
- Promote adoption of circular economy principles by designing waste and pollution out of the production process with sustainable solutions and recycling initiatives;
- Integrate sustainability criteria throughout all aspects of current and future processes and projects;
- Reduce our environmental footprints by reducing consumption of water and raw materials, re-assessing the chemicals used in production and increasing recycling;
- Decrease emissions through innovation and new technologies, increased use of renewable energy and introduction of emissions reduction objectives
The ICA – as an industry body with members around the world – commits to actively support and apply Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) best practices by following best practices for our sector and for society at large. This charter aims to reflect that.
Cash Matters
Cash Matters, the pro-cash movement by the ICA
Cash Matters was launched in May 2017 and is a global movement which presents easily accessible, factual and well-designed content. Through its Cash Matters website and social media channels it has become the most popular and renowned source of information for anything on cash. Target groups are experts from the currency industry, decision-makers in politics and governments, analysts, journalists as well as the broader public.
Among the content provided by Cash Matters are two videos on the role of cash in society, Cash Matters and Choice Matters. Cash Matters also issued studies in cooperation with the Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) at the University of Irvine, California, which have proven instrumental in shaping the sociopolitical debate on cash such as “Keeping Cash: Assessing the Arguments about Cash and Crime” and “Virtually Irreplaceable – Cash as Public Infrastructure”.
Global Currency Forum
The GLOBAL CURRENCY FORUM, created by the ICA, is a future-focused, thought leadership event addressing the future role of cash in a rapidly changing payment landscape.
The inaugural event from the 2-5 May 2022 in Port Aventura welcomed more than 450 participants from around the world including more than 70 Central Banks and State Print Works.
With more than 40 expert speakers from inside and outside the industry, our agenda focus on the role of cash in a changing society, cash cycle efficiency & innovation and best practices in sustainability & design gave participants the opportunity to discuss and debate many critical issues affecting the role of cash.
Thank you to all our GCF partners for your support in creating a truly innovative and unique event for the currency industry!
For more information on the what’s next for the GCF watch this space!
Code of Conduct
1. ICA members will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries in which they operate. In the absence of adequate laws and regulations, ICA members will apply recognised international standards.
2. Each member of the ICA undertakes:
(a) to operate its business in a manner which enhances the reputation of the cash industry and the ICA;
(b) in all its dealings with its customers and suppliers and with all other members of the ICA, to observe high standards of business integrity and ethics, in accordance with the principles, but not necessarily as members of, the Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI) for example.
All ICA members undertake to abide by the ICA Articles of Association.
3. ICA members will respect the intellectual property rights of others and will not knowingly infringe or cause others knowingly to infringe others’ intellectual property rights. Members will undertake due diligence in the selection of suppliers and the acceptance of customers to ensure that they are legitimate providers or users of technologies and systems for the production and distribution of cash or the implementation of cash programmes.
4. Members will continuously seek to improve all aspects of the security of their supply and distribution chains.
5. ICA members which are producers of cash and/or suppliers of components will recognise that there are many different methods and devices available to help to produce, authenticate, code and track cash and will promote their system, device or other product on its merits.
6. Members will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics and functioning of their products or their capabilities or those of other producers or suppliers.
7. ICA members which are producers of cash and/or suppliers of components will ensure that all their staff understand the risks facing their industry, and that they must operate accordingly so as not to put at risk the business or activities of customers.
8. ICA members will work constructively and closely with their customers to convey appropriate knowledge, training and equipment for the most efficient implementation of cash programmes.
9. ICA members will put in place risk management policies to ensure that they minimise health and safety risks to their staff, visitors and customers; that they minimise risk of compromise of their products used by customers; and they minimise risk to the environment.
10. Every member of the ICA accepts a responsibility to uphold this Code of Conduct and to strive to enhance the reputation of the ICA so that membership is seen to stand for quality and customer satisfaction.
11. A member in breach of this Code, or otherwise operating in such a way as to bring the ICA and the industry into disrepute, may be expelled in accordance with the terms of the ICA’s Articles of Association.
Want to Join Us?
Membership of the ICA is open to legally-incorporated companies and businesses (but not to individuals or consultants) that are suppliers of currency, or suppliers of products, technologies and equipment used in the design, production, handling and circulation of currency.
Trade or industry associations or other organisations and institutions such as universities, foundations and NGOs can be co-opted as associate members.
All prospective members must be a legitimate company and have an established interest and business in currency. All membership applications will be validated by the Board in a Board meeting.
All members must also agree to abide by the Code of Conduct.
Founded by leading currency suppliers, the ICA welcomes any company – providing it meets the conditions for membership – willing to contribute to achieve the goals of the association.
Take a leading role in the creation of industry forums which best serve the strategic business interests of currency service and product suppliers
Membership Fees
- (Annual turnover over €10m) €33,000
- (Annual turnover under €10m) €11,000
- Annual fee Associated members €1,000
