A team from the Biochemical Engineering Research Lab (BioEng) at UCIBIO – NOVA FCT, comprising Filomena Freitas, Maria Ascensão Reis, Diana Araújo, Patrícia Reis, and João Ricardo Pereira, has been awarded first place in the competition "Vamos dar uma segunda vida às notas", promoted by Banco de Portugal.
This initiative challenged participants to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the treatment of euro banknote waste. The BioEng team’s winning proposal, titled “€coCard: Turning Old Money into Eco-Friendly Bank Cards”, puts forward a circular and environmentally conscious approach by repurposing shredded banknotes into sustainable bank cards.
The project exemplifies a strong commitment to environmental sustainability by combining scientific expertise with practical applications in waste valorisation.
The team extends its gratitude to Banco de Portugal for the opportunity and recognition. “This award reinforces our motivation to continue developing innovative solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future,” the researchers stated.