Virus-Free Banknotes: How Bioguard Technology Is Eyeing Touchscreens Next 

Developed long before Covid-19 and now present on billions of banknotes worldwide, Oberthur Fiduciaire's Bioguard technology has quietly expanded far beyond the currency sector, finding applications on everyday surfaces where hygiene and durability matter most. 

We all remember the incremental public anxiety about the spread of pathogens back in 2020-2022 as the pandemic raged on. Fears over surface transmission became widespread, and cash notably came under scrutiny as a possible surface of pathogenic transmission. Central banks at the time moved quickly to allay these concerns, which even at the time seemed somewhat alarmist and appeared to be doing irreparable damage to public confidence. Some encouraged digital payments, some commissioned scientific studies to reassure the public, while others went through great lengths to disinfect and protect the banknote surfaces themselves.  

For French security printing firm Oberthur Fiduciaire, the issue was not new. Years before the pandemic, the firm had developed Bioguard, an antiviral, antibacterial and fungicidal treatment designed to reduce pathogens on banknotes in circulation. According to Currency News, between 2020 and 2022 “11 countries have trusted Bioguard for 19 denominations, representing 1 billion notes.” “Now, over 10 billion Bioguard-protected banknotes are passing from hand to hand every day, making banknotes one of the safest items in the world” according to Thomas Savare, Oberthur Fiduciaire’s CEO.  

Nonetheless, the technology remains relatively unknown outside the niche, specialist world of banknote printing. Yet its use has expanded well beyond its original purpose. Today, Bioguard is being adapted for other high-contact surfaces, including packaging, office equipment and digital devices with touchscreens. 

A solution shaped by public health concerns 

The development of the Bioguard solution, was a response to the simple fact that banknotes are some of the most widely handled objects in circulation, and therefore logically vectors of pathogenic transmission. They pass from person to person, often over long periods, and have to remain usable, secure and recognisable throughout their life.  

The treatment was originally designed as a response to the H1N1 crisis in 2009 to reassure users by giving banknotes antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties without affecting their appearance or technical performance. The solution can be added to the paper substrate or to the post-print varnish applied to paper and polymer banknotes. The same document describes it as a “non-toxic treatment” that kills pathogens and living organisms that can contaminate banknotes in circulation.  

Etienne Couëlle, Managing Director of Oberthur Fiduciaire, has presented the technology as a preventive response to a known issue rather than a crisis-driven marketing tool. In comments reproduced by Bioguard, he explained: “Our teams developed a treatment that was constantly tested and improved in order to make the surface of banknotes ‘hostile’ to bacteria, viruses and other microscopic fungi – without having any negative impact on humans.”  

That balance is key to Bioguard’s positioning. A banknote treatment cannot simply be effective in laboratory conditions, it also has to be compatible with security features, machine readability, durability requirements and public handling. According to Currency News, Bioguard can also be included within substrates without changing their visual appearance, security features or machine readability.  

Covid-19 and newfound attention 

As the pandemic swept across the globe, technologies like Bioguard became extremely relevant, even if already in use. In March 2020, an independent laboratory tested Bioguard against coronavirus OC43, a seasonal coronavirus related to the same broader family as SARS-CoV-2. According to Bioguard, viral concentration on treated surfaces was reduced 100 to 1,000 times compared with untreated surfaces. The same range has been developed for coronavirus and flu-type viruses on treated banknotes.  

Etienne Couëlle framed the result cautiously, describing it as an added layer of protection rather than a replacement for public health measures. “This is an additional safeguard that should put an end to scientifically unfounded fears,” he said. Further testing expanded the evidence base. Furthermore, Bioguard achieved high performance against seasonal coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and flu, as well as resistance to fungi and bacteria once in circulation.  

“In light of scientific evidence it would be highly presumptuous and risky for our industry to claim that we do not need to do anything to make our banknotes safer,” said Etienne Couëlle. “The industry now has Bioguard as a solution. It is inexpensive, highly efficient, long-lasting, harmless for users and the environment. And it has no impact on banknotes look and feel.” 

Cash, and more 

Its effectiveness on banknotes belies its effectiveness on a multitude of different surfaces of everyday use. The same public health logic applied to physical cash can apply to ticket machines, touchscreens, packaging, office desks, handles and public transport equipment.  

Bioguard is now being offered for broader uses, including packaging and surfaces. The treatment can be applied to desks, tables and handles, used in sports centres or public transport, and integrated into the production of digital devices with touchscreens. 

This expansion is significant because it moves Bioguard from a specialist banknote product into the larger market for treated materials and safer shared surfaces. This is made possible because the solution is relatively cheap and reflects a broader post-pandemic shift in how companies and public authorities think about hygiene. The emphasis is no longer only on cleaning surfaces after use, but also on designing materials that reduce microbial presence from the outset. 

For Oberthur Fiduciaire, this broader deployment remains connected to its core expertise. The banknote industry operates under unusually demanding constraints: products must be durable, secure, safe for mass handling and compatible with strict technical specifications. A technology that can meet those standards on banknotes may have relevance in other sectors where reliability and discretion matter.  

More than four years after the pandemic, Bioguard's continued deployment on billions of banknotes, and an expanding range of everyday surfaces suggests its relevance extends well beyond a single public health crisis. Its success illustrates how a specialised banknote innovation can quietly find applications across much wider sectors.