The Bank of England is searching for a potential solution to the use of animal fat in its new polymer banknote after days of controversy. Innovia, the printer of the £5 bill, "is now working intensively with its supply chain and will keep the bank informed on progress towards potential solutions", the central bank said in a statement. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to end the use of tallow - a substance made from rendered animal fat - in producing the notes since the issue came to light this week. Some campaigners have called for a boycott of the new notes which entered circulation in September. The bank plans to roll out £10 and £20 polymer bills by 2020. The new notes are more secure and the bank expects them to last at least two and a half times longer than their paper counterparts.

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