Warning Signs
The signs have been there for a long time. Targets to be more sustainable in the signage industry are the most important thing a company can prioritise. However, it’s one thing to talk about sustainability, but it’s another to act on it. Obstacles like the looming energy crisis have further demonstrated the need for more sustainable designs in the world of signage.
The time for change is now, with many companies deciding to shift operations by turning to new ways of developing hardware and components. In the long term, this makes it easier to recycle products and aids in helping to reduce carbon footprints.
The green flag is being flown throughout the sector, with several initiatives, products, and pledges all being performed successfully. Throughout this industry, you will find innovative thinkers who seek to sustain the positive effects for the environment, where they can successfully reach new heights in an entirely new age.
One company choosing to embody this green attitude is Dorotape. The self-adhesive film provider has a long-term aim to offer the most environmentally friendly and sustainable digitally printable products on the market. This initiative is being achieved with the launch of a range of materials that have been manufactured using up to 120 recycled plastic 1.5L bottles.
The introduction of five sustainable self-adhesive films is welcome news to this sector, with the range being made from up to 70% recycled content. The environmental credentials on the new Aslan range are a great example of what can be achieved when a company takes action.
Signs of change
The future is starting to look a lot more promising, with many companies now aligning themselves on the side of sustainability. One of those longstanding green baton bearers is Make it Happen Signage Consultancy (Make It Happen).
After sixteen years of working in the signage industry, founder Sam Armstrong started Make It Happen. The company has been a resource to the signage industry, delivering workshops, consulting with other brands, and helping trade to source signage solutions for over six successful years.
Aimee Davies is the branding consultant and sustainability lead for Make It Happen. She says: “Make it Happen’s emissions and footprint have always been low. We are a small team who work remotely and only commute occasionally for meetings and training days. Part of my new role will be to continuously review business sustainability, make suggestions for further improvement, and support others who want to shift toward more sustainable business practices.”
She adds: “I shared my knowledge and experience working with blue chip retail brands, for whom sustainability and green credentials were becoming a hot topic. In the following months, I had conversations with others in the industry and realised there was a knowledge gap. So, I approached Sam with an idea for a new workshop. I recognised an opportunity to provide education around sustainability matters and signposting to trusted resources and suppliers.”
This led to the emergence of ‘The Sustainability Bootcamp’, which will be launching in October, intending to cut through greenwashing laws and break them down. The course will help cultivate people’s understanding and take the first step into what could be a new area of growth for their business. Make It Happen intends to offer full support along the way, including providing sales and marketing toolkits, and promoting their sustainability success stories.
The use of updated tech has made it easier over the years to implement greener initiatives and practices. Davies is in agreeance: “Arguably, the introduction of LEDs has been one of the most significant green initiatives the industry has seen. At the time, no one believed they would become popular.
Since then, we have seen a considerable reduction in energy consumption compared to tungsten or fluorescent. However, it is a doubled-edged sword as innovation has also resulted in the manufacture of a type of LED illuminated sign that is solid and resin-filled. These specific types of LED signs can never be repaired or easily dismantled and seem destined only for landfill.”
The next step for progression must be aimed at the younger generation. They have the future of this planet, and it’s clear that the same mistakes can’t be made again, with backtracking strictly not an option when it comes to making the industry more sustainable.
Collaborations with colleges and universities provide fantastic opportunities for the industry, especially when it comes to sustainability”
Davies says: “Collaborations with colleges and universities provide fantastic opportunities for the industry, especially when it comes to sustainability. From the potential use of technology to the development of new bio-plastics that might one day have applications in signage. I’m excited to see what might develop in association with a generation who are increasingly passionate about green issues.”
Superior signage
Perspex is setting a great example for businesses around it to follow as it looks to make an impact with all its hard work. Founded in 2003, the company says it quickly established itself as a “leading substrate distributor within the signage industry” with the subject of sustainability always at the front of its work.
Luke Martyn, marketing manager for Perspex Distribution, says: “Efficiencies and sustainability have been a long-term focus for Perspex. Sign-makers are looking where their materials are sourced and how long their journey from factory to installation really is. Over 80% of our range is manufactured in the UK, including Alupanel Aluminium Composite, Palight PVC Foam, Palsun Polycarbonate and Marpet PETg, reducing the lifecycle mileage and CO2 footprint within our product range.”
He adds: “Sustainability doesn’t stop with our materials. Whether you are looking at our Gold fleet status, verified by the energy saving trust for reducing CO2 emissions, or incremental steps such as replacing office lighting to energy-saving LEDs, Perspex is committed to greener goals.”
Without the update in modern tech, it would be a struggle to introduce these methods, as Martyn is fully aware. “As distributors, we work closely with our material manufacturing partners to translate the needs of customers and ensure these are reflected in ongoing product development. An amazing amount of research and development goes into developing new recycled products, much of which would not be possible without modern technology and regular investment from these manufacturers.”
Green solutions are becoming company standard and it’s no longer acceptable for them not to be offered. Martyn says: “We saw fantastic excitement for our new green solutions from sign-makers at the recent Sign & Digital UK event where we launched a range of new materials.”
Perspex saw much excitement for its new green solutions from sign-makers at the recent Sign & Digital UK event
Antalis is a company born in 2000 which specialises in papers, packaging, and visual communication, where it can enhance eco-credentials, deliver quality products, and provide users with a market-leading product range.
Chris Green is director of visual communications at Antalis and is aware of how much customers value sustainability in the modern era and makes it a goal to always provide this at the company.
Antalis has created Xanita Print and Xanita Kraft, lightweight high-strength fibre boards
Green says: “Since 2002, when customers started to enquire about FSC certification, Antalis and our customers have come a long way when it comes to sustainability evolution. More recently, at Antalis, we have been rapidly growing our range of printable substrates that form part of our Green Star System, a framework that considers how each material is produced and how easily it can be recycled to meet the growing demand from the display sector and other industries.”
He adds: “In 2021, Antalis outlined its sustainability commitment that aims for 75% of all visual communications products sold to be rated Green Star 3 or higher by 2030. Antalis’ Green Star System makes it easy to identify sustainable products and helps clients to move towards easier to recycle and ultimately recycled materials. The system considers two key factors: raw materials used and recyclability at end of life, attributing a rating from zero to the most sustainable options achieving five stars.”
Green wants Antalis to choose the greenest options. Over the last decade he has played witness to the vast change in the industry. He says: “As a creative industry, we are always looking to innovate and add value, and this also applies in our approach to sustainability. We have seen some good progress over the last ten years, and this will continue as we see legislative, technological and consumer behaviour changes.
“Technology has always been a key driver, whether that be print technology and the onset of sustainable inks, changes in manufacturing which allow more recycled content to be added to products without it detracting from their performance or the introduction of products that allow us to upcycle.”
Green is aware of how beneficial collaboration can be in the industry, with Antalis currently focusing on waste management and performing it correctly and ethically. The company works alongside a waste management services provider to help businesses understand and work through some of the challenges around recycling volumes and segregation of materials.
However, Green is also aware of the risks surrounding sustainability. “In my opinion, the biggest risk regarding sustainability and future growth is the speed in which we come together as an industry to tackle climate change and its causes.
“There is still a lot of confusion when it comes to sustainability. Like all industries, we have early adopters and followers, but sustainability is such an important topic within our industry. If we don’t come together to tackle it, change driven by legislation and consumer behaviour could risk industry growth.”
Staying motivated
Another company making moves in the world of sustainable signage is Applelec. The trade supplier of signs, displays, and lighting has over twenty years of experience in the field as a manufacturer of signs, displays, and LED lighting solutions for some of the world’s biggest brands.
Michael Crotch, head of the signage division, says: “Applelec has always used its market intuition to innovate, and sustainability was no exception. As a responsible manufacturer operating in a sector with high waste material, we decided back in 2018 to put together an internal committee to look at our materials, products, and processes to see how we could be more sustainable.”
Crotch adds: “The result has been a change in mindset for Applelec that is becoming engrained in our culture. This journey and staff’s engagement in it has really created a passion throughout the business, making sustainability a key focus for Applelec and our future development.”
Applelec’s supply chain relationships have been key to the development of its Eco lightbox and Eco built-up letters. Crotch says: “In recent years, we have seen an increase in suppliers recognising the importance of sustainability and developing and sourcing more environmentally friendly materials and components. This advancement has a ripple effect, giving manufacturers the tools to design and develop more sustainable products, and these innovations are expanding the possibilities of signage fabrication.”
Applelec’s ECO lightbox uses a recycled wood pulp backing instead of Foamex. This is a much more sustainable option and is easily recycled due to the cardboard. It is also considerably lighter, halving the weight of a standard lightbox, which is beneficial on many fronts, from the cost of shipping to application possibilities, as well as benefiting the environment.
Applelec’s ECO lightbox utilises a slimline design and is made with a recycled wood pulp backing instead of Foamex
Applelec recently partnered with the non-profit community interest company (CIC) Just One Tree. The CIC aims to reverse biodiversity loss and remove CO2 from the atmosphere through strategic tree planting across the globe, as well as reduce acidification, rising sea temperatures and marine diversity loss through its ground-breaking kelp forest regeneration scheme.
Having already planted 100 trees, Applelec pledges to plant a further tree for every order from its eco-friendly signage and lighting ranges.
O Factoid: Applelec pledges to plant a further tree for every order from its eco-friendly signage and lighting ranges. (The company has already planted 100 trees and counting) O
Premier Paper is another company where the sustainability mission is crucial as it stays ahead of the curve with eco-conscious decisions. Brad Goldsmith, marketing services manager for the company says: “Sustainability has always been a key focus. Premier was the first paper merchant to achieve ISO 14001 environmental management certification in 1998.
“Almost ten years ago Premier launched the Carbon Capture programme, a low cost, simple, easy to understand and totally transparent initiative that allows customers and their clients to mitigate the CO2 emissions from their product purchases and directly support the work of the Woodland Trust; creating and maintaining native woodland here in the UK.”
Goldsmith adds: “To date, well over 600 customers are fully engaged in the programme and have helped to raise in excess of £1.4m for the Woodland Trust and captured over 85,000 tonnes of CO2. Uniquely 100% of the funds raised go directly to the Woodland Trust, there are no deductions for marketing or management fees.”
Like many companies who want to become more sustainable, Premier has needed to expand and update the range it offers. “There is a growing demand for more recyclable products such as fibre-based and PVC-free materials. Premier now has an expanding portfolio of products to meet these demands,” Goldsmith says.
“Choice within product portfolios can help to inform and inspire customers to think differently about the media that they choose. Furthermore, if we combine this with a better industry education on environmental matters such as the methods and components involved in the products’ manufacturing this can help to arm customers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.”
The bigger picture
Imageco was formed in 2000 by directors Brian Plows and Stephen Johnson to service retail graphics, display and exhibitions. Nathan Swinson-Bullough, managing director of Imageco joined in 2003, where he has seen the company evolve into a new era.
Nathan Swinson-Bullough, managing director of Imageco, has made it his mission to find the most eco solutions
Reflecting back to almost 20 years ago, Swinson-Bullough says the company was starting to take modern day shape.
“Sustainability at this point didn’t cross my mind as we were too busy building the company and trying to survive. Then one day, a few years into running the company, I was at home watching David Attenborough Blue Planet 2, the episode that showed all the ocean plastic. I was horrified to see the images of the plastic in the sea.
“As much as I loved the outdoors and was aware of climate change, it didn’t even occur to me that we were part of the problem. I was embarrassed and ashamed. I instantly knew we had to do something to make a change in how we worked.”
Admitting he didn’t really know where to start, Swinson-Bullough says he saw materials as a big part of the mission. With this in mind, he began looking at more sustainable alternatives to what Imageco already used.
“I soon found there were quite a few products out there. I spent the next year testing and trialling and started to use LinkedIn to get my message out there. My next job was to start educating clients on how they could switch products and become more sustainable. HP was also developing the next phase of Latex. Although I didn’t see it primarily as a sustainable printer, I soon realised that this ink technology was the way forward.”
When talking about the future of the industry, Swinson-Bullough believes something big is coming. “I believe we are on the verge of a huge transformation; the industry has woken up to the problems faced, and everyone needs to adapt. I am a big believer in innovation to fuel change, and it will happen. I think in five years, the landscape will change further.”
I believe we are on the verge of a huge transformation; the industry has woken up to the problems faced
and everyone needs to adapt”
As the landscape continues to change, Swinson-Bullough says he is excited to see the changes happen. Something he notes that is crucial to this change is educating young people on the issue. “Universities now bring sustainability into design courses,” he says, adding: “Students are aware of problems because of Sir David Attenborough or Greta Thunberg. We need to get further down the chain into schools, kids need to understand sustainability, not only in industry but in their own lives. Imageco is currently working on a project at Fespa to encourage the next generation of printers and potential industry talent. We have a good plan on how we can make print and signage look appealing to the next generation.”
Your text here...
