Living the green dream
Recycling has been commonplace in the sign-making and wide-format print markets for some time, but with the environment now one of the core considerations for businesses when it comes to operations and future planning, it is now more important than ever.
Every business should be doing the basics in terms of recycling drinks bottles and cans from the canteen or vending machines, and putting their waste paper and cardboard in the right bins. But there are plenty of ways companies in our industry can take this a step further.
Here, we look at some of the more advanced programmes available to sign-makers and wide-format print companies, and consider how joining these recycling initiatives can help the business as a whole.
Moral duty
One of the leading experts in recycling within the sign-making and wide-format printing markets is Prismm Environmental, which, part of the Reconomy Group, provides waste services and consultancy to businesses. Jon Hutton, director of Prismm, says the reasons to focus on recycling can be viewed from a number of angles, as this is a wide ranging and multi-layered subject.
Prismm Environmental provides waste services and consultancy to businesses
“One key driver has to be that in an industry often within touching distance of the public perception, and with national headlines such as ‘global warming’ and ‘circular economy’ being used on a daily basis, brand owners and manufacturers alike will be left behind unless they take sustainability within their businesses seriously,” Hutton explains.
“Ownership around recycling products or by-products is at the forefront of this. It is also the perfect time to take advantage of a global demand for environmental improvement through responsibility and showcase this being taken seriously within a business.
“Incorporate ‘the moral duty’ into the wider waste issue of producing single use items, many of which are plastic-based, and the question regarding the importance of recycling becomes self-evident.”
In terms of the core benefits that a strong recycling setup can offer to businesses, Hutton says the stand-out advantage is an immediate increased business profile to brand owners and customers.
“Many customers require environmental solutions to be in place, offer sustainable material choices or are looking to work with printers that meet their existing environmental requirements,” Hutton says, adding: “The advantages over competitors that have yet to implement and market an environmental stance, particularly a recycling programme, are clear.”
Sustainability focus
Prismm counts Soyang Europe among its clients from within our industry. This arrangement sees Prismm support Soyang Europe customers regarding materials it supplies from a waste and recycling management position.
This includes Prismm operating and overseeing a solution to recycle PVC and polyester banners here in the UK, where waste materials are blended with other PVC grades and remade into secondary products such as traffic cones.
Mark Mashiter, managing director of Soyang Europe, says this can be extended to bring additional value to customers and brand owners regarding industry-wide recycling availability and opportunities through Prismm via one-to-one conversations, webinars and other media platforms.
“We produce as green as possible,” Mashiter says, adding: “This means using solar and wind turbines to power our factory and, when it comes to our products, it means materials made from recycled yarns and PET bottle materials and banner materials that are non-PVC, using PA acrylic coatings instead.
“The eco-conscious revolution is being driven by the end users: our customers’ customers. They’re the ones moving the industry. The recent COP26 event in Glasgow highlighted once again that the public is quite anti-PVC and nervous around packaging.”
O Factoid: During the recent COP26 event in Glasgow, the UK pledged £290m to help poorer countries cope with the impact of climate change O
“Sustainability is our focus for 2022. I think over the next 12 months we’re going to look to consolidate on what we’re doing already. That includes our textiles ranges, introducing recycled yarn ranges, focusing on the non-PVC banner materials and mesh materials for building wraps as well as other products that can be more easily recycled.”
In July, the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) also linked up with Prismm to launch a new recycling scheme targeted at companies in the display and point-of-sale sectors. The ‘Display & POS 2 Recycling Scheme’ aims to help companies improve and maintain their waste management and recycling.
Members that achieve certification or take part in the scheme can use the logo on all of their communications related to their waste management and also share the pledge and targets to promote a level environmental and sustainability level.
This pledge includes key points such as to ensure all waste produced has been included into the scheme to confirm accountability, implement a ‘Waste Hierarchy’ and maintain records of waste collections and treatment routes used. Other parts of the pledge are to introduce and utilise media that is more widely recycled where possible, promote environmental sustainability through the supply chain and encourage clients to make environmentally preferable choices.
In terms of core targets for the scheme, Prismm will prepare an initial report upon acceptance into membership that outlines media usage and waste output. This will be reviewed each year and any changes that are achieved will be analysed and included in a summary. Prismm will also record all recycling, recovery and landfill volumes issued to the site monthly, while the BPIF Visual Display and POS Steering Group will receive annual recycling, recovery and landfill volumes for each member site.
“This scheme is here to help companies improve and maintain their waste management and recycling,” the BPIF says. “It provides a baseline and scope on requirements, support and an ongoing direction to improve environmental sustainability with the visual display and POS sectors, adhering to the following pledge and targets.
Key measure
HP is another leading name in the industry that has a number of green schemes in place. In 1991, HP launched a campaign called HP Planet Partners, which collects used products for resale and recycling in 76 countries and territories worldwide.
“Our product repair, reuse and recycling programmes are part of the effort to create a more circular, low-carbon economy,” Olivia Kelleher, large-format print sustainability Lead at HP, says, adding: “More than 875 million original HP Ink and Toner Cartridges have been recycled by customers with HP Planet Partners.”
HP also runs the ‘Take-back’ programme, which provides both commercial printers and their customers the ability to return large-format banners and flags after use. Plastics used in these banners and flags are recycled in a way that conserves resources, helping shine a greener light on HP, its customers and end users.
Recycling should be an integral consideration for all modern businesses
“Sustainability and the impact we have on the world around us has never been more important and reducing waste and recycling responsibly is a key measure in helping to minimise this impact,” Kelleher says.
Sustainability and the impact we have on the world around us has never been more important”
“Sign-makers and wide-format printers also need to meet business goals, such as cutting costs and reducing IT burden, while meeting sustainability goals, so investing in the right equipment and media is an easy and effective way to do this.”
Kelleher notes that not all print can be recycled and much of this comes down to the substrate type and brand. HP has invested heavily in creating water-based inks that are kinder to the environment than solvent, eco-solvent or UV inks, but do not impact on the quality of output, and are suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
“Prints made with the latest HP Latex inks are recyclable, returnable, or non-hazardous and safe for disposal,” Kelleher says, adding: “So, after the job is done and the prints are no longer in use, you can continue to help reduce sustainable impact.
“The choice of substrate can make a difference, some can be recycled locally, others can be returned for free using the HP Large-Format Media take-back program.
Alongside these schemes, HP also offers a number of planet-friendly solutions, including some focused around recycling. One such product is HP Recycled Satin Canvas, a printable canvas made from 100% recycled water bottles retrieved from the ocean during organised clean-ups.
HP Recycled Satin Canvas is entirely compliant with the REACH European Commission standard for the protection of human health and the environment, making it eligible for return through the HP Large-Format Media take-back program and offers a greener solution to printers around the world.
“While the obvious benefit of working with HP Recycled Satin Canvas is that it allows printers to offer their customers a more sustainable option for printed work, there are plenty of other advantages to opting for this media over other products,” HP says.
“To put it simply, by creating this new product, HP is stopping thousands and thousands of water bottles from further polluting the oceans and turning them into a new product that itself can be recycled and used again in a new form.”
Fully recyclable
Elsewhere and Avery Dennison recently revealed that its film portfolio has secured approval from plastic packaging recycling specialist, RecyClass, in an endorsement it described as a market-first.
The approval recognises that Avery Dennison’s film portfolio complies with high density polyethylene (HDPE) recycling guidelines, meaning that the products are fully recyclable.
RecyClass guidelines state for packaging to be deemed fully recyclable, the polyethylene (PE), machine direction oriented (MDO) or polypropylene (PP) label must be removable through a cold wash process that uses water heated to 40°C. Such labels can also be removed at a similar temperature during normal use, such as when a shampoo bottle is taken in the shower.
Avery Dennison says accreditation of its film portfolio will benefit label producers across the home and personal care and food sectors
Avery Dennison’s PE White, MDO White and PP Clear labels, which feature a permanent acrylic adhesive and remain in place during a cold wash, were approved by RecyClass after extensive independent testing.
Rob Groen in ‘t Wout, marketing director for paper and films at Avery Dennison, comments: “Our film portfolio consists of clear and white PE, MDO and PP films made with pressure-sensitive emulsion acrylic adhesives.
Having these aligned with RecyClass guidelines will make it easier for brands and label producers to boost recycling rates and ensure HDPE packaging gets a second life.
“Currently, we are conducting further independent tests with the aim of having our complete portfolio approved.”
Recycling should be an integral part of any modern sign-making and wide-format printing business, as committing to such a scheme will not only strengthen your environmental credentials, but also help you win new work from green-minded customers.
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