FOCUS SIGNAGE
SUSTAINABLE SIGNAGE
Jonathan Hitch, Estimator Purchasing and Sustainability Lead for Widd Signs explains the many
reasons why FMs need to ensure signage suppliers are operating in as green a way as possible
No matter what set of figures
you examine or direction you
look in, the world has a massive
waste problem. According to data
from the World Bank, more than
two billion tonnes of municipal
solid waste is currently generated
annually, and by 2050 that is
projected to reach 3.4 billion
tonnes in line with a doubling
global population. Worryingly, at
least one in three of those tonnes
are not managed in a way that is
environmentally safe.
Looking at our industry, signage
waste is not an insignificant problem.
Since the 1950s, annual production
of plastic has increased 200-fold, with
381 million tonnes produced in 2015
alone.
HOW CAN SIGNAGE BECOME MORE
SUSTAINABLE?
Fortunately, there are a variety
of actions that we as signage
manufacturers can take to play
our part in tackling the wastage
problem. In doing so, we can provide
responsible solutions for facilities
managers to incorporate into their
buildings.
The most obvious place to start,
38 JUNE 2022
and where my responsibility at Widd
centres around, is the supply chain.
In particular, I am talking about signs
made with responsibly-sourced
materials which broadly fall into
three categories – so substrates,
hard substrates and inks.
SOFT SUBSTRATES: In the area
of so substrates, a major focus
has been finding alternatives to
PVC, which as well as being one
of the most environmentally
damaging plastics, is also becoming
prohibitively expensive.
There are many examples I can
share. For o ice interiors, a credible
alternative to paint or PVC vinyl are
greyback canvas wall coverings made
from 100 per cent recycled polyester,
which we also use to make banners
which carry a higher tensile strength
to weight ratio than PVC versions.
Moreover, they are recyclable at
the end of their life. For retail giant
Primark, we recently supplied its
She ield store with a greyback
canvas using products made from
recycled bottles.
HARD SUBSTRATES: For hard
substrates, once again, this means
doing away with PVC and exploring
alternatives which can feed into the
circular economy and provide cost
benefits at the same time.
As an example, manufacturers can
look at adopting various types of
acrylics which can contain anywhere
between 70 per cent and 90 per
cent recycled materials. Meanwhile,
PVC foams can be replaced by
polypropylene bubble board which
contains up to 50 per cent recycled
content, meaning it can go into
general council recycling and return
schemes. Polypropylene is generally
becoming more popular because of
this, as well as the fact it becomes
stronger the more times it is recycled
and repurposed.
Removing plastics altogether is
another option signage producers
and users should explore. Here,
we’re talking about fibre boards,
card-based display boards, and
paper products which for facilities
management represents a good
option for short-term signage that is
used over a six-to-12-month lifespan.
For signs requiring light, LEDs should
be used instead of halogen bulbs.
ENVIRONMENTAL INKS: A sustainable
sign will also be made with environmentally
responsible inks. Water-based and latex inks
are more sustainable solutions than UV and
solvent varieties, and manufacturers should
also look at joining recycling schemes for
which tax credits are available.
BEYOND RAW MATERIALS
The way in which signs are made
and distributed is another important
consideration that prospective buyers should
be making.
Indeed, there are many ways to cut
carbon footprints through making on-site
e iciencies. For example, we have installed
solar panels at our Leeds HQ and have
also recently invested in energy e icient
upgrades to our St Helens manufacturing
site as well as purchasing more sustainable
equipment such as our Zund cutting
machine.
We’ve also invested in electric and hybrid
vehicle fleets as another way to boost
sustainability credentials and become
a more responsible supplier to facilities
managers and other clients.
These are all important factors that
contribute to sustainable sign-making.
With companies and brands under the
sustainability microscope like never before,
organisations need to take every step
possible to demonstrate to their customers
and employees that they are taking
environmental responsibility seriously. For
facilities managers, that means scrutinising
every last detail about how their buildings
are comprised, which includes signage –
how signs are made, what goes into them
and how well they’re maintained. Properly
preserving a buildings signage will ensure
a longer lifespan, saving waste in having to
replace signs more frequently.
It is not just sustainability benefits that
can be gained through this approach. As
we have seen with the rising cost of raw
materials, alternative materials to PVC and
harmful plastics are becoming increasingly
cost-e ective and providing equal or even
superior performance.
Indeed, so o en we see sustainable
strategies framed in a context of cost versus
responsibility. When it comes to signage, it
is clear that sustainable solutions are also
becoming the most a ordable and high
performing.
CLOUD9 LEEDS