What we're doing about it

We strongly believe that all businesses have a duty of care towards the environment. So we're working hard to reduce our own carbon emissions and to produce large format graphics in a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly way.

To do this, we're focusing on three main areas: our own work environment, the substrates that we produce our work on and the way in whcih our work is ulitmately disposed of.

Our work environment

Our new factory and studio was custom-built in 2007, allowing us to incorporate all sorts of green features, including:

• Top-notch insulation so we can reduce energy consumption on heating
• An evaporative cooling system – this has no harmful emissions and consumes less than 10% of the electricity used by air-conditioning
• Movement sensors to automatically turn off lights

We follow a strict waste management policy, recycling our waste wherever possible. And we encourage our staff to take up the Government's 'ride to work' scheme. 10% of our employees have now bought cycles through the business and cycle to work.

Machines and inks

Regular investment in the latest printing machines enables us to utilise the most efficient, energy saving technology.

In 2007 we replaced environmentally harmful solvent inks with UV curing ink. this is the only ink currently certified as being free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). it also offers a 20-30% better coverage than solvent inks so less ink is used.

Substrates

We get quite hot under the collar about substrates

Basically, the most widely used material in large format graphic production are PVC based. There's no doubt they have plenty of benefits – cost, flexibility, durability, fire-rating and print quality. But – and it's a very large but – PVC is pretty controversial when it comes to the environment.

The problem with PVC

The high content of plasticisers (containing potentially hazardous chemicals) in the PVC materials used in large format printing, mean they’re not pure enough to grind down and recycle.

If you put them in landfill, it’s estimated they take up to 1,700 years to break down, all the while releasing hazardous gases and chemicals into the soil.

If you incinerate them, they produce a huge volume of ash residue – which then needs to be landfilled. Not to mention the dioxin emissions produced during incineration that need expensive filtering to avoid polluting the atmosphere.

The solution?

There are several alternatives to PVC but, as yet, none of them are 100% fool-proof. Our policy is to weigh up all the pros and cons and work with you to find the most environmentally friendly solution for your needs.

Some of the alternatives:

Paper & Card

There’s a new generation of wood-based boards that are manufactured from sustainable forests, have a high recycled content and are 100% recyclable, repulpable and biodegradable. They come in many shapes and sizes for a wide range of interior and exterior graphic applications and for furniture or three-dimensional construction. They make ideal alternatives to sheet materials such as Foamex and Foamboard.

Unfortunately, none carry a fire-rating yet and, therefore, are generally unsuitable where fire retardancy is required. Manufacturers are working hard on a solution and this issue should be resolved in the near future.

Polyester & Polystrene

Polyester- and polystyrene-based products can be incinerated without any hazardous or damaging emissions and the energy created during incineration is sold back to the National Grid. The ash residue is reprocessed into recycled material for road building and construction and any ferrous metals are removed for recycling.

There’s a polystyrene alternative for rigid PVC that has the added advantage of being lighter, and a polyester self-adhesive product that is a real alternative to self-adhesive white PVC vinyl.

Polyester has further advantages over PVC in that the self-adhesive product is much more stable, giving a ‘shrink-free’ result when joined or applied. The clear product is far more optically clear than PVC and ideal for applying to interior and exterior glass.

Unfortunately, unlike PVC-based products, polyester and polystyrene are manufactured in relatively few places and is much more expensive.

Aluminium Composite

This provides an excellent alternative to rigid PVC. Extensively used for external hoarding graphics, the high aluminium content makes it worthwhile for the manufacturers to collect used material free of charge for recycling.

Banner material

There is a range of fabrics and banner materials with clear environmental advantages compared with PVC banner substrates. These are ideal for fixed signage, interior decoration, advertising and promotional use. The range includes a lightweight textile, an incombustible MO rated banner material for exhibition halls and public places and a back-lit product.

All are free of PVC and volatile carcinogenic and reprotoxic fabrics. Their production does not create any volatile organic compounds and uses up to 80% less energy than PVC equivalents. They weigh up to 65% less than alternative fabrics, therefore creating less volume to dispose of. In landfill, they create half the leachate pollution of normal PVC fabrics. When incinerated, they release three times less greenhouse effect gases and contribute six times less to acid rain creation than a standard PVC banner.

Disposal

And finally, what to do with all those lovely graphics once they've done their job?

In today’s climate, responsible disposal of graphics is an essential consideration in any project.

We advise our clients to avoid relying on landfill – it’s believed that landfill in the UK could actually run out by 2016.

Instead, we work with you to plan structured collection, sorting and either recycling or incineration and build in the budget for this at the outset of any project.