Green Business Solutions With Advertising Signs and Displays
GREEN Signage and Display Solutions for Business
Did you know?
Many people do not realise the impact to the environment that a simple sign, display or graphic has to the environment. Let me start by saying that i am not a scientific expert and have no collected data, but i will tell you what i know and what practical steps and questions you can undertake the next time you advertise. WHY? because the Earth is OUR HOME!
What Impact?
For an Example, let’s start with a basic product that is used commonly in nearly every store in nearly every part of the world. A Perspex board sign with vinyl lettering.
Ok, so at the factory in Malaysia, they will use acrylic resin (a byproduct of oil) which may be useful instead of putting it in the ground. Each sheet has a low tack PS or PE mask to protect the sheet (please use PE or plastic masked as it can be re-cycled and is easier to peel off).
Next we come to the vinyl lettering, A real environmental disaster. Most advertising signs use this product which involves a wax coated liner and a pre-mask that gets thrown away and can’t be re-cycled. On top of that, eventually the actual signs get thrown away and the vinyl itself can’t be recycled. Probably tens of thousands of meters of vinyl clogs landfill every day.
What can we do?
Everybody can do something. I’m sure there will be some study in the future of digital signage vs traditional (electrical costs etc) but in the mean time, there are some great alternatives out there.
For all outdoor and most indoor wall advertising boards, use Aluminium composite boards (contact us for different brands). Aluminum composite boards are not only light weight (which cuts down on structure material), but they are rigid and come in a large range of colours. This material is 100% recyclable and re-usable, has sound and thermal properties and uses efficient manufacturing process.
For illuminated signage, switch to LED solutions. Lexan makes a great Polycarbonate opal panel which is suitable for LED lights without spotting.
For all printing and graphics use the latest technology – Flatbed printing. Flatbed printing will allow direct print to most substrates (including the above suggestions). This will prevent all the wax paper land fill.
Recycle!
Some companies will offer to recycle existing displays and signs. Some businesses think this involves more labour, but we’d rather follow the mentality of – why throw it away, it’ll come in handy for something. Materials like Plexiglass can also be recycled or re-used.
B Green
By: Stephen Francia
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