We don’t just want to talk the talk when it comes to playing our part in ecological issues.
We also want to actively find out ways to help reduce ours (and our customers’ ) environmental footprint.
Its with this in mind, when we took on our small format digital machine, we looked around to find the right media out there that could have a smallest effect on CO2 emissions.
Unfortunately, carbon will always be emitted in the production of papers and industrial products. The mills are actively doing their part to minimise what they can do but on a Cowens Signs level where we are using these products day in and day out, we need to make sure we are also doing all we can to help with the battle.
The primary way to offset this release of carbon is to ensure that the products we use have accreditation as part of a carbon offset scheme.
This way, for every pack of paper or sheet of plastic we bring in, we know, along with our clients, that we are doing all we can to balance the ecological effects.
Carbon Balanced Papers
Carbon balancing is the term used where the impact of CO2 that has been created by a product or service is estimated and the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide is either stopped from being released into, or is absorbed from, the atmosphere.
The Carbon Balanced Paper scheme is overseen by the World Land Trust.
By using paper and boards that carry their Green Star system, for every purchase of media, they receive funding to enable them to purchase areas of land at risk of deforestation.
In simple terms, they buy the land in order to keep the trees that are vital in absorbing the carbon dioxide.
This purchasing of the land is seen as being one of the most cost-effective and quickest ways to slow down the rise of atmospheric CO2 and global warming effects.
Recycled Media
We’ve been talking about recycled media for years but the main problem with recycled materials was that they were just not cost effective.
There were also only a handful of options and most of them weren’t really fit for purpose.
However, we are finally starting to see more products made from recycled and recyclable content.
Cardboard has always been available as something like E and B Flute or display card but cardboard was often seen as a short term promotional product. Fine for an FSDU thats to be used for a week or a hanging sign but not for anything more substantial.
New cardboard based media such as the Xanita board and Dispa board are much more resilient and can be cut, creased and conformed which leads to all sorts of retail, leisure and commercial possibilities.
We’re also seeing polypropylene and polystyrene being more widely used too. Board substrates such as Smart-X and Stadur Easyprint can be recycled after use saving both landfill and hefty disposal costs.
With any project we undertake, we’ll look at not only the best options for your business but also how to produce your sign and print with the least ecological impact.
If you are interested in exploring the possibilities of carbon offsetting or seeking out the latest in recycled media, get in touch and we’ll see how we can help you create only the right kind of impact.