The value of changing to recyclable products

There are many things that can make a product green. While there is a lot of focus on the sourcing and composition of a material to determine how environmentally friendly it is, how the product can be disposed of end of life is also an important part in assessing its environmental credentials.You can buy a product believing it to be a better, greener alternative but if you don’t dispose of it correctly you may not have made much of a positive environmental impact at all. I have been guilty of this myself, purchasing compostable bags, then on disposal realising that there isn’t any way for me to effectively get rid of it.  A conventional PP plastic bag could easily be recycled. On the face of it, a compostable bag is a greener choice, but only if it gets disposed of correctly.

Plastic is in the spotlight right now because plastic pollution has become so prolific in our natural environment. We all know of the devasting impact plastic waste has on the oceans and wildlife. Plastics let loose in the environment continue to break down into smaller and smaller microplastics, entering all levels of the eco system. A study carried out by the University of Newcastle on behalf of the WWF suggests that people are ingesting an average of 5g of plastic every week. That is equivalent to the plastic in your credit card! We don’t yet know the long-term health issues but it is concerning none the less.

Plastic has undeniable benefits and value for so many industries, including the wide format print market. It is not that all plastic is bad, it is what we do with it at the end of its life that is the major issue.  Even though it is really human behaviour with single use plastics that has caused the furor, people have become more conscious about plastics overall and are interested to use better alternatives.

The problem with plastic print substrates used in the wide format industry is not that they are going to end up on the ocean. It is the amount of time they take to break down and their composition. Imagine every PVC self-adhesive graphic you have ever produced being around for the next 500 years, if not longer. The plastics used by our industry contributes to the burden waste placed on space in landfill. The second issue is landfill cannot guarantee the containment of any leachates. All landfills experience some degree of leachate loss to the surrounding environment so if the products you are disposing off contain any harmful ingredients, like PVC, then they could find their way into the soil and waterways.

We need to find better ways of dealing with the waste our industry generates but we still need to produce high performing, quality print campaigns and do it cost effectively. Up until now there have been limited options on how we can balance and respect these goals. PVC is used for a reason. It is durable and cost effective but there is no way to recycle it and keep it out of the environment.

The good news is that things are changing. Alternatives to PVC film are entering the market that produce the same results PVC and cost effectively. They are still plastics, but the difference is they can be recycled and in the event of them going to landfill, break down much faster without leaching any toxins in the process.

While limited solutions exist for long term outdoor branding and vehicle wraps, the short-term advertising and interior décor market can now be serviced with better product choices that won’t cause enduring waste or harm. It is this market that generates the highest volume of waste, so switching to these alternatives will have a significant impact on the waste our industry produces.

Using plastic films you can recycle is the best way to meet your customers print requirements and deal with the waste these campaigns generate.

There are many benefits to recycling:

• Recycling means creating less new plastic which is definitely a good thing. Recycling reduces the demand for raw materials and maximises the use of resources we have already extracted from the earth as plastic is derived from fossil fuels.

• Recycling keeps plastic out of the ecosystem for longer periods of time,
if not indefinitely if it continues to
be recycled.

• Energy is saved. Making new products from recycled plastic requires less energy than making them from scratch.

• Carbon emissions are reduced because less energy is used and methane releasing waste is kept out of landfill.

By continuing to send plastic waste to landfill, the opportunity to do more is being missed and valuable resources are being wasted. By using PVC alternatives that can be recycled, you can turn your waste into a new resource, one that can benefit both the economy and the environment.  

Written by Denise Kirby

Denise Kirby has over 27 years experience as a supplier of self adhesive products to the sign and print industry. Initially starting out in the family business as a distributor of  consumables she went on to work for leading self adhesive manufacturers in marketing , business and product development roles across Australia and New Zealand.  She now has her own business, Kirbyco, which focuses on environmentally friendly, recyclable and sustainable print solutions.

Denise is highly passionate about the industry and enjoys writing about applications and opportunities in print in and signage with the goal of inspiring people to explore new creative and functional opportunities with film as well as educating the industry on products, trends and new innovations.