Sustainability is becoming more important to consumers, than ever before. When choosing products and services, customers will often base their choices on the environmental impact or carbon footprint of the business. A responsible business owner will also make purchasing decisions with sustainability in mind. This is no different if you are considering new signage for a space you work in or are building.
What Options For Sustainability in Signage Are There?
There are two main ways you can make the signage purchase process more sustainable. First, by incorporating sustainability into the design and creation of your sign. Second, by choosing sign makers who demonstrate sustainable working practices.
Sustainable Sign Materials
Choose textiles that are made of recycled materials, have been sustainably sourced or can be recycled at the end of their life.
Wood can be sourced using responsible forestry methods and looks beautiful. Wood can be treated to withstand weather for a long time and can also be recycled.
Glass is another natural material that can be recycled and avoids plastic use. Using glass in your sign can create a striking visual.
Aluminium can be recycled multiple times. This means you can have your sign made from re-used aluminium and be happy knowing that at the end of its life, it will be turned into something new. Aluminium is a great choice for large external signs as it is lightweight and durable too.
When considering lighting, choose LED lights over traditional bulbs to save energy and lessen impact on the environment. If there is an option to, incorporate solar lighting into your external signage for a more significant impact.
Sustainable Sign Makers
The teams of designers and manufacturers who create and build signs have several options for demonstrating they take sustainability seriously.
Becoming a member of a standards organisation such as the ISO, holds sign makers to account. This means they can’t just say they are sustainable, but they must adhere to the regulations and targets they pledged to.
The ISO (International Organisation for Standards) is a non-governmental, independent organisation that sets standards at an international level. They have a heavy focus on environmental standards, and require partner businesses to use appropriate tools to manage their environmental responsibilities.
On top of making signs from recycled or sustainably sourced materials, sign makers can go a step further. Using energy efficient equipment and ensuring their workshops and offices have a low environmental impact is important. Do they use insulation to minimise heat loss or have LED lights installed?
Good sustainability practice encourages looking at the whole supply chain too. When a sign maker is choosing their installation team, transport or tools; they have the power to choose the supplier with the smallest carbon footprint. They can also choose to work with local products and people. This helps keep the environmental cost lower, especially by reducing the transport of teams around the nation.
When choosing a company to design and manufacture your next signage project, look at their sustainability statement or ask them for information on how they practice sustainability.
