lection and transportation to a recycling facility for processing. “The process promotes a circular economy within the printing industry,” Mashiter says. Reduce and Reuse Offering a different point of view is Reuseabox, a company that is on a mission to prove that cardboard is not single use. Marketing manager, Rachael Hunt, says while recycling is a crucial part of printing operations, it should not be the first step in creating a sustainable business or future. “While recycling helps us process waste materials as well as reduce our dependence on new resources, it’s also a very carbon-intensive process,” Hunt says, adding: “Simply put, we can’t rely on recycling alone to meet the demand for paper and cardboard as doing so only shifts the burden to future generations. Instead, print businesses must focus on reducing material use – putting the shift on quality, not quantity – and adopting reusable or alternative materials like bamboo or even paper made from elephant dung. The accreditation covers working solutions for materials common on the printing process such as polyester fabrics, label waste, PVC banners, rigid PVC such as foamboard, rigid polypropylenes, acrylic, PET G, aluminium composite material, polycarbonate, siliconised papers, and self-adhesive PVC. “FESPA UK delivers impartial, honest advice and a responsible waste disposal scheme, offering clear guidance and education to help businesses manage their waste in the most sustainable way,” FESPA UK adds. Circular Economy In addition to recycling schemes, PSPs can benefit from switching up the type of materials they work with. Printing on certain media or working some ink types means a piece of print cannot be recycled after it has served its purpose, meaning it could end up in landfill. Opting for recyclable materials and consumables will avoid this route. Soyang Europe has been dedicated to producing environmentally friendly products for some time, providing both PVC-free media and solutions made from recycled materials. Oliver Mashiter, director of sales (Media) at Soyang Europe, says: "Given the rising demand for more sustainably produced print, being able to respond and offer an environmentally friendly service is something all PSPs need to be focusing on. “To put it simply, skimping on the subject or not paying enough attention to the sustainable qualities of your company places you at risk of losing work,” he says, adding: “Customers that emphasise the environment when placing orders will almost certainly go looking elsewhere if you are not able to provide print that matches their own environmental goals. “One of the most effective ways of delivering this to your clients is to take a step back and look at the types of material you are working with. Are there any areas in which you can switch to a different media that helps shine a more sustainable light not only on your own business but also that of your customer?” Looking first at PVC-free options, these include various wide-format print solutions. One example is Solar Frontlit Banner, suited to applications such as retail and exhibition graphics, as well as both indoor and outdoor banners, along with frontlit displays. Also in the PVC-free collection is Premium Greyback Frontlit Banner, which can be used for frontlit displays, along with portable displays, exhibition work, and outdoor and indoor banners. It is also compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, UV, and latex machines. As for Soayng’s recycled range, this includes the SoTex range of printable textiles for direct dye sublimation and dye sublimation transfer printing, as well as coated textiles for solvent, eco-solvent, UV, and latex printers. In addition to all this, Soyang works with Reconomy and FESPA UK to support customers in their recycling efforts. Reconomy provides customers with a baler to prepare textile waste. Soyang then collects the bales when delivering new products to customers, with the waste taken to its facility in Lancashire ready for bulk col- ▲ FESPA UK’s accreditation covers working solutions for materials common in the printing process Official government data shows a 73.4% recycling rate for paper and cardboard in the UK during 2023 73.4% We can’t rely on recycling alone to meet the demand for paper and cardboard as doing so only shifts the burden to future generations 74 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2025 - Issue 354 RECYCLING SCHEMES
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