challenge when switching to PVC-free banner materials is often mindset. She explains: “Many of the misconceptions around making the transition relate to durability and performance. Having relied on PVC banner materials for decades, much of the industry is reluctant to make the move into the unknown. “However, advances in PVC-free banner materials mean that they now offer the same durability and image quality as PVC and traditional textile materials without leaching toxic chemicals into the environment – both at the point of creation and at end of life when materials are sent to landfill or incinerated for waste-to-energy. Kavalan materials also retain the flexibility, durability, print quality, and flame retardancy required for demanding large-format applications while remaining REACH and RoHS compliant.” The materials manufacturer is also aware that as sustainability becomes an increasingly important consideration for brands, agencies, and print buyers, being able to demonstrate environmental performance with independently verified data is now a competitive advantage. For this reason, the company launched the Kavalan Eco Calculator, which can quantify reductions in carbon emissions, freshwater consumption, and other environmental impacts, providing evidence to support customer conversations, strengthen tender applications, or meet growing sustainability reporting requirements. Abbott believes that achieving true the materials it prints on cannot be recycled. Enter Kavalan, a manufacturer of PVC-free sustainable banner materials developed for the wide-format printing industry, which boasts a product range that is certified by life cycle assessments (LCAs) and designed to meet stringent international standards and certifications. The PVC-free Kavalan range was launched back in 2017 to challenge the wide-format industry’s overreliance on materials that can’t be recycled by traditional processing plants. Nova Abbott, head of marketing at Kavalan, declares: “For decades, the industry has largely overlooked the environmental concerns surrounding PVC, including the toxicity generated during its production, as well as the excessive freshwater and energy required to manufacture conventional textiles. Many of these impacts occur long of the administration by providing a simple, established route for customers to recycle used solvent ink cartridges.” Gregory believes that while print and signage professionals now have a greater awareness of the impact of sustainable and low-impact print solutions, the wider conversation is still evolving. As he explains: “Customers are no longer looking solely for environmental credentials; they want equipment that reduces energy use, minimises waste, and lowers operating costs without affecting productivity or print quality.” In Gregory’s view, Mimaki’s approach to the development of its solutions means that “in a lot of cases, sustainability and commercial performance now go hand in hand, which makes investment decisions much easier to justify.” However, even the most energy-efficient printer can fall short of true sustainability if ▼Kavalan materials are designed to meet stringent sustainability standards 88 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 362 - September | October BEING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS | JONATHAN PERT Nearly half (48%) of UK businesses say that energy makes up 25% or more of their total business costs, according to a 2026 report from Energy UK Factoid before a banner is ever printed, shipped, or installed.” By contrast, independently conducted LCAs demonstrate that Kavalan’s PVC-free materials are 100% sustainable, weigh up to 45% less than their PVC and textilebased counterparts, and are designed for responsible end-of-life disposal. As Abbott says: “They are engineered with sustainability in mind, right from the start. Using sustainable materials like this can protect the bottom line of UK print and signage businesses, by avoiding both direct and indirect regulatory costs.” Abbott believes that the biggest In a lot of cases, sustainability and commercial performance now go hand in hand, which makes investment decisions much easier to justify
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