SUSTAINABLE SIGNAGE

Most of our sustainable signs are made of a wood base, non-toxic 3D and flat printing and a heavy metal free, bio-based furniture oil blend.

The additive material used for braille dots and other ADA required tactile characters is directly fused into sign wood fibers.  This means there is no adhesive to fail or letters to pick off, and the “ink” constituents are all Declare label Red List Approved.

Recyclable aluminum, brass and bronze are the sign base materials for our exterior ADA Signs.

Our patent pending green signs manufacturing technique creates very little material waste. Wood and sawdust waste from sign blank production is biodegradable and 3D printing of raised ADA compliant signage content creates almost no waste.

Green Dot Signs are shipped in cardboard boxes closed with paper based tape using water activated adhesive.  Inside boxes you’ll find paper void-fills and cornstarch packing peanuts securing your sustainable signs. 

You may occasionally notice gently re-used boxes and void fills. We re-use packing materials that are still in good condition.

Your sustainable signs are prepared for installation via one of two methods. For textured walls or for extreme durability, select biodegradable wood pegs and eco-friendly caulking compound to mount signs. Alternatively, ADA and office signs can be mounted securely with double sided foam tape and silicone.

Review our 6 Easy ADA Sign Installation Tips to ensure braille sign height and location meet federal ADA signage requirements.

Durable wood signs last a long time, however, almost every facility is eventually remodeled.  At the end of lifecycle, all sustainable signs are eligible for an Extended Producer Responsibility Recycling Program.

Upon receipt, raised braille, lettering and pictograms are planed off the sign base. The wood sign base is then shredded then recycled as animal bedding, and afterwards applied as fertilizer at a local farm.

Acrylic is a polymethyl methacrylate-based thermoplastic sheet material available in clear, white, as well as various colors. It is lightweight, can be clear to opaque, and shatter-resistant. Acrylic signage is used in various applications such as lobby signage, ADA signage, wayfinding, temporary event signage, POP signage, channel letters, cabinet signs and semi-permanent displays.

While investing in shatter-proof material may seem like a smart move to reduce costs for you and the planet, acrylic is neither biodegradable nor generally recyclable. It is also subject to fracture from many common household cleaners, such as window cleaners. As acrylic signs usually last five years outside and ten years inside in optimal conditions, it will cost less in the long run to invest in sustainable and durable materials.

ACRYLIC ALTERNATIVES

Glass is a great eco-friendly signage alternative to acrylic, as both materials share common attributes of transparency. However, glass has the added benefits of being infinitely recyclable, significantly more chemical resistant, and more durable when tempered. In many applications that commonly use pigmented acrylic, such as ADA braille and wayfinding signs, consider changing to sustainable wood or aluminum.

Adhesive backed polyester film looks similar to adhesive vinyl film, but is more costly and has the added property of thermal stability. For this reason, adhesive backed polyester is often used as labels and stickers on things that heat up, such as computers, printers, and machinery. Vinyl, having a higher rate of thermal expansion, warps in these applications causing it to fail faster.

Like vinyl, adhesive backed polyester is easy to use but generates a lot of waste. After an element is cut from the polyester film, the remaining sheet is thrown away. This it’s common for over half of the actual polyester film used to produce a run of labels to go straight in the trash can. Adhesive backed polyester cannot be recycled because the mixture of plastics and adhesive cannot be separated and processed by recycling plants. Obviously, it is not biodegradable or reusable. Because adhesive backed polyester has a relatively short useful life just like vinyl, it generates more cost in the long run than durable, sustainable alternatives.

ADHESIVE BACKED POLYESTER ALTERNATIVES

The most eco-friendly signage materials solution to adhesive backed polyester is to avoid semi-permanent signage and labeling altogether. If possible, labels and stickers should not be used, although paper-based stickers with paper-based adhesives could serve as a temporary, semi-sustainable fix. For equipment labels, the best sustainable alternative is direct printing to the machine surface. Screen printing is recommended for high-volume jobs, whereas digital printing works well for low-volume jobs. 

Green Dot Sign® is happy to offer digital printing resources, or help direct you towards screen printing partners.  Just contact us to start a conversation. 

Adhesive backed vinyl film, also known as adhesive vinyl, is a durable, water-resistant material used for everything from stickers and vehicle graphics to large commercial signs and wall murals. Thin, flexible, and cheap, adhesive backed vinyl is one of the most common sign materials. It is semi-permanent, lasting two to ten years outdoors.

Learn more about the drawbacks of vinyl in 10+ Vinyl Alternatives.

Although adhesive backed vinyl is cheap and easy to use, it generates a lot of harmful waste. After an element is cut from the vinyl, the remaining sheet and transfer tape is thrown away.  Waste rates of 90% or more are common.  Adhesive vinyl cannot be recycled because the mixture of the vinyl and adhesive cannot be separated and processed by recycling plants. Like most sign plastics, it is not biodegradable or reusable. Similarly, whatever the adhesive vinyl is adhered to usually ends up in a landfill as well. Because adhesive backed vinyl has a short useful life, it generates more waste in the long run than more durable materials.

ADHESIVE BACKED VINYL ALTERNATIVES

The most sustainable alternative to adhesive backed vinyl is to avoid semi-permanent signage altogether. Labels and stickers should not be used if possible, although paper-based stickers with paper-based adhesives could serve as a temporary semi-sustainable fix.

For customizable surface decals, the best eco-friendly signage alternative is to direct print to the surface. Screen printing is recommended for high-volume jobs, whereas digital printing works well for low-volume jobs. Green Dot Sign® is happy to offer digital printing services or help direct you towards screen printers.

In the past, for window and vehicle graphics, painting by hand or stencil was commonplace. This sign craft has gained popularity in recent years. We suggest using painted or gold-lettered graphics instead of vinyl for these applications.

Aluminum composite material (ACM) is a three-layer panel consisting of two aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core. The PE core reduces cost and weight compared to solid aluminum, while ACM’s metal exterior provides the smooth surface and rigidity of aluminum. ACM panels are often used for indoor or outdoor signage applications such as point-of-purchase (POP) displays, outdoor signage, and other semi-permanent rigid graphics.

Using metal and durable materials is a step in the right direction for sustainability. Unfortunately, the mixed materials in aluminum composite means it cannot be recycled at most recycling plants. Additionally, polyethylene’s main material component is derived from fossil fuels.

ALUMINUM COMPOSITE MATERIAL ALTERNATIVES

If you appreciate the shiny surface of aluminum composite, consider switching to aluminum sheets!  Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, thinner and offers structural benefits such as weldability. Durable, attractive, and permanent wooden signage is an eco-friendly signage option that can also be used for indoor applications. An added advantage of both options is that the signs edge looks much more finished than ACM signs.

A type of temporary signage often used to advertise outdoor and indoor events, banners are most often made of a vinyl coating over a scrim polyester mesh. A polymeric plasticizer may be added to give the sign even more flexibility. Under optimal conditions, vinyl banners show signs of wear after several months and last a few years.

Although thin, reusable vinyl banners may appear to have a low environmental footprint, their production and disposal has a huge environmental impact. The production of vinyl is known to release carcinogenic dioxins, causing health complications for workers and bigger picture concerns for the environment. And, due to their mixed materials, vinyl banners cannot be recycled at the end of their useful life. 

BANNER ALTERNATIVES

Vinyl banners are single-use plastics and should generally be avoided. If you are looking for long-term outdoor advertising, consider aluminum sheet with direct printing. Companies such as Ultraflex advertise promising biodegradable banner alternatives such as cotton. Using eco-friendly signage materials is a step in the right direction. Still, production methods, inks, sealants and other processes are as non-toxic and sustainable as possible.

Corrugated plastic sheets are structurally similar to cardboard. The plastic sheets consist of a zig-zagged layer of plastic sandwiched between two layers of smooth plastic sheeting. This arrangement is also called twin-wall plastic sheeting. The outer plastic sheeting can be easily printed on, usually using UV printing, screen printing or vinyl.

Also known as coro or Coroplast® in the sign world, corrugated plastic is a lightweight plastic often used for short-term applications such as yard signs, estate sale signs, garage sale signs, and product displays. In the sign industry, corrugated plastic is made from polypropylene (PP). Many other corrugated plastics are popular in the construction industry.

CORRUGATED PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES

Although most corrugated plastic signs can technically be processed with curbside recycling, mixed materials (such as attached metal or wooden stakes) complicate the process, resulting in less than three percent of PP being recycled each year. However, yard signs are almost never marked with their recycling stream and are simply thrown in the trash.

Even worse, the production and recycling process of plastic releases dangerous toxins into the environment each time plastics are heated.

Fortunately PlyCorr™, Falconboard®, and DuraTex EcoDisplay use a paper-based core, eliminating the need for a plastic foam core. Without a mixed materials plastic core, each of these three products can be easily and safely recycled. Just check that any adhesives, ink, and other sign content applied to the surface are similarly compatible.

If your budget permits, investing in long-term exterior metal signage will save even more resources than temporary boards, and dramatically reduce the financial burden of purchasing new signage in the future.

Flexible magnetic sheeting is composed of a steel-vinyl matrix with vinyl on the face. A design is printed on the outer layer of vinyl. In the signage world, flexible magnetic sheeting is often die-cut and used for magnetic stickers and decals. Flexible magnetic sheeting is also found in hardware applications such as refrigerator doors. 

Although investing in a reusable magnetic sticker might seem like a smart move for the planet, flexible magnetic sheeting is more harmful than you might think. First, it causes a commonly recyclable material—steel—to be sent to the landfill. Because of the mixture of vinyl and metal in the magnetic sticker, it cannot be recycled. Second, it uses an outer layer of vinyl, which is a material to be avoided by mindful consumers. Third, magnetic sheet is subject to rusting and can easily fall off vehicles at highway speeds or when driving over potholes.

FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC SHEETING ALTERNATIVES

The most eco-friendly signage alternative to flexible magnetic sheeting is to avoid semi-permanent signage. Labels and stickers should not be used if possible, although paper-based stickers with paper-based adhesives could serve as a temporary semi-sustainable fix.

For customizable surface decals, the best sustainable alternative is direct printing to the surface. Screen printing is recommended for high-volume jobs, whereas digital printing works well for low-volume jobs. Green Dot Sign® is happy to offer digital printing resources or direct you to local screen-printing partners. 

In the past, for window and vehicle graphics, painting by hand or stencil was common. This sign craft has regained popularity in recent years, offering an eco-friendly signage material alterative to vinyl lettering. We suggest using painted or gold-lettered graphics versus vinyl for these applications.

Foamcore (also known as foam board) and Gatorboard® (also known as gator board or gator) are both lightweight display boards with foamed plastic interiors. Gatorboard® has a rigid exterior veneer that is water-resistant and protects the board from breaking and bowing. Foamcore is cheaper but, with a paper-based exterior, is not as durable. Foamcore is generally a short term use product, while gator may be used for several events or seasons.

Although both Foamcore and Gatorboard® are common solutions for restaurant menus, indoor wayfinding, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, and other semi-temporary advertisements, the foam interior materials add up to long-lasting environmental harm. The cores are usually made of polystyrene or polyurethane foam, both fossil fuel-derived plastics. Styrofoam, an expanded version of polystyrene, is already infamous for its harm to nature. At their “core”, Foamcore and Gatorboard® are styrofoam made into sheet and should be avoided.

FOAMCORE & GATORBOARD® ALTERNATIVES

PlyCorr™, Falconboard®, and DuraTex EcoDisplay use a paper-based core, eliminating the need for a plastic foam core. The entire product can be recyclable, depending on the adhesives, ink, and other sign content. All three options are are a big step for sustainable signage materials. Additionally, investing in long-term wood or metal signage will save even more resources and dramatically reduce the need for purchasing and recycling new signage.

Also known as expanded PVC and by trade names such as Palight®, Sintra®, and Komatex®, foamed PVC is a closed cell, expanded polyvinyl chloride sheet material. It is lightweight, rigid, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant. Foamed PVC is popular in outdoor signage, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, wall paneling, office furniture, vehicle manufacturing, and many other applications. Although the material may last for many years, colors fade with UV exposure.

FOAMED PVC ALTERNATIVES

For outdoor applications, metal signage is a durable, fade-proof, and recyclable alternative. For indoor applications, sustainable and biodegradable wood works well for signage, paneling and other decorative elements.

For thinner, more lightweight applications, PlyCorr™, DuraTex EcoDisplay, and Falconboard® are recyclable and thin sign base materials. For all eco-friendly sign materials switches, remember to use compatible and/or sustainable inks and to be sure signs can be disposed of properly at the end of their useful life.

Often recognized as bulletproof glass, Polycarbonate (PC) is a lightweight, transparent plastic. Within the sign industry, it is purchased as a clear or translucent white sheet and is more durable than acrylic. Polycarbonate is semi-flexible at room temperature, an attribute that increases its impact resistance. Polycarbonate treated with UV inhibitors is the material of choice for outdoor pylon signs, marquis signs, strip mall signs, and other large signs. Polycarbonate signage is also used for indoor applications such as lobby signage, wayfinding, and displays. 

While investing in strong, flexible, shatter-proof material may seem like a smart move to reduce costs for you and the planet, polycarbonate is neither biodegradable or recyclable. So you get 5 to 15 years of use, but when the sign face goes to the landfill it will sit there for thousands upon thousands of years until we develop a way to process it. 

POLYCARBONATE ALTERNATIVES

Glass is a great eco-friendly signage alternative to polycarbonate, as both materials share common attributes of transparency and shine. Glass, however, is more transparent and scratch resistant over time. Additionally, glass has the added benefits of being infinitely recyclable.

Polyester fabric and polyester mesh are often used to manufacture plastic-based fabrics. Polyester fabric is often used for banners, flags, and trade show booths. The usable life of polyester fabric is short and recommended only for temporary use.

Polyester mesh is lightweight, repels water, is UV-resistant, and is often used for indoor displays such as banners and screens. Polyester fabric mesh banners are similar to vinyl banners, but more flexible and transparent.  It is often use in tradeshow and display applications, stretched over a frame.

Although polyester fabric is cheap and easy to customize, they generate a lot of waste. After an element is cut from the plastic fabric, the remaining fabric sheet is usually thrown away.

POLYESTER FABRIC ALTERNATIVES

Choose cotton, and the host of other natural fabrics, before selecting polyester.  Polyester fabrics are often made from recycled plastics.  It’s great that recycled materials are being used, but as the polymers degrade each time they are recycled, it means that the beautiful display you are seeing may not have a very beautiful future, and certainly did not have a bright past.  Ask for natural fabrics made using dyes, rather than inks, whenever you select digitally printed fabrics, and you’ll be building demand for eco-friendly signage materials.

Polystyrene plastic, also known as styrene, is hard, white, and lightweight. Styrofoam is a type of extruded polystyrene. Polystyrene is often used in point-of-purchase (POP) displays, indoor wayfinding, and other semi-permanent applications. It is not used often for outdoor signage because it does not last long outdoors.

POLYSTYRENE ALTERNATIVES

PlyCorr™, Falconboard®, and DuraTex EcoDisplay use a paper-based core, eliminating the need for a plastic foam core. The entire product can be recyclable, depending on the adhesives, ink, and other sign content. All three options are much more sustainable. Additionally, investing in long-term wooden or metal signage will save even more resources and dramatically reduce the need to purchase new signage.