Wide format print specialist Cactus Imaging has developed a new environmentally friendly printing option for its outdoor advertising banners with the substrate able to be turned into high grade polymer products like park benches and bollards when no longer needed.
The SmartSkins technology is a world-first and was developed in conjunction with Cactus Imaging’s parent company oOh!media, the company says.
Cactus Imaging’s general manager Nigel Spicer says the company has invested heavily in developing an environmentally friendly printing option for out of home advertising to reflect the demands of Australian advertisers to be more sustainable.
“There is an unmistakable need for greener Out of Home advertising solutions and while in other international markets there are biodegradable products that are more environmentally friendly than PVC, these products were not viable for our market due to quality, price or a mixture of both,” Spicer said.
“Our only option was to develop our own product, which delivered similar quality output, is able to withstand the Australian climate for the typical campaign cycle and could be provided at a price point that was not excessively more than traditional PVC.
“Cactus Imaging is the first in the world to offer this 360 approach to recycling in Out of Home industry after many years of perfecting the production process and looking for a secondary market that we could work with to give billboard skins a second life.”
oOhmedia! Says the technology has been successfully tested over the past year and is now available for advertisers nationally with costs only slightly more than traditional billboard skins.
http://www.proprint.com.au/News/392799,cactus-imaging-throws-open-its-doors-to-industry.aspx
Ethical investment and superannuation provider Australian Ethical has opted to go completely recyclable with its advertising billboards.
Australian Ethical chief customer officer Allyson Lowbridge says the SmartSkins product aligns with the company’s purpose of making a positive impact on the planet, people and animals.
“Our bold new brand campaign makes a vital point about the future of our planet, calling for all Australians to investigate where their money is invested and what they are supporting,” Lowbridge said.
“The fact that this runs all the way through to the very fabric of our outdoor advertising with SmartSkins adds an additional dimension to the campaign that makes it even more compelling and upholds what Australian Ethical is all about.”
Once the campaign, which is running across locations in NSW & VIC, is finished the billboard skin and mounting ropes used for the install will be sent to Integrated Recycling in Victoria where it will be repurposed into products that are comparable substitutes for premium hardwood products.
oOh!media chief executive officer Brendon Cook says the company has continually invested in ways to enhance its sustainability practices to reduce its footprint.
“We use the most efficient lighting to light up our billboards and have where possible been repurposing our PVC billboard skins for use as shelter and general-purpose aid following the natural disasters and reutilising them in other ways,” he said.
“The launch of SmartSkins is a further step that we are proud to be taking in our commitment to sustainability.
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