Helping fleets reduce their environmental impact, HEX Graphics, one of the UK’s most trusted vehicle graphics specialists, has unveiled a brand-new, carbon-neutral vinyl graphics solution, Vinyl360.
Designed to be fully recyclable, Vinyl360 is supported by a supply chain that turns 100% of waste generated into secondary life products, promoting a more sustainable fleet industry.
Created against the backdrop of growing demand within the fleet industry to deliver more sustainable fleets, this product addresses the pivotal, but often overlooked, carbon footprint associated with the production and application of commercial vehicle graphics, which generates vast amounts of waste and CO2 every year.
Mark Wood, Graphics Manager at HEX Graphics comments: “Sustainability is an issue at the forefront of the fleet industry. As the supply chain strengthens its commitments to deliver more sustainable fleets, it’s our job to deliver solutions. Fleet livery is a pivotal component of commercial fleets and thus a fundamental consideration in a truly environmentally-focused vehicle. Efforts to generate streams through which to recycle PVC, the most common material used in vehicle branding, has been ongoing for many years – finally, with Vinyl360 we can offer our customers a solution.”
Vinyl360 is zero waste to landfill or incineration and provides a complete lifecycle service through recycling existing materials. The two-stage system, which has been developed with key supply chain partners, means HEX Graphics can repurpose waste both at the beginning phase, when a new commercial livery is being applied, and at the end-of-life phase, when graphics are decommissioned and replaced.
Once stripped down, the waste vinyl and lining paper is separated, compacted and sent to specialist recycling centres in the UK. Here, the waste is given a new lease of life, where it can be transformed into useful secondary-life products, like notebooks and even items used in the fleet operation such as plastic safety barriers and traffic cones.
Mark continues: “Getting the recycling process right has been imperative. Not only is the vinyl produced at a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral facility in the UK, we have worked hard to ensure no part of the process is wasted. Working closely with our supply chain, we now have a system to separate and compact both the PVC and associated lining paper waste in-house. From there, bales are sent to specialist recycling centres to be transformed into secondary products. These products can then also be recycled multiple times, resulting in even further reductions in waste to landfill.”
“The headline so far, with two major fleets already choosing Vinyl360, is that we have more than seven tonnes of PVC face film and backing paper from entering landfill. This demonstrates that it works, allowing fleets to significantly reduce their impact on the environment.”
Further to its recyclable properties, Vinyl360 offers high levels of dimensional stability and excellent colour reproduction, making it a reliable and durable solution in a variety of commercial applications.
Developed in partnership with premium vinyl manufacturer, Metamark, the materials are the highest standards of quality and consistency and with an 8-year operating life and 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, offers fleet operators’ exceptional durability.
