Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have for commercial signage; it’s quickly becoming expected. This article looks at the impact of traditional signage on the environment, while introducing 10 practical ways to incorporate more eco-friendly signage into your next project.

Whether you’re specifying a single installation or a large-format rollout, there’s a sustainable solution for every need.

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How Does Traditional Signage Impact the Environment?

The production of traditional signage often involves materials and processes that have a high environmental cost. For example:

PVC and other plastics: Widely used in outdoor signage, these materials are not biodegradable and can release harmful toxins over time.
Paints and adhesives: Many contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution and can lead to health risks.
Energy-intensive processes: Printing, engraving and lighting traditional signs often consume energy from non-renewable sources.
Waste generation: End-of-life signage disposal contributes to landfill waste, with few recycling opportunities for composite materials.

Being aware of the environmental drawbacks of traditional signage helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint. Plus, clients may be more likely to choose brands that can demonstrate environmental responsibility.

10 Ways to Make Your Signage More Sustainable

1. Energy-Efficient Design

To keep your signs sustainable, discuss energy-saving goals with your design team from the outset. This way, they can tailor your sign’s size, layout, positioning and materials to minimise consumption without affecting the impact.

Options like motion sensors, timers and auto-dimming controls reduce energy waste by powering lighting only when needed. Inbuilt energy-saving technology is a smart addition to any commercial signage project.

Marks & Spencer shop front with sign

2. Recycled and Recyclable Plastics

Signage made from post-consumer waste, such as recycled acrylics, offers a durable solution while diverting plastic from landfill. These sustainable signage materials match the performance and finish of virgin materials, making them virtually indistinguishable to the end consumer.

3. Professional Maintenance

Proper maintenance keeps signage running at peak energy efficiency. Dust and dirt can accumulate on sign surfaces, which can affect visibility and force the lights to work harder to compensate.

Plus, external signage has the added issue of corrosion from dealing with the elements and traffic fumes. This can damage your signage and any connected wiring infrastructure. It’s best to stick to regular cleaning and maintenance schedules, making sure all bulbs are working as needed.

4. Showcase Your Sustainability Ethos

Recent statistics show that 78% of consumers consider a brand’s environmental awareness when making purchasing decisions, and 55% will pay more for products from an ecologically sensitive company.

The easiest way to attract this type of audience is by communicating your position on sustainability throughout your website and brand assets. Bespoke, tailored signage offers the ideal platform to communicate this position clearly, with skilled designers able to create solutions that celebrate your values and demonstrate a genuine commitment to your ecological ethos.

5. Sustainably Sourced Woods

Wood sourced from certified sustainable FSC-certified forests or reclaimed wood brings a natural, eco-friendly aesthetic to signage. It’s particularly suited for businesses like boutique hotels or organic food brands that value a rustic charm.

6. Biodegradable Alternatives

Materials like algae-based bioplastics or cornstarch-based substrates are emerging as genuinely eco-friendly signage materials. They’re designed to degrade naturally over time without polluting the environment, which is an increasingly credible option as the market matures.

7. LED Lighting

LED technology has transformed illuminated signage. LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last around twenty-five times longer than traditional incandescent lighting, with savings that add up significantly over the lifetime of a sign, especially across a large outdoor display or a full signage estate. These cost savings add up and can reduce your electricity bills over time.

LEDs are also weatherproof and deliver bright, consistent illumination with almost unlimited colour choice, making them a super flexible choice for sustainable signage design. Using LEDs helps to minimise maintenance needs and replacement costs.

8. Plant-Based Inks

Another way to make your signage more sustainable is to use plant-based or vegetable-based inks. This minimises carbon-based emissions while still helping to achieve vibrant finishes.

These inks are derived from renewable sources such as soy and linseed, rather than the petroleum-based inks used in much traditional signage printing. Used in printed signage, they minimise VOC emissions and reinforce the company’s focus on environmental responsibility.

9. Embrace Technology

As immersive experiences become a primary marketing strategy, signage is growing more elaborate, and techniques like dynamic lighting can increase energy consumption. A range of energy-saving technological solutions can help with this, including motion sensors, timer controls and auto-dimming. Companies can reduce power consumption without diminishing impact.

10. Energy Audits

A regular energy audit examines your overall energy use, including signage, and identifies where energy is being wasted and money can be saved. Qualified auditors will assess efficiency and may recommend upgrades such as occupancy sensors or transitioning additional lighting to LEDs, along with tweaks to signage lighting schedules and maintenance practices. All of this helps to lower long-term consumption and costs.

Sustainable Signage at Image

Sustainable signage is about taking a considered approach to design, manufacture and maintenance, not just swapping in the odd material. At Image, we manufacture everything in-house and have supported sustainable signage projects across sectors including retail, stadiums and supermarkets.
If you’d like to discuss how sustainable signage could work for your next project, get in touch with the team today.