26 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 ENVIRONMENT / NEWS email: news@signlink.co.uk Epson commits to renewable electricity Epson has announced that all electricity used at Epson Group sites around the world will now be sourced from renewable sources. Epson says this makes it the first company in the domestic manufacturing industry to complete the transition to renewable electricity at all of its worldwide sites. The switch started in Japan where a number of industrial manufacturers are headquartered. The company committed to the switch in March 2021 and has since initiated the change throughout sites in Japan and then all remaining sites around the world. The Epson Group consumes approximately 876 GWh3 of electricity per year. By sourcing renewables to cover this demand, Epson expects to reduce its yearly carbon dioxide emissions by around 400,000 tonnes. Yasunori Ogawa, global president for Epson, says: “For eight decades, Epson has demonstrated a proactive approach to environmental action. We have maintained the founder's commitment to preserving the cleanliness of nearby Lake Suwa and became the world’s first company to eliminate CFCs [Chlorofluorocarbons] from our manufacturing processes. “Now we have successfully completed the switch to 100% renewable electricity at all Epson Group sites in just two years and ten months since declaring our commitment to doing so in 2021.” Epson Group has now switched to 100% renewable energy at all sites Producer of wide-format and superwide-format graphics, MediaCo, has announced a new solution for outdoor graphics. EnhanceAir Flex Face is a water-based photocatalytic clear coat which can be applied to flex face images to turn them into air purifi ers. The product has come about thanks to MediaCo’s ongoing work with PURETi and Convergent Print Group, which it announced a partnership with in 2023 in order to make retail advertising more ecofriendly. The company says it has already completed out-ofhome (OOH) campaigns using EnhanceAir for Uber Eats, Expedia, and Rolex ahead of the launch of EnhanceAir Flex Face. The pollution that EnhanceAir eliminates are NOx, a harmful indirect greenhouse gas, as well as Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute towards smog, and organic surface grime, which often dirty outdoor graphics. MediaCo is offering the top coat to businesses in the UK (terms and conditions apply). MediaCo offers a range of products like POS, building wraps, site hoardings, and fabric graphics MediaCo announces new environmental coating Marsden Direct boosts eco goals Loughborough-headquartered Marsden Direct Group invested in a HP Latex R2000 Plus from Papergraphics in July 2022 and since then has reaped the sustainability rewards of the kit. Within Marsden’s global operations is an Expo Service print division as well as the Marsden Exhibitions events arm and retail marketing provider Luga Baruga. According to the company, a number of its customers which it services across the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia, are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly solutions from Marsden. In response to this, the company decided to replace all in-house production with a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that result in waste going to landfill or high carbon output. This is what led Marsden to invest in the HP Latex R2000 Plus and Vinnie White, head of creative for Marsden Exhibitions says it was the benefits of HP Latex water-based inks that most stood out, along with the machine’s ability to operate both flatbed and roll-to-roll and print direct to substrate. The machine’s ability to handle a wide range of materials also enables Marsden to produce a large variety of work such as wallpaper and banners, as well as printing to rigid materials such as foamboard, card, Dibond, glass, and acrylic. Marsden Direct Group has boosted its environmental offering with investment in a HP Latex R2000 Plus Provider of modular exhibition stands, Tecna UK, has achieved the highest tier accreditation from the Events Services & Suppliers Association (ESSA). Techa UK is the first exhibition stand builder to achieve the Tier 5 accreditation in recognition of its work over several years to move towards net zero. In order to achieve Tier 5, the company needed to meet high standards in 12 different areas of sustainability management and was expected to provide tangible evidence of its dedication to sustainability. The areas covered energy efficiency, waste reduction, and eco-friendly practices. James Longley, managing director of Tecna UK, says: “Due to our modular T3 system and recyclable substrates we can offer fully sustainable exhibition stands and in addition we have been reducing waste in all elements of our business.” Josh Taylor, health and safety manager of ESSA, adds: “Tecna UK’s attainment of Tier 5 within the ESSA Sustainability Accreditation underscores their exceptional dedication to sustainability.” Tecna UK has achieved the highest ESSA sustainability accreditation for its work to move towards net zero Tecna UK achieves accreditation By Carys Evans By David Osgar
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