65 www.printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2024 - Issue 348 FOCUS ON: RECYCLING SOLUTIONS s one of the stand-out trends in the industry in recent years, there has been no escaping the subject of sustainability. All print service providers (PSPs) know that they need to offer a more planet-friendly service if they are to retain, and indeed win, customers who themselves have a strong focus on the environment. Of course, this is easier said than done. Much is said and written about the importance of “going green”, but how can you actually become a more sustainable business? While it may seem rather obvious, one place to start is recycling. Though far from a new concept, recycling has evolved to a point where PSPs and related businesses can now recycle much more of their waste material. Of course, you can start small by getting staff to recycle drinks cans and certain packaging after taking lunch in the canteen. However, the end goal for many printers will be to apply this across the business and make sure they are recycling as much as they can in terms of print waste. Here, we speak with specialists in this area about how they can support PSPs with their long-term environmental goals, and find out more about the services available to print businesses. A Circular Economy Up first, circular economy specialist Reconomy has opened up on its relationship with wide-format and superwide-format media manufacturer and distributor Soyang Europe, revealing how this is helping PSPs improve their environmental credentials. Reconomy combines technology and skills to enable businesses to better manage their resources, helping to reduce waste, optimise their supply chains, and contribute in a meaningful way towards the circular economy. While this mainly involves working directly with print companies, Reconomy has expanded to partner with several manufacturers and distributors, supporting their customers with textile waste management in the process. Among these partners is Soyang Europe, with this relationship allowing printers using materials from Soyang Europe to responsibly dispose of their waste. The process works with Reconomy providing customers with a baler to prepare their textile waste. Soyang Europe collects the bales when delivering new products to customers, with waste taken to its facility in Altham in Lancashire ready for bulk collection and transportation to a recycling facility for processing. “It was a perfect fit,” said Reconomy Director Jon Hutton. “Soyang has always been proactive in wanting to offer their customers, and the wider industry, waste management solutions for their products. Sustainability is a hot topic for several reasons. Brands and consumers are looking down the supply chain for environmental credentials, so it’s therefore a driving factor in how to not only maintain and gain business, but how a printer positions themselves for the long term.” Part of the Solution Originally, Reconomy sourced a solution for recycling PVC banner and polyester fabrics at a UK site. Here, waste was blended with other polymers to produce low grade products. While this process ended when more desirable material became available, a recovery route was soon set up and, with the support of Wheeldon Brothers, waste could now be diverted from landfill to renewable energy. However, recycling has since been re-established and material is now again being used in manufacturing processes, meaning that when coupled with its use for renewable energy, this is helping work towards a circular economy. SEEKING A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION With an increasing number of print service providers seeking to become more sustainable, we take a look at how expanded recycling can offer businesses a route to an environmentally friendly future ▲ Working with Reconomy, Soyang Europe collects bales of waste when delivering new products to customers
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