by Melissa Donovan
The May issue of Digital Output features an article that examined where and when eco-friendly or “green” media is used. You can read the article, Where and When, by clicking here. Vendors that participated in the article were asked to provide information on some of their most popular or newest sustainable materials constructed for digital printing. We share their input here—categorized by fabric, film, and paper-based products.
Fabric
Aurora Specialty Textiles Group, Inc. offers eco-friendly media under its Weaves of Green line. Act II FR is a polyester fabric make from 100 percent recycled polyester. It is treated to meet NFPA 701 flammability standards. RePlay 2 FR is also made from 100 percent recycled polyester and treated for NFPA 701.
Berger Textiles provides RecycleTex, a fabric line made from recycled plastic bottles.
Under its Magic brand, Dietzgen Corp. recently introduced RENEW banner. The material is made from 100 percent post-consumer waste and is recyclable after use. It is a lightweight, durable, non-woven PET banner with a textured, matte surface.
Dickson Coatings’ green fabric line is generally found in indoor decoration applications. The EverGreen eco-friendly fabric range includes fabrics made from a polyester base and a water-based coating. They are free from PVCs, phthalates, formaldehyde, phosphates, and dihydroxydiethel ether.
DreamScape sells Terralon and Terralon Smooth eco-friendly media products used in wallcovering applications where a PVC-free, breathable product is preferred. Terralon is made from recycled bottles, with no PVC, plasticizers, or phthalates. It consists of polyester/natural fiber technology.
Fisher Textiles promotes its Enviro-Tex portfolio as eco-friendly. It is mainly used in trade show exhibit environments, retail advertising, and apparel. The fabrics are made from recycled yarns and are flame retardant. Of note is the company’s ET 2600 Jersey Spandex Knit, which is used for apparel including athletic jerseys, sports shirts, yoga pants, leggings, and tank tops. The fabric is soft, comfortable, and contains a moisture management system.
Kernow Coatings supplies Evolon 365 365SSE, which is a non-woven fabric-based material. It is used for roll-up banners, wallcoverings, roller banners, and blinds. Evolon is soft, breathable, light, and M1 fire retardant.
Mohawk recently launched its new line of Mohawk Printable Textiles and Canvas, Engineered by Aurora. 12 products make up the portfolio.
Pacific Coast Fabrics offers Deko-Green 7058RCFLBS(FR). This eco-friendly style is created from 100 percent recycled PET—soda bottles—filament. Deko-Green is a medium weight, 100 percent polyester banner fabric that offers a soft hand and is durable in all environments. It is ideal for banners, frame systems, point of purchase (POP), and artist canvas.
Photo Tex Group Inc.’s Photo Tex is a 100 percent polyester fabric self-adhesive material. It can be removed and reused multiple times without losing stickability. The material is non-toxic and free of phthalates. In addition, the fabric material is Class A or 1 fire rated.
Qué Media, Inc. recently introduced its new line of eco-friendly materials, Eco Que. It currently offers multiple fabrics, including water-resistant gloss nonwoven polyester, ultra-light banner, heavy banner, super heavy banner, semi-gloss light banner, and semi-gloss super heavy banner.
Roland DGA Corporation sells its WallFlair Removable Fabric for wallcoverings. It is a 100 percent woven polyester fabric that is Greenguard Gold certified.
Top Value Fabrics stocks textiles that are Reach compliant. They are constructed of fibers and coatings that contain no chemicals or solutions hazardous to the environment. The majority of the company’s fabrics are composed of polyester that may be recycled depending on the ink and finishing used to complete the graphics.
Part of Ultraflex Systems, Inc.’s VorTex line of printable textiles, VorTex Fence Mesh D150 is a 100 percent polyester mesh material. At 4.42 oz. it provides a unique fabric alternative to traditional PVC mesh products. It is ideal for fence graphics, outdoor banners, and flying banners.
Verseidag US recently announced its seemee select line of fabrics for dye-sublimation and latex printing. Poly Light, Poly Heavy, Tri-White, and Sheen TR are 100 percent polyester fabric options.
Film
3M Commercial Solutions provides 3M Envision Brand products including films and overlaminates. They are Greenguard certified, meaning they emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 3M continues to innovate the product line. For example, Comply Adhesive with Micro Technology was recently introduced to 3M Envision Wrap Films to improve slideability, initial tack, air release capabilities, and appearance.
ClingZ, a Nekoosa brand, offers ClingZ Wide Format UV, which is an adhesive-free, statically charged graphic film. It is free of PVC and phthalates and recyclable. The polypropylene film clings up to three months on any dry indoor surface.
Cooley Group’s EnviroFlex PE is a polyethylene substrate that is PVC free and fully recyclable. Products offered include EnviroFlex PE Poster, PE Banner, and PE Backlit. Benefits include 40 percent reduced carbon footprint, up to 60 percent lighter weight, and less petroleum-based materials used.
Continental Grafix USA’s panoRama Film is a PVC-free material used for POP displays, trade show displays, room dividers, and creative displays. A non-adhesive product, it can be applied directly onto the inside of windows using panoRama Tape—an optically clear two-sided tape.
FLEXcon promotes WALLdeco 6755, a 4-mil polyolefin high-tack removable adhesive sheet liner. It is a non-vinyl, green film that is free of plasticizers, lead, and phthalates. The material is ideal for promotional advertising and wall graphics.
Orafol Americas’ Orajet 3981RA Premium Eco Digital Print with RapidAir Technology is a PVC- and plasticizer-free high-performance digital printing film. Oraguard 289F is a PVC-free laminating film suggested to be paired with Orajet 3981RA.
SWM International (formerly Argotec) offers eco-friendly polyurethane film, which is used for vehicle and outdoor graphics. ArgoGraph-White TPU print media and ArgoGraph-Clear TPU overlaminate contain no PVC, halogens, and phthalates. According to the company, urethane films feature superior quality in terms of gloss, UV resistance, scratch resistance, and conformability.
Paper Based
Agfa Graphics offers Duratex EcoDisplay, which is a green rigid board product ideal for POP and retail displays, including short-term outdoor. The substrate is recyclable, sustainable, and one third lighter than comparable material. It is made from 30 percent post-industrial waste, without coatings, plastic, or harsh chemicals.
DreamScape’s Nolar is a non-PVC product used for wallcoverings. It is made with a wood pulp, natural fiber technology containing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sourced materials. It adds to better air quality with low-VOC emission, complying with CA 1350 standards for air quality.
HP Large Format Media offers HP PVC-free Wall Paper. The paper-based product is created using FSC-certified paper from well-managed forests. The paper contains ten percent recycled content from post-consumer waste. When used with HP Latex Inks, the prints are odorless and Greenguard Children & Schools Certified.
Katz Group’s Katz Display Board is constructed from environmentally friendly wood pulpboard. No composites, plastics, or mineral oils are used in the construction. It is 100 percent compostable and recyclable post use. Katz Display Board is created with 30 percent pre-consumer recycled material and uses only spruce wood from managed forestry.
Mac Papers distributes conVerd board, which is from Neenah Paper, Inc. A paper-based rigid board, it is a fully recyclable alternative for structural signage and ideal for POP and signage applications. The product incorporates ten percent post-consumer waste.
Monadnock Paper Mills’ Envi portfolio consists of fiber-based products. For example, Envi Flame Resistant Poster is made with papers that are FSC certified and manufactured carbon neutral using 100 percent renewable Green-e certified wind powered electricity. Envi Ultraform Backlit Poster is a wood-fiber alternative to styrene substrates used in backlit signage.
In addition to conVerd board as part of its eco-friendly media portfolio, Neenah Paper also provides Blox-Lite, a cellulose-based, 100 percent opaque, heavy weight material. It is FSC certified, made with ten percent post-consumer waste material.
Simple Walls’ Pulp Art dimensional wall panels are constructed from natural material—100 percent recycled newspaper, cardboard, and woodchips. According to the company, the product is easier to work with then vacuum form plastic, cuts easily, and doesn’t crack when stapled during installation. The wall panels are used in retail, POP displays, trade show booths, commercial buildings, television and motion picture, theater productions, and residential settings.
Xanita offers Xanita Print, which is a rigid substrate primarily used in promotional and retail environments. The natural fiber-based board consists of a recycled kraft core between printable white kraft liners. The core is manufactured from post-consumer recycled kraft and sugar cane bagasse waste. The result is a PVC free, fully repulpable product used for standees, POP displays, in-store seasonal directions, and pop-up shops.
May2017, Digital Output
DOGM1705
