Environmentally friendly POS displays. Sustainable development in the production of displays for the retail industry
POS displays in the retail industry have many functions. They are used not only as sales or advertising tools, but also as information. They increase the awareness of consumers about a given product or brand. What is their life cycle like? And what happens when their time passes?
Depending on an intended POS display life cycle, we distinguish 2 types of these. „Ephemeral” POS materials that is used for a few weeks only and those for longer periods called „permanent” POS displays.
Ephermeral displays are made of materials that are usually thrown away after use. Then they are replaced with new stands. And the used materials are treated as one of the costs of running a business. What about the materials they are made of? What if recyclable materials are applied instead? Environmentally friendly POS displays often do cost more. But they also bring many benefits.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POS DISPLAYS – INCREASING BUSINESS AWARENESS
Fortunately, in recent years there has been a clear increase in public awareness of issues related to ecology and environmental protection. Many companies began to follow this prevailing trend. Some brands are important forerunners in the market. They implement a sustainable development strategy. And engage in all corporate social responsibility initiatives (CSR).
According to research conducted by the Euclid platform, it shows that about half of Millennials and people from generation X pay attention to their environmental activities when choosing a brand. That is why conducting business in a responsible manner is such an important element for companies. Especially if these issues are important to their target groups. And such brands are increasingly turning to environmentally friendly POS displays.
PRODUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POS DISPLAYS
When producing POS materials, it is worth planning their “life cycle”. Consider whether the raw materials used to create them are suitable to give them a “second life” in subsequent projects. And if not, is it possible to use substitutes that will be recycled?
How to start making the mindset change happen? For example, if you need to use wood or derivatives, it is worth considering whether MDF board, which cannot be recycled due to the typically included UF, can be replaced with some recyclable material. It’s also worth remembering that laminated rigid cardboard, a very popular material for POS manufacture, is in fact not recyclable.
It is also often heard that plastics are harmful to the environment. However, those most often used in the production of POS materials, i.e. HIPS and acrylic, are in fact very easy to recycle. Some L’Oreal displays, for example, were made with the use of KER118 which consists of injected plastic regenerated ABS. And some parts were manufactured of recycled and recyclable acrylic.
Read about a POS display from special MDF made from eucalyptus especially for La Fuma.
WAYS TO FINISH SUSTAINABLE POS EXPOSURES
Choosing the materials is one thing. The way to use them – the technology applied- is another story. It should be remembered that when finishing a given POS, you need to pay attention not to contaminate the raw materials, for example, with oil, resin or fat, because such materials will not be recyclable. This is also important for the printing process as many printing techniques do not allow the material to be reused later.
POS DISPLAYS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY L’OREAL
In June 2020, the L’Oreal brand launched the sustainable development strategy “L’Oreal for the Future”. One of the programs is the “Solidarity Sourcing Program”, the purpose of which is to support people in a difficult economic situation in finding a job. CAPS, in cooperation with the brand, prepared a sales display with a refreshed eco-design concept. Acrylic was used for production and is made of GREENCAST layers, which was recycled and recyclable! What was also important in the project, the number of partners was reduced, which shortened the entire supply chain. The brand also insisted on relying on local suppliers. This altogether had a positive impact on the environment.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY
An increasing number of initiatives and programs show that there is space for improvement in any industry that will support the environment. The retail industry plays an important role here due to the very high use of raw materials. Therefore, it is important to make small changes at least in small steps. It does not always have to be associated with the implementation of new materials or technologies. Sometimes it is enough to ask yourself a few questions like: Is it possible to give up foil? Can we replace plastic with wood? Or can a given POS be used later in another project. If we start producing less waste, we will also reduce fuel consumption and take a big step towards sustainability.
At CAPS Group, we have been designing, manufacturing and delivering POS displays in Europe for almost 20 years. We also carry out projects for global brands. We are happy to support and advise on the use of POS displays supporting sustainable development. Do you have such a project? Contact us!