Sustainability and profitability go hand in hand, at least when it comes to saving materials used or the power required to make signs. So even this simple aspect of sustainability – reducing resource use – continually drives manufacturers.
可持续性和盈利能力是并驾齐驱的，至少在节约使用的材料或制作标识所需的电力方面是如此。所以即使是可持续发展的简单方面——减少资源，制造商要往可持续方向发展。
Yet, the market for sustainable sign products is currently small and most decisions made by signage customers (therefore, by sign companies) are to use the least expensive, but otherwise quality machinery and substrates to construct signs. Even sign companies with a commitment to sustainability goals face a difficult choice to use sustainable materials in regular practice. Kermit the Frog was right: “It isn’t easy being green.”
然而，可持续的标识产品的市场目前规模很小，大多数由标识客户做出的决定都是使用最便宜、但质量最好的马赫建造标识的机械和基材。即使与致力于可持续发展目标的公司签约，在常规实践中使用可持续材料也面临困难的选择。弗罗格是对的，他说：“做环保标识是非常不容易的。”
Still, some sign customers do desire sustainable products, whether to meet LED certification requirements or simply to satisfy personal beliefs. So, what’s available to them? First, developments in LED technology have made them ubiquitous for new and some retrofitted signs. The energy savings can be as much as 80%, and LEDs last considerably longer than other lighting elements. We can all agree that the savings to customers make for an excellent selling point, even though LEDs cost more upfront. Still, old lighting components must be disposed of through the proper channels, even when that often involves more than one refuse, repository or recycling company.
尽管如此，一些迹象表明，客户确实渴望使用可持续产品，无论是为了满足LED认证要求，还是仅仅为了满足个人信仰。那么，他们能得到什么呢?首先，LED技术的发展使它们在新标识和一些翻新标识中无处不在。这样可以节省高达80%的能源，而且LED比其他照明元件的寿命要长得多。我们都同意这一点，尽管LED的前期成本更高，但为客户节省成本是一个极好的卖点。尽管如此，旧的照明部件必须通过适当的渠道进行处理，即使这通常涉及到不止一个垃圾、储存库或回收公司。
DIGITAL PRINTING AND INKS
数码印刷及油墨
In addition, digital printing inks have come a long way over the past few decades. Once among the more toxic products, ink offerings have become more eco- (and people!) friendly. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) evaluates and GREENGUARD certifies low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products used in construction. Greenguard-certified inks and films include products from 3M, Canon, Durst, EFI, HP, Mimaki, OKI Data, Ricoh, Roland and Sun Chemical. Moreover, Canon, HP and Roland (among others) offer ink cartridge recycling. Additionally, Mutoh and other companies’ aqueous inks don’t emit VOCs, making them more user-friendly, and Nazdar’s website also makes special mention of its products’ low-VOC compounds.
此外，在过去的几十年里，数字印刷油墨已经取得了长足的进步。曾经的有毒油墨产品已经变得更加环保友好。保险商实验室(UL)评估和绿色卫士认证用于建筑的低挥发性有机化合物(voc)产品。Green guard认证的油墨和胶片包括3M、佳能、Durst、EFI、惠普、Mimaki、OKI Data、理光、Roland和Sun Chemical的产品。此外，佳能、惠普和Roland等公司也提供墨盒回收服务。此外，Mutoh等公司的水性油墨不释放挥发性有机化合物，使其更加人性化，Nazdar网站也特别提到其产品低挥发性有机化合物。
Printers themselves have also become kinder to the environment. For example, Epson’s aqueous-based printers (the 44-in. SureColor P10000 and 64-in. SureColor P20000) featuring Epson UltraChrome Pro ink, are designed to complement Epson’s SureColor S-Series solvent-based signage printers. Printing with aqueous inks involves prints that can be handLED soon after printing, as aqueous ink penetrates rapidly into the media and dries quickly, unlike solvent inks (worse for the environment) which often require a dryer, or UV inks (which require a UV light to dry).
打印机本身也变得对环境更加友善。例如，爱普生的水性打印机（44英寸SureColor P10000和64英寸SureColor P20000）采用爱普生UltraChrome Pro墨水，旨在补充爱普生SureColor S系列溶剂型标牌打印机。使用水性油墨进行印刷涉及印刷后可以在印刷后立即处理的印刷品，因为水性油墨快速渗透到介质中并快速干燥，不像溶剂油墨（对于环境更糟）通常需要干燥器或UV油墨（需要UV光变干）。
However, Mimaki’s UV LED printers feature instant-on/instant-off technology to reduce start times and generate less heat and light contamination during the print process. In many cases, according to Mimaki, this equates to thousands of dollars saved in running cost (vs. using bulbs) each year. Remember, there often is more than one way to save energy or resources.
然而，Mimaki的UV LED打印机采用了即时启动/关闭技术，以减少启动时间，并在打印过程中产生更少的热和光污染。Mimaki表示，在很多情况下，这相当于每年节省数千美元的运行成本(与使用灯泡相比)。记住：节约能源或资源的方法往往不止一种。
SUBSTRATES
承印物
DreamScape’s wallcovering, Terralon , is constructed from recycLED water bottles (9 million and counting to date) and contains 31% post-consumer recycLED content – the highest in the market, according to the company. Terralon incorporates no PVCs, lead, plasticizers or heavy metals, allowing it to contribute toward several LEED credits, and it can be printed with UV-curable, solvent, eco-solvent or latex inks. Terralon is also highly “breathable,” meaning water vapor can transfer freely through the material, aiding in mold prevention and extending the life of the product.
据幻景公司称，该公司的Terralon墙纸由可回收水瓶制成(目前已售出900万瓶，而且数量还在不断增加)，其中31%是消费后的可回收材料，是市场上最高的。Terralon不含pvc、铅、增塑剂或重金属，可用于多个LEED学分，可使用uv固化、溶剂、生态溶剂或乳胶油墨打印。Terralon还具有高度的“透气性”，这意味着水蒸气可以在材料中自由流动，有助于防止霉菌，延长产品的寿命。
Ultraflex offers BIOflex FL , a 15-oz. matte finish, indoor/outdoor, front-lit, biodegradable banner/billboard material for UV, solvent or screenprinting. Bioflex contains no toxic materials and is tear, fade and fungus resistant. No substrate lasts forever, of course, but in landfill conditions (darkness, high heat, moisture and low oxygen), Bioflex attracts microbes that break down the PVC within three to five years.
Ultraflex提供15盎司的BIOflex FL。亚光饰面，室内/室外灯，可生物降解横幅/广告牌材料UV，溶剂或丝网印刷。Bioflex不含有毒物质，抗撕裂、褪色和真菌。当然，没有任何一种基材能够永久存在，但是在垃圾填埋场的环境中(黑暗、高温、潮湿和低氧)，Bioflex会吸引微生物在三到五年内分解聚氯乙烯。
Hop Industries Corp. markets its Hop-Syn as an environmentally friendly synthetic paper substrate fashioned from a combination of polypropylene resin and calcium carbonate. Hop-Syn is stearate-free and contains no heavy metals or harsh chemicals detrimental to the environment. Its manufacture uses very little water, and all grades of Hop-Syn are recognized by several governing bodies as an environmentally friendly plastic that is 100% recyclable.
霍普工业公司（Hop Industries Corp）将其Hop-Syn作为环保型合成纸基材进行销售，该基材由聚丙烯树脂和碳酸钙组合而成。Hop-Syn不含硬脂酸盐，不含重金属或对环境有害的刺激性化学物质。制造它使用的水很少，所有等级的Hop-Syn都被几个管理机构认可为100％可回收的环保塑料。
Palram’s PALBOARD , a printable, multi-layer sheet, includes a core made from recycLED PVC, sandwiched between tough, surface-quality PVC, forwarding the company’s “overarching goal to improve sustainability and reduce plastic waste,” according to their website.
Palram s PALBOARD是一种可打印的多层板材，其核心材料是可回收的PVC，夹在坚硬PVC之间。该公司在其网站上表示，该公司的首要目标是提高可持续性，减少塑料垃圾。
DreamScape Terralon
幻景Terralon
But there are more than just printing substrates, of course. Precision Board HDU , manufactured by Coastal Enterprises, comprises special eco-friendly components, including state-of-the-art “green urethane” formulations, according to the company. Precision Board HDU also assists in meeting LEED requirements for obtaining US Green Building Council (USGBC) and ICC 700-2008 building credits.
当然，不仅仅是印刷基板。由沿海企业制造的精密板HDU，包括特殊的环保组件，还有最先进的“绿色聚氨酯”配方，据该公司说。HDU还协助满足LEED的要求，以获得美国绿色建筑委员会(USGBC)和ICC 700-2008建筑学分。
3A Composites’ AirexBaltekBanova brand provides sustainable, lightweight and resource-friendly core materials for the production of lighter and thus more energy efficient end products. And all colored-plotter vinyls offered by ORAFOL Europe GmbH have been REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) certified and are lead-chromate free.
3A 复合材料的Airex Baltek Banova品牌为生产更轻、更节能的最终产品提供了可持续、轻量化和资源友好的核心材料。ORAFOL Europe GmbH提供的所有彩色绘图仪vinyls均通过REACH(化学品注册、评估、授权和限制)认证，且不含铅铬酸盐。
RECLAIMING AND RECYCLING
回收和循环利用
Many signshops reclaim waste materials from one job to use on another. Again, that’s good business in addition to being sustainable. Some manufacturers do the same, on an industrial level, of course. Piedmont Plastics reclaims and regrinds plastic waste to return it to the production process. Recently, they were a silver-level recipient of the Intl. Assn. of Plastics Distribution’s Environmental Excellence Award for their conservation policies, selection of eco-friendly products and comprehensive recycling programs. Gemini also reclaims and reuses its production waste.
许多标识店回收一份工作的废弃材料用于另一份工作。再说一次，除了可持续发展，这也是一项好业务。当然，在工业层面上，一些制造商也在做同样的事情。皮埃蒙特塑料回收和再研磨塑料废料，使其回到生产过程。最近，他们获得了Intl的银奖。塑料分销协会的环境优秀奖，奖励他们的环保政策，选择环保产品和综合回收项目。Gemini还回收和再利用其生产废物。
In addition, Vista System’s Modular Curved Frame Technology comprises elements that allow signs to be more easily changed and broken down into their component parts, thereby offering an efficient and simplified recycling process. Vista System has been inspected and certified by the Green Business Partnership.
此外，Vista系统的模块化曲面框架技术包含了一些元素，这些元素可以更容易地将标识更改和分解为组件，从而提供了一个高效和简化的回收过程。Vista系统已通过绿色商业伙伴关系的检验和认证。
There’s even a sustainable choice when it comes to installing signs via bucket or crane trucks. All manufacturers have developed computerized systems to control (and limit) fuel consumption, especially when a truck is idling, such as Altec’s JEMS 4 Series updated system, which significantly reduces the carbon footprint, enhances engine life and reduces engine maintenance by automatically eliminating unnecessary idle time. And Altec has gone a step further with its Green Fleet product line. Altec’s JEMS (Jobsite Energy Management System) is an integrated plug-in system that uses stored electrical energy to power the aerial device, hydraulic tools and exportable power sources. The energy storage system is recharged by plugging into shore power or by the truck’s internal combustion engine.
甚至有一个可持续的选择，当涉及到安装标识通过桶或起重机卡车。所有的制造商都开发了计算机系统来控制(和限制)燃油消耗，特别是当卡车怠速时，如Altec公司的JEMS 4系列升级系统，通过自动消除不必要的怠速时间，显著降低了碳足迹，提高了发动机寿命，减少了发动机维护。Altec在其绿色舰队生产线上走得更远。Altec s JEMS(作业现场能源管理系统)是一个集成的插件系统，使用存储的电能为航空设备、液压工具和可输出电源供电。储能系统通过插入岸上电源或卡车的内燃机来充电。
CORPORATE GOALS AND ASSOCIATIONS
企业和协会目标
Many companies, such as 3M and OKI Data, have published their corporate sustainability goals and initiatives. HP set ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals across its operations, products and supply chain. Since 2015, the company has decreased two targets of its GHG emissions from global operations by 35% compared to 2015, exceeding its 2025 goal of a 25% reduction. In 2017, HP reached its goal to use 40% renewable electricity in its global operations.
许多公司，如3M和OKI Data，已经公布了它们的企业可持续发展目标和举措。惠普在其运营、产品和供应链上制定了雄心勃勃的温室气体减排目标。自2015年以来，该公司已将全球业务的温室气体排放目标较2015年降低了35%，超过了2025年25%的减排目标。2017年，惠普实现了在全球业务中使用40%可再生能源的目标。
In 2008, Epson established its Environmental Vision 2050 – a long-term plan for environmental action. The company is focused on reducing CO2 emissions by 90% across their entire product life cycle. And Avery Dennison offers a YouTube video explaining its 2025 Sustainability Goals, which include continuous reduction of PVC content in their products.
2008年，爱普生制定了《2050年环境展望》——一项环境行动的长期计划。该公司致力于在整个产品生命周期内将二氧化碳排放量减少90%。艾弗里·丹尼森(Avery Dennison)在YouTube上发布了一段视频，解释其2025年可持续发展目标，其中包括不断减少产品中的PVC含量。
The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership’s (SGP) homepage (sgppartnership.org ) states, “Sustainability goes far beyond inks.” SGP, the leading non-profit accreditation organization that promotes sustainability in printing practices and manufacturing operations, offers steps to certify sign companies as sustainable – an important distinction to some sign clients who demand that sustainable products be used in their construction (and signage) programs. The partnership boasts about 60 members, according to our Editor-in-Chief, Robin Donovan, who attended an SGP Community Day last November. Robin reported that “many of the SGP-certified companies are already working together to subcontract, and retailers in particular have expressed interest in working with sustainable printers, it seems.”
可持续绿色印刷伙伴关系(SGP)主页(sgppartnership.org)指出，可持续发展远远不止油墨。SGP是一家领先的非营利性认证机构，致力于促进印刷实践和制造业务的可持续性。对于一些要求在其建筑和标识项目中使用可持续产品的标识客户来说，SGP提供了一些步骤来证明标识公司是可持续的，这是一个重要的区别。罗宾·多诺万(Robin Donovan)去年11月参加了SGP的一个社区日。罗宾报告说：“许多经过sgp认证的公司已经在合作分包合同，零售商似乎尤其对与可持续打印机合作表示了兴趣。”
And the Specialty Graphic Imaging Assn. (SGIA) sponsors a Sustainable Business Recognition award, for companies whose projects reduce environmental impact, improve business efficiency, employee safety and health. Get to know Marci Kinter, VP, government & business information with SGIA, if you can. She recently LED a seminar at the WFX: Wide-Format Exchange conference and there made the vital point that sustainable products are not just for the Earth itself, but for the people who inhabit and will inherit it. Finally, she said that sustainable practices reduce employee accidents, sick days and, ultimately, healthcare costs.
专业图形成像协会(SGIA)赞助了一项可持续商业奖，奖励那些项目减少环境影响、提高商业效率、员工安全和健康的公司。认识马尔西·金特（Marci Kinter），政府副总裁，如果可以的话，请向SGIA提供商业信息。她最近在WFX：宽格式交流会议上主持了一个研讨会，并在会上提出了一个至关重要的观点，即可持续产品不仅是为了地球本身，而且是为了居住在地球上并将继承地球的人们。最后，她说，可持续的做法可以减少员工事故、病假，并最终降低医疗成本。
Sustainable sign equipment and products are out there. A growing market, they play an important role in your and your employees’ health – as well as that of the planet – and your bottom line.
可持续的标识设备和产品是一个不断增长的市场，他们在你和你的员工的健康——以及地球的健康——和你的底线中扮演着重要的角色。
