INNOVATIVE solutions from a firm in Wellingborough are aiming to make the exhibition world more environmentally friendly.
Marler Haley is introducing recyclable displays and banners aimed at providing an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to the traditional PVC graphic.
Although there are other suppliers providing this type of recyclable banner, it is nearly impossible for the end user to recycle the graphic, so Marler Haley has devised a scheme to make it as easy as possible for clients to ‘go green’.
The firm is a leading UK supplier of event and marketing displays and its specialist waste management team can break down old PVC graphics and repurpose them for use in the UK.
Gemma Russo, Head of eCommerce at Marler Haley, said: “Approximately 1.2 million banners are produced every year, which is roughly 550 tonnes of PVC graphics that will end up in our landfills.
“While the aluminium bases can be recycled, the problem lies with the PVC graphics which cannot. The events industry is notoriously plastic heavy, and no one has really implemented anything to combat this, until now.”
As well as the new eco-range and recycling scheme, Marley Haley has been working on a 10 step environmental strategy and improving its business processes. The firm was awarded a Group Silver Environmental Award for its performance in 2018 and is confident of achieving a gold in 2019.
Marler Haley has been working outside of its own business as well – from investigating new suppliers who have a similar ethos to working with a local school, St Peter’s C.E. Academy in Raunds, who have a passionate environmental Eco Warriors Team and where Marler Haley funded and helped to install a wormery on the school site.
Gemma added: “At home I am passionate about reducing the amount of plastics that we use, reducing our waste and generally consuming less. I took this passion into work.
“We saw new recyclable graphics offered by competitors with no viable avenue for customers to actually recycle their products. This didn’t feel right. So, with the support of the business and teams we have sourced both a recyclable graphic and more importantly a waste management team that will recycle our graphics here in the UK into new products.”
For more information visit www.marlerhaley.co.uk