Rocket scheme launches

A new print waste take-back and recycle scheme has been launched by Rocket Graphics, lift-off having been brought forward to January 2023 following months of preparation.

“We would like to be known as a company that really cares about the environment and that is trying to make an honest difference,” says commercial director Antony Rider. “Rocket recognises that there is a need for managing the waste from our industry more effectively and sustainably, and that’s what we’re working towards with our new scheme.

“We are now able to offer clients the opportunity for us to recycle their waste for them. This allows them to be able to ensure that they are doing the right thing for the environment and adding value to their clients by allowing them to offer a more sustainable exhibition or event.”

The Watford-based company, which has ambitions to be zero to landfill as well as net carbon zero, has had various recycling operations in-situ for some time, but this print waste takeback scheme to customers is new.

Rider explains: “On site we provide our installation teams with segregated large bags to pre-sort as much as possible the different materials before returning them to Rocket.

“In-house we collect and segregate all product and site returned waste into their relative separate storage bins within our recycling bays. Once full, these are then baled in the case of fabrics and banner materials, or sorted to pallets and cages, by our in-house team. When the economic/weight mass is  reached, we will transport the waste to a Midlands recycling site to minimise transport movements.

“We currently collect, segregate and send the following materials to be recycled: all polyester fabrics, PVC banner, foamex, aluminium composite, acrylic, timber, cardboard based products, paper and HDPE vinyl core inserts.

“These are then shredded, chipped and reprocessed into various second use items, such as traffic cones, road barriers, seed trays, street furniture, packing for washing machines and car dashboards.”

Sounds great, from an economic as well as altruistic standpoint. “Yes this all costs us, not just in transportation  and recycling cost in but compacting and collation. But clients will have an option at quotation stage to pay an additional fee for this service, which will based on a per square metre of material basis,” stresses Rider, who says “companies are defiantly buying into our new system and the feedback so far is very positive.”

Going hand in hand with the new print takeback and recycle scheme is the introduction of a new ‘Eco Brochure’ by Rocket. Initially this is a PDF selection guide to the more environmentaly-friendly media it offers. “Some of the products are PVC free, some are made from recycled materials, and most can be recycled.  We are constantly improving and adding to these materials as new products are introduced to the marketplace. With this brochure we can offer customers eco-alternatives to the traditional materials that we use all day every day,” says Rider.

He and the rest of the Rocket eco team  - which also comprises Martin Nethercoat and Astri Davies -  continue to hold regular meetings to discuss the way forward on a number of issues, which include: how to navigate obstacles that currently exist in the recycling process; how to refine the company’s production methods; how to reduce costs associated with choosing eco-signage and related printing products; and the exploration of new technologies and support in the printing and eco-signage industry.

“There are cost implications with becoming more environmentally friendly, but we need to make changes to the printing and signage industry,” states Rider. “There is a call to set new parameters to how large-format graphics are produced and what materials they are manufactured with. This change alone could have a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint of the printing and signage industry as a whole.

“It is imperative that we encourage our customers to use sustainable products and recycle where they can.”