Environmental issues are a hot topic, literally. We are all much more conscious of our own footprint, and we all want to reduce our impact on the environment, whether it’s personally or commercially.
There’s a huge amount of work that’s been done in the construction industry to mitigate our environmental impact. Every specialisation is finding ways to rethink how materials, design and manufacture can help ensure we leave this planet in a better state than when we started out.
When it comes to signage there’s a wide range of approaches you can take to help; however small you think the impact might be, the more you think about and act on ‘small moments of care’, the better your buildings will be for it.
Modulex has been at the forefront of sustainable signage for more than half a century. What started out as a planning tool for architects developed by Lego in 1957 has turned into the largest international sign company in the world.
We’d like to share our top 12 tips for implementing a sustainable signage strategy for your building wayfinding projects.
Planning
1 When planning your building signage it’s important to think beyond recycled or ‘green’ materials. Sustainability is certainly about materials, but also consider processes and components that takes account of the entire system.
2 Make sustainability core to the brief. Sustainability is about how components can be repurposed, or upcycled and reused. Also think about resources, manufacturing, supply chains, product lifespan.
3 Think about building useability, and think of signage as the interface between your built environment and the users.
Wayfinding
4 Wayfinding is the process or activity of establishing your position and planning and following a route. Be rigorous in your wayfinding development as it will help keep signs to a minimum.
5 Consider engaging a wayfinding specialist, using wayfinding software that can efficiently map routes, and that can adapt to modelling and that allows you to test different implementations.
6 Use wayfinding software to test assumptions, build alternatives and options. Mock up signage to test with various user groups.
Design
7 One of the biggest impacts on signage sustainability is the use of a pre-designed sign family such as those available from a manufacturing partner like Modulex.
8 Look for modular products, which are 100 % up-cyclable and upgradable. We design our products so that customers can renew their signage by easily replacing old parts to renovate the design, making sure components can be recycled separately.
9 Make sure your graphic printing uses GreenGuard Gold certified inks. When it comes to vinyl, look for PVC-free options. Consider using an ACM alternative such as GreenBond, which gives you the same performance as normal ACM but with a far lower carbon footprint.
Manufacture
10 Choose a partner who has sustainability credentials, like membership of the Green Network, or ISO9001, or even better ISO14001.
11 Think about product life cycle, from source materials though to end of life. Ask questions of your factory regarding waste materials, paint, inks, treatments, green energy sources, and carbon off-setting.
12 Work with manufacturers who prioritize recycled materials such as aluminium and include renewable substrates within their assortment such as wood or paper, in favour of acrylics or PVC. This in turn contributes to a circular economy.
These are just some of the ways in which you can build a sustainable signage strategy. If you would like to talk to us further, and get more information on our products, or processes, please get in touch.
Who we are
Modulex UK is part of the Modulex Group, a Denmark-based multinational signage company and a leading authority of the design, manufacture and implementation of sign systems for the built environment. We take pride in our Danish heritage and long-standing commitment to design, quality and the environment.
To find out more about our planning, wayfinding, design and manufacturing, contact Mark Lightfoot, Managing Director on ml@modulex.com or calling 07498205028.
