Sustainability has become a crucial focus across industries, with increasing awareness of its importance. The media spotlight on plastic waste has led to a common misconception that all plastics are harmful to the environment. However, this oversimplified view can lead to more harm than good. Plastics offer numerous advantages due to their durability and lightweight nature, making them ideal for various applications, including signage and display materials.
It's important to note that not all plastics are created equal. The production process plays a significant role in determining their environmental impact. Brett Martin is committed to minimising the environmental footprint of its production processes and finished products through several key initiatives:
Reduce energy and material consumption
Utilise renewable energy sources
Recycle all recyclable waste materials
Promote environmental best practices among stakeholders
Brett Martin's Sustainable Processes
Manufacturing thermoplastics requires substantial energy for the extrusion process. While this energy demand is unavoidable, Brett Martin ensures that a significant portion of its energy comes from renewable sources.
After continuous investment, the company's Northern Ireland facility now sources 50% of its energy from sustainable sources. Positioned above Mallusk, near Belfast, the 6.42MWp solar installation directly powers the manufacturing site, generating enough clean energy to power over 1,600 homes and reducing carbon emissions by 3,700 tonnes annually. This reduction is comparable to removing nearly 1,800 cars from the road.
In addition to the solar farm, Brett Martin has an on-site wind turbine that complements energy production, particularly during the less sunny winter months, ensuring a consistent supply of renewable energy throughout the year.
They also prioritise high product yields and efficient materials handling to minimise waste. All packaging is 100% recyclable, and the vehicle fleet is transitioning to hybrid or electric models wherever possible.
Sustainable Products for Signage and Display
Brett Martin's latest innovation, Foamalux Light Bio, is a sustainable semi-finished plastic sheet made with 25% bi-attributed PVC derived from wood-based residue from sustainable forestry. This, combined with 100% renewable energy in its production, reduces carbon emissions by 20%, offering a sustainable option for brands aiming to meet their environmental goals.
Similarly, Marlon BioPlus represents a significant advancement toward carbon-neutral polycarbonate sheets. By using resins certified to be produced from 71% bio-circular attributed material through mass balancing, Brett Martin offers polycarbonate sheets with significantly reduced environmental impact.
Brett Martin also eliminates waste to landfill by reusing production waste in creating the Eco range of products, which contain 80% reclaimed content and are fully optimized for printing. These products are designed for medium to long-term use, lasting months, years, or even decades, and can be recycled through mechanical, chemical, or energy recovery methods at the end of their life cycle.
Ongoing Commitment to Sustainability
From product development to end-of-life recycling, Brett Martin strives to reduce the environmental impact of all its products. The journey towards enhanced sustainability continues, with ongoing improvements across processes and products. Stay tuned for more updates on Brett Martin's sustainable practices in signage and display materials!
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