Environment


Speaking to Image Reports, managing director


of FESPA UK, Suzi Ward, said: “As of July this year, Jon officially joined the FESPA UK team, further strengthening our commitment to this initiative. “Our Waste Accreditation was established three years


ago – well before the formation of the SAISAG group. “Over the years, we’ve worked diligently to expand the scheme, identifying recycling solutions for materials commonly used in print, signage, and graphic businesses. “This year, we successfully added siliconised papers and self-adhesive vinyl to the materials we can recycle. “This development attracted significant interest from SAISAG group members, who have since chosen to support our accreditation and become industry champions for the project.


“Operating under the neutral umbrella of FESPA UK enables competitors to collaborate and share essential information to advance the project while safeguarding their sensitive business data.” Contra Vision was one such company which


transferred to FESPA UK’s scheme. Nick Rigg, head of products and IP at the company, told us: “FESPA approached us around May 2024 with information that they had a recycling solution in place for self-adhesive vinyl and liners in the UK. “Meanwhile Steve Lister and other members from the


SAISAG group were attempting to trial a process with a waste processor, but it had taken longer than they’d hoped for whatever reason. “Contra Vision is very keen to promote a way to recycle self-adhesive vinyl and we’re excited to promote a solution that accomplishes this. “We have several environmental goals for both our products and our business which we can share more about shortly. Overall, it was great to hear how other businesses are working towards their environmental initiatives and to see what is possible in the SAV sector. “We hope that as more businesses sign up for the scheme, the increase in volumes will make the whole system work more efficiently, and we can share success stories and look to replicate this in more regions around the world.”


BUILDING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE As a body, SAISAG is no more but it doesn’t mean to say its message has been lost. Instead, FESPA UK has seemingly taken on the mantle of self-adhesive recycling.


Suzi continued: “The companies’ support allows them to refer their clients to FESPA UK, enabling us to provide comprehensive waste management solutions that address all types of company waste – not just specific materials.”


Jon added: “The Waste Accreditation initiative will


leverage insights from business leaders at the Annual Graphics Sustainability Summit on November 28 to refine and expand its framework. “FESPA UK is committed to exploring innovative recycling solutions and aims to support FESPA global associations in developing similar accreditation programs in their regions.


“Plans include introducing drop-off points and www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 21


OPERATING UNDER THE NEUTRAL UMBRELLA OF FESPA UK ENABLES COMPETITORS TO COLLABORATE AND SHARE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT WHILE SAFEGUARDING THEIR SENSITIVE BUSINESS DATA


collection services at derigging sites to streamline waste management efforts.” But what of Steve Lister? Well, he still hasn’t given up the sustainability fight. Along with consultation work, he also writes on the topic for FESPA, as well as running sustainability courses for Make It Happen and working with POPAI UK and Ireland.


He concluded: “The original idea for SAISAG was to bring organisations together and to create a recycling scheme for the materials. We achieved that, the only thing was that SAISAG effectively morphed itself into the FESPA UK Waste Management programme. “But it wasn’t acrimonious because we had achieved our original goal, albeit with a different organisation. “Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We’ll


never get to the point where we have achieved everything because things are constantly changing. “At the moment, that change is happening probably


quicker than ever before. So having a group of these fantastic brands working together with FESPA UK will only make it easier to solve some of the biggest challenges, today and in the future.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32