‘Sustainable signage’ is about more than energy efficiency. The term embraces the end-to-end processes of; design;manufacturing; installation; operation; and disposal or recycling. Sustainable signage may include signage that uses renewable materials and finishes. It may also incorporate recycled metals, sustainable woods, and other eco-friendly materials to reduce environmental impact. However, system designers and integrators will not accept compromises on quality, durability or performance when creating solutions for end-user clients. AV News quizzed leading suppliers of signage solutions about their green credentials and their progress towards sustainability.
Building sustainable solutions
From the outset, digital signage was positioned as an inherently ‘green’ solution, replacing all that printed old-school stuff, with its innate inflexibility and inability to change in line with the users’ needs. Today, businesses and organizations are continuously seeking ways to enhance their environmental responsibility while maintaining effective communication and advertising strategies. The transition from traditional signage to digital signage significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional print materials.
Unlike traditional signage, which relies on static posters or print materials, digital signage utilizes dynamic and interactive elements to engage audiences. Digital signage is now commonplace in public spaces, retail stores, corporate buildings, and transportation hubs, providing a versatile platform for advertising and communication. Digital displays are controlled and updated remotely through digital signage software, allowing for real-time content management and seamless integration with other digital solutions.
The production of print materials used in traditional promotions involves the use of paper, ink, and various chemicals. Therefore, traditional signage has an unfavourable environmental impact, contributing to deforestation, waste generation, and energy consumption. Additionally, the disposal of traditional signage creates a considerable amount of waste, further exacerbating the environmental toll.
Furthermore, the production and transportation of printed signage consume substantial amounts of energy, increasing the carbon footprint associated with conventional advertising methods. This makes traditional signage a less sustainable option in the context of growing environmental concerns.
Positive impacts of digital signage
The lower environmental impact of digital signage compared to traditional print promotions gives the technology a winning advantage from the ’ get-go’. Aside from the reduction in paper usage, waste generation and carbon emissions, digital signage has some killer commercial advantages. First, it offers greater flexibility and adaptability than traditional signage. Content can be updated quickly and easily, without the need for new print materials. This reduces waste and allows businesses to respond to changing market conditions more effectively.
While the competitive advantages offered by digital signage are increasingly well understood, the competitive market for digital signage solutions can now offer a genuine saving against the traditional signage option. Digital signage eliminates the recurring costs associated with printing and distributing traditional signage, often making it a more cost-effective option in the long term. Digital signage eliminates the need for paper and other print materials, reducing waste and conserving natural resources. In addition, the production, transportation, and disposal of traditional signage contribute to a substantial carbon footprint. In contrast, digital signage, when powered by energy-efficient technologies, can help lower carbon emissions.
Refining the digital option
So, it is true to say that digital signage has both environmental and competitive advantages from the outset but it is a very competitive market and various manufacturers are seeking to gain a bigger market share by bigging-up their green credentials. Energy efficiency is very much the order of the day. Advances in technology have led to the development of more energy-efficient digital displays. LED screens, for example, are known for their low power consumption and long service life. They provide bright, high-quality displays while using less energy than some other display technologies. LED digital signage is widely regarded as a sustainable choice for businesses looking to reduce their energy usage.
Many digital signage solutions are equipped with smart power management features that optimise energy usage. These features include automatic dimming (based on ambient light conditions) and scheduled power on/off cycles.
Durable and recyclable displays
Traditional print materials, once used, often end up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution. Digital signage, on the other hand, can be updated and reused indefinitely, drastically cutting down on waste. Digital displays are designedto be durable and long-lasting, reducing the frequency of replacements and further minimising waste. Unlike traditional signage, which may wear out or become obsolete, digital signage can remain effective and relevant with regular content update refreshes. Suppliers are exploring various ways to make their digital signage more eco-friendly, from using renewable energy sources to implementing sustainable business practices,
This starts with the screen manufacturing process. The use of eco-friendly materials in the construction of digital signage hardware is an important consideration. This includes using recyclable or biodegradable materials and avoiding harmful substances with a negative environmental impact. Innovations in eco-friendly digital signage are not only reducing environmental impact but also enhancing operational efficiency and lowering costs. The use of recyclable and sustainable materials in the manufacturing of digital signage components is gaining traction. Companies are increasingly focusing on creating signage enclosures and mounts from eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastics and metals. This approach minimises waste and promotes a circular economy within the digital signage industry. For instance, some manufacturers now offer products made from up to 70% recycled content, significantly reducing the environmental impact of their production processes.
Pioneering solutions
CTouch has acted as pioneer in the development of sustainable technologies, culminating in the award of an EcoVadis Gold Medal in recognition of its outstanding sustainability performance. This places CTouch in the top 5% of companies rated worldwide by EcoVadis in the last 12 months. EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings with a global network of more than 130,000+ rated companies. It evaluates companies on a comprehensive set of criteria across four themes: environment: labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. CTouch scored the highest on the environment theme with a score of 80/100, representing a platinum score (top 1% of companies rated by EcoVadis in the last 12 months).
CTouch developed a proof-of-concept of the most sustainable touchscreen possible, with 41% less power consumption. The company also sells refurbished touchscreens in conjunction with its established takeback program. CTouch offers longer lifetimes for its products: “We aim to keep you a happy user of our products, even after 10 years of use”. The CTouch commitment extends to production, packing and shipping: “We make a great effort to lower our CO2 footprint and increase the use of recycled materials during production, packaging and transportation.” Company policies extend to the mantra ‘Reduce, re-use, recycle’: “We’re committed to increase the circularity of our products and improve the recyclability and re-use at the end-of-life to prevent any unnecessary waste.”
Competing technologies
Investing in durable and long-lasting digital signage solutions is a key aspect of sustainability. High-quality displays and components reduce the need for frequent replacements, lowering waste and resource consumption. Companies are increasingly focusing on creating robust signage solutions designed to withstand various environmental conditions. For example, weather-resistant and vandal-proof displays are now available, ensuring longevity even in challenging outdoor settings.
The design of current digital signage displays has energy efficiency to the fore. Modern LED and OLED screens consume significantly less power compared to traditional displays. This reduction in energy usage translates into lower operational costs and a smaller carbon footprint. According to industry data, LED displays can be up to 80% more energy-efficient than their LCD counterparts, making them a preferred choice for eco-conscious businesses.
Advanced power management is being integrated into digital signage solutions to further enhance sustainability. Features like automatic brightness adjustment based on ambient light conditions help reduce energy consumption, while remote management tools enable operators to schedule power usage and maintenance efficiently. This intelligent approach ensures that digital signage systems operate only when needed, thereby conserving energy and extending the lifespan of the components.
Sustainable enough?
Sustainable practices are becoming fundamental to the future of digital signage. By adopting energy-efficient displays, using recyclable materials, and implementing smart power management, the industry is making significant strides toward reducing its environmental footprint. As these practices continue to evolve, digital signage will play a crucial role in promoting sustainability while delivering impactful communication solutions. While CTouch can be seen as a pioneer, the entire digital signage industry is starting from a winning position, as the eco-friendly alternative to traditional signage media. Technical developments have seen a response to the energy crisis with lower power and even ‘no power’ options (see the box below). The future of digital signage is undeniably bright!
Forget low power – meet no power!
At InfoComm 2024, PPDS announced the latest evolution of its multi-award-winning ePaper with Android SoC signage range, launching the new 13” Philips Tableaux 4150. The landscape mountable 13” Philips Tableaux 4150 Series has been designed to deliver greater choice and new opportunities for businesses looking to introduce or expand a digital signage network, using revolutionary and highly sustainable, full-colour ePaper displays.
Driven by feedback from customers across a range of market verticals – including retail, corporate, hospitality, food and beverage, healthcare and transportation – the new 13” Tableaux display marks the latest evolution of PPDS’ growing ePaper portfolio, adding to the acclaimed 25” 4150 and 32” 5150 models launched at ISE 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Available globally, and featuring a white bezel design, the 13” Philips Tableaux 4150 – developed with PPDS’ longstanding technology partner, E Ink – brings the innovative, ‘zero power’ features and Android-powered functionality enjoyed with the 25” and 32” Philips Tableaux displays, widely recognised as the world’s first ePaper digital signage offerings from a global manufacturer.
An ideal energy-saving solution for businesses looking to digitise their paper-based signage and communications – whether for wayfinding in a corporate building, promoting the latest offers in a retail store, displaying live transport information, or as a menu board in a café, restaurant or kiosk – the 13” Philip Tableaux 4150 provides vivid sunlight readable imagery, which can be displayed without using a single kilowatt of electricity indefinitely, only requiring super low power during image changes.
Displaying with a 1600 x 1200 resolution, the 13” Philips Tableaux 4150 ensures clear and confident messaging. What is more, with 16GB internal memory, there is no need for an external media player, keeping costs down and minimising additional future electronic wastage. Simply plug into a power source to upload new static content for instant play via USB, LAN or Wi-Fi connections.
Tailored around the needs of the customer and environment, the Philips Tableaux 4150 Series runs on Android 11 OS, optimised for native Android apps and the easy installation of web apps and software directly on the displays. For maximum versatility and flexibility, Philips Tableaux displays – designed for 24/7 usage – can operate entirely unplugged, making it ideal for locations with limited or no access to power sources. Weighing just 1.3kg, the 13” 4150 is light enough to be easily transported and used in other locations when required.
As part of PPDS’ growing Android SoC family, content updates on the 13” Philips Tableaux 4150 can be managed manually (including USB), or entirely remotely via a range of certified third-party professional display control and management partners, as well as PPDS’ cloud-based Wave remote device management platform. Developed in-house, and regularly updated with new features, functionality and partner solutions, PPDS Wave offers fleet managers advanced levels of control for all Philips Android SoC displays, whether just a few screens in a single location, or thousands spread around the world.
With Wave on Philips Tableaux, businesses can securely switch out content at any time and from any location, with firmware upgrades, playlist creation and management, power scheduling and much more, all managed on Wave’s tailored and highly intuitive interface, saving on time, energy, and environmental impact.
As with many innovations in AV, PPDS is not the only player in the no-power display market. Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe has announced the launch of Sharp ePaper 13″ and 25″ displays, marking a new era in energy-efficient signage solutions. As a digital alternative to paper posters, the ePaper displays are ideal for applications requiring static content with regular updates, such as POS promotions, menu boards, allergen information in retail and hospitality environments, timetables, or check-in and gate information in transportation environments.
Taking a substantial step forward towards the carbon-neutral era, the Sharp/NEC ePaper displays operate with zero power consumption during content playback, only drawing minimal power when updates are necessary. The displays ensure unimpaired readability even in the brightest environments, presenting static digital images with a low-reflection and paper-like quality. With full-colour capability enhanced by ACeP colour performance, they deliver outstanding visual performances with excellent contrast, wide viewing angles, and fine resolution for an ergonomic content presentation that looks remarkably like paper. The paper-like appearance is easy on the eyes with no reflections or blue light, underlining Sharp/NEC’s commitment to sustainability and viewer comfort.
The Sharp/NEC ePaper displays offer quick and flexible installation options. Their slim design, which supports landscape, portrait, face-up, and face-down operation, not only enhances aesthetics but also provides space for an optional battery for versatile power solutions. In addition, the ePaper displays feature an integrated System on a Chip (SoC) for a seamlessly intelligent and future-proof operation. It effortlessly delivers content through selected Content Management System (CMS) partners or offers a user-friendly experience with the simplest content management options via USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
