Graphics and fabric printer MediaCo is implementing a carbon reduction programme that features the use of HP Latex and HP Stitch dye sublimation printers as part of its commitment to sustainability.
The Manchester-based company offers a range of specialist print services, from wallpapers to racing car livery wraps, and works across various market sectors to produce exhibition and interior display graphics, sports and live event branding and out-of-home advertising displays. It recently launched MediaCo EcoSure, a customer-focused sustainability programme designed to advise on eco-compliant materials and to help customers review their waste recycling requirements.
Stephen Arthur, Group Operations director at MediaCo, explained, ‘The MediaCo-EcoSure programme was created to provide customers or prospects access to the most-up-to date sustainable material choices and provide transparency in our approach to sustainability. Sustainability is a complex area and we felt it important, as a leading producer, to focus on ‘post printed materials’, which are presented in our new samples pack.’
MediaCo keeps records of manufacturing data to assist with waste reduction, improve productivity and to help customers embrace its ‘environment first’ philosophy. This approach has guided the company’s investment and seen a switch since 2008 from 100% solvent ink use to 5% now, with UV inks accounting for 50% and water-based ones for 45%. In the latter category, the last two years have seen the purchase of two HP Latex 3600 printers from Papergraphics and an HP Stitch S1000 printer from RA Smart, with a second S1000 device now under consideration.
Mr Arthur noted, ‘The two Latex printers offer excellent sustainability benefits as both machines run on water-based inks which have a significantly lower impact on the environment compared with other ink types. The HP Latex 3600 printers are also very competitive when it comes to initial capital investment on ongoing running costs. All machines are fully integrated within our busy 24hr production operation producing top class display graphics for self-adhesive vehicle wraps, full colour digital wallpapers, window graphics, full colour fabrics and an array of high-quality display collateral.
‘The HP Latex machines have been put to work on some astounding projects. We took a strategic decision to add HP water-based printers to our production capabilities which now totals three machines – a trend we see continuing as the print quality and reliability of the machines is excellent and they align perfectly with our sustainability strategy.’
MediaCo gained ISO 14001 accreditation in 2008 and invited a Carbon Trust site visit in 2015, subsequently acting on the latter’s recommendations. In 2021 the company began carbon offsetting, certified under the Make it Wild programme and recently completed the EcoVadis sustainability questionnaire.
