Nettl Chippenham drops PVC for CMYUK’s Kavalan

Nettl Chippenham, the ‘green’ arm of Nettl DigiPrint Chippenham and Bath, has dropped conventional PVC banner materials in favour of PVC-free Kavalan, supplied exclusivelyby CMYUK.

The switch follows a two-year search for a ‘proven and credible PVC-free alternative’, as Ben Gregory, managing director of Nettl DigiPrint Chippenham and Bath and director of Nettl Chippenham explained:

‘During the 2020 lockdown we decided that the business needed to adopt a new green ethos. We wanted to provide a sustainable choice to our customers, offering it via the Nettl UK partnership of 220 studios that are currently buying non-eco signage options. We can fill that green gap,’ he said.

‘We’ve already seen an uptake in the request for green products, particularly from government bodies, schools, universities and colleges. Some of the councils now won’t buy a banner material unless it comes from an eco-source. They’re already ticking the boxes that will trickle down to other businesses,’  Mr Gregory added.

Lack of clear and consistently presented information about products and best environmental practice for wide-format printing were challenges for Nettl, with greenwashing an additional obstacle. Mr Gregory noted that CMYUK provided greater transparency.

‘There are technical data sheets as well as production information that includes CO2 emissions. This is great for us as we are a carbon positive business, which is a step beyond being carbon neutral,’ he said.

Kavalan Sunlight Frontlit Banner was one of the products from the Kavalan range that Nettl Chippenham tested alongside other PVC-free options. It has been successful and accepted by customers who do not seem to have noticed the substitution of the more eco-friendly alternative material but are keen to continue using it when its credentials have been explained to them.

Nettl Chippenham is now evaluating several materials from the CMYUK eco portfolio including Pongs and UFabrik textiles for TFS graphics and backdrops. All materials have been tested using the company’s HP Latex printing equipment.