Hollywood Monster in UK-first with green pledge

Large-format print and signage business Hollywood Monster has become the first print service provider in the UK to formally reject the use of traditional PVC banners, as part of its ongoing efforts to become fully sustainable by 2022.

According to Greenpeace, PVC is one of the most environmentally damaging plastics, as toxic, chlorine-based chemicals from the production, use and disposal of PVC are released into the environment and build up in the water, air and food chain.
 
However, PVC is also a commonly used material in certain types of print work, including printed banners, which is one of the main types of applications that Hollywood Monster produces.
 
As such, from 1 March, Birmingham-based Hollywood Monster will produce all internal and external banner work – annual output of around 350,000sq m of material – on PVC-free Kavalan from CMYUK.
 
Simon McKenzie, managing director of Hollywood Monster, said the company places sustainability at the heart of its business and, despite the challenges faced with Covid-19 over the past 12 months, remains committed to its green goals.
 
“Not only are we working with CMYUK to help us to replace our traditional materials with the most advanced eco materials currently on the market today, we have decreased our own carbon footprint, and that of our customers whilst reducing the amount of waste in the supply chain,” McKenzie said.
 
“We are proud of our growing reputation as eco-pioneers within the digital wide-format printing industry.”
 
In terms of the alternative product it will now be working with, Kavalan, which, launched last year, meets all the required safety and strength standards, in addition to having stringent environmental accreditation.
 
As a further benefit to Hollywood Monster, CMYUK has partnered with ‘How to Recycle’, an initiative ensuring that after use, Kavalan will end up as a 100% recycled product, as opposed to being dumped into landfill.
 
“We have immense confidence and trust in this product,” McKenzie said. “We have been testing and championing it for over a year, and now is the time to make a change.
 
“Many of our clients have been asking for a viable alternative to PVC, and they trust us to deliver.
 
“Cost-wise too, it’s making sense, and economies of scale will rapidly turn Kavalan into a cost neutral exercise. It is the right thing to do, and we are delighted to be leading the way into becoming fully sustainable.
 
“We have made it a priority to put sustainability right at the heart of our business.”