Every love story has a beginning. Ours started with the materials nobody else wanted – the silicone backing papers, the self-adhesive PVC, the composite boards that the rest of the world had written off as ‘too difficult’. Where others saw a problem, we saw potential and what began as a quiet commitment has, over the past months, blossomed into something rather more serious.
This is the story of how that relationship grew: how we deepened our commitment to our members, after kissing a few frogs, found a partner who shares our values, made falling in love with responsible waste management wonderfully simple, and set out to change our whole industry for the better.
01 : Strengthened Support for our Members
After 4 years of finding our feet and developing the waste accreditation, in March, FESPA UK has taken an important step forward in strengthening the support we provide to our accredited members. By becoming a licensed waste carrier, we now have greater control over the waste management process, enabling us to deliver a more responsive, connected, and streamlined service for our members, the kind of dependable, show-up-when-it-matters commitment every good relationship is built on.
Earlier this year, Reconomy made the decision to move away from the graphics industry. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we recognised it as an opportunity to evolve our accreditation scheme and build new partnerships that put the needs of our accredited members at the heart of everything we do. Sometimes one chapter has to close for another to begin.
02 : New Partnership
One of these new partnerships offers accredited members a wide range of waste services, including general waste, hazardous waste, dry mixed recycling and other waste streams. They share our commitment to excellent customer service and pricing, providing businesses with access to an online portal to track and manage their waste, alongside a dedicated support team for FESPA UK accredited members – a partner who turned up with all the right qualities and a genuine desire to build a long-lasting relationship for the future.
At the same time, we’re now taking a more direct role in managing graphics waste, rolling up our sleeves and taking care of the materials closest to our hearts ourselves. By working more closely with transport companies and recyclers, we can strengthen these key relationships, helping to secure the best possible pricing and service for our members while building trusted partnerships that will deliver value long into the future.
03 : Simplified Process
With these new partnerships in place, we can offer accredited members a simpler and more connected approach to managing their waste. From general waste, hazardous waste and dry mixed recycling to specialist graphics waste, members can access a wider range of services while benefiting from dedicated support.
Businesses also have access to an online portal to track and manage their waste, providing greater visibility and making the process of managing waste more straightforward.
At the same time, we’re taking a more direct role in managing graphics waste, working closely with transport companies and recyclers to strengthen these key relationships. This enables us to help secure the best possible pricing and service for our members while building trusted partnerships that will deliver value long into the future.
04 : Driving Change within the Industry
Together, these changes represent a significant step forward for our accreditation programme, strengthening the support available to our community while helping members manage their waste responsibly, effectively and with confidence. This isn’t a fleeting romance – it’s a lasting commitment to our members and to the future of our sector.
05 : A Story Written Together
Like any great love story, the success and growth of our accreditation has been built on trust, belief and people championing a shared vision. The recognition, conversations and momentum we enjoy today would simply not be possible without our industry champions. They have placed their trust in us from the very beginning and have helped spread the word throughout the industry, encouraging their clients and connections to take that first step and believe in what can be achieved.
Our very own love story in numbers:
- 50 separate collections organised for accredited businesses.
- A growing list of materials given a second life; self-adhesive vinyl face materials, silicone backing paper, lamination rolls, Foamboard, Correx, Akyboard, polyester banner and polyester fabrics, ACM and acrylic.
- Multiple regular weekly and fortnightly wheelie bin collections for backing papers.
- Strengthened, developed relationships with 12 recyclers and transport companies, securing the most preferable rates possible.
- New support extended to the labels and foil sectors through the additional services we can now offer.
- 14 full loads of graphics waste handled among those 50 collections – every last one recycled.
Their advice, feedback, support, and unwavering confidence in our mission have helped shape the accreditation into what it is today. Quite simply, without them walking this journey alongside us, we would not have come nearly as far as we have.
See What Director Jon Hutton Has to Say.
“The Visual Display, Signage and Large Format sectors of the print industry are particularly under the sustainability spotlight from brands, so accountable and responsible waste management has become non-negotiable. Noticeably, the Accreditation is now being recognised up and down the supply chain as the industry-standard signpost to verify a business’s commitment to responsible waste management. Some of this spotlight stems from the new Greenwashing Regulations, primarily aimed at brands and their environmental claims when advertising to influence consumer choices. Hence why brands are demanding the truth about sustainability claims from who and what they are purchasing throughout their supply chain.
They need the facts, not just what you believe to be the case! As you can imagine, the likes of polyester and black-back fabrics, self-adhesive PVCs, Foamboard and Correx, to name a few, are particularly challenging conversations to have with your client when they ask you about your waste management policy. They increasingly want advice as to how you recommend they can minimise their environmental impact at the end of a campaign when the print requires disposal.
This is why we developed the Waste Accreditation, and for over 4 years we have continued to develop the unique skills that enable us to help the industry meet the demands of clients and Environmental Regulations.
Not only do we physically facilitate the compliant recycling of graphics waste, but we also supply independent reports, documents, certificates and all requested paperwork to ensure brand demands are met.”
See What Managing Director Suzi Ward Has to Say.
“From the moment I first envisioned this project and then had the good fortune to meet Jon, whose knowledge, passion and expertise helped turn that vision into reality, it has always been about providing our members with something that genuinely makes a difference to their businesses and to the wider industry.
It was never about recognition or financial gain. It was about creating an opportunity for members to gain a competitive advantage while doing the right thing for the environment and the future of our sector. I couldn’t be prouder of how the accreditation has grown, evolved and expanded its reach over the years. What started as an idea has become something that is delivering real value across the industry.
Now, we have an exciting opportunity to take the next step and shape this programme entirely around the needs of our accredited members. That means, with the support of our Industry Champions, we will continue to move forward, expanding the support and services we offer, and helping as many businesses as possible improve the way they manage their waste.
The foundation has been built; now it’s time to build on that success and deliver even greater value to the community we serve.”
Fancy a first date? It’s on us!
Every great relationship starts with a conversation – and the first date is on us! If you’d like to find out how FESPA UK’s accreditation can help your business manage its hard-to-recycle materials responsibly, give Jon a call and book your initial consultation. No pressure, just a conversation to see if it’s the right fit for your business.
