Going Green with TFS Fabrics
The carbon footprint for TFS graphics is extremely low compared with other traditional display materials: They use less raw material, weigh less and pack down better for easy, low-cost transport; they are 100% PET, so they are totally PVC and phthalate-free and recyclable. This may be enough to satisfy the green box tickers, but those who care will need to know more to decide how green a product is. We believe that our TFS fabrics are probably some of the most eco-friendly products on the market; here’s why:
Recycling of polyester and plastic is technically still in its infancy and costs money. There are several ways to reprocess a product to label it ‘recycled’, but that does not automatically make it more environmentally friendly.
For example, products made in the “Far East” generally have a much higher carbon footprint than those made in Europe. This is due to longer transport routes, much lower energy levels, and environmental controls throughout the whole supply chain.
It is also important to question what products are recycled from and how they are recycled. For example, fabric yarns can be made from by-products of other manufacturing processes, which would typically be reused anyway. Still, diverting them into yarn manufacturing can be labelled as ‘recycled’. More ecologically conscious recycled PETs are those made from products that are either ocean-bound or ocean waste; however, these are considerably more expensive, and therefore, it is not realistic to expect truly environmentally friendly recycled products to be available without a premium being paid.
Although we are slowly introducing recycled yarns into our fabrics, we do this with our eyes open. We are mixing recycled and raw yarns to keep costs down and supporting new technical manufacturing processes that use denser knit patterns that result in lighter weight and, therefore, use less yarn. These processes are slower and come at a slight premium but are more environmentally friendly.
As a commitment to sustainability, we choose to use Dye Sub TFS printable fabrics manufactured in Germany in a factory that focuses on using the highest possible environmental standards with a Going Green Initiative that includes using industry and world-leading technology and processes committed to minimising carbon footprint. Our decision to use a European manufacturer comes with additional assurances that they are produced under European legislation and from a fully validated source.
