Grafityp rebrands green portfolio

Grafityp (1-E60) is responding to a change in EU legislation and customer demand by bringing its products it classes as eco-friendly under one banner: Colibri, which is the German word for ‘hummingbird’.

The reorganised Colibri range, launched this week at Fespa Digital, features PVC-free laminates, print media, sign-making films and films for etched glass decoration.

Marketing manager Harald Jumelet said: “We had so many questions in the market with the new legislation in Europe from large companies with sustainability charters, for example H&M and Ikea. 

“All around the world, all signs inside H&M stores have to be PVC-free. A lot of national and multinational companies and government institutions want their signage to be as eco-friendly as possible. 

“So we brought all existing non-PVC products into one collection.”

Colibri comprises around 50 colour films in both matt and gloss and three different laminates in matt, gloss and satin.

Colibri is also a response to the harmonising of legislation surrounding products for indoor decoration and signage in the EU. From the end of 2018, all such products used indoors will need to meet new environmental standards.

“The new laws force us to be more forward-thinking with solutions. For example, if you’re signmaking with PVC film, you can’t burn them. PVC-free films are much easier to dispose of; you can recycle them into a form of energy. Producing these films is also a lot greener,” said Jumelet.

“The customers are there – when we talk to the large corporations sustainability is up there in their list of priorities.”