Recycling

All of the manufactured materials we use are fully recyclable. We carefully collect and reprocess all plastic scrap, swarf and dust from the engraving process to ensure both microplastics and macroplastics are kept out of landfill and the natural environment. We use specialist recycling facilities where plastics can be reprocessed efficiently and without harmful by-products. Our acryllic materials are usually ground down to create pellets which can be repurposed into new products. We encourage our customers to return labels and stems at the end of their useful life in order that we can recycle them properly.

Resources

Materials used in engraving and laser etching commonly include plastic (usually a type of acrylic), metals (usually aluminium), stone (often slate) and wood. In terms of sustainability, each material presents its own positive and negative considerations. On balance, we consider our acrylic material to have the most favourable environmental credentials, given its durability (10 - 20 year life span and resistance to erosion/abrasion), stability (retains integrity in extreme temperature and weather conditions over time - no leaching of chemicals into soils or air); the availability of the resources used in manufacture and the relatively low energy and resource requirements over the entire production life-cycle. When carried out properly, the material can be fully recycled without harmful by-products. Aluminium is also long-lasting and fully recyclable and while its production involves relatively carbon-intensive mining processes, the end product is recyclable and highly durable. We are careful to source materials from manufacturers with strong ethical and environmental credentials. We welcome your questions concerning material choice. Data sheets for our plastic and metal products are available on request.

Production

Our design and engraving facilities, including our machinery, are powered and heated from 100% renewable energy.