5 Ways to Tell if Your POP Display is Sustainable
This simple definition of “sustainability” is to “maintain or support a process continuously over time and prevent the depletion of natural or physical resources so that they will remain available for the long term.”
Many companies have announced their commitment to sustainability initiatives in their business practices, including those in the retail industry, which as a whole contributes to 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 40% of plastic use throughout the world.
One way they’re doing this is by using POP retail displays that are sustainable, but what exactly does that mean and why is it important? Here, we’ll look at why you should consider a more sustainable approach to POP display fabrication, and how you can determine whether your retail fixtures are fabricated in an eco-friendly manner.
Why should retail brands consider sustainable POP displays?
Sustainability initiatives do more than help the planet — they help a company’s bottom line. A recent survey found that:
- 78% of consumers feel that sustainability is important
- 62% of people say they “always or often” seek products to purchase because they’re sustainable
- 55% of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly brands
- 84% of customers say that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company
- 50% of global consumers say that environmental factors (commitment to reducing carbon emissions, using recycled materials or reducing plastic waste in its products) will often or always influence their decision to trust a brand
Even if the products you sell aren’t made from recycled materials themselves, the fixtures that you use to display them can be. Not only can choosing sustainable retail fixtures help you better align with the positive consumer sentiment around sustainability initiatives, it can also help you make better use of resources and prioritize POP displays that provide an extended service life.
How can you tell if your POP displays are actually sustainable?
Here’s five ways to tell if your POP display can help you achieve your sustainability goals and how you can plan sustainable displays in the future.
It’s made of steel
Displays made of scrap steel metal are the gold standard when it comes to sustainability because steel is 100% recyclable and the most recycled material in the world. Already in 2024, more than 435,743,000 tons of steel has been recycled, and by recycling steel, we can avoid almost 950 million tons of CO2 emissions, 1 billion tons of iron ore, and the energy equivalent to burning about 280 million tons of coal.
Whether it’s sheet, tube, or wire, it’s estimated that recycled steel is used for 40% of all new steel products, and even better, it can be endlessly recycled and used over and over without losing the strength and durability required for high-traffic retail environments.
Your displays use other recyclable materials
Steel isn’t the only sustainable material used in displays. Another popular option is the use of wood, which can be both a sustainable and renewable resource if sourced by following proper harvesting and forest management practices. This can include ensuring new seedlings are planted in areas where wood has been harvested, which will allow building materials to be more quickly renewed.
Plastic is another recyclable construction material that can help increase the sustainability of your retail displays and fixtures. There are several different common kinds of plastics used in the fabrication of retail fixtures, and each possesses unique properties in terms of recyclability.
Acrylics can be made from 100% virgin plastics, but they can also include anywhere from 25% to 100% recycled content. PETG is slightly less brittle than acrylic plastic and can be sourced as a virgin material or partially from recycled content. Styrene, which is another common type of plastic used in the construction of retail displays, can also be produced using virgin material or a varying percentage of recycled plastic.
Consider the coatings and inks
Along with the structure of your display, take a look at what kind of coatings and inks are used. Powder coating — a dry finishing process that uses different combinations of polymer resins, adhesion agents, and other additives to seal the workpiece — is the coating that creates the lowest amount of pollutants. This is because it emits nearly no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), doesn’t require multiple-stage coatings, and protects your display to ensure it can stay in use for years to come.
Your display can be reused, repaired, and recycled
The more you can reuse or repurpose parts of your display, easily repair it instead of replacing it, and recycle it at end of life, the more sustainable your POP display will be. When planning future displays, take into account ways you could use it for more than just one product or campaign. This means making sure shelves are sturdy enough for heavier products, graphics can be easily swapped out, and that it’s modular or mobile to ensure they’re easier to move and set up.
Since your display will be in an unpredictable retail environment, there’s the risk that it may be damaged in high-traffic areas. When it comes to sustainability, consider ways it can be easily repaired instead of using additional resources to build a new one from scratch. And when it does reach the end of the line, find ways to responsibly recycle your display so that it can be reused in the creation of future displays.
At Franklin Display, our focus is on operations that emphasize the fabrication of high-quality, custom point-of-purchase displays and fixtures made of sustainable materials — including 70% recycled steel — which helps to create a closed-loop production cycle. We also partner with local steel producers that adhere to strict emissions regulations, recycling all steel, paperboard, and plastic scrap, and collect and reuse coating powders whenever possible.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you create durable retail displays that help you reach your own sustainability goals.