Walki is introducing upgrades of its Walki Print Media XXL family of products for sustainable out of home advertising billboards.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has for many decades been the preferred material for Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising billboards and banners despite posing substantial environmental risks. Its manufacturing process produces chlorine gas, while its disposal also releases dangerous toxins into the environment. The material is not biodegradable and hard to recycle and hence the only disposal options are either incineration or dumping it in landfills.

A new generation of consumers is driving the change towards more sustainable options. Walki’s Walki Print Media XXL family of products provides sustainable printing and imaging solutions.

“Although the products have been available for quite a while, the anti-PVC movement really started gaining momentum recently, partly prompted by environmentally conscious millennials”, explains Luk Meys, Walki’s Global Category Manager, Imaging.

Walki will soon be rolling out further improvements to this family of products. In the near future, the Walki Print Media XXL range will be suitable for printing with environmentally sound, water-based latex inks next to the current printability with UV inks.

“The next generation of the product will also be certified flame retardant, making it suitable for indoor use in public places.

Using ultra-light, tear resistant and recyclable raw materials, this sustainable print media combines specific base materials and functional polymers. Apart from being PVC-free and pfthalate-free, Walki Print Media XXL is also 100 percent recyclable, halogen-free and REACH-compliant, which means that it complies with EU regulation regarding registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.

It also weighs less than half as much as traditional PVC-based products, making transport, storage and handling far less cumbersome.

Modern consumers identify with brands that are transparent about the materials they use, and how their advertising is done. Walki®Print Media XXL is the answer.