Robert Horne Sign & Display (RHSD) has today announced the launch of a new environmental consultancy service, as well as a revamped and expanded environmental product range.  The new service, led by Steve Lister, Business Development Director, will work closely with companies in selecting the correct environmental products for their customers and offer new business services, such as waste management, to assist with recycling and waste reduction, working partnerships with The Carbon Neutral Company and SME businesses to reduce their carbon footprint through sound environmental consultancy advice.

RHSD has launched the new service after growing interest from customers in environmental issues.  The company has already worked with many sign and digital customers, including Omega Signs in Leeds, where it helped the company to calculate its carbon footprint through an environmental audit process.  Once the carbon impact has been calculated, RHSD helps develop and implement an action plan to reduce the signmakers' environmental impact.  While this action plan includes the choice of sign and display materials, the audit also covers the office environment and energy use.

As part of the launch, RHSD has also enhanced its environmental product range to provide the widest possible choice.  The new products cover signage and display and include Avery Greenline a non PVC self adhesive product, fibre based digital wallpapers, FSC accredited display boards produced with 100 percent consumer waste,  Dufaylite Ultraboards, which are lightweight fibre composite boards made from recycled honeycomb paper and innovative alternatives to traditional display materials, such as Forex Smart, which is a 100 percent recyclable polystyrene board and Foamalux Xtra, which is a rigid closed cell composite foam board that contains 80-90 percent recycled content. In the general banner and soft signage area RHSD is working closely to find new polyethylene recyclable products and innovative banners, made from polypropylene and poly olefins, which will be 100 percent recyclable.

Further to this range, RHSD has announced that its DTec Aqueous Inkjet Media Range has been given the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) accreditation. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers that the fibre content is from sustainable and  managed forests.

Steve Lister, Divisional Business Development Director of RHSD commented; "The growing importance of the environment has led to changing customer demand in the sign and display sectors.  Customers are starting to ask more about environmental performance, both of materials and the suppliers themselves.  At RHSD we have always offered our customers the best advice as well as the best of breed products, so the environmental consultancy service was the next logical step, in the current climate." 

Lister continues; "To support the consultancy, we compiled a range of products that have either always had good environmental credentials, or are the latest innovations that offer greener alternatives to traditional choices.  Our intention is to ensure that RHSD will lead the market and offer a complete range of products and services, from the traditional, to the latest technology and now including the best for environmental performance."

In related news, Steve Lister has been invited by FESPA sit on the panel of its Green Debate at this year's Digital Printing Europe 2008 exhibition which is being held in Geneva on 1^st -3^rd April. Further to this, RHSD has also been invited to talk on green and environmental issues at Sign & Digital UK at the NEC in April.