Billboards are made not only for great advertising but for fantastic jackets, purses, and even notebooks.
With the world exponentially moving towards sustainable and eco-conscious principles, billboards and out-of-home (OOH) advertising have a surprising role in supporting environmental initiatives and recycling efforts.
Traditional billboard ads typically use materials like vinyl, which can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly, and this may be off-putting to potential advertisers.
However, many have found a solution to this problem through recycling and upcycling, processing vinyl for other uses, and even transforming these old billboard materials into new and creative products.
The uses are limitless and range from fashion accessories such as bags, wallets, and belts to tarps for construction uses and even home goods like rugs and furniture. Online marketplaces have made businesses out of reusing billboard materials, encouraging the OOH industry to follow suit in green efforts.
Rareform, an online billboard vinyl recycler, is one such brand paving the way in billboard sustainability through upcycling their plastic-based materials into tote bags, notebooks, and toiletry bags.
Some billboard owners may begin supporting this shift by incorporating more fabric-based and biodegradable materials into billboards. What is now a standard practice to use vinyl material has signs of shifting to an eco-first process of advertisement.
The beginnings of a more eco-conscious advertising landscape are already afoot as individuals are opting for more environmentally friendly options. From digital billboards utilizing LED lights, which consume less power and are energy efficient, to DOOH running on solar power, the industry is experiencing strides toward sustainability.
Sustainability is becoming ever-important, and brands are even attempting to align their messaging directly with nature-forward elements. One recent ad campaign from Britannia Industries, coined “Nature Shapes Britannia,” has garnered massive praise in Asia for its creativity.
Rather than impeding on the beauty of nature, Britannia cleverly created a billboard campaign that allowed surrounding foliage to shine and even enhanced its presence. Billboards are known to shift an area’s focus to their messaging, which is part of the reason it received well-deserved acclaim.
Outdoor advertising is evolving and moving towards greener practices, aiming to reduce its environmental footprint. Will you help plant the next seeds for a better and greener future?
Photo via @creapills on X.
