ISO 14001 certified
Environmental
strategy.
Direct Signs holds ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) certification. Our strategy covers materials, waste, energy, and product end-of-life.
Our certification
Direct Signs is independently certified to ISO 14001:2015 by BSI. The certification covers our manufacturing operations, supplier management, waste, and continuous improvement processes.
Materials sourcing
We source from UK and European suppliers wherever possible. Our standard materials — rigid PVC, aluminium composite (Dibond), aluminium, vinyl — are selected for durability and recyclability. Specifically:
- Aluminium and aluminium composite: 100% recyclable. Aluminium has the highest scrap value of our materials and is straightforwardly recycled at end-of-life.
- Rigid PVC (Foamex): recyclable through specialist channels (PVC reprocessing). We work with recycling partners who handle Foamex offcuts.
- Self-adhesive vinyl: end-of-life recycling is more complex due to the adhesive layer. We minimise vinyl use where alternatives are appropriate.
Waste reduction
Manufacturing creates offcuts. Our approach:
- Nesting software to maximise material yield from sheet stock
- Standardised sizes for stock products to reduce custom-cut waste
- Offcut-stream segregation by material type for recycling
- Partnerships with material recyclers (aluminium, PVC, paper)
Energy
Our facility runs LED lighting, energy-efficient printing equipment, and timer-controlled HVAC. We are exploring on-site solar generation and procurement of certified renewable electricity.
Product end-of-life
Signs reach end-of-life when premises change, regulations update, or signage is replaced. We can advise customers on:
- Recyclability of specific products
- Local recycling routes for aluminium and PVC
- Product take-back for certain bulk projects
Transport
Most of our deliveries use established UK courier networks. Larger projects use direct delivery. We consolidate orders where customers want to reduce transport movements.
Continuous improvement
Under ISO 14001 we set environmental objectives annually and review progress through internal audits and BSI external surveillance. Areas of focus for the current cycle include:
- Reducing single-use plastic in dispatch packaging
- Increasing recycled content in standard products where feasible
- Energy intensity reduction per sign produced
Working with environmentally-focused customers
If you are specifying signage to meet a customer or organisation's environmental policy (NHS Green Plan, council net-zero commitments, ISO 14001 supplier requirements, etc.), our team can advise on materials and finishes to support those targets. Contact us with your specific requirements.
Documents
Environmental policy statement, ISO 14001 certificate, and supplier ESG documents are available on request from info@directsigns.co.uk.
Specifying signage with environmental criteria?
Tell us what your customer or organisational policy requires and we will produce to those standards.