Fleet livery is an often-overlooked element yet fundamental in establishing a genuinely environmentally-focused fleet.

Beyond mere aesthetics, the choice of material and supplier becomes crucial, not only to deliver tangible environmental benefits but to help safeguard against the threat of greenwashing claims.

The below topics are key considerations for those looking to evaluate their approach. 

Exercise diligence

It is important to thoroughly understand the production, disposal, and recycling procedures relating to your material choice. Ask the following questions:

• Where is the vinyl material disposed? And if recycled, where are the recycling facilities located?
• What are the potential repurposes options for vinyl material?
• Does the material provide a complete circular solution, or is adding virgin polymer required?
• How does your supplier handle the disposal of accompanying waste such as end caps, cores, and packaging?

Explore your options

There are multiple environmentally conscious materials in the market. It's imperative to identify the optimal solution for your fleet. Stewart Signs recommends considering the following factors:

• Duration and durability: assess the lifespan of your vehicles and anticipate the level of wear and tear they are likely to undergo. Consider the possibility of rebranding, changes to marketing messages or values.
• Non-PVC vs PVC: developments in PVC films have created sustainably focused solutions, it's important not to dismiss a material solely based on its components.
• Think ahead: as the focus on sustainability continues to grow, ensure that your provider stays at the forefront. They should be knowledgeable about emerging materials, technologies, and legislative changes in the market.

Practices and Procedures

It is crucial that your livery provider aligns with your objectives. Always verify that:

• Sustainability alignment
• Ensure their sustainability approach aligns with your own values and goals.
• Due diligence: confirm that they exhibit due diligence with recommendations providing genuine benefits and mitigating the risk of greenwashing claims.
• Waste disposal: verify that they dispose of all waste in the most environmentally responsible manner possible.
• Infrastructure efficiency: assess their infrastructure and network to help minimise the environmental impacts associated with travel, installation, and shipping.

Analytics and Expertise

Rely on the expertise and experience of your suppliers.

• Data-driven Insights: utilise the knowledge and data available. Information from an accident repair portal can reveal crucial insights; for instance, adjusting the placement of a graphic by a few centimetres can remove the need to replace it. This not only reduces waste but also minimise vehicle downtime and associated costs.
• Trust in experience: regardless of a product’s environmental attributes, the key to true benefits often lies in knowledge and experience. In essence, your livery should maintain a high-quality finish throughout its service life, produced in the most environmentally-responsible manner. To ensure this, it is paramount to engage with experts. This can avoid the risks of potential failures and the need to redo work. The correction of these errors often negates the initial environmental benefits.

By Kirsty Robinson, business development manager, Stewart Signs