Probo launches ‘Sign Again’ recycled sheet material

This week, EcoPrint’s editor Karis Copp had the pleasure of being joined in conversation by Leon van der Meer, Managing Director of Probo, one of Europe’s largest Print and Sign businesses, who talks about the launch of Sign Again, the very first sheet material made entirely from used banners and cutting waste of banners.

Karis: Can you explain who Probo is and what you do?

Leon: Probo is a full service, web based digital print and fulfilment partner that delivers exclusively to resellers. This means that the reseller can offer its customers a wide range of services and products through us. From canvases, panels and posters to textiles, stickers and labels, everything is fully automated and 100% own production. At Probo, it’s all about innovation. By continually anticipating changes or creating changes, Probo distinguishes itself in the digital print market. Our large facility in Dokkum, Netherlands employs 350 full time employees in a modern and fully automated facility.

We deliver today's print and provide the disruption and solutions of tomorrow. Our production house is exclusive for print professionals. Signmakers, advertisers, stand builders, strategists, creatives: everyone who makes more of print. We create a place where print professionals have access to high-tech machines and solutions in technology, production, and logistics. We call that “Together Print”.

Karis: So, what is ‘Sign Again’? Can you explain the thinking behind the message ‘No sign to waste’, and describe why are you so excited about its launch?

Leon: Many printing materials are disposed of after long or short use. Almost all materials that are recyclable are not actually recycled, simply because those options do not exist. Sign Again changes that.

With Sign Again, we want to stop wasting print materials and commit to full circularity. To this end, we process factory waste and used prints into new sheet material for printing. In this way, print remains affordable and available, and we are not dependent on increasingly scarce raw materials. Our goal is no longer to buy and sell print once, but to bring and keep it in a loop.

Karis: Can you go into more detail about the Sign Again material?

Leon: Sign Again is the very first sheet material made entirely from used banners and the cutting waste of banners. PVC materials such as banner are very harmful to the environment when burned, whereas they contain ideal properties for recycling. By creating a monostream, we are now taking full advantage of these properties. Sign Again is a patented and 100% close loop recycled rigid material.

The material is enormously strong, impact and cut resistant, fire retardant and pliable. These are properties that can make the difference in many products and applications. Together with a group of printing professionals, we are embarking on an intensive research and development (R&D) journey to fine-tune the Sign Again material.

Karis: You say you are committed to circularity and feel there is a need for circular print products – can you talk about your sustainability vision for the industry?

Leon: Due to new European legislation, our industry will face new regulations in the near future (2023-2025). We as a print and sign industry have to take responsibility. This will state that a significant share of the products now used in our industry must be made of recycled materials. It will be up to the print and sign industry to prove that this figure is met. To prove this, the European recognized seal of approval ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) has been introduced.

Karis: If people are Interested to find out more, where do they go?

Leon: if there are people out there that see opportunities for working with us on creating a better world for Print and sign then get in touch with us, to partner up.

Contact: signagain@probo.nl

Probo, with their ‘Sign Again’ product, is a Headline partner for EcoPrint 2023 and will showcase the ‘Sign Again’ material in Geneva at the EcoPrint Summit 6-7th June 2023.