Window graphics deserve to look great long after installation. Ideally, it shouldn’t matter that it’s installed in a high-sunlight environment, but protecting those graphics from harmful ultraviolet rays isn’t easy. A UV-resistant window graphic has traditionally meant some level of compromise on sustainability or clarity. That gap is what led LINTEC to the development of ECO-2200ZC, a new UV-blocking window film in our growing ECO series of recycled PET graphic solutions.
This optically clear, printable polyester film is made from 100% recycled PET and features a UV-blocking adhesive that shields the graphic itself from UV damage. Interior-facing graphics installed in high-exposure settings — retail storefronts, office atriums, or west-facing architectural glass — will be right at home on this high quality, printable window film. It’s currently the only solution that fills a long-standing shortcoming in the market: a 100% optically clear, UV-blocking film for printed window graphics that’s as sustainable as it is durable.
Take a closer look at how this film works and where it best fits into your next graphic installation.
UV-Blocking Films vs. Solar Films: What’s the Difference?
Before diving into how we built UV protection into ECO-2200ZC, it’s worth reviewing an important distinction: UV-blocking films are not the same as solar control films.
Solar window films are engineered to reduce glare and regulate interior heat. They typically include metalized layers or tinted coatings that darken the glass, helping keep indoor temperatures down.
UV-blocking film for windows like ECO-2200ZC, however, targets just one part of the light spectrum: ultraviolet radiation. UV rays are largely responsible for graphic fading and pigment degradation, but they aren’t what makes a room feel warm.
How We Engineered UV Protection Into a Recycled Film
Most clear UV-blocking window films rely on additives in the face film or additional laminate layers to block harmful rays. We didn’t take that approach to the issue because it adds too much complexity and cost. It can also interfere with print quality and clarity, which are super noticeable on otherwise ultra-clear graphic films.
We took a novel angle to devise ECO-2200ZC Recycled. The film face itself is the same high-performance, optically clear substrate made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET that we feature in our ECO series flagship 2100ZC model. The UV protection of the 2200ZC comes from an additional advanced UV-blocking adhesive layer, formulated in LINTEC’s clean-room environment to preserve clarity and minimize haze.
This innovation keeps the face film light, printable, and indistinguishable from standard non-UV graphic media — all big wins we wouldn’t sacrifice. On top of those things, it adds an invisible barrier between the sun and your printed design (assuming you’ve applied the graphic to the interior side of the glass, which causes the sun to hit the adhesive first). The final product is a truly eco-friendly window film that blocks UV rays and still delivers vibrant, high-resolution prints.
Here’s a quick summary of what you’re getting by putting the UV-blocking functionality in the adhesive and not in the film itself:
There’s one more crucial detail to remember: because the adhesive is what blocks UV rays, you always want to position the adhesive so that the sun hits it before it gets to the graphic ink. Thus, printed graphics you want to be viewed from outside the building must face the adhesive side. This film is designed specifically for interior-mounted window graphics, where the printed image is installed on the inside of the window, facing outward.
If you do apply this film to the exterior side of the glass (which puts the adhesive closer to the inside), the UV rays will hit the printed surface before reaching the adhesive layer and the graphic won’t be protected from fading.
Where Should I Use a UV-Blocking Graphic Film?
ECO-2200ZC is best suited to high sun exposure use cases like:
- West-facing windows that receive afternoon sun
- Retail displays near large storefront glazing
- Museum or gallery signage where fading degrades the visual experience
- Office branding on high-sun exposure curtainwall glass
- Healthcare and hospitality spaces with seasonal sun exposure
In all these scenarios, printed graphics benefit heavily from constant UV protection. You’ll extend the life of your display with no need to add laminate overcoats or order frequent reprints.
What’s more, because ECO-2200ZC is part of the LINTEC ECO Series, it also contributes to sustainable graphic design goals! You’re using a 100% recycled polyester base film that diverts post-consumer waste from landfills. It can even contribute towards credits for LEED certification of your building.
Protect Graphics With LINTEC ECO Series UV-Blocking Film
ECO-2200ZC joins a lineup of advanced sustainable films designed for high-end visual performance. Each film in the ECO line is LEED credit eligible and designed for commercial-grade applications from large-format retail to sensitive institutional settings.
Sun-faded graphics waste valuable time and material when you need to replace them, but that’s not all. They just look bad. Lengthen the life of your installation with ECO-2200ZC, a sustainable, optically clear, UV-shielding solution that stands up to harsh sunlight. Since the UV protection is built into the adhesive, you get to enjoy the same face film print quality and scratch resistance you expect from the rest of the ECO line.
Refreshing a seasonal display? Specifying a long-term installation for a high-traffic space? Just ask us about UV-blocking window film. We’re happy to discuss your project, how recycled window films fit in, and send you a free swatchbook of our products. When you’re ready, get a quote!
