Clear, consistent messaging with a strong visual style—that’s what you want your window film material to provide. What if you could do that and do it in an environmentally friendly way? Today, designers and architects can meet both of those goals with eco-friendly building materials like Recycled PET (rPET) from LINTEC of America. This printable window film is durable, flexible, and can be used for large-format installations as well as more intimate designs.
But what exactly are rPETs? Is there a tradeoff for using them? What are the tangible benefits?
Understanding the answers to these questions, as well as the broader environmental and practical benefits of rPET window film material, can help you make a more informed decision when updating your restaurant, retail space, medical facility, classroom, or any other place where visual clarity, durability, cost, and environmental impact of the window graphics are important.
What is Recycled PET?
Architects, contractors, and even building owners will often use the term “vinyl” as a shorthand for any graphic film materials. There was a time when that would have been acceptable, but today there are two very distinct categories of material used for window graphics.
- Some window graphics are created with vinyl or PVC materials.
- Recycled PET window film materials were developed specifically to merge visual performance with sustainable building practices. rPET has been created from reclaimed, cleaned, and repurposed post-consumer plastic products. It’s a circular process that has been perfected and tested over time to ensure that it gives the material the same optical clarity and durability found in traditional materials.
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INFOGRAPHIC SHOWCASING THE STEPS OF THE RECYCLING PROCESS - Collection of materials (i.e. consumer water bottles) Cleaning of the materials Shredding the materials Reprocessing the materials |
Benefits of Recycled PET
Utilizing rPET materials in your office, retail space, visitor center, arena, and other location is about more than just making a strong visual presentation. It’s a way to turn your Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy into a statement which is just one of the many benefits this film material offers. Those benefits can be broken into two categories: how rPET is created and how it is used.
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Practical Benefits of Using rPET |
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Recycling 1 ton of PET saves 7.4 cu. yds. of landfill space. |
Durable and scratch-resistant |
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rPET production uses up to 60% less energy* |
Ideal for large vibrant graphics as well as small, delicate designs |
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Manufacturing with rPET results in 79% fewer greenhouse emissions* |
Compatible with advanced printing technologies |
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rPET production generates 60% less water pollution* |
UV-blocking adhesives can be added |
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Helps meet LEED project requirements and green building standards |
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*vs traditional vinyl manufacturing |
Architects and designers have long sought sustainable materials that still meet an aesthetic standard. The recycled PET materials today are very different from what you might have seen just ten-years ago. They can now deliver a potent combo of clarity, printability, and durability that’s completely comparable to traditional window film material.
Recycled PET vs. Traditional Polyester
The recycled PET film materials from LINTEC have gone through a rigorous development and testing process to ensure that they can meet the visual and usage demands that designers and building developers expect. The result of that process is a material that is able to meet, and in some cases exceed, the expectations set by traditional materials.
Recycled PET |
Traditional Polyester |
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Optical Clarity |
The 100% recycled PET films in the LINTEC ECO series are made in clean-room environments. This helps them to avoid any distortion and provides a high clarity and smooth finish. |
Provides graphics with a strong visual clarity and smooth finish, also made in a clean-room environment. |
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Durability |
Equal to traditional film material with scratch-resistant options available. |
Excellent tensile strength and surface hardness. |
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Print Compatibility |
Designed for today’s most advanced printing technologies. |
Compatible with UV inkjet and eco-solvent inks |
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Cost |
There are no additional costs for “Going Green.” |
Material costs can vary based on the price of petroleum. |
Recycled PET makes Sustainability Simple
As a window film material, recycled PET has come a long way. There are no longer any questions as to if it can be used to bring a design to life in a reliable and clear way. And the versatility it has with printing methods make the decision to incorporate rPET into your space an easy one.
If you are building from the ground up, renovating an existing space, and just needing a signage refresh, doing so in an eco-friendly way has never been an easier or smarter thing to do.
Get in touch with LINTEC of America for samples or to place an order for recycled PET film material.
