By Mark Smith 05/08/2026

Under: News and Events

How to Choose the Most Sustainable Option for Your Workplace

Sustainability is no longer just a corporate ambition; it's an essential part of everyday purchasing decisions. Across the UK, businesses are seeking to make better choices in terms of responsibility without sacrificing quality or compliance, whether it’s reducing waste or enhancing their environmental performance.

One area that is often overlooked is safety signage. Each safety sign has a purpose: to protect employees, visitors and contractors by clearly communicating important information. But the material the sign is printed on can also help support your organisation’s sustainability goals.

At Enfield Safety, we've developed a range of eco-conscious signage materials alongside our ecoSCORE system, helping customers compare the environmental credentials of different materials. Combined with our commitment as a Carbon Neutral+ organisation, we're making it easier for businesses to choose safety signage that supports both site safety and a more sustainable future.

When printing and finishing our signs, we carefully design and arrange each layout on our print sheets to maximise material usage and minimise waste. By making the most efficient use of our print sheets, we reduce unnecessary material waste, helping to make our printing process more sustainable while also providing a more cost-effective solution for our clients. We are proud to confirm that we have less than 2.8% wastage per sheet. 

Why Sustainable Safety Signage Matters

Whether you're fitting out a new site, or updating damaged signage the materials you use can have a lasting environmental impact.

Choosing the right materials can help to:

• Reduce waste where possible
• Promote more sustainable procurement practice
• Improve recyclability at the end of a product's life
• Ensure that the sign’s life expectancy matches its intended use

Understanding Enfield Safety's ecoSCORE

To help customers make informed choices, Enfield Safety has introduced the ecoSCORE system.

Each signage material is given an ecoSCORE, which makes it easy to compare the environmental credentials of the available options. Each material has its own use, but the ecoSCORE allows you to think about sustainability in the same way as durability, weather resistance and intended use.

Comparing Our Eco-Friendly Sign Materials

ecoALUBORD –Long-Term Performance

ecoSCORE: 90

The ecoALUBORD is a good choice for fire trolley backboards and maxi safety stations, where durability is required as it has the best ecoSCORE of the Enfield Safety range.

Constructed of lightweight aluminium composite material it is highly durable weather resistant and impact resistant making it ideal for demanding indoor and outdoor environments.

Ideal for:

• Trolley backboards
• Warehouse
• Manufacturing facilities
• Construction sites

Key benefits

• Highest ecoSCORE in the range
• Waterproof
• High impact strength
• Excellent longevity
• Suitable for internal and external use

ecoBUBBLE – A Practical Choice

ecoSCORE: 70

ecoBUBBLE and ecoFOAM are both lightweight, waterproof signage boards designed for temporary and semi-permanent applications. Both are durable, easy to install, and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

With a slightly higher ecoSCORE, ecoBUBBLE is the more sustainable option, offering excellent performance while reducing environmental impact. Its lightweight yet tough construction makes it ideal for busy site conditions where practicality and ease of handling are essential.

Ideal for:

• Construction sites
• Temporary project signage
• Site information boards
• General workplace safety signs

Key benefits:

• Slightly more sustainable option
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Waterproof
• Tough enough for demanding site environments
• Easy to drill
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

ecoFOAM – A Smoother, Premium Finish

ecoSCORE: 65

ecoFOAM delivers many of the same practical benefits as ecoBUBBLE, making it an excellent choice for everyday workplace and construction signage. While its ecoSCORE is slightly lower, it provides a smoother, higher-quality finish, making it the preferred option where presentation is just as important as performance.

Containing 30% recycled material and being 100% recyclable, ecoFOAM still offers strong environmental credentials alongside its enhanced appearance.

Ideal for:

• Site entrances
• Site compounds and welfare facilities
• Temporary site offices
• Hoarding signage
• Internal refurbishment projects

Key benefits:

• Smooth, premium surface finish
• Lightweight
• Waterproof
• Easy to drill
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

ecoCOR-X – The Traditional Choice for Outdoor Signage

ecoSCORE: 50

ecoCOR-X is the industry-standard material for temporary outdoor signage. Widely used across construction, infrastructure and events, it has long been trusted for projects where durable, weather-resistant signage is required for a limited period.

Its lightweight, fluted construction makes it easy to transport, handle and install, while its waterproof properties ensure reliable performance in outdoor environments. Although designed primarily for external use, it is equally suitable for indoor applications where a cost-effective temporary sign is needed.

Ideal for:

• Temporary construction signage
• Phased construction works
• Diversion and pedestrian route signage
• Site boundary and perimeter signs
• Short-term site information

Key benefits:

• Traditional material for temporary outdoor signage
• Lightweight and easy to install
• Waterproof and weather-resistant
• Tough enough for demanding site environments
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications

ecoLUME – Glow-in-the-Dark Safety Signage

ecoSCORE: 50

ecoLUME is a durable, photoluminescent material that absorbs ambient light and glows in the dark, helping safety information remain visible during power failures or in low-light conditions.

Most commonly used as the back board for photoluminescent fire trolleys and fire points, ecoLUME provides a highly visible backdrop that makes emergency equipment easier to locate when it matters most. It is also an excellent choice for a wide range of emergency and safety signage throughout buildings and workplaces.

Ideal for:

• Photoluminescent fire trolley and fire point backboards
• Fire exit signs
• Emergency escape route signage
• First aid signage
• Assembly point signs

Key benefits:

• Glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent performance
• Waterproof
• Lightweight
• High impact strength
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

ecoSTIK – Flexible Adhesive Graphics

ecoSCORE: 0

While ecoSTIK carries an ecoSCORE of 0 within Enfield Safety's rating system, it remains the ideal solution where adhesive graphics are required.

Its flexible, high-gloss finish makes it suitable for labels, equipment identification, machinery graphics and other applications where a rigid sign would not be practical.

Ideal for:

• Asset labels
• Machinery labels
• Equipment identification
• Window graphics
• Self-adhesive safety stickers

Key benefits

• Flexible material
• Easy to apply
• High-gloss finish
• Suitable for both small labels and large graphics
• Indoor and outdoor application

Which Material Is Right for Your Project?

Every workplace has different requirements, so choosing the right material depends on how and where the sign will be used.

Requirement	Recommended Material
Robust and hardwearing	ecoALUBORD
Everyday workplace signage	ecoFOAM
Lightweight site signage	ecoBUBBLE
Temporary signage	ecoCOR-X
Emergency escape signage	ecoLUME
Labels and adhesive graphics	ecoSTIK

Selecting the correct material not only helps ensure your signage performs as intended but can also contribute towards more sustainable purchasing decisions.

Sustainability Beyond the Sign

Choosing environmentally conscious materials is only one part of creating a more sustainable workplace.

At Enfield Safety, sustainability is embedded throughout our business. As a Carbon Neutral+ organisation, we're committed to reducing our environmental impact while helping customers make informed choices about the products they buy.

By combining responsibly selected signage materials with our wider sustainability initiatives, we're supporting businesses across the UK in meeting both their health and safety responsibilities and their environmental objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most sustainable safety sign material?

Within Enfield Safety's range, ecoALUBORD currently achieves the highest ecoSCORE, making it the strongest environmental performer according to our rating system.

Are eco-friendly safety signs suitable for outdoor use?

Yes. Materials including ecoALUBORD, ecoBUBBLE, ecoFOAM, ecoCOR-X and ecoLUME are all suitable for both internal and external applications.

Does recycled material affect the quality of safety signs?

No. Materials such as ecoFOAM combine recycled content with durability, ensuring your signage remains clear, compliant and fit for purpose.

Why should businesses consider sustainable signage?

Careful selection of the right signage material will assist in achieving sustainability goals by reducing waste as well as contributing to overall environmental and ESG goals.

Make a More Sustainable Choice with Enfield Safety

When replacing a single safety sign or specifying signage across multiple locations, selecting the right material can make a meaningful difference.

With a range of eco-conscious material, clear ecoSCORE guidance and our commitment as a Carbon Neutral+ organisation, Enfield Safety makes it easier to balance compliance, performance and sustainability.

Ready to upgrade your workplace signage?

Explore our range of eco-friendly safety signs or contact the Enfield Safety team for expert advice on choosing the best material for your application. Together, we can help you create safer workplaces while supporting a more sustainable future.