The Intersection of Luxury and Sustainability: Recycled Acrylic and Visual Merchandising

Seeing sustainability intersect with luxury fashion is no longer a distant reality; an increasing number of sustainable materials are now being adopted by top-tier fashion houses and popular designer brands. As one of the most important components in any Visual Merchandising set-up – from window displays to temporary POP displays – acrylic has been at the forefront of this shift for some time.

Today’s consumers not only expect unique experiences when it comes to shopping but also demand more considered and responsible purchases from their favourite brands. This is where recycled acrylic steps in. With its ability to capture the audience’s attention while providing a long-term education on environmental impacts, recycled acrylic provides both luxury visuals without compromising sustainability goals.

As part of the Visual Merchandising sector, we are excited to introduce recycled acrylic with the Global Recycled Standard for store window props and temporary POP display projects.

Recycled Acrylic: Characteristics and Standards

The Global Recycled Standard is an international, voluntary, full-product standard that sets high requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, a chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. With a minimum post-consumer acrylic percentage of 50% and additional requirements related to processing and chemical use, recycled acrylic can help the luxury industry create sustainable visual merchandising that aligns with the values of its patrons.

Recycled acrylic with Global Recycled Standard 4.0 offers several benefits to be incorporated into Visual Merchandising projects.

Zero-waste to landfill
Less use of virgin materials
Less CO2 emission
Less operation cost
Same mechanical and physical characteristics as traditional acrylic

As mentioned, recycled acrylic shares the same properties as traditional acrylic, offering great customization options for visual merchandising projects. It can be cut, dyed, and shaped to create window display props and temporary POP displays that meet the exact specifications of the brands, making it ideal for creating unique presentations that draw attention to products and help increase sales.

Examples of Recycled Acrylic in Luxury Fashion Visual Merchandising

For example, Louis Vuitton’s Rotterdam store in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has tables made from plastic waste to reduce the environmental impact of point-of-sale (POS) advertising. Since POS advertising is seasonal, eco-design promotes more creative and sustainable solutions for visual merchandising projects and preserves resources.

Ganni, a Danish fashion brand, used recycled plastic waste to create display podiums and vases in its first flagship store in Soho, London, the UK. The Danish brand aims to eliminate the plastic they do not need and achieve a circular economy for everything they use. Therefore, such a sustainable practice in visual merchandising demonstrates not only the brand’s commitment to sustainability but also to its customers. It facilitates businesses to adopt environmentally friendly materials to realize Visual Merchandising concepts.

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Overcoming Potential Challenges with Recycled Acrylic

Although recycled acrylic is a useful material for visual merchandising, it does come with some challenges. It is important to note that recycled acrylic has a lower density than traditional acrylic. This means it may not achieve the same level of perfection when creating window display props or POS displays. It also has a shorter lifespan compared to traditional acrylic. However, it is still durable and can be bent and polished like traditional acrylic. One of its greatest benefits is its recyclability, which prevents landfill waste.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the commitment of luxury brands to sustainability catalyzes their suppliers to explore sustainable alternatives that minimize any potential environmental impact. Using recycled acrylic for visual merchandising is one of the significant steps toward a more sustainable future. Rather than relying on fresh resources, this approach is an opportunity to repurpose existing waste and lessens the need to dispose of waste in landfills.

As more brands look to adopt eco-responsible strategies in their Visual Merchandising displays, we can expect to see even more interesting intersections between luxury and sustainability emerging soon. Brands such as Louis Vuitton and Ganni are great examples of how recycled acrylic can create beautiful POS displays and luxury store counters, displaying a brand’s commitment to sustainable and stylish products. This can encourage more businesses to adopt sustainable practices, thus promoting the importance of sustainability in the visual merchandising sector.

At TDF Asia, we offer flexible visual merchandising solutions in just 5 easy steps. Learn more about creating window displays, product displays, and fixtures for the luxury retail industry. Please do not hesitate to contact our project management team at enquiry@tdf-asia.com or give us a call at +852 2116 9583.