Corplex, the sole manufacturer of Correx polypropylene (PP) boards, has partnered with Global Media and The Delta Group to introduce a closed-loop recycling system for outdoor advertising materials, beginning with signage mounted on London buses.
At the centre of the initiative is Corplex’s new multi-million pound 22,000sqft deinking facility in Gloucester, developed specifically to recycle printed PP boards used in out-of-home (OOH) media campaigns. The facility enables Corplex to mechanically deink, wash, and reprocess used Correx signage into new boards containing up to 70% recycled content.
Previously, outdoor signage on bus panels involved gluing printed vinyl graphics onto reusable boards, which were typically re-used two or three times before being incinerated or sent to landfill. These methods created non-recyclable waste and contributed to higher carbon emissions.
“With this system, we can now accept the printed Correx boards back after each campaign, process them, and turn them into new signage material,” said Lucas van der Schalk, CEO of Corplex. “It’s a major step forward in sustainable media production.”
According to Corplex, the mechanical deinking system at the Gloucester site cuts carbon emissions by more than 500 tonnes annually, an 80% reduction in CO2 output compared to previous practices. The company says this is equivalent to removing around 110 cars from the road each year or avoiding 1200 one-way flights between London and New York.
“This is a world first for printed PP boards and shows what’s possible when sustainability is embedded into industrial design,” Mr van der Schalk added. “Our partnership with Global and The Delta Group highlights the role collaboration plays in making circular systems viable.”
Global Media, one of the UK’s largest outdoor advertising companies, manages campaigns across bus networks, the London Underground, and various roadside formats. The Delta Group supplies OOH content in both print and digital formats across billboards, bus sides, and transit locations nationwide.
The Delta Group said the system allows the company to reduce waste at the end of each campaign and support the circular use of materials, adding that it’s a practical step toward achieving its environmental goals.
Corplex also confirmed plans to expand its closed-loop recycling model beyond OOH signage to include its AkyPak packaging and other applications using Correx boards. In these areas, the process – collection, shredding, washing, and re-extrusion – will mirror the OOH initiative.
“The shift toward reusable, recyclable substrates is no longer about feasibility – it’s about adoption,” said Mr van der Schalk. “Stakeholders across the industry must now assess materials not just on performance, but on their full lifecycle and recyclability.”
