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Sustainable signage means road signs made from recycled material, built to last, and fully recyclable at the end of their working life. Climate Signs, supplied in the UK by IRSS UK, are sustainable road signs made from recycled plastic, with a CE mark on the total product. IRSS UK, whose founder Peter Hoban co-authored the ARTSM national guidance on bagging off, supplies them to councils and contractors who need to show more than a promise on sustainability.
What "Sustainable Signage" Actually Means
The phrase gets used loosely, so it helps to pin it down. A sustainable sign should meet three tests. It should use recycled content rather than virgin material. It should last long enough that it does not need replacing early. And it should be recyclable when it is finally retired, so the material is recovered rather than sent to landfill.
Climate Signs are built around those three tests. They are produced from recycled plastic using an injection moulded process, which gives consistent, guaranteed quality from one sign to the next. They are impact resistant, designed for a long working life on the highway, and 100 percent recyclable at the end of it. For schemes with a biodiversity focus, a plug and play insect hotel and bee hotel option is also available.
Why It Matters for UK Highway Schemes
Sustainability is no longer a side issue in highways procurement. The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies to consider wider economic, social and environmental benefits when they buy services, and the Procurement Act 2023 keeps that focus on the outcomes a contract delivers. Many councils now score tenders on environmental and social value, so the products a contractor specifies can affect how a bid is marked.
There is also a wider policy backdrop. The government's 25 Year Environment Plan set an ambition to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042. A sign made from recycled plastic that can be recycled again fits that direction of travel far better than a throwaway alternative.
How to Judge a Sustainability Claim
Not every green label deserves the same trust. The Competition and Markets Authority's Green Claims Code says environmental claims must be truthful and accurate, clear and unambiguous, and backed by robust evidence. In practice, that gives buyers a simple checklist to run against any supplier.
- Ask what the product is made from, and whether the recycled content is stated plainly.
- Ask what happens at end of life, and whether the product can actually be recycled.
- Ask for the compliance evidence, such as a CE mark that covers the total product.
- Be cautious of headline figures that come without a method or a source.
IRSS UK keeps its Climate Signs claims to what it can stand behind: recycled plastic, injection moulded quality, impact resistance, a CE mark on the total product, and 100 percent recyclability. If a scheme needs carbon data, ask for it as part of the specification and expect a documented source.
Where Climate Signs Are Already Specified
This is not a concept product. VolkerHighways took delivery of nearly 100 Climate Signs for West Sussex Council, a good example of how a large infrastructure programme can specify recycled plastic signs at scale. For a wider view of how IRSS UK helps councils cut single-use plastic, see the Doncaster Council case study and the Sustainability and Social Value page.
Peter Hoban also discusses the thinking behind IRSS UK's sustainable products on the Full Circle podcast. Climate Signs sit alongside the CoverMe pole system, which is a separate range of three products: traffic light covers, Belisha beacon covers and road sign covers.
Common Questions
What are Climate Signs?
Climate Signs are sustainable road signs made from recycled plastic. They give councils and contractors a more responsible alternative to traditional road signs, with consistent quality and a long working life.
Are Climate Signs recyclable?
Yes. Climate Signs are 100 percent recyclable, so the material can be recovered and reused at the end of the sign's life instead of going to landfill.
Do Climate Signs have a CE mark?
Yes. Climate Signs carry a CE mark on the total product and are impact resistant with a long lifespan.
What does sustainable signage mean for a council tender?
It means specifying products with recycled content, a long service life and a recycling route at end of life, and being able to evidence each claim. Under the Social Value Act 2012 and the Procurement Act 2023, those choices can support a bid's environmental and social value scoring.
Can a sign support wildlife?
Yes. A plug and play insect hotel and bee hotel option is available with Climate Signs, so a sign can also support local biodiversity.
The Takeaway
Sustainable signage is about evidence, not labels: recycled content, a long life, and a clear route to recycling. Climate Signs meet that standard with claims IRSS UK can back up. To discuss a specification, quantities or pricing, see the Climate Signs page or contact IRSS UK.
