Signs, especially ones designed around a company’s or municipality’s brand, are often made through a bespoke process, using relatively unique design. This is often at odds with the principles of the circular economy, and in Sweden alone, an astounding 5000 tonnes of signage sent to landfill each year. But innovative Malmö-based sign-maker Accus AB have proved that this doesn’t need to be the case!

By focusing on functional signs, which are designed to be reused and repaired, Accus are able to reuse up to up to 99% of their signs. It has managed this designing signs in a modular way which can be maintained and adjusted, by offering take-back services, and by even providing signage-as-a-service.

This wasn‘t always the business model of Accus, which started out as a traditional ‘linear economy’ sign-maker. But owner André Zandalin wanted to make difference and do more for the environment, and took the bold decision to transform his functioning but linear business into an innovative circular business.

There are some challenges to being circular. Sometimes, for instance, perfectly reusable signs get thrown out, as people don’t always know about the options to refurbish or reuse them. One thing which might solve this is changing to a rent or subscription model. Another challenge is that buyers are too focused on lowest price rather than best value, or lowest life-cycle cost.

For cities interested in procuring circular signs, one option can be specifying in tenders that they want to buy signs which can be used multiple times. They could also take a more innovative approach, focusing more on service and function, and less on products and materials. By designing circular solutions with suppliers, cities can support the circular transition while also improving the function of their own branding and signage.

Accus were one of the businesses who addressed the Baltic Circular Procurement Congress on 2-3^rd September. They have also been featured in Circular PP’s report on Alternative Business Models for the Circular Economy (or see the summary version here).