This recyclable High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) banner material helps reduce the impact of printing on the environment by providing an alternative to vinyl banners. It has great outdoor durability and is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions without fading or losing vibrancy. At 5 oz, it offers similar tear strength to many 13 ounce scrim vinyl products, while the lighter weight makes shipping and disposal less expensive. Available in widths up to 104".

Longevity of 5-20 years indoors, 6 mo. - 1 year outdoors.

Favorite Features

It's eco-friendly, it's PVC-free and recyclable. It has good tear strength for a non-scrim vinyl. It's our least expensive eco-friendly banner option.

Drawbacks

It has a very pronounced texture. It's not as strong as scrim vinyl. It's not opaque. It's not flame resistant.

Best Applications

It's great for short term outdoor banners. It can last for quite a while if installed and maintained properly, but it's most popular for event signage and other uses that don't last more than a few months. 

Indoor Installation

If you are ordering your banner with grommets, the best way to hang it is to put some tension on the grommets so the banner is pulled tight and hangs flat. If you are using banner hanging hardware to hang the banner without grommets, follow the instructions that came with your hardware. We sell banner hanging systems that are inexpensive, make for a great looking hanging display, and don't require any special finishing on the banner.

If your banner is being installed in a display, see the installation instructions for the model you are using. Be sure to choose the correct finishing options to match the type of banner display you have. For example, if you are using an X-banner stand, you will need grommets in the corners of the banner. If you are unsure, tell us in the Special Instructions what display you have so we can make sure the finishing is correct for that specific purpose.

Outdoor Installation

For outdoor use, grommets are the preferred method to attach a banner to just about any surface. It's even more important to keep outdoor banners under tension, because if there is too much slack in the banner, it can whip around in the wind, and the force that generates will tear up the banner or rip out the grommets, no matter how strong the banner material is. We recommend either attaching the banner with something that gives, such as bungee cords, or checking the banner at regular intervals to adjust the tension and keep it tight. Since bungee cords stretch, you can put the banner under tension and it will be able to flex in the wind without coming loose.

For more installations against a wall, such as on the side of a building, you can use screws or bolts with washers through all the grommets, but again, make sure the banner is pulled fairly tight. This type of installation can last for quite a while because the banner is protected by the wall from wind, but you must be sure to take the slack out of the banner. We also have a banner frame system designed to be attached to a wall or the side of a truck that holds the banner smooth and tight, and lets you change the banner fairly easily when necessary. With a system like this, a banner can last for 3 years or more outside since it can't be damaged by wind. Contact us for more information on this banner frame system.

What makes HDPE eco-friendly?

The manufacture and disposal of vinyl, or PVC, has byproducts that can be harmful to the environment and people. Phthalates, dioxins, and vinyl chloride are some of the most well know. Because HDPE production doesn't produce any of these, and it's 100% recyclable so it doesn't have to end up in a landfill, it's considered a much more eco-friendly product. Also, because it weights less than half as much as similar performing vinyl banner materials, transportation costs and fuel consumption used to ship it are greatly reduced as well. It's estimated that the use of HDPE reduces the carbon footprint by over 80% compared to performace equivalent vinyl banner materials.

Are your banners hemmed and grommeted?

The finishing of your banner will depend on the finishing options you select when you order. HDPE would not be hemmed, but you can select the option for hem reinforcement under Other Finishing when ordering to provide extra tear strength for the grommets. This is only necessary for outdoor banners as indoor banners don't need the extra strength, so indoor banners are finished with a clean trimmed edge. Outdoor banner also have a clean trimmed edge, but have the optional reinforcement on the side edges. 

Also under the finishing options you can choose to have grommets added and select the color of grommets you would like.