5 ways to upcycle a vinyl banner

In today’s eco-conscious times, we’re all aware of the importance of reusing and recycling as much as we can. If you invest in an Aura Print vinyl banner, you can be sure you’re paying for a quality product that will last for many years, earning you a lot of green points!

However, nothing lasts forever, and if the nature of your business has changed so that your banners are no longer appropriate, or you’re no longer stocking the product that you bought the banners to promote, what do you do with your unwanted banners? Here are a few great suggestions that will keep them out of landfill…

1. Turn them into bags

If you’re nifty with a needle and thread, one great use for old vinyl banners is to turn them into a really funky waterproof bag. Tote bags are the obvious choice as they’re the simplest to make – with a bit of creativity, you can easily turn an old vinyl banner into a cool tote. (For inspiration, check out this Pinterest page.) For really crafty types, there are also free PDF patterns for projects like messenger bags that would be really useful for anyone who regularly commutes to work by bike. But you’d definitely need to know your way around a sewing machine for this one!

2. Donate them to a school/nursery

One thing we all know about school and nursery is that it can get really messy – especially where small children and food/paint/playdough are involved! Vinyl banners, which wipe clean easily, are a great way of protecting a floor or even a carpet. Why not see if your local school or nursery would be interested in taking your vinyl banners for floor protectors during messy play?

3. Freecycle them

"One man’s junk is another man’s treasure," as the saying goes – and you’d be surprised what people are happy to take away, so long as it’s free! Artists, allotment owners and freegans are among those who might be able to find a use for your old banners. There’s only one way to find out – put them on Freecycle!

4. Use them as tarps

Vinyl banners are as strong and waterproof as, well, tarpaulin! So if you’ve got a need to keep the elements out (for covering hay bales, a car or boat, or even as emergency roofing, for example) it’s actually really handy to have a few old vinyl banners handy! Alternatively, you could contact local farms and building yards and see if they might be interested in receiving your old banners for use as tarps.

5. Get them professionally recycled

GA Recycling and Distribution, in Shrewsbury, collects banners from all over the UK in baled format. This is then sorted, rebaled, and shipped to India, where it’s used for umbrellas and roofing. (The company doesn’t have a website, but you can call them on 01939 233808 for more information.)

We hope these tips have given you some ideas if you'd like to recycle or upcycle your printed vinyl PVC banners! If you're currently on the lookout for a new printed banner, you can click right here for our banner customisation options – or just contact our team using the details here, and we'll be happy to tell you more!