What Are Billboards Made Out Of?

A question that people commonly ask us is what are billboards made out of? When it comes to the material most used to create traditional billboards, the answer is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE). PVC has been the frontrunner in the billboard industry for decades. In recent years, PE has been introduced as a recyclable alternative in the billboard industry. No matter which option you choose, both are highly advantageous and serve as great materials to be used for the production of billboards. Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the two and what they have to offer.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Billboards

PVC is a commonly used plastic consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. PVC has been a popular choice for billboard material as its very durable, easy to print on, and reasonably priced. Additionally, PVC billboards are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions so they are UV-protected and waterproof.

One disadvantage to PVC, especially for eco-friendly brands, is that its non-biodegradable. While this is a downfall, there are companies that specialize in reusing these billboards. Some companies resell these PVC billboards as pond liners and heavy-duty tarps. There’s even a unique company, Rareform, that repurposes these billboards into items like backpacks, duffle bags, and laptop sleeves. Despite these billboards being non-recyclable, these options at least find positive ways to alleviate the negative impact on the environment.

Polyethylene (PE) Billboards

PE is the most common type of plastic worldwide and is rising in popularity in the outdoor advertising industry. PE billboards (also referred to as “eco-posters” or
“Eco-flex vinyl”) are known for their environmental friendliness. PE is a recyclable, light-weight material. Their light-weight also means they require less energy to produce compared to PVC and makes them easier to ship!

While PE billboards have their upsides, they also have a few downsides as well. Compared to PVC billboards, PE billboards are more costly and not quite as durable. PE can also be more difficult to print on and require specific inks like LED-UV cured ink or mercury-arc, UV-cured ink.

No matter the material for your next campaign, BillboardsIn.com is here to help!