OM Signage Film

PVC signage films are toxic, non-recyclable, and remain the industry default - used in retail, exhibition, and event graphics despite serious environmental and health consequences. They contain phthalates and petrochemical binders, release VOCs, and generate dioxins during manufacture and disposal. Most are discarded after a single use - either sent to landfill where they leach chemicals into the ground, or incinerated, releasing hazardous emissions. Yet no viable alternative matched vinyl’s visual quality and ease of use. The challenge: develop a safe, biodegradable, non-petrochemical material that integrates into existing signage workflows. OM Signage Film was developed to meet this challenge, without compromise.

OM Signage Film is a patent-pending formulation made with an algae-derived polymer coloured with locally-milled pigments. It contains no petrochemicals or harmful additives. Designed for temporary use across retail, exhibition, and events, it prints, cuts, and installs like standard vinyl—fully compatible with existing signage workflows. On clean, smooth surfaces like glass or polished metal, it adheres without adhesive and removes cleanly. Unlike vinyl, it can be reused multiple times and remelted into new sheets, enabling a closed-loop lifecycle. Produced in Melbourne using low-energy methods, OM Signage Film delivers professional performance while radically reducing toxicity, waste, and environmental impact.

OM Signage Film replaces a globally harmful material, PVC, with a regenerative, non-toxic alternative. It avoids petrochemicals, reduces waste, and eliminates exposure to harmful additives like phthalates, which are associated with serious health impacts including reduced fertility. Most vinyl is incinerated or sent to landfill; OM’s film can be reused, reshaped, or remade – supporting a circular system. Commercially, it’s been adopted across 60+ Aēsop stores worldwide, demonstrating scalability. Environmentally, it offers a lower-carbon, closed-loop option. Culturally, it challenges assumptions about what signage can be – proving that practical materials can also be safer, more sustainable, and aligned with responsible design values.

Other Matter® (Non)Vinyl Signage Material is a sustainable replacement for conventional PVC signage films. Made from a proprietary, patent-pending polymer derived from red algae and other renewable inputs, the material is entirely non-petrochemical, biodegradable, and non-toxic. It can be printed, cut, and installed using existing signage equipment—avoiding the need for new tools or training. On smooth surfaces like glass, it adheres without adhesive, enabling clean removal and reuse. When applied to other surfaces, it can be installed with standard removable adhesives. The material can be produced in a wide range of transparencies, colours, and patterns, delivering a refined, high-end finish that performs visually across retail, exhibition, and spatial applications. It is lightweight and low-energy to produce, and avoids phthalates, PVC, and synthetic binders. At end-of-life, it can be melted down and reformed, or composted in decentralised settings—supporting regenerative, circular lifecycle pathways. Currently handcrafted in Melbourne, production is scalable and plans are in place for decentralised manufacturing and return hubs to support industry adoption. The product has been recognised by CSIRO with the 2024 prize for the most promising advancement in achieving the Ending Plastic Waste Mission Goal.