Yale In-plant Turns Plastic Bottles Into Posters
In a single year, Yale Printing & Publishing Services saved 340,000 gallons of water, slashed energy use by nearly 20%, cut 8.5 tons of CO₂ emissions, and repurposed 18,000 plastic bottles — proof that sustainable printing can make an outsized impact.
The shop achieved these results by switching its research poster production to Green Valutex, a fabric made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. By using this eco-friendly material in place of virgin substrates, Yale’s in-plant has transformed routine academic printing into a powerful driver of environmental savings. The university recently highlighted the in-plant’s accomplishment in an article on the Yale Office of Sustainability’s site.
Sara Cardinal, large format specialist at Yale Printing & Publishing Services, trims a poster printed on fabric made from recycled plastic bottles. Photo by Robert DeSanto
The move to Green Valutex didn’t happen overnight. YPPS staff rigorously tested the fabric for color accuracy, print quality, and durability, ensuring it met the high standards demanded by faculty and students. The switch has also proven practical: unlike rigid board, the fabric posters can be folded for travel and easily refreshed with a quick steaming. With each square meter of Green Valutex made from about 12 discarded plastic bottles, nearly every fabric research poster produced at Yale now carries a hidden story of waste diverted and resources preserved.
The industry has taken notice. YPPS recently received its second consecutive Green Service Award from the Association of College and University Printers, highlighting its leadership in sustainable print practices. From adopting FSC-informed paper sourcing principles to adding an electric cargo van to its fleet, the shop has built a culture of responsibility that extends far beyond posters. For Yale Printing & Publishing Services, every print job is an opportunity not just to inform, but to inspire — showing how even the smallest changes can add up to big environmental wins. Read the full story here.
