Grand-format print plays a vital role in construction, events and retail. But what happens to your banner mesh once it’s come down?
At Mesh Direct, sustainability isn’t an afterthought. That’s why we’ve partnered with Upparel, an Australian textile recycling company, to offer a practical solution for recycling used banner mesh and keeping it out of landfill.
Here’s how the process works and how recycled mesh can be given a second life through innovative materials like Uptex.
Why Recycling Banner Mesh Matters
Banner mesh is designed to be strong, durable, and weather-resistant, which is exactly why it shouldn’t end up in landfill after a single use.
Across construction sites, events, and temporary retail installations, large volumes of mesh are removed once a project wraps up. Without a recycling pathway, that material often has nowhere to go.
Recycling mesh helps to:
- Reduce landfill waste
- Support circular material use
- Lower the environmental impact of temporary signage
- Give end-of-life materials a second purpose
It’s a practical step toward more responsible signage, especially at scale.
Our Partnership with Upparel
Mesh Direct has partnered with Upparel, leaders in textile recovery and recycling in Australia, to help divert used banner mesh from landfill.
Upparel specialises in collecting, sorting, and processing post-consumer and post-industrial textiles, transforming waste materials into new, usable products.
Through this partnership, mesh that has reached the end of its on-site life can be responsibly recycled rather than discarded.
How the Mesh Recycling Process Works
We’ve made the process flexible and easy, depending on how your project is set up.
Option 1: Return Your Mesh to Mesh Direct
Once your project is complete:
- Remove the mesh from site
- Send it back to Mesh Direct
- We coordinate recycling through Upparel on your behalf
This option suits clients managing multiple sites or large volumes of signage.
Option 2: Send Mesh Directly to Upparel
Alternatively, customers can:
- Send used mesh directly to Upparel
- Arrange shipping or drop-off based on their location
This option works well for clients who prefer to manage recycling independently.
What Happens to the Mesh After Collection?
Once collected, the mesh is sorted and processed through Upparel’s recycling systems. While traditional banner mesh can’t always be turned back into the same product, it can be repurposed into new materials — including Uptex.
Uptex: Giving Recycled Textiles a New Purpose
Uptex is an innovative material developed by Upparel, made using recycled textile waste. Instead of textiles ending their life in landfill, they’re transformed into durable composite panels suitable for a wide range of applications.
Uptex panels are used in:
- Furniture and joinery
- Interior fit-outs
- Displays and exhibition elements
- Architectural and design applications
This means materials like banner mesh can live on in an entirely new form — contributing to long-term use rather than short-term waste.
A Practical Step Toward More Sustainable Signage
Sustainability doesn’t come from one big gesture, it comes from realistic, repeatable decisions made across a project’s lifecycle.
By offering a clear recycling pathway and supporting material innovation through partners like Upparel, Mesh Direct helps clients:
- Reduce waste at the end of a project
- Support circular economy initiatives
- Make better end-of-life decisions for signage
- Align with broader sustainability goals
It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress.
Building Better Outcomes, Together
At Mesh Direct, we believe sustainability should be practical, transparent, and achievable. Our partnership with Upparel and support of innovations like Uptex gives our clients a genuine option to recycle used mesh and be part of a more circular future.
If you’d like to learn more about recycling your mesh, or how we can support sustainable signage choices on your next project, our team is always happy to help.
