The firm’s ReactivAir offering uses a special coating from US manufacturer PureTi that was developed to keep skyscrapers clean.
Managing director Richard Courtney said he was excited to be officially launching something that had been “a long time in the making”.
“We’ve been working closely with trusted partners to help make this a reality over the last year as we continue to focus on our green credentials as a business,” he said.
“We feel very passionate about this product because we believe that if you could clean the air, why wouldn’t you? We are looking forward to rolling this out for our clients over the coming months and seeing ReactivAir in action.”
Gardners cited results from Sheffield University, showing that 1sqm of ReactivAir could take out “about 2g of NOx per day”.
“This means that a single banner can remove the pollution generated from a bus or about 20 cars every single day,” the firm stated.
Sales director James Morris said the development came about after Cardiff-based Gardners produced a building wrap for installation in London where the client’s chosen design was mainly white.
“The building wrap was grey within five days of being in situ. With ReactivAir we can keep products clean that have a white creative, and it also has the added benefit of turning nasty dioxins into oxides,” he said.
“The way things are going because of Covid-19, the environment has shot up the agenda. For out-of-home, fleet graphics and retail, it’s a natural way of offsetting,” he added.
Morris said that drive-thru restaurants were another potential market.
ReactivAir is applied by spray coating using an electrostatic spray mechanism to give an even finish. It retains its effectiveness for several years as long as it is not painted over.
Morris said the price premium was “like having another layer of ink”.
PureTi's patented coating tech contains 1% nano-scale Titanium Oxide and uses the ultra-violet photocatalysis process. The company is a NASA ‘Dual Use Technology’ partner, a cost-sharing collaboration aimed at the development of products that meet both NASA and commercial needs.
Gardners became part of the £60m-turnover Hexcite Group last year.
