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Most companies don’t include signage in their sustainability plans. It’s treated as an IT or marketing function, something to manage, not something to measure.
But the power draw adds up. The paper waste adds up. The trucks that deliver updated posters every quarter? That adds up too.
Meanwhile, teams are being asked to show progress, cut operational waste, and communicate ESG work clearly across the business. Green digital signage can support all three, but only if it’s managed with the same intent as the rest of your footprint.
How Green Digital Signage Supports Real Sustainability Goals
1. Energy Efficiency: The Core of Green Digital Displays
Energy efficiency is the most immediate way to reduce the impact of digital signage. Most modern displays now use far less electricity than older models, thanks to improvements in display technology and power control. For example, LED signage with ENERGY STAR certification typically consumes about 4% less energy than conventional units.
Meanwhile, newer high-end designs are pushing efficiency even further. For instance, the Philips Signage 3000 Series 50-inch signage model, built with an EcoDesign approach, consumes 50% less power than comparable earlier-generation displays.
Find energy-efficient smart TVs & displays for digital signage here
Beyond standard improvements, some technologies are designed specifically for low-energy use. E-paper displays only draw power when content changes. They do not require backlighting or continuous refresh, which makes them well-suited for applications that show static information.
These low-power digital displays can run for weeks on battery power and can even be powered entirely by solar panels. In practice, this means yearly energy consumption measured in single-digit kilowatt-hours, rather than the 40 to 100 kilowatt-hours typically used by LCD signage of the same size.
2. Reducing Material Waste: A Shift from Print to Digital
One clear environmental benefit of paperless digital signage is the significant drop in printed waste. When a screen takes over from a bulletin board or printed poster, there’s no need to keep producing flyers, banners, or signs that quickly go out of date. Updates happen digitally, as often as needed, without adding to the printing pile.
Retailers are seeing similar results. Electronic shelf labels, which use e-ink to show prices on store shelves, have been rolled out by the hundreds of millions. These displays make it possible to change pricing and product details remotely without printing and replacing paper tags. One study estimates that using e-paper price tags produces 32,000 times fewer emissions compared to constantly printing and discarding traditional tags.
The same idea applies to internal updates and public displays. A single digital screen can rotate messages that would have required separate posters, flyers, or inserts. This small change helps organizations cut back on the waste and costs tied to printed materials, including ink, packaging, and disposal.
3. Sustainable Hardware: Built for Longevity and Recyclability
The environmental cost of a display is not only in its energy use, but also in its materials, its durability, and what happens when it’s retired.
Manufacturers are beginning to design with that full lifecycle in mind. OLED panels are cutting back on plastic and using eco-friendly signage materials like metal and glass, which are more durable and easier to recycle. ViewSonic, as one example, achieved an EPEAT Gold for its interactive display stands, which are manufactured with over 90% post-consumer recycled materials in its 65-inch series.
This matters at scale. Displays with longer lifespans mean fewer replacements and less e-waste. Modular designs that allow component upgrades extend usability further. And better sourcing using non-toxic, recyclable materials makes hardware disposal safer and cleaner.
Procurement teams looking to align with corporate sustainability policies should start evaluating displays the same way they assess any ESG-relevant equipment: by total lifecycle impact, not just price or screen quality.
4. Smart Operations: Leveraging Technology for Sustainability
Smart management tools now help reduce energy waste and environmental impact during everyday use. One simple yet effective approach is setting power schedules. Unlike a printed sign, a digital display doesn’t need to stay on when no one is around.
Many buildings already turn off lobby and hallway screens at night, and retail stores are starting to do the same. In some countries, it's now required. Both Germany and Spain have introduced rules that require signs and storefront displays to be shut off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to save power.
Newer screens also adjust brightness automatically based on lighting conditions, or stay in standby mode until someone walks by. These settings may seem small, but they can reduce energy use by 20% or more.
Remote management platforms take it further. With one dashboard, teams can adjust screen settings, monitor power use, and avoid unnecessary maintenance trips. It’s less time on the road, lower emissions, and longer product life, all built into the way the system runs.
5. ESG Compliance and Reporting: Demonstrating Sustainable Practices
Digital signage turns ESG data into something visible, timely, and trusted.
In LEED-certified buildings, for example, it’s common to see digital dashboards displaying real-time energy use, solar generation, or air quality readings. These displays help occupants understand their environment, and they hold building operators accountable.
Companies are also using digital signage internally to share progress on ESG targets: recycling volumes, renewable energy percentages, and volunteer hours logged. In some cases, live KPIs aligned with GRI or SASB standards appear on internal screens, replacing static reports.
For external stakeholders, signage builds credibility. A corporate lobby screen cycling through certifications (e.g. ENERGY STAR, CarbonNeutral, ISO 14001) sends a stronger message than a printed flyer. It’s current, transparent, and verifiable.
Industry Applications: Examples with Measurable Impact
The environmental benefits of green digital signage are already playing out across industries. Here are three areas where the shift from print to screen is helping teams reduce waste, lower emissions, and improve how information gets shared.
Retail and Grocery
More stores are moving away from printed materials and choosing eco-friendly display solutions that update in real time. In grocery aisles, e-paper shelf labels show changing prices without the need for reprinting or restocking labels. These screens use very little energy and help stores avoid the daily waste that comes from paper tags.
Retailers are also using sustainable digital displays for product info, promotions, and even in-aisle advertising. Because updates happen remotely, there’s no need to ship and install new signs each time something changes.
Many of these screens use sensors to dim or turn off when no one is around, cutting down on power use while keeping the experience consistent for shoppers. The result is a cleaner, more efficient way to communicate that reduces waste without creating more work.
Corporate offices and campuses
In office buildings, screens are helping companies cut back on paper while keeping teams informed. Instead of printed memos or posters, staff see updates on shared digital displays in hallways, lobbies, or break rooms. Some companies also use screens to highlight green building features like solar panel output or water use.
This helps meet certification goals and creates a more transparent workplace. In many offices, screens are used to promote carpooling, recycling, or company-wide challenges related to sustainability.
These messages are easy to update, and because everything is controlled from a central dashboard, the screens can be turned off when the building is empty.
Transit systems and city networks
Instead of static maps or printed schedules, many train stations and bus stops now use screens that show live arrival times and service updates. Some cities are using solar-powered displays with e-paper that work day and night without drawing energy from the grid. These signs don’t need replacing, and they stay clear in sunlight, which means they’re easier for people to read without wasting energy.
In cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, public screens also share air quality data and weather info. These displays help cities move closer to their climate goals by combining useful communication with low-impact technology.
Make Green Digital Signage Part of Your ESG Strategy
Screens are already part of your buildings, your teams, and your operations. But unless they’re managed with purpose, they quietly work against your ESG goals.
When updates, power use, and messaging are all handled in one place, green digital signage becomes something you can trust, not just to inform, but to support the work your sustainability plans are already doing.
Start a 14-day free trial or book a demo with Look DS to see how better signage management fits into the systems you’re already improving.
