The physical security industry, long reliant on durable but fossil-based plastics, is facing mounting pressure to re-think its approach to product design. Governments, regulators, and customers alike are urging manufacturers to replace traditional plastics with alternatives that are less harmful to the environment.
This shift comes amid sweeping regulatory changes such as the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), part of its Sustainable Product Policy Initiative.
The aim is ambitious: for “green” products to become the standard across all industries. For security manufacturers, it means re-examining everything from the raw materials in cameras and access control devices to the end-of-life disposal of those products.
“Initiatives like this are urging companies to prioritize the use of more sustainable materials, and making sustainability a priority for stakeholders,” wrote Ausra Reinap, Senior Environmental Engineer at Axis Communications, in a recent company
blog post.
A sector built on plastics
Surveillance cameras, access readers, and other security devices have historically been engineered to withstand extreme weather, vandalism attempts, and years of continuous use. Polycarbonate-based plastics, derived from fossil fuels, have been the material of choice. Their toughness and longevity are seen as essential.
But those same properties are also a liability. Once discarded, many of these plastics persist in landfills for decades or even centuries. Others are incinerated, creating carbon emissions that worsen climate change.
The paradox is clear: the very resilience that makes these plastics attractive for security devices also makes them problematic for the planet.
New options enter the pipeline
The picture is not entirely bleak. Over the past decade, the plastics industry has made significant advances in sustainable alternatives. Security manufacturers now have access to a wider range of materials, including bio-based plastics derived from renewable resources and recycled plastics given a second life through industrial processes.
These materials are no longer confined to disposable packaging or short-use products. They are increasingly robust, designed to withstand the same stresses as traditional plastics.
As Reinap explained, “There are now a growing number of more robust and long-lasting alternatives to virgin plastics, which are increasingly recognized as high-end materials to be used in surveillance products.”
For integrators and end-users, this means sustainable materials may soon become part of mainstream deployments without sacrificing durability.
Quality cannot be compromised
Durability and safety remain non-negotiable in the security business. Cameras mounted outdoors must function in harsh sun, heavy rain, or freezing winters. Devices used in critical infrastructure must comply with strict fire safety and electrical standards.
This makes the transition to sustainable plastics particularly challenging. The industry cannot risk reputational or functional failures caused by unproven materials. Reinap emphasized this point: “One challenge is that safety requirements may not be in line with sustainability requirements. Companies can’t jeopardize safety in favor of sustainability.”
Manufacturers are therefore subjecting sustainable materials to rigorous testing regimes, often more demanding than those applied to conventional plastics. These include accelerated aging tests, flammability assessments, and exposure to chemicals or UV light.
The good news? Some recycled and bio-based plastics are already outperforming fossil-based materials on certain measures of resilience and effectiveness.
Getting ahead of regulation
Another risk lies in the long lifecycles of security products. A surveillance camera installed today could still be in operation a decade from now. But what if the plastic used to make it becomes restricted under future regulations?
Forward-thinking manufacturers are already working to “future-proof” their product pipelines by identifying and phasing out risky substances, such as brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, before they are legally banned.
“Phasing out substances in advance of legal requirements not only ensures readiness for compliance, but provides a competitive advantage,” Reinap noted.
The supply chain challenge
Choosing sustainable plastics is not just a technical decision; it is also an ethical and social one. True sustainability requires transparency about where materials come from and how they are produced.
For example, bio-based plastics may be derived from crops. But if those crops are grown on land that could otherwise produce food for local populations, the “sustainable” choice could have hidden negative consequences.
“There is a lot to dig into to ensure security companies are making the most sustainable choice possible, while balancing it with developing a high quality, high performance end product,” Reinap explained.
That means working closely with material providers, demanding visibility into supply chains, and weighing trade-offs between environmental, social, and performance factors.
The cost question
Despite advances, sustainable plastics still come at a higher raw material price compared to conventional options. For manufacturers already facing price-sensitive customers, this can be a stumbling block.
The challenge is even greater when products must be redesigned to accommodate new materials, requiring fresh rounds of certification and compliance checks.
Yet industry analysts note that economies of scale are beginning to ease this burden. As more companies commit to sustainable plastics, costs are expected to decline.
Reinap echoed this optimism: “The proliferation of more sustainable materials on the market is inevitably making production more cost-efficient. This trend will continue as more manufacturers opt for recycled and bio-based materials over traditional plastics.”
Redesigning for sustainability
Switching to sustainable materials does not always mean starting from scratch. Many manufacturers are experimenting with upgrading existing products by swapping out certain components for recycled or bio-based equivalents.
This requires investment in design modifications and extensive retesting, but newly developed methods for boosting the quality of recycled plastics are making such transitions more feasible.
Manufacturers must also consider the full lifecycle of their products, from production through to recycling and disposal. A more circular approach, where end-of-life devices are collected and reprocessed into new materials, is seen as the ultimate goal.
Towards a resilient, sustainable future
The security industry is at a crossroads. On one side are decades of reliance on plastics that, while functional, leave an environmental burden. On the other side lies a future where cameras and access control devices are built from sustainable materials, designed for circularity, and compliant with strict global regulations.
“Innovation in the plastics industry has provided more sustainable options to choose from than ever before, many of which offer the same – if not greater – quality and longevity as their virgin plastic counterparts,” Reinap wrote.
The transition will not be immediate. For many manufacturers, “green” will remain aspirational rather than standard in the near term. But momentum is building, and those that act early could enjoy reputational and competitive benefits.
The role of integrators and consultants
For security systems integrators, the main decision-makers in deploying hardware at scale, the shift in materials raises practical questions.
Will sustainable devices carry a premium cost? How should end-users be educated about the environmental value of choosing sustainable products?
Consultants may also need to update specifications to reflect environmental criteria, not just performance or price. As regulations tighten, compliance could become a key differentiator in winning tenders.
Conclusion
The global drive toward sustainability is reshaping industries from automotive to construction. Security, with its reliance on plastics, cannot be an exception. The combination of regulatory pressure, customer demand, and technological innovation is making the move to sustainable plastics not just desirable, but inevitable.
As Reinap summarized in her blog post: “The move to a sustainable future doesn’t come without its challenges, and it may be some years to come before ‘green’ is seen as the norm. Yet forward-thinking manufacturers are already opting for sustainable materials that have a more limited impact on the environment while providing customers with high-quality, long-lasting, and resilient products.”
For an industry that prides itself on resilience, making products environmentally resilient may be its next big test.