Epaper vs LED/LCD: The case for sustainable signage

Digital signage is everywhere: in transport hubs, shops, outdoor adverts, indoor displays. But not all screen technologies are equal when it comes to energy use, longevity and environmental impact. Epaper (also known as electronic ink, eink) offers a different model, and MpicoSys is making a strong case for it.

Power draw: “always on” vs “update-only”

Traditional LED or LCD displays must be backlit (or front/back illuminated) continuously to remain readable. This means even if the content does not change, they draw power continuously (“always on”). By contrast, epaper only uses power when the content changes; once an image or text is set, it can remain visible without further energy input. Epaper signage uses no energy until change and strives for the lowest power technically possible. 

Visibility in outdoor / bright environments

One of the traditional weak points for LCDs and LEDs (especially non-high end) is glare, visibility in bright daylight, and viewing angles. Epaper, however, behaves more like paper: it is reflective rather than emissive, so in bright ambient light it can be very legible (often better in direct sun than many backlit screens). MpicoSys offers outdoor signage and modules (e.g. EPIS system) designed for open frame eink display module IP65 suitable for outdoor conditions.

Maintenance and cost differences

• Maintenance: LEDs/LCDs have many more active components, backlighting, cooling requirements, more fragile parts, and often require more frequent servicing or replacement of parts like backlights or LEDs. Epaper modules have fewer moving or heat-producing parts and generally simpler electronics (especially when “always on” illumination isn’t needed). MpicoSys designs its epaper products with resistance in mind (e.g. outdoor, low temp, solar powered, etc.).
  
  
• Cost over time: While LED/LCD displays may sometimes be cheaper to purchase for certain brightness/size specs, their operational costs (electricity, cooling, maintenance) are higher. Epaper’s lower energy consumption and greater durability (for static or semi-static content) can make it more cost-efficient in the long run.
  
  

Eco-impact: reducing e-waste and energy consumption

• Energy consumption: As noted, epaper draws power only for updates, meaning huge savings where signage is static or changes infrequently (e.g. price labels, timetables, wayfinding, etc.). MpicoSys explicitly emphasizes “no energy until change” signage.
  
  
• Longevity & durability: Less strain from heat, fewer active lighting components means potentially longer lifetimes, fewer replacements, less resource waste.
  
  
• Material and battery/ecosystem considerations: MpicoSys also works on “solar powered” and “no battery” / low-battery solutions (and in some cases NFC-updated labels), which further reduce environmental footprints — fewer batteries to dispose of, fewer energy losses, less infrastructure needed.
  
  

Where epaper outperforms in real-world deployments

Here are some areas where epaper is already proving itself:

• Transport / passenger information systems: Static or scheduled updates (bus stops, train schedules) are ideal. MpicoSys’s EPIS (Epaper Passenger Information System) is one example: outdoor signage modules for bus stops, etc., that don’t need continuous power like a LED screen.
  
  
• Retail and price labels: Electronic shelf labels or price tags that update occasionally (maybe daily) benefit hugely: reduced energy draw, simpler maintenance. Pico Label NFC Updated Labels are an example.
  
  
• Signage & wayfinding: Both indoor (e.g. exhibition halls, offices) and outdoor signs can use epaper to reduce glare, operate in bright light without huge energy cost, and last longer.
  
  
• Outdoor advertising: When content changes less frequently (e.g. daily or weekly), epaper can outperform LED billboards in terms of energy costs and environmental impact, especially when combined with solar power or other renewable sources.

Conclusion

While LEDs and LCDs will likely continue to dominate where high frame-rate video, animations, or intense brightness are needed, for many signage applications (static or slow-changing content; outdoor/bright light; distributed signage like labels or timetables) epaper offers major sustainability advantages:

• significantly lower energy use
  
  
• less maintenance and longer useful lifetime
  
  
• lower environmental impact via fewer materials (battery, lighting components) and less e-waste
  
  

For any organization concerned about operating cost, energy consumption, and environmental impact, epaper deserves strong consideration.