We’ve all heard it before, but it’s worth saying again: A sustainable trade show booth is the way forward at trade shows for several reasons. Some of those reasons are obvious, others not so much.
Whether you have Corporate Social Initiative (CSI) prerequisites to tick off or bottom lines to satisfy, going green with eco-friendly displays is a no-brainer.
We’ve outlined the features and benefits of a genuinely sustainable trade show booth and a few pointers from industry pros with a combined 50 years in the business (that’s us).
Finally, we’ll briefly discuss the DON’Ts of sustainable booth designs. After all, knowing what not to do is a sure-fire way to start knowing what to do!
What Are The Standout Features Of A Sustainable Trade Show Booth?
Here are some of the main factors you should look out for:
Commitment To Innovation And Offsetting Carbon Emissions
Identify exhibitors that constantly innovate their design process and find practical ways to offset their carbon emissions, making a more sustainable booth.
Suppose your priority is a long-term sustainable solution in the fight against deforestation. In that case, anybody with a sustainable display will share those goals and likely be vocal and upfront about them, too.
Planting trees for every completed project is just one (pretty impressive) example.
Trade Show Booths Made From Reusable Materials
We aren’t talking cheap recycled cardboard or hemp products, but genuine quality materials that can be used repeatedly for an eco-friendly display.
Modular booths are built to be redesigned to suit their purpose. Buying them is less costly because the equipment is reused for the next display.
They also give you the option of reusing interchangeable fabric graphics at your stand, which is one of the most sustainable trade show booth materials.
A Commitment To Net-Zero
Eco-friendly display booths require more minor modes of transport that don’t pollute the environment.
They are produced using clean-process, eco-friendly construction methods that reduce your carbon footprint, making them eco-friendly.
Stand materials that are easy to break down and reconfigure
System booths, to use a rudimentary analogy, are like Lego for adults! You can clip aluminum pieces together and create any shapes for your trade show display.
A huge benefit of using aluminum is that it’s reusable and, therefore, sustainable.
Types of eco-friendly display booths you’ll see at trade shows and why we like them:
Modular trade show booths are:
- It is much easier to transport than custom-built booths.
- Reusable many times over and therefore more sustainable and eco-friendly.
- Cost-effective, system-built solutions for those on the B2B space.
What Are The Benefits Of Sustainability?
Where do we begin? Having a sustainable stand ticks so many boxes that it feels like the only option at this point:
- Save vast amounts on the costs of materials.
- Less waste and carbon emissions.
- Eco-friendly practices across the board contribute to achieving your CSI goals.
- Reusable products mean that you have less planning to do.
How To Do Sustainability Properly
If you’re attending a few events in quick succession, here are a few things you can do to offset your carbon footprint vastly:
- Advise your suppliers well ahead of time.
- Detail those suppliers in the supply chain to produce displays made of reusable materials.
- Provide your suppliers with a breakdown of your CSI and carbon offsetting goals and priorities at the project’s outset.
- Prescribe the building of custom modular structures for the stand design or eco-friendly show.
- Encourage evergreen concepts within your design team.
- Tell your suppliers how many people will travel to and from an event.
- Use LED lighting solutions for your booth as they’re more energy efficient than halogens.
- Use sustainable stand materials and eco-friendly products wherever possible in the construction phase. Some companies use Xanita board, an environmentally friendly material made from recyclable cardboard.
- Don’t forget about flooring! The floors in your space should also be made from recyclable material.
- Offer giveaways to visitors at your booth, but ensure they’re made of bamboo or something else that can be recycled.
- Go digital and remove all paper from your stand to save costs and be more sustainable, or use recycled materials.
- Prioritising people, the planet and the environment is the only long-term solution.
These pointers require just a little bit of strategic planning and forethought, and they can yield rich results for you and your company.
DON’Ts Of Sustainability
Just as crucial as the DOs are the DON’Ts.
- DON’T utilize single-use plastics. These are not environmentally friendly.
- DON’T print paper when you have digital alternatives available to you.
- DON’T transport booth design elements in petrol-guzzling vehicles when you have green alternatives.
- DON’T employ any services or practices that waste energy. Think of all the elements.
What Are The Organizers Are Doing?
When planning a trade show booth design, please consider the environmental impact of all the materials you use.
Sustainable materials such as wood, bamboo, and recycled plastic are becoming increasingly popular for their durability, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact.
Wood is a renewable resource, making it one of the most sustainable building choices available, and it can create a great environment.
Timber is also one of the most versatile, as it can be used for various structures. Bamboo is another renewable resource becoming increasingly popular due to its strength, durability, and low environmental impact. Bamboo is also known for its ability to proliferate, making it an ideal choice for sustainable materials.
PLASTIC
Recycled plastic is another excellent option as a booth material.
Plastic has a long lifespan and is highly durable, making it an excellent choice for many structures. Many companies use recycled plastic to create sturdy, stylish, sustainable stands and displays.
When it comes to sustainability, no material is perfect. That’s why it’s essential to consider the environmental impact of each material before making a decision and one of the reasons why we provide all exhibitors a carbon offset for every event and business.
By carefully considering the sustainability of your materials, you can ensure that your display is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Events like trade shows are powerful communication tools you should harness for your business.
Where else can you mix with industry peers who share your visions and buy into your brand strategy?
Your trade show booth design must communicate the values that you hold dear. Potential customers may feel the same. More sustainability in business means a more sustainable, eco-friendly world with less waste.
As a dedicated trade show booth builder, we encourage you to check out our sustainable work in the UK, Americas, and Africa, which highlights our commitment to green practices in the environment.
Final Eco-Friendly Thoughts
There’s no question that there has been an increased focus on sustainability and environmentally conscious efforts, extending to the trade show industry. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Sustainable displays are becoming more critical as businesses and organizations strive to reduce their carbon footprint.
What are the sustainable materials for trade show?
Sustainable stand materials include bamboo, cardboard, and aluminum.
