Update: 20.10.2022
Every year, countless trade fairs and events take place in Germany at which companies show their presence on the market. For reasons of cost and time, it is often the case that companies have exhibition stands produced for one-off use. However, responsibility towards the environment is increasingly driving companies to use sustainable exhibition stands.
Does it make sense to produce exhibition stands for just one event? Over the course of a year, thousands of tonnes of waste in the form of one-off exhibition stands are left over after trade fairs and events.
ach sustainably produced exhibition stands are not only a figurehead for the company, but also reflect the environmental responsibility of both individual employees and the company as a whole. The implementation of each of the examples listed in this article ensures greater sustainability at the exhibition stand.
You can find out more about an ecological exhibition stand concept on the following page. You will find an explicit overview of various ideas and references on how to implement a sustainable exhibition stand according to qualitative and ecological criteria.
The stand builder should offer the exhibitor a holistic ecological concept as a solution, starting with the back walls, the associated graphics and the floor. 7 points should be taken into account here:
When preparing a quotation, employees must ensure that assembly and dismantling are resource-friendly. These points are crucial here:
Logistics of the trade fair equipment
The journey of the trade fair fitters: In order to minimise this journey as much as possible, local fitters should be used.
Frame systems that are standardised worldwide, which means that regional suppliers can also be used here. When using these frame systems, care should be taken to ensure that the customer can be offered a customised stand construction of high quality. This is the only way to ensure that the standardised frame system provides the customer with real added value.
These have a low weight, which can save CO2 during transport. In addition, these aluminium frames can be used again and again for a wide variety of stand constructions. After the aluminium frames have been in frequent use, they will eventually wear out and can easily be reintegrated into the production chain using recycling criteria.
You wouldn't have thought that you should also think about the floor when creating a sustainable concept. If required, this can be made from 100% recycled materials such as old carpets or fishing nets fished from the sea. Floors can also be laid by employees so that they can be used for one or more events.
Ideas such as individual elements like moss walls and wooden structures can also emphasise the ecological design of the stand construction. Example: The use of plants enhances the stand and can create a cosy atmosphere. Of course, these materials should also fulfil the criteria for use at several trade fairs.
If possible, use reusable graphics. In this way, multiple benefits can be achieved with one-off production costs. Pay attention to sustainable printing processes without the use of solvents.
An alternative to the production of graphics is the use of LED video walls. Brand messages can be adapted again and again on the LED modules without the need for new production and high costs. The quality of LED video walls has risen sharply in recent years and every stand builder now offers the realisation. Take a look at some of our references as examples: Exhibition stands with LED video wall.
When it comes to furniture, you can use a rental pool, for example, or have new furniture produced that is suitable for repeated use. Here you should weigh up which model is most likely to be profitable. You can find detailed information and ideas on this topic in the blog post ‘Buying vs. renting furniture for exhibition stands’.
If the exhibitor has the information presented on the sustainable trade fair stand concept and this concept is of interest, the exhibitor should also consider its own planning of the trade fair presentation as a sustainable solution.
For some companies, a sustainable exhibition stand is essential because their corporate policy dictates nothing else. They accept the possibly higher price, but also know that they will receive an exhibition stand that can be used for a wide variety of events thanks to the modular frame systems and graphics. The quality and sustainability of this solution serves as a reference for the company's philosophy and emphasises its responsibility towards the environment. In addition to the unusual stand construction, the lead at the trade fair could keep the company's ecological perspective in mind through its presence at the trade fair, which could result in a long-term customer.
The other companies only see the price when awarding a new exhibition stand concept and decide in favour of the ‘exhibition stand for one-off use’ variant. It should be noted that the costs could be reduced if this stand can be used several times. You should bear in mind that due to the recurring investment costs for the actual one-off exhibition stand, the total costs will be higher in comparison.
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