Exhibitions are among the most elaborate forms of live communication. They bring companies, customers, partners and the media together with the aim of bringing products, innovations and brands to life. But this effort comes at a price: large quantities of resources are consumed, transport routes are long and the use of materials is high. Can a ‘zero waste’ approach even work under these conditions?
The good news is that even if zero waste at trade fairs is (still) hardly realistic, the trade fair industry can make a significant contribution to greater sustainability with well thought-out, resource-saving trade fair planning, reusable trade fair systems and digital solutions. As an experienced company in sustainable trade fair construction, we actively support this change and show how a climate-friendly trade fair presentation is possible today.
More and more companies have made sustainability an integral part of their business strategy. This also applies to the trade fair industry. For us, sustainable exhibition stand construction means not only focussing on environmentally friendly materials, but above all on reusability, modular concepts and digital alternatives to traditional print products.
We understand our responsibility holistically: we reduce waste, work with partners from the region, rely on ecological printing processes and actively invest in sustainable energy at our location, for example through photovoltaic systems. This is also confirmed by our ISO certification in accordance with DIN ISO 20121:2024 for sustainable event management, which underlines our systemic approach to sustainability.
A key lever on the road to less waste is reusability. Instead of producing something new for every trade fair, modular components are used that can be used for years to come - with changing stand sizes, in new designs and with interchangeable graphics.
The same applies to furniture, displays, technology and plants: what is rented and used several times does not have to be produced from scratch - saving CO₂, materials and costs. This results in exhibition stands that are sustainable without compromising on function or impact.
A successful example from practice is our trade fair concept for ExxonMobil. A modular rental system was used here that combined high-quality design with flexible reusability. The use of B62 rental aluminium frames in combination with individually manufactured metal panels made it possible to achieve an impressive look without sacrificing the sustainability benefits of a rental concept. The modular structure also allowed the stand to be easily adapted to different trade fair formats, making it suitable for multiple uses. Thanks to short set-up times, transport-optimised components and a high proportion of rental space, ExxonMobil was not only able to save resources and CO₂, but also benefit from sustainable trade fair planning in the long term.
You can find a detailed description of the project in our ExxonMobil case study.
Printed flyers and brochures often vanish into your pocket faster than the message remains in your head. Digital alternatives offer a sustainable solution: Information can be provided via interactive displays, tablets or media stations - up-to-date, flexible and without unnecessary paper consumption.
The use of LED walls and digital screens also helps to conserve resources. They enable the dynamic presentation of content, reduce the need for disposable graphics and create creative freedom without the need for additional materials.
Digitalisation offers enormous opportunities in terms of sustainability. Virtual and hybrid events make it possible to supplement or replace physical face-to-face events. This reduces the need for long journeys, lowers CO₂ emissions and at the same time opens up new opportunities for interaction.
Of course, digital formats are not entirely emission-free - the power consumption of data centres should not be underestimated. But compared to international travel, hotel accommodation and complex set-ups, virtual events make a valuable contribution to reducing the ecological footprint.
When we print, we print sustainably. We rely on textile graphics using the dye-sublimation process, which not only deliver brilliant colours and fine details, but can also be used multiple times. Thanks to their resistance to creasing and easy cleaning, they are ideal for repeated use.
Sustainability is not just a marketing trend for us, but part of our corporate identity. We were one of the first companies in the industry to be certified in accordance with the international DIN ISO 20121 standard for sustainable event management. This certification certifies not only environmentally friendly behaviour, but also social and economic responsibility - along the entire value chain.
For more information on the international standard DIN ISO 20121, please read our press release:
Press release - Sustainable event management - ISO 20121:2024.
Zero waste at trade fairs sounds ambitious at first. And yes, in the literal sense, a completely waste-free and emission-free trade fair is not yet possible. Transport routes, energy consumption and the use of materials cannot be completely avoided.
However, there are numerous levers that we can actively apply. With modular and reusable systems, digital tools, resource-saving printing processes and a holistic view of sustainability, we are significantly - and continuously - reducing the ecological footprint of our projects.
We do not see ‘zero waste’ as an absolute goal, but as a guideline. It is an attitude that motivates us to rethink processes, scrutinise materials and develop better solutions together with our customers, partners and the team.
Are you planning a trade fair presentation and would like to take a sustainable approach to stand construction? We are happy to support you - with experience, ideas and a clear focus on responsibility.