The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Exhibition Stands

Exhibitions deliver great value to businesses, offering a unique opportunity to create meaningful connections with audiences face-to-face. However, there’s no getting away from it; they have a poor reputation for waste, largely driven by custom-built exhibition stands, designed for just one use.

In this guide, we share everything you need to know about sustainable exhibition stand options, including their importance to the industry and exhibitors, the best types of sustainable exhibition stands, rules around exhibiting with one-use displays, and the best times to make the shift to sustainable.

Sustainable exhibition stands play a vital role in the events sector, helping to reduce environmental impact and allowing businesses to position themselves correctly within their market as a sustainable player.

At its core, sustainable exhibiting, particularly through the use of reusable exhibition stands, focuses on reducing the environmental harm of in-person marketing activations to create a more sustainable events industry for the future. For perspective on the scale, there were 1,100 exhibitions in the UK just last year, and over 178,000 exhibitors. That’s a lot of exhibition stands!

Without eco-friendly alternatives and strong sustainability initiatives, the industry would struggle to justify its environmental footprint. This is why sustainable exhibition stands are so important. They allow businesses to reap the benefits of these face-to-face activations while significantly reducing environmental harm.

On an individual level, sustainable stands also help businesses communicate the right message to prospective buyers. If a company promotes sustainability but exhibits on a single-use banner or disposable stand, the claims are immediately undermined. By extending sustainability principles to the exhibition stand itself, businesses can demonstrate that their commitments are genuine, extended to their actions, not just their messaging.

As well as lowering the impact of exhibitions, sustainable exhibition stands come with a wealth of benefits for business, including:

• Showing Commitment to Sustainability – Sustainable exhibition stands show your commitment to the planet and eco-friendly practices.
• Minimising Environmental Harm – Sustainable exhibition stands minimise environmental footprints at events.
• Appealing to Eco-Conscious Buyers – While sustainability was once a “nice-to-have” initiative, it’s now a business imperative, with most purchasing decisions being influenced by sustainability. Sustainable exhibition stands send the right message to eco-conscious buyers and position your company as a sustainable partner.
• Preparing for ESG Audits – The materials, design, energy consumption, and waste associated with exhibition stands all fall under the environmental criteria of ESG assessments and can affect a company’s overall evaluation. Sustainable exhibition stands are ESG-friendly.
• Meeting Organiser Regulations – Some organisers have now banned disposable stands altogether. Reusable, sustainable stands meet these organiser regulations.
• Offering Flexibility – Many sustainable exhibition stands are also modular, meaning they can be reconfigured to suit different stand spaces and sizes. This is ideal for exhibitors looking for a stress-free solution that they can use time and time again.

Sustainable exhibition stands come in all shapes and sizes. There are many different kinds on the market, though they are not equal in terms of environmental impact.

Reusable, modular exhibition stands are by far the most sustainable option for exhibitors. These solutions are not only durable but also designed with flexibility and versatility in mind, allowing maximum opportunities for reuse.

One thing to bear in mind is that the term “modular exhibition stands” is used to refer to several different solutions. Some are scalable and reconfigurable for a range of shows, while others are less flexible. Search for high-quality, durable solutions that can be scaled up and down and reconfigured for a wealth of stand spaces and sizes.

Recyclable stands are another popular option, though these stands have faced more scrutiny in recent years.

The “reusable vs recyclable” debate has been a hot topic in the events industry. It’s generally understood that reuse trumps recycling. Recyclability is good if it’s an “end-of-life” feature on a reusable product, but it shouldn’t be the sole basis of a sustainability claim. Recyclable plastic water bottles, for example, are not often thought of as sustainable, because reusable aluminium ones are far more sustainable. The same applies to exhibition stands.

Recyclable exhibition stands are undeniably more sustainable than disposable, non-recyclable alternatives, and they can serve as a good transitional solution for exhibitors who are not in a position to commit to a fully reusable option, i.e., mid-brand refresh or exhibiting with a one-time product. However, on their own, they are not a genuine sustainable model.

Reusable, modular exhibition stands are widely recognised as the most sustainable option on the market. They’re flexible and versatile for reuse across and beyond an entire calendar, keeping exhibiting practices circular. Once the system eventually reaches the end of its lifespan, it can be recycled. And, unlike plastic, which can only be recycled once or twice, aluminium, which forms the frames of the stand, can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality.

There are currently no blanket rules around the use of sustainable exhibition stands. Rather, the decision is left to the individual organisers. Some venues ban the use of disposable exhibition stands altogether, using a ranking system like Better Stands. Others permit all types of stands at their venues. Refer to the exhibitor handbook to see which rules might apply to you.

Greenwashing in the exhibition industry has unfortunately become a prevalent issue, making it challenging for buyers to choose genuine, sustainable exhibition stands. The term “sustainability” has become a buzzword, but it has been warped to encompass a range of unsustainable practices. Beware of:

• Misleading modular – Modular refers to a range of solutions, many of which are not actually reusable, and therefore, not sustainable. When buying into a modular solution, ensure it is designed for long-term reuse, and support for reuse is available.
• False reusability claims – Exhibitors invest in “hybrid” custom stands with reusable elements, only to discover that only a small portion, if any, is reusable. Ensure exhibition stand contractors specify exactly what can be reused and how.
• Recyclable stands – While stands constructed from cardboard, wood, and plastic are marketed as recyclable, they are ultimately disposable; 80% make their way into landfills. These are among the greatest sustainability scams.
• Eco Looks – Don’t confuse a natural look or earthy materials with an eco-friendly stand. As a rule of thumb, if it’s not reusable, it’s not sustainable. Bamboo, untreated ply and cardboard may look green but are some of the worst offenders.

There is never a better time than now to invest in a reusable, sustainable exhibition stand. With modular stands, the sooner you invest, the sooner you’ll reap the rewards, in terms of reputation, brand consistency, cost, and time savings.

Firstly, you’ll notice cost savings. Modular stands offer great value, especially on a hire basis. For instance, while a custom-built stand could set you back £25,000 for a single event, a reusable modular option may only cost £15,000, along with a reinstall fee of £4,500. Over the course of just one exhibition calendar with four events, a business could spend £28,500 on a modular solution compared to £100,000 for custom-built options.

Next, you’ll notice better brand consistency. Using one set of panels means that even if your stand is reconfigured, it will always share a consistent look and style with previous events. This improves brand recall and recognisability.

Over the exhibition calendar, you will also notice significant time savings. Working with just one contractor for shows across the UK and Europe means that you have a team that knows your brand and stand and can help you reconfigure it effectively to suit different shows. No more lengthy design processes!

The long and short? The sooner you invest in a sustainable stand, the better!

There is no distinctive look for a sustainable exhibition stand; they all look fairly different! Modular stands often use graphic media printed on substrates. Quadrant2Design only uses printed graphic panels, though some companies print on stretch fabrics, too.

Here are some case studies of Quadrant2Design’s modular, reusable exhibition stands: each custom-designed for the individual client.

Here at Quadrant2Design, we are well-established as the leader for sustainable exhibition stands.

We do not offer sustainable stands as a sideline; they are our entire business model and focus. We have exclusive UK rights to the Prestige Events System, which we have developed over the last 25 years to host beautiful, bespoke and customisable features.

If you’re ready to invest in your own sustainable exhibition stand, get in touch with our expert team today. Contact us at design@quadrant2design.com or call +44 (0)1202 723 500.