From the construction of the booth and the displays as well as during the trade shows and exhibitions, there is always a waste of materials. We were able to develop the following strategies that are eco-friendly and relevant for the management of the modular booth as sustainability becomes a key area of concern for both the business and the consumer.
Based on the information given in the article, there are several ways that exhibitors can adapt their booth setup to be more environmentally friendly.
Reusing and Renting Materials
Another tip is not to throw away everything after the show, as it is more effective to reuse the modular booth elements instead of purchasing completely new ones. Sustain parts of an event, store them after performances, and transform them into different layouts. Another way is to rent items when possible while avoiding purchasing them.
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Mobile stands – Purchase semi-permanent and reusable display structures that are easily portable and can be stored. Customize with graphics.
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Recycle pallets and crates – Pallets and crates used in shipping can be used to create walls, tables, furniture, or even art pieces.
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Rent components – Instead of purchasing utensils, buy chairs, tables, sofas, etc., on rent from business renting services.
Innovative Design Concepts
Creative booth designs can incorporate green materials to a certain extent without necessarily using so much material.
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Stacking – Make many levels fit into one another rather than occupying more area.
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Connectable partition panels – Join different printable graphic panels in one or another manner.
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Portable and minimal furniture – Chairs and tables that fold to slim dimensions occupy less shipping space and storage.
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Flexible displays – Make displays that occupy less space and use fewer materials.
Eco-Friendly Booth Materials
In choosing the materials to be used for Booth construction and design, it is desirable to use those that are recycled or reusable.
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Recycled metal and plastic: To promote the recycling of products, try to purchase components that have been previously recycled.
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Reusable floor covering: There is potential for new forms of carpets that can be reused.
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Raw/untreated lumber: The wood should not come in contact with toxic colors, inks, and paints containing VOCs.
In this category, fabrics made from natural fibers that may be processed through biodegradation technology are used, and graphics are printed or used to decorate structures. Use non-PVC substrates.
Responsible Graphic Production
This process caused much waste as printing graphics and signs for exhibits were done in large quantities. Prioritize sustainability in production.
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Printing locally: This eliminates the trouble of having to transport the materials across many kilometers.
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Print on recyclable materials: As a rule, use cardboard and fabric instead of PVC or other types of materials that cannot be recycled.
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Solvent ink type: Minimize solvent-based inks since they discharge VOCs and have lower recyclability.
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Soy-based inks: This is a better option because they are derived from natural resources.
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Latex printing: a water-based printing method perfectly suitable for fabric items that can be used multiple times. Ink washes out.
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Renewable banner stands: You must consider replacing one or several components with renewable ones.
Waste Reduction and Management
Effective waste management during the event and utilization of Booth materials eliminates many tons of event waste.
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Email and QR codes: These should be used instead of paper-based flyers and brochures for the target population.
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Recycling bins: The Booths should have designated and labeled recycling stations for the guests.
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Food waste disposal: Organic waste from food and beverage preparation should be collected for composting.
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Non-claiming of giveaways: Schools and charities, if any, based in the local region may be willing to take the remaining giveaways after the event.
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Thoughtful takedown: Disassemble items, furniture, and graphics for recycling after events.
Powering Sustainably
The lighting of your booth, the assembly of materials for your booth, and the powering of your booth consume energy and create significant carbon emissions.
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Light-emitting diodes (LED) – Long-life LED bulbs and fixtures use a small portion of the energy used by halogen lights.
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Energy Efficiency – Be creative and use solar or kinetic energy to charge your phone with the help of accessories.
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Smart power strips – These are those that power off appliances that are not in use to prevent the wasted power known as the phantom load.
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Batteries – In case it is appropriate to use rechargeable batteries instead of non-rechargeable ones.
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Again, minimizing energy wastage is recommended, as well as switching to laptops, tablet PCs, and LCDs instead of desktop systems that consume a lot of power.
Recycle or resell instead of merely disposing of the modular components. One must transform the structural features, such as walls and panels, into parts easily incorporated into other shows. It is disposing of products that contain hazardous wastes, such as batteries and LED lights, so as not to pollute the environment.
The Way Forward
Moving to green booth designs and practices involves some initial costs, yet they are recouped through better branding images and lesser wastage. With customers today choosing to work with environment-conscious companies, a green event booth ensures that your company’s environmental conscience is advertised well.
Whereas earlier, the focus was mainly on environmental friendliness, the context of eco-innovation is shifting to the notion of sustainable development. The conclusion to be drawn is that sustainability is not only increasingly becoming an environmentally friendly practice but is also logical from the business perspective.
In Conclusion
The above strategies prove that it is possible to construct your modular booth sustainably and, at the same time, be financially viable. If an organizer makes an effort to say that ‘we do not throw anything away,’ ‘we use more recycled products,’ or ‘we aim to reduce waste,’ it will have an impact on the exhibitors who also would like to say that ‘we are green’ to attract more organizers and visitors. Afterall, small changes also have significant impacts because of the industry’s large scale.
