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  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Strategy

Eco-Friendly Trade Show Booths Getting More Popular—and Affordable

Arianna HartmannLauren Matthews
September 6, 2012

Even though the first eco-friendly exhibit system was introduced in 2007, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the meetings and event industry is still ranked the second most wasteful in the U.S. (behind the building and construction industry). But with more alternative energies for production and cost-effective sustainable materials available—and more manufacturers selling them—the options for eco-friendly trade show displays are growing.

"Trends in booth design include the use of more products like bamboo, Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood products, sustainably manufactured laminates, recycled aluminum, and cork," says Sue Tinnish, an assistant professor at Kendall College's School of Hospitality Management in Chicago, where she teaches meeting management and sustainable tourism, and regularly speaks on the topic of sustainable meeting standards of green signage options, including using water-, soy- or vegetable-based inks printed on post-consumer recycled fabrics.

"Fabric substrates known as Paradise Fabric are now being created from recycled bottles’ PETs [polyethalene-teraphthalates] to make fibers and fabrics," says Doug Cornell, owner of Eco Exhibits and Advatum Displays. And the idea that eco-friendly displays are more expensive is fading. "Eco-conscious displays are now in line with traditional display costs," says Rizwan. "In fact, designing a display from the ground up to be green will save money: LED lights save on energy costs, lighter displays save on shipping costs, and the booths tend to take less time to set up, saving on labor costs."

Cornell agrees. "A booth that’s 100 percent green can be sold at the same price of a traditional booth in most cases," he says. "And with reduced sizes and weights, it’s cheaper to ship them, plus some convention centers are offering incentives for green exhibitors, like reduced electricity costs and free floor space for the next year."

Designed to be easy to set up and move, That Lite Thing, available from Eco Advantum Displays is a tool-free panel-and-node exhibition system made from recycled plastics. Semitransparent peel-off PET graphic overlays are easily interchangeable.
Designed to be easy to set up and move, That Lite Thing, available from Eco Advantum Displays is a tool-free panel-and-node exhibition system made from recycled plastics. Semitransparent peel-off PET graphic overlays are easily interchangeable.
Photo: Courtesy of That Lite Thing
MC2's EcoFlex Exhibit Program consists of recyclable open frames made from 65 percent recycled aluminum. The interlocking panels weigh 15 percent less than traditional panels, but are strong enough to build double-decker configurations. The graphics and accessories can be customized. The program includes exhibit components, graphics, shipping, and on-site services. A recent Global Aerospace exhibit (pictured) mixed EcoFlex products with custom and rental properties.
MC2's EcoFlex Exhibit Program consists of recyclable open frames made from 65 percent recycled aluminum. The interlocking panels weigh 15 percent less than traditional panels, but are strong enough to build double-decker configurations. The graphics and accessories can be customized. The program includes exhibit components, graphics, shipping, and on-site services. A recent Global Aerospace exhibit (pictured) mixed EcoFlex products with custom and rental properties.
Photo: Jim Miller
STAXmodular by Kuhlmann Leavitt Inc. consists of recyclable modular panels that fit together to create walls, and can be printed with digital graphics. Custom panels are available in sustainable substrates, such as Plyboo, aluminum, and polycarbonate.
STAXmodular by Kuhlmann Leavitt Inc. consists of recyclable modular panels that fit together to create walls, and can be printed with digital graphics. Custom panels are available in sustainable substrates, such as Plyboo, aluminum, and polycarbonate.
Photo: Gregg Goldman
The Panda Banner Stand from Go Green Displays is a retractable banner stand fabricated with 90 percent plantation-grown bamboo. The easy-to-use retraction system rolls the banner into the base, which can then be packed up in the included padded carrying bag. The $600 price includes printing on cotton fabric with low V.O.C. inks.
The Panda Banner Stand from Go Green Displays is a retractable banner stand fabricated with 90 percent plantation-grown bamboo. The easy-to-use retraction system rolls the banner into the base, which can then be packed up in the included padded carrying bag. The $600 price includes printing on cotton fabric with low V.O.C. inks.
Photo: Courtesy of the Panda Banner Stand
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