Chris Harmen

Sustainable Trade Show Exhibits: How To Go Green Without Breaking The Bank

You don't have to exceed your budget to create a high quality sustainable trade show booth. There are a number of simple ways to practice green exhibiting without breaking the bank - you can even save money by going green!

There's no denying that going green with your trade show display is the trendy and environmentally responsible thing to do in today's business climate. But can your company's budget handle the strain of building a sustainable booth? The answer is yes! There is a common misconception that green exhibiting is too costly and difficult to achieve. However, there are a number of ways to create a more environmentally-conscious trade show booth without exceeding your budget. In fact, many green exhibiting practices can actually save you money! Your efforts to go green can be as extensive or minimal as you see fit. After all, even a few slight adjustments to your display can make a huge impact on the environment.

Cut Back On Shipping To Reduce Carbon Emissions

One of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to practice environmental sustainability is to cut back on shipping when it comes time to transport your materials to the venue. Reducing the amount of items to be shipped not only saves you money, but it also cuts back on resulting carbon emissions. Choosing small, portable trade show displays is a great way to reduce shipping costs because they are compact and can be packed into a minimal number of boxes. You can even carry them along with you if you're driving to the venue!

It also helps to pack lightly in general when preparing for a show. While you may think that extra stapler and additional stack of brochures are crucial, all it takes is a few extraneous items to cause your shipping costs, and carbon emissions, to skyrocket! Be sure you're packing only those items that are truly needed for your exhibit. Finally, when building your next booth, consider working with a company that partners with local suppliers, thereby decreasing the distance the materials must travel.

Limit Paper Handouts And Brochures

With recent advances in technology, paper handouts and brochures could soon be on their way out! A majority of attendees will likely have access to the Internet through a smartphone, laptop, iPad or other device. Rather than spending the money on a large amount of paper materials, consider going green and directing potential customers to your website and/or social networking sites through other means. For example, display Quick Response (QR) codes on your signage that directs individuals to your website. Attendees can simply scan the QR code using their smartphone and they will be instantly connected! You can still keep a small stash of paper materials for those attendees who do not have the required technology.

Reuse And Repurpose Existing Trade Show Booth Materials

Whenever possible, try to reuse or repurpose materials from your current trade show booth before throwing it out and replacing it with another. Often, all it takes is a few touchups and the life of your existing display can be extended by years! If you need to replace your trade show exhibit because your logo or brand message has changed, but it is still is great shape, consider donating it to a school or non-profit organization.

Consider Sustainable Materials

When the time does come to create a new trade show booth, there are many high-quality sustainable materials on the market that are visually appealing and environmentally friendly. Examples include wood, bamboo and recycled metals, such as aluminum. You can also find a number of green paint options, such as low VOC, recycled latex paint and organic paint, for use with your trade show exhibit.

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