Sustainable exhibiting
Ross Pike , operations director at British-based exhibition contractor Quadrant2Design , addresses the issue of sustainable and reusable stands
ustainability has been
S a buzzword for the last few years . Increasingly businesses are being pressured to demonstrate their green credentials . Rightly so , with the planet ’ s dwindling resources it is up to all of us to conserve it for future generations . All businesses should be playing a part , including the exhibitions industry .
Traditionally , exhibitions create a lot of waste . Exhibition stands were custom-built from unsustainable and unrecyclable materials like wood , PVC and MDF . Once dismantled , these stands are difficult to store and reuse so are generally skipped at the end of a show . This is very wasteful ; 4.4m companies exhibit every year , for context .
What ’ s the alternative ? Basic modular stands are reusable and recyclable , but don ’ t really give the ‘ wow factor ’ that companies demand when exhibiting . Our Prestige Events System is different . Yes , it ’ s a modular system , but it can be adapted to create the look of a custom-built stand , with the benefits and sustainability of a modular stand . You can create a unique , customised structure which can be easily and quickly assembled with no need for solvents and glues or polluting power tools .
At the end of the event , it is easy to dismantle , transport and store , ready for the next event . On top of this it is simple to reconfigure it to fit a different space and create a different look , we will even do this for you for free every time to want to change it . You can incorporate product showcases , audiovisual equipment , literature holders and unique lighting features into your stand to create something truly unique which will pull in the crowds at a trade show .
The stands are made from lightweight aluminium frames which can be recycled when they reach the end of their life . The graphic panels are made from vinyl or fabric which can also be recycled . They are fixed to the frame using magnetic strips , so do away with power tools and solvents which create dust , noise and fumes .
Our Free2Hire stands , for which you only pay for graphics , have a 15-year lifespan , so the usage we
Ross Pike get from them makes for a very sustainable exhibiting solution . Each stand visits 20 shows a year . We manufacture our stands in-house using environmentally friendly processes . Not subcontracting it out , reducing the need for transport and means that we can be sure that they are produced in a sustainable way . Our machinery is electric , so we don ’ t produce any harmful emissions . We then recycle stands and graphics when they are no-longer able to be used .
In addition , because our stands are portable and easy to transport , we can use small vans , as opposed to the huge lorries needed to transport materials for custom-built stands . his also reduces our carbon footprint . We have recently invested in an electric van and intend to role this out throughout our fleet .
Some businesses say that they are sustainable , but when you look closer into their practices and processes it isn ’ t always the case . Sustainability is about building it into every process , not just reusing your stand . For a truly sustainable solution you need to use a company that incorporates it into everything that they do . EW
www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 4 2022 43