TRADE
SHOW HINTS & TIPS
DOES "GOING GREEN" AT TRADE SHOWS NEED TO COST YOU "GREEN"?
Do you care about the environment? As well as your budget?
If you're like many, you want to say yes to both, and yet believe you must make trade-offs between "being green" and "saving money" when it comes to trade shows and events.
There is a lot you can do that is "eco-friendly" without extra cost. Even where there are upfront costs, in most cases, they are offset by a lower overall cost of exhibiting.
And you may already be more "green" than you think! An increasing % of the products we've sold over the last few years had "green" components or processes, whether our customers knew it or not!
In addition, even where there are upfront costs, in most cases, they are offset by a lower overall cost of exhibiting.
In this tip, we look at:
* What do exhibitors say makes a display "green"?
* How can you know if products meet your "green" goals?
* But doesn't "green" cost more?
WHAT DO EXHIBITORS SAY MAKES A DISPLAY "GREEN"?
In its 2008 report "An Inconvenient Booth", Exhibitor Magazine included the results of a survey of exhibitors on the factors they use in determining what makes for a greener display or exhibit product.
The following factors, ranked by their mean ratings, were considered to be the most important [based on a scale from 1, not at all important, to 7, extremely important]:
1. Product design more efficient to ship (5.90)
2. Whether the product has or avoids toxic or harmful components (5.68)
3. Whether the product is made from products that are endangered or in short supply (5.63)
4. The extent to which a product has a modular design, allowing flexibility and reuse of components (5.54)
5. Product designed to consume less materials overall (5.45)
6. How recyclable is the product (5.30)
7. How much product is built from recycled materials (5.22)
HOW CAN YOU KNOW IF PRODUCTS MEET GREEN GOALS?
For greener displays and products, look for the following characteristics:
Efficiency in design and shipping:
* Constructed with new materials leading to greater flexibility in design
* Reconfiguration rather than replacing entire booth for each show
* Design and packaging for efficiency in shipping: fewer cases, which may double as podiums and can be shipped via UPS or FedEx
Manufacturing Processes which involve:
* Replacing harmful chemicals with products with lower or no toxicity (i.e. using water-based solvents instead of high VOC chemicals)
* Reclaiming scraps for recycling (aluminum, plastic or organic)
* Reduced manufacturing steps & lower energy requirements
Components which are:
* Recycled from post-consumer or post-industrial products, either fully or in part (i.e. EcoFi-based materials which use fibers made 100% from recycled soda bottles)
* Recyclable - not thrown out after use, reclaimed and reused in creating other products (aluminum, plastic, Ecofi fabrics)
* Renewable or Sustainable - built from organic materials which are replaced through natural or protected growth (i.e. bamboo, eucalyptus)
* Much lighter, reducing fuel requirements for shipment and therefore leading to reduced "carbon" impact
Planning and execution which include:
* Less energy-intensive lighting (low voltage or LED lights)
* Reusable packaging materials such as blankets rather than plastic
* Re-purposing of packaging, cases and crates as part of exhibits
* Rental - customization hybrids
* Local storage - rather than storing and shipping heavy booths to regional shows, designing appropriate small displays for local offices
* Limited use of marketing collateral - printed close to the show instead of shipped, using print-on-demand, or handing out USBs
* Taking advantage of functional, reusable giveaways made from recycled, repurposed, biodegradable or otherwise "green" materials
* Using versatile exhibit products which reconfigure for different size booths, allowing re-use rather than full replacement
Being able to include any of these factors will increase the level of eco-friendliness of your trade show or event program.
BUT DOESN'T GREEN COST MORE?
The perception that "green costs more" is increasingly out of line. Often, the eco-friendly alternative costs no more or has become standard, as with most dye sublimation processes for stretch and tension fabric products.
Even when the upfront costs are higher, the overall cost of ownership is often lower, when all aspects of a trade show program are factored in.
What components may cost more?
* Some Ecofi fabric products (which use fibers made from 100% recycled bottles) still cost more - but not all
* Sustainable products such as bamboo come at a premium
* Aluminum which contains recycled aluminum still costs more
Note: as products become more mainstream, prices are dropping
In what ways does "green" lower overall cost of ownership?
* Lighter weight for exhibits leads to dramatic savings in shipping and drayage which quickly offsets additional upfront costs
* Components are consciously repurposed instead of discarded
* Easier setups lead to reduced staffing or hired labor costs
* In our hearts, we all know that, in the bigger picture, the less impact we each have on the planet, the less time, money and energy will be required "fixing" our planet Earth later.
At Imprinted Originals, the good news is - our products are getting greener and greener, and the price points have become more budget-friendly.
As with an increasing number of conscientious display designers and producers, we are happy to help you balance out your requirements so that you can "do what you can" to do your part!
