A Guide to Sustainable Exhibition Materials

Why are sustainable materials important? 

But first, why all the fuss about sustainable materials? 

We all know that improving the sustainability of your exhibition is important. Large-scale exhibitions can consume a lot of materials, which in turn generates a lot of waste that would otherwise end up in landfill. By using sustainable materials such as those we’ll explore below, you can reduce the environmental impact of your exhibition. 

This is important for a variety of reasons. 

1. Using sustainable materials reduces the amount of damage large-scale product demand and consumption can do to the environment. 

1. Some sustainable materials can be reused as part of a circular economy (see more below). 

1. Prioritising sustainability can help exhibition organisers be more mindful about how they order, transport, and use goods and materials. 

1. Promoting your sustainability efforts (and following through with them) can help to improve your reputation and attract more people to your exhibitions. 
2. Using sustainable materials consistently could pave the way to new standards within the industry, which will benefit everyone. 

Additionally, as we mentioned above, using sustainable materials as part of your exhibition is something you control directly. This means it’s an easy way to support more environmentally conscious exhibition planning, and actively take part in the wider discourse around sustainability. 

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out our guide to Running a Sustainable Exhibition: What You Need to Know. 

 

What does circular economy mean? 

You may have heard this term within the context of sustainability, but what exactly does circular economy mean? And, more importantly, how does it apply to using sustainable materials? 

The dictionary definition of a circular economy is ‘an economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products, especially as a means of continuing production in a sustainable or environmentally friendly way’.

What this means is that, effectively, the principles of a circular economy boil down to minimising or completely eliminating waste as much as possible.  

When it comes to the exhibition sphere, promoting a circular economy and sustainability could be done through reusing, repurposing, refurbishing, and/or recycling old materials for as long as possible, sharing resources where you can, or other methods that save usable products from landfill. 

 

Examples of sustainable exhibition materials 

Considering the importance of using sustainable materials in your exhibition, the next step would be to explore what materials fall into this category. Below, we’ve picked out some of the main sustainable materials you could use as part of your exhibition planning.  

 

Wood 

Typically considered one of the best ‘green’ materials, wood is an excellent choice when you’re planning to build out an exhibition booth. As a sustainable material, wood is: 

• Renewable. 

• Recyclable. 
• Biodegradable. 

Wood also has a lower carbon footprint throughout its lifecycle than other building materials, like plastic. When it comes to uses, wood is incredibly versatile. For example, you could custom build your own exhibition boards that can be reused over the years – especially if you make a modular system. At each new exhibition, you can tweak the design or decoration for a customised finish, helping you stand out from the crowd. 

If you’re worried about deforestation, there are some things you can do to make sure the wood you use is sustainable. For example, using engineered plywood gives you the same structural stability with less actual wood content – expanding the amount of materials produces from one tree. Alternatively, you can use repurposed wood to build new structures (see more below). 

Top tip: whatever you choose, make sure any wood you buy is sustainably sourced. Look out for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council UK) logo to ensure your materials are certified and support responsible forestry. 

 

Bamboo 

Bamboo has increased in popularity as a sustainable material over the last few years because it’s incredibly fast-growing; as it’s a grass, not a tree, bamboo is able to reach maturity in roughly four years, which is a significantly shorter timeframe than other building materials. 

Bamboo is incredibly durable, strong, and long-lasting. This means that any products made with this material, such as exhibition boards, will stand the test of time – and you’ll be able to reuse them over the years with minimal fuss and repairs. Plus, bamboo is 100% biodegradable, so at the end of its life won’t harm the environment as it degrades. 

All of these qualities make bamboo an excellent sustainable exhibition material. Outside of creating functional products like exhibition boards, stands, and furniture, you should explore the merits of using bamboo products as part of your giveaways and goodies. Offering branded bamboo products like water bottles, pens and pencils, or other freebies is a great way to spread awareness of your brand at an event without generating excessive levels of harmful waste. 

 

Recycled materials 

Recycling is a fantastic way to reduce waste and produce more sustainable materials at the same time. Whilst lots of materials can be recycled, including metal and glass, you’re likely to be more familiar with recycled paper, cardboard, and plastic. Plus, these each have their uses within an exhibition. 

 

Paper 

With the improvements in technology, a lot of exhibitions are using more digital displays and online resources where possible. This is incredibly helpful when it comes to using sustainable materials, as IT Services like this can help to reduce paper waste. 

But, sometimes you may need to use paper materials as part of your exhibition. For instance, not everyone will have access to smart technology via phones, so may need a physical copy of an exhibition map. 

In these circumstances, you should consider using recycled paper where you can. Combined with an effective recycling system at your exhibition, using recycled materials can help to reduce the total paper that is sent to landfill. It can also support the creation of  a more circular economy and sustainability, as any waste from your event can be recycled again and reused.  

Outside of informative documents, you could include recycled paper to make branded prizes or items to give out to attendees – like notebooks. These are a functional gift, which is more sustainable than single-use items. Plus, it can be recycled again at the end of its lifecycle. 

 

Cardboard 

Cardboard is incredibly useful material. From cardboard boxes for storage and transport, to larger display pieces, there are a lot of ways you can use recycled or sustainable cardboard sources within your exhibition design. For example, you could: 

• Reuse cardboard boxes for transporting supplies. 

• Use recycled cardboard to create a decorative display for your exhibition stand. 

• Corrugated cardboard makes great temporary exhibition displays due to the strength to weight ratio – and can easily be repurposed or recycled afterwards. 

 

Plastic 

While plastic is usually a no-go in terms of sustainability, using recycled sources helps to reduce the overall amount of plastic heading to landfill. Therefore, where plastic is unavoidable, make sure to use recycled or biodegradable sources. 

 

Biodegradable and compostable materials 

Biodegradable materials are those that eventually break down into non-harmful components. This can be via contact with water, earth, or even simply due to the passing of time. Using biodegradable materials within your exhibition could allow you to add bespoke or one-time-only elements without leaving harmful waste products. 

Outside of use directly as part of an exhibition stand or booth, biodegradable materials can be used in other aspects of your event. For example, at Exhibition Centre Liverpool, we use fully Biodegradable Cups. Instead of turning into harmful microplastics, our cups break down into environmentally-friendly wax to leave behind no harmful or toxic materials. 

Note: our biodegradable cups are made in compliance with, and independently verified by, BSI PAS 9017. 

Some biodegradable materials are compostable, which means they could be added to a compost heap to generate mineral-rich plant feed. This is an brilliant example of environmentally-friendly waste management, as products you use at your exhibition will eventually help to grow new plants. 

 

Repurposed materials 

Thrifting, or repurposing, has definitely become a more popular pastime – so why not incorporate elements of this into your exhibition? Repurposed materials are a key aspect of creating a circular economy and allow perfectly usable materials to be used for longer. 

Within exhibitions, you have a lot of options where you can reuse or repurpose different materials to extend their realm of use. For example: 

• Repurpose wooden palettes: this is an easy source of hardwearing, durable wood that can be rebuilt into new shapes as needed. 

• Upcycle second-hand furniture: need a desk, table, or chairs for your exhibition that match your aesthetic? Instead of buying new, explore second-hand options and have them upcycled to suit your branding and style. 

• Use second-hand accessories: dressing your exhibition booth is a key part of making a welcoming space. Where possible, why not use second-hand, reusable, or refurbished decorations and soft furnishings? 

• Reuse old exhibition materials: from bespoke branded decorations, to old banners, explore ways you can repurpose materials from previous exhibitions. A simple coat of paint or minor design change can save you a lot of money and stop items from being thrown away unnecessarily. 

 

Tips for incorporating sustainable materials at your exhibition 

Once you have an idea of the types of sustainable materials you can use, and why they’re important, it’s time to put your thoughts into practice. To help you out, we’ve included some practical tips for including sustainable materials throughout your exhibition. 

• Consider using modular stands made from recycled or repurposed materials. These can be regularly changed, allowing you to create individual set pieces for each exhibition from the same equipment. 

• Avoid single-use materials where possible. Instead, replace them with reusable options. One idea is to set staff up with reusable water bottles and coffee mugs to lead by example. 

• Check with your suppliers to find out if they have sustainable materials or solutions available. 

• Switch from plastic display pieces to cardboard or wood where possible. 

• Hire or rent larger pieces of equipment instead of buying unnecessarily. Don’t forget to consult the venue to see what equipment they already have. 

• Minimise waste wherever possible. For example, you could commit to taking any rubbish home with you rather than leaving it at the venue to remind yourself to be mindful. 

• Use digital displays on your exhibition stands to reduce material consumption. 

• Promote a circular economy throughout planning stages to see how much you can reuse or recycle from your exhibition. 

 

Explore sustainability with Exhibition Centre Liverpool 

Sustainability remains a constant priority throughout Exhibition Centre Liverpool. Not only are we a proudly Carbon Neutral Campus, but we’re committed to being fully transparent with our Sustainability Strategy. Learn more by Contacting Our Team, and see how we can help you plan your next exhibition in a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. 

 

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