Trade Show Emporium

The trade show industry itself is embracing the “green” movement, with display materials, accessories and practices that elevate ecological concerns to money-saving actions

DENVER, CO – The ecological “green” movement has touched nearly every corner of modern American life, from automobiles and grocery shopping bags, to apparel and lawn-care products and equipment, and everything in between. One arena that has fully embraced “green” concepts in a big way is the nation’s nearly $12 billion trade show industry, encompassing not only a growing industry sector for trade shows with a “green” theme, but also in the deployment of “green” trade show booths, accessories and practices where exhibitors at every kind of show can display their ecological chops.

It is estimated that in the U.S. for 2010 there are more than 40 annual trade shows and exhibitions drawing from a national audience, with dozens of local and regional expos as well, with a specific green focus. Topics run the gamut, from solar technologies, to building materials, wind and alternative energy, biodegradable products, recycling, and carbon offsets, among many more.

However the largest green effect coming from the trade show industry may be found in the thousands of events held each year for every industry and discipline well beyond the “green” movement where the exhibitors themselves are practicing sustainable and ecological practices as a matter of course.

Trade show experts says the benefits of going green in trade show exhibition go beyond environmental concerns, and can go directly to the bottom line. First, of course, is the “green” statement made to customers and potential buyers an exhibitor meets at a trade show; many buyers make purchasing decisions based on the ecological stance of vendors. In addition, using lighter-weight materials in booth construction can drastically reduce costs of shipping, a major expense for exhibitors.

The “green” trade show developments include:

• Sustainable Displays. Sustainable booth displays are made of a variety of materials that seek to meet green standards. Framing made from recycled aluminum, which is also 100% recyclable post-use, is combined with fabric panels made from such sustainable materials as bamboo and recycled post-consumer plastic, with illustration ink that is water-based.
• Banner stands. Popular as accompaniment to full displays or as portable stand-alone displays, today’s green banner stands are also made of recycled and recyclable aluminum with graphic displays in sustainable fabrics and printed with water-based inks.
• Carrying cases. Trade show displays, banners and equipment are stored and shipped in specially designed carry cases, and these today are available made with completely recycled plastic materials that are themselves recyclable. 
• Podiums. Many trade show booths feature a centerpiece podium, that often doubles as a carrying case, and these too are being made of aluminum extrusion, bamboo, sorghum board, and printed with aqueous inks on a variety of renewable substrates.
• Flooring. Flooring, often carpeting, is often provided by the exhibition company, however they frequently allow exhibitors to bring their own flooring, and there are a variety of flooring and carpeting options that meet green standards. Some are made of recycled tire rubber, which is shredded and cleaned, and others are made of plastics – the key is that this eco flooring utilizes 100% post-consumer waste materials that are completely recyclable.
• Lighting. Lighting is an important aspect of many t5rade shows booths, and for years the choice has been those bright, yet inefficient halogen lighting systems. Exhibitors going green are opting for progressive LED lighting systems that use less that 10 watts of energy per bulb and up to 15 times less energy than halogen.
• Printing. Beyond the printing of the displays themselves, many exhibitors print a wide variety of product/service fliers and leave-behinds for distribution at trade shows, and the green choice is to do this printing on recycled, post-consumer-waste paper utilizing aqueous, water based inks.
• Eco shipping. Trade show booths are generally shipped via common carriers between shows all over the country, and exhibitors making the green call are doing everything they can to lighten their displays – aluminum framing, lightweight banners – to lessen the environmental impact of the shipping methods, most usually trucks.    
• Carbon footprint reduction. Those going all out for the green movement are using Carbon Footprint Calculators, like that available at www.carbonfund.org, to measure their personal carbon footprint, and taking steps to reduce it. In addition, they may purchase Carbon Offsets, where the tax-deductible costs are used in a wide variety of carbon reduction projects throughout the country.