Going Green Yeilds Big Benefits for Trade Show Exhibitors

Copyright (c) 2010 Gerry Stringer

Every corner of modern American life, from grocery shopping bags to lawn-care products and apparel to automobiles and everything in between, is participating in the "green" ecological movement. The nearly $12 billion trade show industry has fully embraced "green" concepts in a major way, encompassing not only a growing industry sector for trade shows with a "green" theme 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. Fabric panels made from such sustainable materials as recycled post-consumer plastic and bamboo is combined with 100% recyclable post-use aluminum framing decorated with water-based illustration ink.

- Banner stands. Today's green banner stands, popular as both a portable stand-alone display and as an accompaniment to full displays, are commonly made of recycled and recyclable aluminum with graphic displays in sustainable fabrics 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. The centerpiece podium that often doubles as a carrying case, which many trade show booths feature are now being made of bamboo, aluminum extrusion and sorghum board and printed with acqueous inks on 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 plastics and others of recycled tire rubber that has been cleaned and shredded - this eco-friendly flooring utilizes materials that are completely recyclable and 100% post-consumer waste materials, which is the key.

- Lighting. An important aspect of many trade show booths is lighting, and for many years bright, yet inefficient halogen lighting systems have been the choice of exhibitors. 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. Carbon Footprint calculators are a favorite among those going all out for the green movement.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.