The following list of actions and ideas is drawn from our member’s anonymous input at a Sustainability Committee Meeting during our World Summit Singapore in June 2023.

Circular Economy and Cradle-to-Cradle

Innovate

“We created a 100% polyester-based blackout fabric from yarn which can be fully recycled after usage.”   

“We created a latex free event carpet with zero % water consumption.”

“We reuse secondary raw material obtained from our own recycling to produce new products for the exhibition industry.”

“We create innovative system-based solutions.”

“We established a new innovative production process that reduces our CO2 emission by more than 55%.”

Optimize

“We enhanced our accuracy in fabric printing to avoid the need of reprints.”

“We standardize, optimize cutting, and have a multi-use production.”

“We enforce good maintenance of materials for longevity.”

“We are moving away from PVC and using Dispa.”

“We work with sustainable fabrics and other materials.”

Reduce

“We reduce the weight of exhibits and packaging.”

“We reduce the weight of printed material – from panel, over fabric, to vinyl film.”

“We eliminated plastic cups and bottles in the company.”

“We have a paperless office.”

“We reduced the printing of documents.”

“We are going paperless for most documentation & staff claims forms, application forms etc.”

Reuse

“We have a library with custom elements on stock that our designers can easily access. When we start designing, we look at what we already have and try to integrate it in the design. Only if it is necessary, we manufacture new elements.”

“We cater for good maintenance of material to enhance lifetime and reuse.”

“We engage design teams to upcycle and re-use existing assets. We further upcycle raw materials for re-use as packaging/skids etc.”

“We are using recycling material as often as possible. We invested in a modular system from Duo to ensure sustainable solutions even in the future, using their sustainable print production. Reuse is key.”

“Looking at purchasing sustainable panel systems instead of the conventional Octanorm & Maxima systems.”

“We invested in a modular system.”

“We are switching over to Modular as much as possible and reuse, recycle.”

“We are repurposing aluminum framing.”

“We use system-based stands, grading of all products into first class, second class, third class.”

“All our graphics are kept and repurposed and if damaged sent to a resource repurpose facility in which they are shredded down and combined with wood pulp to be repurposed as building products.”

“At our facilities graphics get repurposed as protection sheets instead of plastics.”

“We invested in a system to build stands instead of using wood, reusing elements in the design, creating a warehouse book with elements that we have on stock, so our designers know what we have, recycling fabrics (through our supplier).”

“We introduced modular reception/bar counters into our stand designs instead of custom-made ones.”

“We are trying to reuse all wood more than three times.”

“We use ecoVadis sustainability rating – using Montecolino carpet.”

 

Donate items that are safe for further usage wherever possible

“We give away all water-based colors to poor families or schools to paint and to reduce waste.”

 

Recycle

“We recycle our products no matter where we are.”

“We search for recycling opportunities within an event’s city.”

“We recycle carpet into exhibition furniture.”

Energy Efficiency

Use energy-efficient HVAC systems

“We installed a vacuum system that keeps the heat in the building and an additional heat exchanger.”

Use LED lighting

“We converted plant lighting into more energy efficient options.”

Purchasing energy-efficient and emission-cutting machines

“We purchased energy-efficient machines.”

Use renewable energy sources e.g., solar panels

“We have PV equipment on the roof.”

“We installed PV on all warehouses.”

Management

Sustainability road-mapping

“We developed a roadmap for sustainability.”

“We started our path on Route 2030: roadmap to net zero till 2030.”

Establish a certified sustainability management system

“We are ISO 14001 certified.”

“We are pursuing ISO20121.”

“We are going to be certified on ISO.”

“We make all teams aware of the importance of thinking about good practices through the ISO 20121 management system.”

Switch to electro vehicles

“We only drive Tesla company cars.”

“We use 100% EV”

“We shift to hybrid cars sourcing electricity only from renewables.”

Work with sustainable suppliers

“We source for more sustainable materials in the local market.”

Measure your carbon footprint

“We measured our carbon footprint in production as well as the carbon footprint of our products. Invented a more environmentally friendly fabric for the exhibition industry.”

“We are measuring all projects, and consulting our clients, reducing the footprint.”

“We are measuring yearly since 2019 and have a masterplan of reduction in place to become carbon neutral by 2026.”

Adopt carbon offsetting e.g., tree planting projects

“We work with Treedom, a tree planting initiative. We plant a tree for each exhibit booth sold.”

 

Client Communication

Encourage clients to opt for sustainable solutions

“We offer our clients net-zero carbon value-added options in project pitch proposal with the support from external carbon neutral professional providers.”

 “We propose usership vs ownership!”

“We start the sustainability conversation with clients already at the design stage.”

Promote recycling

“We first promote the re-employment of material and for those who cannot be re-employed to get recycled.”

“We do not only develop recyclable products, but actually get them recycled by offering a take back and recycling service.”