Custom Can Be Sustainable

Only a select few will receive the gold rating from Better Stands for their forward thinking, pioneering approach to sustainability in exhibition stand design and build.

We champion the stance that custom can be sustainable and are proud to have joined that select group of gold standard exhibition stand design and builders for our Volactive exhibit at Food Ingredients Europe.

The exhibition industry has become known as a ‘high waste’ category, with the potential to discard many items after a single use. Overcoming this mindset and building a better reputation is a battle being fought on many fronts and is well supported by the Better Stands initiative.

Better Stands is an industry programme designed to encourage exhibition stand designers and builders to adopt a sustainability first approach to their work. Their team assesses eleven elements of the stands on show to determine a company’s level of sustainable adoption to the overall exhibit, including; lighting, structure, flooring, furniture and graphics.

How did we achieve this gold rating? We start at the brief taking stage with our clients. 

• How many uses will this stand get? 
• How many variations of it can we configure to meet the changing event spaces it could be used at?
• What materials will make this durable for several uses over several years?
• How can we deliver creative variety during this time using a single bank of material assets?

We own our systems from start to finish, allowing us to apply a ‘sustainability lens’ to our turnkey processes. With many of our clients hosting several events a year over several years, we can plan for high level reuse of all of our products.

Our ability to produce everything in house, selecting like minded (and where possible local) suppliers, dedicated storage of all materials and client exhibits for future use, alongside combined transportation management means that sustainability is built into our production process from the outset.

Volac’s stand is proof that custom can be sustainable; the custom counters are reused across their other events, walls are dressed with reusable silicone edge graphics, the flooring is repurposed, and the meeting room space has been designed using frosted glass panels for longevity. 

With huge thanks to Better Stands for recognising our sustainable approach, to Volactive for allowing us to deliver this great exhibit on your behalf, and to Abraxys Global’s Event Compliance Team who sit behind the Better Stands programme.