Many companies find they need to exhibit at numerous trade shows in order to stand out amongst their competitors; but travelling the world to do so in person often conflicts with a business’ CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and sustainability objectives. At DCE Agency, we understand this – and we know how to help you lessen the load.
Read on for our top tips in reducing your carbon footprint, and how DCE Agency manages trade show stands in the most sustainable way possible.
1. Source Sustainable Materials
Our stands aren’t just grey and white plastic and metal panels, and DCE Agency’s flair for memorable stand spaces means we’re able to source and use a variety of sustainable materials. These include living plant walls features for hospitality areas, providing a touch of nature and organics to social spaces – for which we provide a reusable system to attach to stand structures, and source the plants locally to each show.
Reclaimed wood panelling can be used either as wall coverings or as an interesting textured finish to a bar counter or table. Available in a myriad of shapes and sizes, we can even DTS (Direct To Substrate) print them: meaning all panelling can be sanded down and rebranded for reuse. What’s more, all the timber DCE Agency use to construct our booths is sourced from sustainable vendors and all waste (especially plastics/acrylic) are responsibly recycled or reused.
2. Reuse Stand Assets
Traditionally, organisations have had trade shows built individually for every exhibition they attend, and then have them taken down and destroyed at the end of the event. This isn’t how DCE Agency works. We create as many elements of our stands as possible to be reusable, so once they’re de-constructed when a show ends, they can be packed up and reused.
DCE Agency clients Kraken have us design and build all of their stand spaces worldwide, and reuse most elements as often as they can. Our custom designed candy cart proved super popular at shows – so much so that they even took it back to use in the office between exhibitions for staff to enjoy some sweet treats!
3. Use Carbon Neutral Logistics
Transporting stand materials around the world can be extremely carbon heavy as often such elements are bulky and need to travel long distances in order to be reused. In many cases, this would be difficult to offset this impact but DCE Agency are able to as we work with an entirely carbon neutral logistics provider to transport everything.
Our logistics partner, THINK Expo Logistics, operate internationally through a mix of air, sea and road freight as well as specialised courier services. They are accredited as fully carbon neutral by Carbon Neutral Britain, which is verified by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, VERRA Carbon Standard, Gold Standard for the Global Goals and Woodland Carbon CO2de. You simply can’t get more assurance of sustainability standards!
4. Keep Giveaways Green
We’ve all come back from trade shows laden with plastic doodle bugs, randomly branded pens and brightly coloured post-it pads. Indeed some of the largest waste streams from events can be the collateral – printed brochures, spec sheets, forms as well as giveaways.
One of the ways DCE Agency combat this is with our partnership with logistics experts THINK Expo Logistics, who run a sister company THINK Green Fulfilment. This means we store, ship and manage our clients give aways locally to shows worldwide and paired with the carbon offsetting, only what is needed is sent out and spares are returned rather than being dumped or sent to landfill. We also advise on the best sustainable products to be used as giveaways by our clients, keeping the environment in mind.
5. Consider Exhibiting Virtually
The COVID-19 pandemic turned the exhibition and events industry on its head when social distancing was deployed. One of the ways we helped our clients still reach their customers and partners was by creating virtual, branded environments which were interactive.
The spaces included cloud demos, social and sales messaging integrated, lead capturing and much more – an exhibition in a website. These sites were hugely popular and successful through the pandemic, and continue to be so in the present day – with a growing need for instant communication and results.
If you’re looking to exhibit but need to ensure your company’s CSR and ESG credentials aren’t harmed as a result, DCE Agency can help. Let’s talk – and make your experiential marketing sustainable, impactful and memorable. Call John (john@dceagency.com) on +447595 895836.
