How to exhibit more sustainably, inclusively, and intelligently – with support from Better Stands and Show Ready
The industry’s Better Stands initiative launched last month as part of Global Exhibition’s Day and marked one of the most coherent examples of the exhibition community joining to create more sustainable, inclusive, and impactful experiences for businesses and consumers.
Backed by major organisers, venues, and suppliers, including GES, Better Stands will become a global benchmark in sustainable exhibiting. So, if you're an exhibitor planning your next stand, here are 12 ways you can build a Better Stand – with smart, scalable, and sustainable choices.
1. Choose a Reusable Stand Solution – like Show Ready
Single-use builds, by their nature, either lead straight to recycling plants or, at worse, to landfill. Show Ready is a modular system built tough enough to be used again and again. Crafted from materials that can be branded, and reused from show to show, the system intervenes by ‘reusing’ event materials, ‘reducing’ the need to create more, and in so doing, delaying the need to recycle for longer.
2. Integrate Your Values into the Build
Your stand is your brand in 3D. Creating it with a ‘values first’ approach, and with materials and practices that reflect your own ESG commitments shows depth and commitment to your brand values. This is backed by data, 64% of consumers expect brands to take a stand on sustainability, and when they’re standing on it, they need to feel and see that commitment.
3. Design for Disassembly
A better stand isn’t just about what the stand is made of; it's about how it is assembled. We encourage our clients to avoid adhesives, laminates, and mixed materials that make recycling harder. Stands built for easy disassembly simplify reuse and recycling, and often save time on-site, too. Equally, research shows that designing for deconstruction supports circularity and reduces end-of-life waste.
4. Minimise Material Use
Regardless of the stand or activation you’re planning, one of the first ‘R’s’ of sustainability is ‘reduce’. So, from the outset, only use what’s necessary – and choose low-impact materials where possible. Lighter, smarter design reduces transport emissions, construction time, and costs.
5. Plan for Accessibility
Better Stands should be better for everyone, which means focusing on inclusivity and values when designing and building your stand. One in five people in the UK has a disability – and accessible design supports inclusion and footfall. We encourage our clients to ensure their space accommodates wheelchair users, has clear signage, reduced clutter, and is inclusive to neurodivergent visitors.
6. Use Digital Displays Over Printed Graphics
A study by the Green Electronics Council found digital displays can significantly reduce lifecycle impacts vs. single-use print. While some print is inevitable, switching to screens for core messaging means less printed waste – and more real-time flexibility in what you communicate. They are also easy to update, change and can make your stand more dynamic and engaging over the course of a show.
7. Use Smart Energy Practices
Digitisation can really reduce unnecessary waste, but they do take on energy, and we need to be cognisant of that environmental cost as well. Simple things: don’t leave screens and lights running all night; use LED lighting, power down out-of-hours; and ask organisers about renewable power options.
8. Collaborate with Sustainable Contractors
Remember to choose stand builders who are aligned with Better Stands or similar frameworks – those who can pre-certify your stand for bronze, silver, or gold sustainability levels. This is important in a world of greenwashing and over-promising, and it's our opinion that companies that look to do genuine good should be rewarded. It should be reassuring to exhibitors that contractors pre-certified by Better Stands use recognised sustainable methods, offering measurable benefits. GES Show Ready stands are Gold certified.
9. Get Better Stand Certified
Already, over 50,000 stands have been assessed under Better Stands – with proven cost and emissions savings. Whether through your contractor or at the event itself, achieving Better Stands certification shows a thoughtful and concerted commitment to sustainability.
10. Track and Share Your Impact
Transparent sustainability reporting builds credibility and can improve stakeholder engagement. So, use carbon calculators or partner reporting tools to assess your stand’s impact. Sharing this transparently shows accountability – and can strengthen supplier and customer trust.
11. Engage Your Team in the Mission
Sustainability isn’t a bolt-on. Make it part of your exhibiting culture – from how your team travels to the merchandise they give out. Use it as a platform to train, learn and share. They are your ambassadors on the stand and beyond.
12. Better Together
We believe that Show Ready is one of the most effective ways to join the Better Stands movement – whether you’re a first-time exhibitor or a global brand. By making conscious design decisions, you don’t just reduce environmental impact – you create spaces that are more inclusive, more cost-effective, and more aligned with the values of today’s audiences.
To find out how Show Ready could work for your next time exhibiting, contact our team today to get started.