Sustainability

• A better quality, more attractive & sustainable booth

• Opportunity to promote the sustainable credentials of your brand

• Smoother, more efficient move-in and move-out periods

• Lower work hours and reduced construction costs

• Reduce or eradicate your waste bill

To make your commitment to Better Stands and contribute to a more sustainable event:

1. Familiarise yourself with the Better Stands framework

2. Share these guidelines with your team or service provider before they begin designing your booth

3. Work toward reaching at least a bronze level, meaning the booth structure and walls, platform or raised flooring, furniture, equipment and lighting are all reused

4. Ensure that the submitted booth design clearly communicates how you will meet the Better Stands guidelines (if applicable)

To ensure that all exhibitors can meet the Better Stands guidelines we will:

• Provide tips and advice on creating a sustainable booth

• Review your booth designs prior to the event (upon request) and provide advice and information on what you can do reach the Bronze, Silver or Gold Better Stands rating.

• Offer help and advice to find sustainable solutions that suit your needs

• If you tell us all elements of your booth are completely reusable, congratulations! You have already reached the Better Stands Gold standard. Our Better Stands representatives will be onsite during move-in and move-out to check this.

• Provide a quick and easy survey that assesses your Better Stands rating and automatically puts you in the running to win the Sustainable Booth Award.

• Use structures and walls that allow components to be taken apart, repurposed, or donated (e.g., avoid adhesives).
• Design your booth to be reusable, enabling it to be used at multiple shows to reduce waste.

Did you know that flooring is not mandatory at BUILDEX Vancouver? Here are some sustainable options:

• Opt not to install flooring in your booth.
• If you choose to install flooring, ensure it can be reused across multiple events.
• Use your own product to create flooring in your booth space.

• Choose construction methods that allow components to be taken apart and reused or donated (e.g., avoid adhesives). If you have materials to donate, connect with our donation partner, Habitat for Humanity.
• Avoid materials such as Styrofoam/Polystyrene, PVC, fiberglass, and Sintra.
• Disposal of any products onsite is prohibited; all materials must be taken away with you.
• Consider making signage reusable for multiple shows.
• Produce signage on 100% recyclable substrates and avoid foam core or PVC materials.
• Reduce the use of one-time-use vinyl signage.

• Use LED lighting to reduce energy consumption, and reuse lights across multiple shows.
• Ensure electronic displays in your booth are energy-efficient or Energy Star certified.
• Turn off or power down all equipment and powered items in your booth at the end of each show day.

• Reduce or eliminate handouts onsite.
• Switch printed materials to FSC-certified or environmentally credentialed options.
• Provide digital QR codes for easy access to information.
• Communicate your sustainable initiatives onsite—spread the word!

• Choose the most sustainable travel option for you and your staff, such as public transport (SkyTrain, buses, and the SeaBus) or carpooling to reduce emissions.
• Consolidate shipments arriving at the facility and use shipping companies that are SmartWay certified or have sustainable credentials.
• Consider purchasing carbon offset credits for staff travel to and from the Show.

• Sustainability also involves building sustainable businesses, relationships, and communities. Whether you operate a smaller regional company or a larger multinational organization, there are ways to support the community around you.

  Consider the following:

  • Are you implementing practices within your business community to create a more sustainable industry?
  • Are you involved in associations that promote good standards, work practices, industry recruitment, and sustainable awareness?
  • What DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives is your company embedding in its business practices? Is your booth accessible?
  • Are there environmentally sustainable practices in place at your office, manufacturing facility, or job sites?
  • Is your company involved with any local non-profit organizations?

• If you have any questions regarding sustainable booth practices, please reach out. We’d also love to hear about your sustainability efforts in your booth and the industry community so we can share them on social media.

• Have any questions regarding your sustainable booth practices, please reach out. We would also love to hear what you are doing in your booth and in the industry community around you so we can share on social media. Contact Holly Kilbourn at holly.kilbourn@informa.com