At Rockway, we strive to innovate in our exhibits. For us, this means finding the balance between elegance, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and, of course, sustainability. We implement a variety of methods to achieve more sustainable exhibits, because the exhibition world can be filled with waste and excess. To illustrate this importance, let’s start by understanding what sustainable offerings mean, and then how to achieve them.
Sustainable offerings aim to create an environment capable of renewing itself, without our intervention and despite our impact.
Sourcing better quality materials, adapting to newer, greener technologies and recycling are the main methods for making today’s exhibition stands more sustainable.
Here are 5 concrete examples that we are implementing at Rockway, to help you start your journey towards increased sustainability.
Use a rental program for your exhibition stands
We advise against purchasing an exhibit outright for many reasons such as ROI, storage, etc., but here’s yet another log to add to the fire: sustainable stands.
Renting the structure but slightly modifying the layout according to your needs and the shows you attend allows us to reuse the same materials and produce less waste. We can do this multiple times a year for a single brand as well as reuse the same materials for other brands, which adds another level of sustainability. When we talk about sustainable choices, it is not necessary to do everything at once. Every small step counts and brings us closer to the goal.
Aluminum frame system hardware for a more durable structure
Reusable materials such as aluminum for the initial structure are another key to sustainability.
We are proud to say that 75% of our frames are made from recycled aluminum.
Aluminum has a long life cycle and is a completely renewable resource. Recycling aluminum requires only about 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminum, making it a much more sustainable product over time. Our designs focus on modular systems that can be grouped and repositioned endlessly to create a new experience every time.
Reduce your ecological footprint through storage and transport
With our modular system designs, we are able to maintain sustainability in several ways, not just at the product level: storage and transportation.
Creating smart, modular designs allows us to use smaller storage spaces, as modular designs fit together more seamlessly. Smaller spaces mean fewer trucks on the road to transport our goods from point A to point B. This means reduced fuel consumption and emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, the crates we use for storage are also made of 100% recycled wood, built specifically for your sustainable booth and trade shows. Not only is wood sturdy, it is also easily reusable from one show to the next.
How we are sustainable, when we need to be personalized
Of course, there are always things that need to be custom made for your brands, like countertops, soffits, plinths or canopies. The custom route doesn’t lend itself to long-lasting or reusable use, so we do our best.
In these cases, we ensure that the structures are built from wood, just like our storage crates, to maintain durability. Wood is a strong resource that allows us to reuse the product every year your stand is reused or can be adjusted to accommodate additional designs for your brand. It is very flexible and can be adapted to your needs.
Before requesting a custom design, it is also important to ask our clients if they can tell us which booths are rented and which are customized when they attend trade shows. Almost every time, no one can tell the difference. So being sustainable here also means that you can make an impact when requesting booths. Make choices that will benefit your brand and the environment.
Long-term reusable graphics and marketing
The graphic design and marketing industries are probably the biggest producers of waste in the industry. Paper flyers are certainly the biggest polluters, but so are banners and other materials for your brand logos and promotional displays.
Fortunately, most marketing materials have been converted to digital assets such as screens or QR codes that can be reused continuously. Additionally, at Rockway, we use stretch fabric graphics and PVC graphics to reduce one-time waste and allow for reuse at future events. They are also compact and easily stored to further reduce our transportation footprint.
How can you be more sustainable with your trade show events?
Change isn’t always the easiest thing to implement right from the start. You may feel overwhelmed by the decision you have to make.
Remember: Just being aware and doing your best is an admirable first step.
Do what you can with the knowledge and resources you have. You may not be able to do everything at once, maybe it doesn’t fit into your budget or plan, but doing something more sustainable still has a positive impact. Each of our top 5 tips will help you design a sustainable booth so it’s a little more environmentally friendly and just as appealing to attendees.