An Environmentally Aware Exhibitor
Lisa Plummer -- Tradeshow Week, 3/14/2008 3:19:00 PM
Green was the theme at this year’s Exhibitor, with a focus on green exhibitors, conference sessions and educational offerings.Out of 315 exhibitors, 60 claimed to be environmentally sensitive. This number marked a considerable increase over last year, when one company represented the green market. Exhibitors dubbed by show management to be eco-friendly included sustainable exhibit builders and designers, freight companies offering carbon offsetting, and general service contractors touting green product options.
The show itself offered five new conference sessions devoted to the subject, special markers to highlight eco-friendly exhibitors, and a Green Gallery at the show’s entrance. The educational display touted facts and statistics from Exhibitor Magazine’s recent study, “An Inconvenient Booth,” which benchmarked the industry’s greening dynamics. According to Exhibitor Magazine Editor Travis Stanton, giving the show a green theme was in keeping with a rising concern about the environment.
“There’s huge interest in the topic,” he said, “and (the theme) was a natural outgrowth of that interest.”
Still, a green theme wouldn’t be complete without an event that took steps to be environmentally sensitive itself. In partnership with Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and Champion Exposition Services, show organizers took steps to lessen the show’s environmental footprint by including recycling containers in meeting rooms, using biodegradable packaging for food and beverages, and offering healthier food choice options in concessions.
Many environmentally sensitive exhibiting companies applauded Exhibitor’s efforts, citing greening as a sea change, not a trend.
“I think this is a movement of awareness,” said Joe Abad, vice president of global marketing at Pico, an event marketing service provider. “Our clients are starting to show concern about the environment.”
Attendee Jennifer MacDonald went to Exhibitor to learn more about greening. As marketing coordinator for Trojan UV, she hoped the show would aid her efforts to establish an eco-friendly tradeshow marketing plan.
“I went to a roundtable and an education session, but I was hoping for a little more,” MacDonald said. “What does being a green exhibitor mean? For us, it’s like the Wild West right now.”
The need to define green was a sentiment echoed by Tim Morris, president and CEO of Eco-Systems, a sustainable exhibit builder. His company held the distinction of being the sole green exhibitor last year.
“Now there are over 60 companies (here) touting green products,” Morris said. “A lot’s happened in the industry since last year.”
Morris said that, although the show’s green initiatives were a start, he saw considerable room for improvement.
Deborah Popely, founder and publisher of Green Events Source, also thought the show could step up its efforts.
“There’s an awful lot of plastic in concessions,” Popely said. “I’d love to see more recycling. (Going green) doesn’t happen overnight, (but) I’m encouraged.”
With concern for the environment a new priority, Exhibitor is committed to the process of sustainability, Stanton said.
“We’ll look at what we’re able to do and make sure we (move) in the right direction,” he said. “(Green is) an evolution.”
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