5 Essential Tips for Planning Sustainable Events

As environmental awareness continues to grow, the public and modern businesses are adopting eco-friendly practices. When it comes to the latter, sustainable events are an excellent example of how companies can adopt environmentally-friendly ideas without hassle or disruption to their business.

In this post, the experts at Plus Exhibition will highlight a few essential tips — from eco-friendly exhibition stands to paperless marketing — for planning sustainable events.

1. Do Your Research

Before you dive in and start spending money, it’s crucial to do plenty of research into the best practices and options available. This way, you will not only have everything you need to get the most out of the event but also an opportunity to explore creative and innovative eco-friendly solutions. The latter is essential if you want to cover as many bases as possible and encourage both attendees and other companies to adopt a similar approach to sustainability — whether it’s in their everyday life or a professional sense. 

2. Reusable Exhibition Stands

Attracting as much attention as possible and increasing brand awareness are two crucial goals for any event, and your choice of an exhibition stand is vital in this regard. When you begin brainstorming ideas for bespoke exhibition stands, it’s always a good idea to consult with an expert to discuss your design needs as well as your sustainability goals. You’ll find many innovative designs that are not only made of eco-friendly materials but also can be reused as many times as you need. Therefore, you will be doing your bit for the planet by using materials that are kinder to the environment, but also minimalise waste with reusable exhibition stands.

3. Sustainable Marketing

Marketing is a crucial aspect of any event or trade show, as it allows your brand to attract as much attention as possible before and during the event — which hugely increases your chances of success. With that said, a considerable percentage of marketing materials often end up in the bin or create a colourful collage as they are scattered all over the floor. So it’s always a good idea to consider marketing methods that are not only more impactful but also prevent such substantial waste.

Luckily we live in an era where today’s manufacturers are more conscious of the environment and strive to provide alternatives to suit sustainable requirements. Examples include the use of paper made from recyclable materials as well as putting more thought into giveaway items. The latter is especially crucial to ensure that you don’t contribute to the post-event waste, especially when the materials used tend to be plastic. 

If you’re looking for a completely paperless-marketing solution for your next event, you don’t have to look any further than technology. With such a vast array of tech at your disposal — all highly appealing to modern consumers — why not utilise technology in your exhibition stand to attract as much attention as possible? Rather than using leaflets or handouts, opt for interactive displays and the use of QR codes to direct new customers to your website.

4. Energy-Efficient Lighting and Tech

To make bespoke exhibition stands engaging and immersive to passersby, it’s essential to incorporate additional aspects such as lighting and technology. For lighting, there are many different options available that ensure your stand is as energy-efficient as possible. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are the most popular of these options and can prove to be a cheaper and more efficient bulb of choice.

When it comes to using technology, there’s a lot of room to get as creative and flamboyant as the event and your customers’ demand. So, your energy-efficiency solutions will always depend on how you use tech. Whether you’re using interactive monitors, AV equipment or something more unique like VR games — sustainable event planners often have energy-efficiency protocols in place or guidelines that help you to achieve your goals while being kinder to the environment. 

5. Use Social Media Efficiently

When it comes to marketing before, during and after an event — or any marketing, for that matter — social media is your best friend. Not only does it offer you a simple and efficient way to reach out to an endless audience, but you can utilise an event’s hashtag to ensure everyone at or following the event will be aware of your company and what you’re offering. This increases brand awareness as well as encouraging a significantly larger number of people to visit your exhibition stand. 

But what does social media have to do with sustainability? A lot, actually. Firstly, it offers a marketing platform that doesn’t require the manufacture and distribution of marketing materials. But secondly, it’s a hugely beneficial way to connect with other companies or organisations that share your passion for sustainability and provides the introduction needed for future collaborations. Spreading the word is one of the essential aspects of a greener future, and social media is proving to be the platform that ensures your business’s message reaches as many eyes and ears as possible.

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Plus Exhibition is a bespoke exhibition stands manufacturer and designer based in the UK. Among their many creative and unique designs, they also provide exhibition stands that are reusable and made from recyclable materials for customers seeking sustainable solutions.