In today’s increasingly eco-aware world, simply talking about sustainability isn’t enough – we need to act on it. When it comes to exhibitions, there’s huge scope for change and choosing sustainability isn’t about compromise, it’s about innovation and intention.
In today’s increasingly eco-aware world, simply talking about sustainability isn’t enough – we need to act on it. When it comes to exhibitions, there’s huge scope for change and choosing sustainability isn’t about compromise, it’s about innovation and intention.
Designing and building sustainable exhibition stands not only reduces your impact on the environment, but the results lead to long-term cost savings and elevation of the brands who embrace and display such environmental responsibility. At Antalis, we strive to be leaders in sustainable practices and we’re keen to share the knowledge and expertise we gain through our evolving sustainability journey. Here, together with our advice and top tips, you’ll discover the story behind our recent stand at The Print Show as a best-practice example of how to design, create and build exhibition stands that are sustainable, attractive and functional.
Design
Achieving sustainable stands and displays starts at the design stage - where 80% of environmental impact is determined - and of course, sustainability must remain at the forefront of mind at every stage thereafter. Considering the end-of-life impact of your decisions from the beginning will help drive the overall design, resulting in a more visually compelling and engaging stand that attracts attention, sending a clear environmental message and sets brands apart.
Our top tips for design:
- Ensure forward thinking: think about future use of the stand and its transportation, and storability. This may require a mindset shift from a single-use project to a long-term reusable asset.
- Modular and reusable design: create a stand that can be reconfigured or reused for different events. Modular systems fit together easily, meaning less time and man-power needed for set-up.
- Plan for adaptability, scalability and flexibility: ensure the design can adapt to different spaces by standardising the size of wall panels and fixtures so they can adapt easily to different footprints and branding needs.
- Take a minimalist approach: focus on essential elements and reduce unnecessary materials.
- Think about assembly: design a concept that’s easy to assemble and disassemble, without specialist tools.
- Select the right products: material choice makes all the difference and is key for sustainable design. Avoid single-use materials, consider end of life and keep waste to an absolute minimum - if it can’t be reused, make sure it can be recycled!
For our stand at The Print Show:
The aim for our 12.5 x 6m stand was to provide a single destination for visitors to explore our innovative products, sustainable solutions and end-to-end support. Most importantly, the stand needed to be sustainable and aesthetically pleasing - yet also functional - and we were keen to keep waste, time and costs involved to a minimum. Thanks to our considered design for previous exhibitions, we had the choice to reuse multiple stands and a range of display elements from prior shows; having previously ensured that stand walls were both standardised and modular, we are able to fully adapt and reuse them for alternative events very easily. With such key elements made from lightweight Xanita fibreboard and flat-packed and safely stored for reuse, we could keep transportation requirements and carbon footprint to a minimum. In order to upcycle and personalise the stand for The Print Show, we added a small number of new Xanita panels.
" Sustainability isn’t a feature you can add in at the end. To truly deliver a sustainable stand, you have to lay the foundations right at the start, considering materials, manufacturing processes, project lifespan, reusability, and, of course, end of life.”
Claire White, Specification Consultant at Antalis.
Material choices
Traditionally, temporary booths have often been made with MDF, single-use plastics or stretch fabrics, which are often sent to landfill post-show. This is not only unnecessarily harmful for the environment, but also an inefficient investment. Making a bold, lasting impression doesn’t need to come at the planet’s expense; there’s a wealth of sustainable alternatives to choose from – with no compromise on quality!
Our top tips for material selection:
Ask the experts! We pride ourselves on our ever-evolving portfolio; sourcing the latest, best and most sustainable products on the market. Our dedicated team thrive on helping customers find the right products for the job in hand – reach out for a friendly chat!
Consult the Antalis Green Star System™: to help you better understand the impact of product types and thus make more sustainable choices, this scoring system allows you to easily compare the environmental performance of our products at a glance
Look for recycled or recyclable materials: consider fibreboards such as our Xanita – a robust and recyclable fibreboard containing recycled content and proven great for exhibition stands and displays!
Transport
Transportation of the exhibition stand can often be overlooked until it’s too late to make any design changes, but it can be beneficial to consider the plans for construction and transportation right from the design phase.
At the planning stage, consider:
- Choose your print producer and stand builder wisely; do they have experience in sustainable stands and displays?
- How will the stand be packed and transported? Be sure to opt for sustainable packaging.
- What’s the carbon impact of transportation? Can this be measured and reduced? Consider carbon offsetting the emissions.
- Can elements be flat-packed to require less transport vehicle space and aid easy assembly?
For our stand at The Print Show:
We utilised one of our vehicles to transport the stand, with all elements and collateral for our 12.5 x 6m stand in one single delivery, flat packed on just 5 pallets. As we had designed for easy assembly, the stand build was complete within a day and also made for swift and trouble-free breakdown post show.
Brand perception
Visually sustainable stands send a clear and direct message to consumers about your brand and lead to a whole host of brand benefits:
- Own your sustainability story! Educate visitors on your stand and its sustainability as part of your brand story; this will not only enhance your brand image but also build consumer trust.
- Using sustainable materials sends a powerful message that your brand takes its responsibility seriously, which can differentiate brands from competitors.
- Staying ahead of legislation means you’ll be future-proofing your brand, whilst also becoming a leader in your field.
Post event
The UK events industry emits about 1.2 billion kg of carbon dioxide annually and produces about 100,000 tonnes of waste that is either burnt or sent to landfills every year, according to a study by EcoBooth. By eliminating much of the single-use waste that exhibitions are notorious for, we can truly make a positive environmental difference. The best approach is to plan ahead for disassembly, waste sorting and recycling.
Considerations:
- Minimal design: eliminate excess at the planning phase; reducing waste also means reduced disposal costs and lower shipping weights.
- Waste and recycling facilities: what does the exhibition hall provide?
- Storage: where will you store the stand for use at future exhibitions?
- Repurposing: can you reuse elements for display elsewhere, such as offices or showrooms, in-between shows?
- Get up to speed with material sustainability and recyclability: seek knowledge of which materials/ stand components can be recycled - and where! Learn from experience: perform a post-event evaluation, review performance and identify areas to improve sustainability.
For our stand at The Print Show.
The whole 12.5 x 6m Antalis stand at 2025’s The Print Show was disassembled, flat-packed and sent back to our Coalville branch for safe keeping – until next time!
You might recognise our attention-grabbing robot from this year’s VM & Display Show, but it might not be so easy to spot that the stand walls - originally made for Surface Design Show 2022 - have been upcycled and reused for multiple subsequent events, including London’s Cruise Ship Interiors Expo and our recent stand at The Print Show featured here. Additionally, desks and plinths were made for multiple reuse, and we also creatively repurposed a range of display elements, including paper birds from 2024’s VM & Display Show and large paper flowers originally made for 2023’s London Packaging Week.
The overall result? A creative, sustainable and interactive stand which went down a treat with visitors and enabled a successful show. Not only does the stand showcase our vast range of papers, packaging and visual communications media, but it proves how - with the right products and know-how – you can reduce your impact on the environment, whilst also keeping costs down.
“At Imageco, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do — from concept to completion. Our partnership with Antalis and use of Xanita board has enabled us to redefine how exhibition stands are designed and built. By repurposing modular components from previous builds and specifying Xanita with the Exhibox core, we significantly cut waste and carbon impact without compromising creativity or structural integrity. Every element is considered at the design stage — from lightweight, fully recyclable materials to standardised, re-usable components — ensuring that each project delivers both environmental responsibility and premium visual impact. Working alongside like-minded partners such as Antalis allows us to showcase what’s possible when sustainability and innovation go hand in hand.”
Nathan Swinson-Bullough, Managing Director at Imageco.
Summary
Creating a sustainable exhibition stand is a strategic and ethical choice that benefits the planet, your brand and the bottom line. By focusing on reusability, responsible materials and efficient logistics, you contribute to a more sustainable future while beautifully showcasing brand values on the exhibition floor. Sustainability isn't about compromise; it's about innovation and intention - and in the exhibition world, that can make all the difference.
Reach out to our specification consultants for 1-2-1 support with ensuring your upcoming events and displays are as sustainable as possible. Contact us today!
