STANDout from the crowd…how to exhibit responsibly.

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Why an exhibitor recognition scheme matters

Exhibition season is here and there’s a renewed focus not just on building more visually attractive and impressive stands, but on building them responsibly. Increasingly, exhibitors and organisers alike are being asked: “How sustainable and responsible is your presence?”

Now you can benchmark, with STANDout, an Exhibitor Recognition Scheme successfully used by leading events such as Confex, Renewable UK, NHS Confederation, and The BIBA Conference, helps answer that question, showcasing exhibitors who take positive environmental and social action in how they design and deliver their stands.

Moving beyond traditional metrics

Where traditional exhibitor measures might focus on footfall, lead generation, or ROI, STANDout looks in a very different direction, impact.

We measure how responsibly and sustainably a booth is delivered, focusing on:

  • Environmental Responsibility (materials, waste reduction, transport emissions)
  • Social Responsibility (inclusivity, accessibility, local community impact)

It’s not about how many people visit your stand, it’s about how responsibly your stand has been created and delivered and aligns with your organisational values.

This is a fresh, future-facing way for exhibitions to demonstrate they are serious about responsibility and sustainability, and it gives exhibitors a valuable opportunity to showcase their leadership.

How the scheme works

The process is designed to be simple, positive, and empowering:

  • Exhibitors opt-in pre-event
  • Self-assessments are submitted, covering both environmental and social responsibility factors.
  • event:decision reviews each submission based on clear, fair criteria.
  • Recognition is awarded to exhibitors who out-perform their peers, with a certificate typically celebrated on-site and online.

Proven success at major events

Our Exhibitor Recognition Scheme has already been adopted by major industry names, including:

  • Confex: Helping exhibitors align with the growing sustainability demands of the events sector.
  • Renewable UK: promoting and improving the Renewable (UK) international leadership stance.
  • NHS Confederation: Supporting socially responsible exhibiting practices.
  • The BIBA Conference: alongside many programmes the BIBA team use to deliver more responsibly, recognising and celebrating exhibitors’ sustainability achievements.

At these events, we’ve seen real enthusiasm from exhibitors keen to demonstrate their commitment, and a noticeable improvement in how sustainably many stands were delivered year-on-year.

Why exhibitors and organisers love it

For Exhibitors:

  • Public recognition of sustainability efforts
  • Brand alignment with publicly stated values
  • Accountability to prospects and customers
  • Independent third-party verification of their responsibility efforts
  • Opportunity to engage customers with values-led messaging

For Organisers:

  • Evidence of tangible action on sustainability
  • Enhanced event reputation
  • Support for broader responsible event delivery goals
  • A visible sign to attendees and stakeholders that sustainability is taken seriously

Exhibitor recognition impact

Here’s a typical reflection from one of our participating exhibitors:

“A great way to recognise all the hard work our exhibitor partners put in to deliver as well as they do – and to help those for whom sustainability is a newer consideration!” – International Show Owner

Why now?

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, it’s becoming a core expectation at every level of event delivery.

Offering exhibitors the chance to be recognised for responsible practices:

  • Drives real behavioural change
  • Gives your event a stronger sustainability story
  • Adds genuine value for your exhibitor partners and stakeholders
  • Increases engagement with local partners

This season, why not make a bold statement about what your exhibition partners stand for?

Interested in recognising and rewarding your exhibitors for doing the right thing?  Talk to event:decision today about running the Exhibitor Recognition Scheme at your next event.  Find out more here.

Go Sustainable: Big Impact, Small Footprint

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event:decision reflects on a recent sustainability-focused trip through Switzerland

Earlier this month, our Head of Sustainable Event Operations, Laura Robinson, joined a group of industry leaders on a journey through Switzerland for Go Sustainable, this exclusive study trip offered the chance to get to know two of Switzerland’s premium MICE destinations; Lucerne & Zurich, in an inspiringly sustainable way. The focus was on first-class sustainability practices, circular economy at events and making valuable contacts. The event began with an early start on 3 April at London St. Pancras International.

Go Sustainable set an example, by taking all three dimensions of sustainability – ecological, social, and economic – when planning and realising the event. Participation, including round-trip travel between London and Switzerland, was generously covered by Eurostar and TGV Lyria, and various suppliers.

The experience brought together destinations, venues, suppliers, and buyers in a unique showcase of what happens when sustainability is embedded at every stage of an event, starting with the journey itself.  The four day trip ended back at St. Pancras in London in the evening of 6 April, and Laura shares her experience of the event below.

Rethinking the Commute: Trains Over Planes

From the outset, the trip demonstrated how travel can become part of the experience, not just a means to an end. Taking the train from London to Lucerne via Paris, the group avoided air travel complications, with no long queues, no liquid restrictions, and no tight baggage allowances, the group embraced a relaxed, comfortable, and lower-carbon alternative.

“The journey showcased just how effortless train travel can be,” Laura noted. “We were able to check in smoothly and begin networking with peers from the very start of the day.”

With breakfast onboard, a glass of champagne in hand, and glorious weather, whilst sitting back in pure comfort, soaking up the stunning European countryside, the group enjoyed a sustainability-themed quiz to break the ice. The journey doubled as a networking opportunity which was an ideal start to the days ahead.

A seamless connection through Paris included a coach transfer powered by sustainable rapeseed oil, hosted by a local DMC who added insight with a brief city tour between stations.

Sustainable Venues and Purposeful Choices

That evening’s dinner took place at Neubad Lucerne, a standout venue that beautifully embodies the harmony of environmental consciousness and social impact. A striking example of adaptive reuse and social enterprise. Formerly a public swimming pool, it has been reimagined into a creative venue that supports community-led initiatives and artistic programming which perfectly aligned with the Go Sustainable mission.

The following day continued with a guided walking tour of Lucerne’s historic centre, before boarding the MS Cirrus, an energy-efficient boat designed with reduced fuel consumption in mind. A delicious vegetarian lunch was served onboard, offering guests a taste of thoughtful, sustainable dining, with valuable networking time as the group travelled across Lake Lucerne taking in the breathtaking panoramic views.

The journey then climbed Mount Rigi, in Vitznau, via the iconic cogwheel train, Europe’s first mountain railway, adding a historic layer to the sustainable travel story.

Dinner was hosted at Restaurant Elmira, a Michelin-starred venue focused entirely on plant-based fine dining. “Vegetarian ingredients were transformed into an innovative, high-end culinary experience that artfully blended creativity with flavour,” said Laura. “Sustainability was present not just in the sourcing, but in the ethos behind each dish.”

Workshops, Waste, and the 5 Rs

Saturday introduced a series of hands-on, purpose-driven workshops. Though Laura was assisting in workshop planning and missed the morning run through Zurich, one of the standout sessions of the day was Taste the Waste. Here, participants created a full lunch using surplus ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste, such a creative and delicious exercise in circular thinking. What began as a creative test turned into a fun and rewarding experience, embraced wholeheartedly by everyone involved.

event:decision then partnered with the Zurich Convention Bureau to deliver a workshop focused on sustainable event delivery. Grounded in our 5 Rs framework – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle – we explored some of the common barriers event planners face today and dove into practical strategies for reducing impact and how partnering with social enterprises can help maintain quality without taking anything away from the guest experience.

A key theme was the use of our Impact tool which offers planners and suppliers a transparent, data-backed way to assess and improve the sustainability of their events.

“The Impact Certificate is proving especially popular with both planners and DMCs,” Laura shared. “It gives them a clear and credible way to demonstrate progress and value to their clients.”

The session also encouraged collaboration with social enterprises, showing how event delivery can support local communities, not just minimise harm.

Culture, Connection, and Closing the Loop

The day closed with a guided walk through Zurich’s charming old town before sitting down to a traditional Swiss dinner, accompanied by a live music performance from a local folk band. It made for a memorable, authentic evening with true cultural immersion.

The group returned home on Sunday by train, once again benefitting from the ease, comfort, and low-carbon efficiency of rail travel. “Zurich–Paris–London was just as seamless and relaxed as the outbound leg,” Laura reflected.

Measuring What Matters

Beyond inspiration, the trip delivered measurable outcomes. Our Impact Certificate provided a clear view of the event’s sustainability performance, capturing emissions savings and highlighting areas of excellence.

The forthcoming TRACK report (to be published soon) will take this a step further, offering deeper insights into the environmental and social metrics of the journey. From travel to venue use and food choices, each element was assessed with precision – translating sustainable intentions into actionable data.

Final Thoughts

A big thank you to the Swiss team, Tiffany, Melanie, Reto, Gregory, Anna & Inge and all the many partners involved. Go Sustainable wasn’t just a showcase of good ideas, it was a working example of what sustainability in events can look like when it’s built into the DNA of every decision. From carbon-efficient travel and ethical dining to authentic local engagement, the experience provided a model for how our industry can lead by example.

At event:decision, we believe in delivering more than just green checkboxes. We believe in evidence-based impact, smart partnerships, and intentional design – values clearly reflected throughout the Go Sustainablejourney.

Want to Learn More?

  • Explore our Impact Tool and how it can be applied to your events
  • Discover Track—our measurement system for emissions, engagement, and more
  • Read about our services or contact our team directly for a tailored sustainability plan

Questions? Reach out via hello@eventdecision.com

View the event image gallery from Go Sustainable here!

Question Time continued… (EIN-style)

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Event Industry News Sustainable Events Guide Launch

This week we are covering the last four of the eight topics from questions put to the panel at the Event Industry News annual Event Sustainability Breakfast Briefing.

  • Measuring impact and proving sustainability efforts
  • Selecting sustainable suppliers and venues
  • Executing sustainable events in practice
  • Addressing policy, regulation, and accountability

Here are the final selection of questions we didn’t manage to discuss – and event:decision’s (short!) associated thoughts:

5. Measuring impact and proving sustainability efforts

Tracking & Reporting Sustainability Metrics

  • How can we efficiently measure the impact of events?   The first is to look at the carbon footprint of your event (& you really should include delegate travel in this piece). Either subscribe to a platform and input the data or push the job to event:decision’s Track, the #1 service globally.  Second way is to undertake an Impact: Responsible Event Review – the ONLY tool that allows you a checklist across the whole of ESG, with embedded sustainable suppliers, event scorecards and event team performance.
  • What are the most effective and accessible methods for tracking and reporting sustainability?   See above for that…
  • What key metrics and reporting frameworks should event organisers prioritise to measure real impact?   In carbon terms, targets are longer-term than event-by-event & include various net-zero frameworks such as Science-based Target Initiatives (SBTi). In wider sustainability, Impact: Responsible Event Reviews benchmark your event and team performance against industry sector mean performance.
  • How can we improve carbon tracking and ensure accurate offsetting in the exhibition industry?   In short, measure. If you are a stand/booth owner it’s simple enough to report the carbon footprint yourself, with an online tool or a service such as event:decision’s Track Reporting.  If you’re a show or portfolio-owner, ask event:decision, we have tried & trusted methods to report the impact of your whole show, from space-only to visitor travel. Don’t forget the SOCIAL value of holding a show as well!

6. Sustainable Venue & Supplier Selection

Choosing the Right Suppliers & Venues

  • Are sustainability accreditations important to clients, and if so, which ones?   Take a look at the data in the event:decision & micebook’s Most Sustainable Agencies recognition programme. Plenty of data on accreditations.
  • What is your definition of green venues?   Venues can usually demonstrate environmental sustainability in a number of ways, accreditations such as Green Key & many others. Issue is, you can host a pretty low-carbon event at most venues and a pretty high-carbon event at the same venues, it all depends on the travel factor. Suggestion is that agencies – you concentrate on the elements you can control & try to select venues accessible to the audience – Venues, work hard on the factors you can control. Don’t forget, venues, you can make a REAL DIFFERENCE in social value with links to local sustainable supply and communities.
  • How can historic venues balance sustainability with the constraints of listed building status?   Pretty hard to get around listed status, just ask BMA House, but you can work on innovations in service, such as the weekly menus BMA House offer as part of the meeting proposition.
  • What key criteria should event planners look for when selecting a green venue?   Above all, search for and select a suitable venue that is accessible to your audience geographically. Then filter by proposition, see above for accreditations.

7. Sustainable Event Execution: Practical Steps

Reducing Waste & Circular Economy

  • How do you avoid unnecessary waste after an event such as an exhibition?   Three ways:
    1. Design out unnecessary waste in terms of re-usability, material and supply-chain. Ask your builder(s) how & what they will do with materials post event. We’re living in a dreamland if we think all materials can be infinitely re-used, brands require more flexibility in terms of visual approach and messaging.
    2. Put the end-of-life channel for the stand/booth/materials you commission into your contract. If you want to audit your supplier post-event, please do. Yes, this will take time, but if they’re a trusted and regular supplier you’ll have good reason to visit with them regardless.
    3. Measure both the carbon footprint of the stand & the social impact. You will see incremental improvements YOY if you action (1) & (2) above.
  • How can we promote a circular approach in events?   If you can’t reuse materials created for specific events, look to Event Cycle and Used Creative.
  • What are your top tips to enhance sustainability and circularity for a global exhibition client?   See above
  • What are some quick wins for a production company to maintain an eco-friendly service?   Think cleverly about materials. It is possible to reduce the carbon impact of the same programme by 50% between Yr 1 and Yr 2. We have clients who have demonstrated this. After that it can become harder.  Use local crew. The largest carbon factor in nearly ALL expo stands is the travel associated with both brand staff and build crew. At least you can try to source the general crew locally.

Food, Travel & Merchandise Impact

  • How do you support event clients in measuring travel and transport impacts?   With the #1 global event carbon footprint service, Track, which has an automated link within to the market-leading platform to capture and produce low carbon travel plans from You.Smart.Thing.
  • What is the best way to represent carbon savings per meal type at events?   We often advise clients to put plant-based options at the top of the menu – proven to increase uptake. We also encourage chefs to indicate low-carbon options in the same way as chilli-heat & or calories on many menus.
  • What are the best ways to promote sustainable travel to events?   Select a venue that is accessible via public transport. Consider subsidising or enhancing public travel options. Use a Travel Tool such as within Track.

8. Policy, Regulation & Industry Accountability

Regulatory Challenges & Avoiding Greenwashing

  • Will governments set targets for organisations to improve their sustainability impact?   Not in the short term, no. The EU is re-looking at company carbon emissions reporting as we speak in early 2025, update due May-25. In the US, it’s a different story, for now. Main pressure to deliver responsibly and sustainably comes from within companies, brand values and customer demand.
  • How do we ensure sustainability remains a priority despite regulatory rollbacks?   Keep pushing for sustainable events, if you’re a corporate, a brand, an agency or a venue. For now, it’s still a commercial advantage. The main driver for sustainable behaviour is customer demand. This really is up to us all as consumers, vote with your wallet.
  • How can we differentiate truly sustainable brands from greenwashing competitors?   In the event world there is little external comparison of clients’ events due to commercial sensitivities. There are many brands espousing sustainability accreditations at Board level, whilst delivering clearly unsustainable event programmes, all with agency and supplier support. If you’re brave, call them out. At present the best indicator is within ‘agency-land’ is this.  Check for accreditations, they hopefully have stringent compliance criteria.
  • How can businesses balance profitability with sustainable practices?  Without sustainability (Environmental, Social and Governance) there is little point in profit, an unsustainable business is by definition, a fairly short term endeavour. If one means purely environmental sustainability, this is a vital issue that the event sector needs to address. One cannot produce live events with no impact. The larger the event, the larger the impact.
  • Is sustainability a threat to the event sector?   Absolutely not. It’s the largest opportunity we’ve had in a generation.

Sustainability in the events industry isn’t just a challenge, it’s an opportunity. By prioritising impact measurement, responsible supplier choices, waste reduction, and proactive policy engagement, we can build a more sustainable future for events. The insights shared at the Event Industry News Breakfast Briefing highlight that while there’s still work to do, practical solutions are already within reach. The real question is: how will you take action?