Green Trade Show Displays FAQ

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General Trade Show Booth Planning Info

How can having a green display increase my ROI?

Climate change, the great recession and a general distrust of corporations and government, has led to an economic climate where consumers not only expect, but demand responsible practices. A display which features an aesthetic that clearly communicates “green” or “eco friendly” contributes to an authentic, socially conscious brand identity. Customers intuitively associate with the brand, knowing that the organization must “walk the walk” because they have taken the extra step to provide a green display booth.

Boothster clients have experienced more foot traffic and more sales on the basis of our green aesthetic, in combination with our creative design.

Does a green display booth cost more?

No, with some exceptions. Boothster has developed an innovative, simple design system that allows for a custom look for a price comparable to, or in some cases lower than a typical portable display. Contact us to learn more.

Exceptions include our Eco Rolla which costs more than a typical aluminum pull up banner stand. Our clients have found it to be worth it, because you get much more: customizable base, eco friendly aesthetic, easier set up, easier graphic change outs.

Our custom design can sometimes be more expensive, depending on your requirements, and material choices.

Are green booths as durable as regular booths?

In our 5 years of experience we have proven that green booths are as durable, and in some cases more durable than regular booths. The key is packing them right, because most of the damage is caused during shipping.

What makes a trade show display booth green?

A “green” or “eco friendly” trade show display closely considers materials, sourcing, packaging and disposal. Materials must be either re-used, re-usable, recycled, recyclable, biodegradable and non toxic. The more less transportation required, the better. The less synthetic materials, and more natural the better.

The key is what happens to the booth at the end of its useful life. Is it up-cycled into something new? Is it recycled? Will it biodegrade and leave no toxins?

Which is better, recyclable, or biodegradable?

The ideal green display for trade show or event is biodegradable and up-cyclable. Biodegradable means that the materials will break down naturally in the environment. Some materials biodegrade, but leave toxins. So, being non toxic is also important. Up-cyclable is when you can break down an old product, and use the raw materials to build something else. It connotes hand made vs. recycling which is generally an industrial process.

Recyclable is good – but not perfect for a couple of reasons. First, the sad truth is that most recyclable material never really gets recycled. People may be lazy and just not do it, or they may not have recycling resources in their area. Second, recycling takes a tremendous amount of energy and pollutants, especially with aluminum.

How do I make informed green buying decisions?

The best way to be green or “eco friendly” is to educate yourself so you can make informed buying decisions. Research materials and fabrication methods. Find out what the local recycling options are in your area. Choose expert vendors that you can trust.

A lot of being green is common sense. For example, durable materials that are natural, such as wood are more eco friendly than synthetic materials like plastic or aluminum.

Be skeptical. Just because someone writes or says that the product is green does not mean that it is. Ask probing questions. For example, some water or soy based inks use toxins, and are printed on PVC banner, so they are not as green as they sound.

My banners are plastic and therefore recyclable – am I being green?

Plastic is not a green material. It is rarely actually recycled and tons of it are floating in our oceans. There are so many different kinds of plastics that make it difficult to recycle. If you are able to recycle it, you are being green to a degree.

The best option for green banners is bamboo or cotton, because those are natural materials, and will naturally biodegrade.

If Bamboo comes from Asia, does the fuel required in transportation mean it is not green?

Not really. Bamboo is one of the greenest materials on the planet because it grows quickly, sustainably and naturally, and naturally biodegrades. That being said, it is important to note that not all materials are 100% green. The fuel required to transport bamboo is significant and does count against it’s carbon footprint. However, it is shipped somewhat efficiently because large volumes of it are transported in large containers.

Bamboo is much more eco friendly or “green” than counters made with plastic laminates and chemical glues, or graphic panels made from polystyrene. It is less eco friendly than soy glue plywood, which comes from the Pacific Northwest.

What does “frankenstein-ing a design mean?

This is a great term that we sometimes use during the design process. It means when you take unrelated things that you like individually and put them together. What you get is not always a great design. For example you may like a Victorian lampshade and a modernist desk – that doesn’t mean they go well together.

Are there standards or certifications for green booths?

Not at the moment. There are efforts underway to certify booths but none have been established. In the mean time, we are setting our own standards, and challenge anyone to find a company that utilizes innovative green materials like we do.

Why does Boothster use cardboard tubes?

Because they are durable, interesting looking and much greener than other structural materials like aluminum. Cardboard tubes will biodegrade naturally. The tubes Boothster uses are made with potato starch glue.

What does “drayage” mean?

Drayage, also known as material handling, is the term used to describe the labor cost of transporting your booth from the loading dock at the convention center to your booth space. In the USA it’s quite expensive. It’s usually calculated by a complicated formula relating to the pounds and measurements of your crates. It applies to small packages too. We recommend that our clients carry small items into the convention center by hand, to avoid expensive drayage charges. As a rule, we try as hard as we can to design light and for small shipping.

How is cardboard a green material?

Cardboard is made from recycled paper fibers, potato starch glue and it is also biodegradable.

What is different about the plywood that Boothster uses?

We use FSC certified soy glue plywood whenever there is a need for plywood in our crates and booths. Soy glue plywood is special in that it does not use formaldehyde based glues. Instead the glue that bonds the layers together is made from soy, a very renewable resource that is non-toxic and very durable.

Isn’t aluminum eco friendly?

Kind of, but not totally. It’s recyclable, but in fact it causes a tremendous amount of damage to the land when it is extracted. Waterways are polluted, fish die, and farmers lands are destroyed. Boothster has kept our use of aluminum at a minimum (less than 10% of our projects). The aluminum that we do use is for our rolla greens (with biodegradable, non voc ink) and is part of our rental inventory, which is re-used time and time again.

What does low VOC mean in printing?

VOC is volatile organic compounds. In English, they are the fumes from the inks used in printing. When a petroleum based ink is used those vapors are extremely toxic. When an organic material is used to make the ink such as soy or other vegetable those fumes are significantly decreased. Most printers today use inks that are high in these toxic substances. At Boothster we have gone out of our way to make sure that everything we print in house—on our large format printer—is done with the lowest VOC inks available.

What is eco cotton?

Eco cotton is an artist canvas – literally, that Boothster specially developed for large format printing with low VOC inks. A natural product, its biodegradable and has a nice warm texture and prints beautifully.

What is the greenest form of banner printing?

By far, it is our bamboo banner material which is made from pesticide free, organically harvested and REACH certified bamboo fiber.

Why do you not use soy or water based ink for your banner displays?

Soy or water based inks are not conclusively more eco friendly than eco solvent. Moreover, soy or water based requires either plastic content substrate, or laminate, or both, which negates the small environmental benefits. With bamboo or cotton banner, you are using a natural material which is the bulk of the product. Plus, you don’t have to seal it with plastic laminates.

Are green booths as durable as regular booths?

In our 5 years of experience we have proven that green booths are as durable, and in some cases more durable than regular booths. The key is packing them right, because most of the damage is caused during shipping.

What is green washing?

Green washing is when a person or company touts how green they are; when they really aren’t. It takes a lot of research to know what is green and what is not. We recommend that people become aware of how to live sustainably so that they can make informed choices. We make it our business to research and continue learning as new and interesting raw materials become available.