The exhibition and events industry is making visible strides toward a more sustainable future — and it’s doing so together. What began as a joint effort by the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), and the Events Industry Council (EIC) has evolved into a measurable movement for professional growth and environmental accountability.
The Sustainable Exhibition Stand Guidance, launched in 2024, was created to give industry professionals—from exhibit builders and general contractors to planners and venues—a practical, shared framework for responsible design and construction. It builds upon the EIC Sustainable Event Standards and aligns with the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, empowering members to act now rather than wait for mandates.
“Our goal wasn’t just to release another policy document,” said Julie Kagy, Executive Director of ESCA. “We wanted to provide a hands-on tool that helps members and partners make real, immediate progress.”
From Collaboration to Measurable Impact
Since its introduction, the guidance has been adopted by member organisations across North America and Europe. Exhibit builders, designers, and service contractors have used it to set sustainability goals, train teams, and communicate expectations with clients and suppliers.
Early results are promising. Several firms report up to 40% reductions in landfill waste by applying the “6 Rs of Responsible Consumption”—rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, and refuse—to their exhibit design processes. Others note improved operational efficiency, with material reuse and modular design strategies reducing client build costs by 20–30%.
“Our goal was to make sustainable exhibiting more accessible, no matter where an organization is on their journey,” said Nicole Klein, Principal at Exhibit Expressions and member of the EDPA Sustainability Committee.
“We’re already seeing how the guidance moves from aspiration to action,” added Dasher Lowe, Executive Director of EDPA. “It’s helping members demonstrate measurable progress while maintaining creativity and client impact.”
These early adopters are proving that sustainability and business success can align. One exhibit production team used the guidelines to standardize its use of modular aluminum systems and recyclable graphics substrates—reducing its annual carbon footprint by an estimated 18 metric tons of CO₂, equivalent to removing four cars from the road for a year.
Professional Development and Industry Alignment
For Certified Meeting Professionals (CMPs) and other event practitioners, the Sustainable Exhibition Stand Guidance supports professional development by translating complex sustainability goals into practical, job-specific actions.
The framework provides a clear connection between on-site decision-making and the EIC’s Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) curriculum, ensuring that those in the field can align daily operations with global standards. It is both a learning tool and a benchmark—encouraging continuous improvement and peer accountability.
The Power of Partnership
Perhaps the most powerful outcome of the ESCA/EDPA/EIC collaboration is how it’s uniting the industry behind shared values. By providing a voluntary, self-regulated approach, the guidance empowers organizations to lead rather than wait for government intervention.
“I’ve always believed that when our organizations work together, we reach deeper into the industry and bring more people along on the sustainability journey,” said Al Mercuro, Strategic Marketing & Client Engagement Advisor at Genesis Exhibits and member of the Sustainability Committee. “This collaboration puts us on the fast track to making responsible design and construction a standard practice across the exhibit world.”
Looking Ahead: Version 2.0 and the Self-Scoring Model
The committee is now developing Version 2.0 of the guidance, which will include a self-scoring model allowing organizations to benchmark their progress, identify gaps, and celebrate achievements. This next evolution will transform the guidance into a measurable, data-driven tool that strengthens the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Committee members are also collecting new case studies from member companies that have implemented the guidance with clients, demonstrating how sustainability can enhance creativity, efficiency, and client trust.
A Shared Commitment to a Sustainable Future
The Sustainable Exhibition Stand Guidance represents more than a set of recommendations—it’s a professional and cultural shift. As adoption grows, so does the community of event professionals committed to aligning environmental responsibility with business success.
Through collaboration, education, and transparency, ESCA, EDPA, and EIC are proving that sustainability is not just the future of the events industry—it’s the standard we’re building today.