Sustainable Ethos
Our Commitment to Sustainable Exhibition Builds
By David Charnley, Managing Director
When I set up Love Expo, it was my mission to see how we could minimise our environmental impact because the exhibition industry has a history and reputation for being incredibly wasteful. As practices and materials have evolved over the three decades I have been in the industry, we’re definitely proud to be leading by example, creating sustainable, engaging stands that bring lasting value with green credentials.
With nearly 30 years in the industry, along with a background in Environmental Studies, we’ve constantly challenged traditional, single-use build practices in favour of eco-friendly, reusable solutions. We are delighted to be on a partnership program with Aluvision, who are the most pro-active when it comes to focusing on sustainable manufacturing processes of their modular framework system.
Compared to traditional timber stands, which are heavy, resource-intensive, and require significant protective wrapping, our lightweight reusable aluminum framework offers a sustainable alternative. Our aluminum systems are securely transported on custom-designed trolleys, eliminating the need for excess packaging. The framework’s lighter weight also allows us to use smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles like vans, instead of larger lorries – significantly cutting down on emissions. More importantly, the aluminium framework is 100% reusable unlike timber which is often discarded after one use. It is also 100% recyclable once it reaches the end of its life span, which, if handled and transported with care could easily last 30+ years.
Our stands are designed for maximum reusability. The only consumable part of our aluminium stands is the cladding materials which can be custom-printed, flood-coated with coloured or architectural vinyls, or simply supplied as plain white panels. Thankfully we now have materials we can use for the cladding which are themselves produced from 100% recycled materials. Whenever possible, we store these custom cladding panels for future use, but if a client no longer needs them, we repurpose the panels by re-coating them in other vinyls for other projects, making sure every element is re-used to maximise the life span of the product and reducing waste.
Each stand we build may incorporate cladding panels from past projects, modified as needed by re-coating or resizing. Even if panels become too worn or damaged, we repurpose them for unseen areas, such as backing for lightboxes or inside cupboard spaces. Our tabletops are also stored and reused, further reducing waste.
The timber stand construction method is labour intensive and wasteful, relying heavily on screws, glues, and chemical treatments that make disposal and recycling difficult with many timber components becoming landfill waste. Love Expo will continue to minimise our environmental impact at every feasible opportunity.
As we move forward, Love Expo remains committed to sustainable exhibiting. By partnering with Aluvision, we aim to inspire a cultural shift within the exhibition industry, proving that creative exhibition stands can be built without compromising the environment.
David Charnley, Managing Director
Latest news from the blog
Are you looking for an environmentally friendly bespoke exhibition stand?
Maximise Your Exhibition’s Return-on-Investment – Download our User Guide
We’d be delighted to help you with your next exhibition.
Drop us a line.
Whether you’re looking for a bespoke design and build service, portable stand or self-build system, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been designing and building exhibition stands for over 20 years, providing a full turn key service, including delivery and installation throughout the UK and Europe.
Give us a call: 01253 769 911
Drop us an email: info@loveexpo.co.uk