Sustainable exhibition stand construction – i.xpo is a sustainable company

For the sustainability strategy of your company, we plan your trade fair stand in a way that saves resources

Whether it’s the travel plans for your visitors or the air-conditioning of the trade fair halls – the execution of a trade fair requires considerable resources. The trade fair stands often also produce a lot of rubbish if large parts of them have to be disposed of after dismantling.

However, for several years, the topic of sustainability has been high on the agenda of the trade fair sector. We at i.xpo are also firmly convinced that we have a responsibility for the environment, and want to live up to this conviction: we aim to set standards in sustainable exhibition stand construction – today and in the future. We have called our action in the area of sustainability i.xpoMission.

The guiding principle of our i.xpoMission

The work in the trade fair and event sector is very demanding for people and the environment. Under these conditions, we aim to do our best to put our company on a sustainable footing.
We see sustainability as an opportunity and not as an obstacle. Our self-commitment is a process we call i.xpoMission.
We provide incentives to include the entire i.xpo team in the sustainable alignment of our company and to support it in achieving our common goals.
How we make our processes sustainable is documented in a continuously updated manual that is accessible to the team, our customers and our suppliers at all times.
We communicate the results of the implementation of our sustainable measures internally and externally so as to measure ourselves, so that we do not relax our efforts, and so as to share our endeavours with our customers and partners.

i.xpo is certified as a “sustainable company”

In 2016, we received the industry-specific sustainability certificate of the FAMAB association for the first time and are thus among the pioneers within the exhibition stand construction sector. Our constant implementation of sustainability standards within the framework of our i.xpoMission has paid off: i.xpo fulfils the extensive sustainability criteria of FAMAB “in an exemplary manner”. The certification for sustainable economic management in direct economic communication is carried out by an independent and state-approved auditor, the company CO₂OL. In future too, we want to focus on sustainability across the board, stresses Ulf Stollenwerk, Sustainability Officer and authorised representative at i.xpo: “We want to do our best to involve the entire i.xpo team in the sustainable alignment and to support it in achieving our common goals.”

Climate protection and a reduced CO2 footprint in exhibition stand construction – wood as a sustainable exhibition stand construction material at i.xpo

Wood is still the most important material in the production of trade fair stands. I.xpo has a special relationship to this natural resource. Because i.xpo is part of the Graf von Spee Family Group, which also includes numerous agricultural operations and forestry administrations in Europe and North America. For generations, the Graf von Spee’s forestry commission in Heltorf has been cultivating and maintaining sustainable forest land in the metropolitan area. Every square metre of this is landscape conservation area. Due to the special ecological significance, over 25% of the total area is under nature conservation. Only as much is taken from the woods as grows back again. Due to the long-term sustainable forest management, our forestry operation received the Pan-European Forestry Certificate (PEFC).

Implementing sustainability in marketing – realising waste prevention and reusability

Before the trade fair, during the trade fair planning, waste can already be prevented. As a “sustainable company”, we already pay attention to the use of recyclable elements when selecting materials. Whether metal, wood or special waste, after dismantling your trade fair stand, we dispose of the materials correctly and put them into the corresponding recycling systems. However, not every trade fair stand has to be disposed of after use: individual trade fair stand systems are designed for many years of use. Thus, you can use your stand components again the next year. This is not only resource-conserving and environmentally friendly, it also saves you money. If desired, the elements from the previous year can, of course, be supplemented or modified for the new trade fair. If possible, we also try to use packaging material several times.

Preserving nature – leading the way as a model for sustainability in exhibition stand construction

We want to protect nature, and therefore align all our actions towards sustainability. The connection between climate protection or environmental protection and exhibition stand construction is much too rarely seen as an issue. Our goal is the implementation of an almost climate-neutral trade fair stand. Thus, we always try to avoid environmental pollution or to reduce it as far as possible, to recycle materials whenever possible and to avoid empty trips by our vehicles and to plan routes efficiently.

We are also happy to respond to the needs of our customers – if, for example, you are interested in certified slab material from sustainable production, then we can easily implement it for you.

Do you, as an organiser or exhibitor, also want to protect nature? Put the planning and realisation of your trade fair stand in our responsible hands. Please feel free to contact us at any time. We are happy to advise you.