Is it possible to have a green trade show? Sure it is! Our Houston trade show experts have some ideas that can help trade show organizers “green up” their next show.
Choose a Green Venue
Lots of conference venues are going green these days, so the first way to make your show greener is to book it at a hall that promotes itself as green. This would likely be a place where energy and water are conserved through the utilities, and perhaps there are some great natural surroundings to enjoy.
Ban the Bag
The plastic one, that is. Just as grocery chains throughout the nation are switching back to the tried-and-true paper bags of the past, or forgoing bags altogether in some cases, you can do the same at your trade show. There are plenty of sources for bags made from recycled materials; have enough printed up with your logo to pass out to your first several hundred attendees. Instant green!
Encourage Ridesharing
Ridesharing what we used to call carpooling, and you can encourage it at your trade show by incentivizing attendees who ride to the show together. If groups can prove they rented a van and rode together, throw them a VIP reception or provide them a high end promo item. There are lots of ways to reward ridesharing to the trade show, which is a very green cause.
Stay Local
Locally sourced foods are a big part of the green movement, so if you can stay local with your food vendors, that will boost the green profile of your trade show. Get all local vendors to work the event, and make sure you promote them as local in your marketing materials. Create a graphic to place on the registration website; the greenest attendees will love knowing they’ll be eating local the whole time they’re at the show.
These are some great ways to make your next trade show greener. If you have any more ideas, share them with our Houston trade show experts.
