Exhibitor Sustainability Checklist

During Arab Health 2023, we aim to accelerate sustainability and be able to run our event in an environmentally and socially responsible way whilst seeking to inspire sustainable development in the healthcare industry and across the region.

We do this not only because more than 80% of our attendees tell us that they care that our events are run in a responsible manner, but because it is the right thing to do for our customers, colleagues, and the communities we serve.

We would like to encourage you to join our sustainability efforts by completing the below 10 point checklist:

By working together, we can make the event more memorable, meet our audience’s expectations and reduce wasted time, resources, and costs.

 

  • Ensure your stand is designed so that its structure will be used again by either yourself or by your contractors. 
  • For your travel and transport choose the most sustainable option possible for your journey to and from the event by making use of the public transport. Dubai World Trade Centre has its own metro station located directly next to the venue on the Red Line. Also consolidate your shipments and use logistic companies that have sustainability credentials.

Want a supplier you can trust? We have developed long-term relationships with the most quality-focused, reliable, and responsive vendors in the industry. Our preferred partners can help you to exhibit sustainably and we encourage you to engage with them for any logistic, stand to build, signage, lightning or accommodation needs you may have. Get in touch on [email protected].

  • Select energy efficient, LED lighting and other equipment for your stand and be sure to power down your equipment at the end of the day.
  • Reduce paper handouts by going digital and source recycled, sustainably certified paper options where printing is needed.
  • When purchasing promotional items, consider the amount you order, the environmental credentials of the materials they are made from, as well as whether they are useful giveaways that will be used long after the event is over.
  • Help to support the sustainability of the local area by using local suppliers and considering the sustainability credentials of the hotels you book.
  • Think about what waste your stand will create and try to minimize it as much as possible. For the unavoidable waste items, try to ensure it will be recycled. Key items to consider include signage, carpeting and packaging waste.
  • Get involved with the numerous initiatives and conversations throughout the event which aim to help facilitate and inspire the sustainable development of your industry. 
  • Inspire the sustainable development of your industry by promoting your company’s and your products’ sustainability credentials.

Would you like to work with us on the sustainability of the event? Contact the Arab Health team for more information at [email protected] or let our PR team know about your latest solutions by contacting [email protected].

 

  • Ensure you and your contractor are aware of and compliant with all health, safety and security requirements.

Do you know what happens to your stand?

Have you ever considered what happens to your stand after the event? Although only used by a minority of our exhibitors, the useof single use, “build and burn” stands that only last a few days are a major source of waste. One single stand can create around 4 tonnes of waste. They also take longer to build, are more risky to plan and can contain a lot of hidden costs.

We would like to encourage every one of our exhibitors to join us in working towards the prevention of this unnecessary waste.

What is a disposable stand?

The structure of a stand (e.g. the walls) are made to be used only once, and is therefore demolished and disposed of at the end of the event.

What is a reusable stand?

The structure is made using a system designed for multiple uses and in different formats and sizes to suit the client's style. It can be owned by the client or most often rented from a contractor.

Benefits to building a
non-disposable stand

  1. Faster, cleaner and safer build with a more reliable timeline –no stress!
  2. Reduced costs due to a lower waste bill and fewer labour hours
  3. Higher quality look and feel for your stand
  4. Demonstrates your company’s commitment to sustainability with a lower environmental impact

How you can make a difference

When choosing your contractor, make sure they are using a process which allows them to use the structure of the stand time and again. Specify it in your tender and ask them to confirm what will happen to the stand after the show.

Exhibitor Tips

Reduce signage waste by:

  • Encourage less printing and provide more information digitally when it comes to booth literature, fulfilling requests via email and website referrals
  • If you must print, create reusable non-dated signs that can be used year after year
  • Avoid foam core signs and request recyclable material such as cardboard signage

Reduce booth waste by:

  • Requesting sustainable options 
  • Avoid carpet and bring your own flooring, like puzzle foam flooring that can be reused at all your shows
  • Break down ALL cardboard boxes and put them in the correct recycling bin
  • Request additional booth bins for recycling and compost collection
  • Use only compostable or recyclable service ware for samples and give-a-ways
  • Use the stickers provided at the Exhibitor Services desk to mark your materials for recycling or donation
  • Set a goal to leave no trace behind by shipping out all booth properties and packing materials and donating extra giveaways

 

Better Stands and premium sustainable options

At Arab Health we embrace raising the level of awareness and improving the sustainability of our event. This involves education, measurement and the development of sustainable standards.

Running a sustainable event has been our key priority and to reduce the environmental impact of events, we formed the Better Stands programme, to help bring you the future of exhibition stands.

We invite you to join us in this journey towards delivering the best experience to our customers, lowering stand waste and costs whilst simultaneously having a positive impact on the wider world.

We believe that by moving away from the use of disposable exhibition stands we will improve the ease, quality, safety and sustainability of the exhibitor experience at our events. 

We would like you join us in moving towards the future of exhibiting. 

Contact the sales team at [email protected] to discuss sustainable participation opportunities in 2023.