Global reusable stand framework reaches 100,000 exhibitors across 500 events in first year

Just over a year since Better Stands was launched across the events industry, the initiative was recognized by UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, for its impact.

UFI honored the initiative with its 2026 Sustainable Development Award. This year, UFI ’s theme fittingly centered on carbon reduction, one of several different aspects of sustainability the organization reviews.

“It is our obligation as an industry that connects people to improve on resource management,” said Jörg Zeissig, International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) President and Co-Chair of the Better Stands Initiative.

There is little dispute in Zeissig’s statement, a belief shared so strongly by key stakeholders that curbing the environmental impact of trade show booths has drawn remarkable collaboration.

Better Stands traces its roots to Informa, where two sustainability team members, Lucie Ryan, who originally conceived the idea in 2016, and Ben Wielgus (pictured), have been integral to its inception and implementation. Photo: Informa

From Informa Concept to Global Coalition

Better Stands traces its roots to Informa, where two sustainability team members, Lucie Ryan, who originally conceived the idea in 2016, and Ben Wielgus, have been integral to its inception and implementation. Wielgus believes Better Stands is delivering on its mission because Informa open sourced the program to allow a coalition to form among leading trade show organizers, stand builders and associations across the globe.

“We made a collective decision that we’d much rather have one global standard that we all work to because it’s much more efficient for exhibitors and much more efficient for stand builders,” Wielgus told TSNN. (Informa is TSNN’s parent company.)

After testing and pilot phases with different stakeholders, in 2025 Better Stands launched globally through Net Zero Carbon Events, with IFES taking the role as the initiative’s Secretariat.

PCI Pharma’s booth at CPHI World Wide 2024 earned a gold in the Better Stands ranking. Photo Credit: Informa

10-Point Framework Drives Certification

At its core, Better Stands is a 10-point framework that helps assess exhibition stands around their reusability. These assessments can be conducted by independent assessors, exhibitors, stand builders and organizers. There are three tiers of certification: Bronze, silver, and gold. While gold recognizes the greatest accomplishments, Wielgus said that bronze is the biggest step because it demonstrates a commitment to the effort and makes the biggest operational and environmental difference. The goal is the initial award will spark a desire to build upon the initial success and try to improve on it.

“For me, this award is confirmation that collaboration can turn ambition into global action,” Zeissig said. “The real opportunity is to make reusable stand construction a normal expectation across our global exhibition industry with global standards and joint efforts.”

100,000 Exhibitors Assessed Across Hundreds Events

The movement is well underway and has been for some time. Between 2019 and 2025, thousands of stand assessments were conducted at more than 400 events in over 37 countries, according to Zeissig.

There are now over 100 members in the Better Stands program with events in more than 40 countries and spanning 500-plus events. Broken down further, Better Stands has engaged with over 100,000 exhibitors via on-site stand assessments, such as one conducted at Diversified’s Accountex London event in May.

The uptake with customers is impressive. In 2025, Informa saw 5,400 more exhibitors across its shows choose Better Stands compared with 2024.

Looking ahead, two major goals are to continue increasing the number of participating companies and collect even greater metrics to demonstrate the benefits of the initiative, said Zeissig.

Cost Savings Drive Adoption Beyond Sustainability

As important as the environmental impact of Better Stands is, Wielgus said the program goes well beyond green metrics. “It’s not just a sustainability story. It also gives a better experience for exhibitors, service providers and organizers,” he said.

Wielgus and Zeissig highlight that using reusable trade show booths saves an exhibitor money, as well as reducing the time and effort it takes to build and dismantle single-use stands.

“Everyone knows how quickly you can build with Lego, which is how reusable stands work – pieces that fit together and can easily be taken apart again, to rebuild once more, rather than having to start over again and again,” Wielgus said to illustrate the point.

The comparison is fitting, as one of the most effective techniques to reduce waste is to use prefabricated modules for booths, significantly reducing what needs replacing from show to show.

Zeissig is keen to stress that reusable stand use does not diminish design optionality or great looking stands.

Said Zeissig: “Exhibition stands used to be designed around a single event, a specific trade show or marketing purpose and a tight delivery schedule. There can be a perception that a unique, premium stand must be built from scratch, but there are examples of Better Stands from around the world that show reusable stands can meet these demands too.”

Strides Pharma Science, displayed at CPHI World Wide 2024, was rated Bronze by Better Stands judges. Photo Credit: Informa

Regional Adoption Varies, Brazil Shows Promise

U.S. trade shows are generally further along in adopting reusable stands, which Wielgus attributes to a greater understanding of the cost savings. Momentum is building in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Wielgus specifically noted Brazil is among the most promising markets adopting Better Stands.

“The barriers and opportunities are real,” Zeissig said. “Market maturity varies, local supply chains differ, and not every region has the same access to reusable systems, storage, logistics, recycling capacity, or trained assessors.”

For those reasons, Better Stands is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Zeissig said manufacturers and organizations can choose the right initial steps for them. “For smaller exhibitors especially, this is important,” he said. “They can ask their service provider the right questions, prioritize reusable elements and make meaningful decisions without needing an in-house sustainability team.”

Better Stands Participants:

Below is a sampling of Informa events that have relied on Better Stands to guide their events.

EMEA

• CPHI World Wide
• Istanbul Jewelry Show
• Dubai Airshow
• WHX Dubai
• Africa Tech Festival
• Bio-Europe

Asia

• CBME
• FHA – Singapore
• Cosmoprof Asia – Hong Kong

North America

• Licensing Expo
• GDC Festival of Gaming
• Tissue World Miami

LATAM

• GreenTech Americas – Mexico

Reposted from TSNN: https://www.tsnn.com/sustainability/better-stands-wins-ufi-sustainable-development-award