The way exhibition stands are designed and constructed is changing. Across the events and exhibitions industry, organisers and exhibitors are moving away from single-use stand construction in favour of reusable exhibition stands that can be adapted, reconfigured and used across multiple events. The shift isn’t being driven by sustainability alone. Businesses are also looking for better long-term value, greater flexibility and a more efficient approach to exhibiting.
The Better Stands initiative is helping accelerate that shift by providing the events and exhibitions industry with a consistent framework for more sustainable exhibition stand construction through reusable stand design.
Developed for the events and exhibitions industry, it creates greater accountability for Exhibition Stand Designers, Stand Builders, Contractors, Organisers and Venues, establishing a recognised standard for measuring and improving exhibition stand reusability.
For exhibitors, the benefits extend well beyond sustainability. Designing for reuse can improve return on investment, reduce operational costs and provide greater flexibility as exhibition programmes evolve. Instead of rebuilding from scratch for every event, businesses can continue to invest in exhibition assets that evolve alongside their brand, marketing campaigns and product launches.
As more organisers adopt Better Stands, understanding the framework is becoming increasingly important. Whether you’re planning a bespoke exhibition stand, a modular system or a hybrid solution, designing with reuse in mind is rapidly becoming the new standard across the industry.
Better Stands is an industry-wide framework that encourages the design and construction of reusable exhibition stands. Rather than being a stand system or manufacturer, it provides a recognised standard for assessing how exhibition stands are designed for reuse across the events and exhibitions industry.
Originally developed by Informa and refined through collaboration with organisers, venues, contractors, assessors and service providers, the framework helps the industry measure exhibition stand reusability consistently while encouraging smarter construction methods and long-term reuse.
Whether a stand is modular, bespoke or a hybrid of both, it can be assessed against the framework provided it has been designed with reuse in mind. Better Stands doesn’t dictate how an exhibition stand should look—it simply promotes a more efficient and sustainable approach to exhibition stand construction.
While sustainability has helped drive the conversation, it’s only part of the reason organisers are embracing Better Stands. The framework also supports exhibitions that are safer to build, quicker to install and more efficient to operate.
One of the biggest advantages is the reduction in onsite construction. Reusable exhibition stands typically require fewer new materials and less fabrication at the venue, helping to create safer build environments and reduce the time needed for installation and dismantling.
For organisers, shorter build and breakdown programmes can deliver significant operational benefits. Reducing the time spent occupying an exhibition hall helps lower costs associated with venue staffing, security, cleaning, contractor access and site management. It also enables faster hall turnaround, allowing venues to prepare for incoming events more efficiently.
These efficiencies ultimately benefit exhibitors too. Better organised build schedules, reduced onsite disruption and more efficient event operations all contribute to a smoother exhibiting experience. Over time, they also help support the long-term affordability and commercial sustainability of exhibitions.
The events and exhibitions industry is moving away from disposable stand construction in favour of reusable exhibition stands that deliver long-term environmental, commercial and operational benefits. Rather than being built for a single event, reusable exhibition stands are designed to become long-term business assets that can be adapted, reconfigured and reused across multiple exhibitions.
From a sustainability perspective, extending the lifespan of an exhibition stand is one of the most effective ways to reduce its environmental impact. Instead of manufacturing and disposing of a new stand for every event, the same structural components remain in service for many years, reducing the demand for new raw materials, minimising waste and lowering the carbon associated with repeated manufacturing and transportation. High-quality reusable exhibition systems are typically engineered with a structural lifespan of 10 years or more, making reuse the foundation of more sustainable exhibition stand construction.
The commercial benefits are equally compelling. Rather than repeatedly investing in new stand construction, exhibitors retain the core structure while updating graphics, branding, product displays and selected bespoke elements as their business evolves. This reduces lifetime exhibiting costs, improves return on investment and creates a valuable exhibition asset that continues to deliver value year after year. It also enables greater brand consistency, with a recognisable exhibition environment that can be adapted for different stand sizes, venues and campaigns without losing its identity.
Reusable exhibition stands are also better suited to the way modern exhibitions are operated. As organisers continue to reduce build and breakdown periods, exhibitors need stand systems that can be installed efficiently and reliably. Reusable construction methods reduce onsite fabrication, improve build quality and minimise installation risks, helping ensure exhibition stands are completed on time, fully tested and ready to welcome visitors from the moment the doors open.
At 5 Studio UK, we’re proud to be a Better Stands Approved Member, designing exhibition stands that are built around the principles of longevity, adaptability and reuse. By treating every exhibition stand as a long-term asset rather than a one-off build, we help clients create exhibition environments that deliver measurable sustainability, commercial and operational benefits throughout their lifecycle.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Better Stands is that designing for reuse means compromising on creativity. It doesn’t.
Some of the most visually striking exhibition stands are built using reusable construction methods. From architectural framing and integrated lighting to immersive AV and custom product displays, Better Stands doesn’t dictate how a stand should look. Instead, it encourages exhibition stand designers to consider, from the outset, how a stand is constructed and how its components can be reused, reconfigured or adapted across a client’s exhibition calendar.
Ultimately, Better Stands isn’t about using fewer materials—it’s about using materials more intelligently. By extending the lifespan of an exhibition stand, businesses can reduce waste without compromising creativity, visitor engagement or brand impact.
Achieving a Gold Better Stands rating isn’t about following a particular design style. It’s about making intelligent design decisions across every part of an exhibition stand, ensuring as many elements as possible are designed for long-term reuse or recycling. When designing exhibition stands, these are the principles we consider across each of the 10 core assessment areas.
The Bronze Foundation focuses on the core structural elements of an exhibition stand. These are the workhorses of the build, designed to be dismantled, stored and reused across multiple exhibitions, forming the foundation of a more sustainable exhibition stand.
Walls
We design Modular Exhibition Stands using reusable wall systems that can be dismantled, reconfigured and adapted for future exhibitions rather than being built for a single event. This extends the lifespan of the exhibition stand, reduces waste and allows the stand to be reconfigured for different stand sizes, layouts and show objectives.
Platforms
Where possible, we specify Stand-On® Modular Flooring, a reusable raised flooring system with invisible cable management and versatile edging options, including integrated LED trim. Unlike traditional timber sub-floors that are cut, fixed and discarded after each exhibition, the system is designed to be dismantled, stored and reused across multiple events.
Furniture
Where practical, we specify reusable or rental furniture that can be incorporated into future exhibitions rather than commissioning bespoke pieces for a single event. This reduces waste, increases flexibility and allows exhibition spaces to evolve without unnecessary replacement.
Lighting
We integrate reusable LED lighting and track lighting systems that can be repositioned and adapted across future stand configurations. This reduces waste while maintaining a premium visitor experience.
The Silver Progression extends the principles of reuse to the architectural features that define the appearance of an exhibition stand. These elements often create the greatest visual impact and should be designed with the same circular approach as the primary structure, ensuring they can be dismantled, stored and reused across future exhibitions.
Hanging & Rigged Structures
We utilise reusable modular frame systems to create hanging structures in square, rectangular, circular and suspended SEG lightbox configurations. Whether supplied as part of a purchased stand or an Exhibition Stand Hire package, the same framework can be dismantled, reconfigured and reused across multiple exhibitions, supporting the circular principles encouraged by Better Stands.
Ceilings
Rather than relying on single-use plywood construction, we create seamless ceiling features using reusable architectural profiles or modular frame systems. These components can be dismantled, reconfigured and reused across future exhibitions while maintaining a premium architectural finish.
Displays
We design product displays using reusable modular frameworks or bespoke display solutions, with storage, transportation and future reuse built into the design from the outset. This ensures display features can be safely transported, protected and returned to future exhibitions rather than being manufactured for a single event.
The Gold Level focuses on two of the highest-waste elements of an exhibition stand: floor coverings and graphics. By replacing traditionally disposable materials with reusable or recyclable alternatives, exhibitors can significantly reduce waste while completing the transition towards a more circular approach to exhibition stand construction.
Floor Coverings
Traditional exhibition carpet is often used for just a few days before being removed and disposed of, making it one of the largest sources of exhibition waste. To help reduce this, we offer a range of recyclable exhibition carpets alongside phthalate-free, 100% recyclable vinyl flooring, including printable floor vinyl produced using GREENGUARD Gold Certified inks. These solutions support a more circular approach to exhibition stand construction while maintaining the high-quality finish expected from a premium exhibition stand.
Graphics & Décor
Around 80% of our exhibition graphics are designed for reusable frame systems using 100% recyclable SEG fabric graphics. Following each exhibition, we can separate the silicone edge from the fabric to maximise recycling opportunities, further reducing waste. Where rigid graphics are required, we actively promote lightweight, recyclable, PVC-free display boards such as Swedboard.
Better Stands isn’t about limiting creativity or changing how great exhibition stands look. It’s about changing how they’re designed, manufactured and reused.
As the events and exhibitions industry continues to evolve, reusable exhibition stands are becoming the preferred solution for organisers, venues and exhibitors alike. They reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and create exhibition assets that continue delivering value long after a single event has finished.
For exhibitors purchasing an exhibition stand, designing for reuse is no longer simply a sustainability initiative. It’s a smarter commercial decision that protects your investment, reduces long-term exhibiting costs and ensures your stand can evolve alongside your brand, products and exhibition programme.
For businesses choosing an all-inclusive Exhibition Stand Hire solution, reusable construction is already built into the process. By utilising modular framework systems and exhibition assets that remain in continuous circulation, hire stands naturally reduce unnecessary manufacturing and support the circular principles encouraged by Better Stands.
Whether you purchase or hire, the objective remains the same: creating exhibition stands that deliver exceptional visitor experiences while reducing waste and making better use of materials.
Ultimately, Better Stands isn’t the destination—it’s the framework helping the industry get there. By considering the full lifecycle of an exhibition stand, exhibitors can create premium exhibition environments that are more efficient, more sustainable and built for the future.
Whether you’re purchasing or hiring, every exhibition stand we design is engineered with longevity, flexibility and reuse in mind. As a Better Stands Approved Member, we help exhibitors reduce waste, maximise return on investment and create exhibition environments that continue delivering value for years to come.
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