RELYING on single-use exhibition stands has long been a challenge to achieving sustainability in business events. Now, an initiative leading the drive to replace them with reusable structures has been recognised with the 2026 UFI Sustainable Development Award.
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, selected Better Stands for its Best Carbon Reduction Initiative award, which this year focused on programmes that demonstrate measurable reductions in emissions and offer practices that can be adopted across the exhibitions industry.
The award highlights growing efforts to tackle one of the exhibitions industry’s most persistent sustainability challenges: the widespread use of single-use stands that are often dismantled and discarded after an event.
Better Stands provides a system that encourages exhibitors, organisers, venues and contractors to replace disposable structures with reusable alternatives to reduce waste and the use of embodied carbon.
The initiative is endorsed by the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, which encourages exhibition businesses in the region to adopt sustainable stand at trade shows and other events.
The Better Stands programme assesses stand designs against a reusability framework and awards Bronze, Silver or Gold status according to the proportion of reusable components. The process has been implemented at hundreds of events worldwide and is supported by Net Zero Carbon Events and the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES).
“Winning the 2026 UFI Sustainable Development Award is a remarkable achievement for the Better Stands Initiative and I am, on behalf of many supporters and team members, immensely proud of what our global community has accomplished together so far,” said Jöerg Zeissig, IFES President and Co-Chair of the Better Stands Initiative.
“This recognition reflects the commitment of many stakeholders such as organisers, venues, service providers, exhibitors, assessors, and associations worldwide who have united behind a shared vision. Together, they are proving that reusable stand-building practices can deliver meaningful, industry-wide change and positive impact.
“This award is a powerful encouragement to continue scaling that impact worldwide and implement more features to measure success.”
The initiative was originally developed by exhibition organiser Informa for internal use before being expanded across the industry. More than 50,000 exhibition stands have been assessed under the framework during its development, according to programme organisers.
In a joint statement, Noor Shalghen and Peirui Tan, of the UFI Sustainable Development Working Group, said Better Stands was recognised by the jury for its industry-wide collaborative framework to tackle single-use stand construction, a long-standing sustainability challenge in the exhibition industry, through a practical, tiered system.
“This year’s competition was especially strong, with six recognised as best practices and four finalists, reflecting the growing maturity and ambition of sustainability initiatives across the global exhibition industry,” they said.
More… Informa wins UFI people, culture award
“The jury noted that Better Stands’ approach reflects a broader industry shift towards systemic, cross-stakeholder solutions rather than isolated efforts.”
Other finalists in this year’s sustainability awards were Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok; RX Global and Fiera Milano, and Singapore EXPO. Best practice recognitions were awarded to Bella Centre Copenhagen, Bematrix – a sustainable event-structure solutions provider; Corferias Bogota, a Colombian venue; Koelnmesse; MCH Group, and polyester recycler Petshka.
The 2026 UFI Award winners will be formally recognised at the 93rd UFI Global Congress in Bahrain on November 2-5.
