Going the Distance: Sustainability and Signage

April 16, 2018

Jessica Glenn

Jessica Glenn is the Sustainability Manager at Freeman, where she works to raise awareness and develop best practices for sustainability that make financial sense in light of corporate responsibility goals.

The quality of your graphics can make or break your success at events. But they can also break your budget and put a serious strain on the environment. 

In an attempt to grab attention, exhibitors try to out-do each other with the biggest, best and flashiest graphics. The result? An event that rivals Times Square for sheer sensory overload, with out-of-control costs and a negative environmental impact. 

It’s time to look at sustainability and how to reduce your graphics clutter. 

Out with the old

What materials do you select for exhibit graphics? 

If you're still using foam core, then make your way to a new era: foam cores are out and more sustainable, recyclable and high-quality materials are in. 

Eco-friendly substrates such as honeycomb or cardboard or even heavy-duty, high-quality paper are not only recyclable, they lend your booth a sophisticated and updated look, impressing attendees.

Increase material longevity

Printing signage is a huge expense, both in material and labor costs, let alone design time. So, do yourself a favor and print materials without specific themes, locations and dates. By keeping your materials less specific, you can use them for several events until it's time for recycling. 

Not only will you reduce your waste and save on expenses, you’ll also save time since you won’t need to worry about getting new messaging approved and new materials allocated into your budget. The materials on the market today look great for an extended period with minimal upkeep or cost, so you’ll likely wonder why you didn’t adopt this practice sooner.

Invest in the Future

Get rid of printed graphics and go digital! 

Digital signage is flexible and saves production costs. Last minute changes are easy in the digital realm, helping you stay flexible with schedules, sponsor acknowledgement and information direction. 

The venue or general service contractor has information about the range of digital signage offered, including sound options, video and screen size. Explore what’s available and put those high-tech elements to work promoting your business and ideas.

Don't Overproduce

Signage can be a major expense for exhibitors and organizers alike when you consider the cost of graphics, labor to distribute and collect, and disposal/storage costs. To reduce your waste and improve your bottom line when it comes to signage, think quality instead of quantity. 

Reviewing where you place signage is a great start. How do you know you have too much signage? 

If an attendee can see two or more directional signs from just one vantage point, then you’re in overproduced graphics territory. Reducing signage can be a bit nerve-wracking (“What if people get lost?”), so reduce gradually and track results along the way. Digital map stations offer a great way to reduce signage and can be easily updated if exhibits need shuffling. 

Being creative and strategic with your graphics can make an enormous difference. Helping the environment and your balance sheet in one fell swoop will have a positive impact on your business, your event experience and your brand. Now that's attention-grabbing! 

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Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact