| There's no question that consumers are starting | | | | such as Sherman Williams and Behr. Other |
| to pay attention to eco-friendly companies. With | | | | eco-friendly paints are made from talcum powder, |
| the threats of global warming, over-filled landfills, | | | | clay, and chalk. |
| water shortages, and many other environmental | | | | Get green giveaways. When looking for a good |
| concerns looming on the horizon, some businesses | | | | giveaway item, choose with an eye toward |
| that want to make a difference in the world-and | | | | minimizing trash. Avoid items that come in plastic |
| attract a large amount of consumer goodwill-are | | | | packaging. Avoid plastic altogether, in fact, unless |
| choosing to go green. | | | | it's recycled. Good ideas include cotton or hemp |
| There are plenty of reasons to consider | | | | tote bags, food in recycled-paper wrapping |
| environmental factors when planning for your | | | | instead of plastic, recycled plastic Frisbees, pens |
| next exhibit. If your industry is not traditionally | | | | and other items, and ceramic mugs. Stay away |
| linked with environmental movements, having a | | | | from plastic bags, wood, and non-recycled |
| "green exhibit" is a great way to stand out from | | | | materials. |
| the crowd. Add to that the fact that you're doing | | | | Use energy-efficient lighting. Incandescent light |
| your part to make the world a better place, and | | | | bulbs are notoriously inefficient. They emit only |
| you'll feel less guilty for blowing your competition | | | | 10% of the energy they use as light. The rest is |
| out of the water. Here are ten tips for going | | | | given off as heat-which is why these bulbs can |
| green at your next exhibit. | | | | catch your lampshade on fire if you're not careful. |
| Building a booth? Use eco-friendly materials. If | | | | Instead, use fluorescent bulbs. These are much |
| you're building a custom booth this year, you | | | | more energy efficient. |
| have several options for greener materials. First, | | | | Use recycled paper. There are a lot of paper |
| try to avoid wood. The earth's forests are nearly | | | | products involved in a typical exhibit: business |
| 80% depleted, and that's bad news for our | | | | cards, signs and displays, brochures and |
| atmosphere. Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and | | | | promotional materials. Why not use recycled |
| exhale oxygen-so they may be our first line of | | | | paper? While most people think of rough, |
| defense against global warming. Leave a few | | | | textured and off-white paper when it comes to |
| trees standing by choosing another material to | | | | buying recycled, there are many companies that |
| build your booth. | | | | make smooth, bright-white papers that are |
| One more eco-friendly choice is recycled metal. | | | | comparable to virgin papers. |
| While this may not seem like the most | | | | Consider green printing. Some inks can be as toxic |
| biodegradable choice, it's much better than using | | | | as paint. You can go green with your printing by |
| non-recycled metals. For example, the process of | | | | choosing a green printer. Not all are created |
| recycling aluminum takes about 95% less energy | | | | equally; their commitment to green printing can |
| than it does to create new aluminum from ore. | | | | range from using energy-efficient operating |
| Recycling steel uses about 60% less energy than | | | | procedures to printing with soy-based inks on |
| making it from scratch. | | | | recycled papers. Be sure to shop around when |
| Another option is wood/plastic composite. This | | | | looking for eco-friendly printers. |
| building material is made up of sawdust from | | | | Talk to your vendor. Some booth vendors are |
| lumber and furniture companies mixed with | | | | more eco-friendly than others. Some may |
| fragments of plastic trash, such as soda bottles | | | | operate under environmentally mindful |
| and garbage bags. There are many different | | | | conditions-using alternative energy and |
| brands, and the wood comes in colors ranging | | | | energy-efficient practices, for example-while |
| from deep ambers to espresso browns-as | | | | others may have pre-fabricated booths built from |
| beautiful as natural wood, without the | | | | eco-friendly materials. Be sure to ask your vendor |
| environmental price tag. | | | | for more advice on how you can create a green |
| Consider your paints. Oil and latex-based paints | | | | display for your next exhibit. |
| are toxic to the environment-they contain | | | | Going green doesn't have to cost a lot of money. |
| poisonous chemicals that can't be removed at a | | | | While you may have to buy a custom booth to |
| treatment plant. Leftover paint is often poured | | | | go green, recycled and eco-friendly materials |
| down the drain, and it gets into oceans and | | | | sometimes cost less than their non-recycled |
| waterways. It also leaches from painted items in | | | | alternatives. Talk to your vendor, research your |
| landfills, further damaging the environment. Even | | | | options, and take your time in designing an |
| worse, VOC's-volatile organic chemicals, such as | | | | approach to green exhibiting that works for your |
| cyanide-in paint evaporate at room temperature, | | | | company. No matter how far you go with it-from |
| contributing to global warming while coating your | | | | using recycled papers to building an entire booth |
| booth. | | | | from eco-friendly materials-you'll be making a |
| Instead of traditional paints, look for non-VOC | | | | positive contribution. |
| paints made by big-name paint manufacturers | | | | |