Classic Exhibits has been designing and building contemporary, sustainable trade show displays through our ecoSmart line since 2007. No one in the exhibit industry has a longer or larger investment in sustainability than Classic.
What you may not know is that our commitment to “green” extends well beyond ecoSmart Displays. Classic products, all Classic products, benefit from our sustainable initiatives.
For Example:
Our aluminum contains 70% recycled content. And we recycle all material drops.
Ourroto-molded cases are exclusively made with regrind plastic.
Ourreusable foam packaging is 100% recycled material.
Ourscrap wood is recycled into mulch and woodchips.
Ourclear plastic is separated and recycled locally.
Is there more? Of course. You can’t produce ecoSmart for 16 years without sustainability spreading into every facet of your business. Can we improve? Of course. Look for greener printing options in 2024 and even more eco-friendly materials. Plus newer ecoSmart inline, island, and accessory designs.
For 35 years, Classic Exhibits has been designing and building creative custom solutions for our Distributor Partners and their clients. As the largest private-label exhibit manufacturer in North America, we have the unmatched capability, capacity, and creativity to create 3D projects ranging from 10 x 10 inline displays to 60 x 80 double-deck islands.
Eco-friendly exhibits are the future of the trade show industry. In a consumer survey, 92% reported they are more likely to trust a company that supports social or environmental issues, and 87% have a more positive image of a company that supports social or environmental issues. This means that not only will more sustainable business practices tremendously help our planet, but they’ll also help with your company’s image and sales too!
Eco-System Displays: Getting Started
Since 2007, Eco-System Displays line (Eco) from Classic Exhibits Inc. has been the leader in contemporary eco-friendly displays for trade shows and events. In fact, no other exhibit company has a longer history or built more green displays than Eco-System Displays. The company’s designs have won multiple awards including Buyers Choice and Best of the Best Awards at exhibit industry trade shows.
All Eco products are built using eco-friendly materials, which in most cases cost the same or less than standard displays. Start by exploring the three Eco galleries in Exhibit Design Search, featuring inlines, islands, and accessories. You’ll find hundreds of designs that can be purchased “as is” or customized to meet your specific marketing needs. Want something totally unique? No problem. Our talented designers will be happy to create an exhibit tailored to your custom requirements.
Benefits of Selecting an Eco Display
Historically, trade shows and events have generated mountains of trash. If you’ve ever participated in the installation and dismantling of exhibits on a show floor, you’ve seen the plastic, paper, wood, and metal headed to the landfill. Fortunately, COVID and a general “green awareness” have reduced the brochures, paper products, give-a-ways, and carpeting thrown away. Along with the increase in rental displays. However, non-sustainable materials are still being used by many exhibit builders.
Eco-Systems Sustainable was founded to provide exhibitors with green trade show options that don’t compromise on the design or the quality of the materials. Eco-Systems resources eco-friendly materials similar to Sintra, a fabric made from recycled plastics, aluminum extrusions produced using recycled aluminum, FSC certified wood, Green Guard laminates, and water-based adhesives and inks. As technology has evolved, so has the quality and price of the materials. In almost all cases, it’s equal to or superior to non-sustainable materials.
Aluminum Extrusions: 70% recycled content.
Forest Stewardship Council Wood Products (FSC): Certified grown and harvested sustainably.
Laminates: Greenguard Certified.
Adhesives: Water-based, low or VOC free (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Eco-Board: Biodegradable polystyrene.
ReCo Board: 100% recycled plastics.
Eco-Glass: 100% post-industrial recycled acrylic or plexiglass.
Fabric Graphics: 100% post-consumer material including dye-sub SEG backlit graphics.
LED Lights: Lightboxes, accent lights, stem lights, and downlighting.
Shipping Cases: Made from recycled plastics and 100% recyclable when no longer needed. All wood crates are made using FSC Wood.
Reusable Packing Materials: Made from Recycled Foam
Eco Display Products for Your Next Show
Some exhibitors ask, “Will my exhibit look green?” It can. We can design it to have a funky, crunchy, or recycled look. However, most exhibitors want a modern, contemporary exhibit built with sustainable materials. It’s green but it doesn’t wear its sustainability on its sleeve. See the examples below for a modern approach to sustainable design.
Islands
ECO-4071: The reconfigurable ECO-4071 island offers inviting entrances on all four sides. The backlit graphics and hanging signs attract attention both down the aisle and across the show hall.
ECO-4100: A reconfigurable island exhibit (w/ 10 and 20 ft. inline options) transforms a square 20 x 20 booth space into an inviting island with a round header and comfortable lounge.
ECO-4073: This affordable island starts with an open floor plan with curved headers and layers on a stunning reception counter with iPad mounts and pedestals.
Inlines
ECO-2124: This custom design with modular construction, the ECO-2124 includes downlighting and backlight, closet storage, and multiple monitor options!
ECO-1091: This sophisticated inline blends bright backlit graphics, a large monitor option, multiple shelves, and a clever reception counter into an elegant 10 ft. display.
ECO-1127: The perfect choice for any exhibitor who requires large graphics, a monitor option, and product shelves. The modular construction expands to a 10 x 20 booth.
Accessories
ECO-2C: A beautiful and affordable pedestal with a raised countertop and locking storage. Available in hundreds of laminate colors and finishes.
ECO-42C: This large reception counter (86″ W x 40″ H x 25″ D) makes a bold statement with vibrant backlit graphics, a plex countertop, and dual locking storage cabinets.
ECO-55C: The curved custom counter includes LED accent lights, internal shelves, and convenient wireless charging pads.
How about Eco Display Rental Options?
Renting Eco-System Displays is the greenest of green choices for exhibitors who want to make a difference. Eco rental exhibits are built with sustainable materials, come in a variety of sizes and designs, and can be customized for any exhibitor — even from show to show. Rentals give exhibitors the ultimate flexibility to change their messaging without the hassle of ownership.
An eco-friendly rental from Classic Exhibits looks identical to a purchased exhibit. Imagine a beautiful island display with large LED lightboxes, big overhead signs, conference and meeting rooms, and workstations at a price 40% less than a comparable purchased display.
Because rentals are used again and again, as long as the components are functional and attractive, they are more sustainable for the exhibitor and the builder. Plus, when components can no longer be used, Eco recycles them – the wood, aluminum, and plastic.
Does a “Green Exhibit” Cost More?
Not anymore. The green industry has become incredibly efficient with recycled products. With the exception of wood, all the eco-friendly materials sourced in the construction of an Eco display are either the same cost or less expensive than “virgin” materials. And in most cases, the quality is superior. There are no compromises, either in the construction or in the design options when choosing an Eco display.
Eco-System Displays from Classic Exhibits
As an exhibitor, you can make a difference, and that difference doesn’t have to cost more or compromise your design or marketing goals. Green materials such as Eco-board, ReCo, and FSC wood products are smart choices that are comparable to non-sustainable materials.
However, none of that matters if you can’t get the design and the features you need in your exhibit. As the leader in eco-friendly exhibits, Eco-System Displays by Classic has been designing modern trade show displays since 2007.
With over 200 Distributor Partners throughout North America, there’s a Classic/Eco representative close by. Contact us today whether you need a custom inline, a rental counter, or a sustainable island with all the bells and whistles. At Classic… We’re not just different. We’re better.
Trade Show Designs, like everything else, age. Sometimes gracefully. Sometimes not. At Classic Exhibits and Eco-Systems Sustainable, we review the kits in Exhibit Design Search several times a year. During that review process, we decide whether to keep a kit “as is,” to revised it, or to retire it.
Below are three recently revised and updated kits. We thought you might enjoy seeing the changes.
Since 2007, Eco-systems Sustainable (eSmart) has been the leader in contemporary, eco-friendly trade show exhibits by designing modern displays. Make no mistake. The displays are green. They just don’t flaunt their sustainability with a “crunchy stick and twig” exterior.
So why should you or your client consider a sustainable exhibit from Eco-systems? Design. It’s really that simple. Design sells. The eSmart Galleries in Exhibit Design Search are packed with attractive contemporary displays from inlines to islands and counters to kiosks.
If you haven’t contacted them before, give them a call at 866-463-2611. Or visit the Eco website at www.ecosystemsdisplays.com.
To download the unbranded PDF version for Eco-systems, click here. To listen to the bonus audio tip, click here.
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Classic Exhibits Inc. designs and manufacturers portable, modular, and custom-hybrid exhibit solutions. Classic Exhibits products are represented by an extensive distributor network in North America and in select International markets. For more information, contact us at 866-652-2100 or www.classicexhibits.com.
As the 2013 fall trade show season gets underway, I am often asked about the state of the industry regarding “green exhibiting” and the public perception of Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits. Why should I look into Eco-Systems and their design-driven yet sustainable exhibit options? Will I need to make sacrifices in design or price?
The exhibit industry and the innovation of sustainable materials have come a long way in the past 3-5 years. The idea of “green exhibiting” is not as foreign as it once was and has MANY benefits, especially when you choose Eco-Systems. The free design services, short lead-times, and unrivaled quality are a few of the reasons why Eco-Systems continues to grow as a market leader. To help you gain a better understanding of Eco-Systems, I have listed answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about us.
Cost: Did you know that the cost of a “green” exhibit is actually the same as a standard exhibit? Often less? It’s true. This was not the case 3-5 years ago. However, in the past 3 years, the sustainable materials used in these displays is now more readily available and is being purchased at high-volume discounts. Materials and components such as recycled aluminum, bamboo, PETG, and LED lights have all seen considerable price decreases.
Design: Do Eco-Systems exhibits need to look “green”? Absolutely not. Continuing to innovate new and versatile materials has allowed our “green” exhibits to maintain an innovative and technology-driven appeal without sacrificing the sustainable elements. Sustainable exhibits can be some of the most modern, eye-catching options on the market. See for yourself HERE.
Marketability: For the last 5-10 years, companies of all sizes have been advertising their “green” initiatives. Whether it’s hybrid cars, alternative energy, or simple recycling policies, many companies are trying to promote themselves as environmentally friendly. Now, with our exhibits, these companies can walk the walk. Having a display that meets the same sustainability standards can give an organization instant credibility knowing they practice what they preach.
The Perfect Client: People often ask me what type of clients/businesses Eco-Systems appeals to. Should Eco-Systems be pitched only to clients who request an eco-friendly exhibit? My answer to that is simple — Absolutely Not! To be completely honest, most of our projects are for companies that are indifferent to sustainability. Over the past few years, Eco-Systems has become known for innovative designs, competitive prices, free-design services, quality products, and unrivaled customer support. The “green” components are often considered icing on the cake.
Eco-Systems / Classic Partnership: How are Eco-Systems and Classic Exhibits aligned? Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits and Classic Exhibits are marketing and manufacturing partners. Eco-Systems is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, where sales, marketing, design, and accounting are based. Eco-Systems shares production with Classic Exhibits in Portland, OR, where all new projects are built. Eco-Systems also has a dedicated Project Management team in Portland to oversee all our projects. Combining manufacturing resources, purchasing volume, and sharing a large production facility allows both Eco-Systems and Classic to handle more volume and to offer lower prices.
