The gift industry has been fast off the mark in finding alternatives to plastic, with Paladone recently announcing that it will become the first company in the world to bring BDP (naturally decomposing plastic) to the gift trade with a range of giftware using the BDP technology.
Now, inspired by the levels of support for the campaign Final Straw Cornwall at the recent Expowest Cornwall show, trade show organiser Hale Events has announced that it is actively looking for environmentally-friendly alternatives to all single-use plastic at its 2019 shows, to include Giving & Living, which takes place at Westpoint Exhibition Centre in Exeter from January 13-16.
“We will look back on this time with incredulity,” states Hale Events’ managing director Mike Anderson. “Plastic can be a fantastic and practical product if multi-use or fully recyclable, but it is irresponsible to dispose of items that have only been used for few minutes or hours. We will be doing everything we can to cut down on, and ultimately remove, all single-use plastic items.”
In addition to rejecting plastic carrier bags, the company is planning to stop using plastic wallets for exhibitor and visitor badges, which are often used only once and then thrown away.
Solutions include enabling exhibitors and visitors to pre-print their badges, or collect them on arrival, using completely recyclable badge clips to fix them to their clothing or bags, thereby avoiding the need for wallets.
The company is also trying to better manage general waste, and is working with QCR Recycling Equipment to save money, space and time through crushing and baling cardboard at shows, consequently sending less to landfill.
Hale Events will also be working with exhibitors, suppliers and contractors to minimise the plastic waste brought to trade shows by other organisations.
Top: The next Giving & Living show, organised by Hale Events, will be taking place in January 2019, and will be single use plastic free.
