Better Stands Initiative Won Sustainable Development Award
The 10-point reusability framework offers exhibitors a standardized method to reduce trade show construction costs.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Remote Work
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UFI awarded the Better Stands initiative its 2026 Sustainable Development Award, recognizing a program that launched globally in 2025 to standardize exhibition booth reusability. The initiative provides a 10-point framework to help companies minimize waste and operational expenses during trade show construction.
Why it matters
The program addresses high carbon footprints in trade show construction by incentivizing the use of prefabricated, modular stands. By shifting away from single-use custom builds, exhibitors can achieve long-term savings on labor and material logistics.
The initiative has engaged over 100,000 exhibitors across more than 40 countries, with Informa recording 5,400 more exhibitors adopting the program in 2025 compared to the prior year. More than 100 members currently support the framework, which has been applied at over 500 events.
The players
UFI
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry that sets standards for the trade show and event sector.
Informa
A major international events and business intelligence company that manages large-scale exhibition portfolios.
IFES
The International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services acting as the secretariat for the Better Stands initiative.
Lucie Ryan
The individual who first conceived the concept for the Better Stands initiative in 2016.
The details
The program utilizes a 10-point framework that classifies exhibition stands into Bronze, Silver, and Gold certification tiers. Assessments focus on the use of prefabricated modules designed for disassembly and repeated configuration across different trade show floor plans. By reusing structural elements, companies reduce the time required for assembly and dismantling while lowering overall project site costs.
Timeline
2016: Lucie Ryan conceived the Better Stands idea.
2019-2025: Thousands of assessments were conducted at 400-plus events.
2024: The CPHI World Wide event occurred.
2025: The Better Stands initiative launched globally.
2026: Better Stands won the UFI Sustainable Development Award.
Market Landscape
The UFI Sustainable Development Award functions as the primary benchmark for environmental compliance in the global exhibition sector. This recognition validates Better Stands as the industry standard for implementing modular, circular construction practices across international trade shows.
Exhibitors should evaluate whether their booth construction vendors meet the 10-point framework standards to capture potential logistical savings. Managers planning trade show participation should prioritize modular systems to lower recurring labor and construction costs.
The takeaway
The move toward standardized, reusable exhibition infrastructure is transforming trade show logistics from a cost-heavy, single-use model to a modular, repeatable process. Operators should audit their current booth designs against the Better Stands 10-point criteria to determine if structural changes could reduce future event-spend.
Further reading
Learn more about the Remote Work shifts impacting international trade exhibition operations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trade Show News Network.
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