The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) has published comprehensive guidelines for systematically harnessing sustainability potential in exhibition stands. This publication is primarily aimed at exhibitors, stand designers, and exhibition construction companies. The guidelines outline relevant sustainability topics and specific measures that should be considered in the planning, implementation, and operation of exhibition stands. The fields of action defined therein also form the basis for a new DGNB certification process.
This streamlined and cost-efficient assessment process will be offered by the DGNB for the first time in January 2027 at the BAU trade fair in Munich. Given the comparatively short lifespan of exhibition stands, the resources required for them, and the resulting environmental impact, the exhibition business often carries an image of lacking sustainability. It is therefore of increased relevance that all stakeholders – from planning and construction to operation and dismantling of exhibition stands – fulfil their responsibility by adequately addressing the controllable sustainability aspects.
The DGNB addresses this with the now available guidelines and the associated certification offering for sustainable exhibition stands. Johannes Kreißig, Executive Board Member of the DGNB, emphasised that the association has been committed since its foundation in 2007 to establishing sustainability in the built environment as a standard, particularly through the certification of sustainable buildings and districts. Applying this approach to exhibition stands represents consistent progress. The DGNB thereby conveys the principle that sustainable exhibition stands are based on conscious decisions: reducing new purchases, increasing reuse, simplifying planning, and considering subsequent use early on. The main potentials often lie not in individual additional measures, but in the fundamental concept of a stand.
The new DGNB publication “Sustainable Exhibition Stands: Guidelines for Planning, Construction and Operation” identifies three key fields of action. For each of these areas, a checklist exists that can serve as a tool for exhibitors, stand designers, and exhibition builders for a quick sustainability check of their plans. The field of action “Stand Design and Communication” covers questions about accessibility and sufficient movement areas of the exhibition stand, comprehensibility, discoverability, and inclusive design of information offerings, as well as support for stay and exchange. In addition, it is checked whether sustainability aspects are comprehensibly presented to visitors and whether the exhibition team is informed about these measures to be able to explain them.
The field of action “Material and Resources” focuses on sufficiency, circularity, and resource conservation. Here, questions are asked about the preferred reuse, loan, or further use of components and equipment. A modular design for non-destructive dismantling, the sourcing of materials from sustainable supply chains with secondary raw material or recycled content, needs-based material use, and the use of low-pollutant and low-emission products for the interior are further criteria. Additionally, aspects such as waste prevention, energy efficiency of technical equipment, and the documentation of climate impacts are considered.
The third field of action, “Mobility and Logistics,” motivates exhibitors to question their exhibition appearances more holistically. This includes low-emission planning of employees' arrival and departure, efficiency and emission reduction in transport and logistics concepts for stand materials, reduction of transport volume and packaging, as well as the preferred involvement of regional service providers and the use of existing infrastructure at the venue.
Exhibitors who wish to use these fields of action beyond mere impulse can take advantage of the DGNB certification process. This serves to transparently document the exhibition appearance and to independently assess the sustainability quality. The new process will be offered for the first time at BAU, the world's leading trade fair for architecture, materials, and systems, which will take place from 11 to 15 January 2027 in Munich. The certification transforms the topics described in the guidelines into auditable requirements. Not only the finalised exhibition stand but also the underlying planning is assessed. Crucial is the comprehensible description of the chosen measures, their substantiation with suitable evidence, and their implementation in the exhibition stand. The assessment thus combines planning, documentation, and implementation. The DGNB checks compliance with the criteria from the catalogue and the plausibility of the submitted information on site. A successful assessment leads to the awarding of a DGNB distinction, which can be used at the stand and in trade fair communications. BAU exhibitors who wish to participate in the certification process have until 29 November 2026 to register online with the DGNB and submit their documents via the DGNB System Software.
