Going green doesn't mean you can't have any printing at all, it just means you need to be smart about it. You need to plan ahead, find alternatives, re-use and recycle and mostly minimise waste as much as possible.
1. Plan Ahead
By providing your designer & printer with plenty of time to get the job done, you will not only save on the cost of printing, but you'll save on the cost of transporting the media also. From a Green perspective, you can take small amounts of printing as luggage, thereby saving on the additional transportation.
Given additional planning time, you can often find ways to combine your print requirements. For example, if you need to give every attendee instructions, instead of printing thousands of cards, how about only creating a few posters or recyclable pullup banners. This will save printing, waste, time, cost and transport.
2. Find Alternatives
Instead of falling into the same routine of fliers, brochures, business cards, try to find alternatives. If you must print, then try to use recycled paper for your fliers and brochures, use reusable fabric banners, and pay a little extra for the refillable pullup banners.
Another alternative is to go digital. As an event organiser you have the power to provide a fully digital event with phone apps such as ShowGizmo, or cool branded electronic devices like Poken. Even combining a mobile web with QR codes or the new BoxtCode can really cut down on the amount of printing required, and these can be arranged by the individual exhibitor.
3. Re-use and Recycle
Everyone is familiar with recycling, but how many actually know how easy it is to implement prior to an event? Think about what you're printing on before you commit. Some recycled paper can look pretty funky, and some you'd struggle to see the difference.
When you're designing the posters and banners, try to be generic so you can re-use them at other events.
If it's totally impossible to reuse your posters, then ask the local pre-school if they'd like some drawing paper.
4. Minimise Waste
Especially as an exhibitor, it can be almost impossible to know how many of anything you're going to need, so most companies make sure they have PLENTY. This leads to so much wasted everything after an event.
So here at Askew Vision, we'd like you to do your bit when planning your next event. Not just for the environment, but also for your back pocket.
