Sustainable Exhibitor Booth Contest

We’re proud to recognize COVAL Vacuum Technology Inc. as the 2026 Sustainable Booth Contest Winner at MD&M West.

The award recognizes exhibitors who demonstrate sustainability through booth design, materials, and shipping strategy. COVAL distinguished themselves through:

• Reusable aluminum structural framing 
• Repurposed and reclaimed build materials
• Modular components used across multiple shows 
• Reusable shipping crates and packaging 
• Consolidated freight strategy to reduce transportation impact

Their booth reflects a long-term, lifecycle approach to sustainable exhibiting — prioritizing reuse, waste reduction, and material efficiency.

We congratulate COVAL for setting a strong example for the industry!

Ready to make your booth both impressive AND sustainable? Enter our contest today and demonstrate how innovative design can minimize environmental impact while maximizing attendee engagement! Stand out while standing up for sustainability at MD&M West 2026.

The most sustainable exhibitor will be determined by exhibitor application. The following items will be taken into consideration:

Booth Build

• Recycling items, repurposing build items, reducing build size or materials year over year
• We want to encourage exhibitors to remove 100% of their display property and flooring. Often elements are left behind or discarded at the end of the show.
• Only use LED lighting or other energy efficient power
• Consider renting a booth property
• If building exhibits, only use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood.
• Consider going with bare flooring
• Using local suppliers

Shipping

• Reducing or consolidating shipping to and from event

Employee Travel

• Choosing the most sustainable option

Promotional Items & Handouts

• Reducing paper handouts
• When purchasing promotional items, consider the amount you order, the environmental credentials of the materials they are made from, as well as whether they are useful giveaways that will be used long after the event is over.

Assessment on-site

How to Reduce Signage Waste:

• Encourage less printing and provide more information digitally when it comes to booth literature, fulfilling requests via email and website referrals
• If you must print, create reusable non-dated signs that can be used year after year
• Avoid foam core signs and request recyclable material such as cardboard signage

How to Reduce Booth Waste:

• Requesting sustainable options from Freeman or your EAC
• BYOF!- Avoid carpet and bring your own flooring, like puzzle foam flooring that can be reused at all your shows
• Break down ALL cardboard boxes and put in the correct recycling bin
• Request additional booth bins for recycling and compost collection
• Use only compostable or recyclable service ware for samples and give-a-ways
• Use the stickers provided at the Exhibitor Services desk to mark your materials for recycling or donation
• Set a goal to leave no trace behind by shipping out all booth properties and packing materials and donating extra giveaways

To learn more, access our Sustainable Exhibitor Booth Contest Rules by clicking here.