Is Green Truly Green?
We are often told to choose the “green option”, but what does green mean?
By using such an abstract term, it creates a grey zone. In this article we want to pose the question”.
We would like to highlight the importance of using the power of an open mind and the caution you should have when handling eco buzzwords through the example of event signage.
First, we need to look at what is on the market, in terms of event signage:
- Paperless Digital Signage from the location (Typically the „green“ option)
- Reusable Roll-Ups
- Recycable Cardboard Stands
Now you need to take a step out of your regular supplier pool and look at what the market has to offer:
- Holograms
- Living plant walls
- Using reclaimed materials to produce cutouts
Having so many suppliers to choose from is overwhelming. We can’t always have the most eco friendly signage. It is our job to strive to make a better choice. At CPO we aim to present you with a choice that is best for you. A better choice looks different for everybody. Asking yourself questions and reflecting on the offers you receive from suppliers is how we can achieve this. Here are some of the questions you could ask yourself when looking at the list of signage examples above:
- Digital Signage - If I have to outsource it is it sustainable from a mileage point of view?
- Roll-Ups - How can we recycle what is too niche to reuse?
- Cardboard Stands - Does it make sense to have reusable stands made out of cardboard that we have to continually reproduce?
- Holograms - Are they energy efficient and is renewable energy being used to power them?
- Living plant walls - Can the plants be donated to local initiatives afterwards?
- Using reclaimed materials to produce cutouts - Does the time and energy of sourcing the old outweigh the output and costs of creating new (rarely, but it can happen)?
Blindly choosing the “green option” due to our innate positive association is the least green thing one can do. We hope that these questions encourage you to focus on questioning what you read and doing something rather than doing nothing for fear of not being perfect. Nobody is perfect but we should all be a little more green!