CONASTA 2024 - Transforming Tradeshows

In January 2024, Cardboard Mill (CM) was approached by the Science Teachers Association of Victoria (STAV) with a mission: to transform the Science Teachers of Australia’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow into a more sustainable event. With over 70 exhibitors and a commitment to minimising waste, STAV aimed to reduce the event's reliance on single-use items and create an eco-conscious experience for attendees.

Client Brief: Sustainable Solutions for Event Waste

STAV sought a sustainable solution for their July 2024 conference that would address the waste typically generated by trade shows—particularly the high volume of single-use materials. They required sustainable alternatives that wouldn’t compromise on engagement, cost-efficiency, or visual appeal.

Cardboard Mill’s Solution: A Comprehensive Sustainable Event

At Cardboard Mill, our value proposition is simple: engaging, sustainable, faster, and cheaper. For STAV’s trade show, we implemented a solution that centred around four main areas:

Sustainable Exhibitor Booths
We replaced traditional trade show setups with custom-designed cardboard offerings for exhibitors across all sponsorship levels—from bronze to platinum packages. These included:

• Cardboard booths, media walls, and multimedia stands
• Custom branding elements that aligned with the event’s visual identity

Wayfinding Signage and Event Branding
All wayfinding signage, barriers, and banners were made from sustainable cardboard, ensuring a cohesive, eco-friendly look throughout the event.

Furniture and Custom Elements
We provided cardboard furniture for exhibitor lounges and other common areas, creating an immersive sustainable experience for attendees. In addition, we offered exhibitors the option to order additional custom cardboard elements via an online portal.

Lifecycle Custodianship
Our commitment didn’t stop at the event. Cardboard Mill managed the recycling, upcycling, and reuse of all materials we provided, ensuring that every element followed a full lifecycle custodianship approach. This process dramatically reduced the environmental impact of the event, from start to finish.

In addition to managing the sustainable aspects, we facilitated the supply of elements that could not be replaced with cardboard, such as TVs and monitors, and handled their upcycling or recycling after the event.

Challenges: Overcoming Event Logistics and Familiarity

As with any large-scale event, there were logistical challenges, including:

• Limited access to forklifts in the loading dock
• Access restrictions and a restricted bump-in window of just 6 hours
• Exhibitor unfamiliarity with cardboard solutions

Despite these hurdles, we successfully delivered a seamless setup and takedown process, significantly reducing the time and complexity usually involved in trade show logistics.

Success: Positive Feedback from All Sides

The success of the event was underscored by the enthusiastic feedback from exhibitors, attendees, and event organisers alike. Institutions such as Universities, CSIRO, and Questacon praised the sustainable event approach, with many exhibitors leaving with a newfound appreciation for eco-friendly alternatives.

The Science Teachers of Australia’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow became a model of sustainable branding in action, demonstrating how creative, environmentally conscious solutions can enhance the overall event experience while drastically reducing waste.

Key Takeaways:

Sustainable Trade Show Solutions: Cardboard Mill’s comprehensive offering proved that cardboard can replace traditional event materials without sacrificing quality or engagement.

Efficiency in Setup: Our cardboard solutions allowed for a faster and more efficient bump-in and bump-out process, with the event’s 6-hour restricted bump-in window met without issue.

Eco-Friendly Legacy: Through lifecycle custodianship, Cardboard Mill ensured that the event left no lasting environmental footprint, with all materials either recycled, upcycled, or reused.

Cardboard Mill continues to lead the way in sustainable event solutions, helping organisations like STAV transform their trade shows into eco-friendly, impactful experiences.