Sustainable Booth Contest

April 22-23, 2026

Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, NC

Enter to Win and Become the Most Sustainable Booth

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 South 2026.

Enter to Win

What You’ll Win

$250 service credit from FREEMAN
Featured placement in event marketing materials and website

Dedicated social media spotlight across event channels

Press release mention in our post show release

Special booth signage identifying them as the sustainability winner
Complimentary workshop pass for (1) key team member

Judging Criteria

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

What Exhibitors Can Do

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.