Better Stands Won 2026 UFI Sustainability Award
The collaborative initiative was recognized for its impact on reducing single-use stand construction in exhibitions.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Remote Work
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Better Stands has been named the winner of the 2026 UFI Sustainable Development Award for its efforts in carbon reduction. The initiative was selected for its tiered framework designed to tackle the industry-wide challenge of single-use exhibition stands.
Why it matters
The award highlights the exhibition industrys push to address waste and environmental impact caused by temporary infrastructure. By providing a practical, collaborative system, the project offers a scalable solution for organizers and exhibitors to improve sustainability standards.
The competition reviewed 6 projects as best practices, narrowing the pool to 4 finalists. These finalists represented global entities including RX Global, Fiera Milano, Singapore EXPO, and Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The players
Better Stands
This is a collaborative initiative focused on addressing the environmental challenge of single-use construction within the global exhibition industry.
UFI
This is the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry that represents trade fair organizers and exhibition center operators worldwide.
The details
Better Stands utilizes a practical, tiered system that encourages collaboration among stakeholders to eliminate single-use construction materials. The winning initiative and other selected projects are now featured in the UFI Best Practices Library to encourage wider industry adoption.
Timeline
September 22, 2026: The award winner was officially announced.
November 2-5, 2026: The 93rd UFI Global Congress takes place in Bahrain.
Market Landscape
The exhibition industry is shifting toward standardized sustainability metrics to satisfy corporate environmental, social, and governance goals. The recognition of Better Stands follows the standard set by the UFI Best Practices Library for sharing sustainable innovations.
Exhibitors and organizers may see a shift toward mandatory sustainability requirements in vendor contracts based on this tiered framework. Businesses attending international trade shows should prepare for potential new material guidelines aimed at reducing physical waste.
The takeaway
The industry's move toward modular, reusable stand construction is signaling an end to the era of disposable exhibition displays. Companies that adopt these collaborative frameworks early can better align with global carbon reduction targets.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving office and event standards in our Remote Work section.
More information
View the complete list of innovations at the UFI Best Practices Library.
Live Poll
Do you believe sustainability awards for industry practices lead to meaningful environmental progress?
