Sustainable Policies & Practices
ESM is committed to prioritising sustainability within our own organisation, assessing our supply chains, and promoting change across the wider events industry as a whole. See below our overarching sustainability policies:
Our approach
Design — sustainable alternatives
Every design is produced with sustainability in mind, considering the most economical material usage and production methods, and all clients are offered sustainable alternatives.
Circular economy — stock & hire
We keep stocks of reusable stand elements such as platforms, walls and electrical components, and, where possible, we use hired items (e.g. furniture & audiovisual).
Recycling
We work with a number of partners to takeback, recycle or repurpose post-show waste materials such as timber, graphics and floorcovering.
Storage & reuse
We also offer post-show storage to clients wishing to reuse their stand, with the aim of promoting refurbishment over refabrication.
Green transport
All our vehicles are ULEZ compliant and we do our best to combine logistics and supplier deliveries, utilise public transport for project management staff.
Procurement
Where possible we assess supplier sustainability, monitor for modern slavery and use ecolabel materials such as FSC certified or mix timber, recycled and recyclable sundries and packaging.
EcoVadis
ESM is committed to prioritising sustainability within our own organisation, assessing our supply chains, and promoting change across the wider events industry as a whole. See below our overarching sustainability policies:
Exhibition Stands Manufacturers Ltd
Sittingbourne, United Kingdom · Jun 2026
Overall score
68/100
Percentile
74th
Environment
Impact
Labor & Human Rights
Impact
Ethics
Impact
Sustainable Procurement
Impact
Our scorecard can be viewed here.
This was a reinforcement of the bronze rating we achieved the previous year.
ESSA (Event Suppliers & Services Association)
In 2025, our independent trading body, ESSA awarded ESM a Tier V Sustainability Accreditation. Our certificate can be viewed here.
Tier 5 (90-100)
Exceptional level of sustainability excellence — setting the standard for industry-wide best practices
The ESSA Sustainability Accreditation is an evidence-focused, points-based process covering 12 essential aspects of sustainability management:
Circular Economy
As part of our cost-effective and resource saving approach to exhibition stand building, we always aim to re-use stock and bespoke elements, whenever and wherever possible, such as counters, shelving, custom furniture, stock panels, floor batons, counters, lightboxes, electrical components and aluminium edging.
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Our facility in Sittingbourne has dedicated storage racks where we can store stand materials in between shows and installations. Insofar as space and safety regulations allow, we should aim to store and re-use as many elements as possible, especially for clients reusing the same stand design, layout or branding at multiple shows throughout the year.
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During the design stages, we make efforts to offer sustainable alternatives and always encourage our clients to opt for designs which incorporate and re-use the stand materials we have already fabricated or stored for them.
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We also use hire furniture and audiovisual elements as standard.
Environment, Recycling & Waste Management
We recover and reuse as much material as possible post-show. All timber, metal, cardboard, plastic and glass is recycled when and wherever possible using local providers. We are part of the following recycling / takeback schemes:
Moss UK Recycling Partnership
We have a takeback agreement in place with our main graphics supplier Moss UK to recycle our foamex graphics and fabric, reducing the environmental impact of these commonly-used materials.
Tarkett ReStart Programme
Our client and supplier Tarkett now collect and recycle all post-show cushioned vinyl flooring used on our stands, diverting this from landfill.
Wood Recycling, Countrystyle
Our commercial waste management provider Countrystyle Recycling is able to recycle all waste wood, non-recyclables and general waste. Non-recyclables are used to power the local area.
Please see below documents for further information on our environmental and waste management policies:
Climate Commitments
You can read all about our formal climate commitments below:
Supply Chain & Procurement
We aim to conduct an annual supply chain review assessing performance based on a number of sustainability criteria. You can view our sustainable procurement policy here:
Transport & Emissions
Where possible, we use newer ULEZ compliant and hybrid shared company vehicles, and have introduced a number of policies to minimise our emissions. You can read all about this here:
Corporate Social Responsibility / Ethical, Social & Governance
We encourage employee engagement and give back to the local community when and wherever possible. You can view our policies and values below:
Prioritise environmental social governance by conducting annual reviews of our supply chain & monitoring for modern slavery
Establish & maintain strong partnerships with SME businesses in our local area
Donate food + old electrical equipment to local charities such as Swale Foodbank & 2nd Whitstable Sea Scout Group
Encourage + support employees to take part in volunteering & charity fundraising
Support & promote equal opportunities and diversity in the events industry
Documents
Other documentation will be shared directly with all relevant parties or may be available on request.