Better Stands Programme
Recognising excellence in
sustainable stand design
Leading the way in sustainability
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to reducing single-use stands. At Pharmapack are proud to announce that we have achieved a leading milestone of just 1% single-use stands per net square meter. This remarkable achievement shows our attendees and our exhibitors’ dedication to driving change and setting a benchmark for sustainable event.
A benchmark for the future
By adopting reusable elements, our multiple times Gold winners have not only minimised waste but also demonstrated the immense potential for efficiency, cost savings, and social responsibility. Their innovative designs highlight the importance of transitioning away from disposable stands, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the events industry.
Better Stands 2 x Gold winners 2024 - 2025
Better Stands 3 x Gold winners 2024 – 2025 - 2026
Better Stand 3 x Gold winners 2025-2026
Meet our winners
DCA Design International
3 x Gold winner
Robert Woolston
Managing Director
How does achieving Gold through the Better Stands Programme at our event reflect your company’s sustainability commitments?
DCA is proud to be recognised for its commitment to environmental sustainability through the Pharmapack Better Stands Programme. Our dedication to responsible practice is reflected in everything we do, from thoughtful design to the careful specification and re‑use of high‑quality materials. This approach is well reflected in the design and construction of our Pharmapack exhibition stand.
Robert Woolston
Managing Director
What motivates you to stay Gold year after year?
We continuously track our carbon emissions, and the data shows that initiatives such as re‑using exhibition materials, alongside a broad range of wider operational improvements, have enabled us to achieve a significantly lower carbon footprint over the past decade.
Robert Woolston
Managing Director
What would you say to other exhibitors aiming to achieve Gold?
We would urge others to think hard about ways in which they can improve the environmental sustainability of their attendance at exhibitions. We believe that our Pharmapack stand shows that this can be achieved without compromising a high-quality and impactful presence.
Nolato
2x Gold winner
Michela Nalin Francek
Group Marketing Manager
How does achieving Gold through the Better Stands Programme at our event reflect your company’s sustainability commitments?
Achieving Gold through the Better Stands Programme is a very tangible expression of Nolato’s long‑term commitment to sustainability across our entire value chain, including how we show up at trade fairs. By designing our stand for reusability and high levels of recyclability, we reduce material waste, transport volumes and the overall environmental footprint of our exhibitions.
The Better Stands framework helps us translate our sustainability ambitions into practical criteria for stand design, construction and logistics, making our choices more measurable and transparent.
For us, the Gold rating is not only a recognition of past efforts, but also an incentive to keep raising the bar and ensuring that our customer interactions are aligned with our environmental priorities.
Michela Nalin Francek
Group Marketing Manager
What motivates you to stay Gold year after year?
Staying at Gold level year after year reflects our belief that sustainability should be embedded in how we present our brand, not treated as a separate initiative. We see clear benefits in using a high‑quality, modular and reusable stand concept that can be adapted for different events, while significantly reducing waste and resource use over time.
The Better Stands criteria give us a structured framework for continuous improvement, and our close collaboration with partners such as Österlin Communications AB and NYA MALMÖ MÄSS‑SERVICE AB has been crucial in turning ambitions into concrete solutions.
Just as importantly, our customers and stakeholders are increasingly attentive to how companies act in practice, and maintaining Gold is a credible way of demonstrating that Nolato’s sustainability commitments are backed by real action.
Michela Nalin Francek
Group Marketing Manager
What would you say to other exhibitors aiming to achieve Gold?
Our main advice to other exhibitors is to view the Better Stands Programme as an opportunity to upgrade both sustainability and brand impact, rather than as a constraint. Start early, involve your stand builder and partners in the process, and use the Gold criteria as a shared checklist for design, materials, storage and logistics.
Focus first on reusability and modularity, then refine details such as graphics, lighting and finishes so that the stand remains visually strong while using fewer resources. In our experience, a well‑designed reusable stand not only performs better environmentally, it also strengthens consistency across events and can be more cost‑effective over several years, creating value for both the business and the planet.