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Standards Development
This document gives the general principles of exhibition waste management, and provides guidance on the process management, recycling services and evaluation indicators of exhibition waste management.
This document applies to the management of exhibition waste.
The rapid growth of the exhibition industry has resulted in a substantial increase in exhibition waste, including materials generated from booth construction, dismantling, and operational activities. Average waste generation in major cities ranges from approximately 5 to 10 kg per square meter of exhibition space, and a large-scale international exhibition can produce over 100 tons of waste per event. Although over 70% of exhibition waste is recyclable or reusable, only 30–40% is effectively managed. Improper handling of such waste contributes to land occupation, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion. This trend reflects a growing environmental pressure associated with the expansion of the exhibition sector.
Aligned with global sustainability initiatives, Net Zero Carbon Events, jointly launched by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat and the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), identifies waste management as one of the five key areas necessary for achieving netzero carbon events. Therefore, it is evident that "exhibition waste management" is an important pathway and priority for promoting the exhibition industry's attainment of net-zero carbon goals.
Existing ISO standards emphasize general sustainability in events but do not specifically address waste management in exhibition. The proposed proposal fills this gap by providing a globally applicable framework without overlapping or conflicting with current standards. It supports organizers, exhibitors, venue operators, and service providers in implementing source reduction, material reuse, recycling, and safe disposal across the entire exhibition lifecycle. This proposal is currently being advanced as a Preliminary Work Item (PWI) within ISO/TC 228/WG 20 as ISO/PWI 26198, and the PWI was transferred into ISO/TC 354 since Feb 2026.
By promoting standardized and comprehensive management of exhibition waste, the proposal enables the reduction of adverse environmental impacts while enhancing professionalism, efficiency, and social responsibility within the exhibition industry. It fosters a sustainable development pathway that balances economic growth with environmental protection, aligning industry practice with global sustainability goals and establishing a model for green development in the exhibition sector.
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