ExpoCycle: A Digital Platform for Exhibition Material Recycling and Reuse

About the Project

Exhibitions and expos often require temporary booth structures, display panels, banners, decorative materials, and furniture, some of which may become unused after an event. Without an effective system for managing these materials, reusable resources may be discarded or stored without a clear plan for future use, contributing to material waste and additional costs for event organisers and exhibitors. To address this issue, ExpoCycle is proposed as a digital platform that facilitates the recycling and reuse of exhibition materials by connecting event organisers, exhibitors, booth vendors, and other potential users within a circular economy ecosystem. The proposed platform integrates five key functions: QR based Material Passport for identifying and recording material information; Reuse Marketplace for listing materials for sale, rental, donation, or free collection; Smart Inventory for tracking material availability and storage locations; Reuse Booking System for managing reservations, collection, and returns; and Sustainability Impact Report for recording reused materials and estimating potential cost savings and waste reduction based on submitted data. These interconnected functions aim to simplify material management, encourage collaboration among industry stakeholders, and support more sustainable exhibition practices. ExpoCycle is designed as a practical and scalable solution that can initially be demonstrated through a digital prototype using accessible tools such as Figma, Google Forms, and Google Sheets. Its potential commercialisation models include subscription packages, transaction fees, and inventory management services for exhibition organisers and booth vendors. The proposed innovation aims to reduce unnecessary material disposal, improve resource utilisation, and create opportunities for cost savings while supporting sustainability in the events industry. The feasibility and effectiveness of ExpoCycle will require further validation through stakeholder feedback and pilot testing.