The events industry thrives on connection and innovation—but it also carries a significant environmental impact. The average event generates nearly two kilograms of waste per attendee per day, with over 60% of that waste ending up in landfills.
We believe meaningful change starts with small, intentional steps. That’s why we’re introducing a comprehensive sustainability initiative designed to reduce waste, empower our clients, and promote more eco-conscious practices across the board to be completed within the next several years.
Rethinking the Event Badge
One of the most overlooked contributors to event waste is the badge. Most badges are made from plastic, used once, and tossed, adding to the growing issue of landfill overflow. Stova’s Sustainable Badging Solutions help solve that with a smarter approach.
We offer a variety of sustainable badge options that reduce environmental impact without compromising the check-in experience:
- Degradable cards that break down naturally, leaving no harmful toxins
- Badges made 100% recycled PVC
- FSC-certified plastic-free wood fiber cards
- Recyclable FSC-certified paper badges compatible with on-demand printing
All badge options are supported by Stova’s on-demand printing technology, which allows event organizers to print only what they need, when they need it—eliminating pre-print waste and reducing excess inventory.
Closing the Loop with Badge Recycling
To further reduce event waste, we’ve partnered with TerraCycle to offer comprehensive onsite recycling. We provide clients with badge recycling bins to place at exits or high-traffic areas, where attendees can drop used badges, lanyards, ribbons, and even NFC-embedded badges. After the event, these bins are either shipped directly to TerraCycle or routed through our warehouse for consolidated recycling.
Additionally, our teams collect used ink cartridges and printer ribbons at events and return them to Epson and Zebra’s official recycling programs—ensuring that even behind-the-scenes waste is responsibly handled.
Going Beyond the Show Floor
Sustainability isn’t just something we offer to clients, it’s a value we practice internally as well. Stova is implementing new policies and choices across the organization to reduce our footprint from the inside out:
- Using only recycled or biodegradable lead retrieval device-bags and lanyards
- Developing internal policies that prioritize lower-carbon travel options
- Working with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to define Stova’s long-term carbon reduction commitments
These efforts are part of a larger vision—to lead the events industry forward with innovation that prioritizes both people and the planet.
Make Your Next Event More Sustainable
Whether you’re planning a 200-person summit or a 20,000-person expo, every decision matters. Choosing sustainable badges, printing on demand, and offering badge recycling are all simple but powerful steps toward a greener event experience. Ready to join us?
Learn more about Stova’s commitment to the environment and connect with our team.
