Interview

Statkraft Wins Sustainable Exhibitor Award with Reusable Booth Concept, Saving €80,000 Annually

Shanjanaa Soundharajan, International Communications Manager at EUPD Group, interviews Ingrid Dyrnes, International Event Lead at Statkraft, at The smarter E 2025. They discuss Statkraft's award-winning sustainable exhibiting practices and the broader evolution of sustainability within the trade fair industry.

EventThe smarter E Europe 2025Market
Europe
Segment
Technology
Format
Interview
Interviewer · EUPD Group
Shanjanaa Soundharajan
International Communications Manager · EUPD Group
Guest · Statkraft
Ingrid Dyrnes
International Event Lead · Statkraft
Filmed ·Munich·Runtime 04:31Interview ·
Interview
The smarter E Europe 2025 · Munich
04:31
Filmed on site · No editorial direction beyond question set · Captions auto-generated, reviewed by EUPD Group

Key takeaways

4 points · 04:31 video
  1. Modular & Recycled Booth Design
    Statkraft's exhibition booth is built as a modular 'Lego brick system' using long-lasting and recycled materials like paper lamps and reused desk components. This design allows it to be reconfigured and reused across multiple events for years.
  2. Sustainable Logistics & Reuse
    The company transports its booth between trade fairs using biotrucks, extending its lifecycle and reducing its environmental footprint. This specific booth has been used ten times over two years, demonstrating a commitment to minimizing waste.
  3. Industry-Wide Sustainability Shift
    Ingrid Dyrnes emphasizes that renewable companies must consider their own footprint at events, including travel choices, giveaways, and booth construction. This reflects a broader need for the trade fair industry to adopt more comprehensive sustainable practices.
  4. Collaboration & Cost Savings
    Statkraft joined STEP to collaborate on reducing the trade fair industry's footprint and to inspire others. Dyrnes highlights that sustainable investments can be financially beneficial, citing annual savings of €80,000 from reusing their booth across four events.

Statkraft's Award-Winning Sustainable Booth Concept

Statkraft earned the Sustainable Exhibitor Award at The smarter E 2025 for its innovative booth design, as explained by Ingrid Dyrnes, International Event Lead at Statkraft. The booth utilizes a modular "Lego brick system" suitable for various sizes, from 60 to 100 square meters. Its construction incorporates long-lasting, recycled materials, including panel-based wooden walls, modular sofas, recycled paper lamps, and desks made from reused components. This sustainable approach extends to the booth's lifecycle and logistics. Dyrnes notes that the booth is built to last and is transported between trade fairs on biotrucks. The same booth structure has been reused ten times over two years, reflecting a commitment to minimizing waste and maximizing material utility, rather than single-use designs.

"Everything is built as a big Lego brick system really. So we build everything from 60 to 100 square meters." Dyrnes · 00:59

Evolving Sustainability in the Trade Fair Industry

According to Dyrnes, the topic of sustainability in the trade fair industry must evolve significantly, extending beyond large-scale renewable projects to encompass event footprints. She stresses that renewable energy companies need to consider their own behaviors at events, including travel choices, promotional giveaways, and the environmental impact of booth construction. This holistic view is crucial given the "little city" created by large trade fairs. Dyrnes asserts that sustainability is about "living the brand," irrespective of the company's specific role within the renewable sector. This perspective suggests a future where all aspects of trade fair participation, from material sourcing to operational logistics, align with broader environmental goals, fostering a more responsible industry.

"We have to think our own footprint and our behaviors also at events, because there's a lot of people during these days." Dyrnes · 02:16

Collaboration and Financial Benefits of Sustainable Practices

Statkraft joined STEP to foster collaboration and inspire industry-wide change in trade fair sustainability, as shared by Dyrnes. She explains that individual companies cannot transform the entire trade fair footprint alone, making joint forces essential for shared learning and improvement. This collective effort aims to make significant strides in reducing environmental impact. Beyond environmental benefits, Dyrnes highlights the economic advantages of sustainable exhibition practices. She states that Statkraft's initial investment in their reusable booth allowed them to maintain budget levels, and now saves €20,000 per event. With the booth used four times annually, this amounts to €80,000 in savings per year, demonstrating that sustainability can be cost-effective.

"You can actually save money on it... This year, at each event, we save 20,000 euros." Dyrnes · 03:31

Chapters

Chapters · click to jump
00:31
Introduction to Statkraft's Sustainable Exhibiting
Shanjanaa Soundharajan introduces Ingrid Dyrnes and congratulates Statkraft on their Sustainable Exhibitor Award at The smarter E.
00:53
Design and Materials of the Sustainable Booth
Ingrid Dyrnes details how Statkraft's booth uses modular design, recycled materials, and long-lasting components for multiple reuse cycles.
01:50
The Future of Sustainability in Trade Fairs
Dyrnes discusses the evolving need for renewable companies to address their own environmental footprint at events, from travel to booth choices.
02:43
STEP Membership and Economic Benefits of Sustainability
Dyrnes explains Statkraft's motivation to join STEP for collaboration and reveals significant cost savings achieved through their reusable exhibition concept.

Interview transcript

Auto-generated · reviewed · ~3 min read
Hi, I am Sanju from STEP. We are here at the Smarter E in Munich and I am here with Ingrid from Stadtkraft. Hi Ingrid. Hello. So happy to be here. First of all congrats on your award, Sustainable Exhibitor Award. What innovative features make your boot stand out as a truly sustainable concept? Well, first of all, we use absolutely everything. So you see the whole kind of structure here. Everything is built as a big Lego brick system really. So we build everything from 60 to 100 square meters. Also like the wooden wall in the back, that's also panel based. The sofa is modular. So everything is built to last. It's like a long-lasting materials and a lot of materials they have already been recycled. Like the lamps, they recycle paper. And also you see the desk here, that's kind of really like reused materials, all of it. And it smelled actually like wood in the beginning. So we reuse everything. I think that is kind of what makes it really really sustainable. And we ship it on biotrucks as well between the trade fairs. So this boot has followed us now. This is the second year. Last year we used it six times and this year it will be used four times. Wow. Okay. That's really impressive. Thank you for your insight. So I would go ahead and ask you the next question. In your view, how will the topic of sustainability evolve within the trade fair industry in the coming years? Well, I think we have to look at everything we do. Also trade fairs. As renewable companies, we can't just think about the big scale solar parks we're developing or the big value chains. We have to think our own footprint and our behaviors also at events, because there's a lot of people during these days. We're like a little city in Munich, really, or wherever the trade fair is. So I think we just have to look at how we select to travel and what kind of giveaways we do have and how to consider the boot itself. So it's to live the brand, think, regardless of which company you work for in the renewable sector. Thank you for your opinion. So last not least, so what was your motivation to become a member of STEP? And how does this reflect your company's of sustainability? So first, we decided to join STEP because that was it's really needed to join forces together. I mean we can't do this alone to change the footprint of the whole trade fair. So we need absolutely to also be inspired by other companies, because I'm sure there's something we can improve as well. And to inspire others to think in a more sustainable way. So that's why we joined. I was thinking that I wanted to start a network myself, actually. So I was very surprised when you approached us last year and asked us to join, because we need to be in this together to make sure we can do things sustainable. And you can actually save money on it, to add some numbers on it, actually, because with this investment we did last year, we kept the almost at the same level as previous years. But this year, at each event, we save 20,000 euros. Wow. And that's a little bit more than 20%. And that's per event we're doing now for 10 years. So just in this year, we're actually saving 80,000 euros. Wow that's Fantastic. To reuse everything. So sustainability, doesn't have to be expensive. It can actually be very sustainable and you can save money as well. Thank you so much. We are so happy that you're part of STEP. So let's make the world better, STEP by STEP. yeah, thank you so much, Ingrid. And thank you. Thanks a lot.
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Frequently asked questions

Statkraft received the award for its innovative booth concept, which features a modular “Lego brick system” built from long-lasting and recycled materials. The booth is designed for extensive reuse, minimizing waste and environmental impact across multiple events.

The booth utilizes a modular structure, including panel-based wooden walls and modular sofas, allowing for flexible configuration. It incorporates recycled materials such as lamps made from recycled paper and desks constructed from reused components, emphasizing durability and circularity.

Statkraft transports its reusable booth between trade fairs using biotrucks. This logistical choice further reduces the environmental footprint associated with event participation, complementing the booth’s long-lasting design and material reuse.

Dyrnes believes the industry must holistically evaluate its environmental footprint, including travel choices, giveaways, and booth construction, especially for renewable energy companies. She emphasizes “living the brand” by aligning event behaviors with sustainability principles across all operations.

Yes, according to Dyrnes, sustainable practices can be financially advantageous. Statkraft’s investment in its reusable booth initially helped maintain budget levels, and now saves €20,000 per event, totaling €80,000 annually from its four uses per year.