The primary objective of the Built Green initiative is the substantial reduction and offsetting of the carbon footprint of exhibition stands, in a fundamentally “temporary” sector with high material consumption. At the same time, we aim to provide our clients with certified, climate-neutral exhibition solutions that strengthen their ESG goals and to serve as a benchmark for green transition within the wider exhibition construction industry.

The Built Green initiative is primarily aimed at companies/exhibitors from all sectors who participate in trade shows and want their presence to be aligned with their ESG and sustainability objectives. Secondarily, it targets Marketing, Communications and ESG/CSR professionals, as well as exhibition organizers seeking documented, certified “green” stand solutions, and the wider exhibition construction industry as a best-practice example.

Launched in 2024 with the first full emissions inventory and offsetting, with a view to continuing and strengthening the initiative through to 2045, in line with the 2025–2045 Climate Neutrality Management Plan.

Linea Exhibitions holds over 45 years of experience in the trade show organization and exhibition stand sector, supporting hundreds of trade fairs in Greece and across Europe.

Recognising that the exhibition industry relies on temporary constructions with a significant environmental footprint, Linea developed the Built Green philosophy: an end-to-end service for the design and construction of Carbon Neutral exhibition stands, which systematically reduces emissions and offsets the remaining footprint.

1. CO₂ footprint & climate neutrality

To support the transition to truly “green” stands, Linea carried out a full carbon footprint assessment for 2024 in accordance with EN ISO 14064-1, covering Scope 1, Scope 2 and selected Scope 3 categories. The total carbon footprint for 2024 was calculated at 1,219.09 tCO₂e. This confirms how critical it is to change the way exhibition stands are designed, reused and transported.

In terms of impact, published Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for MDF in Europe, North America and Oceania show that producing 1 m³ of raw MDF results in hundreds of kilograms of CO₂eq (cradle-to-gate), with representative values ranging from approximately 300 to 760 kg CO₂eq/m³, depending on product composition and energy mix. For melamine-faced MDF boards (MDF-LAM), a recent study reports a value of around 1,130 kg CO₂eq/m³.

In practice, a large share of the MDF used in temporary exhibition structures ends up being incinerated or landfilled at the end of its life, causing the stored CO₂ to return to the atmosphere within a relatively short timeframe. For the exhibition sector, this means that the extensive use of MDF in stands that remain in place for only a few days translates into a substantial environmental burden: high-impact materials are produced, transported and disposed of within a very short period. For this reason, Linea’s Built Green philosophy places particular emphasis on reducing MDF use and maximising material reuse, thereby lowering both emissions and waste volumes.

Subsequently, Linea fully offset its 2024 emissions through certified projects (Vanala Small Scale Hydropower Project and Hebei ChengAn Biomass Cogeneration Project), ensuring that the company’s operations and the stands it constructs carry a net-zero carbon footprint for that year.

The carbon calculation and climate neutrality process has been verified by an independent body (EUROCERT) in accordance with EN ISO 14064-1:2019 and ISO 14068-1:2023. As a result, Linea is among the first companies in its sector in Greece to construct exhibition stands as a Carbon Neutral Company.

2. Emission reduction plan & sustainable operations

Beyond simple offsetting, Linea has developed a long-term Climate Neutrality Management Plan 2025–2045, aiming at:

• A 55% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to the 2024 baseline, for Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 categories.
• Achieving full climate neutrality by 2045, in line with the National Climate Law.

Key measures include:

• Designing and delivering reusable, modular stands, extending the lifecycle of constructions and reducing the need for new materials.
• Training staff in material reuse and sustainable practices, with an estimated emission reduction of up to 1.14% by 2030 from this action alone.
• Optimising logistics (combined shipments, improved routing and planning) to reduce emissions associated with the transport of materials (the primary source of emissions).
• Electrifying the vehicle fleet and using electricity from renewable energy sources through Guarantees of Origin (GOs).

In this way, Built Green is not just a message, but a structured plan that links measurement, reduction and offsetting.

3. Environmental awareness & transparency

At the heart of the Built Green service lies client awareness and transparency:

• Every project implemented as Built Green is accompanied by a Built Green label, indicating that the stand has been constructed by a Carbon Neutral company with a certified emissions management system.
• Through its website, social media and targeted presentations to exhibitors, the company explains how the footprint is calculated and how clients can leverage their collaboration with Linea in their own ESG reports and sustainability disclosures.
• In parallel, Linea shares key findings from its carbon inventory to highlight that even highly “temporary” constructions, such as exhibition stands, can contribute meaningfully to reducing environmental impact.

4. Innovation & differentiation from competition

Linea is the first and only exhibition stand company in Greece that:

• Has conducted such a detailed emissions inventory across its entire service chain (design, production, logistics, travel, operations).
• Holds dual certification – EN ISO 14064-1:2019 for its carbon footprint and ISO 14068-1:2023 for climate neutrality – verified by an independent body (EUROCERT).
• Has developed a clear, commercially viable concept (Built Green) that allows clients to communicate their collaboration with a climate-neutral company, strengthening their own green image at high-visibility trade shows.

This holistic approach sets Linea apart from other stand contractors in the market.

5. Service quality & effectiveness

The Built Green philosophy does not compromise on stand quality, functionality or aesthetics. On the contrary, it builds on Linea’s long-standing experience in designing and constructing booths, stands and pavilions, offering:

• A complete one-stop-shop service (concept, design, construction, transport, setup).
• Technical and consulting support to clients on how choosing Built Green can support their own ESG targets.

Through the delivery of dozens of Built Green projects in Greece and abroad, Linea demonstrates that Carbon Neutral exhibition stands can be visually striking, functional, reliable and commercially effective, while at the same time contributing substantially to reducing the environmental footprint of the exhibition industry.

6. Commitment & next steps in MDF management

As MDF cannot be recycled through conventional streams due to its composition (urea–formaldehyde resins and degraded wood fibres), Linea is taking the next step in managing MDF residues. In the company’s short-term operational plan, we include the procurement of a shredder so that construction off-cuts can be shredded and any metallic components removed. The processed material will then be transported as alternative fuel (RDF/SRF) to a cement kiln, where thermal treatment in the precalciner (800–900°C) and complete combustion in the main kiln at temperatures up to 1,800°C ensure almost total oxidation with minimal residue, which is incorporated into the clinker. In this way, landfilling is avoided and the material is fully utilised, further strengthening Linea’s contribution to the principles of the circular economy.

The initiative is implemented in close cooperation with INNOVECO, as a specialised sustainability consultancy, and with the use of the CarbonPlan platform for the accounting and monitoring of CO₂e emissions. Verification of the carbon footprint and climate neutrality was carried out by the accredited certification body EUROCERT, in accordance with EN ISO 14064-1:2019 and ISO 14068-1:2023.

The implementation of the initiative involves active participation from staff across all key departments of the company (management, design, production, logistics, finance), providing data, consumption figures and operational information for the emissions inventory. In parallel, internal briefings and training sessions were carried out to integrate the Built Green philosophy into day-to-day operations, with a focus on material reuse, optimised transport/logistics and the selection of more sustainable solutions at both design and production level.

Carbon footprint measurement (ISO 14064-1), reduction targets, design of reusable stands, MDF reduction, logistics optimisation, use of renewable energy and emissions offsetting (ISO 14068-1) to deliver climate-neutral exhibition stands.

In terms of outcomes, Linea achieved the following for 2024:

• A complete carbon footprint inventory (1,219.09 tCO₂e) across Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 categories.
• Certified climate neutrality as a Carbon Neutral Company, through 100% offsetting of emissions.
• Delivery of 100+ of Built Green projects at major trade fairs in Greece and abroad, offering clients climate-neutral stands with documented emission reduction/offsetting.

For clients/exhibitors, the initiative enables them to integrate their exhibition presence into their ESG reporting, strengthen the credibility of their environmental commitments and communicate to their own audiences that they invest in lower-footprint solutions.

For Linea, the key benefits are:

• Being recognised as one of the first climate-neutral exhibition stand construction companies in Greece, with dual certification to EN ISO 14064-1 and ISO 14068-1.
• Strengthened competitiveness, by clearly differentiating from traditional stand contractors and offering a service with a tangible ESG footprint.
• A much deeper understanding of the company’s real emission sources and the ability to design a long-term reduction roadmap (target -55% by 2030).