Building an Eco-Friendly Retail Display

Updated September 24

Let’s face it. Large retail display programs that roll out to hundreds of locations aren’t exactly a hallmark of eco-friendly practices. Between manufacturing, delivery methods, and disposal, displays can lead to waste and pose challenges to sustainability. But with 85 percent of Gen Z and 84 percent of Millennials indicating eco-conscious considerations are important to them, being mindful of your brand’s environmental impact will only increase in relevance. These sustainability goals can lead to brand loyalty from these generations that hold significant buying power.

When planning for and designing a display program, there are ways to lean into eco-friendly practices. Below we detail how choosing the right type of displays and material can support these efforts.

Investing in Permanent Displays

When first considering point of purchase displays, it’s easy to assume temporary displays would be more environmentally friendly. They’re frequently made from corrugated cardboard which, of course, is easily recycled.

However, printed plastic and cardboard displays have a short lifespan in the field, causing more waste with each turnover. Manufacturing temporary units burns energy each production cycle with new fabrication, new shipping, and new disposal.

Primarily manufactured with steel, plastic, or wood, permanent retail displays use heavier-duty materials that require more input at the start, but are engineered to last years. Instead of replacing the entire unit, a brand might only update graphics, shelving, or signage, lowering the total volume of raw material needed over time.

At the end of the day, thinking long-term means a permanent display can be a lasting pillar in stores without the need to dispose and replace frequently.

Environmentally Friendly Display Materials

Did you know 70 percent of all steel ever produced is still in use? In addition, recycling it uses 25 percent less energy and generates only a quarter of the water and air pollution that producing it from raw materials creates. Thankfully, most permanent retail displays are manufactured with steel, making it eco-friendly because of its simplicity to recycle.

But using sustainable materials doesn’t end at steel. Below are more options for display materials that are eco-friendly:

1. Plant-based, Biodegradable Plastics (PLA Bioplastic). This plastic is derived from sources like corn starch or sugarcane, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Under the right conditions, this material is biodegradable.
2. Fabric Graphics. Using fabric instead of traditional printed graphics on a display is also more eco-conscious due to the reusability of the graphics, ease of recycling, and because inks and dyes used for fabric can often be less toxic than those used in traditional printing methods.
3. Soy-based Inks. Made from the renewable resource soybeans, soy ink is more environmentally friendly than traditional inks that are derived from non-renewable fossil fuels. It also costs the same as conventional inks.
4. Bamboo. With such a rapid growth rate and a higher yield per hectare, bamboo has been a good substitute for wood when brands have been concerned with building an eco-conscious retail display. Keep in mind, however, it’s not as easily sourced as traditional wood products like MDF.
5. Digital Signage. Investing in digital signage over monthly print kits can also reduce costs and the carbon footprint because it saves on materials like ink and print substrates as well as transportation. This type of signage is updated digitally instead of physically.

Keep in mind, sustainability doesn’t always come cheap. Investing in materials like PLA Plastic, bamboo, and digital signage can increase costs per display. However, if being mindful of the environmental impact is part of your brand’s values, extending that mission to your in-store marketing efforts through eco-friendly materials makes sense.

Design Practices to Enhance Sustainability

Planning for eco-friendly materials is the first step toward being environmentally-conscious when manufacturing retail displays. The next step is considering how the display design itself can reduce environmental impact.

• Modular Design
  Modular displays make it possible to swap out parts or make brand refreshes without the need to discard an entire fixture. This approach reduces waste and extends the life of the display.
• Lightweight Structures
  Permanent displays must be secure, but being mindful of using lighter materials and construction methods can lighten the weight of each shipment, cutting fuel use during transit to stores. While it doesn’t sound like much with one display, the emissions savings becomes significant over hundreds or thousands of units.
• Flat Pack Shipping
  Similar to the display weight, the display size can also impact the carbon footprint. Whenever possible, shipping displays unassembled and packed flat can reduce the freight volume. This fits more units per truckload, and saves you money, too.

By prioritizing design choices that minimize waste and optimize transport, brands can reduce the long-term environmental impact of their retail display programs.

Consumer and Retailer Benefits of Eco-Friendly Displays

As Millennials and Gen Z become the dominant shopping demographic, sustainability efforts will resonate with these eco-conscious consumers. Eco-friendly displays help brands connect with these shoppers in a way that builds trust and strengthens reputation.

But it’s not just shoppers that care about environmental impact. Many brands have set ambitious sustainability goals, and their in-store marketing reflects those commitments to reinforce credibility. Even small shifts in display design can demonstrate accountability and align with broader corporate responsibility efforts.

Beyond reputation, though, sustainable practices can also deliver financial advantages in unexpected ways. Permanent, modular displays not only reduce environmental impact, but also extend a program’s lifecycle. Updating parts instead of replacing entire units cuts costs, lowers materials use, and makes campaigns easier to refresh over time.

Ready to Go Eco-Friendly?

Whether you’re going big or just making small shifts to be more eco-conscious, any push to be more mindful of display materials and practices can add up to more significant environmental impacts.

And at the end of the day, sustainable displays aren’t just about doing the “right thing” for the planet, but are about aligning your brand with consumer expectations, corporate responsibilities, and smarter long-term investments.