Making an exhibition can be wasteful. Museums often use materials that are damaging to the environment, while furniture such as plinths or mannequins are often made for a specific exhibition. Reuse is not often factored into the planning or design process.
Deviating away from “how we’ve always done things” can feel daunting but we must find new ways of producing exhibitions that are in line with our values as a sector and respond to the planetary emergency.
Below are some principles for sustainable exhibitions and practical steps on how to implement these.
1. Set KPIs around environmental responsibility at the project start
Ensure this is woven into the fabric of every design decision, material selection and object confirmation. Environmental responsibility must be on the radar at each stage.
Practical step | Set realistic goals. For example, aim for a reuse percentage over the year.
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2. Choose your suppliers wisely
Work with suppliers and designers who are engaged in environmental responsibility. Ensure contracts have a robust clause outlining expectations such as how items will be transported to site. Suppliers don’t need to have a lot of experience, but a willingness to research, learn and collaborate is crucial.
Practical step | Use existing tools and tested wording from colleagues. Resources such as the Royal Ballet and Opera in London’s standardised supplier form can help contractors focus energies on green improvements rather than filling in forms.
3. Remember the waste hierarchy
The first principle in the waste hierarchy is “prevention” – do you need to buy new materials or do you already have something that can be refurbished?
Practical step | Ensure you share an up-to-date inventory of reusable assets when commissioning your design team. If you must make something new, prioritise modular design and avoid unnecessary joining methods, such as glue or screws, to make materials easier to reuse. For walls and showcases, consider investing in lasting solutions and good storage.
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4. Spend money on people, not stuff
Contractors often claim that the labour cost to refurbish an item is
the same as fabricating from scratch. Try shifting the perspective – giving
a showcase a second or third life through creative transformation with talented craftspeople and technicians could be a source of pride.
Practical step | Design for refurbishment and reuse – turn panels back to front to use both sides, for example.
5. Adopt circular economy solutions
Leverage your institution’s networks to borrow or buy materials secondhand. Consider how to ensure items aren’t scratched or damaged, so they can have a second life elsewhere.
Practical step | Platforms such as Museums Freecycle, SetSwapCycle and MuseoCycle allow you to search for or request items.
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6. Store, don’t hoard
Reuse is easier when you don’t hoard. Saving everything is counterproductive as items get damaged and it is hard to see what is available in cramped storage.
Practical step |Plan storage in advance and keep inventories up to date. When developing your production schedule, factor in time to update drawings of build components and to quality check materials for quality and suitability.
7. Embrace smart design solutions
While looking after objects is essential, are there alternatives to bespoke Perspex showcases? Can you use elegant barriers? Could you increase the “touch distance”? Would a gauze be suitable to protect the object on display?
Practical step | Clearly articulate the importance of environmental responsibility to designers. Help them understand what is or isn’t feasible for your collection or loans.
8. Share knowledge
It’s important to keep yourself informed as research evolves and more tools become available.
Practical step | Join a peer group (Museums 2030, for example) that is aligned with your area of expertise. This can help you stay up to date about new resources and materials on the market.
Elise Foster Vander Elst is the head of exhibitions and environmental impact lead at the Design Museum, London
