Committed supporter, Our CSR approach
Designing a trade show booth means creating an impact. A visual and commercial impact—but also an environmental and human one. Since 2007, WENES has supported its clients at trade shows with a simple conviction: performance and responsibility go hand in hand.
For years, these commitments have guided our decisions without being formalized. In 2025, we have decided to structure them, document them, and submit them to an independent external evaluation. Not to obtain a superficial label. To objectively measure where we stand and where to progress. In May 2026, EcoVadis awarded us the Bronze medal: 70/100, ranking us among the top 351 companies globally in our sector.
An independent evaluation: EcoVadis
Rather than self-proclaiming ourselves as «committed,» we chose to have our approach evaluated by EcoVadis, an international benchmark platform for CSR.
EcoVadis analyzes companies on four pillars: environment, social and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
Our score reflects performance measured on three of the assessed themes:
🌿 Environment — 72/100 | Ranked 131st in the sector
Formalized environmental policy, active waste management, monitoring of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, team awareness.
🤝 Social & Human Rights — 72/100 | Top 11% in the sector
Ongoing training through WENES Academy, working conditions, employee health and safety, equality and prevention of discrimination.
Scales Ethics — 63/100 | Ranked 261st in the industry
Formalized code of ethics, anti-corruption policy, data security, whistleblowing procedures accessible to all stakeholders.
This result is a starting point. The areas for improvement identified by EcoVadis already feed into our progress plan for the next assessment cycle.
Environment — Acting Where We Have Real Leverage
The events sector generates temporary structures, significant material flows, and numerous displacements. Our responsibility is to take concrete action on the points over which we have control.
On design and materials, We work exclusively with suppliers selected for their environmental commitments: FSC- or PEFC-certified wood, signage partners certified by Imprim’Vert, petroleum-free acrylic paints, neoprene flooring installed without adhesive, and 100% low-energy LED lighting. When it comes to furniture, we prioritize renting and reusing over purchasing new items.
On the end of life of stands, Each dismantling is subject to on-site sorting: wood, cardboard, common industrial waste, cables, paint, scrap metal. The wood is recovered through grinding. Reusable items are stored with a detailed record (photo, year of manufacture, materials) to be used at subsequent trade shows.
On our internal workings, In 2021-2022, our offices were renovated with a focus on insulation and energy efficiency. Our administrative processes are entirely digital (SAGE, Yooz, Lucca). Client meetings are held remotely whenever possible. A travel charter governs business trips, and carpooling is encouraged.
Ethics — Clear rules, enforced
Our code of ethics formalizes the principles that guide our professional practices: respect for individuals, integrity in business relationships, zero tolerance for any form of corruption, and rejection of deceptive practices and greenwashing.
It applies to all our employees, managers, and service providers. The protection of personal data is governed by a GDPR charter and an IT charter communicated to all teams.
EcoVadis's selection aligns with this logic: an approach based on concrete evidence, not on self-proclaimed commitments.
Social — Responsibility starts internally
A women’s team in a male-dominated field, with 841 women and an average age of 31. A young team in an industry that is far from young. It’s a reality we’re proud of—and one we actively nurture.
The profession of trade show stand builder does not have an academic track. You do not learn this profession in school. That is why we created the WENES Academy from the very beginning of the agency, an internal program structured into 4 modules, provided as continuous training upon the arrival of each new employee. The agency hosts 4 to 5 apprentices each year, contributing to the transfer of skills.
Regarding working conditions: flexible hours governed by a charter, formalized remote work, structured annual reviews, an active social and economic committee (CSE), a sports coach present on-site weekly. Dialogue with management is direct and unfiltered; it's a cultural stance, not just talk.
Responsible purchasing — Trusted partners, for a long time
Our business is based on a network of stable local service providers with whom we have been working for years. Carpenters (5 to 10 years of collaboration), electricians (over 13 years), printers and sign installers (up to 16 years of partnership), upholsterers, audiovisual service providers, furniture rental companies.
This is not a marketing argument. It's a business model. Loyalty to our service providers guarantees quality, responsiveness, and traceability of projects. We prioritize geographic proximity; our WENES Stand agencies and partners are closest to the exhibition centers, concentrated in Île-de-France / Rhône Alpes region / Grand Ouest.
A structured, evolving, honest approach
Our CSR approach does not claim to be complete. It is committed, documented, certified by EcoVadis Bronze in May 2026, and will continue to evolve. The areas for improvement identified during this first assessment are already guiding our next actions. Our ambition: to progress with each cycle.
The following documents are available for download:
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FAQ — Eco-responsible booths
How can a stand be environmentally responsible?
An eco-responsible stand is primarily a series of concrete choices at each stage of the project.
At the design stage: selection of certified materials (FSC- or PEFC-certified wood, petroleum-free paints, neoprene-free flooring), 100% LED lighting, and signage partners certified by Imprim’Vert.
During the show: furniture rented rather than bought, reusable equipment from one event to the next.
After the trade show: waste sorting on-site, wood valorization, storage of reusable items for future trade shows.
The eco-responsible approach isn't based on a single action; it spans the entire lifecycle of the stand.
How to integrate a CSR approach into my stand project?
It all starts at the briefing stage. The sooner CSR criteria are expressed — desired materials, willingness to reuse, budget constraints related to sustainability — the more they can be genuinely integrated into the design. These issues are part of our design process from the outset. To prepare a comprehensive brief incorporating your CSR criteria, you can use our Free exhibitor brief template. A responsible stand is not a standard stand with a green layer added: it's a project conceived differently from the very first sketch.
Does WENES offer reusable modular stands?
Yes. Faced with the multiplication of annual events and the challenges of cost control, we have developed a dedicated offer: THE MODULAR STAND. Scalable, reusable solutions from one trade show to the next, tailored for exhibitors who participate in multiple events throughout the year. This offer complements custom-built stands, with the choice between the two depending on the context, frequency of exhibiting, and each client's objectives. To help you decide, we have designed a Custom, modular, or hybrid trade show booth selection matrix.
What happens to my booth after the show?
After each event, our teams dismantle and sort on-site: wood, cardboard, ordinary industrial waste, cables, paint, and scrap metal are separated and directed to the appropriate channels. Wood is recovered through shredding. Usable elements are stored with a detailed record—photo, year of manufacture, materials—to be reintegrated into future projects. The goal: to limit material waste and extend the lifespan of structures, in a logic of reuse consistent with our CSR approach.