Sustainability guide for museums

Museums have long served as vehicles for social and political engagement. But what role should they take on now in the face of the imminent threat of climate change? As we increasingly face severe, profound and global damage that could forever change our way of life if humanity does not take action today. Fortunately, sustainability, which has a close relationship with the environmental issue and with respect to social equity and economic growth, is anchored in what is known as sustainable development , making it a concept that occupies the international agenda. Thus we can see that industries and sectors of all types are integrating it into their business strategy. But what happens with the sustainability of museums? Museums and environmental sustainability Mitigating the climate crisis is a task that requires the collaboration of all public and private sectors and organizations. This trip also includes arts and culture. Museums, as spaces that host the exhibition and conservation of valuable objects related to science and art or culturally important objects for the development of human knowledge, also have the Social Responsibility (SR) to adopt best practices to reduce their environmental impact. However, sustainability does not require museums to undertake wholesale renovations or drastic overhauls of their facilities or practices. Starting with simple steps can be a good starting point for institutions looking to do their part for the environment.

Here we share a simple museum sustainability guide, effective to start making these institutions more environmentally responsible entities! Sustainability guide for museums 1. Design sustainable exhibitions The fact that most exhibition stands now are built to survive may be the biggest change of all. In the past, it was common for companies to create custom displays that were only intended for a single event. After the show, everything would be thrown into a container. Luckily, companies have shifted toward green displays . Modular supports are Namibia Email List much more common. Even people who use specially created designs tend to keep them and reuse them again instead of throwing them away after a single use. Modular booth systems are not only more environmentally friendly, but they can also be simpler and less expensive to store and move. Modular exhibits have advanced significantly. In the past, they were seen as boxy and unimaginative, but now they offer unique features and have a much more modern and elegant design. 2. Reduce expenses at exhibitions Exhibitions are rapidly becoming more sustainable thanks to the efforts of forward-thinking venues and stand design companies. However, this was not always the case, as exhibits have historically been wasteful. The volume of waste would immediately surprise you if you visited a large venue before and after a show.



In the past, everything in the packaging, including bubble wrap and cardboard, was thrown into a general waste container. However, facilities for recycling various materials are now available at locations. Another big change in museums is that they are more likely to have a recyclable rug in exhibits. Previously, venues used a form of rope rug that was designed to be used for a short period before being discarded. Since the rugs were taking up a lot of space in the landfill. Since exhibitions and shows happen frequently, it is not environmentally friendly to throw away the rugs every time and get a new one. Hence people realized that carpets could also be recycled. This change not only benefits the environment, but is also a very affordable option for organizers. Also, some places have painted the concrete floor instead of keeping the carpets. 3. Reduce the use of printed materials As the need to embrace sustainability has grown, marketing strategies have also evolved. So companies no longer create and distribute countless brochures to hand out to all visitors, whether they are interested or not. These days, it's more common to use a simple marketing brochure that includes a link to your website, possibly one that can be scanned with a QR code , or to request a potential customer's email address to send relevant marketing materials. . The digital transformation from paper to QR codes has the potential to prevent more than 170,000 pounds of single-use paper from ending up in landfills. Instead of handing out flyers at random, knowing that most will end up in landfills, companies that have flyers post them digitally to potential customers who expressed interest after a particular exhibition.