tim
Methodology
Built on real-world research

How tim Scores Booths

A transparent look at our ESG scoring methodology, developed through years of hands-on trade show sustainability research.

Built on a Decade of Research

tim was built on the back of research conducted at Radar, PIE Factory, and Ecobooth. Over 1,000 booths were designed, reviewed, refined, and ultimately measured across hundreds of trade shows worldwide.

Those learnings; what works, what doesn't, and what actually moves the needle on sustainability, were distilled into the scoring systems used in tim today. This isn't theoretical; it's battle-tested methodology from teams who've been in the trenches of sustainable exhibition design.

We don't count event industry specific certifications or schemes towards your score because we've worked in this industry a long time and we certainly don't count awards, just the facts!

1,000+

Booths analyzed

10+

Years of research

3

Scoring dimensions

E Score

Environmental

Lower carbon per square meter = higher score. The Environmental score measures the carbon intensity of your booth, normalizing for size so that a 100m² booth is compared fairly against a 9m² shell scheme. But it's not all about carbon, we also track responsible material use, better end of life and supplier environmental management.

What We Measure

  • Materials: Weight, type, and embodied carbon of every material used, from aluminum frames to fabric graphics
  • Freight: Distance traveled, transport mode (road, sea, air), and weight of shipments
  • Energy: Power consumption during the event, factoring in local grid carbon intensity
  • End of Life: Whether materials are reused, recycled, stored, or sent to landfill
  • Supply chain environmental management: How environmentally responsible your suppliers are based on international best practice certifications

How Carbon Scoring Works

We calculate total carbon emissions (kg CO₂e) and divide by booth footprint (m²). This gives a carbon intensity score that's comparable across any booth size.

Score Ranges

A+< 25 kg CO₂e/m²
A25–50 kg CO₂e/m²
B50–75 kg CO₂e/m²
C75–100 kg CO₂e/m²
D> 100 kg CO₂e/m²

S Score

Social

More positive social impacts = higher score. The Social score reflects how your booth project contributes to people and communities, from fair labor practices to accessibility and local economic impact.

What We Measure

  • Local Labor: Percentage of workforce hired from the event's local region
  • Accessibility: ADA/EAA compliance and inclusive design considerations
  • Supply chain social impact management: How socially responsible your suppliers are based on international best practice certifications

How Scoring Works

Each positive social practice earns points. The more practices you implement, the higher your score. We weight factors based on their real-world impact, utilising local suppliers makes a big difference as it supports the economy around the trade show.

Key Factors

Local hiring (>50%)High impact
Accessibility complianceMedium impact
Supplier social impact managementMedium impact

G Score

Governance

More published commitments and transparency = higher score. The Governance score evaluates the exhibitors' ability to accurately measure their impact and therefore act upon it, by publicly reporting their performance, they are accountable for it.

What We Measure

  • Transparent reporting of booth impact: Sharing your ESG performance with all key internal and external stakeholders
  • Certifications: Achievement of international best practice certifications for environmental and social impact management
  • Corporate ESG Reporting: Public sustainability reports and carbon disclosures
  • Ethical Sourcing: Documented supply chain standards and supplier requirements

How Scoring Works

Governance is about walking the talk. By measuring your booth impact and sharing it publicly you are taking responsibility for that impact.

Additional Score Boosters

Internationally recognised certifications for environmental and social impact management
Annual sustainability report
Supplier code of conduct
Verified SBTi climate commitment

We verify claims against public records where possible.

The Combined ESG Score

Your overall ESG score is calculated by weighting all three dimensions. Environmental carries the most weight because carbon reduction is the most measurable and urgent challenge for trade shows. But a truly sustainable booth excels across all three.

50%

Environmental

25%

Social

25%

Governance

Ready to Score Your Booth?

Get your booth's ESG score in minutes. Upload photos for an instant environmental assessment, or complete the full survey for a comprehensive ESG report.

Questions? Contact us at hello@tradeshowtim.com

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