A new approach to trade fair construction: SENEC relies on shipping containers
- CO₂ savings via modular construction, scalable application and sustainable use of materials
- Cooperation with the Leipzig-based start-up “TRASH GALORE” for material reuse
Leipzig, 6. September 2022 – SENEC is setting new standards in the trade fair construction and event sector with its innovative, sustainably conceived and reusable event construction kit. The SENEC Travelling Toolbox, presented for the first time in April 2022, aims not only to create ecological sustainability in everyday event life, but also to impress with an optimum cost-benefit ratio, simultaneously boosting environmental awareness among all stakeholders. Consisting of recycled overseas shipping containers, it functions along the lines of a plug & play solution. Optimised material reuse also plays an important role: the aim is to promote the principle of circular economy – well beyond the event sector – in a collaboration with partner TRASH GALORE, which provides support in the procurement and transfer of residual materials.
Conserving resources, avoiding waste and promoting the principle of a circular economy: the new SENEC Travelling Toolbox has been planned, designed and implemented according to these specifications. The materials used are durable, can be repaired and are reduced to the essentials. In addition, the continuous reuse of the shipping containers reduces material waste and ensures that additional CO2 emissions are avoided. The SENEC Travelling Toolbox was first presented at the “Haus Holz Energie” trade fair in Stuttgart in April 2022, and has since been successfully used four times; two further appearances at the SHK fair in Essen and the Oberschwabenschau fair in Ravensburg will follow later this year.
Says Stefanie Kaiser, Team Lead Brand & Event Management at SENEC: “With its new positioning in the context of various event platforms, SENEC invites direct dialogue and sensitises visitors to topics relating to the energy transition. We are setting a benchmark with this project, showing how the greatest possible effect can be achieved with the least possible effort and (material) input. We hope that this kind of innovative event conception will inspire imitation and become standard in the near future.”
Travelling also means mobility: the plug & play solution adapts easily to local conditions. In this way, SENEC also creates space for unconventional encounters outside the usual trade fair environment, such as at polisMobility in Cologne city centre in May 2022. The various stakeholders are used as communication multipliers to draw attention to the transformation areas “circular economy” and “energy transition & climate protection”, as well as showcasing the SENEC.360 portfolio.
A circular approach to the future of trade fairs & events
In addition, the components that cannot be reused for specific reasons are passed on to social initiatives according to the second life principle. As a result, SENEC cooperated with the start-up TRASH GALORE, also based in Leipzig, at the Intersolar 2022 trade fair for the first time.
It is estimated that around 600,000 tonnes of waste are produced annually in the event industry, which is still dominated by the linear economic “take-make-waste” principle. Sandra Spielbrink, Manager Sustainability & Special Strategic Projects at SENEC, explains the collaborative concept as follows: “We are convinced that the future must be thought, conceived of and practically implemented in a circular way. We and our partner TRASH GALORE see the conscious use of (material) resources as an integral part of our actions. This will ideally inspire not only reflection, but imitation.” Translated into figures, 5.17 tonnes of high-quality material including wood, textiles and glass were given to six initiatives and associations after the dismantling process was completed. In total, this saved 5,251.43 kilograms of CO2.
The SENEC Travelling Kit at a glance:
- Reusable event construction kit designed to be as resource-efficient and sustainable as possible.
- Consists of recycled overseas shipping containers and functions along the lines of a plug & play solution.
- Adaptation to a wide range of event formats (indoor & outdoor): all elements can be used independently, but also stacked or combined as desired.
- Basic conceptual idea: recycle - reduce - reuse: box use over several years, second life for leftover materials through distribution to creative & social projects.
About SENEC
SENEC GmbH in Leipzig has been developing intelligent electricity storage systems and storage-based energy solutions since 2009. With SENEC.360, the company offers a coordinated ecosystem for sustainable all-round self-sufficiency, including electricity storage (SENEC.Home), solar modules (SENEC.Solar), a virtual electricity account (SENEC.Cloud) and an e-car charging station (SENEC.Wallbox). The SENEC brand has developed into one of Europe’s leading providers of innovative energy and storage solutions for single-family homes - with over 100,000 systems sold and an advisory network of more than 1,200 specialist partners.
Since 2018, SENEC GmbH has been a wholly owned subsidiary of EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG and employs over 450 people at its Leipzig and Cologne sites as well as in Italy and Australia.