TAMPA, Fla. — EXHIBITORLIVE, in partnership with Brumark and Fern, an Nth Degree company, the event’s general service contractor, will introduce a fully recyclable carpet solution at EXHIBITORLIVE 2026, taking place March 29–April 2 in Tampa, Florida. The initiative expands a well-established recovery program designed to help reduce flooring waste from large-scale events and advance practical sustainability solutions for the trade show industry.
Industry estimates suggest more than 85 million pounds of carpet waste enter landfills each year, with flooring representing a significant share of trade show waste. Brumark’s recovery program is designed to help exhibitors and organizers address that challenge through simplified recycling processes and structured material recovery following events.
Following the show, approved flooring materials, including carpet, turf, vinyl, and padding, will be collected during move-out under established recovery standards.
“We are committed to advancing thoughtful sustainability practices while ensuring our industry has seamless access to these essential services,” says Brumark President James Zacharias. “This initiative reflects our belief that responsible action is not only the right thing to do, but essential to the long-term health of our industry and our planet.” EXHIBITORLIVE, the industry’s leading conference and exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketers, provides a platform for the initiative and ongoing sustainability education.
“Meaningful sustainability progress happens when our industry collaborates and commits to practical action,” said Stephanie Gibbs, General Manager of EXHIBITORLIVE. “Events like EXHIBITORLIVE help showcase innovative solutions while educating our community on operationally realistic practices. Our multi-year flooring recycling initiative with Brumark is an important step toward a more sustainable future.”
As the event’s General Contractor, Fern supports the initiative through on-site execution and implementation of the recycling program.
“We’re proud to partner with EXHIBITORLIVE and Brumark to introduce a fully-recyclable carpet solution at this year’s event,” said Neil McMullin, Senior Vice President, Fern. “Sustainability is an important focus for Fern and the organizer and exhibitor clients we serve. These collaborations are a meaningful step forward for our industry.”
A previous EXHIBITORLIVE initiative has already demonstrated measurable impact, diverting 13,400 pounds of flooring waste from landfill through coordinated recovery efforts. The expanded program aims to build on that progress and further reduce flooring waste at future events.
About Fern, an Nth Degree company
Fern is a leading trade show services contractor that delivers unmatched customer service, best-in-class design, and innovative solutions for exhibitors and large-scale events. As part of the Nth Degree family, Fern is redefining the event experience through creativity, technology, and a commitment to client success. For more information, visit fernexpo.com.
About Exhibitor Group
The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Group publishes EXHIBITOR magazine, an award-winning publication featuring best practices in trade show marketing. EXHIBITOR’s learning events include: EXHIBITORLIVE, The Conference and Exhibition for Trade Show and Event Marketers; EXHIBITOR Education Week, the Professional Learning Conference for Exhibit and Corporate Event Marketers; and EXHIBITOR eTrak, professional online learning. Exhibitor Group is also the founder of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry’s only university-affiliated professional certification program. Learn more at www.ExhibitorOnline.com.
About Brumark
Brumark Flooring is a sustainability-focused leader in innovative flooring solutions for events, exhibits, and branded environments. With decades of industry expertise, we provide a full range of flooring solutions, from custom-printed designs and carpet to raised and reusable systems that are delivered with fast and reliable support. More than just products, we offer a partnership. At Brumark, our clients are at the center of everything we do. We listen closely, act quickly, and tailor every solution to your goals. Committed to service, leadership, and authenticity, we take pride in helping brands make bold impressions while reducing environmental impact through eco-conscious materials and our hassle-free flooring recovery program. Your success drives us. www.Brumark.com