Carbon footprint management fintech, Cogo is proud to be ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to taking climate action by creating a sustainable stand at this year’s Money20/20 banking conference in Amsterdam. 

The stand, which takes cues from nature, and is inspired by urban garden architecture, is far from the usual exhibition stand. Its peaceful design aims to offer visitors a moment to pause and reflect on the importance of taking climate action. This is a priority for Cogo, given its work with banks to help customers measure, understand and reduce their carbon footprint.

Visitors to the stand will hear a soundscape of Aotearoa, New Zealand native birds at risk of extinction - an ode to the origins of Cogo, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems left on Earth.  

Ian Baksh, Cogo Head of Marketing: “While industry events such as this provide an excellent platform for Cogo to inspire positive change they can also contribute significantly to carbon emissions. Our objective was to minimise our carbon footprint and raise the bar in sustainable stand design.” 

When designing for sustainability and circularity, there are functional limitations to consider. While creating aesthetically pleasing designs is easy, creating ones that meet sustainability criteria is more complex. 

Kevin Kremer, Cogo Senior Brand Designer, EMEA: “ Throughout the design process, we constantly balanced creativity with environmental impact, often iterating our designs, changing course and starting from scratch.

“We carefully considered the lifecycle of each element and made sure we only used locally sourced, recycled, reclaimed, rented, or reused materials.”

Parts of the stand have previously been exhibited at Milan and Dutch Design Week as part of the No Space for Waste exhibition. After the Money2020 event, all components will be reintegrated into the supply chain, leaving no waste behind. 

The key sustainable production elements of the stand include: 

• Walls which are crafted from waste offcuts from the CNC production of modular wooden holiday cabins. After the event, the panels will become office furniture in a design studio in Amsterdam.

• Lamps featuring concrete cylinders collected as construction waste during the renovation of the iconic brutalist Dutch Central Bank, designed and produced by S-44 Amsterdam. The lamps are rented from the designer and will be returned after the event.

• Table tops made from 100% recycled plastic from various waste sources like refrigerators, cutlery, and electronics. The pieces will be offered on an Amsterdam-based marketplace for leftover materials after the event. 

• Recycled felts, produced by i-DID, are made from waste textiles, including old uniforms and consumer clothing, by people who are being coached to re-enter the workforce. The cushions are rented from the Wikkelhouse Store and will be returned for reuse.

• Plants and trees, provided by Ten Kate Flowers & Decorations, have been nurtured and brought to the event location by a dedicated florist and event decorator, ensuring their wellbeing and sustainability. The plants are being rented and will be returned after Money20/20. 

Cogo collaborated on the project with Space&Matter, an Amsterdam-based design studio specialising in sustainable architecture and circular area development, and their trusted partners at Fiction Factory provided guidance and insights into sustainable design practices and materials. 

Baksh adds: “Our project is a testament to the potential of collaboration and shows that sustainable solutions are achievable. We hope our work inspires others to consider more sustainable event marketing options in future.”

Cogo’s stand design can be seen at Money2020 Amsterdam, stand C140. Alternatively, follow Cogo on LinkedIn to see footage of the stand being built.