Dubai: Eco-conscious producers from around the world will showcase their commitment to sustainability in the stationery, paper, gifts and office supplies industry through a range of products including stationery, cards and hobby craft at Paperworld Middle East, the region’s largest international trade exhibition for the sector.
Exhibitors from the UK, Europe and the subcontinent will pack The Green Room – the show’s dedicated zone for sustainable products – and are looking to engage regional distributors, wholesalers and retailers in a worldwide trend towards environmentally oriented products that can reap success in the digital age.
The trend is being heavily promoted by the UK’s Collins Debden, one of Scotland’s oldest producers of diaries and notebooks with a 200-year old pedigree and a prominent commitment to product sustainability. Despite a global shift towards digital lifestyles, Collins Debden believes sustainable products can succeed in a digital age underpinned by innovation.
“With the obvious shift towards digital, the stationery industry has had to adapt to demonstrate that diaries and notebooks are still relevant in today’s world – and the evidence is clear that they absolutely are! Both ourselves and the industry have had to add value to our products, demonstrating not only their functional uses, but the added benefits: writing things down helps one’s mental health and wellness,” said Marketing Manager, Richard Sloan.
Collins Debden is among a number of companies in The Green Room on the hunt for regionwide distributors. Another is Polish producer 2×3, a specialist designer and producer of high-quality visual communication products. In The Green Room it will showcase a range of products from wooden-frame cork boards to ceramic-structured board systems.
“All our products are manufactured in Poland which gives us great influence over quality control of raw materials and the production process as well. Our goods are manufactured in line with the highest requirements of quality, safety and environmental protection,” explained General Manager, Sławomir Poznański. “Our R&D team is continuously working on implementing new and upgraded products.”
Indian writing instrument producer Dollar Industries (PVT) Ltd will market its full range which is made up of a minimum of 37% recycled materials. Director of Export Sales, Anis Ur Rehman said: “Dollar appreciates the importance of sustainable and environment-friendly operations. To fulfil our ‘Green Objective’, we have put in extraordinary efforts to bring our manufacturing units in line with environmental stipulations.”
Germany’s Go Europe is lining up a cutting-edge range which includes its solar-operated ECO-calculators which has scooped the country’s ‘Blue Angel’ award – Germany’s Federal Government’s ecolabel. “We will be looking to find new partners in the region who want innovative and eco-friendly products to fulfil a range of requirements,” said the company’s Export Manager, Beate Rauls.
The Green Room has been added to the portfolio of Paperworld Middle East, which runs at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9-11 March, to satisfy the rising demand for sustainable products.
“Increasingly businesses are taking their commitment to the environment seriously, and are endeavouring to reduce their carbon footprint by buying more consciously – this is what is driving the market,” explained Alexandra Robinson, Show Director for Paperworld Middle East, organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East.
“The awareness of climate change is growing as is the response of businesses to it. The buying of eco-friendly office supplies sits well with companies taking all possible steps to create a sustainable environment. This year’s show marks the event’s 10th anniversary and as it heads into a new decade, we can envisage eco-products increasingly making their presence felt.”
Other returning features at Paperworld Middle East 2020 include the Wrap Star gift wrapping competition; the Remanexpo Pavilion for exhibitors of remanufactured printer consumables, IT accessories and sustainable products; and CPD workshops ensuring industry professionals stay up-to-date with the latest Middle East trends.
