The first, presented on the first evening of the show, was Sustain magazine’s Product of the Year for Medite Tricoya. This was followed with a Sustainable Stand Award, which was presented at the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) Awards on the second evening of Ecobuild.
"The UK-GBC liked the simplicity of the stand," said Coillte Panel Products marketing manager Joanna Crown. "They liked the eco-feel and the display of saplings that would grow into the product.
"These awards provide great motivation for the mill workers," she added.
The spruce saplings, which lined two sides of the stand and were available for visitors to take away, reinforced the "from forest floor to market place" message that Coillte plants 14 million trees a year and produces its own wood fibre.
"We control our own wood fibre through having our own trees," said Andrew Macdonald, director, sales and marketing.
Coillte Panel Products capitalised on this by promoting its SmartPly OSB as the "Smart answer to plywood".
"With the introduction of the EU Timber Regulation people will look to OSB," said Mr Macdonald.
However, he added, there were still people who had no knowledge of OSB so part of the company’s presence at Ecobuild was product education.
"It’s also about raising brand awareness. We owe it to our distributors to be here and to show our new products," said Mr Macdonald.
On the stand, which was built entirely from Coillte panel products, the company promoted its SmartPly OSB; pre-coated ToughPly OSB; Medite MDF; and Medite Tricoya.
The latter’s durability was demonstrated by a fountain made from the product.
