If you still think sustainability doesn’t sell product, then visit Ecobuild next month. In just five short years, Ecobuild has established itself as one of the major construction exhibitions in the UK, riding the crest of the green building wave and demonstrating that there is serious money to be made in all things ‘eco’ – if you market yourself right.
Ecobuild 09 boasts 800 exhibitors (going against the recession with an impressive increase from 500 in 2008), more than 100 free conferences and seminars over the three days, not to mention the patronage of numerous political and construction industry heavyweights.
If past years are anything to go by, it will be a vibrant exhibition. There may only be a handful of truly innovative gems hidden amongst an almost over the top amount of ‘greenwash’, but it will be all lapped up with apparent enthusiasm by a swarm of specifiers keen to find out what is truly green. It’s a shame there aren’t more exhibitors from the timber industry. I ran my finger down the list and found only about 40 names I recognised.
TRADA is now officially a supporter of Ecobuild and as a result will have a higher profile this year; we’ve already started talking with the promoters about how we can encourage greater timber industry participation in 2010. We are supporting Timber Works with The Timber Trade Federation and wood for good, a new area to give first-time exhibitors a low cost introduction to the exhibition. It’s a brilliant idea and has given 20-odd timber companies who wouldn’t otherwise be there an opportunity to promote their products to a receptive audience.
If you’ve never been before, come along and take a look. See what the concrete and plastic industries are up to. It might just convince you to sign your RPP documentation, fulfil that commitment to chain of custody and jump onto the green bandwagon. After all, with timber you have a head start. Ecobuild takes place at Earls Court, London from March 3-5, 2009.
