Company News • 18.10.2010

EuroShop 2011 in Düsseldorf: “Sustainovation” – How sustainable innovations are created

New special show on the theme of sustainable product development specifically for the retail scene

EuroShop 2011, the world’s leading trade fair covering all investment needs for retail and its partners, will be held from 26 February to 2 March 2011 in Düsseldorf. For the first time at EuroShop 2011, Messe Düsseldorf, in collaboration with the experts in innovative material solutions, Material ConneXion, and sustainability consulting, brands & values, is staging a 400m² inspirational special show on the current theme of “sustainable product development”.

“Sustainability” is on everyone’s lips, but due to the complexity of the theme, only a few companies succeed in realizing the opportunities presented through the “green” products theme. Using numerous specific examples, the special show impressively demonstrates how savings but also the growth potential of sustainable product innovations can be synergetically exploited through the analysis of environmental effects and material options and how companies from various sectors can make sustainability a tangible experience for their customers through such innovations.

The aim of the “Sustainovation” special show, which will be held right next to the main entrance to the fair in Hall 7.0, is to convey well-founded information on the theme area sustainability and product innovations, to inspire through material and product examples, and in particular, to show how sustainable, innovative product solutions can be specifically and practically implemented. The concept here is just as easy as it is unique: two processes are combined, namely “Product Lifecycle Analyses” (LCA) and applied material research on the basis of the largest material library and database in the world, Material ConneXion.

On the stands, visitors to EuroShop will have the opportunity to inform themselves about this process. On monitors the individual process phases of lifecycle analysis will be shown and presented in an easy-to-follow approach. Important basic information on the five major sectors to be taken into account for sustainable product development (raw materials, transport, production, product utilization and end of life) are shown and supported with specific examples.

The special show is being complemented by 80 current material innovations on the theme of sustainability from the Material ConneXion material library. On each day of the event the material researchers from Material ConneXion and innovation consultants from brands & values will be on hand to answer questions on the application of sustainable materials and finishing processes for the products or the fair visitors’ store concepts.

A highlight at the show is three successful examples of sustainable product development, which have been created using life cycle assessment and subsequent material optimization: the highly innovative packaging example from a brand manufacturer, a very complex product example shown by a construction materials supplier and a graphic example from the merchandise presentation sector provided by a leading sports article manufacturer. These examples will clearly show what potential is involved in expanding one’s innovation horizon to include the sustainability dimension, because the results of these, in some cases, relatively short innovation processes are more than just impressive.

The “Sustainovation” special show will inform, involve and inspire the visitors to EuroShop – and for that reason alone make a positive contribution to sustainable development. Every store fitting expert, retailer or product developer will take new ideas or specific solution concepts with them, which will help them to integrate sustainability in their daily development work.

Information on MaterialConneXion: www.materialconnexion.com

Information on brands & values: www.brandsandvalues.com

EuroShop 2011 is open for trade visitors from Saturday, 26 February 2011 to Wednesday, 2 March 2011 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. 1-day tickets cost EUR 50 (EUR 35 plus postage when ordered online in advance), 2-day tickets EUR 70 (EUR 55 plus postage when ordered online in advance) and season tickets EUR 125 (EUR 110 plus postage when ordered online in advance). Students and apprentices pay only EUR 15. All tickets include free travel to and from the exhibition centre with public transport within the networks of the VRR (Verkehrsverbund-Rhein-Ruhr) and VRS (Verkehrsverbund-Rhein-Sieg) transport authorities. Further information on all aspects of EuroShop can be found on the Internet at www.euroshop.de.

Your Press Contact:
Dr. Cornelia Jokisch, Tanja Karl
Tel.: +49 (0)211/4560-998/-999
Fax: +49 (0)211/4560-8548
Email: JokischC@messe-duesseldorf.de
KarlT@messe-duesseldorf.de