Messe Frankfurt is introducing a new sustainability initiative within its Texpertise network, which consists of some 50 fairs around the world.
Branded as Econogy, a nod to the significance of economy and ecology, the new cross-fair initiative will act as an umbrella service for information, discussion, education and networking formats on all aspects of sustainability within the textile industry. Events will include lectures, information walls, guided tours and discussion forums.
“The new cross-trade fair strategy will create a common communicative umbrella for sustainability activities and provide for the further strategic development of content relating to sustainability,” said Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles and textile technologies at Messe Frankfurt, adding that the knowledge and content formats on sustainability topics were also undergoing a strategic realignment.
The aim, he said, was to give partners, exhibitors and visitors added value for their roles in promoting sustainability issues and products.
The new imitative will see on-site events rebranded as ‘Econogy Tours’ while the directories that include exhibitors offering sustainable products will become the ‘Econogy Finder’. Lectures covering environmental issues are to be rebranded as ‘Econogy Talks’.
“The realignment offers better orientation for customers and partners within the Texpertise network, creates cross-trade fair synergies and makes the sustainability activities of exhibitors at trade fairs more visible and measurable,” Schmidt added. “With this step, Messe Frankfurt’s textile events are focusing even more strongly on sustainability as a topical issue and an increasing sales driver in the global textile industry.”