Global Environment Event – Pollutec Paris 2005

As of 15th September, two and a half months before it opens, nearly 90% of the show’s stand space has already been booked. On the international front, a particular feature is the increased presence from Asian countries (China, South Korea and Japan), which reflects the recognition of Pollutec as a key means for entering Europe’s environment markets. So far as France is concerned, there has again been further strong growth amongst the regional stands, reflecting strong interest in the provinces and above all from Ile-de-France, which should lead to the presence at the show of very large numbers of innovative SMEs.

A comprehensive range of solutions

Occupying 50,000 m2, the show will present a totally comprehensive range of equipment and services for the prevention and treatment of pollution in all fields: water and waste/recycling of course – these flagship sectors always take up more than half the space – but there will also be air, clean energy or renewables, sites and soils, risk management, analysis/measurement/monitoring, noise and more.

Themes on the up this year include:

Recycling and exploitation – The market’s exceptional growth in 2004 (+ 25%) has encouraged all major French and international players to be present, accelerating this sector’s growth even further.

Decontamination of sites and soils – Boosted by regulations, this constantly growing activity will have its own sector displaying all the available solutions, from diagnosis to treatment and site monitoring.

Environment, Risks and Health – Reflecting the concerns of the public and industry, this theme will have a widespread presence at the show, and there will be a major Risks sector, which will house a Health & Environment village dedicated to the prevention, detection and management of risks and a discussion forum that will set aside a considerable amount of time for the Reach programme, which is very much at the centre of current developments in Europe.

Renewables – In order to meet the increasing need for information from industry and elected representatives, Pollutec’s NRE Village will be expanded and arranged around four expert centres - biomass, solar, wind, small scale hydroelectric/small scale geothermal – manned by the relevant professional associations. They will also host numerous discussions on topical subjects.

For the first time, Pollutec will also set aside considerable space for specific solutions for Sustainable development/Eco design in the form of a new Area that offers information, methodological guides and tools, feedback from experience, all grouped around a selection of model products suitable for environmentally responsible purchasing.

Highly international

Over 400 foreign exhibitors from thirty countries are at expected at Pollutec this year. Some will have stands of their own and other will be exhibiting on the national stands that host public organizations, manufacturers and service companies.

As of 15th September, 15 countries had announced that they would be organizing stands: Austria, Belgium (Brussels Capital and Wallonia), Brazil, Canada, China, Germany (North Rhine Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg), Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands (through its Paris embassy), Poland, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.

Strongly focused on innovation

As always, the focus will be on technological innovation. It is one of the strengths of the show and the main reason why its visitors come. At Paris in 2003, 90% of visitors came to Pollutec in search of innovative solutions (source: ECCE survey).

As of 15th September, over a hundred product launches or new techniques had been scheduled for the stands of the exhibitors and over half of the 160 or so conferences or discussions so far on the programme were focused on innovation.

Five sets of prizes or awards for innovative products or approaches will be presented at the show. These include the EEP Awards 2005 (30/11), the European environmental innovation awards organized by the EEP (European Environmental Press) association, with the support of the EFAEP (European Federation of Associations of Environmental Professionals).

Multiple opportunities for export business

As the major global meeting place for technological supply and demand, Pollutec will also host numerous international meetings, that offer specifically targeted business opportunities for the eco-businesses that are attending.

The programme includes:

A series of events (29th and 30th November) devoted to Hungary, Pollutec’s country of the year, to mark the year of the Hungarian economy in France: reception of the Hungarian Minister of the Environment and a major official delegation, round tables on the priority investment needs and projects (Water, Waste, Soil decontamination) and business meetings.

The Eco-Etape 2005 Meetings organized by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and UBIFRANCE to develop technological partnerships between Latin American and European industries. These meetings – at which nearly 60 Latin American companies are expected - will also serve as the occasion for UNIDO to bring together the global network of Clean Technology Centres.

A focus on Brazil, which will welcome a major delegation of officials and industrialists, co-ordinated by the CNI (National Confederation of Industry), in association with UNIDO, the IEL institute of technology) and the FIRJAN (the Rio de Janeiro Industry Federation);

Several meetings devoted to Poland (30th November and 1st December): conferences on the environment, challenges and priorities of the country, presentation of market opportunities and business meetings;

Two discussions on the requirements of China (1st December), which will welcome representatives from various provinces and manufacturers of equipment looking for partners.

Specific services for foreign visitors

Numerous delegations are of course expected at the show, particularly from Europe and the New Member States, from Africa (Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana), North Africa, Canada, Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile) and Asia (China and South Korea).

In order to enable such visitors to make the most of their visit and to assist them in making contacts, Pollutec will be operating a number of services specifically designed for them: international reception, offering expert French advice on the environment and exporting; site visits to interesting facilities in Ile-de-France; bilingual French/English visitor guide listing all the show’s events and the most important new innovations.