With energy efficiency and sustainability such an important part of retailer thinking, it’s no surprise that EuroShop’s ECOpark, just one of the many highlights at this year’s show, is set to be the biggest yet.
After all, these are issues that have a significant bearing on how and where retail companies decide to invest, both to meet the challenges of today and for the years to come. Retailers are increasingly opting for contemporary solutions that increase the energy efficiency of their refrigeration, air-conditioning, ventilation and lighting systems, and EuroShop 2017 will provide a hitherto unparalleled focus on this growing sector.
Located in the ‘Food Tech & Energy Management’ dimension, in Hall 15, the ECOpark will also play host to the Eco Forum, which will welcome a number of industry experts and encourage debate about sustainability issues. This will be its third appearance at EuroShop.
Key Focus
ESM spoke to Elke Moebius, global head of retail and director EuroShop at Messe Düsseldorf about the importance of the ECOpark to the show, and whether she believes this year’s event marks a ‘turning point’ in terms of the adoption of energy efficiency in retail.
“Maybe it is not yet the turning point, but a very big step forward,” she says. “In the future, retailers will no longer be able to avoid issues such as energy saving, the protection of resources or recycling – in IT, refrigeration equipment, display mannequins and shopfittings. These are issues which substantially impact the investment decisions of retail companies – both today and to an even greater extent in the future.”
Tailored Solutions
At the same time, eco-friendly solutions need to be tailored to retailers’ precise needs, and work both practically and aesthetically within a store’s layout. This has led to an increase in the number of environmentally-friendly providers working closely with retail groups to deliver bespoke solutions.
“Retailers are increasingly opting for contemporary solutions that increase the energy efficiency of their refrigeration, air-conditioning, ventilation and lighting systems, while more and more shops are also adopting the Internet of Things and its growing number of smart services in retail facility management,” says Moebius.
“This is, of course, boosting the level of professionalism in retail energy management, and we are also seeing an increasing focus on the use and integration of renewable energies.”
The ECOpark will also play host to a number of representative organisations, seeking to raise awareness about environmental issues. One of these, the German Central Association for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering (ZVKKW) has been involved with the show for some time.
As Matthias Schmitt, its chairman, explains, “The German Central Association for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering has advocated greater energy efficiency in refrigeration for many years now – long before it became a political issue. It therefore follows logically that we should support this focal area of the ECOpark at EuroShop and that we should promote it at the Eco Forum.”
Among the exhibitors that will be showcasing how their environmentally-friendly solutions can fit in with a retailer’s store environment is Italian refrigeration specialist Arneg, which will be promoting its ‘zero-emission’ solutions at EuroShop 2017, including the use of natural refrigerants, improvements in the energy efficiency of overall refrigeration systems and reduction of thermal load.
Similarly, fellow refrigeration specialists Clear Vision Cooling and Daikin Europe will also showcase their latest energy efficient solutions.
For more information about the ECOpark at EuroShop 2017, visit www.euroshop-tradefair.com.
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