This year’s Eco Life Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair events have been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, organiser Diversified Communications UK has announced.
Scandinavia’s biggest international trade showcase for eco, sustainable and organic products will return to Malmö, in Sweden, next year, on 17-18 November 2021.
The magnitude and unprecedented scale of the Covid-19 outbreak continues to have major impacts on people, businesses and and economies around the world. While Sweden hasn’t imposed strict lockdown measures, many of its Nordic and European neighbours did and are now at different stages of lifting them, and social distancing and varying levels of travel restrictions and/or quarantine likely to remain for the foreseeable future. Given that many of the show’s exhibitors are international – coming from Denmark and Finland, of course, plus the UK, Italy, Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Poland, it is even harder for these companies to plan many months ahead.
Melina Viking, event manager for Eco Life Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair (pictured), says: “Like all businesses, we have been closely following the rapidly changing developments during these difficult times. Whilst we are hopeful that countries will continue to ease their tough coronavirus curbs on social interaction and mass gatherings by the autumn, there are still too many questions surrounding hotel availability, international travel, physical distancing measures, and individual company policies, to make it viable to run this year’s show. Clearly, the best and most responsible option for everyone involved is to wait and host an even bigger and better event in 2021.
“We appreciate how important Eco Life Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair are to the natural and organic industry and are very sorry to disappoint the thousands of attendees that were planning on exhibiting and visiting – especially after such a fantastic show last year. However, the success as well as the safety of our exhibitors, speakers and visitors has always been our priority and we are confident that everyone will get behind this tough but necessary decision.
“The good news is that much of the event planning is already in place, and we go into 2021 with an incredible amount of good will and support. Just last week, the EU announced its new ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy to help increase organic food and farming to 25% in the next decade. While a recent survey in Sweden, reported that more consumers than ever are turning to local organic produce.
“People have been hugely affected by the coronavirus health crisis and it will change the way we live and make us reconsider our values, and what’s really importance to us. The environment, health, sustainability, and consuming ethical, natural and organic produce – supporting businesses that do good – will take on an even greater significance in the future. And Eco Life Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair will continue to play an integral role in that development.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support, and we look forward to working together to ensure that next year’s event will be the biggest celebration of our industry yet.”
Diversified says the decision to postpone has been widely supported by the show’s exhibitors and association partners, including Topas Vegan, Biofood, Organic Sweden, Ekomatcentrum, Organic Denmark, Back on Track (WellAware), Eco Warehouse, Advantage Austria, and Wallonia Region, among many others.
Eco Life Scandinavia and the Nordic Organic Food Fair will take place at MalmöMässan, in Malmö, Sweden, on 17-18 November 2021. For more information visit www.ecolifeshow.com and www.nordicorganicexpo.com.
