Posted by

Barry Siskind

Community Manager

 

Kitty Wong is the president of K & A International Co. and Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Exhibition & Convention Association (Taipei). She will be addressing the UFI Focus Meeting on Sustainability in Bangkok Thailand, February 23, 2011.

Her presentation will highlight the program initiated by the Nangang Exhibition Centre reduces its carbon footprint. Here are my questions and Kitty’s response:

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Barry: Sustainability has been an area of focus for the past decade. Why do you think it has taken so long for the industry to adopt more green technologies?

 

Kitty:  People did not realize that the impact of extreme weather conditions would have done so much harm to human life in the 21st century. Another reason is in the pursuit of continuing economic growth, in the past, industries did not want to slow down to make adjustments.

 

Barry:  Do you see an increase or decrease in interest in green technologies?

 

Kitty: The technologies have been around for quite a while. People knew that but if one is asked to get off the bed from a different side (the right side), is a tough job.

 

Barry: What affect did the recession have on the industry’s ability to embrace green?

 

Kitty: The recession was a good excuse for the industry to back out or slow down from going green. But one should know going green doesn’t cost more than they think, sometimes, it’s cost effective. Again, education is the key.

 

Barry: Are green initiatives something the industry should adopt for altruistic reasons (it’s the right thing to do) or is there a business case?

 

Kitty: It should be both.