Objective: London Olympics 2012; to succeed in demonstrating that disposable, biodegradable, compostable catering products made only from renewable sources is the right choice, especially if they are made using exclusive Made in Italy techniques. This is what Ecozema aims to do (www.zemaonline.com), a brand that is part of a corporate group with a history of quality that dates back a century. We asked Armido Marana, general manager of the company, what its strong points are, which products are most popular with clients and what the plans are for the future.

Mr Marana, to what do you owe your success?

Our growth is bound to that of the green economy sector. I would also attribute it to another element that particularly characterises our work, which we always take care over, namely the company’s social responsibility (CSR, NDR), as well as the quality of our products.

How many people work for the company, and how many are being employed for the London Olympics?

The company has a total of 17 direct employees and 20 distributors throughout the region. At least five people are being employed full time for the 2012 London Olympics, an event for which we have been selected to supply biodegradable catering products. We accepted the challenge, and we’re sure that the event will give us a lot of coverage. We competed against companies from all over the world, but what gave us the edge was the superiority of our logistical set up and the quality certifications for our products.

So who are your typical clients?

We supply products that are suitable for school canteens, hospital and events. Generally speaking our clientele is very aware of environmental issues and is also concerned with using good quality materials from renewable sources, such as bioplastics, a field in which we excel in terms of production and patents.

How do you find working abroad?

We have good business relationships in Great Britain, and we have received a lot of interest in our products in Germany and in Northern European countries such as Norway and Sweden. The Hong-Kong market is also interesting, though the distance and the euro-dollar exchange rate are against us. Generally, however, we’re doing well on all the European markets and even on the American market: in fact, we have formed a partnership with a worldwide distribution company based in the United States.

Is there one product that represents your company more than the others, and which is the most sought after abroad?

I would say cutlery, because paper plates are traditionally a better-known product. We use paper craft to produce them.

What are your plans for the future?

At the moment we are facing an international economic situation that leaves a lot to be desired, but we have big plans for the future. On site there is definitely the desire to increase production and specialise in certain types of products. Then we would like to take a line of Made in Italy products into Asia.