Carlo Berti, Sales Director, Gambini
I guess what we can foresee for the upcoming 2021 is something we all can perceive by looking at the new normal 2020 presented us with: great care for our health and hygiene, which tissue paper is one of the main players of, both at home and away from it. A fierce battle has started against hand-dryers in public spaces, as well: I think a lot of facilities will soon get rid of them, good for our industry!
Both folded and rolled tissue products will increase their sales volumes, since what we have so badly learned with this pandemic-related mess is here to stay: much more hand-washing and surface-wiping, also in what we all hope will be the first (almost) post-Covid year: 2021. We are going to clean more (also at home), we all have become more careful when touching stuff, everywhere, no matter where we are.
From an industrial point of view, we haven’t seen a real decline in new projects, but a slowed-down decision-making process: that’s 2020’s legacy. Industry leaders want to invest and make business, but they’re cautious, because there’s a great lack of certainty (which drains a lot of energy).
New products will be born following the change in consumer mentality … this will be the key to drive the industry forward.