1 October 2021

 

Ms. Genevieve Chua
OVOL Singapore Pte Ltd

Welcome to the PaperOne™ customer feature, where we interview our customers to find out more about them, their company, their thoughts about the industry, and their partnership with APRIL Group.

This month, we feature Ms. Genevieve Chua, Chief Executive Officer of OVOL Singapore Pte Ltd.

PaperOne™: Hello Ms. Genevieve Chua, thank you for speaking with us today! With your expertise in the field, we’re sure that this interview will definitely bring value to readers all over. Let’s start with an introduction.

Ms. Genevieve Chua: Hi there. Thanks for having me too. I’m Genevieve Chua, CEO of OVOL Singapore Pte Ltd. OVOL Singapore is a member of the Japan Pulp and Paper Group, and the leading paper and material supplier in Singapore. But I’d like to think we deliver more than just paper. With us, printers have easy access to a wide range of papers and other printable substrates for their clients. We are essentially a part of the supply chain between paper manufacturers like APRIL and the print industry. In total, I’ve been in the industry for 31 years.

PaperOne™: Thank you for breaking it down for us! Paper suppliers definitely deserve credit for being an important part of the supply chain. However, given how saturated the market is, what do you think are some factors that differentiate OVOL Singapore?

Ms. Genevieve Chua: Our corporate philosophy is entrenched in integrity, fairness and harmony, which we incorporate in our relationships with stakeholders including our staff and suppliers, and of course, our customers. Tangibly, we also provide a wide range of products and services and try to raise the bar with new products, preferably sustainably sourced. For example, antimicrobial lamination, linerless labels, paper cups without plastic lids, and paper folders as an alternative to plastic folders since Singapore is focused on reducing waste and the use of plastics.

PaperOne™: OVOL Singapore’s dedication to its customers and the environment is very admirable! It’s true that sustainability is the way to move forward. On this topic, could you share with us about OVOL Singapore’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts?

Ms. Genevieve Chua: Yes! Sustainability and CSR are parts of our group’s mission to carve a better future for the society and environment. We are pioneers in introducing FSC and PEFC certified paper products to the industry, and also raised customer awareness through talks, presentations and seminars in Singapore and in the region. Recently, we also joined Singapore’s National Parks Board’s (NParks) OneMillionTrees Movement with the goal of planting 50 trees this year. $0.53 will also be donated to NParks’ Garden City Fund for every order placed with us from July 2021 to June 2022, and for every $300 raised, a tree will be planted under their Plant-A-Tree programme.

PaperOne™: That sounds wonderful. All the best in reaching your fundraising goal! Speaking of PEFC products, could you share your experience working with APRIL Group?

Ms. Genevieve Chua: We’ve worked together since the early 2000s and without a doubt, we know that we can count on APRIL products for their consistent quality. At the heart, the service and support that they have provided are exemplary.

PaperOne™: It sounds like you’ve had a positive experience! Moving forward, what do you think are some challenges faced in the paper industry today?

Ms. Genevieve Chua:I think staying relevant and sustainable in an industry that has been affected by technological changes is challenging, and it’s more prevalent now with the pandemic. But not all is doom and gloom. Even as things go digital, there will still be a need for print in a way that has evolved.

PaperOne™: And how do you see that impacting OVOL Singapore in the coming years?

Ms. Genevieve Chua: As mentioned, we are continuously looking at new products which can contribute to our own sustainability. It will take time, but meanwhile, we will tap on technology to improve our internal processes and keep costs competitive through investments in resources for business development and working with our networks and suppliers like APRIL to better meet the needs of our customers.

PaperOne™: Rightly so. It will be difficult, but can be done! To wrap up the interview, is there anything you would like to leave with our readers?

Ms. Genevieve Chua: To quote the National Association for Printing Leadership, “Our industry is not simply changing, it is being redefined. It is becoming something fundamentally different from what it was, creating historic opportunities for the prepared, and profound threats for the unprepared - no matter how big, how established or successful the unprepared have been. We are not in the ink (or toner) on paper business. We are in the business of helping our clients communicate more effectively with their clients.” I strongly believe in and encourage all in staying relevant, creative, and to always learn, adapt and stay resilient.

PaperOne™: Those are very wise words! Thank you for sharing with us and once again, for taking the time for this interview! All the best and we hope to see you again soon.

To find the most suitable PaperOne™ products for your business, contact us at customer_service@aprilasia.com.