Note: This article is reprinted from the "Foreign Bosses on the Shanghai Bund" series published by the well-known Chinese media outlet, Xinming Evening News.
In April 2023, Eric Rupert, CEO of altPlus (Shanghai) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as "altPlus"), was elected to the board of directors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (CanCham). This was a memorable honor for the entrepreneur who has a deep love for forests and specializes in bamboo materials. Since coming to China in 2011 and starting his current business in Shanghai in 2015, Rupert has been dedicated to developing new materials primarily based on bamboo as an alternative to traditional plastics, embracing sustainability and contributing "altPlus solutions" to the path of high-quality development.
Grew up in a small Canadian town surrounded by lakes and forests.
Rupert was born and raised in Harrow, a small town in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. The town borders Michigan, USA, and is characterized by its flat landscape, mild climate, and numerous lakes and forests. Agriculture is the mainstay of Harrow's economy, with many farms and ranches.
As a child, Rupert and his three brothers often played in the forests of northern Ontario under their parents' guidance, developing a natural affinity for the green environment. Their favorite sport was ice hockey, and a competitive spirit permeated among them. "When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a professional ice hockey player," Rupert said, noting that ice hockey holds a national sport status in Canada. However, he did not fulfill this childhood aspiration.
"Explosive power requires talent, and skill demands consistent training, but running and managing a business might be driven by passion or a desire for freedom," Rupert explained. His mother, who ran her own small business, had a significant influence on him, subtly instilling an entrepreneurial spirit.
During summer and winter breaks, when Rupert could manage some businesses or projects on his own and decide on the course of action or management style, he developed an interest in entrepreneurship. Throughout his upbringing, Rupert was also grateful to his ice hockey coach, who gave him opportunities to independently manage certain businesses or projects.
Arriving in China 13 years ago, Rupert discovered e-commerce.
In 2011, Rupert and a friend arrived in East Asia, marking his first trip to China and his realization that the real China was very different from what he had seen in the news: there were opportunities and a thriving e-commerce scene!
His companion was a Chinese national who had studied and worked for 10 years in Vancouver, Canada. "He was a graduate of Nanjing Forestry University and an expert in agriculture with a strong background in the forest industry," Rupert said. They came to China to seek collaboration with Alibaba Group and enter the e-commerce field. "Our goal was to help factories connect with potential customers," Rupert explained. In 2011, Rupert was still unfamiliar with e-commerce and had no knowledge of "Tmall." Nevertheless, he and his friend set up an e-commerce platform, and this led Rupert into the forest industry.
Growing up in the agricultural town of Harrow, Rupert recognized this as familiar territory, and the bamboo industry seemed like a promising blue ocean market. Through his interactions with Alibaba, Rupert met Robbie, who wanted to expand his bamboo products factory in Zhenghe County, Nanping City, Fujian Province. Thus, in November 2012, Rupert traveled to Zhenghe.
In Zhenghe, one of China's key bamboo industry hubs, Rupert gained deep insights into the bamboo sector while also immersing himself in Chinese culture, language, and local customs. After thorough commercial research and several years of preparation, in November 2015, Rupert and another partner, Lily Lin, established "altPlus" in Shanghai.
The Bamboo Industry in China Has Great Potential
The office of "altPlus" is located in the Lujiazui area of Pudong, near the riverbank, offering a nearly 200 square meter workspace with excellent views of the river. Rupert's partner, Lily, a graduate of Tongji University, provides reliable support in research, engineering, and client relations, and her familiarity with Shanghai helps the company stay grounded and understand the policy advantages in relevant industries.
In May 2024, at the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests held at the UN headquarters in New York, the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), the Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) co-hosted a side event focused on implementing the UN Strategic Plan for Forests in China and highlighting the role of bamboo in achieving global forest goals. "China is a major bamboo resource country, and in areas such as bamboo forest cultivation, product development, and international trade, altPlus has great potential!" Rupert said.
According to Rupert, altPlus develops a wide range of bamboo fiber products that can offer hotels various options for reducing plastic use and help them achieve their vision of eliminating plastic. In daily life, altPlus uses innovative technologies to unlock the potential of bamboo fibers, such as coffee filter paper that preserves the authentic flavor of coffee and straws that enhance the taste of beverages.
"In today's pursuit of sustainability, the bamboo industry brings a fresh breeze with its unique environmental benefits and innovative applications," Rupert said. He has visited all the important bamboo production areas in China, stating, "I'm someone who loves being in the forest."
As altPlus approaches its 10th anniversary, Rupert reflects on how the company's growth in Shanghai, a city of innovation, has benefited from favorable conditions, enabling his career to "ride the waves."
In Shanghai, Rupert, who is passionate about ice hockey, found an arena to play at "Ice Fly" in Sanlin, Pudong. Although work often keeps him from games or practice, he considers both the ice rink and the forest equally important. In China's forests, Rupert has met many industrious people with big dreams, whose resources are crucial to the company's growth, and whose stories are fascinating. At the ice rink in Shanghai, enthusiasts of different ages and skin colors, from white-collar workers in office buildings to schoolchildren, wield hockey sticks and collide intensely. "This is perhaps a reflection of the city itself—energetic, passionate, and fast-paced," Rupert said.
Author: Song Wei
Reprinted from: Xinmin Evening News
Article link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/eGi0-v5RbG72IsqkK1o0Sg
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