When open an A5 catalogue can show c.620 cm2 of information. My phone screen is c.85cm2
Hence I can see around 7 times as much information at a glance with a paper catalogue.
That is the difference is between being able to see all the wines an exhibitor is showcasing, rather than just one or two.
The argument about being “green” or “sustainable” is spurious “greenwash”. Compared to attendees and exhibitors travelling long distances, many by air, and transporting wines to the venue, the impact of a few pages of (recyclable) paper is negligible. If necessary make the catalogue plain and simple rather than glossy but please give us something we can reference and notate easily. Data storage is also responsible for a carbon footprint.
I can fold the corners of a catalogue to highlight wines of interest that I can then see at a glance – the alternative is swiping through page after page on a screen which is far less convenient.
I can make tasting notes and details of contacts easily on paper which can’t be done on a small screen. I accept that millennials can type much quicker than I can, but when doing so they use two thumbs, something that is impossible when holding a sample of wine.
Catalogues generally contain a plan of the venue to allow exhibitors to be located. That requires the ability to see both the plan and the list of exhibitors with their table numbers – again this is not possible on a small screen.
Phones generally “time out” after a period of non-use so when circulating the venue one has to constantly log back in which also needs two hands
The true reason for adopting this policy is no doubt to save a few pounds of printing cost – immaterial when compared to the total cost of putting on a large tasting. If exhibitors are really down to their last few pence or cents then I would happily pay a couple of pounds for a printed catalogue and would also be happy to order in advance to avoid waste.