Electrocomponents Completes Another Chapter in Eco-Friendly Catalogues

UPM EcoLite Offers Sustainable Savings for RS Catalogue

OXFORD, England, February 28, 2011 - Electrocomponents PLC (LSE:ECM), the world's largest high service
distributor of electronics and maintenance products, operating under the
trading brand of RS Components (RS), has announced significant savings from
the adoption of UPM EcoLite paper to produce its eco-friendly RS catalogue.

RS prints over 760,000 copies of its catalogue every year for customers
across Europe and Asia Pacific and with the company's commitment to operate
an eco-friendly business RS chose UPM, a paper supplier with renowned
environmental credentials.

"The decision to upgrade our catalogue paper to a more environmentally
friendly solution is not only in line with the company's green policy, but
also brings significant cost savings," said Patrick Bramman, Media Account
Services Manager at Electrocomponents. "Although 50% of our business is now
traded online, our catalogue is still favoured by many customers so we're
pleased to be able to provide them with one of the most eco-friendly versions
in the industry.

UPM's paper mill is based in Kaipola, Finland and is one of the most
environmentally efficient in Europe. UPM EcoLite, the company's new uncoated
paper available in very low basis weights, 29 g/m2 and 31 g/m2,
minimises the weight of the RS catalogue while retaining a high quality look
and feel. Containing 40% recycled fibre, UPM EcoLite is both PEFC and EU
Ecolabel certified, which indicates that all the fibre used in the paper
originates from sustainable sources.

"We're thrilled that RS chose us to produce its catalogue paper," said
Samantha Casciani, Head of Retailers & Cataloguers at UPM. "We pride
ourselves in being the frontrunner of the new forest industry, offering our
customers a wide range of high quality sustainable papers for all printing
methods

About UPM

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new,
sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable
raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups:
Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around
23,000 people and it has production plants in 15 countries. In 2009, UPM's
sales amounted to EUR 7.7 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki
stock exchange. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com

About Electrocomponents plc

Electrocomponents is the world's largest distributor of electronics and
maintenance products serving 1.5 million customers worldwide. Through
operations in 27 countries and 17 warehouses, the Group distributes 500,000
products ranging from semiconductors and optoelectronics to power tools and
protective clothing. The product and service portfolio supports the entire
product lifecycle from R&D through pre-production to maintenance and repair,
shipping around 40,000 orders on the same day they are received.

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of
Electrocomponents plc. The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and
in the last financial year to 31 March 2010 had revenues of GBP972.6 million.
For more information, please visit the website at www.electrocomponents.com

Further information is available via these links:

Twitter: @RSElectronics

Tweet: RS Components completes another chapter in eco-friendly catalogues
bit.ly/upmecolite

Hashtags: #sustainability #environment

RS Components on Linkedin

www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

Relevant Links:

Electrocomponents plc

www.electrocomponents.com

RS Components

www.rs-components.com

Editorial Contact: Andrea Barnard, Electrocomponents plc, andrea.barnard at electrocomponents.com, +44-(0)7980-911708