The 28th edition of Ecomondo, the leading international event in Europe and the Mediterranean basin for the green, blue and circular economies, opened on Tuesday with over 1,700 exhibitors in attendance.

Organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the event will run till November 7 at Rimini Expo Centre, Rimini, Italy.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Maurizio Ermeti, President of IEG; Michele De Pascale, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region; Jamil Sadegholvaad, Mayor of Rimini; Fabio Fava, Coordinator of Ecomondo’s Technical Scientific Committee; and Jacopo Morrone, President of the Bicameral Ecomafia Commission.

The event has extended its international scope this year with 18% of the exhibiting brands coming from abroad, 380 hosted buyers from 66 countries, over 30 official delegations and 90 international industry associations involved, in synergy with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. 

Ecomondo 2025 occupies the entire expo centre with 166,000 sq m of exhibition space and 30 halls, offering a comprehensive overview of the ecological transition and the circular economy, thanks also to a full programme of conferences, consisting of over 200 conferences, more than 70 of which organized by the Technical Scientific Committee.

Maurizio Renzo Ermeti, president of IEG, opening the event, said: “Ecomondo has become the event of reference for those who want to compete in global green economy markets: a moment of pride, sharing and cultural growth in terms of sustainability, an international reference point for businesses, institutions and the world of research. In over 20 years, we have seen the birth and consolidation of a supply chain that is represented here today by 1,700 brands and a foreign presence from Africa to the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Latin America. A result made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Trade Agency, the tireless work of our Technical Scientific Committee and the many organisations that share our commitment.”

Jamil Sadegholvaad, Mayor of Rimini, said: “The relevance of an event such as Ecomondo not only lies in its success and growing international reputation, but above all in the educational and cultural objectives that an event like this naturally pursues. While the subject matter is the object (and often victim) of ideologies and fanaticism, Ecomondo is able to present the technological, industrial and creative possibilities that can improve the relationship between humans and nature, and therefore between humanity and its future.”

Fabio Fava, coordinator of Ecomondo’s Technical Scientific Committee, explained: “Once again, Ecomondo's conference programme is provides the enabling ingredients for a more effective and knowledgeable implementation of the circular economy and ecological transition in Europe and the Mediterranean: an international reference point with an increasingly global outlook on new challenges. This year, the spotlight is on the industrial supply chains with the greatest impact on the environment, but at the same time, there is a continued focus on monitoring and restoring terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems already compromised by pollution and climate change, and on the sustainable enhancement of their biological resources. Of the more than 200 events scheduled, 70 are organised by the Technical Scientific Committee: a pool of more than 80 Italian and international experts that guarantees scientific and technological rigour and the quality of the content.” 

Jacopo Morrone, President of the Bicameral Ecomafia Commission, said: “Ecomondo creates a real dialogue between different skills and profiles, pragmatically addressing the environmental challenges we are facing. Our Constitution requires us to protect the environment and ecosystems. With future generations in mind, it is essential to balance economic growth with the protection of nature. That is why the Commission is exploring new topics, such as the management of emerging waste, from photovoltaic panels to batteries and end-of-life wind turbines. The aim is to strengthen regulatory and control policies in order to leave our children and grandchildren a better environment.”

Michele de Pascale, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, concluded: “I greet the opening of the 28th edition of Ecomondo with enormous pleasure. It is an international event that turns Rimini and the Emilia-Romagna region into a crossroads of ideas, solutions and innovations for the ecological transition. Ecomondo is not just a trade show; it is a laboratory for the future, a place where sustainability translates into business, work and knowledge, enabling us to tackle the great challenges of our time together: from climate change to the circular economy, from resource conservation to clean energy. To visitors and operators from all over the world, a warm welcome to our region.”

The opening ceremony was also attended by Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG, Alessandra Astolfi, global exhibition director of IEG's Green & Technology Division, and Mauro Delle Fratte, Ecomondo exhibition manager.

The ceremony was followed by the opening of the 14th edition of the States General of the Green Economy, organised by the Sustainable Development Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and promoted by the National Council for the Green Economy. This new edition, which opened today with a presentation of the Report on the State of the Green Economy 2025, focuses on the state and prospects of the European ecological transition in the new global context. For the first time this year, the second plenary session, scheduled for Wednesday 5th November, will be held entirely in English, further expanding the event’s international scope. - TradeArabia News Service