ECOMONDO

ECOMONDO
Name	ECOMONDO
Status	Active
Genre	Trade fair
Frequency	Annual
Location	Rimini
Country	Italy
First	1997
Organizer	Italian Exhibition Group

ECOMONDO

ECOMONDO is an international trade fair and conference focused on sustainable development topics, held annually in Rimini, Italy, that gathers stakeholders from UNEP, European Commission, World Bank, OECD, and industry groups such as WBCSD. It functions as a platform for exchanges among representatives of European Parliament, UNIDO, IRENA, Greenpeace, and corporate delegations from Enel, Iberdrola, and Siemens. The event attracts policymakers, researchers, and investors associated with institutions including IMF, EIB, ADB, and agencies like FAO and UNDP.

Overview

ECOMONDO is designed to showcase technologies and policies related to circular economy transitions alongside projects from entities such as EEA, ENVI, IPCC, and multinational firms like Nestlé, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble. The exhibition emphasizes intersections with urban planning organizations including UN-Habitat, transport stakeholders such as UITP, and standards bodies like ISO. Partners and participants have included think tanks like WRI, Rockefeller Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and universities such as MIT, University of Cambridge, Politecnico di Milano, and Sapienza University of Rome.

History

Launched in the late 1990s, the event evolved through interactions with European policy milestones including the Kyoto Protocol, Lisbon Treaty, Paris Agreement, and the European Green Deal. Early editions saw contributions from national ministries like Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare and collaborations with agencies such as Italian Ministry of Economic Development and Italian Ministry of Environment. Over time the fair expanded connections with industrial consortia including CEFIC, EURELECTRIC, and research programs such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. The evolution mirrored initiatives from G7 and G20 summits, and thematic overlaps with events like COP26 and World Circular Economy Forum.

Exhibition and Conferences

The exhibition hosts pavilions for corporations including BMW, Volkswagen Group, Daimler, Renault, and Toyota Motor Corporation alongside technology providers such as ABB, Schneider Electric, Vestas, and General Electric. Conference programs have featured panels with representatives from DG ENV, DG ENER, Italian Trade Agency, Chamber of Commerce of Rimini and international delegations from Brazil, India, China, United States, and Japan. Academic sessions involve partnerships with institutions like Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, TU Delft, University of Tokyo, and Tsinghua University. Workshops reference standards from ISO 14001, directives such as the Waste Framework Directive, and initiatives like RE100 and Science Based Targets.

Themes and Programs

Program strands address topics linked to actors like ECHA, EEA, UNFCCC, ISWA, and Waste Management World. Specific themes have included resource efficiency, circular supply chains with companies like H&M Group', sustainable finance associated with ECB dialogues, and innovation showcased by startups backed by EIF and accelerators such as EIT InnoEnergy. Sectoral programs target water management with World Water Council, soil remediation with Landlife Company partners, and industrial symbiosis projects tied to European Cluster Collaboration Platform initiatives.

Participants and Attendance

Participants range from multinational corporations (Dow Chemical Company, BASF, Bayer), national agencies (Ministero della Salute, Ministero delle Politiche Agricole), regional administrations such as Emilia-Romagna Region, and municipal delegations from cities like Rome, Milan, Barcelona, Paris, and Berlin. Trade associations present include Confindustria, Federchimica, Confartigianato, and international chambers like American Chamber of Commerce in Italy. Attendance figures have included tens of thousands of visitors, with delegations from intergovernmental bodies (EIB, UNIDO), financial institutions (Goldman Sachs, BlackRock), and philanthropic organizations (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Fondazione Cariplo).

Impact and Outcomes

ECOMONDO has influenced procurement and regulatory dialogues involving European Commission policy units, spurred partnerships between corporations and research centers like CNR, ENEA, and Fraunhofer Society, and facilitated deals across supply chains including recycling agreements with firms such as SUEZ and Veolia. Outcomes include pilot projects supported by Horizon 2020 grants, memoranda of understanding with municipal programs in Naples and Turin, and policy recommendations circulated to committees of the European Parliament and agencies like ECHA. The fair has also amplified networks coordinating with global events such as C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI, and UN Global Compact.

Category:Trade fairs in Italy