PRESS RELEASE
Comunicato n. 7 del 28/10/2026 ( download download )
· The Italian Exhibition Group event, scheduled for 3–6 November, confirms its status as a model of all-round sustainability
· Certified by the “green core” label and various international awards, from the design of the exhibition halls to the production of solar power, Italian Exhibition Group has been putting the circular economy vision the into daily practice for over 20 years
· Introducing BIKE TO ECOMONDO | The Sustainable Mobility Challenge, sponsored by FPZ and in collaboration with Wecity
· At the Expo Centre entrance in the South Hall, The Shades of Circularity art installation created by Ecomondo in collaboration with the Hera Group and SCART – The beautiful and useful side of waste, ahead of European Waste Reduction Week
Rimini, 28th October 2026 – Ecomondo will be back at Rimini Expo Centre from 3rd to 6th November. The event will once again go beyond simply discussing the ecological transition and reaffirm its role as an active laboratory for integrated sustainability, where theoretical vision becomes organisational practice and where every element of the event, from exhibition stand design to community awareness-raising activities, is conceived with the aim of reducing environmental impact and maximising social value.
THE EXPO CENTRE: A MODEL FOR ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION
Ecomondo’s sustainability is reflected in the venue that hosts it. Rimini Expo Centre was designed, and is effectively managed, to minimise its environmental footprint: an approach that has also been recognised by the prestigious international Elca “Building with Green” award in Nuremberg. The facility boasts over 160,000 m2 of green spaces with 1,600 plants and 30,000 m2 of lawns with irrigation systems fed exclusively by surface water, demonstrating how exhibition architecture can become a model for the regeneration and protection of natural resources. The complex also has electric charging points for cars and motorbikes, heat pumps, modular condensing boilers and recirculating water fountains.
Furthermore, since 2022, IEG has had solar panels integrated into the roofs of its buildings for a total installed capacity of 7,345 Kwp at its Rimini and Vicenza venues, generating 8.5 million Kwh of clean electricity.
IEG’s practical focus on environmental impact can also be seen in its choice of highly efficient plant and architectural solutions. The architecture of the halls favours natural lighting thanks to large windows and ceiling skylights, complemented by a system of 4,000 LED spotlights that reduce energy consumption by up to 75%, ensuring annual energy savings of 800,000 kWh and cutting CO₂ emissions by 164 tonnes per year. In line with IEG’s investment plan and sustainability strategy, the aim is to complete the conversion to LED lighting across the entire exhibition centre by 2028.
The circular approach extends to the sustainable management of water resources. The Expo Centre’s large fountains operate on a closed-loop system with continuous recirculation; the toilets are fitted with pressure-controlled flush mechanisms; and the water used when the basins are periodically emptied is treated and reused for watering green spaces. This meticulous organisation helps to reduce waste, ensuring an overall water saving of 23 million litres per year.
STATE-OF-THE-ART AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING SYSTEMS
The facility’s energy efficiency is also reflected in its state-of-the-art air-conditioning and heating systems. Rimini Expo Centre boasts a heat pump system installed above the central hall comprising 32 compressors with inverter technology for a maximum output of 1,600 kW resulting in a significant reduction in energy consumption compared with traditional systems.
INNOVATION AND CIRCULARITY IN STAND DESIGN
IEG’s commitment to sustainability is also clearly seen in its strategies for stand outfitting through its subsidiary Prostand (the first Italian company in the sector to have carried out and published a Life Cycle Assessment conducted by Bologna University).
SPECIAL INITIATIVES
Initiatives promoted by Ecomondo in support of sustainability include this year’s BIKE TO ECOMONDO | The Sustainable Mobility Challenge aimed at exhibitors and their staff to encourage zero-impact travel. The challenge is divided into two phases to promote cycling from home to work and back from September to 2nd November, and for the journey to and from the Expo Centre on the days of the show.
The challenge is organised by Ecomondo, sponsored by FPZ and in collaboration with the Wecity app, downloadable free of charge from the Google Play Store or the App Store. By registering on the app and entering the code ECOMONDO2026, participants can join their company’s team and log their journeys to track the number of kilometres travelled and the CO₂ emissions saved. The company that covers the most kilometres with zero emissions will be awarded during Ecomondo.
Furthermore, this year, the South Hall at the Expo Centre’s entrance will be hosting The Shades of Circularity art installation, created ahead of European Waste Reduction Week by Ecomondo 2026 in collaboration with the Hera Group and SCART – The Beautiful and Useful Side of Waste, the Hera Group’s art project that explores the value of waste materials through creativity.
Visitors will be greeted by a large textile rainbow that looks like a single image from a distance while up close, reveals the diversity of the materials – fibres, weaves, surfaces and textures – of which it is made.
Through the language of art and seven colours, the work illustrates the complexity of the textile supply chain and the main challenges facing the sector: red for responsibility (EPR, end-of-life management and social protection throughout the supply chain), orange for regeneration (repair, reuse and extending the life of textiles), yellow for innovation (new fibres, automated sorting and advanced recycling), green for sustainability (eco-design, waste prevention and low-impact materials), blue for water (water efficiency in finishing processes and water treatment), indigo for traceability (Digital Product Passport and supply chain transparency) and purple for creativity (new design languages, young talent and designers).
The Shades of Circularity is the first chapter in Ecomondo’s wider commitment to giving the textile industry ever-greater visibility and supporting the sector’s evolution in identifying practical solutions for its transition towards an increasingly sustainable and circular model.
AN ECOSYSTEM GUARANTEED BY THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Ecomondo’s commitment is reflected in an integrated system of international certifications demonstrating the adoption of high standards across various areas of corporate and event management.
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System: this certifies the commitment to minimising the environmental impact of the Group’s activities, from waste reduction to energy saving.
ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management System: this recognises the adoption of a management system that guarantees high standards of health and safety for workers and event visitors.
ISO 20121 – Sustainable Event Management System: specific to the events sector, this certifies that the event is organised in accordance with sustainability principles, taking into account the economic, environmental and social impacts at all stages of the organisation.
UNI/PdR 125:2022 Gender Equality Certification: this was awarded in recognition of IEG’s commitment to promoting gender equality within the organisation, ensuring equal opportunities, pay equity and an inclusive working environment.
GBAC STAR™ (Global Biorisk Advisory Council) accreditation: this certifies the highest standards of sanitisation, prevention and control of biological risks and health emergencies within the premises.
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
Ecomondo 2026 is organised by Italian Exhibition Group with the collaboration of: the European Commission; UNIDO ITPO; Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI); Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy; Italian Trade Agency for the promotion and internationalisation of Italian companies abroad (ICE); Emilia-Romagna Region; Rimini Municipal Council; ANFIA (National Automotive Industry Association); ART-ER; Assoambiente; CBE JU (Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking); CIB (Italian Biogas Consortium); CIC (Italian Composter Consortium); CIHEAM (International Centre For Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies); CONAI (National Packaging Consortium); EBA (European Biogas Association); ENEA; ESWET (European Supplier of Waste-to-Energy Technologies); European Environment Agency; FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization); FEAD (European Waste Management Association); Sustainable Development Foundation; ISPRA (Environmental Protection and Research Institute); ISWA (International Solid Waste Association); Legambiente; OECD; RECYCLING EUROPE; UNACEA (National Union of Construction Equipment & Attachments Companies); UNICIRCULAR (Assoambiente section); UTILITALIA; Water Europe.
ABOUT ECOMONDO 2026
Event: International trade show; Organisation: Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.; Frequency: annual; Edition: 29th; Dates: 3-6 November 2026; mail: ecomondo@iegexpo.it; Website: www.ecomondo.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/EcomondoRimini; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/ecomondo-the-green-technologies-expo
PRESS CONTACT IEG/ECOMONDO 2026
head of media & corporate communication: Elisabetta Vitali; press office manager: Pier Francesco Bellini, Marco Forcellini; international press office coordinator: Silvia Giorgi; press office coordinator: Luca Paganin; press office specialists: Nicoletta Evangelisti, Mirko Malgieri; media@iegexpo.it
MEDIA AGENCY IEG/ECOMONDO: Smartitaly Communications
Sara Scatena, s.scatena@smartitaly.it, mob. +39 338 7836985; Francesca Pericolo, f.pericolo@smartitaly.it, mob. +39 327 986 1860.
Stampa estera – Giacomo Tortora, +39 320 7948164 – g.tortora@smartitaly.it
This press release contains forecast elements and estimates that reflect the management´s current opinions (´forward-looking statements´), particularly regarding future management performance, realization of investments, cash flow trends and the evolution of the financial structure. For their very nature, forward-looking statements have a component of risk and uncertainty, as they depend on the occurrence of future events. The effective results may differ (even significantly) from those announced, due to numerous factors, including, only by way of example: food service market and tourist flow trends in Italy, gold and jewellery market trends, green economy market trends; the evolution of raw material prices; general macroeconomic conditions; geopolitical factors and evolutions in the legislative framework. Moreover, the information contained in this release, does not claim to be complete, and has not been verified by independent third parties. Forecasts, estimates and objectives contained herein are based on the information available to the Company as at the date of this release.