Ecomondo 2025 Breaks Records and Strengthens Global Role in Green Transition

In an increasingly unstable world, sustainability remains the compass guiding governments, businesses, and the scientific community.

Ecomondo 2025, the leading international event in Europe and the Mediterranean for the green, blue, and circular economy, organized by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), closed today at the Rimini Exhibition Center, reaffirming its role as a global hub for ecological transition. The 28th edition marked strong growth and tangible results.

Overall attendance increased by 7%, while international attendance rose by 10%. More than 1,700 exhibitors, 18% from abroad, showcased their innovations across 166,000 square meters. Over 600 accredited journalists, including 15% from abroad, highlighted the event to a global audience.

Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin visited the exhibition on Thursday, 6 November, emphasizing Ecomondo’s role in showcasing innovation and sustainability: “We can pride ourselves on being among the world’s leaders in recycling. While critical raw materials and rare earths are discussed, our greatest resource remains our waste… Ecomondo highlights how recycling can transform it into value.”

Ecomondo 2025: The Most International Edition Ever

The event confirmed its role as a premier platform for exchange between companies, researchers, and professionals worldwide, thanks to collaboration with ICE Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). More than 800 commissioned buyers and delegations from 65 countries attended, including Spain, Turkey, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. Around 90 international associations participated, generating 3,800 business matching opportunities to foster cooperation and share best practices.

Green Transition as a Global Framework

Over 200 sessions took place during the four-day event, including approximately 70 organized by the Ecomondo Technical and Scientific Committee, chaired by Professor Fabio Fava. Topics included e-waste and critical raw materials, circular textiles, sustainable finance supporting ecological transition, water management and the blue economy, bioenergy, circular economy, AI applications in resource management and data monitoring, Earth observation, and the role of communication in advancing green transition.

Special attention was given to international cooperation and green transition in the Mediterranean, as well as initiatives to improve access to clean, sustainable energy in Africa, within the Mattei Plan and Mission 300 Program, including the fifth edition of the Africa Green Growth Forum.

The 14th General States of the Green Economy inaugurated Ecomondo with the presentation of the 2025 Green Economy Report, focusing on Europe’s green transition in the new global context. For the first time, the second-day plenary session was conducted entirely in English, further enhancing the event’s international reach.

The return of Sal.Ve, the biennial Ecological Vehicle Exhibition in collaboration with ANFIA, showcased equipment for industrial and special vehicles for solid and liquid waste collection, street cleaning, and sewer maintenance.

Innovation Hub

Innovation bridged science and market at Ecomondo 2025, with the Innovation District hosting 40 high-tech Italian and international startups, including 20 from Morocco and Tunisia, selected through the Lab Innova for Africa “Luca Attanasio” project. The Lorenzo Cagnoni Green Innovation Award was also presented to seven exhibiting companies for their most advanced and promising technologies.