The 28th edition of Ecomondo, Europe and the Mediterranean basin’s leading international event for the green, blue and circular economies, organized by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), concluded on 7 November 2025 in Rimini, reaffirming its role as a global hub for ecological transition. The event recorded a 7% increase in total attendance, with foreign participation up by 10% compared to last year — the highest level in its history. Across 166,000 square meters of exhibition space, Ecomondo 2025 hosted over 1,700 exhibitors, 18% from abroad, and welcomed more than 800 hosted buyers and delegations from 65 countries. The 2025 edition thus confirmed its position as a key platform for connecting companies, institutions, and researchers committed to sustainable innovation and environmental protection.
Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, visited the Expo on 6 November, calling Ecomondo a “symbol of innovation and sustainability.” Highlighting Italy’s strong recycling performance, he stated: “We can count ourselves among the leading countries in the world in terms of recycling capacity. There is a lot of talk about rare earths and critical raw materials, but the largest deposit we have is our waste… And the ability to recycle is fully demonstrated at this show.”
Ecomondo 2025: the most international edition ever
Ecomondo 2025 further strengthened its international reach through collaboration with ITA – Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). The event brought together professionals and delegations from Spain, Turkey, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt, among others. Around 90 international associations also participated, contributing to a total of 3,800 business meetings aimed at fostering partnerships and sharing best practices in ecological transition.
A comprehensive view of the global green transition
Over 200 events took place during the four days of Ecomondo, including 70 organized by its Technical and Scientific Committee, chaired by Professor Fabio Fava. The sessions covered a wide range of key topics: WEEE and critical raw materials, circular textiles, sustainable finance, water management, bioenergy, circular economy models, AI applied to resource monitoring, Earth observation, and communication strategies for promoting the green transition.
Significant attention was devoted to international cooperation and green transition in the Mediterranean, as well as initiatives supporting access to clean energy in Africa, including the Mattei Plan and the Mission 300 program. The fifth edition of the Africa Green Growth Forum was also held during the event.
The 14th edition of the States General of the Green Economy opened Ecomondo with the presentation of the Report on the State of the Green Economy 2025, which examined the progress and future prospects of the European ecological transition in today’s changing global context. The plenary session on the second day, held entirely in English for the first time, further emphasized Ecomondo’s growing international profile.
Innovation and industry at the core
The return of Sal.Ve – the Exhibition of Ecological Vehicles, organized in partnership with ANFIA, brought together manufacturers and suppliers of industrial and special vehicles for waste collection, street sweeping, and sewage disposal.
In the Innovation District, 40 Italian and international high-tech startups showcased their solutions — including 20 from Morocco and Tunisia selected through the “Luca Attanasio Lab Innovates for Africa” initiative, promoted by ITA and MAECI.
Ecomondo also presented the “Lorenzo Cagnoni” Award for Green Innovation, recognizing seven exhibiting companies, one from each of the event’s sectors, for the most advanced and promising technologies contributing to the green transition.
A global hub for sustainability
With more than 600 accredited journalists — 15% from abroad — Ecomondo 2025 attracted strong international media attention. The event once again confirmed its unique position as a meeting point for the green and circular economy, linking research, policy, and business in pursuit of sustainable growth.
Ecomondo will return to the Rimini Expo Centre from 3–6 November 2026, continuing its mission to connect global players, accelerate the ecological transition, and strengthen the dialogue between Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa.
Source: Final press release of Ecomondo
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