The 28th edition of Ecomondo 2025 opened this week at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy, gathering researchers, policymakers, and business leaders from around the world to discuss strategies for advancing a sustainable global economy. Running from 4 to 7 November 2025, and organized by the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the event has evolved into a key meeting point for stakeholders in the green, blue, and circular economy sectors.
This year’s edition brings together more than 1,700 exhibitors, with 18% coming from outside Italy, as well as 380 international buyers from 66 countries, over 30 official delegations, and 90 international associations. The exhibition spans 166,000 square meters and features 30 halls, offering an extensive overview of technological, industrial, and policy solutions related to resource recovery, circular manufacturing, clean energy, and digital monitoring systems.
Opening Session: Linking Policy, Research, and Practice
During the opening ceremony, Maurizio Renzo Ermeti, President of IEG, noted that Ecomondo has become a global forum connecting different sectors of the green economy. He emphasized the growing collaboration between institutions, research bodies, and businesses in building sustainable supply chains across regions from Africa to Latin America. Jamil Sadegholvaad, Mayor of Rimini, highlighted the educational and cultural dimension of the event, adding that technological and creative innovation can help reshape the relationship between people and nature.
According to Fabio Fava, Coordinator of Ecomondo’s Technical Scientific Committee, the event’s conference program includes more than 200 sessions, 70 of which are curated by the committee itself. These discussions aim to identify practical pathways for implementing circular economy models across Europe and the Mediterranean. Fava explained that this year’s agenda focuses on the most environmentally significant industrial sectors, alongside topics such as the restoration of terrestrial and marine ecosystems affected by pollution and climate change.
Jacopo Morrone, President of the Bicameral Ecomafia Commission, stressed the importance of aligning economic growth with environmental protection. He noted that the Commission is currently exploring emerging waste management issues, including the treatment of end-of-life photovoltaic panels, batteries, and wind turbines. Meanwhile, Michele De Pascale, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, described Ecomondo as a space where sustainability and innovation intersect to drive knowledge-based economic development.
The States General of the Green Economy
Running parallel to the exhibition is the 14th edition of the States General of the Green Economy, organized by the Sustainable Development Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE). The forum presents the 2025 Report on the State and Prospects of the European Green Economy, addressing the continent’s environmental and economic transitions in a changing global context. For the first time, the forum’s second plenary session — scheduled for 5 November — is being held entirely in English to encourage greater international engagement.
Expanding the International Reach
Ecomondo’s global dimension is reinforced by partnerships with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Participants and delegations represent almost every region of the world, including Eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The distribution of international buyers reflects this diversity: 31% from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia; 15% from the Middle East and Asia; 15% from North Africa; 13% from both Western Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa; 6% from Latin America; and 5% from North America and Australia.
The event’s outreach continues through satellite editions in Mexico and China, and promotional roadshows in Serbia, Poland, and Egypt to encourage cross-border collaboration on sustainable innovation.
Conferences and Key Themes
The conference program functions as an international platform for knowledge exchange, featuring over 800 experts discussing issues such as green financing, climate resilience, waste management, and eco-design. Sessions on 4 November addressed themes including technological solutions for resource recovery in the Mediterranean, nature-based and digital initiatives for water management, and BlueMissionMed, which launched the EU’s Mediterranean Lighthouse Initiative to support the “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030” mission.
Subsequent days include sessions on bioeconomy, textile waste regulation, and circular design, along with a focus on education, innovation, and entrepreneurship across the Mediterranean and Africa.
Africa Green Growth Forum: Focus on Clean Energy and Climate Resilience
The Africa Green Growth Forum also plays a central role this year. Now in its fifth edition, it is organized with the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, RES4Africa, and other institutional partners. The forum focuses on expanding access to clean and sustainable energy across Africa, highlighting initiatives such as the Mattei Plan and the Mission 300 Program, which aim to mobilize public and private investments to promote climate resilience and inclusive growth.
Scientific Dialogue and Technological Innovation
Scientific discussions at Ecomondo are guided by the Technical Scientific Committee, which links research with industrial application. Panels address topics such as electronic waste management, responsible environmental communication, and the use of artificial intelligence in Earth observation. Sessions like “From Sky to Ground: Earth Observation for Sustainable Raw Materials Management” examine the potential of satellite data and AI in monitoring natural resources, while others explore extended producer responsibility in the textile sector and new waste shipment regulations shaping global recycling markets.
Partnerships and Practical Engagement
Beyond the conferences, Ecomondo serves as a platform for partnerships and knowledge sharing. The Sustainable Development Award, now in its 15th edition, honors companies, start-ups, and municipalities that demonstrate effective sustainability practices. To support international participation, direct charter flights have been arranged from Munich and Rome, and the event features guided tours focusing on major resource supply chains such as water, plastics, and bio-based materials.
Driving the Global Ecological Transition
As the global ecological transition accelerates, Ecomondo 2025 underscores the growing need for cooperation between science, policy, and business. Through its focus on research-driven dialogue and cross-sector collaboration, the event contributes to shaping a more circular and resilient global economy. From Europe to Africa and beyond, the message emerging from Rimini is clear: innovation and collaboration remain essential to achieving environmental progress.
By: Hadeer Elhadary – Italy