Ecomondo 2026 to Spotlight Recycling and Circular Economy Priorities

Ecomondo 2026 will host more than 70 events, conferences and workshops on recycling, resource efficiency and the global ecological transition from November 3–6 at Rimini Expo Centre in Italy. Organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the 29th edition will bring together industry stakeholders, researchers and public institutions to discuss emerging technologies, regulatory changes and investment opportunities across the circular economy.

Critical raw materials recovery will be a major theme, with sessions examining the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste batteries. “Circular Economy in Action: E-waste and Waste Batteries Best Practices” will review European recycling experience, assess Italy’s position and explore how material recovery could help reduce Europe’s dependence on imported critical raw materials. A separate session will consider EU–Africa cooperation on critical raw materials. Discussions on plastic circularity will focus on European measures to improve resource efficiency, while other events will examine the Circular Economy Act and its implications for packaging and waste management.

Textile and construction circularity will also feature prominently. Textile sessions will address reuse, repair, ecodesign and extended producer responsibility, alongside supply-chain traceability, the European Sustainable Products Regulation and digital product passports. In construction, discussions will explore urban mining, regulatory frameworks and technologies for implementing circular models in buildings and infrastructure. A further workshop will examine approaches to measuring circularity across value chains.

The programme will cover paper recycling, composting and the circular bioeconomy. The Paper District GDO & Grocery Summit will examine sustainability, regulatory compliance and market trends connecting the paper industry with large-scale retail. Comieco, in collaboration with Nomisma, will present an assessment of the environmental and economic benefits of paper-recycling projects funded through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Other sessions will address biodegradable and compostable bioplastics, soil protection and agricultural innovation. The 28th National Conference on Composting and Anaerobic Digestion will take place alongside the fifth States General for Soil Health conference.

Water management and international cooperation will form another key part of the agenda, covering coastal regeneration, urban water services, pollution prevention, water efficiency and smart infrastructure. Mediterranean-focused discussions will examine resource recovery from end-of-life products, oil pollution, sustainable materials and water resilience. The sixth Africa Green Growth Forum will focus on the Mattei Plan and sustainable development in Africa, particularly cooperation in water and agriculture.

Financing and regulatory sessions will address climate transition plans, environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk management, investment models for innovation, waste traceability, compliance, landfill standards and end-of-waste criteria. Key events include the fifth Forum on Responsible Communication and the third ESG CEO Summit. Calls for papers will also cover waste prevention, circular resource management and industrial symbiosis, while discussions on cleantech will explore ways to scale innovative solutions.

The full conference programme is available on the official Ecomondo website.

Source: ECOMONDO

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Ecomondo 2026’s programme highlights the growing links between material recovery, critical raw material security, product traceability and investment in circular-economy infrastructure.