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Mia Heiskanen

Thanks to an invitation from Luca Di Marcangelo of Italian Trade Connections, I had the chance to explore what has clearly become the world’s largest showcase for green technologies and sustainable industry. With 166,000 square meters of exhibition space and halls, 1,700+ exhibitors, 380 hosted buyers from 66 countries and growing international presence, the fair reflects a shift that’s no longer emerging but accelerating.

The event’s main themes — circular economy, waste valorization, water cycle and blue economy, bioenergy and agriculture, earth observation and environmental monitoring, circular and regenerative bioeconomy, waste as resource, sites and soil restoration and digital green tech — weren’t abstract. They were grounded in real systems built to solve real problems. What struck me was the wide spectrum of scale: from large industrial players to inventive startups — some of which I’ve featured in my articles from the fair.

I encountered AI-enabled sorting systems improving material recovery. At the same time, I had equally compelling conversations with innovators who choose not to use AI — at least not yet. In both cases, the dialogue around AI felt refreshingly honest. For some, it’s a breakthrough tool. For others, it’s a distraction from reliability, local control, or cybersecurity risks. The dual perspective is alive and well — and necessary.

Another observation: the China Pavilion, signaling a major pivot. China appears to be integrating circular economy principles into its growth model, moving beyond raw output toward recovery, reuse, and reduced landfill reliance.

If there’s a downside, it’s this: many conference sessions were in Italian only, limiting access to broader media coverage. And at some stands, journalists weren’t always seen as part of the value chain — it was a pity and a missed chance to elevate and communicate what are, in many cases, game-changing technologies.

Still, Ecomondo left me optimistic. Not just because of what’s already being built for a more sustainable business — but because of how many people are building it. I’m grateful to Italian Exhibition Group and the team for the opportunity. I’ll be hopefully back with more stories, and a notebook already half full.

Mia Heiskanen
Editor and Journalist