The event will be a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences, thus contributing to the development of the circular economy
From 5 to 8 November 2024, the Rimini Exhibition Centre will host the 27th edition of Ecomondo, the event organised by IEG, a leader in the green and circular economy sector in Italy and the Mediterranean area.
For years, the event has been a crucial reference point for the sector, acting as a hub for research, innovation and discussion on best practices in numerous industrial sectors.
The event will host numerous conventions, conferences and workshops organised by Ecomondo’s technical-scientific committee in collaboration with various partners; it will be a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences, thus contributing to the development of the circular economy.
The topic area ‘Circular & Regenerative Bio-Economy’ will be the focus of discussions and innovations regarding plastics. Here, industry professionals will explore how to transform plastics from an environmental problem into a valuable resource.
In the European Union, each person generates an average of 34.6 kg of plastic packaging waste per year. The latest figures show that the recycling rate has reached 40.7% 1. Most of the waste is disposed of through energy recovery, while half of the plastic collected for recycling is exported outside the EU. These numbers highlight the need to significantly improve recycling and plastic waste management practices in Europe.
Since 2019, the European Union has adopted new rules to address plastic waste problem and, as part of the Green Deal, has set a target of achieving 55% recycled packaging by 2030. To support these targets in 2024 stricter rules for waste shipments outside the EU were approved. These measures aim to promote a more responsible and sustainable management of plastic waste in Europe.
Ecomondo 2024 is meant to be a platform to discuss innovative strategies in the plastics sector. Central themes will include: the implementation of more efficient separate collection systems, investment in new technologies to valorise currently non-recoverable plastic fractions, the development of a national plastics strategy, and the revision of the European industrial production system to promote the use of recovered materials. These topics will be deepened through presentations, round tables and interactive sessions.
A major event on these topics will be ‘The Sustainability of the Italian Mechanical Recycling Industry of Metal, Plastic and Paper Waste’, organised by ASSOFERMET, ASSORIMAP and UNIRIMA, the three national recycling associations. The event will examine the challenges that companies in the sector are facing, including new protectionist policies limiting the export of non-hazardous waste that can be recycled.
To overcome these challenges, a strategy to favour the use of recovered materials in industrial processes, giving full recognition to urban mining is needed. This requires a revision of the European industrial production system to fully integrate recovered materials.
The sector needs tools to integrate recovered material into internal industrial processes, allowing the market to redefine export dynamics autonomously, thus avoiding imbalances in the recovery sector, in which Italy is a leader.
Ecomondo 2024 will be a key stage to make a point about the progress achieved and to define future strategies concerning circular economy. It will be an important meeting point for the main players in the sector, offering a unique platform for discussing innovative strategies and outlining the future of the green economy.
