Report on ECOMONDO 2025
Following last year’s highly successful professional visit of the HAEE group, a large Hungarian delegation has already arrived in Rimini this year, co-organized by our Association, to participate in one of the most significant green, blue, and circular economy events in Europe and the Mediterranean region, the ECOMONDO 2025 exhibition. The coastal city, crowded with tourists in the summer, was transformed into the capital of sustainability and innovation for a week in early November with tens of thousands of “green-collar” professionals, showing an excellent example of how the tourist season can be extended in a new interpretation.
One of the highlights of the event was the collective Hungarian stand, which was introduced by the HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency, which stood out from the international field with its modern, characteristic design. The Italian organizers were also praised: the stand truly represented a new kind of Hungarian presence.
At the stand, eight environmental industry exhibitors presented their developments, including our members who are already familiar with the foreign market, the 3B Hungária Kft., the Fermentia Ltd., the HWD Recycling Kft., the Palota Environmental Protection Ltd., the Waterscope Zrt. In addition, innovative companies such as GB Waters Kft., Gyémánt Pirazol Kft., and Kuube attracted the attention of professional interested parties.
The Hungarian presence was further strengthened by the so-called Eve. hosted buyer program, which was implemented with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Export Promotion Agency, the Hungarian Representation of Italian Fairs, and the IEG Fair Center. As part of this, two more of our member companies, Austin AI and the Green Zebra Kft. participated in the exhibition, where many promising business negotiations were held, laying the foundations for new international partnerships.
ECOMONDO has proven this year to be one of the most important meeting places for companies, researchers, and professionals from all over the world. Delegations from 65 countries, more than 800 hosting partners, and 90 international associations met each other. The 3,800 business consultations held during the event alone indicate the power of this international exchange of knowledge and technology.
The total number of spectators increased by +7%, from abroad by +10%. More than 1,700 exhibiting brands, 18% of which come from abroad, on 166,000 square meters of exhibition space.
The Hungarian professional presence was further enriched by the fact that our member company, Kristály Kft.He joined us with a group of more than ten visitors. During their visit, they were mapped by the most modern water utility technologies, gaining countless inspirations.
During the exhibition, together with HUNGEXPO, we had the opportunity to present the major event of the Hungarian environmental industry next autumn, the ENVIRONTEC powered by ÖKOINDUSTRIA 2026 exhibition, arousing the interest of Italian companies and international professional organizations in a future, even broader cooperation.
One of the highlights of the program was the seminar organized by the Consulate of Hungary entitled “Innovative waste management solutions in Hungary“.
- Keve Papp (PALOTA Kft.) He explored one of the hottest topics in recycling, the technical and environmental challenges of handling lithium-ion batteries.
- Zoltán Toronyi (HWD Recycling Kft.) It presented the exciting journey of electrical and electronic waste, from collection to the unique production of plastic concrete.
- Zoltán Nagy (3B Hungária Kft.) Yet he gave an insight into the latest innovations in robotic sorting and machine manufacturing, with 30 years of professional experience.
The discussion was moderated by Gergely Hankó, Managing Director of our Association.
The professional discourse continued the next day at the request of ISWA at the joint event of ATIA-ISWA and the ISWA International Solid Waste Association, where our managing director was also honored to give the opening lecture on the main findings of the Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO).
We were noticed: together with HEPA, we even gave an interview to the local Telemedia.it staff, where we told first-hand about the impressions and “aha” experiences of our exhibitors: the focus of the exhibition, the role of waste as a resource and AI in innovative technologies, the innovative solutions of environmental emitters and their preparation for change.
As members of the Hungarian delegation, we have built a lot of new relationships this year as well, and we have identified several business opportunities that can be excellently supported by the technology portfolio of the HAEE and KEXPORT clusters.
Ecomondo’s rank is aptly summed up by the thought of Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, who personally visited the exhibition: “We can rank ourselves among the world’s leading countries in terms of recycling capacity… Innovation and sustainability – this is the symbol of Ecomondo.”
ECOMONDO will be coming next year, between 3 and 6 November 2026. We hope to see you!
The official closing press release of the ECOMONDO2025 can be read here: