IEG ALWAYS GREEN
Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), with facilities in Rimini and Vicenza, is a leader in the organisation of trade fairs and conferences and ranks among the main players in the exhibition and events sector in the world. It has been pursuing a 'green core ' policy of environmental sustainability for over 20 years.
Strategies, communication, sustainable activities, best practices and carefully managed structures are key to IEG and for us at Ecomondo who observe models of sustainable behaviour every day.
A TRADE FAIR DISTRICT OF LOW IMPACT
The Rimini trade fair district was designed and is managed with a low environmental impact in mind. IEG won the prestigious international Elca trend award “Building with Green” in Nuremberg and is certified according to ISO 14001 Environment, ISO 45001 Health and Safety at Work and ISO 20121.
The indoor and outdoor green areas of the Rimini fair cover 160,000 sqm, with over 1500 plants and 30,000 sqm of lawns (and the irrigation systems use only groundwater).
SPECIAL LIGHT
The pavilions of the Rimini Fair have large windows and skylights that let in plenty of natural light.
There are also 850 LED projectors in the district allowing for a 66% cut in consumption and an annual energy saving of 720,000 Kwh, with a reduction of 120 tons/year of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
WATER SAVINGS
The large fountains at the Rimini Fair all recirculate water and, when these are routinely emptied, the water is treated and reused to irrigate the green areas; while in the toilets of the district, the water jets are at controlled pressure (for a total saving of 23 million litres of water per year).
THE KEY ROLE OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
In 2022, IEG installed photovoltaic systems on the roofs of its structures at all its trade fair and conference facilities in Rimini and Vicenza. These systems have a total installed power of 7,525 kWp and produce 8.5 million kWh of clean electricity, equal to that needed to make all its offices in Italy self-sufficient.
This is equivalent to the needs of 2,982 families and saves the release into the environment of 4.5 million tons of CO2.
SUSTAINABLE INSTALLATIONS
The Prostand installation company of IEG is following a path of low environmental impact to guarantee a sustainable zero-waste supply chain, a reduction of CO2 emissions with modular and foldable furnishings that occupy 70% less space, and lower CO2 emissions due to transport by road.
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
The Rimini trade fair district uses its own internal station on the Milan-Bari line during the course of the main events: the train is used by 20% of visitors, alleviating traffic and pollution. Even the architectural structures of the station do not impact the environment.
CHARGING POINTS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
There are 20 electric charging stations in the Rimini and Vicenza districts, with a total of 40 charging points constantly connected to the local grid.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
IEG is the first Italian trade fair company to obtain the UNI/PdR 125:2022 Gender Equality Certification for full compliance with company policies aimed at equality at the workplace and the inclusion of all employees within the company.
PARTNERSHIP WITH RE-CIG
In 2023, IEG entered into a partnership with the company RE-CIG®, the first company to collect and transform cigarette butts into plastic material (cellulose acetate) that can be used to make new objects.
In 2023, IEG obtained the certificate of recognition for having sent for recovery, rather than disposal, 23 kg of cigarette butts collected between January and August.
ECOMONDO LEADING SUSTAINABILITY
Ecomondo is more than just a trade fair event, it is also a movement towards a sustainable future.
We implement practical initiatives and form strategic partnerships as part of our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations and raising awareness in the global community about sustainable practices. In so doing, we carry out targeted actions that promote the sustainability of every aspect of the event.
The ISO 20121 Certification recognises our commitment to adopt circular economy models and continually motivates us to improve; because an event is sustainable when it is: “designed, planned and implemented in a way that minimizes negative impacts on the environment and leaves a positive legacy for the host community” (United Nations Environment Programme – UNEP 2009)
THE INITIATIVES
Since 2023, Ecomondo has played an active part in the Water Defender Alliance testifying to its commitment to the community and to issues that it holds dear: the circular economy and blue economy.
The journey with WDA, a LifeGate project that took on the legacy and developed PlasticLess, began in November 2023 with the financing and installation of a Trash Collec'thor, a device that captures floating waste including plastics and microplastics, in the Marina di Rimini.
GREEN JOBS
Part of a broader project dedicated to innovation, which includes the involvement of young businesses with Start-Up & Scale-Up and the Lorenzo Cagnoni award, Green Jobs & Skills aims to be a meeting place between supply and demand for skills and work, but also a valuable opportunity for orientation.
EDUCATIONAL TOURS FOR SCHOOLS
Environmental education is essential for a sustainable future. Our educational tours have involved 2,756 students from 58 school campuses, providing educational experiences that increase environmental awareness. These programmes are designed to inspire new generations to become agents of change.
SAFTE
For years Ecomondo has been the organizer of Safte - High Training School for Ecological Transition, which spreads and promotes the culture of sustainability with the aim of providing participants with the tools to guide corporate strategies towards innovative and sustainable development.
In 2023, for the first time Ecomondo proposed an off-site event in the city of Rimini created with Rimini Blue Lab. Various initiatives were devised to raise awareness among local schools and involve citizens and visitors to Ecomondo, such as: visits to the Lighthouse, the shipyards, the Darsena, but also the Maritime Museum and the archaeological section of the City Museum.
>> The aim of Ecomondo Off is to take the event outside the doors of the Exhibition Centre to become increasingly involved in the city's cultural activities and build a new and conscious culture of the sea.
Ecomondo provides visitors with a free shuttle service, both from the airports and within the urban area of Rimini. It has formed agreements and offers discounts with the main players in rail, local and electric transport.