Italy is emerging as an important hub for plastic recycling, circular packaging, waste management, and sustainable materials innovation. From major trade fairs in Milan and Rimini to dedicated recycling conferences in Rome, the country’s 2026–27 event calendar offers valuable opportunities for recyclers, packaging brands, technology providers, policymakers, and sustainability leaders to connect, exchange insights, and accelerate the transition to a circular plastics economy.
Here are the top plastic recycling events to attend in Italy.
PolyNext Awards & Conference Italy 2027
Date: 12 March 2027
Location: Rome, Italy
Focus: Plastic recycling, sustainable packaging, plastic alternatives, advanced recycling technologies, waste management, and circular-economy innovation.
PolyNext Awards & Conference Italy 2027 is a dedicated platform for organizations shaping the future of plastic recycling, sustainable packaging, and the circular plastics economy. Taking place in Rome, it will bring together recyclers, brand owners, packaging companies, technology providers, investors, and policymakers to explore practical solutions for reducing plastic waste and creating value from recovered materials.
The program will cover advanced recycling, AI-enabled sorting, bioplastics and alternative materials, circular packaging design, waste management, and climate-aligned strategies across the plastics value chain. The PolyNext Awards will also recognize organizations driving measurable progress in recycling, sustainable packaging, circular traceability, and circular-economy innovation.
PolyNext has expanded its international event program through its Dubai editions. The previous Dubai conference, held on 1–2 October 2025, brought together industry stakeholders and highlighted advances in post-consumer recycling, sustainable packaging, textile recycling, and circular traceability.
The next Dubai edition will take place on 21 October 2026 at Crowne Plaza Dubai–Deira, convening recyclers, brands, converters, investors, and policymakers to discuss AI-powered sorting, bioplastics, circular frameworks, and evolving recycling regulations.
Building on this growing international platform, PolyNext Italy 2027 will give European stakeholders the opportunity to connect with global expertise and explore practical pathways for advancing Italy’s circular plastics economy.
Ecomondo 2026
Date: 3–6 November 2026
Location: Rimini, Italy
Focus: Green economy, circular economy, waste management, resource efficiency, and environmental technologies.
Ecomondo is Italy’s leading trade fair for the circular and green economy, making it especially relevant for companies working across plastics recovery, waste infrastructure, and resource-efficient manufacturing. Its 2026 conference program includes discussions on plastic circularity and European measures to support a more resource-efficient circular economy.
Plastics & Rubber Italy 2027
Date: 23–24 February 2027
Location: NH Milano Congress Centre, Milan, Italy
Focus: Raw materials, additives, compounds, processing technologies, and specialist solutions for the plastics and rubber industry.
Plastics & Rubber Italy is a key meeting point for the upstream plastics supply chain, with a strong emphasis on materials innovation and specialist technologies. For recycling-focused businesses, it offers insight into the materials, additives, and processing developments shaping more recyclable and sustainable plastic products.
5th World Recycling Convention / Recycling Week 2027
Date: 5–6 May 2027
Location: Milan, Italy
Focus: Recycling technologies, resource recovery, circular economy, waste management, and industry partnerships.
Recycling Week 2027 brings together global recycling and circular-economy stakeholders under the theme “Next-Gen Recycling: Technology, Innovation, and Partnership.” It is particularly relevant for organizations seeking cross-sector collaboration and exposure to emerging recycling technologies and business models.
WasteExpo 2027
Date: 3–6 May 2027
Location: Rome, Italy
Focus: Waste collection, recycling, recovery, treatment technologies, and waste-management services.
WasteExpo connects the entire waste and recycling industry, including public and private waste-management companies, technology suppliers, and service providers. For plastics stakeholders, it provides a broader view of the collection, sorting, and recovery systems that underpin effective plastic recycling.
International Conference on Plastic Recycling and Waste Management (ICPRWM)
Date: 22 July and 23 August 2027
Location: Rome, Italy
Focus: Academic research, technical innovation, policy, and waste-management strategies for plastic recycling.
ICPRWM is well suited to researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry professionals seeking a more technical and policy-oriented perspective on plastic recycling and waste management. It complements trade-focused events by highlighting research, regulatory developments, and practical approaches to reducing plastic waste.
Closing line
Together, these events highlight Italy’s growing role in advancing plastic recycling and circular-economy solutions. They offer valuable opportunities to build partnerships, discover new technologies, and help shape the future of sustainable plastics.