Our Commitment to Sustainability

Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, the organiser of Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags, has long been committed to upgrading its activities and services with an ever-increasing focus on the environment and responsible development, social aspects, people and the surrounding area. A commitment that involves the organisational management as a whole as well as all stakeholders gravitating around the events and trade fairs held at the exhibition-congress centre.

An important milestone was reached in 2014, when Riva del Garda Fierecongressi became the first Italian company in the exhibition and congress sector to obtain the 'Sustainable Event Management System' certification in accordance with UNI ISO 20121:2013, renewed for the third time in 2021.
An exciting journey that year after year is enriched with new goals and achievements, recorded in the Sustainability Report – a document drawn up following the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards), i.e. the internationally recognised guidelines issued by the Global Reporting Initiative – which outlines the company's past and future challenges and initiatives. 

The Trade Fair renews its Commitment

Day after day, edition after edition, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags renews its commitment to an increasingly sustainable trade fair through concrete initiatives.
Concrete and tangible actions aimed at fostering increasingly fruitful business encounters that respect people and the environment.

Companies & Products

Getting to know the exhibiting companies, their range of products and the actions they take towards environmental, economic and social sustainability is the first step towards organising an event that is increasingly attentive to these issues. 

Within the exhibitor catalogue, the search filters can be used to find all companies that offer sustainable and certified products. 
In addition, exhibitors are asked to fill out a Sustainability Plan, a document designed to disclose the actions implemented by their companies.

Green Stands

Exhibitors can choose to best express their concern for the environment by choosing a Green stand.
Our stands, made with 100% renewable energy, FSC- and Ecolabel-certified materials and without harmful solvents, allow energy savings in the production process of around 75% compared to a traditional stand.

100% Recyclable Carpet

Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags is involved in a project aimed at recycling and offsetting the use of flooring at events. 

The exhibition centre will use a 100% recyclable carpet supplied by a certified company, the first in Europe to have managed to complete the recycling process of its materials in-house after use.
At the end of the event, the carpet will be removed, recycled and reintroduced into the production process to create new products. 

In addition, thanks to the CO2 Compensation project, it will be possible to offset emissions by zeroing the carbon dioxide impact on the atmosphere generated by the entire supply chain, thus making an objective contribution to the environment. A third-party certificate will be issued upon completion of the recycling of the material used at the event.

Sustainable Mobility

For many years, on the occasion of Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags, we have been implementing initiatives and projects promoting alternative and environmentally friendly mobility with special attention to the travel habits of our guests. 

This year, the free city and intercity shuttle service for visitors has been further intensified, providing connections between the exhibition centre and the city centre, the hotels hosting the event, and the surrounding villages (Arco, Torbole and Nago).
In addition, it will be possible to book a shuttle service from/to major airports in northern Italy and easily reach the fair while avoiding traffic, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

Food for Good

During the event, surplus food from restaurants, bars and self-service facilities will be collected and donated to the most needy (family homes, soup kitchens and refugee centres) as part of the Food for Good project, organised by Federcongressi&Eventi in cooperation with the non-profit organisations Banco Alimentare and Equoevento.

Towards a Plastic-Free Future

We are committed to reducing the use of plastic within the Exhibition Centre by using compostable tableware in the catering areas and increasingly advanced forms of waste sorting for recycling.