Salone del Mobile.Milano has announced it will be considerably adjusting its ecological procedures in advance of its 2023 showing. Citing climate concerns affecting the world during 2022’s show, organizers state they will be taking a more community-driven approach to next year’s efforts.
As part of the new procedures, Salone will be sourcing recycled, recyclable or reusable materials for building the common parts, regenerating and absorbing resources used during the event and selecting institutional partners whose strategies are centered around genuine concern for people and the planet.
Recognizing the role its stakeholders play in the success of these sustainability initiatives, Salone has also expanded the green guidelines it released last year in a bid to provide them the greatest possible support when it comes to designing, planning and carrying out activities at the fair.
Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, had this to say: “Aside from matters of certification and apart from moments of crisis such as those we’re experiencing right now, caused by spiralling energy costs and the lack of raw materials in the wood-furnishing supply chain, it is our firm belief that whatever the Salone del Mobile does must be guided by a profound sense of ethical duty.
“We need a change of mental paradigm, sharing knowledge and skills with all the actors within the design and events industry, coming up with innovative solutions, conscious that the things we do today will determine the future of the upcoming generations. We are all changemakers, protagonists of this transformation.
“These days, companies are in a position to play a guiding role in this process, collaborating with governments, regulatory bodies, investors, partners and suppliers. The Salone is right there with them, ready to provide whatever support is called for in order to make all this happen.”
Salone del Mobile.Milano Offers New Guidance to Exhibitors
As part of its ecological efforts, Salone has shared the following recommendations with its community:
- Regarding installations:
- Coming up with circular solutions for the structure and materials for the exhibition spaces while also cutting waste and optimizing energy, transport and storage is advised.
- Cutting down on packaging or employing reused or reusable packaging should be pursued.
- Selecting materials on the basis of source distance, with logistical sustainability in mind, including reused or reusable physical communication supports should also be considered.
- Regarding building materials:
- Recycled wood and cardboard products are preferred, or ones from sustainably managed forests with FSC or PEFC certification.
- The use of non-reusable materials often destined for disposal should be preferably curbed.
- Opting for plastic-free or recycled plastic materials is desirable, along with reusable pallets that have been repaired or sourced through exchange schemes.
- Water-based paint, ecolabel products and ecological detergents free of toxic components should also be prioritized.
- Regarding social safety and sustainability:
- Companies have been invited to adopt measures, products and equipment that guarantee safe installation procedures for the staff involved and that ensure accessibility, usability and fruition by vulnerable users and those with disabilities.
Exhibitors have also been asked to prioritize suppliers having implemented sustainable management service systems conforming to ISO 20121 legislation with demonstrable commitment to social responsibility and to ask suppliers to provide the characteristics and traceability of their products while also taking account of the pertinent Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) published by the Italian Ministry for Ecological Transition (https://gpp.mite.gov.it/Home/Cam), as regards purchasing materials from suppliers.
Porro does stress, however, that “these are not compulsory guidelines, rather a tool to help define a positive and inspirational mode of conduct, around which the business community will pull together and which can be utilized to accelerate change.”
