From 4 to 7 May 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies will focus on key issues relating to circularity and climate protection.

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall and Bavaria’s Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber will jointly open IFAT Munich 2026 on Monday, 4 May, at 10 am, according to Messe München. They are then set to send a clear signal on the Blue Stage in Hall B2 of the exhibition grounds regarding the close interconnection of European, national and regional environmental policy, it is reported.
 
Innovative environmental technologies and solutions relating to water, wastewater, waste and raw materials management will once again be the focus of IFAT in 2026. According to Messe München, over 3,000 exhibitors from more than 60 countries will present their strategies, projects and developments for a functioning circular economy, resource efficiency and raw material supply across the approximately 300,000-square-metre site. The trade fair is complemented by an extensive programme of specialist presentations, live demonstrations and discussion forums to facilitate dialogue between industry, academia and politics.
 
According to the trade fair programme, numerous panel discussions on the Orange Stage in Hall A5 will focus on the opportunities and strategies for a sustainable circular economy. These include one in which BKV Managing Director Dr Ingo Sartorius is participating, organised by the trade fair partner bvse Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung (Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management).
 
A consistent circular economy is set to make further contributions to raw material independence and competitiveness in Europe. For instance, new EU regulations such as the PPWR, ELV and WEEE Directive will in future stipulate binding quotas for the use of recycled plastics. However, it is already foreseeable that the demand for such recycled materials will exceed the expactable supply. At the bvse panel discussion “Plastic recycling ot fill in market demands on recyclates” on 5 May 2026 from 11.30 am to 12.20 pm, experts will discuss possible solutions, opportunities and risks. BKV Managing Director Dr Ingo Sartorius will provide the opening impulse on this topic, entitled: “European perspective on plastic recyclates – status quo and forecast of the recyclates supply by 2030”. Dr Thomas Probst, Honorary Professor at RWTH Aachen University, will follow with a further keynote. The ensuing discussion, in which the two speakers and Dr Martin Engelmann, Chief Executive of the IK Industrial Association for Plastic Packaging, will take part, will be facilitated and moderated by bvse specialist consultant Anna Roeb.
 
A panel discussion of trade fair partner Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Kreislaufwirtschaft (Federal Association of the German Waste Management, Water and Recycling Industry (BDE) on the BDE Stage (A6.241) on 7 May 2026 from 11.30 am to 12.20 am will address the question of whether “plastic recycling is facing the end”. Experts from the plastics industry, recyclers and political representatives will discuss the reality of the market, the consequences for the circular economy in Germany and Europe, and possible solutions. Dr Ingo Sartorius will also contribute his expertise to this discussion, which will according to the programme also feature Dirk Mellen from the consultancy firm materialis, Marion Laurentius from the ZVEI e.V. industry association and Monica Harting Pfeifer from the environmental services provider Remondis. This panel will be moderated by Dr Andreas Bruckschen, Deputy Managing Director of the BDE.
 
Further informationen: www.ifat.de
 
Sources:

• ifat.de
• Messe München press release (17.4.2026)
• Photo: © Messe München GmbH