Pollutec 2016 to take place 29 November to 2 December

Pollutec began as an event for the water and waste industries, but over the years it has gradually expanded to encompass all the markets associated with the treatment of pollution. Pollutec 2016's eight major sectors—waste and the exploitation of materials; water and wastewater; energy; instrumentation; air; risks; sites and soils; and ethical purchasing—will attract more than 100,000 professionals from around the world.

As well as these eight major sectors, Pollutec 2016 also focuses on five fields where professionals face major challenges: sustainable cities, sustainable industry, agriculture, hospitals and sustainable development. Additionally, the event will focus on oceans, aquatic environments and coasts.

In its 27^th year, show organisers say Pollutec already has generated a buzz and will be the highlight of the year for those involved in the environment, who view it as a unique opportunity to meet each other and to engage in discussions about current concerns. 

For the first time at the event, eco-innovation itself takes centre stage through a series of Inno Spots, dedicated exhibition spaces organised by those involved in each sector in collaboration with partner institutions and colleges. Depending upon the sector, events take the form of a fab lab, mock-ups or product demonstrations.

The 2016 show features two new villages—site waste and concrete piping—as well as a new lecture theatre capable of holding an audience of 200 for talks on the key themes confronting the eco-industry.

The sustainable city focus offers the latest innovations designed to makes cities lower consumers of energy and friendlier to the environment. A range of subjects are to be addressed, such as the management of services (water, waste, energy), smart grids, energy support, eco-districts, new life for city centres, as well as digitisation in renovation.

The goal of the sustainable industry focus is to present the latest technological and organizational advances that allow the challenge of modernizing industry to be met so that it becomes more competitive and environmentally friendly. Development of the range of technologies, support for the modernization of the means of production and the building up of expertise to handle these transformations are to be highlighted alongside subjects more specifically linked to the implementation of an environmental strategy in industry.

The new oceans, aquatic environments and coasts focus sets out to show how eco-industries can work with the professionals through the restoration of degraded aquatic environments and their preservation. The various problems associated with the sea and the coasts (biodiversity/resources, energy, transport, coastal erosion, risk management, monitoring) are rarely tackled together, hence the decision to offer this new programme.

Through its agriculture focus, Pollutec 2016 is highlighting innovations and best practices that encourage competitive and environmentally friendly agriculture. These approaches include the responsible management of natural resources, the limited use of inputs, biocontrol as an alternative means of protecting crops or the monitoring of soil and air quality. 

Finally, sustainable development is now a component in the current management of almost all health care, social and medico-social establishments and services. Reducing the environmental impact of health care, sustainable purchasing as well as employee well-being and quality of life are at the top of the list of priorities.