Sustainability according to the Salone del Mobile

Recognition and continuity: ISO 20121 Certification 

The credibility of this commitment is fundamentally confirmed by the renewal of the Salone’s ISO 20121 certification for the three-year period 2026-2028. This recognition is much more than a formal goal: it is the development of a rigorous system of monitoring and continuous improvement. By updating its Sustainability Policy, the Salone defines increasingly stringent criteria that guide the whole value chain towards responsible and transparent management. 

For a sustainable exhibition design 

The design of the spaces for the 2026 edition embraces a fully circular philosophy, with reuse and modularity predominant. An emblematic example of this vision is the installation of Salone Raritas, designed by the Formafantasma studio, which is outstanding as a model of excellence for its fully demountable and reusable structures. The same designers curated the Drafting Futures Arena, conceived as a circular stage for the Public Program, which together with the SaloneSatellite demonstrates how each structure is designed to minimise waste. These initiatives join our long-established policies, such as the elimination of carpeting and the use of signage in pressed cardboard. 

Particular care is devoted to the quality of the interiors, as demonstrated by the use of certified poplar panels in the International Business Lounge to promote healthy air and reforestation. To concretely support companies in this transition, the Salone has drawn up the new “Guidelines for the design, construction and management of sustainable installations”. This document is the result of a transversal collaboration between the technical offices of the Salone and FederlegnoArredo, experts in inclusivity such as LEDHA, and environmental consultants, hoping that every stand will meet high standards of circularity, waste management and accessibility. 

Visit experience and fluidity of the routes 

Sustainability is also reflected in respect for visitors’ time and well-being. The creation of a fluid exhibition layout and its development on a single level guarantees accessibility in each pavilion. The new wayfinding system curated by Leftloft, inspired by the clarity of subway networks, enables visitors to easily get their bearings and find their way through intuitive graphic interfaces. For visitors to the fair at the weekend, curated thematic itineraries have also been created to guide design-lovers through the most relevant trends and lifestyles, optimizing the visit experience even for short times. 

Social sustainability and inclusiveness 

People above all else are at the centre of the Salone’s vision. Close collaboration with LEDHA has made it possible to break down the physical and organizational barriers, introducing innovative tools such as the Accessibility Pass to manage waiting times and ensure priority access to cultural events. In this context, the Salone is actively engaged in monitoring the access ramps to the platforms of the company stands, ensuring that the whole event is open and welcoming for everyone. The commitment to inclusivity has recorded an increase of more than 20% in services dedicated to visitors with disabilities compared to the 2025 edition. This social mission is shared by partners and sponsors such as S.Bernardo, Illycaffè, Ca’ del Bosco and Intesa Sanpaolo, which actively participate in the construction of a fully aware ecosystem. 

For soft mobility and the enhancement of the territory 

The ties with the territory are strengthened through increasingly integrated and green mobility. Thanks to partnerships with major rail carriers such as Trenitalia and Trenord, and the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) system of the Municipality of Milan, reaching the trade fair site becomes a simple and sustainable gesture. To support visitors, there are also free BusForFun shuttles  to and from Milan and Malpensa airport. 

Sustainability also translates into the enhancement of the territory through cultural synergies with the city’s prestigious institutions, including Triennale Milano, ADI and ADI Museum, the Teatro alla Scala and the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. These collaborations have been enriched in 2026 with dedicated initiatives such as Common Archive, Architecture of Freedom and the guide Salone in the City, which tell the story of design as a collective process capable of interpreting the challenges of our time. 

Drafting Futures: a laboratory of thought 

The Salone 2026 continues to be a great laboratory of thought through the cultural program Drafting Futures. Conversations about Next Perspectives curated by Annalisa Rosso, Editorial and Cultural Director-Advisor for the Salone del Mobile. Milan, with sustainability becoming a fundamental driver of its narrative. To extend the inclusiveness of the debate, the real-time transcript of all the speeches of the guests at the talks was introduced for the first time in the Arena. In this way, the Salone aims to design new horizons for the generations to come, making the culture of design accessible and usable in all its forms.