Salone del Gusto and the Terra Madre world meeting of food communities mark a further step this year in their long-standing commitment towards significantly reducing environmental impact. Slow Food, the Piedmont Regional Authority and the City of Turin, joint organizers of both events, together with the Industrial Design Department of the Turin Polytechnic and the University of Gastronomic Sciences, have consolidated the environmental planning and design choices made from the 2008 events and are implementing further eco-friendly developments. Ecological data was first collected and analysed after the event in 2006. The results of the 2008 events, which showed a 45 % reduction in environmental impact, encouraged the organisers to improve on this already impressive result in 2010 with the aim of a 60 % reduction. (Picture: Carlo Petrini at the opening ceremony 2008)

This year the events will utilise environmentally-considerate materials throughout the venue and further improve its transportation of goods. There will also be a rigorous overhaul of efficiency and efficacy throughout the event planning process which will improve food service materials and waste management. The research, design and application of solutions for the 2010 event, which takes place from 21 to 25 October 2010, as well as the partners and future objectives are presented in a display in Pavilion 5 at Lingotto Fiere in Torino/Italy. Concrete environmental examples planned include venue fixtures - all exhibition stands, the booths of the market and other areas of the exhibition have been created in collaboration with Palm, using fireproof pallets from FSC wood materials. These same pallets will acquire a second life after the event, being reused by Lavazza for the transport of their own goods.

The supply and the management of the food preparation areas managed by Slow Food - the Taste Workshops, Theaters of Taste and the canteens of Terra Madre are coordinated by Risteco. This consortium, together with the organizers, promotes strategies for sustainable development in the institutional catering sector such as using local organic products and environmentally efficient vehicles. All exhibitors of the Salone del Gusto will use 100 % biodegradable food utensils. These products will be collected along with other organic waste and be composted. Thanks to the involvement of Amiat, a waste collection and environmental hygiene services company based in Turin, the system of separated waste collection within and outside the event is expected to improve the already excellent result of 2008: with 54.8 % of waste separation. Innovative strategies are also sought to further reduce communication materials printed on paper while maintaining the quality of information provided. For the first time this year, the Salone will employ the QR code system. Also the amount of printed press materials have been reduced significantly, whereas the communication via email and the availability of downloads for texts, images and videos from the website have been considerably increased. Journalist press kits will be distributed in the format of a USB device.
 

Salone del Gusto, Terra Madre