IFAT Munich 2026, celebrating its 60th anniversary, has confirmed its position as the world’s most important trade fair for environmental technology. IFAT is a meeting place for experts, manufacturers and integrators of solutions for industry, waste management, recycling, water and wastewater management and environmental protection. Organizers stressed that environmental technologies are of strategic importance today in the context of energy crises, geopolitical tensions and supply chain problems. Messe München CEO Stefan Rummel pointed out that the closed loop economy and water management are becoming one of the key global industries of the future.
The fair was also a platform for dialogue between business and politics. The event was attended by government representatives and EU Environment Commissioner Jessica Roswall. German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider stressed that environmental technologies are essential for security, independence and economic development.
This year’s event attracted a record number of participants – some 142,000 visitors from nearly 170 countries and 3,211 exhibitors from 61 countries. The entire event was organized on an impressive 300,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.
A platform for exchange between industry and politics
In addition to German national ministers and international ministerial delegations, the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessica Roswall, also visited the fair to learn first-hand about the future of water management, recycling and circularity. At the fair, German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider stressed that environmental technologies are crucial to sovereignty, security and prosperity. “IFAT is the central platform for this important topic. This is where companies, politicians, local governments and organizations can network and coordinate their activities.”
Dr. Johannes F. Kirchhoff, chairman of the IFAT Munich advisory board, added that the transformation to a circular economy and efficient use of resources is a prerequisite for stability, raw material security, growth and competitiveness. “IFAT Munich 2026 impressively demonstrated how this change can be implemented in practice – in a solution-oriented, cross-sectoral and globally connected way.”
Closed-loop economy study shows economic potential
A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group on behalf of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) points to the significant economic potential of the circular economy. The study, supported by IFAT Munich, was presented at a global industry trade show. According to the results, the added value of the circular economy in Germany could increase from the current 60 billion euros to as much as 125 billion euros by 2045 – and this could be achieved within existing industrial structures and value chains. The additional cumulative added value could be as high as €880 billion by 2045. Recycling and reuse could replace 20 to 40 percent of imports of strategic raw materials by 2045.
IFAT Munich 2026 was clearly dominated by the geopolitical and economic importance of the closed-loop economy. The focus was on resource efficiency, closed material cycles and reducing dependence on primary raw materials.
The resilience of transmission networks and water systems is also among the greatest challenges of our time. What is needed is, on the one hand, effective protection against targeted attacks on infrastructure, such as physical sabotage or cyber attacks, and on the other hand, resilient solutions in the face of torrential rains, floods, extreme heat and water shortages. “IFAT Munich 2026 has once again impressively demonstrated how valuable this global trade fair is as a platform for exchanging and further developing key topics of the future,” – says Rainer Köhler, Chief Technology Officer at Huber SE. “The water and wastewater sector as well as the waste management and recycling industry play a key role in strengthening the circular economy and climate resilience in a sustainable way. Water, energy, environment and climate are among the most important challenges of our time – and this is where IFAT provides an important impetus.”
Despite the current energy crisis and geopolitical conflicts, the share of international exhibitors and visitors remains steadily high, exceeding 50 percent. The three most represented countries among exhibitors after Germany in 2026 are Italy, China and the Netherlands. Unlike the trends seen in many other industries, environmental technologies represent a significant growth market.
For NEU-JKF, participation in IFAT is primarily an opportunity to present state-of-the-art solutions for industrial dust collection, air filtration, pneumatic conveying and industrial ventilation.
Attendance at a trade show of this scale allows NEU-JKF to:
– develop international business relationships,
– learn about the latest technological and regulatory trends,
– exchange experiences with industry leaders,
– strengthen brand position in the environmental technology market,
– present solutions to support the industry’s transformation towards sustainable production.
Of particular relevance to NEU-JKF are the areas of industrial emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and solutions for the recycling and circular economy industries. Today’s industry is increasingly focused on ecology, safety and process optimization – and the technologies offered by NEU-JKF fit perfectly into these needs.
Participation in IFAT confirms NEU-JKF’s commitment to the development of modern and responsible technologies for industry and active participation in the environmental transformation of the European economy.
