Against the backdrop of a fundamental shift in the environmental sector—from end-of-pipe treatment toward resource recovery and circular solutions—IE expo Shanghai 2027 is repositioning itself for the next phase of industry development. With recycling and the circular economy moving to the core of the show alongside water and air, the 28th edition will place greater emphasis on integrated resource cycles, digital technologies, and new opportunities for sustainable growth.

Recycling and the circular economy move to the core

Over the past 27 years, IE expo Shanghai has showcased environmental solutions covering water, solid waste, air, and soil. The biggest change for 2027 is the repositioning of recycling and the circular economy: previously specialist segments of the show, they will become core pillars alongside water and air and account for half of the exhibition’s thematic focus.

The shift broadens the show’s scope beyond pollution-control technologies. IE expo Shanghai will cover the full resource cycle, from waste collection and sorting through processing to higher-value applications, and from industrial solid waste and household waste to the recycling of end-of-life equipment from the new-energy sector.

The 2027 theme, “Strengthen the Foundations, Explore New Frontiers, Enable a Smart Circular Economy,” reflects this change. “Strengthen the Foundations” means maintaining the core of end-of-pipe environmental treatment. “Explore New Frontiers” refers to opening new avenues for growth through recycling and the circular economy. “Enable a Smart Circular Economy” means applying digital technologies and intelligent systems to improve environmental management and resource efficiency. Together, these elements respond to the sector’s shift from pollution reduction alone toward coordinated carbon reduction and value creation within a circular economy.

A track record spanning 27 years

IE expo Shanghai traces its roots to the Shanghai International Environmental Protection and Water Treatment Exhibition (EPTEE), founded in 2000, and to IFAT CHINA, which entered the Chinese market in 2004. Building on IFAT’s 60-year history, the show has been part of China’s environmental sector for 27 years. Today, IE expo Shanghai is the world’s second-largest environmental exhibition after IFAT Munich and one of Asia’s leading platforms for business, technical exchange, market development, brand building, industry trends, and international cooperation.

In 2026, the 27th edition covered 170,000 square meters and brought together 1,987 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions. It welcomed 82,419 professional visitors from 119 countries and regions, with international visitor numbers increasing by more than 30 percent for the second consecutive year.

Showing the full recycling chain

For 2027, the exhibition will expand and upgrade its circular economy segment to cover the full value chain. Areas will include waste-to-energy, higher-value uses for recycled resources, the recovery and reuse of bulk solid waste, bioenergy, food waste recycling, and the co-treatment of industrial solid waste. Visitors will be able to follow the cycle from waste generation through collection and sorting to processing and higher-value applications.

Digital technologies will be another focus. AI-driven energy-efficiency optimization, carbon-footprint tracking, and smart sorting will demonstrate how digital tools can support a lifecycle approach, from source reduction and process control to resource recovery. Together with areas devoted to carbon neutrality, energy conservation and carbon reduction, and waste recovery, the segment will connect pollution control, circular economy solutions, and carbon reduction.

Connecting exhibitors with international markets

Drawing on Messe München’s global IFAT network, the 2027 edition will strengthen its links with environmental organizations and procurement networks in markets along the Belt and Road Initiative, in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries, and in other key global markets. Professional buyer delegations will be invited to Shanghai to visit the exhibition and source products.

The show will also expand its dedicated business lounge for Chinese companies looking to enter international markets, with dozens of targeted matchmaking sessions and market briefings. Official procurement delegations and industry representatives from around the world will be invited to meet companies and discuss key environmental sectors.

In 2026, IE expo Shanghai attracted professional visitors from 119 countries and regions and hosted 35 international procurement delegations. For 2027, the organizers plan to broaden their international outreach while targeting invitations more precisely, helping exhibitors connect with prospective customers and expand in China and abroad.

A conference focused on the sector’s next steps

Held alongside the exhibition, the China Environmental Technology Conference 2027 will feature one summit forum and more than 30 specialized forums. More than 500 policymakers, industry leaders, technical experts, researchers, and investment representatives from China and abroad are expected to take part.

The agenda will cover wastewater resource recovery and low-carbon, smart upgrades to water supply and wastewater systems; the co-treatment of solid waste and recycling of waste from the new-energy sector; advanced air-pollution control and coordinated ozone mitigation; AI applications in environmental protection and digital governance; and the integration of carbon capture with zero-carbon industries. The discussions will examine technology roadmaps and market developments over the next five to ten years.

A dedicated international session will bring together environmental policymakers and procurement decision-makers from Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East to discuss market access and investment opportunities, providing Chinese companies with information and contacts as they explore international markets.

An industry in transition

The environmental sector is moving from end-of-pipe treatment toward full-chain collaboration and from scale-driven toward quality-driven growth. At this pivotal point, IE expo Shanghai 2027 will provide a platform for examining how pollution reduction, carbon reduction, resource recovery, and circular value creation can advance together.

The 28th edition of the exhibition is organized by Messe München Group and Messe Muenchen Zhongmao (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences (CSES), the China Environment Chamber of Commerce (CECC), the Shanghai Association of Environmental Protection Industry (SHAEPI), and other leading institutions.

IE expo Shanghai will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from April 20 to 22, 2027.