Forward Green (FG Expo): Driving Innovation and Sustainability in the Circular Economy
The Forward Green (FG Expo) has quickly established itself as a key international trade fair dedicated to promoting sustainability, innovation, and the circular economy. First held in 2023, this annual event takes place at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center in Thessaloniki, Greece a vibrant city increasingly recognized as a hub for business, research, and sustainable development in Southeastern Europe.
The name Forward Green perfectly encapsulates the fair’s mission: advancing toward a greener, more responsible future through innovation, entrepreneurship, and ecological awareness. The abbreviation “FG” stands for forward-looking growth—a symbolic representation of progress in the fields of renewable technologies, sustainable production, and circular design.
Organized by HELEXPO SA, Greece’s leading trade fair and congress organizer, the event aims to cultivate a new entrepreneurial mindset both in Greece and internationally. By emphasizing circular economy principles, the FG Expo provides a unique platform for companies, innovators, and policymakers to collaborate and reshape the business landscape toward sustainability and resilience.
Thessaloniki: A Strategic Hub for Sustainability
The choice of Thessaloniki as the host city is no coincidence. As Greece’s second-largest city and an emerging economic and academic center, Thessaloniki offers a strategic location connecting Southern Europe, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. The Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center provides an ideal setting with its modern facilities, accessible location, and strong reputation for hosting major international events.
This modern venue allows the FG Expo to accommodate a diverse audience from local entrepreneurs and startups to global corporations, government agencies, and research institutions. The event’s international character and local engagement strengthen Thessaloniki’s position as a key meeting point for sustainable business development in the region.
Why Thessaloniki Is the Perfect Host
Strategically located between Europe and the Mediterranean markets.
Equipped with world-class congress and exhibition facilities.
Strong academic and research community supporting sustainability.
A city committed to environmental progress and urban regeneration.
These factors make Thessaloniki not just the venue for the event, but an active participant in its mission to promote green innovation and circular practices.
A Comprehensive Focus on the Green Circular Economy
At its core, Forward Green (FG Expo) is about transforming the way industries and societies think about resources, waste, and sustainability. The event’s central theme the green circular economy encourages rethinking traditional linear production models in favor of systems that minimize waste and maximize reuse and regeneration.
The FG Expo’s thematic range is impressively broad, addressing nearly every sector influenced by environmental innovation. It includes environmental technologies, bioclimatic design, sustainable product development, recycling systems, and renewable energy solutions. The event also places significant emphasis on sustainable management and resource optimization, both of which are crucial for the transition to a greener economy.
Core Themes and Focus Areas
Environmental Technology and Engineering – new solutions for cleaner production and waste reduction.
Product and Material Recycling – showcasing innovations that extend product lifecycles.
Bioclimatic and Product Design – integrating aesthetics with environmental efficiency.
Electric Vehicles and Green Mobility – highlighting advances in sustainable transportation.
Sustainable Management and ESG Certification – promoting corporate responsibility and transparency.
Natural Resource Management – encouraging efficient use of water, energy, and raw materials.
By connecting these themes, the FG Expo illustrates how different industries can collaborate to create circular systems that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Exhibitions, Networking, and Knowledge Exchange
The Forward Green Expo serves as an interactive environment where businesses, researchers, and policymakers come together to share ideas and explore innovative practices. Exhibitors present a wide range of products and services from advanced waste treatment technologies and green construction materials to digital solutions for sustainability monitoring and reporting.
Alongside the exhibition area, the fair hosts a rich program of forums, discussions, and B2B meetings, each designed to promote collaboration and practical knowledge exchange. The most prominent among these is the Circular Economy Forum, a highlight of the event that brings experts and entrepreneurs together to discuss emerging challenges, policy developments, and technological innovations.
Highlights of the FG Expo
Circular Economy Forum – a dedicated stage for expert talks and success stories from across Europe.
B2B Networking Meetings – fostering partnerships between companies, investors, and research institutions.
Workshops and Seminars – offering hands-on training in recycling, design innovation, and ESG strategies.
Start-Up Showcases – giving new enterprises a chance to present sustainable business ideas to global audiences.
These activities transform the FG Expo from a static exhibition into a living, collaborative laboratory for sustainable growth and circular innovation.
One of the event’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to connect local industries with global networks. For Greece, the FG Expo represents an opportunity to demonstrate its growing potential in environmental innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. Local companies gain international exposure, while foreign investors discover new opportunities within a market that values ecological responsibility and technological progress.
The fair also attracts a diverse professional audience engineers, architects, policymakers, investors, and educators all united by the shared goal of advancing sustainability through collaboration. This diversity ensures that discussions are holistic, merging scientific, economic, and social perspectives to find actionable solutions for global environmental challenges.
A Platform for Change and Sustainable Progress
More than just a trade fair, the Forward Green Expo is a statement of intent a movement that advocates for a more sustainable, circular, and innovative economy. By bringing together visionaries from multiple sectors, it helps reshape the conversation around environmental responsibility, promoting practices that combine profitability with ecological consciousness.
Through its focus on education, networking, and collaboration, the FG Expo is not only shaping Greece’s future but also influencing regional and global sustainability strategies. As the event grows each year, it continues to position Thessaloniki and Greece as leaders in the green transition, bridging innovation with real-world implementation.
A Forward-Looking Vision for a Greener World
The Forward Green (FG Expo) stands as a beacon of progress for the green circular economy, uniting industries, innovators, and policymakers under one roof to build a more sustainable future. Organized by HELEXPO SA, and hosted in the dynamic environment of Thessaloniki, it offers more than exhibitions it offers vision, collaboration, and tangible solutions.
By focusing on environmental technologies, recycling, renewable energy, and sustainable management, the FG Expo continues to strengthen its reputation as a driving force behind ecological innovation. Its Circular Economy Forum and B2B networking events create valuable bridges between ideas and implementation, helping transform sustainability from concept to practice.
For Greece and beyond, the Forward Green Expo is more than a fair it is a symbol of progress, an engine of innovation, and a powerful reminder that a greener future begins today.
