By Margaret Badore / Source: TreeHugger

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Making an event on the scale of a World’s fair sustainable is no small challenge, as the exposition calls for temporary everything, from buildings down to the spoons and straws. But for Expo Milano, this year’s World’s fair, the organizers have tried to lessen the impact of the six-month event.

To encourage the pavilion designers to work to create more sustainable designs, the Expo organizers issued a set of guidelines for building and for procurement. Gloria Zavatta, an organizer for sustainability programs at the Expo, said that 11 of the pavilions feature photovoltaic panels, and about 35 of the pavilions use some form of solar energy, such as solar water heaters. About 56 percent of the pavilions feature green roofs that cover half or more of their rooftop area. Out of the 96 self-built pavilions, 83 have laid out a plan for reusing their structure or recycling its materials. She said the Expo hopes to work with the remaining 13 to create a recycling plan.

While all pavilions must comply to certain minimum standards, organizers also launched a voluntary program called “Towards a Sustainable Expo,” which will give pavilions with the best sustainability practices a leadership award. Last Friday, a number of the pavilions participating in that program were highlighted in honor of World Environment Day. Mexico, Ireland and New Holland Agriculture where among the day’s honorees. The final awards will be given out later this year.

The pavilions are judged based on the building design and the materials used, as well as their food and beverage services, furniture, merchandise, and event programming.

Mexico

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Mexico’s pavilion is inspired by corn, a staple of the country’s diet. The shape of the structure is modeled on a corn husk, designed by Francisco López Guerra Almada and Jorge Vallejo. The husks allow some light to enter the interior, while still providing shade.

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