MILAN—As part of a wider-ranging series of initiatives supporting sustainability, organizers of Mido, preparing for the 50th anniversary of the exhibition in 2020, have announced a Stand Up for Green competition, to recognize those who plan and create their own stand by adopting eco-friendly criteria, inviting all exhibitors of the 2020 Mido edition to take part. Mido will be held here Feb. 29 to March 2. The winner will receive an award at the Mido fair during an evening event organized to celebrate the event’s 50th anniversary, and will star in a major communication project and website space, where a new dedicated area can be viewed here.

The jury panel will consider the following criteria when awarding the prize: general sustainability of the stand, the level of innovation, originality, and the ability to convey a positive message to the public about the importance of environmentally-friendly choices for the future of humankind and the planet.

To register, exhibitors are asked to fill in and send the application form (available also on the website) with a description of the stand, the materials used, the approaches taken, the reasons behind the sustainable choices, and the goals for improvement in 2021.

The competition joins a busy program of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mido, the international trade fair dedicated to leading international eyewear brands which has acted as a go-to event for the industry since 1970 both in Italy and abroad.

Organizers said that Mido 2020 "constitutes the first milestone on the road to sustainability, which will be celebrated at the fair with training and information events for visitors and exhibitors alike."

"We strongly believe that a commitment to sustainability is now a categorical necessity which everyone, companies and individuals alike, must adopt. We must, and I hope soon, be amazed more by those who are not eco-friendly than by those who are. Today, I am truly proud to announce that our commitment, after taking the first initial steps, is boosted by such an important initiative as the Stand up for green award, which as a priority hopes to incentivise our exhibitors to act by applying sustainable methods," said Giovanni Vitaloni, president of Mido.

The Mido exhibition has embarked on a sustainability plan that aims, over the next three years, to obtain ISO 20121 certification: a standard which defines requirements for the management of sustainable events to reduce their harmful social and environmental impacts while contributing to strengthening relations with stakeholders. Organizers said that 2020 "marks the end of Year Zero on this journey, while the initial steps will be explained, and training and informative events will be organized for visitors and exhibitors."