Greentopia

On September 12 and 13, 2026, Greentopia returns with a new edition and a new location at Green Hours - Casa GDS, on Calea Victoriei.

This year, the festival focuses on responsible consumption and the choices we make every day—from what we eat and buy to how we move, travel, or use technology and services around us.

Under the message "Be part of the change", Greentopia brings together workshops and interactive experiences, a market with sustainable alternatives, activities for children, and conversations about how we can make more informed choices in a time when sustainability is becoming increasingly present in consumers' lives.

The new location brings the festival right to the city center, on a weekend when Calea Victoriei becomes pedestrian, offering the public the opportunity to attend a workshop, discover the Green Market, or simply stop by to see what's happening.

Beyond the label: what do we know about the things we choose?

Where does a product come from? What is it made of? Who produced it? How long will it last? Can it be repaired, reused, or recycled?

The 2026 edition starts from the idea that more responsible consumption begins with access to information and alternatives. Therefore, one of the visual symbols of the edition is the QR code—a reference to the Digital Product Passport, a tool that will gradually bring more transparency and traceability to products sold on the European market.

Scan. Understand. Choose. thus becomes one of the festival's invitations to look beyond price and label and discover the story behind the things we consume.

Three areas to explore at Greentopia

This year, the festival will be organized around three main areas:

• Green Life – a program of workshops, ateliers, and experiences that explore responsible consumption beyond the products we buy. We talk about biodiversity, health, nutrition, tourism, technology, services, mobility, and urban space, and together we imagine what a more sustainable but also better life can look like.
• Green Market – around 15 carefully selected producers and brands will bring to Greentopia organic, local, reusable, zero waste products, and other alternatives for more responsible consumption. Visitors will be able to discover the products and also discuss directly with the creators about ingredients, materials, origin, and how they are made.
• Green Kids – sustainability becomes play and discovery. Children will be able to participate in creative activities, draw with chalk on the pavement, study biodiversity with microscopes and magnifying glasses, learn about composting, and discover climate change through a version of the Climate Fresco adapted for kids.

From intention to action

On Saturday, September 12, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, Greentopia will also host the debate "From intention to action: what prevents us from choosing sustainably?" moderated by Teodora Ghenciu, founder of the sustainability platform eEco.ro.

The latest study on the Sustainable Consumer shows that only 32% of Romanians have managed to adopt a more responsible lifestyle, deliberately reducing waste, buying eco, or recycling. Meanwhile, 62% are still undecided. In this context, many new businesses proposing healthier, more ecological alternatives with a smaller environmental impact are going bankrupt. We explore:

• How do we help undecided Romanians consciously choose to reduce waste, pollute less, and buy products with a smaller environmental impact?
• How strong are barriers such as price, accessibility, convenience, trust in certifications and labels, and what other reasons might be behind indecision?
• How do we support entrepreneurs proposing more eco-friendly products and services to survive in an uncertain market?
• And what can producers, retailers, and authorities do to make the sustainable alternative easier to choose?

Greentopia and the European Climate Pact

The 2026 edition is an event under the aegis of the European Climate Pact, the European Commission initiative that brings together people and communities to encourage climate action. European Climate Pact ambassadors from Romania will be invited to meet at Greentopia and contribute to the festival's program through activities and conversations with the public.

The European Climate Pact provides a framework for climate awareness and action for European citizens, aiming to transform the European Union into a modern, competitive, and resource-efficient economy, where:

• ⁠  ⁠we reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
• ⁠  ⁠economic growth is decoupled from resource use;
• ⁠  ⁠no person and no place is left behind.

Launched by the European Commission in 2020 as part of the European Green Deal, the European Climate Pact is a movement of citizens and organizations aiming for a more sustainable and climate-neutral Europe. Their network today includes nearly 1300 ambassadors in the 27 EU countries (49 in Romania) and over 100 partner organizations (with 4 NGO partners in Romania: Ateliere fără frontiere, Climato Sfera, the National Center for Sustainable Production and Consumption, and SNK Association).