Smart hydroponic greenhouses that grow organic, zero-kilometre vegetables; apps that turn a smartphone into a precision-farming advisor or allow users to book shared rides; fine fibres regenerated from discarded garments and given a new life: these are four of the winning projects - alongside six special mentions - of the 19th edition of Legambiente’s Innovation Award, presented last Wednesday in Milan at the ADI Design Museum. The initiative is promoted in collaboration with the EY Foundation, with the partnership of Erion WEEE, Fassa Bortolo, Fondazione Pistoletto, and the media partners La Nuova Ecologia and Innovazione Sociale.
The ten national champions highlight stories from environmentally and socially oriented start-ups, university and corporate spin-offs, and small and medium-sized enterprises, showcasing a future already within reach, one in which innovation and sustainability come together to deliver tangible benefits for Italy’s ecological transition. Regionally, Tuscany and Lombardy top the list with three awardees each (including winners and special mentions), followed by Emilia-Romagna (two), Piedmont and Trentino-Alto Adige, each with one.

The Winners
In the category of Sustainable Urban Mobility, Lombardy stands out with Wayla S.r.l., a Milan-based start-up that is the first in Italy to introduce urban van-pooling: through an app, users can book a minibus ride (primarily electric), generating dynamic routes that group passengers together. This scalable alternative to private cars has surpassed 60,000 users in under a year, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 90%.
Also in Lombardy, in the Smart Living category, Tomato+ S.r.l. of Borgosatollo (Brescia) claimed the award. The company develops smart hydroponic greenhouses for year-round cultivation of organic zero-kilometre vegetables, managed by AI systems and based on compostable pods. These greenhouses reduce water consumption by up to 90%, eliminate pesticides and transport needs, and foster circular-economy models.
Tuscany also emerged among the winners, with two distinguished enterprises. In the Agriculture and Agri-Food Supply Chains category, the award went to Agrobit S.r.l. of Florence, creator of iAgro: a precision-farming app that, using AI and computer vision, turns a smartphone into a tool for analysing tree crops, providing guidance to optimise irrigation, treatments, and fertilisation—cutting water and agrochemical use by up to 40% while improving sustainability and climate resilience.
For circular economy, Rifò S.r.l. was recognised: an innovative SME and benefit corporation based in Prato that regenerates fine fibres (wool, cashmere, denim, cotton) from used garments and produces short-supply-chain yarns and clothing. By integrating social-inclusion projects and combating fast fashion and waste, Rifò reduces water, energy, and chemical consumption by up to 80%.

Cittadellarte's Special Mention to Rifò
Rifò received the special mention from Cittadellarte. Giacomo Bassmaji, Coordinator of Opera Demopratica Friuli Venezia Giulia and Rebirth/Third Paradise Ambassador, presented CEO Niccolò Cipriani with the award, which consisted of an artwork inspired by Michelangelo Pistoletto’s Reintegrated Apple.
“With great pleasure,” Bassmaji stated at the event, “Cittadellarte extends a special mention to Rifò on the occasion of the Legambiente Innovation Award. This recognition not only celebrates the excellence of a company, but highlights the value of a successful shared journey. The mention was agreed together with Paolo Naldini, Director of Cittadellarte, and Olga Pirazzi, who leads Fashion B.E.S.T.”
Bassmaji then shed light on the meaning behind the chosen award: “The prize presented today, Pistoletto’s Reintegrated Apple, is more than a symbol. It is an invitation. With its eight-metre height and the staples that mend the bite taken from the fruit, this monumental sculpture placed in front of Milan’s Central Station reminds us of the need to heal the rift between humanity and nature. Rifò, through its commitment to material regeneration and the circular economy, embodies this very gesture of repair. This is why we are pleased to share the Fashion B.E.S.T. journey with realities like Rifò, companies that transform vision into concrete action and demonstrate how fashion can indeed be a driving force for cultural and environmental change. Congratulations to Rifò,” he added, “and thank you for contributing, with intelligence and courage, to reintegrating what must be repaired in our relationship with the planet.”

Reflections from the Director of Cittadellarte
During the award ceremony, a video message from Paolo Naldini was also screened, in which he reflected on the recognition: “We live in the age of regeneration. For centuries we pursued—often with remarkable success—the concept of conquest, but today is the time for care. This is why we warmly welcomed the awarding of Rifò: the company represents a splendid example of how greater ecology can lead to greater economy. In rethinking and re-doing what we have done and thought in the past, we can not only improve and learn from our mistakes, but also generate fresh prosperity. It is as if we were reminding ourselves that not only destruction and war generate economy, but perhaps even more so creation and care.”
Naldini also focused on the award itself: “In this era of care, we chose a work by Pistoletto to define this mention—an object inspired by his Reintegrated Apple. It speaks of how the apple, symbol of the world and nature, has been bitten by us through our approach to the planet. Yet in Pistoletto’s vision, this bite is not left missing; it is reintegrated into the totality of the apple. Reintegration requires an exercise of vision, but also an exercise of technology - of artificial intelligence, which is human intelligence enhanced by our technical capacity - to mend the bite and return it to the apple. This is the symbol of our time, and for this reason we believe it is the most fitting award.”

The voice of Legambiente's Director
“Italy, once again in this edition of the Award, confirms itself as a cradle of environmental-sustainability innovation,” said Giorgio Zampetti, General Director of Legambiente. “The award-winning experiences—whose categories align with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—show that sustainability is not only a value but also an opportunity for economic and social development, guiding the country toward a future based on circular-economy principles. From waste reduction to positive impacts on air, water, soil, land, and biodiversity, up to the tangible benefits for the quality of life of local communities, the results of these good practices are clear. Many of these initiatives, often led by younger generations, demonstrate an innovative and forward-looking approach. The hope is that they will inspire new stories of ecological transition in Italy.”

Cover image credits: Legambiente (Daniele Faverzani).