Ljubljana Tourism is promoting waste reduction and more effective waste separation through a project introducing a zero-waste strategy in Ljubljana’s hotels. These efforts to encourage more environmentally responsible hotel operations have earned Ljubljana prestigious international recognition: a place on the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list, which highlights innovative and effective approaches to sustainable tourism development from destinations around the world.

Ljubljana Tourism launched the project Introducing a Zero-Waste Strategy in Ljubljana Hotels in 2023 in cooperation with the City of Ljubljana, the public utility company Voka Snaga, Ecologists Without Borders and the Department of Geography at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Arts. The project aims to systematically reduce waste in the accommodation sector through regular measurements and expert recommendations. Participating hotels measure the amount and types of waste they generate twice a year and subsequently receive analyses and recommendations for improvement. The project also includes expert consultations, workshops and the exchange of good practices among participating hotels.

The results are encouraging. In the latest measurement cycle, conducted in April this year, all participating hotels generated less than 0.6 kilograms of waste per guest per night, meeting an internationally recognised benchmark for excellence in zero-waste hospitality. Hotels involved in the project since its launch have significantly reduced their total waste, improved waste separation and brought the proportion of mixed waste to below 10%. The project has also led to numerous practical changes in hotel operations, from optimising purchasing and reducing food waste to improving the labelling of waste separation bins in guest rooms.

Hotels that have participated in the project to date include Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons, Hotel Cubo, The Hotel, City Hotel Ljubljana, Urban Hotel, Sport Hotel Ljubljana, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Ljubljana, DoubleTree by Hilton Ljubljana, Hostel Celica, Grand Plaza Hotel, B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park and Vander.

Ljubljana Tourism plans to involve more accommodation providers in the project and extend the methodology to other areas of tourism, including events and food service operations. This year, the project was also recognised as an example of good practice in sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation under the City of Ljubljana’s Mission 100 programme.

Ljubljana recognised for sustainable tourism practices for the twelfth time

The project has earned a place on the international Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list, compiled by the organisation Green Destinations. The list highlights successful and innovative approaches taken by tourism destinations around the world to address environmental, social and other sustainable development challenges. This marks Ljubljana’s twelfth inclusion on the list.

A year of major sustainability recognitions

Ljubljana’s inclusion on this year’s Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list is complemented by two other significant sustainability achievements. For the second consecutive year, Ljubljana ranked among the world’s top 40 destinations in the Global Destination Sustainability Index, an international benchmarking programme assessing the sustainability performance of tourism destinations. Ljubljana also successfully passed its latest assessment under the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, retaining the highest sustainability certification, Slovenia Green Destination Platinum.

Together, these three achievements reflect Ljubljana’s long-term, systematic commitment to sustainable development and tourism management.

Learn more about Ljubljana Tourism here.