Green Line with Ana Ponikvar

In the Green Line interview series, we highlight heroes of sustainability in Slovenia and around the world. Each interviewee shares their insights on sustainability and the work they do. The line was started by Tina H. Zakonjšek, head of the Slovenia Green programme and representative of the Slovenia Green Association. We then spoke with Anže Čokl, owner of the Sunrose 7 hotel and a true ecological innovator.

This time, we invite you to read the views and thoughts of the Best Green Coordinator, Ana Ponikvar, who was awarded this flattering title at the Green Day of Slovenian Tourism 2026. Ana works at the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Brežice and has led her destination, Brežice, to the highest recognition within the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism – the Slovenia Green Destination Platinum label.

Read on to discover the secret behind her successful work and the advice she would give to other green coordinators.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN 5 POINTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is a way of life for me. For me, sustainability is not just a work-related task, but a way of thinking and making decisions in everyday life. And there is probably a reason why people at work have been calling me “green” for some time now, as I also encourage the people around me to think this way.

I love being in nature. Hikes or walks are part of my everyday life. I often go for a walk with a bag and pick up any discarded waste I find, because I believe that each of us can contribute to a nicer and cleaner environment through small actions.

I have enjoyed working in the garden since I was little, as it is also a form of relaxation for me. I am happy when we can grow some of our food at home, and what cannot be grown in our garden, I like to buy from local producers. I believe that in doing so, we support the local economy, keep the countryside alive and reduce the impacts associated with long transport routes.

Sustainability does not stay at home when I travel either. When travelling, I am interested in people, culture and nature. I always look for ways to experience a destination respectfully and sustainably, and I look for ideas and inspiration that can also be transferred into our everyday life.

In everyday habits, I look for responsible solutions. From consistent waste separation and meal planning to reduce the amount of food waste, to shopping with a list so that I buy only what I truly need. For shorter distances, I often run errands on foot, and I try to reuse packaging and bags as often as possible. I believe that sustainability is not about big words, but about small decisions we make every day.

FAVOURITE GREEN MEMORY / PROJECT / STORY

The Brežice City Promenade was one of the first events in our area where we began to take waste separation seriously. Both visitors and some food providers looked somewhat sceptically at the additional bins, separation instructions and our green measures. Many felt that it was unnecessary and that it would only create extra work.

But we believed that we could take a step forward. We persisted, explained, encouraged and, above all, set an example. Step by step, people began to understand that waste separation is not complicated, but primarily a matter of decision and habit. When I look back today, I am proud that we managed to convince both providers and visitors. This story taught me that sustainable changes do not happen overnight. They require persistence, patience and people who believe in the goal even when it seems that others do not yet see it. That is exactly why this project is so close to my heart – because it proves that with a clear goal and joint effort, we can change habits and create more responsible events.

 WHEN I HAVE A DAY OFF (CONTINUE THE SENTENCE)…

I most like to spend it in nature, on a walk or, even better, somewhere in the hills.

MY TOWN – BREŽICE – IN 5 YEARS I SEE…

As an even greener, more orderly and pleasant place to live. I would like people to value their environment even more, support local providers and work together to take care of cleanliness and quality of life. At the same time, I believe that Brežice will remain a place where both locals and visitors feel good.

WHICH VALUE GUIDES YOU MOST IN YOUR WORK AS A GREEN COORDINATOR

The value that guides me most is persistence. Sustainable changes do not happen overnight, and sometimes the same thing needs to be explained several times, demonstrated by example and believed in even when others are not yet convinced. A lot of work takes place in the background – with strategies, an action plan and monitoring results, where a longer period of time is needed before the results become visible.

WHICH PART OF YOUR WORK AS A GREEN COORDINATOR IS THE LEAST VISIBLE, BUT THE MOST CRUCIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE DESTINATION?

The least visible, yet at the same time one of the most important parts of my work, is certainly the collection of data, evidence and entries into the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism platform. Behind every indicator, report or certificate, there is a great deal of coordination, collecting attachments and monitoring results. In this process, it is not enough to simply know the criteria and requirements of the Green Scheme; it is important that a sustainable way of thinking becomes part of everyday work. Since we carry out many different projects and activities, I am constantly thinking about how to include sustainability directly or indirectly in our decisions. This systematic approach in the background is often invisible to visitors, but it is crucial for the long-term development of the destination.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST IN THE FIELD OF SUSTAINABILITY AMONG PROVIDERS?

What inspires me most among providers is the fact that, for some of them, sustainability is not something new, but a way of life. When you visit them, you quickly see that they do many things with sound common sense and with great respect for the environment, just as a generation or two before us actually did. These are providers who use local ingredients, cooperate with nearby producers, create or restore things themselves and respect the environment in which they live and work.

I like such stories the most because they show that sustainability is not something complicated. Very often, it is simply a way of thinking and a matter of everyday decisions. For such providers, certificates are actually only a confirmation of what they have already been doing for a long time.

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU SEND TO NEW GREEN COORDINATORS WHO ARE ONLY JUST STARTING IN THIS ROLE?

Do not be intimidated by all the indicators and requirements waiting for you at the beginning. It is true that there are many of them, but over time you realise that they are not an end in themselves. In fact, they represent a good way to monitor and guide the development of the destination in different areas – from the environment and mobility to cooperation with local providers and the community.

My advice is to take your time, divide the indicators into smaller sections and read them carefully. Once you understand what each individual indicator actually requires, the work becomes much easier and more meaningful. When working with providers, the most important thing is to present sustainability in a simple and understandable way. Very often, we find that many of them are already implementing sustainable practices, but do not recognise them as such themselves.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE – WOULD THE MESSAGE BE DIFFERENT?

To those with more years of experience, I would say that they should remain curious and open to change. Sustainability is a field that is constantly evolving; new challenges, new tools and new perspectives are emerging. Sometimes we feel that we already know certain things well, but practice quickly teaches us something new.

I also believe it is important to share our knowledge and experience with younger colleagues. And perhaps one more thing – let us not forget to occasionally take a moment and look at everything we have already achieved. In sustainability, we are often focused on what still lies ahead, while too rarely do we realise how many positive changes we have already created.

AND TO CONCLUDE — IF YOU HAD A “MAGIC WAND OF SUSTAINABILITY”, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE OR MAKE HAPPEN IN BREŽICE OR IN SLOVENIA IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM?

If I had a magic wand of sustainability, I would primarily wish for people to perceive sustainability as something completely normal and not as an additional obligation. For everyone to become more aware of how precious the things we often take for granted really are, such as clean drinking water. For visitors to take home more experiences and fewer things.

I believe that sustainability is not only about waste separation or green mobility, but above all about ensuring that a place remains pleasant for locals to live in and interesting for visitors even ten or twenty years from now.

If I could change just one thing, I would make sure that every tourist, at least for a moment, felt respect for the place they are visiting – for its nature, its people and their way of life. I think that true sustainability begins precisely there. As the saying goes: “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder

Photo source: Slovenian Tourist Board