Best sustainable practices of the Slovenia Green certified tourism providers in 2026

As every year, we want to highlight interesting practices from Slovenian destinations, each of which is making an effort, in its own way, to approach things a little differently. Firstly, because we want to praise their ingenuity and dedication, and secondly, to inspire all other destinations and individuals.

Ljubljana Castle: Upcycling red carpets

More than 600 – six hundred! – events take place at Ljubljana Castle every year and, as you might imagine, organisers often order various additional materials for these frequently one-off events, such as lights, felt, counters and similar items. The castle management put their heads together with the social enterprise KNOF, whose primary activity is reducing waste from textiles, furniture and plastics, to identify materials that could be recycled. 

In 2025, they turned red felt used for carpets – collecting as much as 80 kilograms of it – into a series of three products: 124 keyrings, 124 souvenir magnets, both available from the Friderik shop, and 160 cloakroom number tokens. Hats off to the castle folk for such down-to-earth thinking! 

Ljubljana Castle gives used red carpet felt a second life by turning it into souvenirs and cloakroom tokens. (Ljubljana Castle Photo Archive)

Jasna Resort: A phone-free dinner

You will probably agree that the following concept should practically be made law throughout Slovenia. At Gostilna Jasna, guests are encouraged to take a break from digital devices by placing their phones in a “house of silence” when they arrive. 

That way, while enjoying a dinner featuring dishes from three countries – Slovenia, Italy and Austria – they can focus on the flavours and on spending time with the flesh-and-blood people sitting beside them, rather than those on the other side of social media. A house of silence in every restaurant! 

A phone-free dinner, where guests are encouraged to put their phones away and focus on the food and each other.

Radgonske Gorice: Everything you need for a picnic

A good picnic requires two things, and Radgonske Gorice has taken care of both. Firstly, you need a “spot”: theirs is located on the castle hill above RG Bistro, where they revitalised an abandoned area in cooperation with a local company. They planted trees and herbs, installed a wooden fence and arranged the space so that it is ideal for – you guessed it – a picnic.

Secondly, you need a basket. These are made using the traditional craft of weaving willow branches from along the Mura River, and inside you will find a delicious sandwich, homemade sweet-potato crisps, pumpkin mayonnaise, Prekmurska gibanica, juice, water and sparkling wine. 

Ah yes, you actually need a third thing too: a picnic blanket. These were customised with the logo by the local social enterprise Vitica, while the napkins were created by Patricia Pie, a local company specialising in sustainable fashion. As for the fourth thing – just the right weather – you will have to arrange that yourselves.

A local picnic experience by Radgonske Gorice, complete with a picnic basket, blanket and local flavours.

Vila Bianca: Promoting local providers

Tourists can sometimes be, to put it mildly, rather awkward – they travel from the other side of the world and then want to eat fried calamari and chips. So everyone making an effort to introduce visitors to food with the shortest possible supply chain deserves praise. 

At Vila Bianca, considered the gateway to the Šaleška Valley, they organise tastings of local food and drinks, including chocolate products from Čokoladnica Lucifer, beer from the Šaleška Brewery, Potočnik Poprask potica, products made from the local Isabella grape, and other Šaleška products. Visitors get “something extra”, while local producers benefit as well. Hand in hand. And anyone who wants to burn off the calories can hop onto an electric bike and visit the producers of the food they have just enjoyed in person.

A tasting of local Šaleška Valley flavours at Vila Bianca, connecting visitors with local producers.