Tallinn’s formula for greener gatherings

How Estonia’s capital is redefining sustainable tourism and events — one summit at a time

What does it look like when sustainability isn’t treated as a feature, but as the foundation? In Tallinn, responsibility isn’t reserved for special campaigns — it’s part of how the city works. From daily decisions to large-scale events, sustainable thinking is embedded into how Tallinn welcomes visitors, plans gatherings, and reimagines urban life.

The first film features Made Raie, MICE Destination Marketing Specialist at Visit Tallinn, who outlines how the city supports responsible event planning — from guiding organisers toward better choices to encouraging greener mobility. With most venues and hotels Green Key certified, the infrastructure is already in place. At large-scale gatherings like the Bolt Summer Summit, this translates into real action: plant-based menus, a ban on single-use plastics, renewable diesel-fueled buses etc.

Also featured are sustainability leads, event organisers, and companies who, through their dedicated work, are actively helping shape Tallinn into the knowledgeable, connected, and forward-thinking MICE destination it is today. Their message is clear: making events more sustainable isn’t just possible — it’s good business. And here, it’s already becoming the norm.

The second film features Margot Roose, Deputy Mayor of Tallinn, offering a wider perspective on how the city’s long-term climate goals are being translated into tourism policy, cultural preservation, and urban infrastructure. Filmed during the Song and Dance Celebration and set against the UNESCO-listed Tallinn Old Town, this film illustrates what happens when sustainability is supported from the top — and strengthened by the everyday actions of communities on the ground.

Together, these perspectives show how a city can move beyond one-off initiatives and into systemic change. Whether it’s the availability of free public transport for delegates, the upcycling of event decorations, or the city’s embrace of agile, solution-oriented partners, Tallinn demonstrates how sustainability can be quietly powerful — woven into every layer of experience.

Tallinn’s approach is part of a broader national ambition: to shape a tourism future that strengthens communities, protects the environment, and creates meaningful connections between people and place.

These are not best-case scenarios — they’re real-life examples of what happens when sustainability is designed into the system from the very beginning.