Press Information A guide to sustainable

The Palm House at the Garden Society The park Bältesspännarparken

Welcome to the world’s most sustainable Winner of Global Destination destination Sustainability Index Leadership Award

Gothenburg is not a global metropolis, not even a capital city. The latest ranking (2019): Evenso, it is a destination that makes an impact on big issues. For Rank City Overall score four years in a row, from 2016–2019, Gothenburg has held the 1 Gothenburg 90 % highest score in the Global Destination Sustainability Index*. And 2 Copenhagen 88 % in november 2020, Lonely Planet named Gothenburg the world’s 3 Zurich 85 % Best Sustainable City Stay in 2021. 4 Glasgow 78 % 5 Aalborg 76 % The fact that this destination on the Swedish west coast is a world 6 Malmö 76 % leader in sustainability is not due to any specific campaign. Rather, 7 Reykjavik 76 % it is thanks to long-term work done by the destination and daily 8 Sydney 75 % actions made by its residents and different organisations, many of which are in the hospitality industry. We believe that anyone can 9 Melbourne 74 % make a difference. 10 Uppsala 74 %

Examples on progressive work done on the destination: European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020

• 95 percent of all hotel rooms in Gothenburg are environmentally Gothenburg was together with Málaga awarded the European Ca- certified, making us one of the greenest hotel cities in the world. pital of Smart Tourism 2020*. A great honor, and an even greater responsibility. We intend to use the title to drive change on a Eu- • Public transport is a vital part of the city and increasingly elec- ropean scale. To us, this award is all about creating an even more tric, with 145 new electric buses 2020. sustainable destination, where everybody is welcome and able to take part. • The Way Out West music festival is fully vegetarian, with a large vegan offering. With the help from technology, culture, creativity, and involving partners within the destination – hotels, restaurants, event orga- • Amusement Park runs on 100 percent renewable en- nizers, private companies and the academia – we are set on de- ergy. They even have an attraction generating electricity to itself veloping in a positive direction. The capital year is extended to and other attractions. September 2021.

• Gothenburg Culture Festival has won many prizes for their work Read more on on goteborg.com. on sustainability, and aims to be the most sustainable event in Europe, free of disposable products.

For more information about green activities and outdoor adventures, please go to: https://www.goteborg.com/en/nature- experiences-and-outdoor-adventures/ Way out West festival

* GDSI and Smart City did not appoint any cities in 2020. SLEEP WITH A GOOD CONSCIENCE

Hotel Scandic Rubinen

Around 95 percent of the hotel rooms in the city are en- vironmentally certified, making Gothenburg one of the world’s most sustainable hotel cities.

Comfort Hotel Göteborg Clarion Hotel Post Skeppsbroplatsen 1 Drottningtorget 10

Comfort Hotel Göteborg challenges the hotel industry with the Clarion Hotel Post is a large, modern, first-class business and lei- goal of becoming the most sustainable hotel in Gothenburg and in sure hotel. The hotel is located in the old post office building at as a whole. In 2019 the hotel won the award as the most Drottningtorget, joined by an extension featuring a rooftop ter- environmental friendly and sustainable hotel out of approximately race with a pool and amazing views. All of the electricity used by 190 hotels in the chain. The hotel is now undergoing a plastic re- the hotel is renewable, they have removed palm oil in their food form. All disposable plastic has been removed, straws and coffee production and all of the staff’s clothes are 100 % recyclable. Their mug lids are now made of cardboard and toothbrushes are made cleaning products are free of chemicals and they have a system of bamboo, etc. The hotel is also calculating the climate cost of its reducing the water usage. food served. nordicchoicehotels.com nordicchoicehotels.com Hotel Eggers & Upper House Drottningtorget 2-4 Mässans gata 24 Hotel Eggers is the third-oldest hotel in Sweden still in opera- Gothia Towers is one of Europe’s five largest hotels, with 1,200 tion, located just by the central station in central Gothenburg, hotel rooms and its own trade fair and conference space, plus eight with parts of the building dating back to 1820. The hotel is Swan bars and restaurants. Gothia Towers also houses Upper House, ecolabelled and is powered entirely by electricity from its own a 5-star hotel with a spa. It is the largest hotel so far in Europe wind turbine. Measures are taken to reduce food waste and the that is environmentally certified according to BREEAM. 94 % of proportion of meat on the menu in the hotel restaurant has been all waste is recycled. Some is composted and digested, and then greatly reduced. They also have charging stations for guests who converted into biogas that heats ovens in the restaurant kitchen. have electric cars. Beehives and a roof kitchen garden provide fresh, locally produced hoteleggers.se ingredients for the restaurants. The entire plant’s electricity re- quirements are covered by wind power, which means that it saves approximately 5,500 tons of CO2 each year. gothiatowers.com Radisson Blu Riverside

Scandic (7 hotels in Gothenburg) Radisson Blu Hotels

In 1993, Scandic decided to become a leader in sustainability and Radisson Blu has two hotels in Gothenburg, the Radisson Blu push the development on sustainability in the hotel sector. The Scandinavia and the Radisson Blu Riverside. Both of the hotels idea to “hang up your towel if you want to use it again” came from are climate compensating for all events and meetings, they no Scandic – an idea that is now the standard in the hotel industry longer use plastics and their food is made based on the season. around the world. Scandic has opted out of using straws, drink During the summer they also provide electric bikes to all of its stirrers, toothbrushes and take-away cups made of plastic. In guests. Gothenburg three hotels are Swan ecolabelled; Rubinen, Europa radissonhotels.com and Opalen. scandichotels.com

STF Göteborg City Hotel & Hostel Drottninggatan 63-65 Gothenburg keeps on growing Centrally located budget accommodation with a modern and Before the pandemic the demand in hotel rooms was high trendy design. The hotel is certified by Green Key and also LEED in Gothenburg, and even though 2020 was a rough year classified. Within the Swedish Tourist Association, the hotel has the city will get more than 3000 new hotel rooms in both its own sustainability policy and is committed to sustainability, by new and existing hotels. In 2021, two new hotels will open focusing on community involvement, source separation, energy with almost 600 rooms in total. consumption, sustainable agriculture (organic products) and good working conditions. They avoid using disposables and only work Furthermore, the city is estimated to grow by a third until with environmentally certified cleaning products. 2035. That means 150 000 new residents. svenskaturistforeningen.se SUSTAINABILITY ON THE MENU

Taverna Averna

Many locals in Gothenburg enjoy a healthy and eco- friendly lifestyle. It is easy to find vegetarian food and chefs that prefer local produce and let the seasons cowrite their menus. Here is a short list of selected restaurants, bars and cafes with an eco-profile.

Natur Cum pane Geijersgatan 12 Mariagatan 17, Kobbarnas Väg 4

A restaurant for all occasions; a romantic dinner or a place to relax A small and genuine organic bakery that bakes everything with a glass of Champange. Vegetables are always in a constant from scratch. Here, every single ingredient is organic and focus, they serve seasonal dishes and all their wine is natural. the full range is eco-certified. restaurangnatur.se cumpane.coop

Garveriet Wine mechanics Garverivägen 9 Lilla Waterloogatan 15

At Garveriet in Floda, sustainability, local and small scale are top At this urban winery in the district of Gamlestaden, grapes from priorities. This old tannery is now a bakery, restaurant, cafe and Germany and France are turned into locally produced wines. shop with conference halls and much more. The ingredients used There is also a restaurant offering lunch, dinner and a weekend come from producers within a 200 kilometers radius, and the aim brunch. is to become self-sufficient on vegetables and fish, and besides that winemechanics.se inspire others to live and eat more sustainably. garveriet.se Kafé Magasinet Tredje Långgatan 9 Vrå Kafé Magasinet is KRAV*-certified, the electricity comes from so- Drottningtorget 10 lar panels and they are using biogas. The cafe has generous ope- Japanese and Swedish west coast fusion. Vrå has a strong focus on ning hours, serving everything from coffee and breakfast to dinner sustainability and Gothenburg’s largest sake bar. Most vegetables with solely organic wines. on the menu come from their own rooftop farm and the seafood kafemagasinet.se comes mostly from the wild instead of fish farms. restaurangvra.se/en

* The KRAV label shows that produce has been grown without chemical pesticides or fertiliser, with good standards of animal husbandry by ethical producers. Koka

Botaniska paviljongen Blackbird Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22A Stigbergsliden 3

A cafe and restaurant with local and KRAV*-certified dishes, with A vegan bar and restaurant locaded in Majorna. The food is com- seasonal changes, beautifully located in the Gothenburg Botanical pletely vegan and cooked from scratch using ingredients such as Garden. seitan, tofu and tempeh. Blackbird is a cooperative restaurant botaniskapaviljongen.se run by vegans. The resturant is a result of a crowdfunding project. blackbirdvegan.se St Agnes Vasagatan 37-39 Koka Viktoriagatan 12 A bakery and café with vegan sweets. St. Agnes is located at Röhsska At star restaurant Koka, sustainability makes the food taste even Museum of Design and Craft near the main boulevard, Avenyn. Here better. Here, it is natural to work with local farmers and to fol- you will find everything from sweet cinnamon buns, brownies and low the seasons, and the menus are based on vegetables and fish cheesecakes to grilled sandwiches and lentil soups. rather than meat. facebook.com/StAgnesKafe/ restaurangkoka.se

Vegan and vegetarian food is good for the environment. See lists of restaurants here: Vegan food and Vegetarian food

* The KRAV label shows that produce has been grown without chemical pesticides or fertiliser, with good standards of animal husbandry by ethical producers. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES*

Gunnebo House and Gardens

Gothenburg is one of Scandinavia’s best event cities. Considering the size of Gothenburg it has an impres- sive list of hosted events. It is not just a great event city, there are so many things you can do here. Explore everything from an amusement park and a hiking trail to historical buildings and public saunas.

Way Out West – IPBES won. Previous winners include Al Gore and Kofi Annan. The theme for 2021 is anti-corruption. The Way Out West festival has a strong focus on being environ- winwingothenburgaward.com mentally friendly and was the first festival in Sweden to become KRAV**-certified. All the food served during the festival is vege- tarian and has been since 2012. Thanks to the festivals popularity, More sustainable events it has been very successful in putting sustainability on top of the Other sustainable events are for instance The International Sci- agenda. ence Festival Gothenburg who works actively with sustainability wayoutwest.se in three dimensions; economical, ecological and social, and Goth- enburg Horse Show. Gothenburg Horse Show is environmentally Gothenburg Culture Festival certified and they are working hard to reduce their emissions. vetenskapsfestivalen.se One of Scandinavia’s largest culture festivals with over 1,5 million visits every year. The festival has made sustainability a part of its gothenburghorseshow.com DNA and done some very innovative work – like introducing a discount on food to people who bring their own lunch box and The sauna and public pool in Frihamnen dressing the whole staff in second hand clothes. Frihamnen 7 gothenburgculturefestival.com At the Frihamnen area on , across the river from the city Win Win Award centre, you will find the famous sauna constructed from recycled material. The sauna is located in Jubileumsparken, a test park The Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development is given an- which is in the process of becoming permanent. During the reno- nually in recognition for outstanding achievements towards a sus- vations in 2021, the sauna will be closed, together with the tainable future. With a prize fund of one million Swedish kronor, public pool which is developed to be socially and ecologically sus- it is the leading award of its kind. In 2020, The Intergovernmental tainable with water cleaned entirely without chlorine. When the Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services park opens in 2022, it is for the long run. goteborg.com/en/jubileumsparken * Events and activities can be cancelled or different than described due to the pandemic. ** The KRAV label shows that produce has been grown without chemical pesticides or fertiliser, with good standards of animal husbandry by ethical producers. Liseberg Amusement Park

Gunnebo House and gardens Pilgrimsleden Göta Älv Christina Halls väg Pilgrimsleden Göta Älv is about 120 kilometres and stretches from Masthuggskyrkan in Gothenburg via Ale, Lilla Edet, Trollhättan Gunnebo is a cultural heritage with guided tours and events, a and Vänersborg. Hiking the Pilgrimsleden Göta Älv from Gothen- shop, farm and coffee house. They also have a KRAV-certified burg to Vänersborg is about hiking with history theme. The rich restaurant with a beautiful kitchen garden where vegetables, ancient and medieval history is ever-present. spices, cut flowers and fruit trees grow. Gunnebo House and gardens has two stars in the Michelin Green Guide and the pilgrimsledengotaalv.se whole park has been organically certified since 2006. gunneboslott.se Let’s Boat Lejontrappan, Östra Hamngatan Liseberg Amusement Park Sail through the historical canals with your own electric boat! There are no requirements for a license to rent the boat and you Örgrytevägen 5 can fit as many as 12 persons onboard. Ride as a couple, family, Liseberg takes pride in being innovative when it comes to sustai- friends, colleagues or explore Gothenburg on your own. Drinks nability. They do not just use renewable energy – they own their and snacks are allowed to bring on so why not enjoy a picnic with own wind turbine. They do not only offer vegetarian alternatives local delicatessen onboard. You can rent the boat 1,2 or 3 hours – they have a completely vegetarian restaurant. Also, staff clothes from April 2021. are partially made from recycled plastic bottles and energy from letsboat.se one of the rollercoasters (Loke) is saved and used to drive itself and other attractions to name a few. liseberg.se

Gotaleden Swedes’ love for the nature Gotaleden is the perfect way to escape the city – yet have access As soon as the sun comes out, Swedes take to the streets to some of its comforts. The nine different legs stretching from and enjoy the weather. They also love the nature, and there Gothenburg to Alingsås are easily reachable by train. Along the is plenty of it for everyone. Allemansrätten (the freedom to roam) is much appreciated and gives you a great access to path there are plenty of sights, hotels, cafes and restaurants. If nature. You can even go camping for a night in the woods. you want to sleep in the woods there are shelters and fireplaces you can use. Gotaleden is growing with two more legs between This lifestyle has for long been a way for Swedes to find Alingsås and Vårgårda, opening in 2021. peacefulness and relaxation while breathing in the fresh air gotaleden.se and recharge batteries. Why not try the latest fast growing trend of winter swimming (without access to a sauna). SHOP SUSTAINABLE

Nudie Jeans Co. Store

Sustainable shopping is becoming increasingly im- portant for people, and our locals have already taken it to practice. Gothenburg offers several independent boutiques, from organic clothing and jeans to locally sourced food.

Thrive Nudie Jeans Södra Allégatan 11 Vallgatan 15

At Thrive – Conscious Fashion you can find the best organic, This success story started in Gothenburg in the early 2000s and fair and sustainable fashion available in the industry. Provided in the head office is still located here. Nudie Jeans is one of the most selective small collections from the most interesting, innovative well-known and sustainable jeans brand in the world, with retai- and conscious designers/manufacturers around the world. You lers globally. Their jeans are made with 100 percent organic cot- will find nothing but natural, organic or recycled garments free ton denim, social responsibility and transparent production. They from harsh chemicals, pesticides and toxic dyes. The shop in Haga strive for sustainable consumption by offering free repair service, is fully restored to ecological construction principles and comple- reselling second hand products and recycling worn out products. tely furnished from recycled natural materials. nudiejeans.com thrivestore.se Fram Icebug Nordenskiöldsgatan 18, Södra Allégatan 2 Södra Larmgatan 9 Established back in 1984 as a customer cooperative, this food shop Icebug is the first climate positive outdoor shoe brand and a world is now run by its employees. Despite the fact that organic food is leader in sustainability. They offer a wide range of grip-proof out- now found in most supermarkets it is always crowded at Fram. door shoes, and in their collection you will find walking, runnin g The traditional and genuine touch is probably part of its success. and hiking shoes. Icebug is based in Gothenburg with a store in Here, you find a lot of products not available elsewhere. the city center and headquarter in Jonsered, right outside Goth- framekolivs.se enburg. icebug.com Happy Vegan Olivedalsgatan 2 A vegan grocery store located at Olivedalsgatan in Linné. Besides aiming to have a wide selection of vegan products, Happy vegans’ goal is to have a sustainable approach in as many aspects as pos- sible. happyvegan.se Haga

Eco & Fair Dedicated Landsvägsgatan 38 Kungsgatan 17

This shop has been around for a few years and is loca- Right in the city centre you will find Dedicated. A shop for ted close to Linnégatan. Among other things, the shop has modern street wear that also happens to be keen on eco a wide selection of ethically produced shoes. friendly materials and fair trade. They have clothes for minni.se men, women and kids. dedicatedbrand.com EcoRide Övre Husargatan 11 Eduards Accessories Cool electric bike shop in Linne/Haga. It was founded in Gothen- Kastellgatan 11 burg with the purpose to give people an option to petrol-driven The Gothenburg brand, Eudards Accessories, is inspired by the vehicles and instead contribute to a better environment by choo- patterns and structures around us. The Swedish architect and sing electric bikes. designer Cecilia Eduards designs everyday accessories made with care. The showroom is located at Kastellgatan, and you will find ecoride.se the accessories at some stores in Gothenburg. Maska eduardsaccessories.se Fjärde Långgatan 6 Tvåla & Tvaga The idea behind Maska was to take the best part of the hand knit- ting world – the quality of yarns and the elaborate patterns – and Haga Nygata 5 make it commercially available. Sustainability is in focus throug- Cute shop located among the cafés along Haga Nygata. A small- hout the production, but also in the long-lasting quality of the scale soap factory is found behind the scenes, focusing on organic garments. ingredients and lovely scents. maska.se tvalaochtvaga.se SECOND HAND AND VINTAGE SHOPS

Flea Market in Majorna

It is easy and fun to shop vintage and second hand bargains in Gothenburg. You will find everything from fancy antiques to second hand and exclusive vintage clothes.

Myrorna everything for an outdoor adventure; clothing, hiking boots, surf- boards, skis and much more. Järntorgsgatan 10, Redbergsvägen 11A tracksrecycle.se The second hand store Myrorna at Järntorget is one of the lar- gest in Sweden. With four floors of selected clothes, furniture and books you can easily spend several hours strolling around. Do not Kvillehyllan miss the top floor where you will find the real goodies. Kvilletorget 16

myrorna.se Porcelain, furniture, art, clothes, handicraft from local designers - the charming second hand shop Kvillehyllan has it all. A fun twist Ragtime herr is that anybody can rent a space in the store and sell their stuff which results in an ever-changing selection of products. Magasinsgatan 15 kvillehyllan.se This is the place for men who do not want to go through tons of stuff in order to find what they are really looking for. The selection Fåfängans Antik is already made for you, and that is partly what you pay for, except for the quality and style of course. Haga Nygata 16 ragtimeherr.se This little gem is full of unique antiques and items tantalizing the mind. The shop is firmly rooted in old school antiques but has BjörkåFrihet expanded into the world of Christian Dior jewellery, beautiful bi- jouterie and a range of gentlemen’s paraphernalia. Linnégatan 9, Ångpannegatan 5 fafangansantik.com Björkåfrihet is not your carefully selected vintage store, but the clothes are well sorted according to occasion, style and colour. Flea markets Prices are much more reasonable than the more fashionable vin- tage-stores. There are many flea markets in Gothenburg during the year and emmausbjorka.se it is a great way to both make a bargain and meet local people. The Megaloppis, which takes place on the last weekend in May, is the largest one in town, transforming Majorna, the hip district in Tracks Recycle the city’s west end, into a gigantic yard sale attracting thousands Karl Johansgatan 76 of visitors.

Tracks Recycle is a premium second-hand shop specialized in Read more about second hand and vintage in Gothenburg: clothing and gear for outdoor sports and activities. The store has www.goteborg.com/en/vintage/ TRAVEL AROUND GOTHENBURG

Gothenburg is a pocket-sized metropolis where almost everything is within walking distance. If you prefer oth- er means of transportation, there is a well-developed tram network that does not generate any carbon dioxide emissions and no less than 1,000 practical rental bikes at your disposal.

Walking or biking buses with a capacity of 11 persons. It may not take you far as its route 56 just have two stops, but it is free and can be a fun expe- Most points of interest in Gothenburg are within walking or rience. By 2030 there will be only electric buses in Gothenburg. cycling distance. The city operates a popular rental bike system called Styr & Ställ with 1,750 bikes at 135 stations located between Assistance and accessibility for public transport 300 and 500 metres apart. With 7 gears and all bikes accessible To improve the accessibility of public transport, Gothenburg has through an app in your mobile phone, it is easy and convenient to travel guides assisting travellers, and free assistance can be ar- discover the city. It is cheap and eco-friendly. You can also rent a ranged when travelling with Västtrafik. Västtrafik also has a travel bike for a couple of days at one of Gothenburg’s bike rentals. planning tool (Reseplaneraren) which permits journey planning with various accessibility requirements, such as space for a wheel- Public transport chair or on-board announcement of each stop.

The public transport system in Gothenburg consists of a large net- The electric ferry Elvy work of buses, trams and ferries where 96 % of the vehicles are driven by non-fossil fuels. Gothenburg is a city located by the water and ferries traffic the Göta älv river. Elvy is driven by only renewable electricity and Tram made her virgin journey in November 2018. In the future there are plans to convert at least two more ferries to electric driven ones. The trams are not only a beautiful and historic way to experience the city, they also run on electricity which contributes to better air in the city. To decrease to sound from the trams the tracks are Taxi often surrounded by grass, which contributes to a greener city. The two main taxi companies in Gothenburg – Taxi Göteborg and Taxi Kurir – are both environmentally certified. Taxi Göteborg is ElectriCity buses certified under the Safe Green Taxi scheme (Säker Grön Taxi). The drivers are trained in eco-driving techniques, which on average ElectriCity is an exciting collaborative initiative between industry, reduce emissions by 13 per cent. Taxi Kurir has set up the Kurir research and society in Gothenburg that is developing and testing Quality certification system, which is fully ISO certifiable and is solutions for tomorrow’s sustainable public transport system.On similar to Safe Green Taxi. 34 bus routes you can travel on silent, electric buses that run on renewable electricity. The latest edition is the self driven mini-

Recommendations about avoiding public transportation and/or use a mask on buses and trams can apply during the pandemic Train Göteborg Landvetter Airport

Gothenburg has good rail connections and you can get here from The Göteborg Landvetter Airport is one of the most environmen- the central stations in Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen in just a tal-friendly in Europe. It is certified to the highest level of the Air- few hours. Travelling by train is energy-efficient, comfortable and port Carbon Accreditation scheme (3+). Göteborg Landvetter Air- produces low emissions. port tackles environmental and sustainability issues in many ways; all electricity used at the airport comes from renewable sources, Ferries one of the multi-storey car parks is powered by solar panels, and heat is generated by biomass boilers and distributed by a district Stena Line ferries run from Gothenburg to Denmark and Germa- heating system. There are also charging points for electric vehicles ny. The company’s terminals in Gothenburg are close to the city and the airport’s own vehicles have been replaced to ensure the centre which makes it easy to continue your journey in the city on lowest emission class. public transport. Stena Line vessels and the terminals in Gothen- burg are environmentally certified to ISO 14001. The port was also Airport Shuttle the first in the world to provide onshore power to vessels at berth. The airport shuttle bus from Landvetter departs every 15 minutes Electric cars and stops at several central locations in Gothenburg. The buses are fossil free, and the drivers receive training in how to drive in Göteborg Energi provides a map showing where you can charge a sustainable manner. your car in Gothenburg and Sweden. Several parking lots and houses offer free charging for electric cars (but you need to pay the normal parking fee) and during the winter 2020/2021 Gothenburg got 500 more charging stations at public parking places. Many hotels also offer the opportunity to charge the guests electric cars. Sweden is one of the top countries in the world when it comes to electric vehicles and biofuel.

Recommendations about avoiding public transportation and/or use a mask on buses and trams can apply during the pandemic For more info and inspiration visit goteborg.com

@goteborgcom #gothenburg #thisisgbg

Photos: Jennie Smith, Pär Pixel Petersson, Peter Kvarnström, Niklas Andersson Photo/Scandic Rubinen, Maria Kopp, Aveny.se, Tina Stafrén, Line Ikse, Emma Andrea, Markus Wetterberg, Happy Visuals, Superstudio D&D, Anders Wester, Kjell Holmner, Erik Nissen Johansen