GREEN KEY – Visitor Center Lake Cerknica

What is the Green Key?

The Green Key is the leading standard of excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism industry. This prestigious sustainability mark signifies the commitment of companies to, in certified establishments, respect the strict criteria set by the International Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The Green Key sustainability sign ensures that all guests, by choosing a certified tourist establishment, directly contribute to environmental protection. Establishments maintain high environmental standards through strict documentation and frequent inspection checks.

Program goals

The Green Key program aims to increase the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable ways of doing business and, consequently, reduce the overall use of resources, raise awareness, and change the behavior patterns of all stakeholders in individual tourist establishments and in the tourism industry as a whole.

Visitor Center Lake Cerknica

At the Visitor Center Lake Cerknica we recognize the exceptional natural and cultural values offered by our very special piece of the world. We are committed to sustainable management and thereby reducing the carbon footprint in the areas of environmental, social, cultural, and economic activities, and we aim to promote awareness and cooperation among employees, suppliers, visitors, and the local community.

Negative environmental impacts are reduced with the following targeted goals: 

Energy and water savings:

• Reducing energy and water consumption with a focus on the use of energy-efficient equipment.
• Use of energy-efficient lighting.
• Reducing water consumption.

Waste generation: 

• Reducing the amount of waste by encouraging purchases of goods without extra packaging. 

Employee awareness: 

• Providing training and education on sustainable development for employees.
• Encouraging employees to adopt a sustainable mobility pattern (public transport, cycling, walking).
• Reducing paper consumption and using recycled paper.

Visitor awareness: 

• Carrying out educational programs and events on the importance of environmental protection and sustainable tourism and the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Notranjska Park.
• Encouraging visitors to adopt sustainable mobility (public transport, cycling, walking).

Biodiversity conservation: 

• Participation in habitat conservation projects in Notranjska Park. 

Collaboration with the local community: 

• Involving the local community in sustainable development programs for the wider local community.
• Preference in purchases of products from local and environmentally responsible suppliers.

With these goals we commit to continuously improving our environmental practices and to co-creating a sustainable future for Notranjska Park within the framework of Visitor Center Lake Cerknica.

Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism

The Center is now successfully included with the help of the Green Key certificate also in the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism. Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (ZSST) is a national program and certification scheme under the umbrella brand SLOVENIA GREEN: it brings together all efforts for sustainable tourism development in Slovenia; it offers destinations and providers concrete tools for assessing and improving sustainable operation, and through the Slovenia Green brand it also promotes this green operation.