Ein Einblick in den Kreislauftourismus: Essen, Gemeinschaft und Nachhaltigkeit auf Bornholm What if tourism could become part of the solution rather than part of the problem? This summer, the Projekt VERNE Brought together researchers, local food actors, policymakers and the public on Denmark’s culinary-rich island of Bornholm to explore how tourism can reduce its environmental footprint while strengthening local communities. Piloting solutions in five European countries Across five European countries — Denmark, Germany, Greece, Finland and Slovenia — the VERNE project is turning local challenges into opportunities for more circular and inclusive tourism. Its five pilots are testing solutions rooted in the realities of each place, exploring what it takes to create a more sustainable future for both people and destinations. On Denmark’s Bornholm Island, the pilot focuses on food experience tourism and the role it can play in building a more circular local food system. The pilot brings digital technologies into the picture, helping to better track and optimise local food production, transport and preparation — while tackling food waste and reducing the environmental footprint of tourism. In the project, a Community of Practice (CoP) has been established at each pilot destination to engage local tourism actors, residents and visitors in developing and co-creating solutions. In Bornholm, the CoP provides a space for local stakeholders to discuss and provide feedback on the circular solutions being developed by the pilot. A food festival and local engagement In summer 2026, the Bornholm pilot took this dialogue beyond the CoP and into the heart of the island’s food scene. At “Sonnenuntergang über Gudhjem”, Denmark’s popular food festival, local actors and policymakers came together for an open panel discussion on how Bornholm can become a more circular tourism destination. The event opened with a panel discussion, Food for Circular Thoughts. Moderated by Peter Funch, a local media figure, it looked into questions such as how can tourism create more value for local communities while reducing its environmental impact. Georgios Charalampous, representing the EU Commission, opened the discussion by highlighting the growing climate footprint of tourism and the need for more sustainable approaches. Professor, Bent Egberg Mikkelsen (Lund University), who is leading the Bornholm pilot, highlighted the important role of local businesses, schools and citizens in driving change. As explained in his own words: “Bornholm provides a unique setting to explore how the island’s strong food culture and local community can support the transition towards circular tourism”. Toward a circular island The discussion showed that sustainability is not new to Bornholm’s tourism sector. Many sustainable practices are already part of the island’s tourism offering. The challenge is to turn these practices into lasting impact. How, for example, can visitors be inspired to take sustainable habits home with them — from avoiding food waste to choosing organic food? And how can a small island manage the environmental pressures created by a large number of visitors? Waste management is a particularly pressing issue. Bornholm is home to fewer than 40,000 people, yet welcomes around 600,000 visitors each year. Managing the resulting waste sustainably is therefore a major challenge for the island. The discussion at “Sol over Gudhjem” raised an intriguing question: could Bornholm process its organic waste locally and use the resulting biogas to meet some of its own energy needs? This question connects directly to Bornholm’s long-standing ambitions for a more sustainable and self-sufficient future. In 2007, the island launched its “Bright Green Island” (BGI) strategy — an ambition to become a 100% sustainable, carbon-neutral and zero-waste society. The initiative emerged in the wake of a severe economic downturn affecting traditional industries such as fisheries and farming. Local community leaders, businesses and citizens came together to rethink the island’s future, turning its geographical isolation into an opportunity to develop Bornholm as a “living laboratory” for green solutions. The ambition gained a new dimension at the end of 2018, when Bornholm decided to decommission its old waste incinerator. In early 2019, the island launched “Bornholm Leads the Way – Without Waste 2032”, setting out an ambition to eliminate waste and create a more circular, self-sustaining system. Local biogas production could potentially connect these two ambitions. By turning organic waste into a local source of renewable energy, it could link waste management, resource recovery and energy production — creating a practical example of sector coupling. While the BGI strategy provides the broader vision of a carbon-neutral and sustainable island, the 2032 ambition provides a concrete pathway towards a circular economy. It is at this crossroads between carbon neutrality, circularity and zero waste that the Bornholm pilot is now operating — exploring new pathways toward tourism actors contributing to, and benefitting from, the island’s vision for the future. Bei Fragen zum VERNE-Pilotprojekt auf Bornholm wenden Sie sich bitte an Regina Fernández. Erfahren Sie mehr über VERNE hier und wenden Sie sich an Kartika Anggraeni Bei weiteren Fragen.