Estonia is a natural choice for sustainable meetings, conferences and business events. Compact and walkable cities, abundant nature, digital solutions and a growing selection of green-certified hotels and venues make it easy for event planners to reduce environmental impact without compromising the delegate experience. Estonia ranks #1 in the world in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index, while around half of the country is covered by forests. Nature is never far away – even when your conference takes place in the heart of the city.

For international event planners, sustainability in Estonia is not just about choosing a green venue. It can be built into the entire event experience: from walking between hotels and conference venues to serving local food, using digital event solutions and taking delegates into nature.

Why Choose Estonia for Sustainable Meetings?

Compact & Walkable Conference Cities

Estonia’s main conference destinations – Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu – are compact and easy to navigate. Hotels, conference venues, restaurants and attractions are often within walking distance, helping organisers reduce the need for transfers.

In Tallinn, the airport is only around 4 km from the city centre, keeping airport transfers exceptionally short. Public transport provides another convenient alternative for getting around the city.

Nature Is Always Close

Around half of Estonia is covered by forest, complemented by bogs, wetlands, islands and a long coastline. Even from Estonia’s main conference cities, nature can be reached quickly. This makes it easy to combine a business event with outdoor experiences such as bog walks, forest hikes, foraging or nature-based team activities – without spending hours travelling. 

Local & Seasonal Food

Food is an important part of planning more sustainable events in Estonia. Local restaurants, hotels and caterers increasingly focus on seasonal ingredients and locally sourced produce. Depending on the season, menus can feature Estonian vegetables and grains, berries, mushrooms and herbs, as well as locally sourced fish and other produce.

Tap water throughout Estonia is safe to drink, allowing event organisers to use reusable bottles, glasses and water stations instead of single-use bottled water.

Choosing local suppliers, seasonal menus and restaurants within walking distance of the conference venue can help reduce environmental impact while giving delegates a more authentic taste of Estonia.

Digital Solutions for Paperless Meetings

Estonia is one of the world’s most digitally advanced societies, making paperless and digital-first conferences particularly easy to organise.

Digital registration, electronic tickets, online programmes, event apps, QR codes and cashless payments are part of everyday life. Reliable Wi-Fi and internet connections are standard in conference hotels and meeting venues.

For organisers, this means less printing and fewer physical materials, while delegates can access up-to-date event information digitally throughout their stay.

Green-Certified Hotels & Conference Venues

Event planners looking for sustainable hotels and conference venues in Estonia can choose from a growing number of businesses carrying internationally recognised environmental certifications.

Green Key is one of the world’s leading sustainability certifications for tourism establishments. Green Key-certified businesses follow environmental criteria covering areas such as energy and water use, waste management, responsible purchasing and guest engagement.

A growing number of Estonian hotels, conference venues, restaurants and visitor attractions hold Green Key certification, making it easier to include sustainability criteria when selecting suppliers for meetings and events.

Several Estonian tourism businesses and destinations also participate in international sustainability programmes such as Travelife and Green Destinations.

Explore our Venues & Hotels section, where Green Key-certified hotels and conference venues are clearly marked to help you find sustainable options for your event in Estonia.

Sustainable Activities for Groups

Sustainability can become part of the conference or incentive programme itself. Estonia offers plenty of opportunities to combine team activities with nature, local culture and positive impact.

Ideas for groups include:

• Bog and forest walks with local nature guides
• Foraging experiences with local chefs
• Tree planting and nature-restoration activities
• Community and clean-up activities
• Upcycling workshops with Estonian designers
• Creative workshops using recycled or leftover materials
• Locally made and sustainable conference gifts

These experiences give delegates an opportunity to discover Estonia while adding a meaningful local dimension to the event.

Simple Ways to Make Your Meeting Greener

Organising a sustainable conference does not necessarily require major changes. Event planners can reduce the environmental impact of an event by choosing centrally located venues and hotels, encouraging delegates to walk or use public transport, selecting certified suppliers, reducing printed materials and single-use products, and prioritising local and seasonal catering.

The compact nature of Estonia’s conference destinations makes many of these choices particularly easy to implement.

Plan a Sustainable Meeting in Estonia

Planning a sustainable meeting, conference or business event in Estonia? The Estonian Convention Bureau provides independent local expertise and practical support for international event planners. We can help identify suitable green-certified hotels and conference venues, connect you with trusted local partners and suggest sustainable activities and programme ideas. For advice on organising your event in Estonia, contact us at info@ecb.ee.