Does sustainability have to be expensive? PROTO’s experience from the CliNeDest pilot programme
When sustainability is discussed in tourism companies, the same question often arises: where can we find the time, money and people for it?
PROTO Invention Factory is an experience and discovery centre in Tallinn that hosts exhibitions, workshops, family programmes and events. The company had already worked with sustainability topics before, including through the Green Key ecolabel, but the pilot programme helped it look at its existing activities more systematically.
Company: PROTO Invention Factory
Sector: Experience and discovery centre, exhibitions, educational programmes, events and family attractions
Size: One of Estonia’s best-known experience centres, offering visitors interactive science and virtual reality experiences and organising corporate events, conferences and educational programmes
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
For many, sustainability is associated with major investments and complex projects. However, PROTO Invention Factory’s experience in the pilot programme of the international CliNeDest project shows that change often begins with much smaller steps.
“It is often assumed that sustainability means major expenses and complicated projects. In reality, small steps can make the biggest difference,” says Carmen Kõrvek, Events and Programme Project Manager at PROTO Invention Factory.
Data helps with decision-making
One of the most important discoveries for PROTO was how climate impact assessment tools and calculators help make sustainability more concrete.
“When you enter the data and see the results, you can start testing different solutions and assess which change could have the greatest impact.”
For example, the calculations helped assess the impact of upgrading LED lighting. Previously, lamps had been replaced gradually as needed, but the calculator showed what effect renewing the entire system at once could have. This made the decision-making process easier and helped the company see the broader impact of the change.
“The important thing is to start and identify the areas where change is easiest and where the impact is greatest.”
Sometimes you are already doing more than you think
According to Kõrvek, the workshops provided another important insight: companies are often already doing many of the right things, but they do not always view them as part of a wider sustainability perspective.
PROTO has invested in environmentally conscious solutions for years and also holds the Green Key ecolabel, which is considered one of the best-known recognitions in sustainable tourism. The CliNeDest workshops helped the company see these activities as a whole and understand how energy use, food waste and material use affect the company’s wider sustainability.
“One of the most valuable lessons was that we are already doing quite a lot. We simply had not previously viewed all these activities as one whole or as part of a sustainable business model.”
Small changes with a big impact
A good example is the café operating at PROTO. Under the leadership of the new head chef, more attention is now being paid to planning and using ingredients in order to reduce food waste already at the planning stage.
In addition, PROTO switched to a buffet lunch system, where visitors can choose exactly the amount of food that suits them.
“Previously, some of the food was simply thrown away. Now there is more thought put into how existing ingredients can be used and how waste can be reduced already at the planning stage.”
The result was not only reduced food waste. The more flexible lunch solution proved popular among both local residents and employees of nearby offices, bringing in new visitors.
According to Kõrvek, this clearly shows that sustainable solutions can benefit the environment, visitors and the company at the same time.
Learning from others
Kõrvek considered the opportunity to hear about other companies’ experiences one of the programme’s greatest values.
“When you hear how others have solved a problem, it often sparks the idea that this could be tried in your own company as well.”
This kind of practical exchange of experience is one of the strengths of the CliNeDest workshops. The aim of the programme is not to offer the same solutions to everyone, but to help companies find opportunities that suit their own activities.
Sustainability begins with the first step
PROTO’s experience shows that sustainability does not have to mean major investments or complicated projects. Often, it is enough to look at your activities with fresh eyes, use data in decision-making and learn from the experiences of other companies.
As its next steps, PROTO plans to continue upgrading its LED lighting, reduce food waste and use the knowledge gained from the workshops to assess and implement new sustainable solutions.
The CliNeDest workshops will continue in the autumn with new topics and practical tools. Companies that want to better understand their impact, find new ideas and develop solutions that benefit the company, visitors and the environment at the same time are welcome to take part.
In spring 2026, workshops aimed at piloting the first part of the Climate Smart Tourism Toolkit were conducted in 6 destinations: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia. Read more about these workshops on the official CliNeDest project website.
