CE4RT Programme

Back in November 2023, Elding was among a select few to secure funding through CE4RT (Circular Economy for Regenerative Tourism), a fully-funded European initiative designed to aid sustainability efforts within tourism SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).

Under this programme, 80 chosen SMEs, including Elding, received funding to engage in the following activities:

• Training in sustainable and regenerative tourism.
• One-to-one coaching to support the measurement of carbon baselines and the development of sustainability plans.
• Certification in Sustainable Tourism from a provider of their choice.
• Networking opportunities, allowing participation alongside like-minded tourism SMEs to share experiences and insights on the sustainability journey.

CE4RT (Circular Economy for Regenerative Tourism) is a European collaboration that supports tourism SMEs across Iceland, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland. The programme offers training, funding, and expert guidance to help companies adopt circular economy practices, develop regenerative tourism models, and strengthen their environmental and social impact.

Learn more about CE4RT at ce4rt.euproject.site

At Elding, sustainability has long been at the heart of our operations. As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation, we were proud participants in the CE4RT (Circular Economy for Regenerative Tourism) project – an initiative co-funded by the European Union aiming to transform tourism businesses towards more sustainable and regenerative practices.

Through our involvement in CE4RT, Elding focused on several key initiatives to further embed circular economy principles into our daily operations.

We launched a dedicated project to review and improve the sourcing practices for our souvenir shop. This involved prioritising Icelandic design, environmentally friendly products, minimising plastic usage, and working with suppliers who share our values of sustainability and ethical production. We even saw an opportunity to create souvenirs from materials generated by our own operations, offering guests more sustainable mementos of their visit.

By implementing a green procurement policy, we aim to offer souvenirs that reflect not only the beauty of Iceland but also our responsibility towards the planet.

Another important focus area was addressing textile waste. We realised that our use of textiles - such as workwear, flotation suits, life jackets, and materials like flags and banners - needed special attention. Much of our textile was ending up in landfills, which we find unacceptable. Therefore, we focused on finding new solutions for textile recycling.

After seeing an advertisement from Góði Hirðirinn (a local second hand store) about an event titled “What Should We Do with All This Textile?”, we decided to participate. There, our team met Sigga and Sæunn from Flöff, which led to a creative collaboration. The outcome was the development of prototypes for souvenirs made from recycled textiles, which they presented at the project’s closing conference. The idea received well-deserved attention and was specifically highlighted in the project’s final report.

This demonstrates the importance of such events in fostering unexpected connections and new projects. We hope more companies take advantage of similar opportunities so that, together, we can contribute to a stronger circular economy and a brighter future.

Our efforts and learnings through the CE4RT project have not gone unnoticed. Elding’s work was presented at international tourism and sustainability conferences, showcasing how small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in tourism can lead the way towards a regenerative future. By sharing our experiences, we hope to inspire others in the sector to embrace innovation and sustainable transformation.

Our participation in the CE4RT project marks just the beginning of our deeper journey into circular and regenerative practices. At Elding, we are committed to continuously building on these foundations by integrating green procurement standards, expanding our upcycling initiatives, and seeking new ways to minimize our environmental impact.

Sustainability is not a one time effort for us - it is a core principle that guides our decision-making, innovation, and daily operations. We look forward to further developing these projects and embracing new opportunities that help us protect the marine environment we so deeply care for.