BEST OF THE WORLD


Amos Rex contemporary art gallery, Helsinki


LEFT FROM TOP: Kokkinokastro, an orange-sand beach on Alonnisos, Sporades Islands, Greece; a green sea turtle swimming above a shallow coral reef, New Caledonia


HELSINKI , FINLAND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL, MADE EASY


Sustainability isn’t just a buzz word in Helsinki. The Finnish capital has vowed to be carbon neutral by 2035 and it’s part of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. Helsinki’s bid to go green has also involved tourism, with a campaign by the city’s tourist board to ‘Think Sustainably’, which shows you how to put together the perfect city break while going easy on the planet. The Think Sustainably microsite on the tourist


board’s website has all the information you need — not just pointing you in the direction of where and what is sustainable but explaining why. For example, the ‘what to do’ page carries an interview with a representative from the Amos Rex contemporary art gallery, talking about museum ventilation and renewable energy. Even the Löyly sauna — which has the potential to be the most wasteful of all attractions — has worked out an efficient wood-burning programme to heat the saunas.


As well as highlighting what to see and do, the


microsite also shines a sustainable spotlight on places to eat, drink and shop. These include Juuri, a sustainability- focused restaurant which has been working with small, organic producers for 15 years, and sibling restaurant Pikha, which has upped its vegetarian and vegan options, in order to cut down on guests’ carbon footprint. There’s also an innovative burger bar, Bun2Bun, which has swapped beef for vegan ‘mince’, and uses biodegradable cutlery and wrappers. Finland’s design scene is of course legendary, and the


website has craſted a sustainability checklist, which allows customers to rent merchandise, among other things. But it’s a blessing for shoppers, too, directing travellers to places such as Pure Waste, where clothes are made from 100% recycled material, and LUMI, which produces eco-friendly bags and accessories. To get that cosy Nordic feel, Lapuan Kankurit sells handwoven soſt furnishings with colour-popping modern patterns. With your sustainable trip mapped out, you’ll feel better about making the journey. myhelsinki.fi/en/think-sustainably TRAVELLER UK


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IMAGES: GETTY; LOLA AKINMADE AKERSTROM


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