Mission
The VERNE project is working towards a transition to accessible circular solutions for sustainable tourism.
Introduction
Tourism’s ecological footprint is a continuous challenge for local communities and their ecosystems. It contributes to national greenhouse gas emissions, exerts pressure on local water tables and natural resources. In this context the current prevailing models are growing ever more unsustainable. In response the Verne Project is working towards a transition to accessible circular solutions for sustainable tourism. VERNE seeks to redefine sustainable tourism by integrating circular economy principles that minimise waste, reduce energy consumption, and safeguard local ecosystems.
VERNE envisions a transformative shift to a tourism model which places sustainability and circular principles at its core. Collaborating across sectors such as mobility, food, construction, and waste management, VERNE promotes resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible practices that benefit both local communities and industry stakeholders.
VERNE is a consortium of 15 multidisciplinary organizations from 10 European and associated countries, committed to:
Promoting Circular Solutions to reduce resource depletion and emissions while promoting the reuse and recycling of materials within the tourism sector.
Engaging with diverse stakeholders, from industry leaders and policymakers to local communities and tourists, to co-develop integrated and practical solutions.
Creating the VERNE One-Stop-Shop for Sustainable Tourism.
The 5 VERNE Pilots
VERNE will demonstrate its solutions in five representative European tourist destinations. These pilots will validate scalable approaches, such as improved waste and food waste management, digital tools, wastewater treatment, and the use of electric vehicles. The outcomes will inform new business models, showcasing measurable impacts on competitiveness and sustainability.
Quote from co-ordinator
“Our work as grant and innovation consultants makes us take responsibility for our environment. PNO group encourages all teams to come up with effective initiatives to implement every change for the better and this led us, the ‘Sustainable Places and Lifestyles’ team to lead VERNE. We integrate the knowledge and principles we promote in European projects into our own activities, leveraging our expertise to advance our mission. Apart from coordination, we also lead exploitation activities and the work package on scalability, replicability and capacity building for the tourism sector.”
Edgar Valverde,
VERNE Project Co-ordinator, Senior Innovation Consultant , Team Leader Sustainable Lifestyles and Places, PNO