Ljubljana is a city that will surprise you and surely exceed your expectations. It is unique – small by surface area, but huge in terms of hospitality and quality of life. Numerous vital changes have happened in a rather short period of time, which is also one of the reasons Ljubljana was elected European Green Capital 2016.

Keynote speakers at the opening gala included Slovenian Prime Minister dr. Miro Cerar, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Mr. Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Transport Ms. Violeta Bulc and Mayor of the City of Ljubljana Mr. Zoran Janković.

At the same time, Center Stožice also hosted the Odprta kuhna (Open Kitchen), appearing with traditional Slovenian dishes prepared from locally and ecologically produced ingredients as the main line of the event.

A renowned Slovenian fashion designer Nina Šušnjara prepared a special shopping bag called ''Torba.Zate'' ("Bag.For you") to honour the 'green' title given to Ljubljana. Under designer's very own SUSNYARA brand, a unique, fashionable shopping bag was created using only sustainable and recycled materials, thus representing a green alternative to single-use plastic bags.

Ljubljana is the first European capital making decisive steps toward a zero waste society. With this aim in our future, the Slovenian society is becoming a nation of responsible and ecologically aware consumers, who protect precious resources and does whatever can be done to avoid further pollution by re-using, recycling and re-desigining materials, otherwise considered to be waste.