On December 3, 2024, the "Zero Waste HoReCa-Seed Funding Competition Awards 2024" ceremony honored 20 small tourism businesses for their innovative proposals to integrate best practices and sustainable infrastructure into their operations. Each awarded business received €500 in funding to implement their ideas.

Organized under the "Zero Waste HoReCa" program by AKTI Center for Studies and Research with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the awards ceremony took place at the Strovolos Cultural Center in Nicosia. The event was attended by Cyprus’ Commissioner for Environment and Animal Welfare, Antonia Theodosiou, who emphasized the importance of initiatives like the Zero Waste HoReCa competition in guiding small tourism businesses toward green transitions while maintaining economic viability.

The awards considered criteria such as environmental impact, sustainability performance, innovation, and social responsibility, evaluated by an independent committee. The Zero Waste HoReCa Network is Cyprus’ first dedicated network promoting green growth within the tourism sector. Over the past two years, the network has achieved significant results, including saving over 50 million liters of water, diverting more than 900 tons of food waste and 800 tons of recyclable materials from landfills, and implementing over 650 sustainable practices.

The awarded businesses represent various districts of Cyprus:

• Limassol: Orea Hellas Restaurant, To Hani Coliving, Hadjipieris Organic Farm

• Larnaca: Charalambos Holiday Cottage, George Restaurant Café/Taverna, Stratos Art Deco House, Retro Tavern Kalavasos

• Paphos: MY Farm myEcoland, Avli tis Nefelis, Piedra All Day Cafe Lounge Bar, Tecnhopolis 20

• Nicosia: Filimon Gefseis, Aioli Catering, The Anama Concept

• Other Notables: Lumina Botanical Gardens (Kornos), Ktima Christoudia Winery (Kato Drys)

Dr. Xenia Loizidou, President of the Board of Directors of AKTI, expressed pride in the achievements of these businesses, highlighting their role in fostering sustainable tourism practices in Cyprus. Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus’ Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Manager, Andreas Giortsios, commended the initiative for encouraging sustainability in the hospitality and catering sector.