Litter picking trial in Copenhagen rewards visitors to city

Holidays can be a pricey time, so what if you could go away and earn meals, drinks and activities just by doing some litter picking as you visit a city?

This is actually being offered in Copenhagen in a trial that combines civic pride with eco-tourism, by rewarding visitors for helping to keep the city clean.

‘Green Rewards Copenhagen’, invites tourists to take part in brief litter-picking sessions in exchange for discounts at local attractions, restaurants and shops.

The Copenhagen project has seen some good early success. (Image: Martin Cooper)

In its first month, the programme saw more than 5,000 participants collectively gathering more than two tonnes of litter.

And as word spreads, local leaders in Copenhagen hope the innovative approach to eco-tourism will inspire other cities to implement similar programs, fostering a global community of environmentally conscious travellers.

While this project is a first, eco-tourism isn’t new.

Defined as responsible travel that focuses on visiting natural areas while minimising environmental impact and supporting conservation efforts, eco-tourism first started in the 1980s as a response to growing concerns about the negative effects of mass tourism on fragile environments and indigenous cultures.

Generally it aims to educate travellers about local ecosystems and cultures, while providing economic benefits to local communities – but is that something people are concerned about on their annual break?

According to a report by Booking.com, 87 per cent of travellers said they want to travel sustainably and further research found that sustainable travel was important to people and that they would be willing to adopt sustainable travel incentives, such as staying in locally owned accommodation or eating in locally owned restaurants.

A 2022 study found that tourism is responsible for nearly eight per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, most of which came from food and waste management.

It's not just about going to 'green' places or seeing wildlife - it's about making sure you are making sustainable choices when booking accommodation, looking at activities to do and when travelling around in a country.

As Copenhagen leads the way with its innovative way to engage visitors in environmental activities as a tourist attraction, hopefully more cities and towns may join the rewards programme and encourage sustainable visits that benefit the visitor, the local community and the environment.