The “Zero Waste HoReCa Champions Awards 2026” ceremony was successfully held today, 4 June 2026, under the auspices of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Kostas Koumi. For the fourth consecutive year, the awards recognised Cypriot tourism businesses that, through the practices they adopt, make the Hospitality and Food Service sector more resilient, and innovative. The Zero Waste HoReCa program is implemented by AKTI Project and Research Centre, with the funding of The Coca-Cola Foundation.
The aim of the Zero Waste HoReCa programme is to enhance economic outcomes by supporting waste, water and energy management within the Hospitality, Restaurants and Catering (HORECA) sector. The programme provides businesses with the appropriate tools to reduce their environmental footprint and operating costs, while strengthening their economic resilience and creating employment opportunities.
During the event, small and medium HoReCa businesses were recognized for the innovative good practices they have integrated into their operations. Examples of good practices included: the installation of PV-panels, motion sensors and e-Gyms that convert kinetic energy into electrical energy, helping businesses reduce energy consumption and operational costs. They also included single-use plastics elimination, composting, installing water filtration systems and water coolers, as well as valorising food waste and coffee residues into new products, thus reducing waste management costs while supporting a more circular HoReCa supply chain.
The winners stood out among 488 practices submitted by members of the Zero Waste HoReCa Network, reflecting the programme’s mission to help improve the environmental footprint of Cyprus tourism industry.
The “Zero Waste HoReCa Champions 2026” in the medium-sized enterprises category are:
- Sustainability Award – Poseidonia Beach Hotel
- Innovation Award – St.Raphael Resort & Marina
- Social Responsibility Award – Louis Ledra Beach
- Environmental Responsibility – Capo Bay Hotel
The “Zero Waste HoReCa Champions 2026” in the small enterprises category are:
- Sustainability & Supply Chain Award – Liven Cyprus
- Innovation/Social Innovation – True Heart Café
- Environmental Responsibility – Garden Kamara Holiday Home / Bee & Embroidery Museum
- Environmental Responsibility – Nick‘s Coffee Bike
- Praise – Rising Star – Stes Koroues
In his message, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Kostas Koumi, congratulated this year’s sustainability champions, as well as AKTI Project and Research Centre for its work in Cyprus and abroad, noting that such initiatives strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of Cypriot tourism. He highlighted that climate change adaptation and alignment with international sustainability trends are strategic priorities, especially amid increasing environmental pressures and evolving demands. He also stressed that initiatives such as AKTI’s Zero Waste HoReCa programme, which promote sustainable operation alongside economic empowerment, are highly important and have the full support of the Deputy Ministry.
Dr. Xenia Loizidou, Chairperson of the Board of AKTI Project and Research Centre, stated:
“Today, we had the honour to award 10 businesses for their continuous efforts towards the green transition. These actions demonstrate that sustainability in tourism can be implemented in practice, with measurable environmental and economic benefits. These businesses show that the green transition is a necessary evolution for a resilient and competitive tourism sector. I’d like to thank The Coca-Cola Foundation for the long-term funding and I hope that today’s awards will encourage even more businesses to be part of the initiative. The members of the Zero Waste Network are the role models of our society. We are truly proud of this Network.”
In his own greeting, Andreas Giortsios Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Manager of Coca-Cola in Cyprus, noted: ‘The results of these actions and best practices constitute a huge success of the Zero Waste HoReCa Network. On behalf of Coca-Cola, I would like to thank AKTI, which implements this pioneering program with the support of ‘The Coca-Cola Foundation’, but also all of the approximately 350 companies participating in the Zero Waste HoReCa Network, as well as all the volunteers. The event was organized within the framework of the ‘Zero Waste HoReCa’ project, which is implemented by AKTI Project and Research Centre, with the support of the Coca-Cola Foundation.
