It is not only that the country is covered in woods, that the nation is committed to developing sustainable tourism, or that the colour of national sports teams is green – with white and blue. The Slovenian economy and society, in general, are becoming increasingly focused on the environment.
For example, consider sustainable forms of mobility where Slovenian SMEs are among the global leaders in some niches. Electromotors and other components for electric cars are among the key products of the local automotive industry – Slovenia’s strongest exporting branch. Other industries offer a wide range of “eco” products from energy-self-sufficient buildings to solar panels. Traditional sectors like metal processing or the chemical industry are focusing on lower energy consumption and adopting principles of the circular economy. Cities and municipalities are often taking a leading role in this shift toward sustainability – their efforts are considered examples of good practice and are attracting worldwide media recognition. An eco-paradise? Not quite yet: as elsewhere in the developed world the environmental challenges remain huge. However, a trend toward green is evident in all the parts of Slovenian society
The first serial production of an electric airplane – with all the necessary certifications – was launched in Slovenia. Local companies are developing electric and hybrid boats and yachts. The essential parts for electric and hybrid cars, including electro motors, are among the vital exporting products of Slovenia’s strong automotive industry. Moreover, due to its size and excellent infrastructure, global companies use Slovenia as a testing ground for their future sustainable mobility solutions.
The shift towards sustainability marks all sectors of the Slovenian industry. Traditional sectors like metal processing are focusing on increased efficiency. Aluminium production in Slovenia is the world leader in low power usage. The local steel furnaces are among the most environmentally friendly in Europe and operate with very low levels of CO2 emissions. More efficient processes are one way in which “old” sectors contribute to a better environment. Another is industries improving their products or adding new product lines specifically with the environment in mind. Take for example paint manufacturers: a Slovenian company has developed an innovative back sheet coating for solar panels. The local producers of heating and cooling systems are increasing their focus on more efficient products – their solutions are often award-winning innovations. Constructing a lighter aerosol can may sound trivial, but the lighter variant of this everyday mass-produced item has a huge environmental impact. These “green” aerosol cans produced in Slovenia are being utilized by major brands worldwide.
Slovenia has a long tradition of developing and manufacturing building components for hydroelectric power plants, in particular turbines. Slovenian-produced solar panels are sold all over the world and used by major energy providers. High-tech materials developed in Slovenia are used to construct wind turbines. Innovative SMEs are working on power grid technologies and measurement solutions.
Since the beginning of 2021, the largest electricity company in Slovenia has been supplying households exclusively with power produced by “clean”, carbon-free sources. Local producers of prefabricated buildings are concentrating on zero-emission and energy-self-sufficient homes – a rapidly growing sector of Slovenian industry. Local communities throughout the country are following the trend with the first energy self-sufficient villages.
Ljubljana, the European Green Capital in 2016, has a waste management program that is considered one of the best such practices on a global level and was featured in media outlets like the BBC and The Guardian. Maribor, the country’s second-largest city, is not lagging behind. It has based its development strategy on a circular economy. Its WCYCLE institute is “a platform of the local utility companies to rethink their business models” and has developed technologies for automated waste sorting and the transformation of organic waste into various types of soil. Local plastic manufacturing SME’s are working on smart, organic, and 100-percent recyclable materials. A Slovenian subsidiary of Italian Aquafil, a leading polymer and polyamide manufacturer, is a centre of excellence for the group’s policies on sustainability and innovation. Their plant recycles used fishing nets: the regenerated nylon is used by major sportswear brands among others.
All major Slovenian scientific institutions are involved in environmentally related research. Important research areas include the development of new materials, electrocatalysts, and new cleaning and recycling approaches. New nanocomposite materials can be used in CO2 capture and treatment of waste gasses. Research on electrocatalysts could lead to improved batteries and fuel cells. Several studies aimed at battery and solar cell technology are underway in collaboration with European partners. Private companies are also playing an important role in research projects involving collecting and analysing environmental data - the development of measurement systems is an important niche for the Slovenian high-tech industry. Local SMEs, for example, are global leaders in black carbon emission measurement. All these efforts show a clear commitment to keeping Slovenia – and the planet - green and clean.
