Why Gothenburg is Europe’s most sustainable city

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Their general contentment sees them consistently placed in the world’s top 10 happiest citizens; they are the inventors of allemansratten, otherwise known as everyone’s right to roam free among nature; and even the daily ritual of tucking into coffee and cake is serious business – fika is considered as much a state of mind as a necessary break from the day’s chores. This is particularly pertinent in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city, where sustainability is paramount – so much so that it’s been crowned the world’s most sustainable destination for the past four years by the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Gothia Towers, for example, is Europe’s largest hotel, with 1,200 rooms and five restaurants – but it consistently pushes the boundaries when it comes to sustainability. Nudie Jeans was founded in Gothenburg and has been pushing a strong sustainable message for years – every pair is made using 100 per cent organic cotton, for example, while every store has a dedicated repair shop offering free fix-ups, and there’s always a rail of previously loved jeans available to buy.