Montenegro's green transition is increasingly shaping how enterprises compete, invest and create jobs. For Montenegrin employers, sustainability is not only just a policy obligation, it is becoming a source of resilience, market access and growth.
At a recent employers' exchange hosted by the Montenegrin Employers Federation (MEF), organized with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the ILO-GIZ project "Promoting Social Dialogue on Just Transition Issues," businesses highlighted how climate action can translate into concrete commercial advantages. Climate risks, regulatory changes and shifting investor and consumer expectations are accelerating the need for enterprises to adapt, but they are also opening new opportunities.
© Miloš Grbović, participant in the Business Case for Just Transition panel in Montenegro
Enterprises that strategically embrace sustainability can strengthen their competitiveness and long-term performance. Aligning with EU sustainability standards improves access to markets, finance and green incentives, while investments in energy efficiency and cleaner production reduce costs and risks. At the same time, sustainable business practices enhance productivity through innovation and resource efficiency, strengthen brand reputation, and improve worker satisfaction and retention-ultimately supporting higher-value production and increased profitability.
Employers identified clear business benefits from embracing sustainability, including improved access to EU markets and finance, cost savings through energy and resource efficiency, stronger brand reputation, higher productivity driven by innovation, and better worker engagement through safer workplaces and green skills development.
These gains are already visible across sectors. A family-run micro-enterprise is turning recycled, plantable paper into a recognised green product now used for official state gifts. A manufacturing company in Podgorica has recycled more than 140 tonnes of plastic waste into durable construction boards, creating inclusive jobs while reducing pressure on forests. In tourism, one of Montenegro's largest hotel groups has significantly reduced water and energy consumption, lowering operating costs while strengthening staff awareness and organisational culture.
© ILO
Together, these examples show that a just transition can support competitiveness, decent work and environmental performance at the same time.
ILO ACT/EMP will continue to support MEF in strengthening employers' engagement in climate-related policy dialogue and in promoting practical, business-oriented approaches to the green transition.
