Sustainability
Souvenirs From The Sea
As part of our efforts to operate in a sustainable manner as well as to support the community in which we operate, our team connected with local artisans from Souvenirs from the Sea to create a bag for guests' use during their stay which has been made entirely from upcycled waste that washed up on beaches in the Krabi area.
Look for this eco-friendly amenity upon arrival during your future visit to our Sanctuary for the Senses!
Click below to learn more about our partnership with Souvenirs from the Sea.
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Embracing the Environment, Empowering People
As a socially-responsible business, Banyan Tree’s concept of sustainability seeks to create long-term value for multiple stakeholders and our triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental success helps direct sustainable development through inspiring associates, guests and partners to take a wider consideration encompassing a long-term view when making business decisions.
We employ an integrated and participatory approach to minimise our impacts while safeguarding and enhancing the human and physical environment for present and future generations.
Our Sustainability Manager
Thepsuda Loyjiw (Pueng) serves as our Sustainability Manager at Banyan Tree Krabi. She holds a Master of Marine Biology from the Department of Marine Science at Chulalongkorn University. Prior to joining Banyan Tree Krabi, she worked as a Plan and Policy Analyst at Thailand’s Ministry of Science and Technology, where she was primarily concerned with monitoring as well as assessing the quality control of the organization’s research and development projects.
Moreover, she gained specialized knowledge in regards to climate change adaptation and mitigation while serving as the Project Assistance and Communication Officer for the Development and Implementation of the Thai Climate Change Policy, a core project under the Thai-German Climate Protection Program. At the resort, she ensures that all conservation and research activities are conducted in accordance with the law and company procedures as well as to monitor and maintain the collection of relevant data.
Through her ongoing commitment toward ensuring the resort operates in a sustainable manner, Banyan Tree Krabi was able to significantly reduce consumption rates through improved efficiency and by adopting new technology or practices regarding key operational indicators such as energy; emissions; water, waste and paper use; as well as chemical and pesticide use. Should you be interested to learn more about our commitment to sustainability, we would be delighted to share more details regarding our various initiatives. Please contact Khun Pueng at thepsuda.loyjiw@banyantree.com
Sustainability Achievements
Banyan Tree Krabi has been the recipient of industry-recognized awards for our compliance to the most stringent environmental practices.
Kinnaree Award
Recognised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the Thailand Tourism Awards, popularly known as the Kinnaree Awards, are held every two years, and have helped to promote the quality and high standards of Thai tourism services since 1996.
Following an intensive evaluation of our operations, service, standards, hygiene and training; Banyan Tree Spa Krabi was the recipient of the ‘Award for Health & Wellness Tourism - Spa’, the highest recognition for all nominees throughout southern Thailand!
Green Hotel Award - Gold Certification
Thailand’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion awarded the ‘Green Hotel Award - Gold Certification’ to our resort as recognition for our commitment toward sustainable hotel practices. The certification – held on a biennial basis – recognizes the ongoing efforts and contributions made by hotels that efficiently manage energy, waste and natural resources.
Our Environment
Travel and tourism operations are often intrinsically dependent on natural heritage, and Banyan Group’s conservation journey started with its beginnings in 1984 by “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People”.
Extending beyond the precautionary approach, Banyan Group conserves resources through efficient operations, employing a science-based approach and partnership creation to conserve sensitive ecosystems and threatened species, and support climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Green Imperative Fund
As we have been blessed with some of the most beautiful locations on Earth, it is our resolve to safeguard the environment and uplift the communities where we can take an active role. This has been the inspiration behind Banyan Tree’s sustainability vision since our founding in the early 1990s.
We took a further step in 2009 by establishing the Banyan Tree Global Foundation to extend governance measures ensuring our dedicated resources support community empowerment, educational, and ecological initiatives.
Your contribution of USD 2.00 each night will go a long way in saving endangered marine turtles and other wildlife; preserving and regenerating coral reefs, rainforests and wetlands; providing scholarships to youths at risk; building community infrastructures globally; and up to 3% may also support education and research initiatives. For each such donation, Banyan Tree commits to match it, dollar for dollar. Ernst & Young audits our fund allocation.
Our specially handcrafted keepsake provided at turndown on the first night of your stay is given as a gesture of our appreciation for your support.
Our Community
Creating shared value with the community whether they are employees, customers, communities or business partners embodies our commitment to social responsibility. Internally our approach promotes wellbeing, diversity, satisfaction, health and safety, as well as professional development to increase productivity and improve employee and customer satisfaction and loyalty. Externally we employ a stakeholder engaged approach to identify areas of aligned interest to promote responsible travel and work towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Our Community: Local Activities
For the betterment of the community, our associates participate in various locally-organised activities which include charity runs – held on a periodic basis – and community clean-up efforts. Additionally, our team takes active measures to reduce the consumption of plastic bags and bottles in their daily life. To foster a sustainable lifestyle, we launched a plastic-free campaign on social media for associates to share photos of their actions and to encourage others to follow suit.
Our Community: Community Donations
Supporting long term societal prosperity is central to Banyan Tree’s ability to create value for local communities and this is achieved by empowering them through job creation, education, supporting artisanal cooperatives, community impact initiatives, humanitarian relief and connecting travelers to local culture and heritage.
Our Responsibility
As a socially responsible business, Banyan Group was founded with the core value of driving sustainable development. Tourism relies on peace, but it also has transformative power to promote positive change.
Our commitment to sustainable development and responsible travel is founded on prudent, ethical and accountable governance, with internal and external engagement and participation, external benchmarking and certification, and transparent reporting. We support sustainable development and responsible travel by inspiring associates, guests and partners to take a long-term view when making business decisions.
Our Responsibility: Community Cleaning
By organising cleaning activities, our goal is to remediate and cleanse natural resources or communities in order to maintain pristine conditions for our local surroundings.
Our Responsibility: Pride Month Celebration
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our Group's culture, as we live and breathe our philosophy of "Embracing the Environment, Empowering People". We promote diversity and inclusiveness through our core values - IDEALS; where we appreciate and celebrate differences in views, perspectives, cultures and experiences. We make differences matter and respect uniqueness where we work.
Our Responsibility: Meat-Free Day at Associate’s Canteen
A plant-based diet isn't just good for health, it benefits the environment too! Excessive meat consumption has a hefty impact on the environment, such as extensive farming which destroys biodiversity and pollution of landscapes and waterways. In view of this, we introduced a Meat-Free Day on the 15th of each month in our associates’ canteen. Our team is served a delicious meat-free lunch to encourage them to eat less meat and be healthier.
Our Responsibility: Food Waste
An estimated one third of global food production is wasted resulting in annual losses worth $750bn. Controlling food waste supports climate change action by reducing waste to landfill and methane production, in addition to cost saving. Our goals are to measure the food waste footprint annually and to reduce food waste by 30% and divert 50% from landfill by 2025, and reduce food waste by 50% and divert 100% from landfill by 2030.
Our Responsibility: Sustainable Supply Chain
Banyan Tree’s approach is more than risk management; it is an opportunity to make responsible choices that drive respect for human rights and the environment. We champion local procurement, sustainably sourced food (e.g. MSC certified), and actively seek and favour business relationships with those who share our values and commitment. Having a sustainable supply chain is critical to upholding the Banyan Tree vision and ethos. This is especially because the potential impact of hospitality supply chains can be up to ten times the direct impact of operations. Components of our supply chain include input providers (infrastructure, water and energy, equipment, food & beverage), trip arrangement and travel as well as tourism service delivery (accommodation, catering and attractions).
Our Responsibility: Banyan Tree Essentials – Reef Products
Our award-winning spa treatment-inspired bath and body line, Banyan Tree Essentials, features a coral reef-safe mineral sunscreen. The Banyan Tree Coconut & Seaweed Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA+++ is designed to soothe and protect the skin before and after sun exposure; while minimising impact on the marine environment. As part of our efforts and commitment towards marine conservation, this reef-safe sunscreen contains 100% non-nano mineral filters Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide, free from chemical UV filters. The mineral filters found in the Banyan Tree Coconut & Seaweed Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA+++ acts as a physical barrier between skin and the sun, blocking out both UVA and UVB rays without being absorbed into skin – ideal for both sensitive skin and the fragile coral reefs. In recent years, compounds in chemical sunscreens have been found to be among the key contributors to the pollution of the ocean, causing irreparable damage to coral reefs. While intended to absorb UV rays and minimise sun damage, chemical UV blockers Oxybenzone and Octinoxate have an adverse effect on corals. Once in contact with ocean water, the chemicals render coral reefs’ defenses powerless against bleaching, damaging their DNA and development in the long run.
Annual Celebrations
Annual Celebration: Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The event is held annually encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on a specific day towards the end of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet. In recognition of this day, we invite guests to participate by turning off the lights and air conditioning in the suite or villa, and to join our various activities at our restaurants including a traditional Thai candlelight dancing performance at Saffron as well as a fire-twirling show, live acoustic music performance and ‘Magic of Light’ photo souvenir at our beach.
Annual Celebration: Earth Day
Earth Day which is an annual event celebrated around the world on 22 April to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. In recognition of this day, we invite guests to join our in-house activity led by our Sustainability Manager as well as to take part in a cleaning activity along our stretch of secluded beach.
Annual Celebration: World Environment Day
World Environment Day, celebrated on 5 June every year, is the United Nation's principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. In recognition of this day, we conduct a community cleaning activity within the local area. Additionally, our Sustainability Manager creates a challenge to inspire our associates to take action by adopting best practices in their daily life that contribute toward environmental conservation.
Annual Celebration: World Tourism Day
World Tourism Day which is celebrated on 27 September every year with an aim to spread awareness about the importance of tourism and its impact on our society. The day is also celebrated to highlight the global challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to underline the efforts the tourism industry can make achieving the sustainable development goals. In recognition of this day, we conduct a community cleaning activity within the local area. Additionally, our Sustainability Manager creates a social media campaign to bring attention to the importance of sustainable tourism and to heighten the level of appreciation for the natural and cultural assets which make our destination unique.