Sustainable Luxury Resorts Making a Stand for Plastic Free Travel
Many hotels and resorts all over the world are following in Barbados' footsteps becoming plastic-free and managing to combine luxury with low-impact travel. Zero-waste and sustainability are core values and hotels are looking for ways to preserve the natural surroundings, by implementing new systems to lower their impact on the environment. If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly way to travel, here are some plastic-free travel tips and inspiring sustainable luxury resorts around the world, including two of my favourites in Barbados.
Plastic-free travel tips
Not sure where to start? Here are a few of my favourite travel tips to get you started on your plastic-free journey:
- Reduce the number of plastic toiletries you take with you. Shampoo and conditioner bars, reusable cotton pads, menstrual cups, or alternative zero-waste toothpaste products are all affordable and easy swaps.
- Say no to mini hotel toiletries - these aren’t really necessary for the amount of packaging they require.
- Bring a tote bag with you if you go to the supermarket or shopping.
- If you are in self-catering, bring your own cutlery and try to refuse plastic items.
- Avoid single-use water bottles and refill where possible.
- The best way to travel is to take a more minimalist approach. This includes packing as well, click here for essential accessories.
- Do your bit! Find out how you can help out the locals take care of the natural environment by volunteering.
Read more tips on how to reduce waste when you travel over on this post about sustainable travel resources.
Sustainable Luxury Resorts around the world
One way you can reduce the environmental impact of your vacation is by opting for an eco-friendly resort. Here is a selection of luxury hotels from around the world that are making an effort to be more sustainable.
Fogo Island Inn, Canada
Fogo Island Inn was set up as a community initiative and they invest 100% of their leftover profits in the people of the island. The hotel also uses many innovative methods to conserve energy and reduce waste. Recycled rainwater is used in the bathrooms and laundry and many other appliances are powered by solar energy. The majority of the furniture and upholstery is made by local craftspeople as well.
The Miami Beach EDITION
The Miami Beach EDITION is just one of the EDITION hotels that are part of their “stay plastic-free” campaign. All plastic or disposable items have been eliminated from their resorts such as straws, cups, and bottles. The hotels also provide more sustainable alternatives to all their eco-conscious guests, making it a lot easier to go plastic-free on vacation. Not only do they help their guests to be more eco-friendly but they also give advice to other hotels looking to follow in their footsteps.
Sugar Bay, Barbados
Sugar Bay Barbados, is a family run, all inclusive hotel that focusses reducing their impact on the environment by:
- Making their own cleaning products in house, a lot of which are made using environmentally friendly ingredients such as vinegar.
- Recycling all glass/paper/cardboard/plastics/metals and even batteries which are collected separately.
- A highlight of the hotel is definitely the bees - there are a number of hives around the property. The gardens have been thriving since the introduction of bees on the property - the amount of flowers in the garden has doubled.
- The team at Sugar Bay also grow their own herbs around each of the bars, such as mint, basil and lemongrass. These are are cut and used for cocktails and even the kitchens. Bonus: There's an edible flower garden which grows around the bees!
Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador
Pikaia Lodge is a stunning eco-luxury resort located on the Galapagos Islands. The carbon-neutral lodge is powered by alternative energy resources, even the hot water is solar-powered, and the entire place is built from recycled materials. Plenty of these materials were ethically sourced in Ecuador. As a rule, the resort only uses biodegradable cleaning products as well.
Antara Resort, Phuket
Antara as a company has core environmental values, and the resort in Phuket pays particular attention to reducing waste in the ocean caused by both tourists and locals. Plastic bottles and other single-use items are now banned from the entire resort. All plastic amenities have been replaced with sustainable, biodegradable options and all efforts are made to reduce packaging on any products.
ECO Lifestyle + Lodge, Barbados
Tucked away on the hills overlooking the dramatic seascape of the east coast of Barbados, ECO Lifestyle + Lodge is hands down, one of the most sustainable luxury resorts in the Caribbean. The 10 guest rooms are designed with comfort and sustainability at the forefront; up-cycled mahogany furniture, an innovative farm and sea-to-table menu, zero single use plastic on site, recycling, composting, locally grown and sourced food, non toxic cleaning products and employing people from the local area. They also have a sauna made from organic material that is right next to a tropical spring.
Taj Exotica, Andaman Islands
Taj Exotica is a luxury resort on Havelock, one of the Andaman Islands. It’s a significant biodiversity hotspot in the Bengal Bay. It’s a self-sustainable property amidst 46 acres of forest and it even has its own bottling plant, so single-use plastic is totally unnecessary. Each luxury villa for guests has been built without cutting down a single tree. The hotel is committed to the conservation of the natural surroundings and even uses a composting system for all waste and a sanitation treatment plant. This luxury beach resort also provides fun and educational activities for children about the natural ecology of the area.
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Soneva Fushi in the Maldives successfully recycles 90% of its total waste repurposing whatever possible according to its Waste-to-Wealth program. Any organic waste from local businesses is used as a compost. The owners are campaigning to extend these zero-waste alternatives to the neighbouring islands, allowing the locals to benefit from reducing plastic consumption. The Waste-to-Wealth program also has many educational aspects, teaching local children about how to reduce waste and respect the ocean, for example.
Salinda Resort, Vietnam
Salinda Resort is a sustainable luxury complex on the island of Phu Quoc. The resort owners’ main goals are to eliminate single-use plastic completely. The hotel staff even carry out inspiring beach clean-ups and invite guests to join in as well. All amenities have been replaced with plastic-free recyclable alternatives and the entire property is made from sustainable building materials. Salinda still remains a five-star luxury resort, however, with impeccable service.
Blue Waters, Antigua
Blue Waters is another resort working towards the goal of being completely plastic-free. They have successfully eliminated the need for single-use plastics by installing water bottle refilling stations, recycling all waste, and even growing their own fresh produce. The resort also launched its own brand of sustainable amenities, Neem Avenue, hoping to reduce waste by taking over from the mini-toiletries market. They also help out the local community by offering recycled wood waste to farmers as both compost and animal feed. Even with all these eco-friendly measures in place, Blue Waters is still a high-end luxury resort and a wonderful place to relax in the Caribbean.
Habitas, Tulum
Habitas is just one of the sustainable luxury resorts in Tulum taking a stand against the negative impact an increase in tourism has had on the natural environment. Habitas is a sustainable sanctuary designed to coexist harmoniously with nature situated between the jungle and the Caribbean sea. All the rooms are built with sustainable materials and some of the resort’s core values include reducing waste, eliminating the use of plastic, and encouraging other local hotels to do the same. They have a strong educational focus, raising environmental awareness in the area. It’s a popular resort for both beach-goers and nature lovers alike.
Casa Pueblo, Tulum
Casa Pueblo is one of the top sustainable luxury resorts in Tulum. It has gone as far as to ban all single-use plastics and has instead filled all common areas such as the bar and restaurant with recycled alternatives. These areas also gloriously decorated with natural flora, whereas the rooms themselves, although luxurious, are considerably minimalistic.
Heckfield Place, England
Heckfield Place is situated in Hampshire and boasts 400 acres of sustainable farmland. It’s a self-efficient property, relying on its own biomass energy centre. The majority of the luxury cuisine served on this Georgian manor estate comes from its lush gardens, orchards, and livestock. All organic waste is processed in turn to provide compost for the soil and food for the animals. The property is owned by the billionaire Gerald Chan who has published literature on sustainable development goals and aims to cut energy consumption all over the world.
Aquila Eco Lodges, Australia
Surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of Grampians National Park, Aquila Eco Lodges is a sustainable luxury resort for many eco-conscious travellers. The Eco-Tourism Australia accredited site generates its own power and recycles its own waste. It also collects its own rainwater and each feature of the building down to the last detail is the most sustainable possible. This includes non-toxic paint, composting toilet solutions, and energy-efficient electrical appliances and lights.
Thankfully, with the opening of more and more sustainable luxury resorts worldwide, low-impact travel and luxury can coexist. Hotel owners are becoming increasingly aware of the demand in the market for green vacationing in style. Responsible travel isn’t just for backpackers any more! Many of these places really give something back to the local community and natural surroundings. It’s exciting to see more of a focus on plastic-free travel and a conscious effort to preserve the environment.