Conserve Fresh Water. Even though there is a lot of rainfall in Bali, the water supply is still at threat – particularly during the dry season. Taking a short and quick shower has a direct positive impact.

Bring biodegradable cosmetics with you. The grey water and sewage water does very often reach the rivers and ultimately the sea. Biodegradable cosmetics might be a bit more expensive but you create an incredible positive impact right away.

It sounds logical – and it is. Switching off the Air-con and the lights is a great way to save eergy and therefore resources. And even though many hotels have the key-card system where only with a key-card the electricity is activated, many travelers simply leave the key in the slot and let the AC and appliances run.

Washing and dry-cleaning bedsheets and towels in hotels is a massive undertaking that puts a lot of pressure onto the eco-system. High Energy consumption for washing and drying, the release of bleach and detergents into the water system, and it takes a lot of water overall.
Most hotels implement a “Save the Earth” program, where guests can actively decide and control, when towels and bedlinen are washed. However, many guests simply forget which then forces the housekeeping to change the linen and towels anyway. Please follow the hotel’s “change the bedsheet & towel” directives.

The many souvenir shops lining the streets of Bali rarely have fixed prices for their products. Bargaining to get a fair price is part of the charm and can be fun. However, the economic pressure on these vendors, particularly after a 2 years shut-down of their businesses, is immense. So bargaining very hard can indeed lead to a very low price, sometimes even paying less, than what the vendor paid for. But still they agree to sell, just to get some much needed cash for the day.

One could assume that this is not necessary to mention anymore. However, some travellers seem to forget that leaving trash on the beach or empty beer bottles on the sidewalk, or snipping the cigarette bud literally anywhere should be a no-go. 

Travellers are enjoying the hospitality of a country where the law enforcement is less than at home and where therefore rules can easily be broken without facing any consequences. This circumstance seems to encourage mostly younger travellers to forget that this should be a behaviour of the past. 

An estimated 30 million plastic water bottles end up in the landfills in Bali every year.

Please bring your re-usable water bottle from home. If you don’t have one, they can easily be purchased in Bali. Refill from the larger water bottles if you must, bit often yu can find in hotels, guest houses or even restaurants the option to refill your bottle providing water dispensers. Great Impact!

Somehow it became fashionable to hire l(very) loud motorbikes which creates a lot of noise pollution that can so easily be avoided. Tourists and Residents in Seminyak, Canggu and other popular areas are heavily affected. Please rent a normal scooter or motor bike and keep some level of serenity for everyone.

Most of the trash in Bali ends up in landfills, recycling is still rarely happening. So anything you bring to Bali and don’t take back, will weigh on the environment. Particularly empty batteries for example.

Clothes and shoes you don’t need anymore but can still be used can be donated to people in need here in Bali. If you wish to leave something behind that is still in ok condition, you can ask the housekeepers if they can give it to someone in need. Most of them will be very happy to take it.

Many businesses in Bali take environmental concerns and responsible businesses practices seriously. Many stopped using plastic straws, pay fair wages and taxes, use organic products, separate and recycle trash, stopped using small plastic shampoo bottles, etc. Choosing those establishments over others, not only supports them and awards their efforts but also sends a message to the businesses that are less concerned that it is commercially beneficial to join the green movement.

You will know them when you see them for sure.

If you stay in hotels or restaurants where plastic straws are still used, or in hotels where environmental concerns are not taken seriously and for example the small shampoo bottles are still used, you can always leave a review and point these things out. This will definitely have an impact.

Likewise, if you are a guest and you witness positive environmental measures, it’s always nice to point these out in a review which makes the owners and managers aware, that their efforts are noticed and valued.