Be part of the solution:
How to help Bali’s environment
Bali is without a doubt a beautiful island and therefore a very popular destination. Not only for millions of tourists from all across the globe who spend their holidays here and sometimes stay for several weeks or even months. Also for many young Indonesians from neighbouring islands like Java or Sumatra, Bali has developed as a place to find a better life than what the future holds for them back home. The number of hotels, mopeds and cars increases from year to year and with this rapid development, the island has to face with immense environmental issues. The main problems are the plastic pollution and waste disposal. Waste management and sewage facilities are not yet able to keep up with the number of people the island welcomes every day.
The fight against the pollution
Bali’s government is fighting against this problem with some legal changes. Trial taxes on plastic bags, a ban on certain single-use plastics and more have already helped to decrease plastic pollution. Some schools in Bali educate local and international pupils to be eco-friendly generation. However, this problem cannot be fixed overnight. The way it has evolved over the years, it will take years to solve it.
We as tourists, are unfortunately part of the problem. At the same time, everyone can try their best to also become a part of the solution.
Also at Kima, we see it as our responsibility to do as much as we can to help. This is why we already started years ago taking some actions. At our camps in Canggu and Seminyak, we reduced the use of non-reusable plastic to almost zero. Instead, we provide non-plastic straws and offer refillable water bottles. In addition, we partnered up with the environmental organization SUNGAI Watch, which is tackling pollution by developing simple technologies to stop plastic from going into the ocean.
So what can you do outside the camp to help us in our efforts to minimize this problem and maintain the beauty of the island?
How to be a Better Bali Tourist
1. Be aware of your trash
Although it may seem unnecessary to mention, some travellers still forget that leaving trash on the beach, empty beer bottles on the sidewalk, or cigarette butts anywhere is unacceptable. So always take your trash with you whenever you leave the place. Do you want to collect some extra good karma? If you see some trash on the beach, in the water or at the roadside pick it up. Even if it’s just a small piece - every action counts!
2. Say no to plastic bags
Even if it's mostly still standard to be given a plastic bag when you go shopping, say no. Bring your reusable bag with you to avoid any sort of plastic consumption. Also at our Kima front offices, you can ask for our free shopping bags.
3. Take quick showers
It's important to conserve fresh water in Bali, as the water supply can be threatened, especially during the dry season, despite the area receiving abundant rainfall. One way to help is by taking short and quick showers, which can have a direct positive impact on water conservation efforts.
4. Avoid plastic bottles
Approximately 30 million plastic water bottles are disposed of in Bali’s landfills annually. Bring your reusable water bottle or use our Kima water bottle to reduce this waste. With a stay of at least 5 nights, you get our Kima water bottle for free. Refill it on the water dispensers all around our camps and take it wherever you go. This small change can have a great impact on reducing plastic waste.
5. Switch off the AC and lights
It sounds as easy as it is: Switching off the lights and the AC if you are not in the room is a great way to save energy and resources.
6. Join a beach clean-up
There are many clean-ups all around the island almost every day. They are a nice way to help the environment, meet other like-minded people and honour the island at the same time. Also at Kima, we organise beach clean-ups regularly. Join us next time!
Always remember: we are all guests on the island of gods. We would like to come back one day and find the island still in its beauty as we once left it.
