Exclusive Interview | Ms Thepsuda Loyjiw, Sustainability Manager, Banyan Tree Krabi & Banyan Tree Samui
/“We try very hard to avoid any form of “green-washing”. For example, with mangrove conservation, we must be careful not to plant just one species of plant. This would be farming, not conservation. It does not restore the ecosystem. What we try to do is not disturb or destroy the ecosystem.”
Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
I graduated in marine science, both with a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. I studied sea fan and coral reefs, but almost exclusively in the laboratory. However, after that I became a marine biologist at the Phuket Marine Biological Center for three years. I also worked in environmental-related and international organizations such as USAID and GIZ on projects related to climate change, before I joined the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology.
In 2016, I came to Banyan Tree Samui to be CSR [Corporate Social Responsibility] manager, a role which expanded in 2020 to include the new resort, Banyan Tree Krabi. After that, my title was Sustainability Manager.
Launching something new is both an exciting opportunity and a responsibility. Please share some insight on the genesis of the Banyan Tree Group's "Stay for Good" programme.
We organize events on occasions such as Earth Day; Earth Hour; World Environment Day; and World Tourism Day, where we engage the guests and get them to participate, and we all do healthy activities together: nature walks, cultural tours, and generally raise awareness of local community life.
On a daily basis, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint, eliminate single-use plastic, and generally protect the environment and wildlife.
Making a vision into a reality can be very daunting. We would love a deep dive into your process for all your initiatives as a Sustainability Manager.
We try very hard to avoid any form of “green-washing”. For example, with mangrove conservation, we must be careful not to plant just one species of plant. This would be farming, not conservation. It does not restore the ecosystem. What we try to do is not disturb or destroy the ecosystem. The same with reforestation: we must avoid using alien species. We rely on the natural seed bank within the soil and take steps not to disturb the original environment. The same philosophy applies with coral reef protection: we must preserve the native species, and keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.
What can guests do towards a more sustainable destination / travel?
When concerned guests book their holidays, it would be great if they check the certification of the hotel. For example, at Banyan Tree, we are certified by EarthCheck, the world’s leading hospitality sector watchdog. It is also wise to ask your travel agent if it is aligned with hotels and resorts with sustainability certification.
But guests can also take steps themselves: carry reusable bags or flasks; reduce their carbon emissions when choosing flights; and general awareness such as that.
What can a hotel staff member / team member do, on a day to day basis towards this?
At Banyan Tree we conduct training sessions for all our associates to learn more about climate change and the actions we can support to reduce carbon emissions, such as forming a car pool, recycling, and separating waste.
