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Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai - Sustainability Efforts

1. We are a single-use plastics-free retreat-hotel

  • We provide guests with bathroom amenities in refillable ceramic dispensers; avoiding more than a million plastic bottles along the way.
  • Glass water bottles in the villas ensure less waste (more than a million plastic bottles avoided) and better water quality to keep our guests hydrated.
  • Smoothies, juices & cocktails are sipped through sugar cane based straws.
  • The complimentary footwear provided in villas are made from cotton and are professionally washed; ensuring they are reused not refuse!

2. Guest amenities (soap, shampoo, shower gel, conditioner and spa products) are 100% natural and made exclusively for Aleenta by a local supplier using locally sourced essential oils and with ZERO chemical perfumes, parabens or animal testing.

 

The hotel rooms and public areas are cleaned chemical free with active ozone infused water to protect the environment and also workers from constant chemical exposure.
While reducing waste generation is our first priority, minimising what is sent to landfill, or incinerated, is equally important. We take great pride in our efforts to:

  • compost food and organic waste into nutrient rich fertiliser for our gardens.
  • sort plastics, paper and metals for recycling.
  • sort glass and wood for reuse and / or recycling.
  • non-biodegradable plant oil is recycled for sustainable biodiesel and eco-friendly aviation fuel, redefining the essence of green hospitality.

3. The resort’s low rise design was carefully planned to protect the local ecosystem and preserve the mountain views; all contours, soil, trees and natural water resources were kept either in their original form or utilised with minimal change.

 

4. We use responsibly sourced natural materials, such as engineered woods, that help us prevent deforestation, reduce waste generated (the engineered woods last about 5x longer than pure hardwoods), and improve interior air quality by avoiding products that off-gas dangerous VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) commonly found in synthetic materials and the finishing treatments often used on pure hardwoods.

 

5. To minimise the impact of water usage on our neighbouring communities:

  • treated water is analysed monthly by a professional laboratory to ensure quality and safety.
  • water released back into the environment meets or exceeds government standards
  • the government reviews waste water treatment as part of our annual license renewal.

6. To conserve freshwater supplies:

  • grey-water is used for watering gardens and landscape
  • water remaining in drinking bottles is used for potted plants
  • we have moderate flow fixtures and are working towards either adapting them to be low flow or replacing them with low flow
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7. To reduce our use of carbon based electricity we:

  • designed the buildings to maximise natural daylight usage.
  • utilise a water heating system that ensures guests can enjoy hot water while minimising heat loss and electricity usage by:
    • using copper pipes rather than steel or PVC
    • insulating all the water heaters
    • capturing heat from air conditioning systems to help heat the water

8. Our chefs only source locally and ethically to ensure fresh and authentic flavours, we also:

  • have a close partnership with the Royal Project for Chiang Mai smoked river trout, ensuring fresh and delicious seafood. Fruits and vegetables come from trusted local suppliers, emphasizing sustainability and organic production.
  • we exclusively procure local gems like Thai Charolais beef, wagyu beef, and locally farmed buffalo meats. Cheeses are sourced from reliable Thai producers with origins in renowned regions like Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.
  • have an on-site garden that provides fresh herbs, spices, and vegetables for welcome drinks, spa treatments, breakfast offerings, and special amuse-bouche dishes.

Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai is fully compliant with Travelife’s sustainability criteria, including standards C4 through C9. More information here.

 

We welcome feedback from our guests, community and staff about the work we are doing to improve our environmental and social impacts, including suggestions about how we can improve. Please email your comments or ideas to [email protected].

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