Despite its relatively small population, the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia is home to an impressive number of plastic-free hotels. These pioneer establishments are amongst the staunchest supporters of being environmentally friendly and they hope to inspire other boutique hotels and large chains to follow suit, both in Cambodia and further afield. They were some of the first plastic-free hotels in the world, not only proving that it could be done and also now becoming one of the top reasons that people choose to book with them.
As more and more tourists realise the huge environmental impact of their holidays, they are looking for ways to travel without damaging the wonderful destinations they visit. The demand for plastic-free accommodation is increasing, which is welcome news for local communities that desperately fight to stop the deluge of plastic bottles, straws and containers that flood the lakes, streets and rivers around the world.
Here are some of the Siem Reap hotels that are leading the way with their innovative eco-friendly ideas and solutions towards sustainable tourism:
5 Plastic-Free Hotels in Siem Reap
1) Jaya House RiverPark
Located along the Siem Reap River is Jaya House RiverPark. This boutique hotel has 36 rooms, two pools, a tranquil spa and one of the most environmentally conscientious operating policies.
The all-Khmer workforce empties the river of plastic and rubbish on a daily basis, so big is the problem they are facing. They provide each guest with complimentary aluminium canisters that can be refilled at the various refill water stations located around the town.
It is part of the Refill, Not Landfill scheme that aims to drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastic bottles consumed by the two million annual visitors that Siem Reap welcomes. There’s even a website that shows you where to refill the canister: Refill Cambodia. It’s no surprise that the hotel’s GM, Christian de Boer, is one of the founders of this scheme, which is now operational in several countries in SEAsia.
You won’t find a plastic straw or rubbish bag on site and guests are both impressed and inspired to seek bamboo straws and biodegradable packaging elsewhere in the town, and beyond. Their policy is appreciated by the already environmentally conscious and makes it easy for others who are just learning about it to get on board and appreciate this move towards sustainable tourism and responsible travel.
2) Babel Guesthouse
Babel Guesthouse is a 22-room hotel in one of the most relaxing areas of Siem Reap. Featuring a tranquil tropical garden and a bamboo restaurant, it really is a welcome oasis from the dust and noise of the central market and downtown area.
Its plastic-free policy is truly commendable and is encouraging guests to stay there. As well as being a supporter of the Refill Not Landfill scheme, this hotel only uses biodegradable garbage bags, boxes and cutlery, as well as bamboo straws.
Its on-site shop sells bamboo toothbrushes and travel cutlery sets to reduce the amount of plastic consumed. There is even a coconut bowl for travellers to use when purchasing street food. These items are hopefully something that other hotels will look at selling as more and more travellers seek products of this nature.
Babel has recently introduced a new scheme that allows customers and locals to bring in their empty bottles of shampoo, shower gel, body lotion etc. and simply purchase refills from their eco-friendly shop. The price is cheaper and there is no need to purchase yet another plastic bottle. A win-win for the customers and the planet too.
3) Treeline Urban Resort
Treeline Urban Resort adopts many of the same policies as Jaya and Babel.
All their water containers are glass and filled with filtered water. The minibar is even stocked with M&Ms in glass bowls, having been purchased in bulk to reduce packaging. The bins are made from water hyacinth with washable liners. This is an invasive plant found on the Tonle Sap Lake that is damaging to the aquatic environment.
The hotel further reduces the need for plastic by making their signs and coasters from wood, and their slipper and laundry bags from linen and cotton. If a guest needs some shampoo or body lotion, they simply request it from reception, avoiding the need to automatically fill each room with products. They even replace plastic shower caps with hair ties.
Local villagers supply their palm leaf containers and eco-friendly food containers eliminate the need for plastic and Styrofoam takeaway items. They too support and promote the Refill Not Landfill scheme and partners with Plastic Free Cambodia to learn more ways to reduce their waste and environmental impact in the future.
4) Meru Asia
Meru Asia offers something rather unique – a beautifully restored wooden villa on the edge of the Angkor Wat temple complex. It can accommodate up to 10 people and is a hit with nature lovers, writers, artists and those wishing to get away from the stress and noise of everyday life.
Despite its remote location, the villa has air-con and a fully equipped kitchen, and it is plastic-free which the guests really appreciate. It’s safe to say that people who choose a holiday retreat like this do not want to see a mountain of plastic during their stay. It’s owned and operated by a couple that is eager to share information about the Cambodian culture. Their enthusiasm for this country is evident and guests are sure to enjoy an enhanced experience in their company.
Meru draws on locally produced products whenever possible. It chooses environmentally friendly items throughout the villa and informs guests about the reasons for doing this. The Meru team is finding that more and more tourists are booking Meru not only for the serenity and unique location but also because they too are committed to helping the environment during their holiday.
5) Mulberry Boutique Hotel
Mulberry Boutique Hotel has also adopted a plastic-free policy and provides each guest with the Refill Not Landfill aluminium canisters. There is no plastic in any of their 13 bedrooms and they are committed to reducing their impact on the environment as much as possible. Their in-house complimentary laundry service is a commendable way of reducing plastic – most of the laundry services in town wrap clean clothes in a bundle of unnecessary plastic.
Each bedroom is different in its design – from family suites to traditional wooden houses and rooms with balconies and gardens. It’s a welcome change from the same uniform design of most hotels. Much thought has gone into the design of the hotel, and their minimalistic style ensures comfort and tranquillity.
Its spa and restaurant operate without plastic bottles and packaging and all staff members at Mulberry have been taught about the positive effects of running the hotel this way. Educating local staff is a huge part of changing the future of Siem Reap.
Impact of going plastic-free so far
It’s not just the tourists that are inspired. Information learned by the staff of each of these hotels is passed on to their friends and family. The hotels also work closely with the community to educate the local Khmer residents on ways to reduce damage to the environment. By informing each and every person, it’s hoped that this generation of Khmer people will be more diligent and resourceful when it comes to recycling and discarding unwanted plastic materials. And future generations to come will benefit from today’s actions.
The hotels and other local businesses team up to participate in regular clean-up days around the town, with each company nominating to remove rubbish from a specific area. It’s hoped that in the future, there won’t be a need for this, but for now, they do what they can and there is genuine hope of progress and change to come.
The main hope is that more and more visitors to Siem Reap will book their stays at these impressive plastic-free hotels which do a great job of offering all the luxuries of a holiday while rewriting the impact of tourism on the environment into a positive one. As competitors see the importance of adopting a plastic-free policy, it’s hoped that they will get on board so that everyone wins – because right now, the people and infrastructure of Siem Reap simply cannot cope.
Right now, these five pioneering hotels are stronger together and their willingness to work as a team is rare and inspiring. They don’t see competition and rivalry, even in this competitive industry – instead, they know that working together will actually have a positive effect on their businesses, their local community, Cambodia and the planet. They are not alone in hoping that their mindset, business practice and vision will inspire others to do the same.
Well written article Nikki Zimbler about a very topical theme. It’ll take time, but the other big hotel chains need to change their whole ethos in order to promote a plastic free environment. Let’s hope articles like yours filter through to the marketing departments of these so-called top hotels of the world. 🙏🏻
Great article showing businesses who are willing to change and make a difference to the over utilization of plastics, which is sadly a worldwide issue!!
Very interesting and informative, thank you. Wish there wee more articles like this.
What an inspiring and interesting article. Well written and informative.
#togetherforagreenerworld #saynotoplastic #refillnotlandfill #thereisnoplanetb I hope MANY Hotels and Guesthouses around the world will follow!!! 🌿
I hope MANY Hotels and Guesthouse’s around the world will follow!! #saynotoplastic #refusesingleuse #refillnotlandfill #togetherforagreenerworld #thereisnoplanetb
Great article, and a little taste of the positive changes taking place in Siem Reap! Much more effort is needed, please encourage other hotels and guesthouses to join RefillNotLandfill (www.refillasia.com) and to work towards becoming Plastic Free!
Very inspiring to see how much focus on environment these hotels have.
I wish Expedia could give more focus to hotels that makes an impact.
Siem Reap is in deep need for reducing plastic, so great article to read!
Really good to read about this subject on expedia! Bravo to nikki zimbler for her research on this all important topic in the developing and developed world. The hotels recommended in this article are inspiring to say the least, and I know that responsable tourists will look to these places as an example of how things can be done with the planet in mind!
Great article and well done to these hotels leading the way!
great read Nikki!
It’s great to see such positive changes in this industry. So much more needs to be done in the world and with people’s daily habits but it’s fantastic to see what is being achieved.
Finally somebody doing something about Plastics love these hotels for taking stops making our environment a better place great article
Good article Nikki Zimbler on an essential matter. These hotels should get full support from both customers and Governments for being innovative leaders on such an important matter as the environment, a matter to be tackled urgently by everyone of us. Thank you.
Fantastic ! Hope many many others hotels take their responsibility serious (not like another “save a towel, plant a tree initiative from the chain hotels in 2008 – where is their forrest ??)
It is amazing leading hotels to make our environment more better and better. This article will be inspiring to other hotels in the world to follow.
Great article! We hope Khmer people will get more informed about this issue, these hotels do a great job on that.
Great to see so many hotels in this little town doing this extremly important work. Well done to all the hotels on this list – leading the way! 🍃
Awesome article ! Me and my wife will definitely consider these hotels for our upcoming trip to Cambodia:)
Wonderful view of the tourism and forward-thinking article. I do hope minds will evolve and consider the environmental criteria as high priority. We need this for our future generations.
Thanks a lot to Nikki and Expedia to consider this and walk the talk.
Great article and Thankyou Nikki and Expedia for focusing some attention on this… there needs to be more attention and more real change! Please spread the word about RefillNotLandfill, this simple campaign can make an enormous difference!
We have stayed at Babel and are really impressed with all the efforts they have made to get this far, hope other hotels and guesthouses in Southeast Asia will follow their lead. Thanks to Katrine and staff for making a difference.
I’m so happy these hotels are leading the path towards a better world. Every hotels should take example! Especially the big ones!
Fantastic Babel Guesthouse, looking forward to visit you this summer.
Great article expedia, more on this important at subject. What those hotels Are doing is a great work towards the environmental issues the world is facing! Impressive to read about their commitment to this-keep up the good work and I really hope others will get inspired and follow your footsteps!
Amazing to see how many places are taking steps towards a cleaner Cambodia, hopefully others can learn from the progress being made here. Great job to all the hotels!!!
Traveling through Asia and see how much plastic pollution that flows in the streets make me sad. We need to put focus on these hotels/guest houses who want to change the world!
A very important message to send to the world, our only earth, which is slowly being suffocated by the plastic waste. These hotels, Babel Guesthouse included, are great forerunners and role models. I sincerely hope that the rest of the society will follow put and recommend all travelers to do a deliberate choice when visiting this wonderful place on earth. Please support these great initiatives!
So good to hear that hotels in Siem Reap are helping tourists travel with care. My family have just returned from Vietnam and were painfully aware of how hard it was to avoid all the packaging. Every hotel was stocked with plastic disposable items and there was no option to refill water bottles. I hope to see more hotels adopt the same principles as these wonderful hotels.
Great article highlighting how much can be done to start chipping away at such a catastrophic, global problem. Let’s hope this inspires more hotels around the world to follow their lead. Thank you Nikki Zimbler for your research and insight into this and for spreading the word about these excellent, forward-thinking hotels.
Great article! I’ve stayed at Babel twice now and was really impressed by their sustainability initiatives and the local Refill not Landfill scheme, fantastic to hear there are even more places and people in Siem Reap making these changes too. Quickly becoming one of the best destinations for eco-conscious travellers, can’t wait to go back.
Stayed at Babel gousthouse and are really impressed with all their eco-friendly efforts they have made. So glad that Hotels are thinking more of the enviroment. Hope rest of the World will follow.
I feel a plastic free holiday coming up. I love how these places have taken the initiative to care about our planet and pass on such a positive plastic free message.
Absolutely brilliant to see true examples of leading though action. I am most definatley encouraged and will 100% groups like this that are making a difference in the world, Recently stayed at Babel Guest House and could not be more impressed with their Eco approach and refill station! Keep it up out there, our world needs us to care.
Absolutely brilliant to see true examples of leading though action. I am most definitely encouraged and will 100% groups like this that are making a difference in the world, Recently stayed at Babel Guest House and could not be more impressed with their Eco approach and refill station! Keep it up out there, our world needs us to care.
Fantastic work and hopefully many others will follow! What about all the 5 stars hotells in Siem Reap? Looking forward to see them on this list aswell , i guess they want to be a part of this as soon as they hear about it, can’t see any reason not to!
Visited Babel Guesthouse in Des/jan 18/19 and it is a Fantastic place and it is great to see how much the owners of the place, Katrine Solhaug and Simen Julner cares about the country, the environment and the natives. That is truly inspiring .
I would 100% choose to stay at one of these places for this reason!
Congratulations to Expedia and these five impressive hotels May others follow your lead
Be the change! Choose to stay at a environmental friendly place when travelling. Its the least you can do! :)
Great stuff to all the hotels mentioned. Cambodia needs more responsible tourism. I love Babel,
Marvellous!
These hotels deserve all the praise they can get. And Babel guesthouse even more. They are really into responsible tourism and making sure their staff get education and a safe and reliable working environment that does not take advantage of their workers.
They show us that this is possible to achieve, even in countries like Cambodia.
Kudos to all of them :-)
Babel Guest house is awesome, does so much for the community and treat guest like family.
Important article
Stayed at Babel for a month and loved it! and still going to their eco shop to refill on various beautiful products for home and body. Thank you Babel! ⭐️😍
Excellent efforts by all, but especially Babel Guesthouse for providing such a valuable service to the local community (the refill station)!
This is so great to see! Wish there were many more hotels who would decide to do it….
We stayed at Babel Guesthouse for 3 nights. This guesthouse have it all, the staff is warm and including, we loved the food, and the focus the guesthouse have on the envirement is impressing and so important! The little store is so delicate, and it makes you think about the small changes you can do for this world. We slept very well in our room inspired of the A-ha band from Norway:D
Fabulous news for Siem Reap tourism
Such a great pleasure to see more and more hotels are responsible in Siem Reap.
Thrilled that my article has been read, shared and commented on so many times. The feedback has been wonderful.
It was a pleasure to write about this very impressive hotels and it’s my hope that other hotels will realise how important it is to operate as a plastic-free company. These five hotels have shown that it can be done and that travellers are seeking it now.
Thanks to everyone who shared and commented – it’s been fantastic to see the response.
Huge thanks to Expedia for featuring such an important environmental matter. Your support has been brilliant.
Nikki
Thank you Nikki and Expedia for this great article, highlighting the great businesses doing there part in caring for our environment and taking sustainable tourism and responsible travel seriously. Hopefully more will follow!
Resort La Villa Loti in Siem Reap is also plastic free!