Koh Lanta has become the most sustainable tourist spot in Thailand. Much of the rubbish recovered from these areas is put to good use. One organisation, in particular, recycles non-biodegradable materials into intricate handicraft products such as bags and bracelets. In addition to the standalone store located in Koh Lanta’s Old Town, the items are available to buy at Pimalai.

But Koh Lanta has come a long way to be the most preserved and sustainable tourist sport in Thailand. There are organisations and individuals who fought and supported to ensure the area keeps the paradisal appeal for the future. 

Well, Koh Lanta used to be an isolated island with no tourists 30 years ago. With no cars, and tourists, and even the roads.  Anurat Tiyaphorn, owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta would love to preserve the mystical scenery for both the environment and the people. 

"Nowadays, tourists are looking for that same experience in a place where nature is preserved. We are just one of many on the island working towards preserving this natural beauty."

“My friends and I got the idea to set up this store after seeing how much plastic waste there is in Koh Lanta,” explained eco-entrepreneur Aumpa Arthan. “So we came up with the idea to recycle used milk cartons, plastic bottles, and rice sacks into new products.

“We’ve received great feedback from the tourists who support us buying these products.”

Well, their fight is fruitful in the end. Up until now, you could see that there are beaches without footprints still sprawled beneath rainforest canopies, the calls of wild macaques echo through dense mangroves and only moments from the shore shoals of tropical fish flit amongst coral reefs around the areas. 

With its close relationship to nature, some of its local businesses also work together like releasing clownfish and making coral propagation programmes in the offshore of Koh Haa and Koh Rok. Those are Scubafish Dive Centre and Lanta Diver, and the new propagated coral reefs would be relocated to their habitat. 

Koh Lanta received the Green Globe certification, they also added more education and information to small businesses, schools on how to effectively segregate and recycle non-compostable materials, as well as providing waste bins and garbage storage facilities around the Kantiang Beach community. The island also has ambitious five-year environmental targets. These practical onsite measures include reducing electricity consumption by 15 percent, daily water use by 10 percent, carbon footprint by 10 percent, and waste by 5 percent.

Well, what do you guys think about this? Could we implement this in all parts of the world?