Sustainability

We are an eco-conscious retreat centre located within Rekawa Nature Reserve, a protected area home to a rich, tropical mangrove ecosystem, a peaceful lagoon, diverse wildlife and a stunning, unspoilt stretch of sandy beach where giant sea turtles come to nest.

A key part of our ethos is to make a positive contribution to our environment and local communities, and as guardians of the extraordinary habitat of the Sanctuary and surrounding areas, we are committed to protecting its flora and fauna, now and for generations to come.

Being immersed in nature is a powerful healer and helps restore our natural rhythms and cycles. Just as everything we see around us is comprised of the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether, so too are we – we are not separate from nature. To experience harmony within, we must live in harmony with our environment.

Since 2012 we have worked closely with independent environmental consultants to ensure that we operate with respect for our surroundings and that the sustainability initiatives we create are relevant, responsible and have a long-term, beneficial impact. We are continually working to reduce our carbon footprint through a range of sustainability policies, as well as the conservation and educational projects we have initiated.

In October 2020, we committed to expanding our sustainability work with a series of pledges around renewable energy and waste management, sustainable water use, sustainable food production, and carbon emissions. Our current sustainability policies and pledges are outlined in our Green Manifesto below:

Renewable Energy

• Our rooms and cabanas are built with respect for the natural surroundings, and we, therefore, do not have air conditioning in the rooms. Thanks to its beachside location, the Sanctuary is naturally cool. The buildings are also designed to maximise airflow, and we provide ceiling and standing fans as well as mosquito nets in all rooms.
• By October 2021, we will switch to using 100% renewable energy sources by installing solar panels to power the Sanctuary’s electricity.

Waste Management & Single-Use Plastics 

• Currently, we minimise the use of plastic wherever we can; for example, we only use reusable glass bottles in guest rooms and metal straws in our king coconuts.
• Our team participate in a daily beach clean rota. Luckily we have an unspoilt beach with very little litter – and we like to do our bit to ensure it stays that way!
• By October 2021, we will introduce a new waste management system for recycling and eliminate single-use plastics from our site.

Sustainable Water Use 

• We invite guests to contribute to our green efforts during their stay by reusing beach towels and bathroom towels wherever possible.
• We will reduce external water supply and consumption by installing an onsite rainwater harvesting system by October 2021, which will supply rainwater for gardening and other uses at the Sanctuary.

Sustainable Food Production

• We grow our own vegetables, fruits, tea, herbs, and spices at our biodynamic farm in the rainforest, and aim to supply between 60-70% of the Sanctuary’s fruit and vegetables by October 2021.
• Where possible, the remainder of our food is seasonal, locally produced and supplied by local markets less than 10kms away who share our ethos on sustainable food production.

Reducing Carbon Emissions

• We will plant 10,000 mangrove trees by October 2021 as part of our reforestation initiative, designed to offset carbon emissions from air and road travel.
• For each guest who stays at the Sanctuary, we are committed to planting 50% of the mangrove trees required to offset the carbon emissions of their air travel to and from Sri Lanka, when they pledge to donate the other 50%.
• We will replace all Sen Wellness Sanctuary vehicles with hybrid or electric models by October 2021.