Sustainability

The Koh Kong Region is home to a magnificent, yet fragile biodiversity. It needs to be protected and allowed to flourish and we take our role and responsibility in this very seriously. The foundation of Canvas & Orchids Retreat is to safeguard, reinforce and renovate our surroundings so as not to cause damage to the environment and to put in place actions to protect the gift of the land and water that encompasses us. We treasure this ecosystem and we will do whatever we can to ensure its safety and longevity.

It’s not just humans that depend on this incredible paradise. The Cardamom Mountains home many endangered animals, including elephants and bears. Local environmental experts have also identified over 500 species of birds, as well as many reptiles, frogs and lizards.

At Canvas & Orchids Retreat we work closely with Wildlife Alliance, the NGO committed to wildlife and forest conservation. As we learn more from them, we are able to pass that knowledge on to local children and villagers. It’s important to work together to bring the numbers of animals back up to a sustainable level. It’s encouraging to see that many species have already returned to the area in the short time we have been here, working with Wildlife Alliance.

Our nature tours are designed to show you the best fauna and flora in the area and our guides are experts that love answering questions. Their love for the job shines through and we are very lucky to have such a dedicated and enthusiastic team to teach you about the marvelous nature you will be living in during your stay, as well as tell you about their local culture and traditions. Tours to the waterfall and mangroves are extremely popular with our guests, so be sure to book your spot and let the exploration begin!

We also encourage you to take some time each evening to watch fireflies dance across the sky – their illuminated bodies are a joy to observe and it’s a magical sight many never get to experience. We feel very lucky that they are our neighbours.

Our vision was simple – to be surrounded by nature without adversely affecting it. We wanted to enhance the environment without causing any harm, so we used sustainable materials to construct Canvas & Orchids Retreat. Where possible, we used locally-sourced items so that we could help the local economy too. We aim to run the lodge as environmentally friendly as possible.

As most of the tents are constantly floating on water, we have chosen a material that’s a mix of wood and 100% recycled plastic, for sustainability and durability. Our solar panels provide electricity for our entire ecolodge from 10pm each night until the morning. The water hyacinth plant is one of nature’s greatest gifts, as it’s abundant and extremely strong – it’s used to make much of our furniture throughout the resort.

We learn as much as we can from our local team and the neighbouring villages about how to use natural renewable materials where possible, so as not to have a negative impact on the planet. We strive to educate ourselves and work together with like-minded people and groups for the common goal of living in harmony with Mother Nature.

We created our very own water pumping and treating system. We dug two wells, from which the water is pumped and then filtered through three different reservoirs – stones, sand then sand and finally bamboo charcoal, to ensure that the water is safe and clean. We use this supply, along with our rainwater catchment system for showers, taps and toilets for the whole resort.

We also clean all of our wastewater using a specially-designed system of septic tanks. Bacteria are used to clean the water in these tanks so that it can be released into the river without harming the fragile ecosystem of the Tatai River.

It is because of this delicate system that we politely ask our guests to only use the eco-friendly toiletries that we provide in each bathroom. Any other product would cause an imbalance and we thank you in advance for helping us to protect the local environment by working together with us to maintain the ecosystem throughout your stay with us. The grey waters treated in the septic tanks are an excellent fertilizer for our garden.

At Canvas & Orchids Retreat, we strive to reduce the waste we produce as much as possible. We work closely with our friends, local businesses and neighbours to have a minimum impact. This includes giving our food waste to local poultry farmers for their animals. All of our plastic is recycled or reused. Our toothbrushes are made from bamboo, as well as our drinking straws. We even turn empty wine bottles into glasses and vases – something that many of our guests comment on and do when they return home too! Drinking water is distributed in the rooms in recycled wine bottles and we refill daily.

We have come to learn that food-packaging is extremely harmful to the environment and takes decades to decompose – so we only use eco-friendly items from Ecosense Cambodia. Their recycled items biodegrade and we love partnering with them. Another company that we work with is CleanBodia – they have found an ingenious way to produce bags made from cassava starch. Cassava is a popular root vegetable eaten throughout Southeast Asia. The bags are extremely durable but completely biodegradable. We will continue to seek other such innovative local companies to work with and support, as we focus on the importance of protecting our precious environment and providing you with the highest quality of service and care.