Pure For The Future

Pure For The Future underpins The Datai Langkawi’s commitment to be a sustainable business. It is based on the tenets of a circular economy, which is a move away from the current linear model of take-make-waste through the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Our sustainability initiatives were the result of a rigorous assessment of the impact of our operations on the environment and are focused on reducing waste which would either end up in a landfill or the sea (thus ending up as pollution) by making it recyclable, upcyclable or returning it back into nature in an organic form.

In Partnership with

The Kansha Life Project

The Kanshalife Project aims to be a sustainable hotspot combining entrepreneurship, spirituality, sustainability, art and play in every state of beingness.

Their mission lies in being the vectors of change, learning holistically and growing together as an island community in developing new skill-sets and gaining knowledge towards a purpose driven, sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. The Kanshalife Project also studies waste material, as they strive to embody the vision of becoming changemakers for a better world.

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Objectives & Achievements

Our ambition is to achieve zero waste to the landfill whilst protecting nature and improving the welfare of the local community. Our programme involves recycling and upcycling initiatives, community projects that champion sustainable micro-enterprises and natural produce, guest education programmes that promote ‘green living’, and initiatives to reduce energy and our carbon footprint.

Zero Waste to the Landfill

We aim to achieve Zero Waste to the Landfill through increasing our recycling and upcycling initiatives at The Datai Langkawi. These include wastewater management; in-house water bottling; banning the use of single-use plastics; transforming food waste into soil for cultivating plants and herbs; and upcycling materials like wax, plastic and glass. In 2023, we achieved an overall 96% of zero-waste to landfill efficiency, which equates to 48,140kg of waste diverted from going to the landfill. 100% of food waste was transformed into soil for cultivating plants and herbs or donated to the community for animal feed, while 92% of dry waste was processed through the banning of single-use plastics; and recycling and upcycling materials. A total of 88,241 glass bottles, 357kg of Styrofoam, 21 kg of plastic, 4kg slippers, were crushed for recycling, and 6,774kg of used oil was sold for recycling.

Reducing our Carbon Footprint

To reduce our carbon footprint and waste, we work in many ways in partnership with the community. We have always believed that business should help lead positive change, and in 2022 we set out to become Carbon Neutral. In order to achieve this goal in a comprehensive way, we undertook the following: monitored our carbon emissions; measured our carbon sequestration (together with the Wildlife For The Future pillar) based on the Carbon Stock Assessment conducted with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; and teamed up with Pantas Climate Solutions to optimise our Carbon Footprint Management (CFM) and enhance decarbonisation efforts. In 2023, 263 tons CO2-e has been prevented from polluting our environment by not sending waste to the landfill through regenerative practices.

Community Outreach

New sustainability initiatives have been introduced within the community as well as support of local culture and heritage through the offering of traditional craft-making activities (e.g. batik workshops), and promoting natural well-being practices (e.g. propolis soap making). In partnership with local social enterprise The Kanshalife Project in Langkawi, Geng Bersih Kampung and schools sponsored through the Eco-Schools Programme, we nurture micro-businesses and local entrepreneurship, especially with children, disadvantaged and marginalised members of our extended community.

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Guest and Staff Education Programmes

In partnership with the community, we have developed a range of recycling and upcycling activities and workshops for guests to promote ‘green living’. These include recycling candles and natural soap-making, as well as staff programmes to stimulate continuous innovation on our sustainability and conservation initiatives. In the year 2022: 17 workshops with local artisans on craft and sustainable practices were conducted, 3,021 candles were produced from used candles, 94 concrete bricks have been produced from upcycled glass, and more.

Making A Difference

Remi Giromella, Pillar Leader, Pure For The Future, The Datai Pledge | Director of Quality Control and Improvement, The Datai Langkawi

"It’s been over two years now since The Datai Pledge began its beautiful journey of conservation and sustainability. I am very proud to be leading the Pure For The Future Pillar with the support of a dedicated and passionate team who always go the extra mile. Our initiatives have developed well with some exciting achievements, but we’ve also seen some challenging times.

On a personal note, working on sustainability initiatives within a luxury hotel has always been a dream work experience for me. This, along with helping the community whilst minimising our impact on the surrounding environment, has been incredibly rewarding. I am looking forward to achieving zero waste to the landfill in 2021 and attaining another key milestone for the programme."

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Zakwan Zamri, Assistant Manager, Sustainability, The Datai Langkawi

“It’s been really encouraging to see all the efforts of our sustainability initiatives start to show results, especially the reduction of waste to the landfill and our ‘no single-use plastics’ policy. In addition, guests have been very appreciative of our efforts and have often shared constructive suggestions to improve the programme. Together with my team, we always try to diversify the products that can be offered at the Permaculture Garden, and to increase our knowledge of agriculture and permaculture in particular.”

Piet Van Zyl, Advisor, The Datai Pledge | Sustainability and Closed-loop Specialist, Positive Impact Forever

"Over the last few years, The Datai Langkawi has been working hard to ensure that the hotel is as sustainable as possible and reducing its environmental footprint drastically. With the launch of The Datai Pledge, they are taking this another step further by ensuring that this will be done, not only now but for the future, and I am privileged to have played a small part in the formation of the Pure for the Future pillar of The Datai Pledge and to keep on being involved in this honorable cause."

Mark Garrett, Advisor, The Datai Pledge | Permaculture Expert, Mark Garrett Permaculture

"‘Nature is the best teacher’ and Permaculture provides positive solutions for us all to create environmentally sustainable, harmonious and abundant ways of living."