Credit: @petepontone
Bali – A Paradise with a Dark Side (but YOU can make it better)
Turquoise waters, lush green rice terraces, magical temples – Bali is one of the most beautiful places in the world 🌊. But behind the postcard idyll lies an uncomfortable truth: the Island of the Gods produces 3,436 tons of waste per day. During the monsoon season, up to 60 tons of plastic end up on the beaches daily.
That sounds alarming at first – but here's the good news: you can experience Bali without being part of the problem. On the contrary: with the right decisions, you can even become part of the solution. When we founded Oceanmata in 2020, that was exactly our vision – that every single person can make a difference.
Here are our 10 tried-and-tested tips for sustainable travel in Bali. We learned some of them ourselves since our 11-person team in Medewi battles the plastic flood daily.
1. Refill Bottles Instead of Single-Use Plastic 💧
One of the simplest and most effective steps: bring a reusable water bottle! The Bali Water Protection Foundation operates a growing network of refill stations across the island. With the free "Refill my Bottle" app, you can always find the nearest refill station.
Remember: every plastic bottle you don't buy is one less that potentially ends up in the ocean or on the beach. On a three-week trip, you can easily save 40 to 60 single-use bottles.
2. Choose Eco-Lodges – Sustainable Accommodation in Bali 🌿
Your accommodation makes a huge difference. These three eco-lodges show that sustainability and comfort are not mutually exclusive:
- Bambu Indah (Ubud) – Spectacular bamboo houses amidst tropical gardens. Here, you literally live in architectural works of art made from renewable resources.
- Mana Earthly Paradise (Ubud) – Permaculture meets boutique hotel. The garden supplies the restaurant, and you'll search in vain for plastic here.
- The Chillhouse (Canggu) – Surfing, yoga, and sustainability in a cool atmosphere. Perfect if you want to combine community and environmental awareness.
When booking, look for certifications and actively ask about your accommodation's sustainability strategy – this sends a strong signal to the entire industry.
3. Join Beach Clean-Ups – Get Active! 🐢
This might be the most rewarding tip on this list. There are several organizations in Bali that you can join:
- Sungai Watch – Organizes clean-ups every Sunday and operates over 350 river barriers that have already collected almost 4 million kilograms of waste.
- Trash Hero Bali – Regular community clean-ups on various beaches across the island.
- Oceanmata – Our team in Medewi conducts beach clean-ups and river barrier projects. Read more about our work in Bali here.
We have now collected over 300,000 kg of Ocean Plastic – and every helping hand counts. Simply contact one of the teams on site. The experience is guaranteed to enrich your trip.
Credit: @ayya.lens
4. Local Markets Instead of Supermarkets 🍉
The traditional markets in Bali – like Ubud Market or Pasar Badung in Denpasar – are not only an experience for all senses but also significantly more sustainable than supermarket purchases. Fresh fruits and vegetables are often still wrapped in banana leaves instead of plastic. At the same time, you support local families directly and without intermediaries.
Our tip: bring your own cloth bag and politely decline plastic bags.
5. Bamboo Straws & Cloth Bags – Your Sustainable Travel Kit 🎋
Pack a small sustainability kit before you fly: bamboo straws, a foldable cloth bag, reusable cutlery set, and a lunchbox. It sounds like little – but on a three-week trip, you'll save hundreds of single-use plastic items.
Since 2019, Indonesia has had a single-use plastic ban in Bali – a step in the right direction that shows a shift in thinking is also happening at the political level.
6. Reef-Safe Sunscreen – Protect the Coral 🐠
Conventional sunscreens contain oxybenzone and octinoxate – chemicals that severely damage coral reefs. If you snorkel or dive in Bali, be sure to use reef-safe mineral-based sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). The coral reefs around Bali are already under enormous stress – your sun protection should not contribute to it.
7. Use Public Bins – Oceanmata Provides Them! 🗑️
One of the biggest problems in Bali: there are simply too few bins. That's why our team in Medewi distributes free bins to locals – so that waste doesn't even end up in the rivers and on the beach. If you see a bin on the go, use it. And if you don't find one, take your trash back to your accommodation.
It sounds trivial, but these small actions collectively make a difference.
8. Sustainable Souvenirs – Gift with Impact 🌊
Instead of plastic souvenirs from the tourist market: How about a memento that also protects the ocean? Our Oceanmata bracelets are made from recycled ocean plastic and directly finance the collection of more marine plastic. Each bracelet tells a story – and is a conversation starter for sustainability.
Handmade products by local artists are also a wonderful alternative. Look for fairly produced goods and ask about the origin of the materials.
9. Travel Off-Season – Less Overtourism 🗓️
Bali's high season (July to September) brings mass tourism with all its downsides: crowded beaches, higher emissions, more waste. If you are flexible, travel in the low season – for example, in April, May, or October. You'll experience a more authentic Bali, support the local economy in weaker months, and reduce your trip's ecological footprint.
However, avoid the monsoon season from November to March, when the plastic flood on the west coast beaches is at its worst – unless you want to actively help with clean-ups!
10. Donations & Sponsorships Instead of Plastic Souvenirs 💙
Perhaps the most sustainable tip at the end: instead of spending money on souvenirs that will eventually become waste themselves, invest in real change. With an Oceanmata sponsorship, you ensure that plastic is continuously collected from the sea and beaches – long after you've returned home.
Our community of over 165,000 ocean heroes shows: together, we can really make a difference. One of our customers put it perfectly:
"I can't deal with so many things that need my help. When you buy something from you, it's so easy."
That's exactly our approach: making sustainability so easy that everyone can participate.
Your Next Step: Become Part of the Solution 🐬
Bali needs conscious travelers like you. Every single decision – from the refill bottle to the eco-lodge to the beach clean-up – sends a signal. And together, we send a damn loud one.
We at Oceanmata firmly believe: Plastic is not waste, but a valuable resource. And with over 300,000 kg of collected Ocean Plastic, we prove that every day.
🌊 Make Bali a little cleaner – even from home
With every Oceanmata product, you finance the collection of Ocean Plastic in Bali. Discover our sustainable bestsellers and become part of our community.
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