Even with limited travel you may still be lucky enough to get to a beach. If you are planning a trip to the shore, be mindful that what you take with you to protect your family is also good for the planet. Make the switch to sustainable choices on all your beach essentials.

Let us show you how with our favourite sustainable beach essentials – enjoy time at the beach the eco way!

Swimwear

Can a bikini really change the world, can swimming trunks save our seas? The answer very simply is yes!

Maja 3

The good news is that there are now many brands making big waves with their eco-swimwear collections, so the choice is extensive. Check out our favourites here. Or also look at MirahMaja

Towel

Did you know that the heavier a towel the more water it takes to wash and more power to dry?

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Flat woven Peshemal or Turkish towels are a stylish and eco-friendlier alternative, they come in a range of beautiful colours and are known to dry in less than half the time of a normal beach towel. At Bawah Reserve we give guests the option to choose their towels. We provide these beautiful fouta towels at all our beach and pool venues as well as in your suite.

Water Bottle

Plastic water bottles are quickly becoming a thing of the past and rightly so - sustainable water bottles are the way forward. Not only do they look great, save money and the environment – they also keep your water nice and cool.

Bawah Copper Water Bottle

With no single-use plastic allowed on Bawah Reserve we provide all guests with this stylish copper bottle from the start of their journey.

Head out to select your own stylish water bottle to limit single-use plastics. Learn more about trends in sustainable tourism here.

Sun cream

Did you know harmful chemicals from sunscreen can damage coral and affect marine life?

In order to allow our underwater ecosystems to thrive at Bawah Reserve we only allow reef-friendly sunscreen to be used while visiting our islands. Don’t worry, that certainly does not affect the options or the effectiveness of the sun cream.

IMG_2382 Bawah Sun protection range

Here’s our guide to our favourite top five reef friendly, safe sunscreens for conscious travelling, including our very own label.

Sunglasses

The fashion industry continues to take a more environmentally friendly approach and accessories are no exception.

Sunglasses Bawah

One category that caught our eye (see what we did there ;) ) is
sunglasses. These are a vital accessory for guests coming to sunny Bawah and incredibly important to protect your eyes. The good news is there are a lot of sustainable eyewear options out there, here are our top picks.

Hat

A day at the beach doesn’t always come with shade so a hat is essential for keeping cool and protected from the sun. Hats also offer your eyes extra protection – the wider the brim the better! Caps and sun hats are great for this. Check out one of our favourite Indonesian brands
TOPIKU (which means ‘my hat’ in Indonesian). Their caps are handcrafted from upcycled and recycled waste salvaged from landfills that would otherwise add to Indonesia’s ever-growing
problem of waste management.

Bawah also offers locally sourced sun hats and caps which are available in Six Island Trading Post.

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Shoes

It has to be a flip flop doesn’t it? The perfect alternative when hot sand sizzles under bare feet.

indosole

We love Indosole made from recycled tyres. Over 1.5 billion tyres are left discarded each year
around the world. Due to their structure, tyres take thousands of years to decompose. These colourful flip flops and sliders are a great way to protect the earth and your feet.

Bag

There’s not much point getting decked out in your eco-chic outfit for the beach if you are going to carry your necessities in a plastic bag! Practical material, good size, lightweight, easy to clean, durable and stylish come to mind when choosing your beach bag.

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We like to go for a simple re-useable rattan back pack – easy to carry and the holes allow sand to flow through rather than taking the whole beach home with you.

Alternatively these rattan bags with peshtemal lining mean you can easily wash your bag before your next beach trip. Available in all suites to guests at Bawah Reserve and in our Six Island Trading island boutique.

Book Blog - Island Themed Books 3

Don’t forget a good book too! Borrow one from a library or use an e-reader to ensure less waste. Islands and beaches are magical places and the setting for many a good book! We have picked our top ten island themed favourites across all genres for a great beach read.

If you are coming to Bawah, there is no need to pack these books; all are available to borrow from our Wallace Library.