Since 2017, Waterbom Bali, Asia’s #1 waterpark, has been a leader in the tourism industry with its dedicated in-park sustainability program, Karmic Returns. Now, in order to transition to a low-carbon future, the company has set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero by 2033. From comprehensive waste management, to water and energy conservation, all initiatives are carried out to reduce their ecological footprint, furthering the company’s goals of becoming the world’s most sustainable waterpark.
A Waterpark With a Conscience: Waterbom Bali Sets Sights on Achieving Net-Zero by 2033
From the park’s first inception, Waterbom has placed a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, integrating sustainable practices into its operations and fostering a team culture that aligns with the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana. This traditional philosophy promotes the harmonious coexistence of people, nature, and spirituality, and serves as a guiding principle in the company culture.
This commitment has led to the endorsement of Waterbom's net-zero 2050 target by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), aligning their greenhouse gas reduction targets with the global objectives of the Paris Agreement. As the only SBTi-approved tourism company in Indonesia, Waterbom stands as a leading example of a responsible business and leader in low-carbon transition. In 2023, Waterbom achieved a 95% recycling rate and successfully reduced their waste to landfill to only 6.7%%. Their newly opened Oasis Gardens area has integrated an Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Plan, which has been applied to numerous aspects including material sourcing, construction methods, and design elements.
This comprehensive approach ensures an ethical and sustainable expansion project. Furthermore, Waterbom is actively transitioning its staff transportation fleet to electric vehicles, currently at a 14% adoption rate. Successes of their sustainability programs and initiatives have led them to earning the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) 2023 Grand Award in Sustainability and Social Responsibility. At their recent 30th anniversary celebration, Waterbom CEO Sayan Gulino says, “we will be upgrading our ambitions and targets, as Waterbom aims to be the first Asian tourism business and the first waterpark in the world to be net-zero by 2033. Our energy sources will be 100% renewable, and our business will also be removing more carbon from the atmosphere than we emit.” He continues, “throughout this process, we will keep ourselves accountable and provide transparent data and results to the public.”
To achieve net-zero by 2033, Waterbom commits to reducing 90% of absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions through employing various strategies including reduction, substitution, and mitigation. This involves several specific initiatives such as improving water pump efficiency, using energy-efficient water heaters, switching from gas to electric kitchen appliances, sourcing more sustainable consumables, increasing on-site renewable energy production, as well as removing unabated emissions through credible carbon removal credits purchase.
Waterbom has been collaborating with environmental consultant Eco-Mantra since 2016 to achieve their sustainability goals. “Working closely with second generation owner and CEO, Sayan Gulino, we developed an ambitious plan to make Waterbom Bali net-zero by 2033. The energy reduction pathway, renewable energy strategies, and sustainable supply chain strategies we laid out are going to be a technically complicated and costly investment over the next 5 years. Waterbom Bali's journey to net-zero is of high integrity and a showcase for responsible corporate climate action and a leader in the tourism industry,” says Maitri Fischer, CTO of Eco-Mantra.
This year, Waterbom intends to expand its ‘edutainment’ program, Seed of Thought, (a fun workshop held at the park to inspire and inform youth about environmental responsibility) to connect with a wider audience of school kids and university students. Waterbom is working on a series of talks and workshops, discussing effective solutions to current environmental issues on the island of Bali. With rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and melting ice caps, the urgency of transitioning to a low-carbon future is more critical now than ever. The world must reach net-zero no later than 2050, and as all companies have a crucial part to play, Waterbom remains dedicated to inspiring others and making a meaningful contribution to the collective environmental goals.