Banyan Group’s Real Impact on Sustainability

Banyan Group has just released its Sustainability Report, "One Banyan, One Sustainable Future," which contains information about the company's progress as a leading player in the sustainable hospitality industry, as well as its actions and impacts across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Here are some of Banyan Group's key achievements in 2024.

Banyan Group’s Real Impact on Sustainability

1. Banyan Group continues to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure and renewable energy on-site. Upgrades to lighting systems, air conditioning, air conditioning units, and the installation of solar panels, as well as timers across the property, have resulted in a 5.7% reduction in emissions per occupied room during 2023. This is done to accelerate decarbonization and the energy transition in line with Banyan Group's commitment to addressing the impact of business on the environment.

2. A total of 28% of the total waste generated has been diverted from landfills. This figure represents a 5-point increase from the previous year, as Banyan Group continues to implement waste recycling and utilization activities, including food donations and composting of kitchen waste.

3. Water efficiency per occupied space increases by 5.1% compared to 2023. Banyan Group is committed to responsible water management, with water conservation efforts focused on infrastructure improvements, proactive leak detection, increased storage capacity, and water reuse.

4. Banyan Group champions marine conservation by using restoration projects and research to best mitigate the environmental impact of its operations. The expansion of Our Marine Lab in the Maldives coincides with the launch of the Coral Reef Restoration Project with the China Environmental Protection Foundation in 2024.

5. Banyan Group maintains its commitment to empowering local communities and fostering long-term resilience through education, engagement, and employment opportunities. The Seedlings program has trained 93 young people through training and mentoring, and provided 2,515 internship opportunities. Banyan Group is also expanding its artisan network by supporting 306 artisan communities, including 66 new groups.

6. Banyan Global Foundation funded 30 employee- or peer-initiated projects in response to specific topics in commemoration of Banyan Group’s 30th anniversary. The projects were selected based on criteria that included long-term social, environmental, welfare, and/or financial benefits to the communities surrounding Banyan Group’s hotels and resorts.

Ho Ren Yung, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Banyan Group, emphasized that sustainability is the cornerstone of Banyan Group’s vision.

"Our journey will continue to evolve as we scale up our impactful practices in the years ahead. We are committed to more ambitious climate action, deeper community engagement, and greater support for our partners in taking real action. To that end, we are introducing key performance metrics aligned with the critical issues we have identified for all senior, frontline, operational, and corporate employees, to empower them to realize our ambitions. As we track progress towards 2025, we will continue to refine the role of our partners to better support the integrity of responsible practices across our operations," said Ho Ren Yung.

“Eggcellent Future: Empowering Communities Through Cage-Free Farming” from Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta

Through the program “Eggcellent Future: Empowering Communities Through Cage-Free Farming,” Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta has empowered two Women Farmers' Groups in Tridadi and Pandowoharjo, Sleman. This program is a collaboration between Global Food Partners and the Animal Husbandry Development Center, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, UGM.

This program is a pilot project for Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta, which has been running since September 2024 and is planned to run for one year until September 2025. Aiming to empower rural women, the two Wani Tani Groups received a grant totaling 10,000 USD to establish and manage cage-free chicken farms.

The cage-free eggs produced are distributed by the PPT Faculty of Animal Husbandry UGM and absorbed by consumers around Yogyakarta. Global Food Partner plays a role in assisting and training the women of the Women Farmer Groups to be more independent in managing chicken farms.

"Through this program, Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta wants to be present not only as a business entity, but also to take part in developing the surrounding community, especially in terms of gender equality, women's empowerment, public health, and economic improvement," explained Ridwan Heriyadi.