Koh Tao: Little Changes, Big Impacts

How two small businesses are putting sustainability first in their efforts to improve lives and preserve the environment

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A little further south of Prachuap Khiri Khan, off the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand in the Chumphon Archipelago, is Koh Tao, a 21-square-kilometre island known for worldclass scuba diving and snorkelling, picture-perfect white sandy beaches, and invigorating yoga and wellness retreats.

But as tourism and development has burgeoned on Koh Tao over recent decades, the impacts on the environment have become a pressing issue. Dive tourism is affecting the health of coral reefs around the island, while the proper management of solid and liquid waste is a huge problem. There is an urgent need to conserve Koh Tao’s natural resources and develop understanding in the community to work towards sustainable tourism.

Two local businesses, CoCo Tie Dye and Leaf Lab, are rising to that challenge. They are dedicated to improving lives and impacting the environment as little as possible through education, workshops, creating awareness, and building a community that is committed to a zero-waste future.

CoCo Tie Dye