ROYAL PALMS BEACH HOTEL ACHIEVES PRESTIGIOUS SUSTAINABILITY RECOGNITION AT THE NATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION AWARDS 2025
Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara, proudly received the Silver Award under the Hotel Sector – Service Large Category at the National Cleaner Production Awards 2025, organised by the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. The awards ceremony was held on 6th November 2025 at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo. A special highlight, Royal Pams Beach Hotel, Kalutara was the only hotel recognised under the hotel sector this year, marking the hotel’s third consecutive win at the National Cleaner Production Awards!
Royal Palms Beach Hotel (RPBH) in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, stands as a national and regional exemplar of sustainable hospitality, demonstrating that refined five-star comfort and deep environmental responsibility are entirely compatible. Nestled just 40 km from Colombo, the hotel’s foundational philosophy is that “sustainability is not a destination; it is a journey.” This commitment is guided by robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, ensuring that every operational decision contributes to a greener, more ethical future. RPBH, featuring 119 Deluxe Rooms and 10 Suites, ensures that every guest experience is underpinned by safety, quality, and sustainability. The hotel proudly holds internationally recognized certifications, including ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety), and ISO 22000:2018 and HACCP for food safety. The property also holds the prestigious Travelife Gold Certification for sustainable tourism. Most significantly, RPBH is Sri Lanka’s first Eco Label Certified Hotel (EL-HS-1-2025), setting the benchmark for the hospitality sector.
A Circular Economy in Practice: RPBH’s environmental strategy focuses on creating closed-loop systems for waste, water, and energy, demonstrating a complete approach to resource efficiency.
The 12R Waste Management Concept: At the heart of its environmental strategy is the innovative 12R Concept (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Re-gift, Recover, Recycle, Redesign, Repurpose, Rethink, Refurbish, and Rot). Royal Palms Beach Hotel adopts this 12R waste management approach, ensuring the systematic and sustainable handling of solid waste, hazardous waste, and wastewater. More than 80% of solid waste is treated, and waste is segregated onsite using Sri Lanka’s national colour-coded system (Red: Glass, Blue: Paper, Orange: Plastic, Green: Organic Waste, Brown: Metal and Coconut Shells). After primary segregation, all waste is further sorted into over 20 categories at the hotel’s secondary waste collection centre, known as the “Green Bank.” Recyclable materials, including e-waste, are handed over to licensed waste collectors, generating an average income of Rs. 150,000 per month. As part of long-term ESG initiatives, wet waste is sent to a piggery, ocean waste is collected at the marine waste collection centre, and garden waste is converted into compost, which is used to maintain the hotel gardens and support organic cultivation. Through these practices, Royal Palms Beach Hotel actively follows the 12R system to prevent, reduce, and manage waste in an environmentally responsible manner.
Fresh and Wastewater Management: Water conservation is a top priority, despite the primary use of well water. Freshwater Efficiency: All guest rooms adhere to international water efficiency standards, with basin taps limited to 5 litres per minute, showers to 10 litres per minute, and toilets to 6.5 litres per flush. Measures include sensor-activated taps, dual-flush cisterns, and linen and pool towel reuse programmes. Rainwater harvesting systems are utilised for cleaning operations at the Green Bank. The hotel also promotes linen and pool towel reuse, displays water-saving messages in guest rooms, and conducts daily water consumption monitoring through sub-meters. These practices collectively support the hotel’s commitment to responsible and efficient freshwater management. Wastewater Recycling: All wastewater is treated at the adjacent Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in compliance with government environmental standards. The treated water is sustainably reused for gardening and maintaining a natural pond, ensuring a circular water management model.
Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction: RPBH is making remarkable strides in reducing its carbon footprint. The hotel has successfully maintained an average electricity consumption of 42 kWh per room night, a rate significantly lower than the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority benchmark. Key initiatives include maximising natural daylight and natural ventilation, using over 95% LED lighting, implementing daily electricity monitoring via sub-meters, and adopting solar energy solutions such as solar-powered garden lights and solar hot water systems. Additional efforts involve the use of air-to-air heat pumps, a guest room thermostat project, CFC-free mini-fridges, an energy-saving colour code system, lighting plans, introducing bicycles to guests, promote short distance excursions in Kalutara area instead of long distance and guest awareness messaging. The hotel has also upgraded to efficient, eco-friendly machinery and adopted building designs that support passive energy saving. As a result, the hotel’s carbon footprint decreased (36%) from 2,419 tCO₂e in 2015 to 1,977 tCO₂e in 2018, demonstrating measurable progress.
Sustainable Procurement and the single-use plastic-free guest experience: RPBH, is advancing steadily towards a 100% single-use plastic-free guest experience through sustainable innovations and responsible operations. Plastic straws, cups, and bottles have been replaced with paper and glass alternatives, while shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel are provided in refillable ceramic bottles. Linen is collected in reusable laundry bags, takeaway packaging is fully biodegradable, and disposable plastics have been eliminated across breakfast areas, guest rooms, and conference facilities. Guest rooms feature complementary glass water bottles, metal key cards, and natural materials for table and room decorations, to reduce plastic use. Guided by the Environmentally Sensitive Purchasing Policy, which prioritises eco-labelled, ethical, and locally sourced products, the hotel also focuses on bulk purchasing and supplier engagement to minimise packaging and support the local community. An efficient recycling and waste segregation programme, combined with staff training on refusing, reducing, and reusing plastics, ensures proper resource recovery and reinforces Royal Palms’ journey towards sustainable, single-use plastic-free hospitality.
Safeguarding Animal Welfare and Biodiversity: Royal Palms Beach Hotel is committed to protecting biodiversity and promoting animal welfare. We preserve natural habitats for free-roaming wildlife like birds and squirrels, plant native vegetation, and support local conservation efforts. Through guest education, tree plantations, staff training, and responsible tourism practices, we foster a respectful and sustainable environment for both nature and visitors.
ESG in Action: Royal Palms Beach Hotel actively integrates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into its operations, with a focus on children, the community, and the environment. This year, key initiatives include long-term support for The Learning Tree Preschool in the village and the Sukitha Children’s Orphanage by providing uniforms, books, event sponsorships, and educational trips, along with awareness programmes for schools and university students. The hotel also contributes to community development through the Kalutara North Railway upgrading project, ongoing support for small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs in Millaniya, and assistance to Nagoda General Hospital. Environmental stewardship remains a priority, with awareness programmes for school leaders from 25 selected schools in Kalutara on plastic pollution, multiple beach and railway clean-up campaigns in partnership with the Clean Sri Lanka Project, and year-round tree-planting initiatives. Together, these efforts demonstrate Royal Palms Beach Hotel’s holistic commitment to sustainable hospitality, community empowerment, and environmental protection.
Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara, has been widely recognised for excellence in both guest service and sustainable hospitality. These accolades collectively reflect Royal Palms Beach Hotel’s enduring commitment to operational excellence, guest satisfaction, sustainable tourism, and corporate responsibility.
Recent Green Projects: Royal Palms Beach Hotel is advancing its journey towards carbon neutrality with key initiatives, including a 476 kW Mega Solar Project to reduce grid energy dependence, a 60 kW dual-port EV Charger Station supporting sustainable transport, and a 200-litre-per-hour bottling plant to strengthen plastic-free operations. These projects underline the hotel’s commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral, environmentally responsible property in the near future.
This success is a collaborative effort led by its key personnel, including Mrs. Angeline Ondaatjie (Chairperson), Mr. Ravi Kurukulasooriya (General Manager), Mrs. Ahinsa D. Karunarathne (Executive Sustainability Officer), Mr. Bandula Priyantha (Executive Chef), Mr. Nelson Mayadunnage (Financial Controller), Mr. Janatha Kumara (Rooms Division Manager), and Mr. Sampath Priyantha (Stewarding Manager), Engineering team together with the entire dedicated Executive team and staff.
Royal Palms Beach Hotel is more than a destination; it’s an inspiration for the global hospitality industry. It invites guests to experience authentic Sri Lankan hospitality that celebrates both comfort and conscience. Come, be part of our journey towards sustainability and enjoy the warmth of true hospitality in harmony with nature.
