Sustaining village development, preserving and promoting traditional cultures and crafts are part of Banyan Tree Gallery's business ethos as a socially responsible tourism retailer. This is also in line with the Group's corporate social responsible tourism retailer. This is also in line with the Group's corporate social responsibility (CSR) philosophy of  "Embracing the Environment, Empowering the People". Some of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives include:

Sustaining Village Development

Via its global network of over 70 stores, Banyan Tree Gallery provides a marketing channel for cottage crafts found in various parts of Asia. By generating market demand and interest in traditional crafts, it has helped to conserve the unique cultural heritage of the artisans while sustaining their livelihoods through gainful emplyment.

What started with the commissioning of triangular "Maun" cushions from Thailand in 1989 has since spawned into an international retail establishment that supports various cottage crafts such as hilltribe cross-stitch crafts, Khmer silk pouches, Burmese lacquer and traditional Thai weaving.

Creating Green Awareness

Armed with a deep-rooted desire to conserve the world's natural resources, Banyan Tree Gallery is continuously using eco-friendly and recycled materials for its merchandise from photo frames made using discarded telephone directories, elephant dung paper stationary to lead-free celadon and ceramic spa amenties.

In line with the Banyan Tree Group's green Imperative initiative, unique collections are continuously created to promote environmental consiciousness. These include:

• Leaf-inspired merchandise to promote nature conservation
• "Save the Corals" apparel series to promote endangered corals in the Maldives
• Assorted turtle collections to promote awareness of the endangered Green Sea Turtles

These products are accompanied by a write-up that includes consumer education literature on the targeted conservation campaign.

Natural, indigneous and recyclable materials are utilised in creative means to churn out eco-friendly products. In addition, the galleries do not carry products made from shell or ivory in support of animal rights. Use of ozone-unfriendly products like plastic is also minimized.

More Information

Banyan Tree Gallery : A case study of the positive impacts business can create.
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