Eco and Community Care at Bisma Cottages
At Bisma Cottages, we believe that caring for our guests also means caring for our team, our local community and the natural environment surrounding us.
Our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility is guided by Tri Hita Karana, the traditional Balinese philosophy of creating harmony between spirituality, people and nature.
Tri means three, Hita means happiness or wellbeing, and Karana means cause. Together, Tri Hita Karana describes the three relationships believed to create happiness, balance and prosperity:
- Harmony with spirituality
- Harmony among people
- Harmony with nature and the environment
We feel fortunate to live and welcome guests to beautiful Bali. The following are some of the conscious decisions we have made to help protect our environment, support our community and provide a healthier stay for our guests.
Harmony With Nature and the Environment
Reducing Single Use Plastic
Unlimited drinking water is available to guests throughout their stay. We encourage guests to bring a reusable water bottle and refill it whenever needed.
Bisma Cottages has not provided single use plastic drinking water bottles since 2017. Drinking water is instead supplied in refillable glass bottles.
We have also introduced other products made from recycled or environmentally conscious materials, including:
- Balcony table coasters made from recycled chopsticks
- Plant pots made from recycled plastic
- Staff shirts made from 40% recycled plastic and 60% cotton
- Tree free toilet paper made from 100% bamboo fibre with no wood pulp
Our laundry partner returns clean linen without plastic wrapping and provides paperless invoices.
Responsible Recycling and Waste Management
Recyclable materials are collected and delivered weekly to the local community recycling facility.
Bisma Cottages also provides rubbish bins at the front of the property so visitors and members of the local community have somewhere suitable to dispose of rubbish.
Daily Balinese offerings, known as canang, are prepared without plastic wrapped items.
Conserving Water and Reducing Pollution
Guest linen is normally changed every three days. This helps conserve water and reduces the amount of detergent entering Bali’s waterways while maintaining a clean and comfortable environment.
Our laundry is cleaned using energy efficient machines and biodegradable, low tox detergents designed to minimise environmental impact.
We use reusable microfibre cloths to clean windows and environmentally conscious cleaning ingredients such as white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda wherever suitable.
Guests can also help by turning off air conditioning, lights and other electrical items whenever they leave their cottage.
Protecting Wildlife and Our Garden Environment
Bisma Cottages does not use mosquito fogging, Baygon or pesticides in the garden. Instead, we use an essential oil mixture containing ingredients such as lemongrass to help deter mosquitoes.
Avoiding chemical garden sprays helps create a healthier environment for our guests, staff and the wildlife that visits the property. Dragonflies, butterflies, fireflies and a rare blue bellied kingfisher are among the beautiful creatures that have been seen around Bisma Cottages.
We also work to reduce unnecessary light pollution. Guests are asked to turn off balcony lights at night, while pool lights and most exterior lighting are turned off at 11pm. This is particularly important for protecting fireflies, which depend on dark environments.
Choosing More Sustainable Materials
When the swimming pool deck required replacement in 2018, we selected Conwood instead of natural timber. Conwood is manufactured using a combination of materials, including recycled plastic and sawdust.
Mattresses are regularly steam cleaned, and pillows are placed in the Bali sunshine each week to help keep them fresh and well maintained.
Creating a Healthier Stay for Our Guests
Bisma Cottages is proud to offer low tox accommodation in Ubud. We aim to create a healthier environment for our guests and staff without compromising comfort, cleanliness or care.
We understand that many travellers are sensitive to toxins, allergens and strongly fragranced products. This is also personally important to our owner, who experiences similar sensitivities.
Plant Based Guest Amenities
Our guest bath products are vegan, cruelty free and plant based. They contain natural oils, butters and plant extracts sourced primarily from Bali and other parts of Indonesia.
The products do not contain sulphates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or palm oil and are not tested on animals.
Thoughtful Cleaning and Laundry Practices
We select low tox and biodegradable cleaning and laundry products wherever practical. These choices help provide a comfortable environment for sensitive guests while also reducing the impact on our staff and Bali’s waterways.
Warm yellow bedside lighting has been selected to help create a calm and relaxing atmosphere inside the cottages.
Harmony Among People
Supporting Our Balinese Team
Bisma Cottages is proud to have an all female Balinese team. Their local knowledge, warm hospitality and personal service are an important part of every guest’s experience.
We are committed to creating a respectful and supportive workplace and providing opportunities for our team to develop their knowledge and skills.
Supporting Local Businesses
Wherever possible, we work with local Balinese drivers, guides, activity providers, laundries, product suppliers and other small businesses.
Bisma Cottages has consciously chosen not to list its rooms with large online travel agencies such as Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb and Expedia. Guests book directly with us, allowing us to provide personal service and support independent businesses.
Our tour company, Ubud Traveler, also works with local guides, drivers and experience providers to help ensure tourism income benefits Balinese people and communities.
Caring for Jalan Bisma
Jalan Bisma is not maintained as a government road. In 2019, local businesses formed a committee to coordinate maintenance and improvements.
Road maintenance projects were completed in 2019, 2022 and 2023 using funds contributed by local business owners, including Bisma Cottages.
Giving Back to Bali
Supporting Sole Family Bali
Sole Family Bali assists disadvantaged people and families throughout Bali.
Bisma Cottages supports Sole Family in several ways:
- Donating USD 1 for every guest night at Bisma Cottages
- Acting as an Ubud collection point for donations of goods and money
- Selling Sole Teddies for IDR 150,000, with 100% of the proceeds donated to Sole Family
- Donating USD 1 from every Ubud Traveler booking
Guests who would like to help can view the current Sole Family wish list to see which items are most needed.
Supporting Community Organisations
Bisma Cottages has donated accommodation vouchers to support fundraising for organisations and community initiatives including:
- Stella’s Child
- Gili Eco Trust
- Classroom of Hope
- Bali Hope Ultra
- Bali Children Foundation
- Mothers and Baby House
- Living and Learning Orphanage
- Project Karma
- Sole Family
- Villa Kitty
- Camp Quality Australia
Supporting Ubud’s Festivals
Ubud’s festivals make an important cultural and economic contribution to the local community.
Bisma Cottages has provided complimentary accommodation to support festival performers participating in the BaliSpirit Festival and Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.
Harmony With Spirituality and Balinese Culture
Balinese spiritual traditions are an important part of daily life at Bisma Cottages.
Daily offerings are prepared for the property’s temples, and our team observes important Balinese ceremonies and religious traditions. We ask guests to respect these customs and understand that they are a meaningful part of the authentic Bali experience.
Through Bisma Cottages and Ubud Traveler, we also encourage guests to experience Balinese culture respectfully. This includes dressing appropriately at temples, following local guidance and learning about the meaning behind ceremonies, offerings and spiritual practices.
How Our Guests Can Help
Small decisions can make a meaningful difference during your stay. Guests can help by:
- Bringing a reusable drinking bottle
- Refilling drinking water instead of buying plastic bottles
- Turning off lights and air conditioning when leaving the cottage
- Turning off balcony lights at night to help protect fireflies
- Allowing linen to be changed every three days
- Disposing of rubbish responsibly
- Donating requested items to Sole Family
- Respecting Balinese customs, temples and ceremonies
- Supporting locally owned restaurants, shops, guides and activity providers
Book Tours That Support Bali
Book your tours and experiences directly with Bisma Cottages or through our tour company, Ubud Traveler.
By booking with us, you help support Bali through our commitment to:
- Working with local Balinese guides, drivers and activity providers
- Encouraging travellers to experience and respect Balinese culture
- Promoting responsible behaviour when visiting temples
- Supporting village based cultural and spiritual experiences
- Directing tourism income towards local people and communities
- Helping reduce overtourism by introducing travellers to suitable alternatives
Ubud Traveler specialises in personal and private tours, nature activities, Balinese cultural and spiritual experiences, and special interest holiday packages. We curate every experience to reflect the essence of Ubud while helping travellers discover Bali responsibly and respectfully.
Updated September 2026