At Next Step Thailand we aim to be as environmentally responsible as possible and do everything in our power to ensure our operations do not have a detrimental impact on the environment.

When on a tour with Next Step Thailand, you will visit pristine natural and traditional rural areas in Thailand. While visiting these areas, we need to be careful about the kind of environmental impact we have.

Next Step Thailand’s entire staff is aware of this and we have prepared a policy to protect our natural resources and minimize the negative effects of our business as much as possible. We conduct our business in a responsible, considerate and sustainable manner.

Our main goals are to:

• Reduce our negative impact on environment
• Improve our environment
• Raise environmental awareness among our staff and customers

In order to achieve these goals Next Step Thailand operates with the following guidelines in mind.

1. When we go on a tour in a natural environment, we make sure to leave nothing behind, so the natural environment stays exactly as it was prior to our visit.
2. We try to reduce the use of resources by only buying the essentials. This also helps in reducing subsequent waste.
3. The products we do buy are biodegradable, returnable, recycled, or recyclable whenever possible.
4. We either recycle or reuse the waste we produce. We separate our waste for recycling and ask our guests to do so as well.
5. We use environmentally friendly methods of energy and water production. For energy production we use solar collectors and we get our water from local waterways.
6. We promote efficient use of energy and water among our guests and staff and make sure electricity and water is turned off when not needed.
7. When choosing our suppliers, we consider their environmental and social practices. We give priority to those suppliers who are committed to environmental practices and take concrete steps to protect the environment.
8. We grow our own food and we use organic farming methods. We do not use pesticides or any chemicals on our farm at Spicy Villa Eco-Lodges.
9. When we need to buy fruit and vegetable, we buy locally grown produce straight from local farmers at a market. We do not use imported produce or intermediaries.
10. We minimize vehicle travel and fuel use by employing local people and using local suppliers and businesses.
11. We consider efficiency regarding our transportation services to avoid unnecessary emissions. For our guests this means that they might not be the only passengers. We also pick up volunteers and staff and share a scheduled ride to reduce emissions.
12. We service our vehicles regularly to ensure they run at their optimum for best fuel economy and minimum exhaust emissions.
13. Our standard group size is small. In case we have a larger group, we have additional assistance to minimize the impact on natural areas.
14. When we prepare a program, our primary concerns are saving resources, reducing impact on natural areas and having a positive impact on local communities while offering a unique and pristine experience for our guests.