Green Adventures in the Garden City: A Guide to Sustainable Travel in Singapore

Take a look at Singapore's garden-fringed rooftops, and it's easy to see where its "City in a Garden" nickname came from. This green drive isn't just for show; it has also led to initiatives that are influencing responsible travel. For those conscious of their environmental footprint, various eco-friendly hotels in Singapore have cut down on their carbon footprints, whether in their architectural fiber or through innovative energy use. In Singapore's case, this drive has helped green spaces develop while benefiting local businesses throughout the region.

If you're looking for a responsible stay in the heart of Singapore, the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel is an ideal choice. One of the first hotels in Singapore to pledge support for the UN's Climate Action, the Grand Copthorne Waterfront has employed a wide range of tactics to lessen its environmental footprint. These have included fully refurbishing rooms to be 25% more energy efficient and going plastic-free with filtered drinking water dispensers. Here are some ways in which Singapore has committed to sustainability, and ideas on how to travel responsibly when you book a green hotel in Singapore.

Singapore's ecological status

Singapore has been certified as a sustainable tourism destination both for its current and potential green goals. This is in line with a Green Plan for Singapore that aims to extend the City in Nature ethos to achieve net-zero emissions. All aspects of Singapore life are involved in this drive, from carbon-neutral schooling to the tourist sector.

Some of Singapore's eco-friendly plans include planting 1 million more trees, quadrupling solar energy use, and reducing landfill waste by 30%. For those looking for sustainable urban tourism, Singapore represents a beacon of success, offering responsible hotels, green tours, and efficient management systems across water, energy, and waste. So, if Singapore is meeting these demands, what can tourists expect to find in Singapore?

Exploring Singapore's environmentally-friendly sites

Gardens by the Bay

Singapore's cutting-edge Gardens by the Bay offer sustainable solutions to the idea of public botanical gardens. The gardens' iconic 18 "supertrees" are more than just an attractive visitor experience. They are sustainable gardens that collect rainwater and generate solar power, as well as provide air venting for neighboring conservatories. Take the nature and sustainability tour to learn more about the design principles that have gone into this groundbreaking site.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is home to Singapore's largest primary forest and is renowned for its rich biodiversity. This remarkable urban forest is located just 12 km from Singapore's center and contains some 40% of Singapore's native flora and fauna. It's a remarkable success story in sustainability and preservation, with some trees that are almost two centuries old.

Jewel Changi Airport

This incredible sight refreshes the eyes of all arriving in Singapore by air. The airport consists of a stunning central vortex, the Rain Vortex, that recirculates rainwater to cool and water the surrounding area occupied by some 2,000 trees. Effectively working as an indoor waterfall, it provides a fine welcome or farewell to Singapore's unique take on urban living.

ArtScience Museum

More than just a space to learn about science, the ArtScience Museum actively employs sustainable practices when it comes to water, energy, and waste. The lotus-shaped design actively works to flood the museum with daylight to reduce its energy footprint. It also has an integrated rainwater harvesting system for use throughout the complex.

Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is an island in the northwest reaches of Singapore. Home to some of the last traditional villages (kampongs), the region successfully combines preservation with sustainability. This unspoiled island offers tours of Singapore's past with preserved yet updated kampong houses that are powered by green energy. This whole area was once planned to be turned into an industrial site. Pioneering naturalists fought to keep this space as-is, and it remains a protected area today that showcases Singapore's cultural and environmental heritage.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

This important reserve of Singapore's oldest mangroves is home to diverse bird and animal species, including the estuarine crocodile. It's a sensory delight of murmuring mudskippers and fragrant flowers. Sustainable trails have been built through the mangroves allowing vast swathes to go untouched and protected. It has been described as a living eco-classroom due to its educational ethos.

Relax in an eco-friendly room and benefit from fine dining options, relaxing interiors, and refreshing fitness facilities

Located right in the heart of Singapore in the bustling Bukit Merah area, the award-winning Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel is just moments from the Havelock underground station. Offering excellent links by public transport for responsible travel through Singapore, the hotel employs a number of responsible actions to reduce waste.

Innovative technologies, like movement sensors to auto-dim lights and in-room tech to reduce carbon footprints by 25%, have helped the hotel reach its sustainability goals. It is currently part of the Go Green campaign, where guests are encouraged to alternate linen and towel replacements. What's more, the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel's restaurants prioritize local food to reduce air miles and provide a fresh and exciting world of Singapore flavors. Whether you're dining on freshly-caught crab at the Food Capital or indulging in the Chinese flavors of the Grand Shanghai, you'll be served an eco-friendly plate from farm to table.

Guests will not miss out on being pampered: sumptuous sustainability is the order of the day. From the spacious and modern interiors bathed with natural light to the elegantly marbled bathrooms, you'll be indulged from head to toe. An on-site tennis court, fitness suite, outdoor swimming pool, and Jacuzzi complete the relaxing experience of this quiet oasis in the center of Singapore.

Book a luxurious and guilt-free stay at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel for a rejuvenating break in this city within a garden.