Our mantra at Panigram Resort is “responsible hospitality”.

For us responsible hospitality means existing in harmony with the local environment - both the natural setting and the local community. Being sustainable is about realizing the connection between all life and working to build a healthier relationship with our planet and the other people that live on it.

Environmental Sustainability

Panigram Resort is committed to protecting the natural heritage of Bangladesh. Instead of trying to tame the beautiful setting of our resort area, we are integrating that natural beauty into our design. We will design around the trees instead of cutting them down.

The buildings will be constructed from mud and bamboo – both readily available local building materials – using modern mud construction techniques that we will teach to the villagers. Properly designed lighting and ventilation will enable the resorts to be passively cooled, significantly reducing its energy footprint. We intend to use alternative energy, such as solar power, as much as possible.

Some other “green” features of our resort will include:

• Powered by alternative energy (solar and wind power)
• Passive heating, cooling, and ventilation (mud architecture naturally does this)
• Composting
• Water collection and gray water recycling
• Green roofs
• Handmade toiletries from ingredients grown at the resort
• Restaurant food prepared with fruits and vegetables that are organically grown on site
• Landscaping with edible plants
• Environmental education program in a local school

Social Responsibility

Sustainability isn’t just about using recycled materials and alternative energy, however. It is also about creating a dialog with the community and building a place that is socially, as well as physically, integrated into the host environment.

We are including the villagers in the creation of the resort in many ways, from hiring them as construction workers and resort staff, to working with local artists and craftsmen to develop products for our  resort. Panigram will support women’s cottage industries by purchasing all of the quilts from an NGO in the area that produces nakshi kantha, traditional Bangladeshi embroidery. We will partner with local artisans to produce the pottery, flatware, and glassware for the resort (where they meet our quality requirements) to support the community and give the restaurant a local flavor. Panigram will also sponsor an environmental education program in a nearby school to raise awareness of environmental issues and to promote recycling, composting, and alternative energy in the region. These measures will help maintain the beauty of the area and contribute to providing guests with an authentic cultural experience.

Panigram will also conduct small business seminars for entrepreneurs in the host community to teach them how they can adapt and build businesses that cater to the new, incoming tourist market.

Voluntourism

The resort will also be involved in “voluntourism” efforts. Guests will be able to spend time volunteering in a local school or helping to build homes for villagers. Voluntourism activities will vary from week to week, so please check back to see what opportunities may be available during your stay.

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