Eco-Friendly Travel Guide to Charleston

Kiawah River

Paddle through a salt marsh at sunrise and catch sight of pelicans soaring; build a sandcastle after lunch and listen to the roar of ocean waves; set sail at sunset and spot dolphins breaching. Charleston’s soul-stirring landscapes lure everyone outdoors. Home to more than 90 miles of pristine beaches, several of the oldest gardens in America and serene wildlife sanctuaries, there is much to love and much to protect in the Lowcountry.

If you’re passionate about sustainable travel, supporting local artisans, purveyors, entrepreneurs and businesses, and making conscious decisions that will leave a positive impact while traveling, this guide is for you!

Scroll on to discover just a few of the Charleston area accommodations, attractions, restaurants and retailers that are implementing eco-friendly initiatives in an effort to protect our beautiful destination and unique, treasured wildlife that call the Lowcountry home!

Did we miss anyone? Let us know so we can share their exemplary efforts!

Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina

Charleston Harbor Resort’s Marina is part of the SCDHEC Clean Marina initiative, which aims to protect and improve water quality at marinas by meeting prescribed environmental performance criteria. Additionally, the resort offers guests the option to waive housekeeping services in exchange for a gift card to use at any food and beverage outlet at the resort.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort

From teaching children the fundamentals of biodiversity on the island to leading guests on loggerhead turtle patrols on the beach to guiding them on back-island birding expeditions, Kiawah Island Golf Resort invites guests of all ages to learn of the vital and delicate relationship between the succession of habitat that comprises the land and the abundance of important flora and fauna that thrive within them through their educational nature programs. Kiawah Island Golf Resort recently signed on to the Kiawah Island Bobcat Guardian program, pledging to eliminate the use of second generation pesticides that have proven detrimental to the health of Kiawah’s vital bobcat population and has partnered with the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network to educate guests and the general public on how to protect dolphins and other marine mammals that call Kiawah Island home. The Sanctuary and all five of the resort’s golf courses are certified by Audubon International as Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuaries, which was achieved through the demonstration of a high degree of environmental quality in a variety of categories including Environmental Planning, Wildlife Habitat Management, Resource Conservation, Water Management and Outreach and Education. Additionally, along with the entire town of Kiawah Island, Kiawah Island Golf Resort has instituted a single-use plastic ban.

The Restoration

The Restoration uses an energy management system to reduce their HVAC energy output when not in use and has installed LED lights throughout the property. The hotel also provides guests with large format amenity bottles that can be refilled at water stations throughout the property. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant, The Watch, also operates with the environment in mind, by using straws made from alternative ingredients and purchasing provisions from local and sustainable farms.

Kiawah River

Kiawah River oversees a number of intentional land and wildlife management programs, including the Kiawah River beehives. Resident beekeeper Chuck Hudspth maintains six hives around the community, each housing up to 50,000 bees, making honey that tastes like summertime year round! The bees play a part in every aspect of our ecosystem. They support the growth of trees, flowers and other plants that provide food and shelter for creatures large and small. Home to South Carolina’s abundant wildlife, which includes more than 430 bird species, Kiawah River’s trees are a cornerstone of one of the world’s most geographically stunning and biologically diverse habitats. While it is necessary to move some trees for construction, Kiawah River mitigates by using their own in-house nurseries. Another important part of their tree management program is transplanting trees to protect them and the species that rely on them, such as removing smaller trees from the base of mature “grandparents” to reduce competition, allowing them to thrive. Kiawah River’s thriving ecosystem makes it an ideal home for diverse wildlife species. Along the shoreline, you’ll see egrets, shrimp and oysters thriving in their natural habitats. The community is also home to two active bald eagle nests that rely on their healthy water system and ample green space to raise their young. Kiawah River maintains bird, duck, owl and bat boxes to support populations of species that heavily impact the local ecosystem. Kiawah River is also in the process of launching a neighborhood feeding program to further assist certain species, like barn owls, and to further foster a connection between residents and nature.

The Dewberry

In 2019 alone, The Dewberry diverted 17.5 tons of waste from landfills with Smart Recycling. The hotel has also banned all single use straws. In addition, the hotel donates partially used soap and toiletries to be recycled and reused in areas of need around the world in part of the Clean the World program and recycles commingled recyclable items in partnership with Carolina Waste.

Belmond Charleston Place

Belmond Charleston Place has completely removed plastic water bottles from the hotel and each guest now receives boxed water bottles at turndown service. These boxed water bottles are also used at any group meetings and hotel functions. The hotel has implemented a variety of additional initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, including switching to LED lighting throughout the property, replacing harsh chemicals with a salt solution to keep the pool safe and clean, installing electric vehicle charging stations for guests and more.

The Beach Club

The Beach Club was the first LEED certified built hotel in South Carolina. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and provides a framework for project teams to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

Wild Dunes Resort

Wild Dunes Resort invites both guests and locals to participate in their green initiatives by partnering with the South Carolina Aquarium in the Beach Sweep program. The resort designates “Beach Sweep Days” on certain weekends and provides buckets and gloves to participants to pick up trash and help keep Isle of Palms’ beaches pristine. Additionally, the resort has gone “Strawless for Sealife” by eliminating the use of plastic straws and other one-time use plastic and they have introduced a deposit-based, reusable cup program at their popular beachfront eatery, Beachside Burgers & Bar, to help reduce the use of plastic. The resort’s restaurant, Coastal Provisions, is committed to sourcing fresh, regional and sustainable seafood following guidelines and initiatives set forth by the South Carolina Aquarium’s Good Catch program.

The Spectator Hotel

The Spectator Hotel has made eco-friendly programming a priority through their Food Waste Diversion Program, where half-eaten food items, such as fruit and pastries, are put into a food digester, which turns them into reusable water that goes back into the sewer system. Since August 2018, the hotel has diverted more than 31,000 pounds of food waste from landfill while creating more than 2,670 gallons of water (equivalent to planting 280+ trees!).

South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium features thousands of aquatic animals, from river otters to sharks to loggerhead sea turtles, in more than 60 exhibits, representing the rich biodiversity of South Carolina. Dedicated to promoting education and conservation, the aquarium includes interactive exhibits and programs for visitors of all ages. The aquarium conservation team is heavily involved in litter sweeps and litter data collection across the state while their education team connects daily with students and visitors to encourage more people to take action and become environmental stewards themselves!

Coastal Expeditions

The Coastal Expeditions Foundation (CEF) is a philanthropic organization managed by a small group of naturalists who are dedicated to promoting a holistic culture of environmental awareness, stewardship and service. Join Coastal Expeditions on the water for a guided tour and you’ll be supporting a number of amazing initiatives, including the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge Sea Turtle Project, the Restoration of Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary and the South Carolina Outdoor Education Program to name just a few.

Charleston Tea Garden

The Charleston Tea Garden does not use any pesticides on their tea plants. Thanks to their custom designed irrigation system, they are able to rely solely on rain and pond water to hydrate their young plants. This type of water conservation is extremely beneficial to the future of our planet. In addition, waste (stems and fibers) from made tea are used for mulch in the tea fields. This mulch helps the soil to retain water, as well as inhibits weed growth, keeps the soil temperatures from becoming too hot or too cold and even protects sloping ground from soil erosion. This type of organic mulch breaks down overtime, providing an environment that encourages the growth of earthworms and other beneficial insects.

Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum

In 2020, Patriots Point replaced more than 2,000 traditional fluorescent light bulbs aboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Yorktown with energy efficient LED lights. The conversion has reduced total wattage by nearly 40% and will save the museum more than $60,000 per year in energy costs. The project took more than 1,300 hours to complete.

The Grocery

Partnering with artisanal local producers year-round, The Grocery offers a seasonally evolving menu that highlights the Lowcountry’s bounty. With a dedication to sustainability and reducing food waste, the eastery utilizes an in-house canning program to pickle and preserve the season’s produce, allowing Chef Kevin Johnson to plate fresh produce year-round. In 2017, Charleston’s High Wire Distillery released a Watermelon Brandy, which took a considerable amount of watermelon flesh to make. Chef Johnson pickled the leftover rinds and The Grocery is still using the 300+ pounds made!

The Daily

The Daily created a quick, quality shop where people could come to be refreshed and nourished and there’s no trade-off between convenient and delicious food. They offer a variety of plant based plates, from Strawberry Dragon Fruit Smoothies to Kohlrabi Slaw. They use SMART Recycling U.S. to compost and in one month alone they helped to keep 1.57 tons of organic waste from landfills.

Charleston Harbor Fish House

Fish House is part of the South Carolina Aquarium’s Good Catch program, which leads communities in support of local fisheries and consumption of responsibly harvested seafood. The restaurant has also had a long standing relationship with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Oyster Shell Recycling program. By recycling used oyster shells, SCDNR is able to repurpose on state managed shellfish grounds. Adding the repurposed shells allows young oysters the ability to attach to and grow to maturity, which helps with water quality, erosion and the overall environment. In 2019, Fish House’s contributions added up to 67 square feet of oyster reef!

Uptown Social

Although the Uptown Social rooftop is most well-known for its Sunday parties, it is also home to a rooftop garden built by Executive Chefs Alec Gropman and Jonathan Kaldas. The fresh vegetables and herbs grown in the garden are utilized in multiple Uptown Social and Bodega menu items including The Gropfather, The Salmon Burger and the Falco Classic. Straying from traditional menus, they have also adopted QR codes printed on aluminum table tents, allowing them to make menu edits without reprinting. They reuse the QR codes by simply sanitizing and wiping down the table tents rather than disposing of the menus between customer use.

Taco Boy

Did you know that if you ride your bike to a Taco Boy location and notify your server or bartender, you can receive a “Bike Pass,” which gets you a buy one, get one free casa margarita?! Bike your way to the location nearest to you and enjoy!

Slightly North of Broad

SNOB has diverted more than 100 tons of waste through composting over the years.They are a member of the South Carolina Aquarium’s Good Catch Program and Lowcountry Local First and source local produce and seafood, cutting down on their carbon footprint caused by shipping. The restaurant implements the use of compostable straws and to-go boxes and uses Fischer Recycling for paper and glass.

Basic Kitchen

Basic Kitchen’s food and beverage menus are built around seasonal availability, celebrating the best in local products and natural wines. The restaurant composts in a conscious effort to reduce the amount of food waste heading to the landfill and has reduced their impact by an average of .65 tons monthly. Basic Kitchen’s partnership with the local growers at Rita Root’s in creating their backyard garden invites guests to consider their impact and the source of their food as they enjoy the fresh air and sunshine in the courtyard. Additionally, the restaurant’s event programming has developed several environmentally focused initiatives. The Salad Project, an annual program inviting guests to eat more veggies and support a great cause, has raised more than $10,000 in support of the Green Heart Project - a local initiative dedicated to increasing children's access to food education through urban gardens.

Tempest

Tempest is part of the SCDNR’s South Carolina Oyster Recycling Enhancement (SCORE) program. The restaurant recycles their oyster shells daily and SCORE places them back onto the shoreline during large scale plantings or volunteer-based oyster reef builds. Tempest also has a close partnership with LowCo Oysters, who supplies the restaurants with fresh local oysters. Selling local oysters and then recycling those same shells through SCORE makes this eco-friendly initiative come full circle and helps sustain the South Carolina oyster population.

Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails

Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails uses compostable materials and implements sustainable practices to serve the Lowcountry. From their curated cocktails served with agave straws to their compostable to-go packaging and dedication in supporting local businesses and farms, Handcraft is committed to inspiring positive change.

Cru Café

Executive Chef John Zucker works hard to implement green and sustainable initiatives at Cru Catering and Cru Cafe. Cru Catering is involved in the SCDNR Oyster Shell Recycling program, does not use plasticware and relies strictly on bamboo and corn-based products, participates in a full recycling program and composts all leftover food from events to make fertilizer.

Gwynn's of Mount Pleasant

Gwynn’s has reduced paper transactions by switching to paperless receipts, reuses packing materials and cardboard boxes, reduces waste by eliminating wasted space in their packaging, recycles paper, plastic, aluminum and ink cartridges and supports local as much as possible.

Seyahan Jewelry

75% of all of the profits from Seyahan Jewelry’s Golden Sea Turtle Necklace go directly to the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Care Center and their Guardian Program!

Ibu

The Ibu Foundation supports artisan women around the globe by providing them with the tools and training they need to enhance their craft, rise out of poverty and create a bright future for their families and their communities. Their stunning designs are meticulously and beautifully crafted by 101 women artisans in 38 countries around the world, including Nigeria, South Sudan, Turkey and Cambodia to name a few.

Celadon Home

Celadon Home’s main store runs 50% on solar power and their warehouse location is 75% powered by the sun. Celadon Home was the first commercial building in Mount Pleasant to run using solar energy! Much of their offering is made of reclaimed and/or sustainably forested wood. Mango trees that no longer bear fruit were once burned as waste, but are now used to hand build sturdy, solid wood furnishings. Old rustic teak finds a new life as beautiful casegoods and antique doors and architectural pieces pulled from deconstructed homes are repurposed into consoles, shelves and cabinets.

Explore What's in This Guide

Kiawah River

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Kiawah Island Golf Resort

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Belmond Charleston Place

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Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina

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The Beach Club

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The Dewberry

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The Restoration

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The Spectator Hotel

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Wild Dunes Resort

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Charleston Tea Garden

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Coastal Expeditions

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Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum

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South Carolina Aquarium

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Basic Kitchen

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Cru Café

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Charleston Harbor Fish House

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Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails

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Slightly North of Broad

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Taco Boy

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Tempest

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The Daily

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The Grocery

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Uptown Social

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Celadon Home

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Gwynn's of Mount Pleasant

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Seyahan Jewelry

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Ibu

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