Coco Tie Dye: Empowering women, supporting communities, and protecting nature in Thailand

By Mr. Donnapat Tamornsuwan, Senior Field Officer, Raks Thai Foundation (interviewed in Thai), and Ms. Niran Nirannoot, Project Manager, BIOFIN, UNDP Thailand (co-created in English)

Meet Soodjai Boonsook — whose name in Thai means “wholehearted” — a woman whose passion for protecting nature runs as deep as the waters surrounding her island home.

Born and raised on the picturesque island of Koh Tao in Surat Thani Province, Soodjai grew up surrounded by spectacular landscapes, both on land and beneath the sea. For generations, the island community sustained itself through fishing and other natural resources. As tourism flourished, residents adapted, finding ways to balance new opportunities with traditions that shaped their identity.

Crafting sustainability from tradition

Today, Soodjai is a respected community leader, spearheading initiatives that blend tradition, creativity, and sustainability. Among her most celebrated projects is Coco Tie Dye — a women-led enterprise that transforms discarded coconut husks into vibrant, handcrafted tie-dye fabrics using natural dyes.

The colors, inspired by Koh Tao’s landscapes, tell a story of harmony between people and nature. More than just a business, Coco Tie Dye provides sustainable income for local women, preserves traditional craftsmanship, and fosters a sense of pride and unity within the community.

Soodjai Boonsook, proudly wearing her handmade tie-dye, smiles with a thumbs-up alongside tourists discovering how Coconut Husk Tie-Dye turns waste into a sustainable innovation—a true symbol of Koh Tao's creativity and eco-conscious spirit.

Protecting an island under pressure

Over the years, rapid tourism growth has brought new challenges to Koh Tao — from overdevelopment and population pressure to biodiversity loss and the decline of coral reef ecosystems.

As a native of the island, Soodjai has always been deeply committed to conservation. Her community has adopted a range of sustainable practices: banning foam containers, replacing plastic bags with fabric ones, avoiding single-use glass bottles, reducing waste, and managing wastewater responsibly.

“Growing up here, I always dreamed of a Koh Tao where locals unite to protect our natural resources — not just for tourism, but for a sustainable way of life,” says Soodjai.
“Even though we are a small island community, we believe our collective efforts can safeguard this beautiful home of ours for future generations.”

Reviving livelihoods through BIOFIN and Krungthai’s crowdfunding campaign

The inspiration for Coco Tie Dye emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tourism — Koh Tao’s main source of income — came to a halt. Economic hardship gripped the island, leaving many households without income. Many women who worked in service jobs, such as restaurants, were also greatly affected. Fisherfolk struggled as well, with no markets to sell their catch.

A group of women from the Sairee Beach community revived the use of coconut husks, once central to the island’s economy, as the foundation for a new livelihood. With support from UNDP-BIOFIN, Krungthai Bank, and the Raks Thai Foundation through the UNDP–Krungthai Loves Koh Tao initiative, they received training in tie-dye techniques and business development. The project was funded under the Koh Tao Better Together crowdfunding campaign for COVID-19 green recovery.

The campaign raised US$92,847, exceeding its original goal of $64,800. The funds were used to hire small fishing boat drivers in Koh Tao Municipality to clean beaches and collect marine debris. The remaining funds supported women’s initiatives like Soodjai’s Coco Tie Dye, providing alternative livelihoods rooted in sustainability.

By supporting projects for women, youth, fisherfolk, and the unemployed, the campaign not only helped vulnerable groups weather the economic crisis but also improved Koh Tao’s environmental situation thro Krungthai ugh beach clean-ups and marine debris collection.

Transforming coconut husks as organic waste into vibrant hues inspired by nature.

BIOFIN in action – gender and nature in Thailand

In Thailand, BIOFIN designs and implements innovative biodiversity finance solutions that also advance gender equality. These include:

• Koh Tao Sustainable Tourism Finance Model, which reinvests visitor fees into marine conservation while engaging women and youth.
• Results-Based Budgeting for Biodiversity with the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, introducing gender-responsive budgeting at the local level to ensure women’s voices shape biodiversity investments.

As a representative of the Koh Tao Women’s Group, Soodjai ensures Coco Tie Dye products become meaningful purchases for travelers who care about sustainability and want to support community-led initiatives.

Soodjai and the Coco Tie Dye Koh Tao team shine at Amazing Thailand’s Spotlight Koh Tao, hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

A souvenir with a story

For visitors, Coco Tie Dye offers more than a keepsake. Through hands-on workshops, tourists learn about the tie-dye process and the cultural significance of the craft. Old clothes are also revived through dyeing, encouraging reuse instead of disposal.

The project has created jobs, supported livelihoods, and even established a vocational learning center for children at Koh Tao School. By choosing these products, travelers take home not just a souvenir, but a piece of the island’s resilience.

“What I’m most proud of is how this business has become more than just a venture — it’s a learning hub for the community,” says Soodjai. “We’ve created opportunities, supported livelihoods, and promoted responsible tourism by encouraging visitors to respect the natural beauty of Koh Tao.”

Coco tie-dye cloth is more than a souvenir—tourists take home a story of renewal, sustainability, and a community’s heartfelt dedication to preserving their island paradise.

Gender Equality at the Heart of Biodiversity Finance

Globally, BIOFIN embeds gender equality into biodiversity finance, ensuring women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities are not only beneficiaries but also decision-makers shaping solutions. By integrating the Global Biodiversity Expenditure (GLOBE) taxonomy and Results-Based Budgeting, local finance is aligned through a gender lens to advance Thailand’s Biodiversity Finance Plan and the Global Biodiversity Framework. A milestone partnership with the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development shows how inclusive finance delivers stronger outcomes for nature and gender equality.

Looking ahead

What began as a crisis response has grown into a symbol of hope and opportunity — turning adversity into green jobs, gender equality, and zero-waste creativity.

Coconut husk tie-dye products are a powerful example of sustainable innovation. By repurposing waste materials, they turn “trash into treasure” while reducing environmental impact. Each piece embodies Koh Tao’s dedication to conservation and sets an example for natural resource stewardship.

Soodjai’s vision is to grow the business sustainably, continue telling Koh Tao’s conservation story, and inspire more women to become environmental stewards.

“Coco Tie Dye is not just a craft; it’s a step towards gender equality for Koh Tao,” she says.

If you visit Koh Tao, you can leave with more than memories — you can carry home a tangible reminder of a community’s unwavering commitment to preserving paradise.

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