“It is full circle, when using natural, sustainable and honest materials, it serves us well as well as it is honoring Mother Earth.” - Twelve Senses Retreat
From the moment you meet Twelve Senses Retreat owner, Anke Bodack, you can’t help but get swept up by her energy and enthusiasm for sustainability. A Color & Material Designer by profession, her passion goes beyond aesthetics. Anke believes in "bringing environments to life with great products, careful attention to detail, and thoughtful consideration to the planet." This philosophy goes hand-in-hand with her love of hosting, sharing delicious meals, and engaging in meaningful conversations. It's no surprise, then, that she transformed her home into the inspiring retreat we see in Encinitas today.
Photo: Front of Twelve Senses Retreat hotel.
It was important for Anke to design minimalist spaces featuring sustainable materials and artisanal products. The commitment to the environment is also evident in several ways, aligning with practices near and dear to Surfrider’s core values, such as offering plastic-free and reef-friendly sun care products for sale, using yoga mats made from recycled wetsuits, and incorporating tiles made from recycled ocean plastics in the rooftop bar.
Photo: Yoga mat from recycled wetsuits and plastic free & reef safe suncare.
We first met Anke in the garage of the retreat, now transformed into an inviting community space, for the Ocean Friendly Hotel compliance check. To ensure compliance, we verify that all seven mandatory criteria and at least three optional criteria are met. The community space hosts yoga classes and mindfulness practices, and there’s a wall showcasing local, plastic-free, and sustainable vendors, inspiring guests to make more eco-conscious choices. The space also features a front desk stocked with local treats and a water station offering refreshing alkaline water from Carlsbad, available in reusable glassware. For those wishing to enjoy their beverages beyond the retreat, compostable cups with compostable lids are provided.
Photo: Water station with glasses.
Following our tour of the communal area, we visited the Fire Room, one of the retreat's four uniquely themed guest rooms. Each room is dedicated to an element – Fire, Earth, Water, or Air – and features stunning wooden walls clad in Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient Japanese technique that 'chars' the wood, creating a highly durable, waterproof, and fire-resistant finish that lasts for decades.
Upon entering the room, one of the first things you’ll notice is sustainability elegantly displayed at the coffee and tea station. Here you'll find a selection of teas, coffee, and creamer housed in glass canisters with cork seals, alongside water in convenient aluminum bottles. Anke enthusiastically showed us a reusable cotton coffee filter – a new discovery that we were eager to incorporate into our own coffee routines.
Photo: 1) Reusable cotton coffee filter close up, 2) Anke holding reusable cotton coffee filter, 3) Coffee and tea station.
On the other side of the room, you'll find glass bottles for your showering needs. The bathroom countertop is thoughtfully stocked with glass bottles containing hand soap and lotion, along with small loofahs packaged in plant fiber.
Photo: Plastic free toiletries.
The next room visited was the Earth Room, where one of the standouts was a beautiful accent wall made entirely from cork, which is not only sustainable but provides excellent sound absorbing acoustics that ensures a true retreat feel for guests. The water station, equipped with a large glass bottle, is complemented by ceramic cups and flatware sourced from Mexico, which further enhances the eco-conscious and locally-inspired aesthetic. Each room reflects its own sense of nature based on the room, and whether it’s Fire, Earth, Water or Air, the materials used in each one is picked with intentionality for sustainability as much as it is for comfort and relaxation.
Photo: Wall made of cork and ceramic cups & flatware.
Other examples of a plastic-free stay include the use of compostable or paper bags in room wastebaskets, key codes instead of plastic cards, and compostable bread bags.
On the topic of food offerings, the retreat prepares food with mostly organic and locally sourced items, namely bread from artisan bakery Prager Brothers, fruits and vegetables from local farms and markets, and coffee from Ironsmith in Encinitas. A homemade breakfast is delivered in a basket to each room, and to minimize food waste, guests are offered the option to change their portion sizes, in consideration of less food waste.
Beyond the impressive practices already in place, Twelve Senses has other several significant sustainability features. The exterior wood is made with eco-friendly Accoya, which resists rot for decades. All paints are zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), improving indoor air quality and minimizing environmental impact. Drought-tolerant native plants create a low-water landscape, conserving precious water resources. Food waste is composted, and bulk purchasing of local ingredients reduces packaging. Recycle bins are conveniently located throughout the hotel. The hotel is powered entirely by solar energy, and guests are encouraged to utilize public transportation options like local train stations and ride-sharing services.
It’s noteworthy to mention the retreat is a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Hotel, and in order to qualify for this, a hotel needs to follow all seven mandatory criteria and all nine optional criteria.
As we concluded our compliance check, Anke also highlighted the two electric vehicle charging stations available for guests in front of the property. Needless to say, Anke was an invaluable resource for sustainability practices. Twelve Senses Retreat serves as a fantastic example of how hotels can successfully embrace plastic-free, eco-friendly operations. This not only enhances the guest experience but also benefits the environment, particularly our beloved oceans.
From the moment you meet Twelve Senses Retreat owner, Anke Bodack, you can’t help but get swept up by her energy and enthusiasm for sustainability. A Color & Material Designer by profession, her passion goes beyond aesthetics. Anke believes in "bringing environments to life with great products, careful attention to detail, and thoughtful consideration to the planet." This philosophy goes hand-in-hand with her love of hosting, sharing delicious meals, and engaging in meaningful conversations. It's no surprise, then, that she transformed her home into the inspiring retreat we see in Encinitas today.
Photo: Front of Twelve Senses Retreat hotel.
It was important for Anke to design minimalist spaces featuring sustainable materials and artisanal products. The commitment to the environment is also evident in several ways, aligning with practices near and dear to Surfrider’s core values, such as offering plastic-free and reef-friendly sun care products for sale, using yoga mats made from recycled wetsuits, and incorporating tiles made from recycled ocean plastics in the rooftop bar.
Photo: Yoga mat from recycled wetsuits and plastic free & reef safe suncare.
We first met Anke in the garage of the retreat, now transformed into an inviting community space, for the Ocean Friendly Hotel compliance check. To ensure compliance, we verify that all seven mandatory criteria and at least three optional criteria are met. The community space hosts yoga classes and mindfulness practices, and there’s a wall showcasing local, plastic-free, and sustainable vendors, inspiring guests to make more eco-conscious choices. The space also features a front desk stocked with local treats and a water station offering refreshing alkaline water from Carlsbad, available in reusable glassware. For those wishing to enjoy their beverages beyond the retreat, compostable cups with compostable lids are provided.
Photo: Water station with glasses.
Following our tour of the communal area, we visited the Fire Room, one of the retreat's four uniquely themed guest rooms. Each room is dedicated to an element – Fire, Earth, Water, or Air – and features stunning wooden walls clad in Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient Japanese technique that 'chars' the wood, creating a highly durable, waterproof, and fire-resistant finish that lasts for decades.
Upon entering the room, one of the first things you’ll notice is sustainability elegantly displayed at the coffee and tea station. Here you'll find a selection of teas, coffee, and creamer housed in glass canisters with cork seals, alongside water in convenient aluminum bottles. Anke enthusiastically showed us a reusable cotton coffee filter – a new discovery that we were eager to incorporate into our own coffee routines.
Photo: 1) Reusable cotton coffee filter close up, 2) Anke holding reusable cotton coffee filter, 3) Coffee and tea station.
On the other side of the room, you'll find glass bottles for your showering needs. The bathroom countertop is thoughtfully stocked with glass bottles containing hand soap and lotion, along with small loofahs packaged in plant fiber.
Photo: Plastic free toiletries.
The next room visited was the Earth Room, where one of the standouts was a beautiful accent wall made entirely from cork, which is not only sustainable but provides excellent sound absorbing acoustics that ensures a true retreat feel for guests. The water station, equipped with a large glass bottle, is complemented by ceramic cups and flatware sourced from Mexico, which further enhances the eco-conscious and locally-inspired aesthetic. Each room reflects its own sense of nature based on the room, and whether it’s Fire, Earth, Water or Air, the materials used in each one is picked with intentionality for sustainability as much as it is for comfort and relaxation.
Photo: Wall made of cork and ceramic cups & flatware.
Other examples of a plastic-free stay include the use of compostable or paper bags in room wastebaskets, key codes instead of plastic cards, and compostable bread bags.
On the topic of food offerings, the retreat prepares food with mostly organic and locally sourced items, namely bread from artisan bakery Prager Brothers, fruits and vegetables from local farms and markets, and coffee from Ironsmith in Encinitas. A homemade breakfast is delivered in a basket to each room, and to minimize food waste, guests are offered the option to change their portion sizes, in consideration of less food waste.
Beyond the impressive practices already in place, Twelve Senses has other several significant sustainability features. The exterior wood is made with eco-friendly Accoya, which resists rot for decades. All paints are zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), improving indoor air quality and minimizing environmental impact. Drought-tolerant native plants create a low-water landscape, conserving precious water resources. Food waste is composted, and bulk purchasing of local ingredients reduces packaging. Recycle bins are conveniently located throughout the hotel. The hotel is powered entirely by solar energy, and guests are encouraged to utilize public transportation options like local train stations and ride-sharing services.It’s noteworthy to mention the retreat is a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Hotel, and in order to qualify for this, a hotel needs to follow all seven mandatory criteria and all nine optional criteria.
As we concluded our compliance check, Anke also highlighted the two electric vehicle charging stations available for guests in front of the property. Needless to say, Anke was an invaluable resource for sustainability practices. Twelve Senses Retreat serves as a fantastic example of how hotels can successfully embrace plastic-free, eco-friendly operations. This not only enhances the guest experience but also benefits the environment, particularly our beloved oceans.
Surfrider is incredibly proud to have Twelve Senses Retreat as part of the Ocean Friendly Hotels program!