Brando’s island paradise an ecological beacon

TETIAROA, France — An exotic island paradise in French Polynesia bought by Marlon Brando in the 1960s is using its Hollywood image to tackle environmental issues — with a little help from its jetset visitors.

The tiny, palm-fringed atoll of Tetiaroa was once a favorite holiday spot for Tahitian royalty before the late movie star fell in love with it while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in 1961 on islands close by.

Brando married co-star Tarita Teriipaia and the couple raised a family on Tetiaroa, now home to a luxury eco-resort that bears the reclusive actor’s name and regularly pampers A-list clientele such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and Barack Obama.

Guests at “The Brando” help fund research projects by paying up to $10,000 a night to stay in the elegant thatched villas overlooking a turquoise lagoon.

Behind the butlers and Michelin-star cuisine, the resort has built on Brando’s vision for a sustainable environment to become one of the most eco-friendly hotels in the world, running on solar power and coconut oil.

Luxury eco-tourism is a growing sector of the travel industry, with big-name hotel brands investing heavily in ensuring their green credentials.

Brando died in 2004, but Tetiaroa has been preserved in line with his ecological vision — resort staff even keep a pet cat called Marlon in homage.

Luxury eco-resorts offer high-rollers a chance to offset any guilt they might feel over their carbon-heavy lifestyles.

“You need to look at the full picture of sustainability,” said Rochelle Turner, research director at the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“Often these upscale resorts lead the way. They have a much higher profit margin so they’re able to do things that make their destinations more protected.

“But they pass on knowledge to the mass market too. Even backpackers are learning from what is happening at the high end.”