Eco lodge vs jungle resort near Sigiriya which is actually sustainable not just green washed

Honest answer from someone who runs an eco-lodge. "Eco" is mostly an unregulated label here, so check substance: (1) WATER - do they use rainwater harvesting and gray-water systems? Single biggest indicator of seriousness. (2) ENERGY - solar primary or just for show? Do AC units run all day or only at night? (3) WASTE - do they segregate organic/inorganic, compost on-site, and refuse single-use plastic across the property? (4) SOURCING - is the kitchen using local within-30-km produce? (5) COMMUNITY - are staff paid above local minimum and from nearby villages? Ask these directly before booking and look for specifics, not slogans. The bigger jungle resorts (Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, Jetwing Vil Uyana, Heritance Kandalama) do invest seriously in sustainability and have third-party certifications (Green Globe, EarthCheck) - they are genuine, just on a larger scale. The small mud-hut places vary wildly: some are deeply sustainable family operations, others are just rustic-looking properties using "eco" as marketing. Both can be right; the question is "show me the system", not "show me the brochure".