NATIONAL REPORT—Whether for disposing of trash or for holding items purchased in a hotel or resort gift shop, bags—unless they are used over and over again—have historically been a detriment to the environment. There are not a lot of things that are created just to be thrown away but most bags fall into this category. Plastic bags account for 10,000 tons of landfill space in the United States. It takes a thousand years for a plastic bag to naturally degrade. Less than 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled each year. Plastic bags are blamed for the annual death of more than 1 million birds and 100,000 marine animals. Paper bags are not exactly environmentally efficient either. Compared to a plastic bag, it takes more than four times as much energy to produce a paper bag. In a landfill, paper takes up nine times as much space, and paper bags generate 70 percent more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—What do organizations representing building safety professionals, energy and lighting engineers, green building practitioners, architects and technical standards developers have in common? They have all come together to green the nation’s built environment by establishing a comprehensive model green building code designed to rapidly advance green building practice across the United States. The International Code Council (ICC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) just announced the launch of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), representing the merger of two national efforts to develop adoptable and enforceable green building codes.

BEREA, KY.—Berea College announced that Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, a regional landmark owned and operated by the college, has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first LEED certified hotel in Kentucky as well as the Appalachian region, and one of 21 LEED Gold or Platinum hotels in America. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system was designed by USGBC to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings and is the nation’s preeminent certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Boone Tavern, built by Berea College in 1909 as a campus guest house, has for decades been known for traditional hospitality and fine dining. It is officially designated a historic property by two national organizations.

SINGAPORE—Carlson Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, and EC3 Global, a certifier of sustainable travel and tourism operators, announced a partnership through which Carlson Hotels will establish EarthCheck Program certification for the majority of Carlson hotels in Asia Pacific this year. “Environmental sustainability is part of our corporate commitment to responsible business,” said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director, Asia Pacific, for Carlson Hotels. “While some of our hotels have already embarked on the EarthCheck Program, plans are well underway to ensure that nearly all our hotels become third-party certified by the end of this year, and that as a group, we take proactive measures to minimize our carbon footprint.” Carlson Hotels brands include: Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn, Park Plaza and Regent. The company is focusing on issues such as reducing, recycling and reusing solid waste; and reducing the use of harmful chemicals.

FREEPORT, MAINE—Rates will be reduced by 50 percent at some of Maine’s finest inns and resorts this spring in support of Hospitality for Habitat, a Maine Innkeepers Association (MEIA) program designed to raise funds for local chapters of Habitat for Humanity while encouraging spring travel to Maine, announced Greg Dugal, executive director of MEIA. This year, after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a portion of the funds raised will be distributed to Habitat for Humanity projects in Haiti as well. Innkeepers all over the state, participating in the seventh annual Hospitality for Habitat, will reduce their room rates by half between April 26 and May 28 in exchange for a $35 donation check payable to Habitat for Humanity. “Hospitality for Habitat offers visitors to Maine a terrific opportunity to experience our very best B&Bs, hotels and resorts at deeply discounted rates, while giving back in a significant way,” Dugal said.

Are you interested in creating healthier work environments? Using your garment or textile care budget to support truly environmentally friendly services and technology? What about adding an additional item to your checklist for becoming a green hotel? Able to dissolve most organic materials, perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc or PCE) is the most widely used dry cleaning solvent nationally. It has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that approximately 85 percent of cleaners use PCE as their primary solvent. However, some studies suggest that long-term frequent over-exposure to organic solvents such as PCE may cause lasting and possibly permanent central nervous system effects. Fatigue, lack of muscle coordination, loss of concentration as well as short term memory loss, and personality changes exhibited as nervousness, anxiety or irritability are some of the potential permanent long-term effects of chronic and frequent exposure.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As demand for natural products continues to rise, the Natural Products Association (NPA) is extending its natural seal and standard to include home care products, such as household cleaners, laundry detergents, and concentrated and ready-to-use hard surface cleaners. Until now, there was no standard definition of the term “natural” used by the home care industry. Now, an easily identifiable seal will help consumers discern which products are natural. Shoppers can expect the seal to begin appearing on certified home care products in the coming months. “A number of products that are mainly synthetic are being positioned as natural,” said Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the NPA. “This leads to significant consumer confusion about the category and products people are choosing.” The brand new standard comes amidst growing consumer confusion about what makes a product natural.

DANA POINT, CALIF.—Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment (AOTE) program will launch at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. AOTE includes an environmental and cultural education center with excursions led by expert naturalists. “The launch of AOTE demonstrates our strong commitment to our community and our planet,” said general manager Bruce Brainerd. “The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel will be the first luxury resort in the continental United States to offer a comprehensive program that provides guests the opportunity to become advocates of protecting and preserving the planet for future generations through social responsibility and stewardship.” AOTE is designed to give guests of all ages the most fun and enriching experience possible in nature. This is achieved through excursions, games, multimedia presentations, discussions and activities. Each day will be dedicated to different aspects of Southern California’s natural wonders.

HONG KONG—Demonstrating its commitment to protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel groups, announced that it will participate for a second consecutive year in Earth Hour, a global Worldwide Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) climate change initiative. On March 27, 2010, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., more than 60 Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide will turn off their lights in most back-of-the-house areas and dim the lights in public areas, restaurants and hotel exteriors. Guests will be encouraged to participate by turning off the lights in their guestrooms. Shangri-La estimates that for each hour of shutting off or dimming lights per hotel, it can save up to 60 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to providing the lighting energy requirements of a city of 500,000 residents for 24 hours.

ORLANDO, FLA.—The biggest news coming out of Carlson Hotels’ Global Business Conference from March 3 to 5 was its Ambition 2015 growth strategy focused on expanding the company’s property folio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels in operation. From a corporate social responsibility perspective (CSR), the news at the conference may not have been as grand but it certainly was as important. Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, executive vice president of human resources for Carlson Hotels, The Americas, unveiled Carlson’s 2010 CSR strategy to Carlson stakeholders. Included in it is an Americas commitment to the United Nations Global Compact, employee training in responsible business, the launch of a Carlson Hotels Responsible Business Award, assistance with green certification, and the rollout of a program to collect environmental performance data.