THE MALDIVES—Soneva Fushi, the multi award-winning luxury resort in the Maldives, which has implemented numerous projects to reduce their impact on the environment, recently joined hands with LightBlue Environmental Consulting to implement a food waste audit, to understand and address the problem of food waste that affects the entire hospitality industry and to reinforce its position as global leader in sustainability.The United Nations recently put food waste reduction as one of their most urgent goals to reach and countries all over the world are beginning to realize the true negative impact of food waste with the United States planning...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently unveiled a new website featuring OnePress Ironing Systems. The improved website is mobile friendly, simple to navigate, graphically appealing, content rich and search engine optimized, according to OnePress Marketing Communications Director Tari Martin.“The site clearly defines OnePress ironing products, which are engineered for medium- and high-volume laundries across North America,” she said. Site visitors will also find product brochures, warranty bonds and technical specifications. “OnePress ironers are highlighted,” said Martin, “including the Z-Series Heated-Roll Ironer and the Compact 5-in-One, which feeds, irons, folds, stacks and accumulates.”Each OnePress system delivers superior quality and productivity from...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, innovator of an ultra-low water laundry system, announced that it has signed a deal with New York City-based eLaundry.com in excess of a million dollars for Xeros’ award-winning polymer bead cleaning laundry systems which are proven to dramatically reduce water, energy, and detergent consumption while providing a gentler and superior clean. To promote the new Xeros laundry services, eLaundry.com will introduce Xeros as an ingredient brand in their storefront, on delivery vehicles and throughout the business.eLaundry.com provides on-demand laundry service to consumers and commercial customers in New York City such as hotels, spas, salons, colleges and universities,...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Hotels need to properly clean their jetted tubs, dishwashers and washing machines from the effects of biofilm and the contaminants biofilm growth promotes in these appliances. Hotels use and rely upon a battery of jetted tubs, dishwashers and washing machines to run their businesses. Mounting scientific evidence suggests that these appliances (and, more specifically, the improper design and/or cleaning of these appliances) are among several primary hosts of contaminants that get and/or keep hotel patrons sick. A whopping 80 percent of microbial infections in the human body are related to biofilm. Common infectious problems directly related to biofilm include:...

DOVER, DEL.—When the two-day Sustain 2016 green lodging conference kicks off on March 14, it will be held at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, a venue with a long list of green initiatives. The 80-acre property, which features a 500-room hotel, casino, horse racing, entertainment, and multiple restaurants, is a Delaware Green Lodging Program participant and dedicated to reducing waste, improving energy and water efficiency, and supporting local farmers.According to Ed Sutor, President of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, the reasons for pursuing sustainability have been many but one reason has certainly been to keep costs under control. Dover...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced plans to source 100 percent of its eggs from cage-free chickens across its supply chain by 2020. “Animal welfare is important to our customers and our company, and many of our hotels around the world already use cage-free eggs,” said Andrea Pinabell, Starwood’s Vice President of Sustainability. “By transitioning to 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2020, we further our commitment to doing the right thing. Our commitment also involves our suppliers and we call on them to make this important change as well. We’re excited about our commitment and look forward to helping...

I have written or posted articles about food waste frequently over the years—articles focused on everything from food waste prevention to decomposition machines to a food waste disposal ban in Massachusetts. Nine years ago I wrote an article that briefly addressed food waste disposers. A lot can change in nine years and that is why I just posted an updated article on disposers and disposer systems based on my own research as well as conversations with leaders representing our industry’s two leading disposer brands—Salvajor and InSinkErator. Both of these companies, and others, are making it easier to reduce food...

NATIONAL REPORT—According to Emerson Electric Co., owner of the InSinkErator brand of food waste disposers, each year in the United States, nearly 34 million tons of food waste is trucked to landfills. Once there, it quickly decomposes and produces methane, an environmentally harmful greenhouse gas at least 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. While open air composting facilities and on-site waste decomposition machines are ways to manage food waste, kitchen food waste disposers and related systems remain a viable, convenient way to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill. These systems also quickly reduce costs related to...

TRENTON, N.J.—Boasting an improved capsule designed specifically for use in business and hospitality settings, SolaBev is the latest technology introduced to the single-serve beverage market. In addition to the ability to address the higher-volume needs of commercial enterprises, the company announced its partnership with TerraCycle to provide a recycling solution for its capsules.According to a 2014 National Coffee Assn. report, the use of single-serve brewing systems continues to rise, due to their convenience and efficiency. For offices and hotel lobbies especially, single-serve machines eliminate any instances of leftover, unused coffee. With the additional option to recycle the SolaCap capsules...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Intelligent Blends as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Intelligent Blends is a co packer, manufacturer and solutions provider for the rapidly growing single-serve beverage market. The company’s products—coffee, iced and hot tea, hot chocolate, and ciders—are packed and sealed in recyclable pods. The recyclable pods are comprised of an advanced proprietary blend of #5 Recyclable Polypropylene along with other eco-friendly materials, producing a capsule with a moisture/oxygen barrier that is up to 10 times less permeable than typical Polystyrene cups. Intelligent Blends has packed millions...