CAMPBELL, CALIF.—At the Global Climate Action Summit, ChargePoint, the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network, announced a global commitment of 2.5 million EV charging spots by 2025, laying the groundwork for a future fueling network that will support the significant global increase in electrified mobility in the years to come. ChargePoint’s commitment will allow drivers to avoid nearly two million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Summit’s mission to inspire climate action. “Our commitment to deploy 2.5 million charging spots by 2025 comes as the company embarks on the most significant period of growth in our...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technology and services, has been named to the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) North America index, a globally recognized comprehensive assessment of leading sustainability-driven companies. This is Ecolab’s fourth consecutive year on the North America index, and the company’s fifth listing since 2012. “Ecolab is committed to operating responsibly as we work to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier, and we are honored to be recognized for this commitment through our inclusion on the 2018 DJSI North America Index,” said Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—EPA announced the release of the updated Guide to Purchasing Green Power. The Guide provides current and potential buyers of green power with information about green power purchasing. It covers the green power procurement process, different green power supply options, benefits of green power purchasing, as well as information on how to capture the greatest benefit from a purchase. First published in 2004, and previously revised in 2010, this new version of the Guide provides an overview of green power markets and describes the necessary steps to procure green power. This revision represents a major update to the guide...

ATLANTA—Shaw Contract, a leading global flooring manufacturer, has officially joined the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment as part of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, celebrating 37 founding signatories. Troy Virgo, Director of Sustainability and Product Stewardship, Shaw Contract said: “The challenges of climate change are global in scale and require a global response. No one company can solve problems at this scale by itself, but we can each contribute to an effort that enables all of us to create a net zero future. Shaw Contract is proud of this latest partnership with the...

LONDON—Dow Jones Indices, one of the world’s leading index providers, and RobecoSAM, the investment specialist that has focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing for over 23 years, announced the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) review. Hospitality companies included this year include InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, Whitbread PLC, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Las Vegas Sands Corp., and Shangri-La Asia Ltd. The new component lists for all the DJSI are available on the RobecoSAM website. All changes are effective on Monday, September 24, 2018. Launched in 1999, the DJSI World represents the gold standard for corporate sustainability and is the first...

NEW YORK—American Express Company announced a $250,000 grant to Ocean Conservancy in support of its International Coastal Cleanup and Trash Free Seas programs. The International Coastal Cleanup, which took place on September 15, is the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers. As part of the grant, American Express employees will also participate in five coastal cleanup events in the United States, Italy, Malaysia and Australia this fall. Earlier this year, American Express, in partnership with Parley, an organization focused on combating marine plastic pollution, announced a collaboration to raise awareness of...

CINCINNATI—Hospitality Media Group (HMG) has announced that its new hospitality industry awards program, HX: The Awards, will kick off HX: The Hotel Experience this November in New York City. The awards program is part of the new HX branding and growth strategy initiatives implemented by HMG earlier this year to expand HX to a B2B media brand for hotel and restaurant professionals. “HX: The Awards brings together the best and brightest in the industry and will recognize and honor the true movers and shakers of 2018,” said Tedd Swormstedt, CEO of HMG. “It’s important to HMG and the HX brand to...

MALLORCA, SPAIN—RIU Hotels & Resorts has published its Sustainability Report, for the first time in the company’s history. This document sets out the company’s endeavors in 2017 in relation to environmental protection and social action, which constitutes another step on the journey that the hotel chain started in 2012, when its first Corporate Social Responsibility reports were drafted. With the report’s motto, “Focus on You”, RIU has sought to symbolize its responsibility towards all the people that make it possible, its customers and collaborators, along with its commitment to the environment in which its 92 hotels are located. It is an accessible, highly visual...

SAN FRANCISCO—Today, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) officially launched its Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment) as part of the momentous Global Climate Action Summit, celebrating 37 founding signatories. In an unprecedented statement of coordinated action from business and cities, states and regions, the 37 signatories, made up of 11 businesses, 22 cities and four states and regions, gathered at a dedicated session to signal the start of a leadership movement towards a decarbonized built environment. Businesses across the world and throughout the building and construction supply chain, have set ambitious targets to eliminate operational carbon emissions from their building portfolios of over 10...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Scandic Hotels, the leading Nordic hotel company, is bringing its best practices and know-how on sustainability to collaborate with 13 other leading hotel companies as a member of the International Tourism Partnership (ITP). Scandic is a signatory of Agenda 2030 and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company’s hotels are certified according to the Nordic Ecolabel and they work across a range of sustainability initiatives to tackle issues such as single-use disposables and food waste as well as to promote water stewardship, diversity and inclusion. Scandic’s industry-leading solutions include the “hang up your towel” standard, organic breakfasts and...