CHICAGO—AirAnswers has announced a new partnership with Superstratum. Both companies have joined forces to identify and alleviate indoor mycotoxins and molds that can contribute to symptoms associated with sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome and other health issues could potentially be caused by molds, mycotoxins, allergens, and viruses in indoor spaces. AirAnswers is the only commercially available air sampling system that detects, identifies, and measures all biological particles including molds, mycotoxins, viruses, and allergens, down to 0.1 microns in size. AirAnswers’ technology provides users with the capability to assess and to monitor indoor spaces for the presence of biological...

SOLNA, SWEDEN—The use of air cleaners has become more frequent during the pandemic, but how effective are they at fighting viruses? A joint study by the Virus Research Centre at Sendai Medical Center and QleanAir Japan center has succeeded in measuring this. The result shows that the QleanAir FS 30 air cleaner can remove over 95 percent of airborne virus particles in only 10 minutes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of whether airborne viruses can be eliminated from indoor air was raised. A joint study conducted by Sendai Medical Center and QleanAir Japan has succeeded in measuring the impact...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Charlie’s Soap to the “Cleaning Products/Laundry/Other Areas” section of its Green Product & Service Directory. Charlie’s Soap offers a premium line of naturally derived cleaning and laundry products that deliver an all-natural clean. They have 40 years of experience built on family, good science, and smart chemistry, resulting in an effective clean for the most delicate laundry and toughest outdoor stains. The products are always safe to use and easy on your skin. Ideal for eco-friendly hotels and resorts, Charlie’s Soap’s professional line features all-purpose cleaners and laundry detergents that are safe, effective, fragrance free, and...

Force of Nature Ruthless on Germs and Grime. Gentle on People and the Planet. Force of Nature wants to set a whole new standard for cleaning products. We set out to completely eliminate single-use plastic bottles and toxic chemicals going into our water systems—while still providing a powerful cleaner and EPA registered disinfectant as effective as bleach. Force of Nature became one of the first cleaning products to be certified Carbon Neutral by Climate Partners. Force of Nature achieved this goal in 2023. We have engineered our Force of Nature system to have a carbon footprint that’s 10 times lower than traditional...

SCHLIEREN, SWITZERLAND—HeiQ Materials AG announced that it has signed an Exclusive Supply Agreement with BekaertDeslee, a leading specialist in the development and manufacturing of mattress textiles, mattress covers, and on-trend sleep solutions, for the supply of HeiQ’s recently launched HeiQ Allergen Tech. Under this agreement, BekaertDeslee will have exclusive worldwide rights to apply HeiQ Allergen Tech to mattress ticking, which is used to cover mattresses. HeiQ Allergen Tech, which was launched in October 2022, is a 100 percent biobased, naturally derived technology that reduces exposure to inanimate allergens such as house dust mite matter, and pet allergens with the help of active probiotics. It...

NATIONAL REPORT—In recent months and over the holiday season, tourists and travelers have been crowding airports, hotels, and restaurants as the hospitality industry is regaining public trust once again. Yet, amid the COVID-variants that have risen, as well as lingering doubts about the safety of air in enclosed spaces such as hotels, motels, and other forms of lodging, the need for proper, fully tested and validated indoor air quality (IAQ) technology is now crucial for the hospitality industry to maintain value now and continue to thrive in the future. Hospitality and lodging owners and operators are at a pivotal...

The idea for the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system was hatched almost 30 years ago in 1993. Today, there are more than 100,000 buildings participating in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) certification program. Approximately 1,000 of those buildings are lodgings located around the world. According to USGBC, “LEED certified buildings are proven to save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and create healthier places for people. They are a critical part of addressing the climate crisis, meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities.” The most recent version of LEED is LEED...

SINGAPORE—In an article published earlier this week on Green Lodging News, the introduction to Greenview’s just released 83-page Green Lodging Trends Report (GLTR) was summarized. In this article, Green Lodging News takes a deeper dive into the report, highlighting key results from this fourth GLTR. The GLTR is separated into 10 sections, with findings highlighted primarily in easy-to-read bullet-point format. The sections include Hotel Sustainability Basics, Management System, Community Impact, Health & Wellness, Responsible Consumption, Single-Use Plastic Elimination, Waste Management, Water Conservation, Energy Management, and Climate Action. The following are observations from each of the 10 sections, followed by highlights from...

When thinking about resorts leading in sustainability, you don’t often think about RV resorts but there are some with very green stories to tell—the Golden Village Palms RV Resort in the San Jacinta Valley in California, for example. The property has been certified as the only RV resort within the California Green Business Network. Golden Village Palms Green Practices The use of energy efficient lighting. The use of certified non-toxic laundry, cleaning and building maintenance products in non-aerosol containers to reduce pollution. The donation of previously used furniture, supplies and materials to local nonprofit organizations for waste diversion. The placement...

SOLON, OHIO—Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), an independent global certification company, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies, have deemed Tarkett Powerbond RS flooring as CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly—the world’s first soft surface flooring to receive this designation. “Powerbond was introduced in 1967 and, decades later, is still ahead of its time,” said Roxane Spears, Vice President, Sustainability for Tarkett North America. “Health and wellbeing are important topics for our customers. Powerbond RS was specifically developed to address potential problems associated with indoor air quality and building-related illness. This...