WASHINGTON, D.C.—Green Seal recently announced a prohibition on any per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in all Green Seal-certified cleaning and personal care products. Products certified to Green Seal’s updated standards will be verified to be PFAS-free and to meet one of the highest benchmarks for safety and environmental protection in the marketplace, the group announced. Green Seal’s standards have prohibited long-chain PFAS formally classified as hazardous. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that short-chain PFAS have the same harmful health and environmental effects as the legacy PFAS they are replacing. Green Seal’s updated cleaning and personal care product standards now prohibit...

COLUMBUS, OHIO—arbOUR announces the debut of its eco-effective cleaning and laundry collection. The launch introduces consumers to arbOUR’s commercial-grade cleaning products, which are formulated with plant-based, non-toxic ingredients strong enough to cleanse and disinfect, and safe for people, pets, and the planet. Already used by pro-sports teams, hospitals, restaurants, schools, and other corporate, civic, and commercial institutions, the affordably priced collection is now available directly to consumers. arbOUR’s launch products include eight essential cleaning and laundry solutions that elevate “clean” hygiene for everyone and every environment. “No one should have to choose between strong cleaning products and safety,” said Carol Mehas,...

CINCINNATI—With staffing shortages and a spotlight on hotel cleanliness since the pandemic, housekeeping professionals experienced a challenging year. To acknowledge and honor these hardworking individuals, Cintas Corp. opened nominations for its 2022 Cintas S.H.I.N.E. (Star Housekeepers in a New Era) Awards. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and additional prizes for their property. The awards program is open to housekeeping professionals employed at hospitality properties in the United States. Submit nominations at cintas.com/SHINEAwards/ through Friday, October 14, 2022. “Clean has a new meaning because of the pandemic, which is why it’s so important to celebrate the talented professionals in the hospitality...

BOSTON—Force of Nature, the toxin-free cleaning brand on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America, launched their new commercial-sized Force of Nature Pro for businesses and organizations of all sizes including spas, hospitals, schools, health clubs, hotels, and more. The brand is making it easier for businesses and organizations to make their facilities toxin-free and sustainable by helping them eliminate single-use plastic bottles and reduce their plastic waste by 97 percent. Force of Nature Pro is an appliance that uses electricity to convert tap water, plus a capsule of salt, water & vinegar, into an all-in-one multi-surface...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Jumeirah Beach Hotel is saying goodbye to single-use plastic bottles by installing a top-of-the-range Nordaq glass bottling plant at the resort. With roughly 300 million tons of plastic produced each year and nearly 8.8 million tons dumped directly into our oceans, the Dubai family resort is contributing to the fight against discarded plastic by replacing single-use water bottles in its rooms and suites with reusable glass bottles. The hotel’s in-house water treatment and bottling operations will eliminate single-use bottles and give guests an eco-friendly alternative. This is in-line with the Dubai Can initiative from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin...

SAN DIEGO—Hotels and resorts struggling with loss of towels have a new option for their guest’s makeup removal and hygiene needs. Continuing in its spirit of innovation, Nimbus has debuted a new plant-based towel that can be used on the face, body, and even surfaces to clean away dirt and germs while also carrying several eco-friendly credentials including being FSC Certified, compostable, reusable, plastic-free, and flushable. These towels come in a compressed form when shipped and expand when water is added so companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their ESG ratings stand to benefit by replacing...

WILSON, WYO.—WaterIQ Technologies, a leader in next-generation ultrasonic solutions to combat harmful algae and biofilm without the use of chemicals, announces its partnership with Audubon International. Through this partnership, the parties will mutually promote algae-free water sustainability practices for communities, municipalities, and golf courses. Audubon International is a leading environmental sustainability organization committed to educating, empowering, and energizing its members to better manage land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. Its award-winning educational and certification programs help golf courses and communities protect and preserve the environment. WaterIQ Technologies’ solutions control algae and biofilm and help restore water ecosystems to their natural...

SAN CARLOS, CALIF.—Wynd Technologies, Inc., a California-based maker of proprietary AI-powered indoor air monitoring and purification technologies, announced the launch of Sentry, its latest proprietary indoor environment sensor and the only monitor of its kind that can reliably detect cigarette and marijuana smoke, vape usage and excessive noise. Sentry’s groundbreaking features afford property owners peace of mind by acting as a deterrent to unwanted smoking and disturbances, providing evidence for damage claims and assuring guests that they are staying in a verifiably smoke-free property. Sentry’s airID smoke speciation technology sends alerts to property owners’ smartphones about unwanted smoking, while Sentry’s noise...

For years the EPA has been relaying evidence that indoor air can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air even in the largest and most industrialized cities. Given that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, that is not a good thing—especially for the young, the elderly and the chronically ill. These groups often spend time in your hotels. With the coming of COVID-19 and its many related variants, air quality (and surface quality) has finally got the attention it deserves, says Randy Mount, Owner & CEO of Extreme Microbial Technologies, who I spoke with for this column....

ORLANDO, FLA.—While COVID-19 raised awareness about the importance of indoor air quality and effective disinfection practices, the mass use of chemical disinfectants and wipes also poses a threat to the environment. However, companies can adopt sustainable cleaning practices that protect against current and future threats while still protecting the planet for future generations. Violet Defense, a UV disinfection company with patented and proven technology to help make the world healthier, is playing a role in this critical effort through its ultraviolet (UV) germ-fighting offerings. Violet Defense replaces the need for chemical disinfectants, which have detrimental effects on health and the environment and are...