SARASOTA, FLA.—With communities and businesses becoming more aggressive in their fight against drain and sewage problems caused by FOG (fats, oils and grease) and other organic matter, EnviroLogik, an expert in commercial drain line and odor control solutions, is set to pave the way to stronger, healthier and more conscious city systems. EnviroLogik is positioned to see significant growth as the brand announces the launch of its first-to-market franchise opportunity, with plans to open more than 250 franchise locations by 2025. EnviroLogik uses proprietary, naturally effective products to solve drain and odor issues in commercial spaces, including buildup of fats,...

CINCINNATI—Procter & Gamble announced it has been recognized as a 2019 Safer Choice Partner of the Year by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes selected products in P&G’s Home Made Simple product portfolio for outstanding achievement in the design, manufacture, selection and use of its dish, fabric and surface cleaning products developed in accordance with EPA Safer Choice criteria. “Today’s consumers demand high-quality products that are safe for their families and the environment,” said Shailesh Jejurikar, CEO of P&G Fabric & Home Care. “We are honored to be recognized as an EPA Safer Choice Partner, providing consumers with...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—Environmental and public health experts agree that proactive water management plans, stronger policies, collaboration, communication and regulation are needed to stop the rapidly increasing number of Legionnaires’ disease cases and outbreaks. Representatives from public health agencies, water utilities, water industry organizations, regulatory bodies and academia were among 360 international attendees at Legionella Conference 2019, Building Water Systems: The Sustainability and Public Health Nexus, co-hosted by NSF International and the National Environmental Health Association September 11 to 13 in Los Angeles. The conference emphasized the importance of building water management plans and served as an important driver in thought leadership...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources, has been named to the 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) North America Index, a comprehensive assessment of leading sustainability-driven companies. This is Ecolab’s fifth consecutive year on the North America index, and the company’s sixth listing since 2012. “Every day, our 49,000 associates work to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier, and to be successful, we must operate sustainably,” said Ecolab Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “We are honored to again be recognized on the...

ORLANDO—The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show wrapped up last week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando with more than 400 exhibitors demonstrating their products to restaurateurs and hoteliers from all over the state and beyond. Many of the suppliers on hand offered products to reduce energy and water consumption as well as waste. The following is a list of some of those suppliers along with descriptions of the products they introduced. True Green Enterprises, Inc.—The maker of tree free paper straws, bath tissue, jumbo roll tissue, facial tissue, paper towels, napkins, and paper cups, announced that it will...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE, a nonprofit technical society headquartered in Atlanta, has developed resources to help reduce the risk of Legionella, including Standard 188, which provides a comprehensive approach to help prevent the growth and spread of Legionella within building water systems. “With the recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Atlanta, we would like to increase awareness of the resources available to help minimize health risks associated with building water systems,” said Darryl K. Boyce, P. Eng, 2019-20 ASHRAE President. The CDC estimates approximately 6,100 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States each year. Most of those cases result from exposure to Legionella...

FRANKLIN, TENN.—Quore announced that more than 4,000 hotels are successfully using its hotel operations platform. At its inception in 2012, Quore was the product of a single engineer at a local hotel property trying to solve the frustrations and miscommunications that he encountered while doing his job. Then, Quore surpassed its three-to-five-year plan within the first three months of business and now, with over 4,000 hotels, Quore has more than tripled initial projections. The company has reached this point purely through organic growth and customer referrals. With some of the industry’s largest brands—IHG, Marriott, Hilton and Choice—now championing Quore, the...

The next time you think about using scented cleaning products, personal care products or adding scents to areas of your hotel, think about your guests and your associates. According to a June 2019 study by Anne Steinemann entitled, “International Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity,” 32 percent of adults reported fragrance sensitivity. To get to the 32 percent, surveys were conducted in four countries—United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Commonly reported health problems include respiratory difficulties (16.7 percent), mucosal symptoms (13.2 percent), migraine headaches (12.6 percent), skin rashes (9.1 percent), and asthma attacks (7.0 percent). For 9.5 percent of the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Legionella can make people ill and has been linked to dozens of deaths. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Legionella bacteria, normally found in fresh water such as lakes and streams, can infiltrate water systems and colonize in showerheads, sinks, water heaters, cooling towers and even fountains if they are not treated properly. Twelve guests recently contracted Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, at a Sheraton hotel in Atlanta. One of the guests subsequently died, and another 61 “probable cases” were identified by the Georgia Department of Health. After three days...

FOREST, VA.—NanoTouch Materials, the leader in self-cleaning surfaces for facilities, healthcare and travel, has just released their new NanoSeptic continuously self-cleaning sleeves for door handles. These types of door handles are mandated for interior doors in most commercial and public facilities as part of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). NanoSeptic peel-and-stick skins have been a staple in self-cleaning surfaces for facilities, turning push bars, pull handles and other high traffic touch points into continuously self-cleaning surfaces. Now, with the new sleeves, the number of touch points in a facility that can be self-cleaning has been greatly expanded. “The NanoSeptic skins...