BUENOS AIRES—Unmistakably green. There is no other way to describe the 26-suite Palo Santo Hotel in the trendy Palermo Hollywood district of Buenos Aires. The hotel’s facade, terraces, balconies, patio and roof are covered with plants. A specially designed iron structure on the building’s exterior serves as a support for the vertical gardens that reach 90 feet high. In total, more than 900 plants are spread throughout the building. The plants provide a natural insulation against climate extremes, absorb excess water, and help reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint by 80 percent by providing oxygen and absorbing CO2. The plants are...

NEW YORK—Humanscale, the leading manufacturer of ergonomic tools for the workspace, announced several new sustainability initiatives that aid in its mission to create a net positive impact on the earth. As the first company to achieve full Living Product Challenge certification with not one, but two products, Humanscale takes sustainability seriously. Never complacent, Humanscale is taking on the Net Positive Project. It also aims to be the first manufacturer in the industry to have Health Product Declarations for all products. Humanscale is also announcing a partnership with WeSpire to provide each employee with content and inspiration to take action...

NEW YORK—Fil Doux Textiles has enhanced its innovative Vinylife product with the addition of Pro-Tech, the company’s proprietary ink and stain protectant. Available exclusively through Fil Doux Textiles, this vinyl upholstery with enhanced biodegradability is a new industry development and the introduction of an end-of-life story for vinyl textiles. Vinylife is produced with a natural enzyme, which reacts to microorganisms found in biologically active landfills and acts as the catalyst for its decomposition. Featuring the same strength and durability as traditional vinyl, Vinylife is breathable, phthalate free, and exceeds 200,000+ double rubs. “We’re so excited about this revolutionary new product,”...

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND—Providing unobstructed views from every direction, New Zealand’s PurePods are free-standing glass accommodations designed for up-close and uninterrupted encounters with nature. Set in an open clearing on private farm land, the four PurePods provide a singular boutique hotel experience, a one-room home that offers comfort, luxury and dramatic vistas without neighbors. Due to their setting and location, complete privacy is ensured. The PurePod stay is part of a New Zealand itinerary arranged by New Zealand travel experts New Zealand In Depth. The PurePod concept is all about the view. Constructed almost entirely from glass with no carpet, curtains...

JASPER, IND.—Furniture maker Jasper Group announced a new addition to its corporate facility. Photovoltaic solar panels now line the southwest corner of the property and will reduce the company’s carbon footprint. Jasper Group collaborated with the City of Jasper’s Net Metering Program to ensure the maximum allowed usage of the solar panels. The company plans to continue bringing solar power to its six additional facilities across Dubois and Orange counties. The solar energy project is an important step in Jasper Group’s ongoing effort to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. Since opening their doors in 1929, Jasper Group has...

Name: Nathaly Stanley Title: Sustainability and Certifications Manager Property: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba Years with resort: Less than one Primary responsibilities: “To ensure all departments continue to operate in a sustainable manner. Every day is different.” Company’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Getting recertified every year for four different certifications. The owner has such a deep interest in it.” Company’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “Identifying new solutions for sustainability and having the ability to weigh the different solutions against one another.” EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—As Sustainability and Certifications Manager at Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Nathaly Stanley is carrying on a commitment...

NEW YORK—What was once the headquarters of LIFE Magazine and more recently The Herald Square Hotel has soft opened today as the Life Hotel. The renovated hotel’s name is a nod to the famous magazine that featured movie and TV stars, athletes, war heroes and more. Editors of the magazine once lived upstairs and worked downstairs in the famous building that was built in 1893. The 98-room property has been closed since January and has been undergoing a renovation since. Located in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, the boutique hotel’s design will reflect the building’s heritage but offer a modern...

EDENTON, N.C.—Five leaders in a growing movement to encourage the elimination of harmful chemical inputs to consumer products, have come together for an initiative that will encourage the elimination of dangerous substances common in furnishings products. The “What’s it made of?” initiative launched last month. The Initiative consists of a simple Pledge to ASK, and an online tool to support signatories to the pledge in seeking assurance that their suppliers are fully disclosing information on production inputs. The partners plan to expand their efforts with seminars and training sessions within the industry and with consumer outreach. David Levine, CEO of the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Wood is a beautiful, industrious material. The logging industry has long been seen as an enemy of the environment. There is perhaps no other more iconic symbol of the green movement than a tree, so people naturally have a bad image of anything associated with destroying trees. While this characterization was largely accurate a century ago, the logging industry has changed. People involved in the industry are finding that their profits can be larger and more sustainable if they operate more like a farm than like a gold mine. That is, they can manage their operations in such a...

FOXBORO, MASS.—American Window Film, Inc.’s team returned from the 2017 3M Prestige Dealer Conference held in Baltimore recently, holding the 2016 3M Dealer of the Year Award for the Northeast USA Region. The conference was attended by American Window Film’s President, Peter Davey; Vice President Sales, James Maloof ; Cape Cod Sales Representative, Bart Rubin and Rhode Island Sales Representative, Dana Savoie. Members of 3M Company’s St. Paul, Minn. group and the Northeast region’s 3M window film distributor, Energy Products Distribution, presented their visions and plans for 2017. According to Davey, “3M Company’s Daylight Redirecting film was emphasized at the...