MADISON HEIGHTS, MICH.—Décor Group International (DGI), a leading manufacturer of brand imaging delivery systems, has undertaken a total commitment to green technology. Based in Madison Heights, Mich., DGI has pledged to provide its clients with materials that are biodegradable and/or recyclable in an effort to better meet the needs of the growing number of businesses that are migrating towards a greener existence. Dennis Knoblock, owner and president of DGI, issued the following statement: “Making a change to green technology does not in any way translate to a sacrifice in the areas of quality, durability or presentation. The performance of these...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Hospitality Group’s new REmix Collection by Kate Korten comes to life with animated patterns and linear motifs found in advertising and art designs of the 1950s and 1960s. REmix offers coordinated guestrooms and public space carpet in both print and tufted patterns. Korten, whose father was a groundbreaking New York art director in the 1960s, grew up on shape, color and form, which are all reflected in REmix. This background influenced her career and continues to provide inspiration in hospitality flooring designs. “The style of illustrations from that era still strikes a chord in me,” Korten said. “I’ve kept...

SEATTLE—Seattle-based O Ecotextiles will brings its “sensuous yet sustainable” textiles for the first time to West Coast Green’s conference and expo, September 25-27, 2008 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. One of O Ecotextiles’ new prints also was chosen by EcoFabulous.com to grace the master bedroom of the Showhouse at West Coast Green. For the company, whose line with top British designer Emily Todhunter won a House & Garden magazine award at Decorex 2007 in the U.K., their message is simple, direct and firm: Being an “organic textile,” means not just that a fabric uses organic...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—As part of its evolving “green” strategy, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced the launch of a new ecologically-friendly uniform line for hotel staff using recycled polyester fibers spun from plastic beverage bottles. Select Wyndham hotels will introduce the new uniforms beginning this fall by job category. Front desk and other customer-facing employees are required to begin wearing the new uniforms by the end of 2009 and housekeeping and other back-of-house staff by 2010. All new properties are required to provide the new uniforms upon opening. The textiles are produced from post-consumer products, including recycled plastic beverage bottles, which...

ST. LOUIS—HOK and the Biomimicry Guild have forged a first-of-its-kind alliance linking the natural and built environment. This exclusive relationship between one of the world’s largest architectural design firms and the only bio-inspired innovation company will integrate nature’s innovations in the planning and design of buildings, communities and cities worldwide. Established by biologists Janine Benyus and Dr. Dayna Baumeister in 1998, Biomimicry is a science that studies nature’s best ideas and imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems. Biomimicry has inspired numerous commercial products and individual building projects, and the new alliance between the Biomimicry Guild and HOK...

OSCODA, MICH.—Oscoda Plastics, Inc., the manufacturer of PROTECT-ALL Commercial Flooring, has become a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Oscoda joins more than 15,000 member organizations working to provide a green future in building and design. “Our flooring products are manufactured from 100 percent post-industrial vinyl,” said John Rouse, national sales manager for Oscoda Plastics. “By joining the USGBC we are reinforcing our commitment to being an environmentally responsible company.” The USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program promotes sustainable building management and construction practices and provides a rating system for evaluating a building’s environmentally-friendly features....

NEW YORK—The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality, Inc. (NEWH), a nonprofit network providing scholarships, education, and leadership opportunities for individuals in the hospitality industry, recently gathered leaders from across the hospitality industry to discuss and debate the top trends in green and sustainable design in its second leadership forum. The Sustainable Hospitality Leadership Forum was designed to spark creative ideas and strategies for how hospitality and design experts can incorporate environmentally-sensitive practices, while maintaining a luxury experience for guests. Moderated by Jeanne Varney, vice president, Host Hotels and Resorts, forum participants included some of the hospitality industry’s biggest...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Sage Hospitality, a hospitality development and management company, announced that the famed Meier & Frank building in the heart of downtown Portland will reopen this fall as the Nines, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel. Once the store where Portland residents shopped when they needed to dress “to the nines,” the hotel ushers in a new level of style and eco-luxury on the top nine floors of this historic building on Pioneer Square. “The building has been completely recreated, blending the legacy of its architectural heritage with a world-class hotel,” said Walter Isenberg, president and CEO of Sage Hospitality, the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual conference and exhibition will be held from November 19 to 21 in Boston. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, and is the recent recipient of Tradeshow Week’s “Fastest 50,” honoring the 50 fastest growing shows in North America. This year, more than 25,000 attendees will attend, eager to learn more about LEED green building certification, the nationally accepted system for green buildings, developed by USGBC as a tool to build healthy, energy-efficient, resource-friendly structures. This year’s show will explore “Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global...

SOUTH HACKENSACK, N.J.—J. Josephson introduces EcoView, an Osnaburg backed, non-woven wallcovering that is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wallcoverings. EcoView is a new, dimensionally stable offering available for all Vycon and Symphony patterns—in every colorway. These 54-inch products meet Type II physical characteristics and contain 35 percent pulp, 21 percent polyester fibers, 14 percent acrylic, 16.5 percent adhesive and 13.5 percent polyester cotton backing. EcoView can be used in LEED-certified projects and meets strict VOC (volatile organic compounds) standards for air quality. EcoView is an alternative product for those designers who prefer using a non-woven wallcovering. EcoView is readily available...