THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS—Encina Development Group, a producer of ISCC+ circular chemicals from end-of-life plastics, announced a new recycling partnership with Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a global flooring manufacturer. Under the agreement, Shaw will provide Encina with more than 2 million pounds of waste materials from its carpet manufacturing processes annually. This effort will reduce Shaw’s greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint while contributing to its long-standing sustainability commitment, which encompasses its Cradle-to-Cradle design programs that have been in place for more than 20 years. Nearly 90 percent of the products Shaw produces are Cradle to Cradle Certified, meaning they have been...

For me, one of the must-attend trade shows during the year is the HD Expo + Conference. This year it will be held May 2 to 4 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. I will be attending this year’s show. Hundreds of exhibitors will be there including more than 80 that identify themselves as being in the Sustainability/Sustainable Products category. Some examples include Tangent Sustainable Lumber, a maker of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic lumber; PureWellness, which offers a variety of products to make a guestroom as clean and air-pure as possible; GrassTex, a synthetic turf maker that saves hotels...

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.—Room & Board and Room & Board Business Interiors, the home furnishing brand’s commercial arm, announce the expansion of the Urban Wood Project—their groundbreaking national initiative that sources wood otherwise destined for landfills and reclaims it into unique furnishings. The brand is now partnering with Brooklyn-based millwork and design operation, Tri-Lox, to upcycle wood culled from decommissioned New York City water towers and salvaged local trees for an exclusive line of sustainable offerings suitable for hospitality and office spaces. This collaboration, their sixth in the country, builds on Room & Board’s diversion of 200 trees annually from the waste stream, delivering on...

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s highly anticipated debut in the luxury safari segment. Sitting within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge is a sophisticated sanctuary from which to discover animals and vistas in harmony. Guided game drives offer guests the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September,...

IRVINE, CALIF.—Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, the sustainably minded and innovative manufacturer of textiles and wallcoverings for the commercial design industry, has launched the colorful new Paradiso Collection for Spring 2023. Distilling natural forms—like cacti and birds of paradise—down to their essential elements, the collection features three energizing and inviting patterns. Paradiso’s intense durability is matched by rich textures and a soft hand evocative of residential fabrics. With its modern and bold interpretation of botanical motifs, the Paradiso Collection brings a playful, yet practical, sensibility to commercial settings of all sectors. “We are thrilled to expand our biophilic design offerings with...

RALEIGH, N.C.—Durat USA and CaraGreen, the trusted source for healthier building materials, announced a new color series of Durat Solid Surface, the B.lue Collection (pronounced: Be-Lou). It is a follow up to the well-received release of its pink counterpart, the B.lush collection. The new shades are all blue. Durat’s popular solid surface sheets are made with up to 28 percent recycled plastics and can be installed seamlessly for neat and clean horizontal or vertical surfaces. Durat is already offered in three different collections with over 120 color variations. Standard Durat colors have a solid base with speckles created by clear, white, black or...

NATIONAL REPORT—In this article, CBRE’s Alan Jutte provides insights on a study of hotel operating statements from CBRE’s Trends in the Hotel Industry which showed that new properties with energy-efficient features resulted in substantial energy savings compared to older or less efficient properties. The study concluded that while sustainability efforts can lead to reduced costs, the extent of these savings may depend on various factors such as room size, building size, amenities, building materials, etc. Sustainability is an increasingly crucial component across almost all industries. Embracing new and more efficient business models and technologies is expensive, and often developers and operators...

DUBUQUE, IOWA—Innovative Ink Publishing, an imprint of Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, has released Sustainable Hospitality, written by green hospitality industry expert Dan Ruben. The textbook provides hospitality professionals and students with the knowledge and resources to make their properties environmentally sustainable. “The target audience is hospitality professionals who work for hotels, cruise ships, and other hospitality sectors, as well as hospitality students,” Ruben says. “Managers of senior living facilities, dormitories, and other lodging facilities will benefit from this book, too. Sustainable Hospitality offers a roadmap to a leaner operation—one where less energy and water are consumed, and where less waste is generated....

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a global leader in sustainable and innovative flooring solutions, has updated its iD Latitude LVT line to feature a total of 72 designs. Available in three volumes—iD Latitude Woods, Stones, and Abstracts—the collection offers a breadth of design possibilities for education, workplace, and healthcare spaces. “iD Latitude brings the full trifecta: great design, lasting performance and practical affordability,” said Ben Elliott, Senior Product Manager for Tarkett North America. “Our latest updates to the collection offer modern wood, stone and abstract patterns that support the vision for every space.” iD Latitude Woods mimic the look and feel of natural wood grain,...

RIVERA MAYA, MEXICO—St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, announced the opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya. Descending from the Mayan stars, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is a destination-defining oasis that captures the undiscovered glamour of the Mayan Riviera. Inspired by the neighboring 620-acre nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site—the Sian Ka’an Reserve, the resort breathes life and magic into the Kanai region with its avant-garde architecture, inviting interiors, and bespoke service. Owned by Grupo Alhel, the resort is a short drive from both Cancun and Playa Del Carmen and...