NEW YORK—Vivreau announced that the company has become an official supporter of the Partnership for a Healthy America’s “Drink Up” initiative. Vivreau joins PHA’s Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama and other celebrities in an effort to encourage people to drink more water more often.Through its support, Vivreau has committed to assist in spreading awareness to the recently launched initiative which has been supported by celebrities who include Grammy winner John Legend, All-Star baseball player Curtis Granderson and actress and activist Eva Longoria among others. In the year ahead Vivreau has committed to numerous marketing efforts that include the...

BOSTON—The Patrick Administration announced final statewide commercial food waste disposal ban regulations to take effect on October 1, 2014. The ban will divert food waste to energy-generating and composting facilities and reduce the Commonwealth’s waste stream. “We are committed to protecting our natural resources and creating jobs as the Commonwealth’s clean energy economy grows,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “The disposal ban is critical to achieving our aggressive waste disposal reduction goals and it is in line with our commitment to increase clean energy production.” The ban, regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra-low water laundry system, announced it has successfully established its presence in North America as demand has escalated for green laundry solutions. Xeros established its North American headquarters in September 2013 and has sold more than 30 polymer bead commercial laundry systems globally to dry cleaner customers that include Kleen Dry Cleaners and Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners; industrial laundries such as Sterling Linens Service; and in four of the top six hotel chains in North America, including Hyatt and Wyndham.The Xeros Commercial Laundry System helps organizations, through the use of polymer bead technology,...

NEW YORK—For the past two decades The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York has brought together thousands of restaurant, foodservice and hospitality professionals from throughout New York State and surrounding areas. In 2014, Urban Expositions, new owners of the event, along with sponsorship from the New York State Restaurant Association, are excited to experience the energy and excitement of their first International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, scheduled for Sunday, March 2 to Tuesday, March 4 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.  The tradeshow and conference provides opportunities for vendors...

NEW YORK—The Coca-Cola Company announced that it has installed its 1 millionth hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-free cooler using natural refrigerant in the marketplace, preventing the emission of 5.25 million metric tons of CO2 over 10 years. This milestone marks significant progress in the company’s effort to phase out the use of HFC refrigerant—a well-known contributor to climate change—in Coca-Cola dispensers, vending machines and coolers globally. Together with its bottling partners, the Coca-Cola system has established a goal that all new cold-drink equipment will be HFC-free by 2015. Achieving this goal will prevent the emission of more than 50 million metric tons...

NATIONAL REPORT—Almost exactly a year ago, McDonald’s USA announced it would become the first national restaurant chain to adopt the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) blue ecolabel on its fish packaging in restaurants in the United States. McDonald’s made a similar commitment in Europe in 2011. McDonald’s decision has had significant impact on the fishing industry; more than 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the United States have met the MSC Chain of Custody standard for traceability, which is the ability to track the fish all the way back through the supply chain to the fishery.While what McDonald’s has done with its...

INWOOD, N.Y.—Your laundry staff is a busy bunch. Sorting loads, transferring them from washer to dryer and finally, finishing, folding and getting them shelved. Still, most days they find time to unknowingly dump a bucket of money in the trash. True, the bucket reference may be a bit dramatic, but chances are there is an activity going on in your laundry that is costing the operation money—human error. Managers employ a variety of tactics to help prevent human error. They focus on bringing in quality employees and spend ample time training them. But short of constant supervision, which, let’s face it,...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added an Electrolux Professional Laundry Equipment Case Study to its website. The case study details the Hilton Concord’s recent installation of new Electrolux Professional washers and dryers. Roseville, Calif-based A2Z Laundry Systems spearheaded the installation of the equipment at the 329-room hotel. Lead consultant on the Hilton Concord’s overall sustainability efforts is Charles Smith, CEO of Hotel Sustainability Solutions Inc. (HSSI).As HSSI began the task of evaluating options, key factors considered were the efficiency of the equipment, availability of rebates or incentives, distributor/manufacturer service and support, and...

MANKATO, MINN.—All that’s left is the waiting for the official plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council. When it arrives the Courtyard Mankato Minnesota will become the first hotel in the Gopher State to receive LEED certification. Considering all of the property’s green features, the honor will be well deserved. The 93-room property, about a year old, is owned by Mercury Investments L.P. Preston Lougheed is the general manager.“As far as we know we are the first Marriott in the United States to have solar panels,” Lougheed says. “It was a big investment.” The 40 kW, 192 panel system...

TROY, OHIO—The Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability (HCFS), a nonprofit, industry-wide forum supporting the foodservice industry’s drive for sustainable equipment and design, is currently accepting applications for its annual $5,000 sustainability grant. The 2013 HCFS grant recipient was Duluth Grill in Duluth, Minn. The grant, now in its seventh year, is awarded to the individual or organization judged to have the best-executed foodservice or grocery sustainability project of the year. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. ET on February 28, 2014, and the recipient will be announced in mid-April. The grant application form as well as rules and conditions...