SAN DIEGO—For the first time since the Ocean Conservancy began keeping track, plastic cutlery is showing up on the Top 10 list of trash found during beach cleanups. In an effort to reduce this and take plastic utensils #OffTheTable (and therefore, beaches), TwentyFifty is launching the world’s first 100 percent compostable utensils. Forks, knives and spoons can compost in as little as 10 days. Named after the year 2050—the year the population is projected to reach 10 billion and when it’s estimated that the amount of plastic waste in the ocean will exceed the amount of fish—the brand has one...

BOCA RATON, FLA.—The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a long-standing supporter of the removal of single use plastics across all their 17 (soon to be 20) luxury hotels, has banned single use plastic water bottles in addition to more than 20 everyday plastic convenience items from all properties for some time now. Red Carnation Hotels is a sibling of the Travel Corporation’s family of brands and works in partnership with its TreadRight Foundation to #MakeTravelMatter. TTC remains dedicated to removing as many unnecessary single use plastics from its worldwide supply chains on our thousands of immersive trips and experiences delivered in...

MINNEAPOLIS—Research by CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform, shows that awareness of maintaining healthy eating habits is growing momentum amongst business travelers. Overall 38 percent of business travelers eat healthier while on the road. Asia Pacific travelers are the most likely to eat healthier when traveling for business (46 percent) compared to travelers in Americas (35 percent) and Europe (29 percent). “Maintaining healthy habits while traveling is nearing the top of the priority list for travelers around the world,” said Niklas Andréen, CWT’s Chief Traveler Experience Officer. “At the end of the day, being in tune with what matters to...

TOKYO—Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company, Ltd. (RPHS) says that between June this year and January 2020 it will introduce biodegradable drinking straws made from polylactic acid (PLA) resin derived from renewable biomass such as fermented corn starch, thus replacing around 280,000 plastic straws per year. The company took the decision after due consideration of various options. The new biodegradable drinking straws, certified by the Japan BioPlastic Association, have a reduced impact on the environment. Within the same timeframe RPHS will start to actively support fair trade actions which aim to improve social and environmental standards for producers and workers...

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...

NEBRASKA CITY, NEB.—With the growing demand for greener practices for in-room hospitality, the demand for more sustainable coffee choices, including packaging, continues to grow. There is no denying single-serve capsules are here to stay, and with that in mind, the Arbor Day Coffee program has taken extra steps to minimize their impact on the planet by providing a recycling program to hospitality locations purchasing shade-grown Arbor Day Coffee. Arbor Day Coffee is well known to be focused on roasting shade-grown coffee, yet what most may not know is their recent efforts in launching a recycling program for single-serve capsules, specifically...

KEY LARGO, FLA.—Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton is the first resort in the country to unveil a new Dock to Dish local seafood initiative. It launched last month. The program is part of the resort’s ongoing campaign to create unique and exhilarating guest experiences that blend sustainable practices into the property’s ethos of elegance. Nestled into the lush tropical fauna of Key Largo, Baker’s Cay Resort is part of Curio Collection by Hilton’s handpicked ensemble of remarkable and unique hotels. “The Baker’s Cay team could not be prouder to stand with the passion of Sean Barrett...

EMERYVILLE, CALIF.—SCS Global Services announced the new management team heading up its sustainable seafood certification programs. The team includes SCS veterans Gabriela Anhalzer, who is now serving as Manager of SCS’ Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries certification unit, and Adam Spiegler as Manager of the company’s Seafood Chain of Custody (CoC) certification programs. SCS welcomes on board Adam Daddino as Manager of its Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Farms certification unit. Finally, long-time SCS seafood traceability expert Jason Swecker has been promoted to the role of Director Sales and Marketing, Seafood. “Adam Spiegler, Gabriela, and Jason have demonstrated their expertise working with scores of clients...

TOKYO—Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company, Ltd. (RPHS) says that between June this year and January 2020 it will introduce biodegradable drinking straws made from polylactic acid (PLA) resin derived from renewable biomass such as fermented corn starch, thus replacing around 280,000 plastic straws per year. The company took the decision after due consideration of various options. The new biodegradable drinking straws, certified by the Japan BioPlastic Association, have a reduced impact on the environment. Within the same timeframe RPHS will start to actively support fair trade actions which aim to improve social and environmental standards for producers and workers...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—Organizers of the new Hotel & Resort Laundry-Linen Community are launching the group by inviting hoteliers to participate in landmark research to establish key benchmarks to improve the efficiency of hospitality laundry and linen services. This Hotel & Resort Laundry-Linen Benchmark Study and subsequent activities will enable individual properties to compare by segment, size and location their practices against national norms, facilitating quality improvement and cost control. The community will foster information-sharing focused on key metrics for evaluating costs and improving quality, achieving greater energy conservation, reduced water consumption, improved labor management and more. Community founders are suppliers of products...