At last month’s HD Expo in Las Vegas, there were many companies that caught my attention. One was Vancouver, B.C.-based ChopValue. The company is diverting millions of wooden chopsticks from landfills by converting them into high-performance composite material. The material is manufactured using proprietary technology that compresses recycled bamboo chopsticks along with a water-based resin, making it harder than maple, stronger than oak, and as durable as teak. Tables, wall décor, coasters, cutting boards, and many other items can be made with the material. The chopsticks are picked up from local businesses and converted to useable products in micro...

Bradley Corp. just released the results of its annual Healthy Handwashing Survey. What is really no surprise—thanks to the years of Covid—Bradley found most Americans are so averse to encountering germs in public restrooms that they go out of their way to avoid surfaces and touchpoints in these shared spaces. According to the survey, 62 percent of Americans use a paper towel as a barrier to avoid touching flushers, faucets, and doors. Women are even more likely to use the “paper towel as a glove” approach, with 67 percent taking this evasive measure. Others employ sheer physicality to steer clear...

For years we have all been told that plastics recycling is the right thing to do. Here is one very good reason not to create plastic waste in the first place. According to reporting by James Bruggers for Inside Climate News, “the chopping, shredding and washing of plastic in recycling facilities may turn as much as six to 13 percent of incoming waste into microplastics—tiny, toxic particles that are an emerging and ubiquitous environmental health concern for the planet and people.” A team of four researchers measured and analyzed microplastics in wastewater before and after filters were installed at an...

Hospitality Investor just released a white paper entitled, “Embracing Sustainability in Franchised Hotels.” It is written by Philip Halanen, Head of Sourcing & Sustainability EMEA at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how sustainability is being embraced in franchised hotels, especially in the midscale and economy segments and in markets such as India, the Middle East and Türkiye. It will also explore the steps we and our owners are taking to accelerate progress,” Halanen says. The author proves that what is driving interest in sustainability in hotels is consumer and investor demand. Geographically, Europe and...

In the past month, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, which represents over 7 million rooms globally, and includes 22 world-leading hotel companies and 35 supply chain and strategic partners, has recently announced a series of planet- and people-positive initiatives of note. First, it announced a partnership with Travel Unity that will see both alliances act in close collaboration, holding consultations and participating in Working Groups to enable the world’s hospitality industry to become more open and accessible to all. This mutual collaboration will see the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance hold Association-level membership in the Travel Unity Alliance and see the alliances work...

I don’t hear often about hotel companies committing to eco-rate all their properties to a well-recognized green certification program but that is what Noble House Hotels & Resorts did on April 21, just a day before Earth Day. According to a press release issued by Noble House & Resorts and Green Key Global that day, all Noble House Hotels & Resorts within the United States have applied to be certified in sustainability through Green Key Global’s eco-rating program for the hotel and lodging industry. The release did not state the number of properties that will be certified in the...

I must admit that I have never written about feet before for Green Lodging News, but I should have. Hoteliers, housekeepers, restaurant workers, etc. spend a lot of time on their feet and deserve the best protection there. According to a new report by ARRIS Composites, the average American worker spends 56 percent of the day standing or walking. ARRIS Composites surveyed more than 1,000 workers for its recent survey. The purpose of the survey: to learn more about what American professionals have to say about what they wear on their feet. The survey focused on those folks who tend to...

With just 10 days to go, I have not heard from many properties regarding their April 22 Earth Day activities. As published on Green Lodging News on April 5, 1 Hotels is celebrating Earth Month with a series of brand and property offerings that honor the beauty of the natural world, promote environmental unity, and encourage individuals to take small steps towards sustainability. For the month of April, all eight carbon-neutral properties in North America have launched activities and initiatives that promote a more collective effort towards protecting our planet. In one example, in partnership with a local vendor...

At least several companies offer their own version of a wash and dry station for a public restroom. It is a great idea to dispense soap, wash one’s hands, move them over a bit and then dry them in one motion. Saniflow Corp. posted an article earlier this year entitled, “Wash and Dry Stations: What are they and why are they the best method for hand hygiene?” The article does a great job explaining what these stations are, the benefits they provide, and where it is best to install a washing and drying station. Below is a slimmed down...

Since late 2016, I have been compiling a list of Hotel and Management Company Green Pages—the places on their websites where one can learn about their ESG efforts and possibly even link to their most recent ESG report. This past week I added the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) to the list. It breaks the mold a bit because it is a compilation of independent hotel brands, but I thought it deserved to be on the list. This past week, the Alliance launched its Green Collection, bringing under one umbrella nearly 200 hotels, resorts and palaces operated by GHA hotel...