WASHINGTON, D.C.—A recent survey of top decision-makers by Crowell & Moring finds that nearly 80 percent of responding companies have identified and adopted environmental performance goals beyond what regulations require. Fewer than half of those surveyed measure their company’s performance against those goals—and in some cases are experiencing challenges implementing them. The survey of 225 respondents, including in-house counsel and compliance, ESG, and sustainability professionals, is detailed in a new report, “ESG Survey: Environmental Performance and the Stakes for Your Business.” The report finds that 44 percent of respondents say their organizations are measuring their carbon footprint, and 13 percent are...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and the Global Finance Committee (GFC) are preparing for the Fall 2022 release of the 12th Revised edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). Prior to publishing the newest edition, HFTP and the GFC have recruited a group of leading industry stakeholders to participate in the review of exposure drafts, requesting comments for consideration ahead of the 12th edition publication. The first exposure draft is for a new section titled: “Energy, Water, and Waste.” “This is the first of many steps as environmental, social and governance objectives and measures will continue to change with the...

LONDON—Corona announced Corona Island, a unique destination for visitors to disconnect from the everyday and reconnect with the natural world. Slated to open in late Spring 2022 in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, Corona Island will be a destination centered around sustainability and is striving to become “Blue Verified” by Oceanic Global as part of the international NGO’s rigorous Blue Standard program. The verification and assessment addresses measures including: single-use plastic elimination and implementation of responsible waste management infrastructure. The assessment is currently underway with Corona Island set to become the first fully Blue Verified Island by its launch in spring of next year. “Corona Island is unlike...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A report released by the Clean Lighting Coalition highlights the environmental and health risks posed when fluorescent lamps break, especially to vulnerable populations. The report provides concrete steps government, industry, consumers, and others, like childcare providers, can take to accelerate the transition to LED lighting, which is mercury-free, more energy-efficient, more cost-effective, and widely available. To mitigate the risks posed by mercury, the Coalition is calling on the Biden Administration to support the global phase-out of fluorescent lighting by 2025 at the upcoming meeting of the United Nation’s Minamata Convention on Mercury in March 2022. Furthermore, the Coalition notes that phasing out fluorescent lighting...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Wild Nectar Immersive Travel Collection, the sustainability-focused luxury travel company, officially launched this fall. Wild Nectar Collection enables travelers to experience unique and life-changing travels that are sustainable by presenting each curated trip with a custom Eco Score, including carbon-offsetting recommendations for each journey using a Carbon Offsetting Calculator and bestowing Sustainability Awards based on the trip operators’ achievements. “Travel is a privilege and I’ve long felt the industry wasn’t doing enough to monitor the carbon footprint of an activity that is an honor to experience,” said Joy Martinello, founder and CEO, Wild Nectar Collection. “So, wI asked myself, what if...

NATIONAL REPORT—With so many varieties and technologies to choose from, choosing the right shades for your hotel may not be an easy one. Cost may ultimately guide your decision but so too must the extent to which to filter light, UV rays, and heat. You can go basic with manual roller shades or choose from a variety of motorized, automated, or programmable shades that one can control from the guestroom or the front desk. Increasingly, shade manufacturers are getting increasingly creative in how they deliver the best guest experience while reducing energy and overall costs at the same time....

PHILADELPHIA—To coincide with the start of National Seafood Month (October), Aramark, a global provider of hospitality, facilities, and uniform services, announced a new commitment to increasing local seafood sourcing in New England, through a partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI). Guided by its Sustainable Seafood Policy, Aramark strives to buy seafood from sources, whether fished or farmed, that maintain healthy marine life and ecosystems, and respect seafood workers and communities throughout the supply chain. All of Aramark’s Higher Education, Healthcare, and Business Dining accounts in New England will pursue the following goals over three years: One hundred percent...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us all that indoor air quality matters, and that indoor spaces need clean air to protect the health and well-being of the people inside them. One of the key factors in helping improve overall air quality is humidity: a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air. Improper indoor humidity levels (humidity levels lower than 40 percent or higher than 60 percent) can not only impact our comfort but also raise potential health risks. This article illustrates the role humidity can play in the transmission of Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses such...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Research measurement data of over 15,000 Swedish workplaces indicates that there can be unexpectedly high levels of radon, regardless of floor level or where you specifically measure. The findings confirm the importance of measuring sufficiently and not being satisfied with a small number of measuring points. An inadequate measurement can in the long run contribute to an unnecessary health hazard. In Radonova’s Laboratory database, it is evident that in workplaces there is not a definite pattern in terms of where high radon levels can be found, as opposed to when you measure apartment buildings, for example. This is because...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A bill introduced in Congress would ban the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from food packaging, an avoidable source of exposure to the harmful substances. The bipartisan Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and in the House of Representatives by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Don Young (R-Alaska). If passed, it would ban the sale of grease repellant PFAS on any food wrappers or packaging, beginning January 1, 2024. “Food is likely a significant source of exposure to these dangerous chemicals for millions of Americans,” said EWG senior scientist David...