CHICAGO—Conference attendees visited the Organic and Natural Foods Pavilion at the 2013 NRA Show looking for products to help satisfy customers’ growing preferences for such foods. Exhibitors displayed gluten-free and dairy free foods and desserts, naturally raised meats, and specialty teas, all of which have seen increased popularity in recent years. According to the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2013” Chef Survey, locally sourced meats and seafood, locally grown produce, gluten-free cuisine and other health and nutrition-based menu items remain among the top trends in restaurants this year.Operators visiting the pavilion confirmed that they are receiving more requests...

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS—Business leaders recently called on companies and organizations around the world to embrace the next generation of the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines—G4.G4 was unveiled before an audience of 1,600 thought leaders and practitioners from around the globe at GRI’s 2013 Global Conference. Experienced reporters welcomed the publication of the Guidelines as a major step forward in the evolution of sustainability reporting.Marina Migliorato, head of CSR at leading Italian power company Enel, said, “To pursue a new sustainable business model, companies need to integrate CSR into their strategy. It is a long journey, but with...

NEW YORK—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s sustainable tourism youth program is attracting the attention of a growing number of Caribbean post-secondary schools. Two regional tertiary institutions—the College of the Bahamas (COB) and University of the West Indies-Mona Campus—are first time participants in the CTO’s Students’ Colloquium which forms part of the program for Caribbean Week in New York. They, along with five other universities, will seek to dethrone the reigning champions, Monroe College.The colloquium, now in its third year, is a contest among the students who are challenged to present well-researched, practical and financially viable sustainable tourism projects. Dubbed...

CARLSBAD, CALIF.—La Costa Resort and Spa announced the resort has been awarded Green Seal’s 2013 Silver distinction, in recognition of recent improvements to the property and operational systems aimed at conserving resources.“We are very proud and honored to receive Green Seal’s Silver rating,” said Paul McCormick, vice president and general manager of La Costa Resort and Spa. “The team at La Costa is dedicated to protecting our natural resources and we constantly re-evaluate our systems to ensure the resort is as environmentally friendly as possible. Our guests know when they come to La Costa they can feel good about...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—High levels of hazardous chemicals were found in garden hoses for the second year in a row. Researchers at the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Ecology Center found phthalates and the toxic chemical BPA in the water of a new hose that had been sitting outside in the sun for just two days. Findings include BPA levels of 0.34 to 0.91 ppm in the hose water, a level that is three to nine times higher than safe drinking water standards. The phthalate DEHP was found at concentrations of 0.017 to 0.011 ppm in the hose water, which is two...

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—Ellerman House has launched an initiative to become Cape Town’s most eco-friendly boutique hotel. Through newly implemented green projects such as solar panels, LED light bulbs, heat pumps, earthworm farms and recycling systems, the property aims to be Cape Town’s leader in eco-friendly luxury hospitality by September 2013.In order to measure the carbon footprint for the entire property, including the main house, villas, spa, art gallery and all administrative housing and offices, Ellerman House hired an energy efficiency company, BrightBlack, as a consultant and to administer extensive energy testing. The staff at Ellerman House began taking...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA) annual Summer Summit, held June 18 to 19 at The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, will feature awards for eco-friendly practices. These Good Earthkeeping awards, to be presented at the Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon, are just some of the awards that will be presented. Other areas in which awards will be presented include: community service, guest relations, special events, diversity, and information technology. The Summit will also include a session featuring top-line forecasting and social data trends and a special meeting of members to vote on a...

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—Mario and Annemarie Delicio of Dematech are the owners behind Hotel Verde. Dedicated and passionate about sustainability, they have transformed what was initially just a sensible business proposition into a showcase for some of the most advanced environmentally conscious technological installations as well as construction and operation practices in the world.“We have a responsibility as a company, as an employer and as a visitor on this planet to live as sustainably as possible,” says Mario Delicio. “This is the only way we can survive long-term and hand over to our children in a responsible manner.”Construction on...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA) annual Summer Summit, held June 18 to 19 at The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, will feature awards for eco-friendly practices. These Good Earthkeeping awards, to be presented at the Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon, are just some of the awards that will be presented. Other areas in which awards will be presented include: community service, guest relations, special events, diversity, and information technology. The Summit will also include a session featuring top-line forecasting and social data trends and a special meeting of members to vote on a...

LONDON—The first international restaurant rating system that enables diners to choose restaurants that match their sustainability priorities wherever they are in the world was launched recently by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). Some of the best restaurants in the world have already completed the SRA rating and a number of others have committed to doing so. Narisawa, the two Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo, won the Sustainable Restaurant Award, sponsored by Zacapa, at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants this year, by achieving the highest score among the 50 Best Restaurants to complete the SRA’s new Global Rating survey. Noma, in...