THUWAL, KAUST, SAUDI ARABIA—King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding on the University’s Thuwal campus. The MoU seeks to establish a long-term collaborative framework from which both parties can work towards delivering environmentally sustainable coastal development projects outlined by The Red Sea Project (TRSP). “This collaboration will be a leading example of how best science, technology and fit-for-purpose research, can serve environmentally sustainable coastal development projects, not only in Saudi Arabia, but around the world,” said Tony Chan, President of KAUST. “Our strengths as an institution align...

TORONTO—When we look at dolphins they may appear to be smiling, but nothing could be further from the truth. A new global report from World Animal Protection, Behind the Smile, shows the massive scale and profitability of the multibillion-dollar, dolphin entertainment industry which causes immense animal suffering. This is likely unknown to many Canadian tourists who visit sun destinations like Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. Some 64 percent of Canadians polled have gone on holiday to a destination where dolphin tourism was offered. Public display facilities confining marine mammals such as dolphins, are not essential conservation or education resources. The animals...

HOUSTON—Waste Management released its 2019 Sustainability Report providing updated data to supplement the company’s full 2018 report titled “Change for the Better.” The report highlights progress on the company’s 2038 sustainability goals, key performance indicators, recycling and recent awards. “Waste Management prepared its first ‘Environmental Report’ in 1992, well before we used the term ‘sustainability,’ and before we regularly reported on environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles,” said Jim Fish, President and CEO of Waste Management. “Little did we know where this journey would take us. As champions for sustainability, we remain focused on our commitment to our planet and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announced that Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel platforms, has officially joined as a member of GSTC’s global network. Representing a wide range of tourism stakeholders, GSTC members are active drivers for sustainability in travel and tourism and contribute to the important work of the GSTC in promoting the widespread adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. Helping protect and preserve destinations around the globe so that travelers can continue to enjoy them for generations to come has been a priority for Booking.com for several years and is one of the key...

BELLEVUE, WASH.—For decades, the average consumer has been contemplating the maze of headlines, claims, jargon, certifications and corporate and public interest platforms that make up the complex world of sustainability. In 2009, when The Hartman Group published its Sustainability: The Rise of Consumer Responsibility report, America’s consumers were reeling from the weight of a catastrophic economic recession. Some of the only bright lights in the otherwise gloomy economic realities of the time lie in those topics that intersect with sustainability (two examples common to both consumers and industry alike, being “saving energy” and another, “hope for a better world”). The...

CINCINNATI—The Procter & Gamble Co. announced that it reached its 2020 goal of purchasing 100 percent renewable electricity in the United States and Canada. The company exceeded its original goal by extending the purchase of 100 percent renewable electricity to Western Europe. These three markets are among its largest and represent over 70 percent of P&G’s purchased electricity. This commitment was achieved ahead of schedule and signifies a strong start to reaching P&G’s goal of purchasing 100 percent renewable electricity globally by 2030. P&G’s largest individual contributors to its renewable energy production are its wind farm in Tyler Bluff, Texas,...

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.—HotelPlanner and Meetings.com, the leading online sites for booking group travel and meetings worldwide, announced that they are partnering with Greenview to advance their corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts. The partnership directly supports a program to protect and restore rainforests in Indonesia, allowing travelers and meeting planners to choose a green meeting option through the platforms at no additional cost. These curated venues have eliminated bottled water and other single-use plastic, offer local and vegetarian menu options and have energy-efficient lighting and power settings, among other benefits. The program will launch in 2020. With offices in New...

SAUDI, ARABIA—Amaala, one of the largest ultra-luxury sustainable resort projects ever conceived—one that will create 22,400 jobs and attract 310,000 visitors annually—is in the design stages for Saudi Arabia’s northeastern coast along the Red Sea. (See video.) Amaala, which is derived from the Arabic word for “hope,” will be set in a pristine natural reserve and includes three sites: Triple Bay, The Island, and The Coastal Development. Unique to the project is its environmental story. It will be built to have a zero-carbon footprint. Reaching zero-carbon status will be a challenge, as the project will also include an airport, 200 retail...

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—LG Electronics has been named “Industry Leader,” the highest designation by the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the second year in a row. This top 2019 ranking in the highly competitive consumer electronics category follows LG’s track record as the Industry Leader in Consumer Electronics last year and four consecutive years (2014 to 17) as DJSI Industry Group Leader in Consumer Durables. The DJSI Industry Leader distinction is earned by the highest scoring company within each of the 61 industries in the DJSI World Index. LG achieved industry-leading scores in consumer electronics for the company’s innovative management...

SEATTLE—Cool Effect, a Bay Area based nonprofit focused on fighting the climate crisis, announced a partnership with Ensemble Travel Group, a travel advisor network of approximately 760 top-tier, independent travel agencies committed to providing individuals with meaningful travel experiences. The partnership kicks off with Ensemble offsetting its carbon footprint with Cool Effect for the 2019 International Conference: Travel With Purpose. Simultaneously, Cool Effect’s Travel Offset Tool will be incorporated on Ensemble’s platform for members to quickly and easily offset the carbon footprint of air travel. The partnership was announced at Ensemble’s annual travel conference during a panel discussing the topic...