KOHLER, WIS.—Kohler Co., a global leader in the innovation and manufacture of plumbing products; tile, cabinetry and lighting; and engines, generators and clean energy solutions, released its annual 2020 Believing in Better Metrics Report outlining progress in reducing the company’s GHG emission intensity, waste to landfill intensity, water use intensity and other key social and environmental commitments. Kohler is committed to providing access to safe water for communities around the globe, delivering innovative solutions to address pressing social issues and strengthening its efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion. “While Kohler celebrates creativity, diversity, and innovation in all its forms, we know we...

PITTSBURGH—Not even a pandemic could stop this innovation. Pittsburgh International Airport recently became the first airport in the world to be completely powered by natural gas and solar energy as part of its newly live microgrid. The first-of-its kind microgrid increases resilience and maximizes public safety and makes PIT one of the most site-hardened airports in the world. Airports across the country have been exploring ways to increase power resilience and reliability after several high-profile power outages resulted in thousands of cancelled flights and passenger disruptions. As PIT is set to break ground on building the smartest airport in the world through...

CORK, IRELAND—Johnson Controls, a global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, announced OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service. Johnson Controls will provide a one-stop shop for companies looking to achieve net zero carbon and renewable energy goals. The offering recognizes customers’ need for assistance in making these goals easier to plan, execute, track, and achieve. “The need for making net zero leadership easier to achieve is immediate and greater than ever. Buildings represent about 40 percent of global emissions and Johnson Controls is uniquely positioned to help customers around the world pursue their net zero carbon goals,” said...

NATIONAL REPORT—One in two organizations plan to increase their focus on socially- and environmentally-responsible business travel post-pandemic. But few are really taking the steps required to turn that plan to action. Emburse, a global leader in expense management and accounts payable automation solutions, published the latest installment of its research, The Remaking of Business Travel. The findings showed that, despite increased emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) issues among corporations and a heightened demand for sustainable travel among consumers, most business travel programs still lack specificity and accountability when it comes to environmental and social impact. Only 35 percent of organizations have...

EMERYVILLE, CALIF.—SCS Global Services (SCS), a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification services, announced that Welspun Flooring Limited has become the first company to achieve certification under SCS’ new Zero Waste Standard. This new global certification standard enables companies to demonstrate the degree to which their waste streams are prevented, reused, or diverted from the landfill. SCS’ independent certification audit, including on-site inspection, confirmed that Welspun Flooring’s Telangana, India manufacturing facility has achieved 98 percent diversion of waste from landfill through a combination of recycling, waste reclamation, co-processing (including waste-to-energy), composting and storage. The resulting certification captures the...

RIYADH—The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has unveiled its inaugural Sustainability Report detailing its pioneering approach to sustainable development and achievements to date, and commitment to transparency and accountability. The report, titled “Laying the Foundation for a Sustainable Destination”, contains a comprehensive overview of how TRSDC is taking a regenerative approach to development of The Red Sea Project. This includes details on its: Environmental commitments, including a pledge to deliver a 30 percent net conservation benefit by 2040, only developing 22 of more than 90 islands, and powering the destination...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. unveiled World of Care—a global Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) platform—designed to address the pressing challenges faced by Hyatt’s colleagues, guests, owners, and communities and enact meaningful change within the hospitality industry. World of Care builds on Hyatt’s more than 60 years of efforts to care for the planet, people, and responsible business, and the launch of this platform provides an opportunity to support key milestones and initiatives for Hyatt—including: Sharing, for the first time, detailed workforce diversity data; Rolling out a new global human trafficking training, one of the most comprehensive in the hospitality industry; and Elevating...

BOSTON—CPG Hospitality and Enjoy Group, owners of Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén, announced the hotel is installing a microgrid controlled, optimized, and managed by Heila Technologies, representing the first of the Marriott chain in Latin America to deploy the technology. The microgrid will allow the hotel to avoid 20.8 tons of CO2 per year, reduce electricity consumption, have energy coverage, and increase resilience against electrical outages. A microgrid is an integrated, low-voltage energy generation and distribution system made of solar panels, storage batteries, energy inverters, and control software that manages the generation, storage, and distribution of the energy produced. Microgrids can be controlled...

NATIONAL REPORT—Green Lodging News recently reached out to our industry’s amenities companies, giving them each an opportunity to highlight one of their latest products. Not every company responded but here is a roundup of what each company sent to me—in no particular order and in their words: Kure Kure’s stainless brackets and aluminum cylinders offer a more sustainable, elegant alternative to plastic dispensers. Catering to luxury hoteliers and discerning guests, Kure dispensers stand out for their sophisticated beauty, customized designs, and ease of use. Sleek aluminum and stainless design; no plastic bottles Fully customizable digital printing; Stock designs also available Easy...

NATIONAL REPORT—The concept of sustainability has been around for decades, popularized by the First World Climate Conference in 1979, the inception of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993, and the publication of Vice President Al Gore’s book about climate change (An Inconvenient Truth) in 2006. While other building types were early to adopt this concept, hospitality seemed slow to embrace green building design. Today, hospitality design is making noticeable changes to catch up. Impact on the Environment The world’s environment is affected primarily by real estate, transportation, and manufacturing. Due to the influence that these industries have on...