SINGAPORE—Banyan Tree Global Foundation is launching for the first time in its 11-year history, the Greater Good Grants that aim to support innovative and impactful projects across six areas that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Group’s core ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People”. As a socially responsible business, Banyan Tree was founded with the core value of driving sustainable development. A global hospitality group operating in diverse locations, Banyan Tree’s concept of sustainability seeks to create long-term value for multiple stakeholders and destinations. Since earning the 1992 Environmental Award from American Express and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announced that the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Standard (version 2) for Lodging and Tour Operators has achieved the “GSTC-Recognized Standard” status. GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism standard is part of their broader Sustainable Tourism 2030 initiative, which provides programs and services for destinations, tourism businesses, and accommodation providers. The Sustainable Tourism standard enables tourism businesses and accommodations to measure their sustainability performance in several key categories; management, social, economic, natural, cultural, and environmental. To become certified, businesses must receive a virtual assessment, submit evidence, and attain a minimum score. The GSTC-Recognized status refers to GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE, a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment, announced a move to its new global headquarters, located at 180 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, Ga. The Society began renovations in January 2020 on an existing 66,700 ft2 building, originally built in 1978, on 11 acres of land. Located 10 miles north of its previous headquarters building, ASHRAE joins other innovation and sustainability-focused organizations based in the popular Technology Parkway corridor. A short video on the new global headquarters can be viewed on ASHRAE’s YouTube channel. “ASHRAE’s new global headquarters is a prime example of how we are helping to...

SOLON, OHIO—Building on its long history of supporting the health of people and the planet, Tarkett North America is broadening its commitment to carbon neutrality and can now boast the largest collection of carbon neutral products in the industry. For years, Tarkett has been continually reducing the embodied carbon of its products by designing for a circular economy, increasing the use of healthy, recycled materials, and finding new efficiencies in its manufacturing. With these improvements, the company has achieved lower embodied carbon than the industry average for its vinyl sheet, carpet tile and linoleum products sold in North America. Now,...

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has published its 2019-2020 PEOPLE PLANET PLAY Report on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). PEOPLE PLANET PLAY is the framework underpinning Caesars Entertainment’s CSR strategy, addressing the ways in which Caesars makes a positive contribution to people, the environment, and communities through its business and responsible conduct. The circumstances for this report are unique. It encompasses the time during the merger of Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Eldorado Resorts, Inc. that created Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in property closures around the country for several months and a return to work with new protocols and...

Names: Kate Mikesell Titles: VP, Global Corporate Responsibility, Hilton and President, Hilton Effect Foundation Company: Hilton Years with Hilton: 11 Primary Responsibility: “My primary responsibility is helping Hilton as it continues to redefine responsible travel. I spend most of my time talking about resources and how we are measuring. Are we on pace? Are we falling behind? It is a lot of conversation with team members and community leaders.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in global corporate responsibility: “Being able to say this is the direction we want to go and letting our team take over. The Hilton Effect Foundation and the impact it is...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leader in sustainable cleaning tools, is celebrating America Recycles Day on November 15 by introducing its innovative line of Natura brooms and brushes. Constructed from 100 percent post-consumer plastic waste, the brooms are available in a variety of sizes and colors, and the brushes feature crimped bristles for enhanced cleaning power. ABCO anticipates recycling 2.1 million plastic bottles in 2020 through production of these products. “America Recycles Day is a terrific opportunity to spotlight how using reclaimed material protects our planet,” said Carlos Albir, President, ABCO. “Not only does using recycled plastic reduce waste in landfills,...

HOUSTON—Sysco Corp., the leading global foodservice distribution company, has published its 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report (Read the Report), documenting the company’s progress toward its 2025 CSR goals and demonstrating its “Leadership In Extraordinary Times.” Sysco’s CSR strategy sets a clear path for the future and demonstrates the company’s enduring commitment to caring for people, sourcing products responsibly and protecting the planet. Fiscal year 2020 highlights include: People Donated 30 million meals globally, and helped more than 900 community organizations, to address hunger and food insecurity during COVID-19. Launched a global mental health and well-being campaign, encouraging associates to take a pledge...

PALMA, SPAIN—Hotelbeds, the world’s leading bedbank, has announced the launch of The Green Hotels Program, a turn-key solution to bring Hotelbeds and its partners to the green economy and accelerate the transition of the travel industry towards sustainability. To focus on establishing a more responsible and sustainable business model, Hotelbeds now has over 15,000 properties within its portfolio certified as sustainable. These hotels will now be easily identifiable to the more than 60,000 travel trade client partners of Hotelbeds and Bedsonline—including travel agents, tour operators, airlines and point redemption schemes—via this new green filter that will include details of certifications and...

HOLLAND, MICH.—Boxed Water Is Better—the first sustainable alternative in the package water category—is publicly releasing a  life cycle study, conducted by sustainability experts Anthesis Group, which compares the cumulative environmental impacts between a 500ML PET plastic bottle, a 500ML aluminum can, and a 500ML carton of Boxed Water. The full report is available via this link. “With respect to the planet, we need to tap into the much broader impact story beyond recycling,” said Boxed Water CMO, Robert Koenen. “All three materials are recyclable. Yet, recycling alone doesn’t address the front-end of the problem: the environmental impact of oil drilling and...