TOKYO—Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company, Ltd. (RPHS) says that between June this year and January 2020 it will introduce biodegradable drinking straws made from polylactic acid (PLA) resin derived from renewable biomass such as fermented corn starch, thus replacing around 280,000 plastic straws per year. The company took the decision after due consideration of various options. The new biodegradable drinking straws, certified by the Japan BioPlastic Association, have a reduced impact on the environment. Within the same timeframe RPHS will start to actively support fair trade actions which aim to improve social and environmental standards for producers and workers...

NEBRASKA CITY, NEB.—With the growing demand for greener practices for in-room hospitality, the demand for more sustainable coffee choices, including packaging, continues to grow. There is no denying single-serve capsules are here to stay, and with that in mind, the Arbor Day Coffee program has taken extra steps to minimize their impact on the planet by providing a recycling program to hospitality locations purchasing shade-grown Arbor Day Coffee. Arbor Day Coffee is well known to be focused on roasting shade-grown coffee, yet what most may not know is their recent efforts in launching a recycling program for single-serve capsules, specifically...

According to an article published by Maria Stamas and Pierre Delforge of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the City Council of San José, Calif., yesterday voted to adopt requirements for builders that will provide San José residents with clean, affordable energy in buildings and make good on the city’s promise to lead on sustainability. The new ordinance will make San José the largest U.S. city to require construction of electric buildings. Following adoption of the ordinance and a forthcoming ordinance directed by City Council for an October vote, greenhouse gas emissions of San José’s new buildings will be cut...

EMERYVILLE, CALIF.—SCS Global Services announced the new management team heading up its sustainable seafood certification programs. The team includes SCS veterans Gabriela Anhalzer, who is now serving as Manager of SCS’ Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries certification unit, and Adam Spiegler as Manager of the company’s Seafood Chain of Custody (CoC) certification programs. SCS welcomes on board Adam Daddino as Manager of its Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Farms certification unit. Finally, long-time SCS seafood traceability expert Jason Swecker has been promoted to the role of Director Sales and Marketing, Seafood. “Adam Spiegler, Gabriela, and Jason have demonstrated their expertise working with scores of clients...

TOKYO—Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company, Ltd. (RPHS) says that between June this year and January 2020 it will introduce biodegradable drinking straws made from polylactic acid (PLA) resin derived from renewable biomass such as fermented corn starch, thus replacing around 280,000 plastic straws per year. The company took the decision after due consideration of various options. The new biodegradable drinking straws, certified by the Japan BioPlastic Association, have a reduced impact on the environment. Within the same timeframe RPHS will start to actively support fair trade actions which aim to improve social and environmental standards for producers and workers...

LAAMU, MALDIVES—The #ProtectMaldivesSeagrass campaign, headed by the Blue Marine Foundation and the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) at Six Senses Laamu, has so far convinced more than 25 percent of resorts in the Maldives to protect their seagrass meadows. Charles Clover, Executive Director of the Blue Marine Foundation, said, “Many resorts have joined the campaign and are now protecting this critical habitat; however, some resorts are still continuing to remove their seagrass. Support from the government, resorts, organizations and tourists is evidence that the practice of seagrass removal is finally ready to be put to an end.” The country’s Ministry of Tourism...

MADRID—Sustainability is one of NH Hotel Group’s most important pledges and a key strategic value. As such, it permeates everything the company does. Framed by its broader sustainability effort, the multinational has committed to reducing carbon emissions all along its value chain by 20 percent by 2030, thus preventing the emission of over 70,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. NH Hotel Group’s target, which has been validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative—a leading alliance mobilizing the world of business to take action against climate change, championed by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and World...

ATLANTA—UPS has published its latest Sustainability Report, Creating Our Tomorrow, Sustainably, highlighting the company’s sustainability initiatives during 2018 and progress toward 2020 and 2025 goals. The digital-first interactive Report showcases the enablers of progress that are advancing sustainability for the environment, employees, and UPS communities around the world: Bold Ideas. UPS is responding to fast-changing trends and customer needs by fostering a culture of innovation and agility and encouraging UPSers at all levels to think like entrepreneurs and to act in bold new ways. By expanding its portfolio of services, products and technology solutions, UPS is simplifying logistics for small-...

NINH VAN BAY, VIETNAM—Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is launching a coral propagation program in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang to protect and preserve the pristine, yet fragile, marine ecosystem surrounding the resort. The resort’s shores are fringed by natural coral reefs that are biologically diverse and a great asset for snorkelers. It is an ideal setting for families to introduce their children to the wonders of marine life and appreciate the importance of caring for the environment. In line with the commitment of Six Senses to sustainability, the resort collaborated with a team of marine...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment Corporation, one of the world’s most diversified gaming and entertainment companies, published its annual PEOPLE PLANET PLAY corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, marking a decade of positive impact in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy. The Report covers progress made by the company in 2018 and during the first half of 2019 in six key areas: Leadership in Responsible Business Caesars was recognized for the fifth consecutive year as one of the “Most Community-Minded Companies” by Civic 50, a Points of Light initiative, and was named to Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list for 2019,...