ATLANTA—UPS announced an agreement with Big Ox Energy (a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental Energy Capital LLC) to purchase 10 million-gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas (RNG) per year. This is the largest investment in RNG to date for the company, and the agreement runs through 2024. Use of RNG yields up to a 90 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional diesel. In addition to the agreement with Big Ox, UPS signed a five-year agreement earlier this year with AMP energy for 1.5 million-gallon equivalents of RNG per year from the Fair Oaks dairy farm in...

A staple of every great hotel or lodging is having an incredible menu on offer for visitors. On a global scale, hotels and resorts are working to integrate more selections in their dining menus that utilize organic produce, natural products, and hormone-free meats and dairy items. These specific efforts will, in time, reduce the carbon footprint of the lodging in a way that supports the health and wellness of guests and the environment. In order for travelers to take more eco-friendly trips, hotels should be prepared to offer dining services that comply with the mission of sustainability. After a long day hiking with...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World Foundation, a leader in global health, continues its commitment to hygiene education by launching a worldwide Global Handwashing Day initiative aimed at building awareness for the importance of proper hygiene and announcing plans to build a permanent interactive exhibit dedicated to health and hygiene education in the spring of 2018. “Improving health and saving lives requires not only access to soap, but also a holistic approach that focuses on ongoing education that leads to long-term behavior change,” says Sam Stephens, Executive Director of Clean the World Foundation. “With a commitment to global hygiene education, Clean the...

Seems that the hospitality industry has grown fond of solar technologies during the last few years. Nowadays solar is more cost-effective and affordable than ever. It has also proven its efficiency and reliability over the last few decades which resulted in solar being more interesting and compelling to hotel managers. They are counting on certain environmental and economic benefits (not specifically in that order) which arise from installing solar rooftops on hotels. The dire predictions of the cost of energy bills steadily increasing in the upcoming years has made them intrigued with solar technologies. Reducing overhead sounds like every...

JOHN, USVI—As the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) picks up the pieces from the ravages of two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes, Island Green Living Assn. is urgently pleading with Governor Mapp and members of the legislature to resist pressure from FEMA and the US Army Corp of Engineers and ban the incineration of hurricane debris. Most of the debris is clean wood from fallen trees, limbs and other vegetation. FEMA and the US Army Corp of Engineers have influenced the governor to reverse his original stance and the potential health and environmental implications of local burning, a process that will...

CINCINNATI—Puffs has strengthened its commitment to responsible forestry management by earning and labeling Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification on all of its facial tissue paper products. Consumers can now find the FSC and Rainforest Alliance Certified seals on-pack ensuring that 100 percent of the virgin fiber sourced for Puffs comes from responsibly managed sources. The dual Rainforest Alliance and FSC seals communicate to consumers that the sustainable sourcing was certified to FSC standards by the Rainforest Alliance. “To secure a future for our planet, P&G knows how critical it is to preserve our world’s forests,” said Tonia Elrod, Director, Family Care...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Cadence Keen Innovations as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Cadence Keen Innovations, dba CKI Solutions, was founded in 1996 by Sam Montross. CKI’s mission is to design and deliver innovative solutions that resolve hotel challenges in many areas. For example, CKI’s waterproof, bed bug proof encasements keep mattresses and pillows out of landfills. The unique designs allow for the fastest installation and, with the zip off top, washing only the top creates savings in energy and detergents. All CKI encasements can be washed in high...

The Global Destination Sustainability Index has released its second city ranking. The GDS-Index is a collaborative business initiative created to help destinations, convention bureaus, event planners and MICE suppliers drive the adoption, promotion and recognition of responsible practices in the business tourism and events industry. The GDS-Index does this by measuring and comparing the social and environmental sustainability strategies, policies and performance of participating destinations and by sharing best practices from around the world. A key element of the GDS-Index is to determine a destination's environmental performance. They do this by examining aspects like a destination’s air quality, their...

SAN FRANCISCO—Smith & Fong Co., manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo architectural panels and flooring products, announced it has completed an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for its bamboo plywood range, including LinearSound, Fractal, Reveal and other carved design panels. The EDP and LCA, granted by ASTM International and in accordance with ISO 14025 is applicable to both the North American and European marketplaces. “Having an Environmental Product Declaration and Life Cycle Assessment for our panel products is incredibly important to the architectural and design community we service,” Smith & Fong founder and CEO Dan Smith said. “We are very proud now to have them available.” ASTM International is a globally recognized leader...

ATLANTA—UPS announced the launch of an eBike that will deliver packages in Pittsburgh. The electrically-assisted tricycle will help reduce carbon emissions in addition to traffic, noise and air quality challenges in Pittsburgh. The deployment is part of UPS’s Cycle Solutions and the company’s Rolling Laboratory, which tests alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. “Working with cities like Pittsburgh to provide them with a delivery solution that helps reduce congestion and emissions and improve air and noise quality is the latest example of how to meet the needs of today’s cities,” said Barb Jaram, UPS Mid Atlantic District President. “We have...