ALPHARETTA, GA.—In today’s world, many businesses are searching for ways to reduce their environmental footprint. Neenah Paper is taking it a step further with the introduction of “Carbon Neutral Plus,” the company’s commitment to not only conserve the environment by reducing carbon emissions, but to take a broader approach to conservation by supporting biodiversity projects which protect and restore natural habitat. “We believe it’s our responsibility as a company to not only make changes within our business, but to influence our world even further by supporting projects that conserve, protect and restore our natural resources,” explains Meredith Grant, environmental marketing...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In the wake of an extended global economic slump, local communities are pushing ahead and expanding their green building programs. More than one in five U.S. cities with populations greater than 50,000 surveyed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) report having a policy to promote green buildings, accounting for more than 53 million people. The AIA initially conducted this survey in 2007 for a Local Leaders in Sustainability report that has just been updated. The new report, “Green Building Policy in a Changing Economic Environment,” is an inventory of policies and best practices intended to help policymakers...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Association’s annual survey of more than 1,800 professional chefs—members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF)—reveals that local sourcing of ingredients, sustainability and nutrition will be the hottest trends on restaurant menus in 2010. Locally grown produce, locally sourced meats and seafood, sustainability, mini-desserts and locally produced wine and beer top the list of nearly 215 culinary items in the “What’s Hot in 2010” survey. Rounding out the top 10 trends are nutritious kids’ meals, half-portions, farm-branded ingredients, gluten-free/food-allergy conscious meals and sustainable seafood. “No one has a better view of restaurant menu trends than the...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International, the developer of the only American National Standard for sustainable carpet, announced that InterfaceFLOR, a leading manufacturer of modular carpet, has received certification to NSF/ANSI 140: Sustainable Carpet for both their GlasBac and GlasBac RE products. InterfaceFLOR’s facility in Chonburi, Thailand, is the first manufacturing facility outside of North America to achieve this certification. The NSF Sustainable Carpet Standard was developed to help drive the carpet industry toward a more sustainable future by providing a national standard that can be used for developing environmentally-friendly carpet. NSF International certifies carpet to ensure it meets all of the...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Avendra, one of the hospitality industry’s leading procurement services companies, continues to collaborate with suppliers to bring new products, ideas and expertise to customers. The most recent program, the Fresh Produce Road Show, proved to be a unique educational experience and an opportunity for Avendra and local produce suppliers to foster relationships with culinary teams at customer locations. For the pilot road show, Avendra partnered with Coastal Sunbelt Produce and its corporate chef, Martin Saylor, to visit customers in the Washington, D.C. area. With dozens of specialty and local produce items on display in a modified delivery truck, the...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp., a leading manufacturer and marketer of appliances, announced the release of the company’s first global, comprehensive sustainability report. The report provides an overview of the company’s efforts to make a sustainable difference in the world. The company also produces an annual report and, for the first time, is making a detailed Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) report publicly available, in addition to other required regulatory filings. These reports reflect the company’s commitment to openly communicating with its stakeholders about its economic, social and environmental performance. Whirlpool Corp. is a leader in developing high-performance appliances that help conserve the...

LAS VEGAS—The Forest Stewardship Council-US (FSC-US) has honored CityCenter as the best commercial project of 2009 in the fifth annual Designing & Building with FSC Awards. The awards recognize entities that are committed to using sustainably harvested wood and creating a marketplace that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management. CityCenter’s dedication to the use of FSC-certified wood products is unprecedented in scale and resulted in a significant market transformation. “We are honored to be recognized as this year’s top commercial project,” said Cindy Ortega, senior vice president of MGM MIRAGE’s Energy and Environmental...

ATLANTA—The Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia recently announced its certification by Green Globe, a leading international brand for sustainable travel, tourism and related green businesses. Green Globe traces its roots back to the United Nations Earth Summit of 1992, and uniquely looks at a hotel’s effects on the environment as well as its impact on the community. Green Globe Certification CEO Guido Bauer said he welcomes Crowne Plaza Perimeter at Ravinia into the select group of certified hotels that have chosen to have their green achievements verified against international sustainability standards. “Green Globe recognizes that true...

ITHACA, N.Y.—More than 25 hotel industry leaders gathered on October 29 to 30 at Cornell University’s Statler Hotel for a Sustainability Roundtable. The Roundtable was sponsored by Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research. Roundtable participants discussed the following topics: “The Role of the Sustainability Department in Hotel Companies,” “The Impact of Emerging Codes, Laws and Regulations,” “Guest Engagement and CSR (corporate social responsibility),” and “Carbon.” In the first session on “The Role of the Sustainability Department in Hotel Companies,” David Jerome, senior vice president, corporate responsibility, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), said sustainability is about helping people understand what’s possible. “It is...

SNOWMASS, COLO.—Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has unveiled Green Footstep, a free online carbon calculator for reducing carbon emissions in building construction and retrofit projects. While many carbon calculators are available online, none address multiple building emissions over the building lifetime. “Green Footstep makes it easier for design professionals to set the design targets they’ll need to achieve a carbon neutrality that includes not just operation, but also embodied carbon and others,” said Victor Olgyay, AIA, principal at RMI. “Just as a life cycle cost analysis of a green building design shows the operating costs you are saving over time,...