EMERYVILLE, CALIF.—SCS Standards and Assurance Systems announces the publication of version 2.0 of the SCS-108 Certification Standard for Carbon Neutral Entities, Buildings, Products, and Services. Initially developed in 2022, the Standard establishes certification requirements for entities, buildings, products, and services to achieve carbon neutral status. “The SCS Carbon Neutral Standard and certification allows companies to credibly demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability,” says Victoria Norman, Executive Director, SCS Standards and Assurance Systems. “Certification to SCS-108 presents robust transparency and explicit guidance for communication of Carbon Neutral claims for companies and products.” The Standard’s revision process was facilitated by SCS Standards and Assurance...

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—As the hospitality industry seeks to become more environmentally sustainable, a critical part of hotel and resort operations is coming into play outside the lobby doors—vehicles. From passenger shuttles to maintenance and groundskeeping trucks, these businesses depend on reliably powered fleet vehicles to transport guests from point A to point B and to keep operations running smoothly in the background. At the famous Biltmore Estate near Asheville, N.C., this effort is well underway. The 8,000-acre estate hosts over a million visitors annually and is famous for its breathtaking mansion and stunning landscape, in addition to a variety of lodging...

NEW YORK—Ultrafabrics, a global leader in high-performance coated fabrics and alternative leathers, introduces Brisa Ellora, a new upholstery collection designed to bring breathable comfort and style to a wide range of interiors. Named after the word “cloud,” Ellora is engineered for softness, sustainability, and soothing appeal that’s ideal for a variety of applications, including commercial, residential, hospitality, healthcare, automotive, and more. Crafted to reflect the natural beauty of drifting clouds, Brisa Ellora is part of Ultrafabrics’ breathable family of fabrics, alongside Brisa, Brisa Distressed, Brisa Frontier, and Brisa Forecast. Defined by its subtle texture, refined matte finish, and proprietary ventilation system that enhances airflow for...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—Leading sustainability advocate Steve Ashkin reports that a vast majority of Fortune 500 companies are actively publishing comprehensive sustainability reports, even as some U.S. states express reservations about the process. “What we see happening is that other states, along with other countries, are moving forward on stronger sustainability requirements, which require sustainability reports to measure and verify.” So, we are all on the same page, a sustainability report can be defined as follows: A disclosure of an organization’s non-financial performance, shared with stakeholders, investors, governments, regulatory agencies, employees, customers, and the public. It helps evaluate an organization’s sustainability practices and encourages more responsible, ethical business...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—Leading sustainability advocate Steve Ashkin reports that a vast majority of Fortune 500 companies are actively publishing comprehensive sustainability reports, even as some U.S. states express reservations about the process. “What we see happening is that other states, along with other countries, are moving forward on stronger sustainability requirements, which require sustainability reports to measure and verify.” So, we are all on the same page, a sustainability report can be defined as follows: A disclosure of an organization’s non-financial performance, shared with stakeholders, investors, governments, regulatory agencies, employees, customers, and the public. It helps evaluate an organization’s sustainability practices and encourages more responsible, ethical business...

KEHL, GERMANY—ADA Cosmetics has taken a bold step forward in ocean protection with the launch of its first 100 percent Recycled Coastal Plastic pump dispensers—debuting in the revitalized Hydro Touch collection. This innovation marks a leap from previously used 25 percent PCR PET bottles to a new milestone in sustainable packaging. Each dispenser features the Plastic Bank certification icon, signaling a strong environmental commitment to hotel guests. Available immediately, these new bottles are part of ADA Cosmetics’ ongoing journey toward a circular economy, combining environmental innovation with positive social impact. “An important part of our mission to reduce our impact on...

DALLAS—Celanese Corporation, a global specialty materials and chemical company, and Bentley Mills, a leading commercial carpet manufacturer, announced that Bentley is one of the first users of Celanese’s vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) ECO-CC emulsions, a binder made with raw materials derived from captured carbon dioxide (CO₂), for Bentley’s carpet tile production. VAE ECO-CC emulsion is produced using carbon capture and utilization (CCU) based raw materials from the Celanese Clear Lake, Texas site. By capturing and using carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a raw material for binder production instead of virgin fossil sources, manufacturers get both a more circular and lower-carbon footprint...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The hospitality industry contributes to 3 percent of global carbon emissions, with hotel operations responsible for 1 percent and construction of new hotels accounting for the remaining 2 percent (UNTWO, 2022). Additionally, the industry generates approximately 289,700 tons of waste annually, which include around 79,000 tons of food waste (Tostivint et al., 2016). As concerns over environmental impact and corporate responsibility grow, hotels globally are adopting multiple “green” initiatives aimed at reducing their carbon footprint, conserving resources, and improving community engagement. Numerous green certifications have emerged over the last decade, and this can be noted as a step in the...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a world leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, has been awarded the prestigious platinum medal for the second year in a row by EcoVadis, a leading platform for assessing CSR (Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility) performance. This distinction places Tarkett in the top 1 percent of the 130,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis across 185 countries. With an overall score of 86/100, Tarkett confirms its maturity in sustainability and social responsibility. Tarkett is therefore the only multi-product company in the flooring and sports surfaces sector to achieve this level of rating at EcoVadis. “Recognition like the...

Announcements from The Conference Board in recent months, while not geared toward hospitality, should be of great interest to company executives in our industry—especially those impacting sustainability/ESG initiatives. The findings do not come as a surprise but are worth noting, nevertheless. According to a Conference Board survey of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies, just 432 large U.S. companies filed sustainability reports during the first half of 2025, a sharp drop from the 831 that did so during the same period last year. Andrew Jones, Principal Researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, says the low number of reports likely...