NATIONAL REPORT—Sustainability has become a major global issue. As the impacts of climate change become more evident, it is important that we take steps and measures to mitigate the effects and impact of climate change. Businesses across various industries have started taking proactive steps to reduce their environmental impact. One industry that plays a significant role in shaping a sustainable future is the IT industry. In this post, we will explore some of the benefits of implementing sustainable IT practices and how they can positively impact businesses. Cost Savings Implementing sustainable IT practices can allow businesses to save a lot of...

NATIONAL REPORT—Social media has become such a powerful online space that it is used for various purposes, including driving change and influencing behaviors. When it comes to promoting sustainability practices, social media is an unparalleled online space that you can use to educate, inspire, and engage a wide audience. Since there are millions of active users on various social media platforms, these platforms are ideal to encourage and promote sustainable practices among a wide audience. Let us explore a few ways social media can be used to promote sustainability practices. Define Your Sustainability Goals & Messaging Before you dive into promoting...

NATIONAL REPORT—In today’s globalized economy, business travel is essential for direct interaction, conferences, and collaborations. Nevertheless, it also has an adverse effect on the natural world and adds to carbon emissions. Finding strategies to lower the carbon footprint of business travel becomes increasingly important as businesses adopt sustainable practices. In this article, our focus is on doable tactics for reducing the environmental impact of business travel. Support Virtual Meetings Adopting virtual meetings is one of the most efficient strategies for decreasing the carbon footprint associated with business travel. Technology improvements have made video conferencing services a viable substitute for in-person meetings....

NATIONAL REPORT—Sustainable practices and environmentally friendly solutions have gained significant attention in recent years across a range of businesses. To reduce its environmental impact, the hospitality industry has supported the idea of green lodging. While more conventional initiatives like recycling campaigns and energy-saving lighting have proven successful, mobile apps have completely changed how travelers interact with environmentally friendly lodgings. These applications are streamlining procedures, giving visitors greater authority, and making sustainable lodging more practical than ever. Seamless Check-In & Booking Booking and checking in at green lodging businesses is now simpler via mobile apps. Using the app, customers can quickly look...

NATIONAL REPORT—The airline industry is a top contributor to global carbon emissions and has a significant environmental impact. Since we are already facing the consequences of climate change and global warming, it is time that everyone realizes their impacts and starts taking measures to mitigate their effects. For airlines, creating a culture of sustainability is necessary to mitigate the environmental impact and ensure a greener future. Airlines can create a culture of sustainability by adopting the various strategies and practices that we have discussed below. Leadership and Vision First and foremost, to develop a culture of sustainability within an airline, having...

NATIONAL REPORT—The cruise industry has experienced remarkable growth and popularity in recent years, offering travelers the opportunity of a lifetime to explore diverse destinations and enjoy luxurious amenities at their service. However, as the demand for cruise journeys continues to increase, it has become necessary for cruise lines like MSC Cruises to minimize their environmental impact and implement sustainable practices. In this post, we will explore some strategies and tips that can help cruise lines become more sustainable and create a culture of sustainability within the cruise industry. 1. Embrace Clean Energy Solutions—Cruise lines can make a significant impact on...

ITHACA, N.Y.—The CHSB Index 2023 was released during the eCornell keynote Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: How Data Is Making an Impact webinar on June 7, 2023. The hotel industry’s largest and longstanding annual data collection of energy, water, and carbon performance, CHSB is the primary reference tool for hoteliers to benchmark their performance, and for various stakeholders including governments and business travelers seeking to calculate the environmental impact of a hotel stay. It incorporates the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) and Hotel Water Measurement Initiative (HWMI) methodologies to provide standardized, industry-backed data to end users. CHSB 2023 is the...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Climate change, freshwater depletion, unsustainable use of resources, and biodiversity collapse are some of the most pressing challenges faced by humanity today. As the world’s population increases, so does the pressure on the world’s natural resources and on local communities. While hospitality might on the surface be less damaging than other industries where pollution is more visible (manufacturing, transport, agriculture, etc.), the hospitality service sector and its supply chain are directly affecting and being affected by sustainability matters. Energy and water consumption, working conditions, employment, waste, and carbon emission are among the issues which need to be urgently...

SEATTLE—Starbucks announced plans to develop a new sustainability learning and innovation lab at Hacienda Alsacia—the company’s global agronomy headquarters for research and development, located in Costa Rica. The lab will serve as a hub for hands-on and virtual learning opportunities for Starbucks partners (employees), students, researchers, and industry leaders to innovate and scale sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most challenging environmental and social issues, including climate adaption and agricultural economics. Starting this fall, the lab will offer the first wave of educational programming to select Arizona State University (ASU) students and Starbucks partners. The first wave will leverage ASU’s...

When your bedding and towels have reached the end of their life, what do you do with them? Send them to the landfill? Donate them? If they were made with polyester or nylon, they would have shed plastic microfibers into the environment throughout their lifetime and will continue to do so in a landfill. Certainly, the life of all bedding and towels cannot be extended. I have written about Pürlin’s Zero Laundry—Zero Waste Linens before. These linens are recycled after each use. No guest uses the same linen. At HD Expo in May I learned about CiCLO™, a textile additive...