KEHL, GERMANY—ADA Cosmetics is setting new standards for sustainability in hotel cosmetics. The industry-leading company is the first and only hotel cosmetics manufacturer whose entire product portfolio is Cradle to Cradle Certified. Based on scientific criteria, the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard is one of the most ambitious sustainability certifications in the world. Products that receive this award must satisfy an independent third-party assessment center in five categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness. All the products in ADA’s current portfolio have received Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver. “With its holistic approach,...

BARCELONA, SPAIN—While the hotel industry is awash in sustainability certifications, there is a dearth of them in the short-term rental (STR) sector. Until now, owners of short-term rentals haven’t had an STR-specific standard to work toward. Vanessa de Souza Lage, founder and CEO of Sustonica, aims to change that. Her Barcelona-based startup awards properties a “certification for environmental sustainability” that she claims is the first sustainability certification open to all STRs, regardless of where they’re listed. STR sustainability is “a very confusing world as you may find lots and lots of contradicting information,” de Souza Lage says. The industry needs “one certification,...

PHILADELPHIA—Aramark, the provider of food, facilities, and uniform services to millions of people in 19 countries around the world, released its 2022 Be Well. Do Well. Progress Report, an update to its global environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) performance. In the report, Aramark shares important progress on its diversity, community building, climate, food and worker safety, responsible sourcing, and waste reduction programs and initiatives, among other topics. Key highlights from the report include Aramark signing the Cool Food Pledge—a commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the food it serves in the U.S. by 25 percent by 2030; submitting enterprise-wide,...

BERLIN—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched the Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) verification scheme. Announced at ITB Berlin, Basics will enable tourist accommodation providers from around the world, regardless of their size, to begin their sustainability journey. Basics, an industry-wide supported initiative, is a globally recognized and coordinated set of criteria that all hotels should implement as a minimum to drive responsible and sustainable travel and tourism. Basics emerged as a result of a clear demand from a group of influential global hotel brands and while there are a great number of sustainability initiatives, Basics focuses on an achievable starting...

HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND—Trusted review provider Feefo has partnered with sustainability accreditation specialist ethy, supporting brands to verify their sustainability assertions. Following an independent audit, Explore Worldwide has met ethy’s standards for verified sustainability claims and achieved certification, demonstrating the company’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and helping its consumers make informed decisions. Jae Hopkins, Marketing Director at Explore, said: “The Feefo Sustainability Awareness Solution is a simple way to show potential Explore customers that we care about sustainability and responsible tourism. Its wide range of ecolabels helps people make educated choices and supports businesses like Explore that place sustainability...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its 2023 Trends Outlook report, examining societal shifts and economic trends impacting the design profession and the role of design in addressing issues in our world. In 2023, ASID’s research finds that health and wellness continue to be top priorities in both residential and commercial design, with an emphasis on design solutions for the changing lifestyles and needs of older Americans. ASID’s research also explores how design is being impacted by the global mental health crisis, consumers’ demands for sustainability, and a new wave of technology that brings with it the need for...

FRAMINGHAM, MASS.—Ameresco, Inc., a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, announced its Chicago Smart Lighting Program (CSLP) has been awarded the Inspiring Efficiency Impact Award by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest for sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship. Completed in 2022, CSLP is the largest city-led wireless smart streetlight program in the United States. The project transformed the city’s streetlight system, reducing energy consumption and increasing visibility for public safety. Ameresco replaced approximately 280,000 existing outdated High Pressure Sodium light fixtures with new energy-efficient LED lights and created a...

NATIONAL REPORT—What can be gained by offering your operational staff a course that explains the theory and foundation of your hotel’s sustainability agenda? The answer: many things. From engagement to concrete key performance indicators (KPIs), implementing sustainability training sessions for hotel personnel can help move hotel businesses from just focusing on the single bottom line. Since the declaration of the Brundtland Report in 1987 and John Elkington’s Triple Bottom Line framework in 1994, heaps of research and business articles have been published, and many global and local decisions have been made about sustainable development. One of them is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change...

NEWARK, N.J.—Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, announced Erica Godun has been named Director, Sustainability. In this newly created position, Godun will be responsible for developing and supporting the firm’s sustainability-focused service offerings and be a resource for clients and team members on the application of project-appropriate green integration. She will create tools that enhance the firm’s internal training platform and delivery of environmentally responsible design solutions. Godun brings more than 25 years of experience in various phases of architecture and design to Ware Malcomb and has been passionate about environmental sustainability throughout her career. She is a LEED accredited...

ASHBURN, VA.—The nation’s 10,000 park and recreation agencies have the potential to implement community-wide sustainability measures that improve the environment while promoting human and ecosystem health and cost savings. A new report by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) highlights the activities and programs park and recreation agencies provide to create more sustainable and resilient communities. NRPA’s Sustainability in Parks and Recreation report highlights agency sustainability goals, sustainability practices, financial and political support for these efforts, and the challenges and barriers that hamper greater success in sustainability efforts. Based on the responses from nearly 200 park and recreation agencies, the report finds: Park and recreation...