KALAMAZOO, MICH.—Landscape Forms, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-design site furniture, structure, LED lighting, and accessories, introduces Backdrop, a system of modular panels and accessories. Designed by Landscape Forms in collaboration with KEM Studio, Backdrop offers a new and uniquely versatile way to create welcoming outdoor destinations. It is ideal for campuses, streetscapes, residential communities, and retail and hospitality locations. “Backdrop defines space in a way no one’s ever done before outdoors,” says Landscape Forms Chief Creative Officer, Kirt Martin. “We call it Backdrop because the panel system itself doesn’t necessarily shout for the foreground attention. But the environments...

HORSHAM, PENN.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, launched the Sustainable Hygiene Heroes awards. The program honors facility maintenance and cleaning professionals who go above and beyond to provide clean and safe facilities, while implementing sustainable cleaning practices. The winner will receive $4,000 cash and two runners-up will receive $500 cash each. The winner’s facility will also receive $500 of paper products from Sofidel. “Maintaining clean and safe facilities is challenging, especially in a post-pandemic world where people’s expectations around cleanliness have increased,” said Fabio Vitali, Vice President of Marketing, Sofidel. “From paper to chemicals to trash...

KELOWNA, B.C.—RainStick, the new Canadian clean technology company revolutionizing the water tech space, has been named as one of Cleantech Group’s 2022 Cleantech 50 to Watch. The Cleantech 50 to Watch is an annual list of top global early-stage private companies showcased for their excellence in sustainable innovation. The entrepreneurs on the list are creating new technologies that are poised to address the climate crisis in plastics, regenerating soils, recycling building materials, automating food waste, and transforming solar power. To create the list, inputs are combined from the Cleantech 50 to Watch expert panel of 31 leading investors and corporate and industrial executives active in technology and innovation...

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO—Specialty chemical and equipment manufacturer Betco Corp. announced a partnership with a top manufacturer of biological technologies and fully owned subsidiary EnviroZyme to launch EnviroZyme Probiotic Solutions. This new probiotic cleaning program replaces harsh, traditional cleaning chemicals with natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable formulas that are better for people and the planet. Betco’s current BioActive Solutions program will transition into EnviroZyme Probiotic Solutions. Betco is the only chemical manufacturer in the world to ferment their own beneficial bacteria to produce targeted probiotic cleaning solutions in liquid, solid, and powder forms. From a state-of-the-art facility on Betco’s campus, teams of biologists and chemists...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—Nominations are open for the fourth annual 2022 Guest Room Attendant (GRA) Excellence Award, sponsored by UMF Corp. The award recognizes the invaluable contributions of GRAs—hotel housekeepers—who ensure safe guest and employee environments in hotels and lodges across the country. In an industry that is still feeling the pandemic’s aftershocks, the GRA Excellence Award acknowledges the housekeeping heroes who have shown up day after day to clean and disinfect guestrooms and common areas. Nominations are open through December 31, 2022. “Hotels transformed their business models during the pandemic, first deploying infection prevention practices similar to those of an acute care hospital and now contending...

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.—Hope’s Windows, Inc. announces the release of their fully developed, tested, and certified product line—Hope’s Old World Suite. The new product, with its thin and arrow-shaped steel frame profiles, is the culmination of over a century of technological innovation: a complete product line that combines the striking visual appearance of the past with performance of the present, including Hope’s innovative Thermal Evolution technology. Old World Suite steel windows and doors offer extremely narrow sightlines with the ability to accept monolithic or insulated glass for energy efficiency. The historically accurate profiles and sightlines are ideal for new buildings as well...

LONDON—It is estimated that the hotel industry alone is worth over $570 billion worldwide, the travel industry at large is worth $1.6 trillion, and employs over 271 million people—simply put the travel sector has clout. However, that clout is not currently realizing its full potential when it comes to mitigating the climate crisis, halting biodiversity loss, and driving social and economic development, despite the apparent will for change. This thinking was the catalyst that drove Weeva co-founders Julie Cheetham and Lindsey Walter to consider how they might be able to help turn the tide on unsustainable practices within the travel...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vinyl Sustainability Council (VSC), a self-funded business council advancing sustainability in the vinyl industry, welcomes Trusscore as the newest member of the council. VSC membership is reserved for organizations taking a leadership role to advance sustainability throughout the vinyl industry. “With their focus on developing products that outperform what they replace, Trusscore joins more than 55 other VSC members demonstrating a commitment to sustainability efforts in their business practices,” said Jay Thomas, VSC Executive Director. “Trusscore is dedicated to driving innovation in the commercial and residential construction industry. We’re proud to have them join us.” Trusscore makes a range of products...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Clean the World as a Founding Sponsor. Clean the World provides innovative impact solutions that inspire businesses and individuals to impact their community and help change the world. Through our Hospitality Recycling program, we recycle the used soap and plastic amenity bottles left behind by guests and collected by housekeepers around the world and put it into the hands of people in need. The Impact Reporting that is provided as part of the program provides partners advanced insights on their sustainability contributions. At any given moment, partners can review, track, and observe the impact they’re...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—The date for the annual Green2Sustainable Sustainability Recognition Ceremony has just been announced. It will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 4 p.m. central time in the CleanMeet Lounge at the upcoming ISSA Show North America. The annual ceremony honors ISSA-member organizations that have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability. The honorees are selected by Green2Sustainable, which uses advanced sustainability monitoring technologies and ongoing performance interviews that help organizations reduce their use of natural resources, energy, fuel, waste, and other metrics. According to Steve Ashkin, President of Green2Sustainable, there are several benefits for ISSA members to become more sustainable. Among them are the...