BERKELEY, CALIF.—Coyuchi, the first company to bring organic cotton bedding to the United States, announce that the brand’s classic Air Weight Towel Collection has achieved Fair Trade Certification under the strict requirements set by Fair Trade USA. This organic cotton towel collection by Coyuchi marks the first-ever Fair Trade USA Certification for towels in North America.Fair Trade certification for Apparel & Home Goods is the first social, economic and environmental standard that directly benefits the workers who sew the items. It offers companies and consumers an opportunity to positively impact the lives of hard-working people. For every Fair Trade...

DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva announced that it has received two Good DesignAwards in the flooring category for Thin Lines and Code Series, a Suzanne Tick design. TheGood Design program is an international design award organized by The Chicago AthenaeumMuseum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design andUrban Studies. Hundreds of entries from across the globe were submitted for consideration andjudged by a panel of distinguished design professionals, industry specialists and design press.“As the world’s most prestigious and oldest design awards program, the Good Designdesignation affirms our commitment and purpose to create floorcoverings that communicatebetter, simple,...

ST. LOUIS—Last year, the United Soybean Board (USB) partnered with manufacturers to develop 33 new soy-based products and ingredients that are helping to replace petrochemicals and make products more sustainable and environmentally friendly.  New products containing soy—ranging from downhole crude oil recovery aides to NASCAR racing tires to candles—also represent a step forward in the evolution of “green” chemistry as soy ingredients and technology become increasingly mainstream.More than 800 soy-based products have been developed since 1990 with USB support. Soy products often contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than traditional products, which contributes to air safety for workers and...

GRANT, MICH.—All the Porous Pave manufactured and installed through December 2014 included a total of about six million pounds of rubber recycled from 200,000 tires. A proven option for green stormwater infrastructure, Porous Pave is a highly porous, durable and flexible surfacing material consisting of recycled rubber, aggregate and a binder. The controlled shredding and processing of discarded tires produces the one-quarter-inch nominal size rubber chips incorporated into Porous Pave.“Reaching a total of 200,000 tires saved from landfills, recycled and processed into a component of Porous Pave is an environmental achievement,” said David Ouwinga, President and CEO, Porous Pave,...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass and Bronze Works has released a new brochure detailing models, features and options for its ChekPoint line of electronic sensor faucets, including new models with  above deck electronics that are especially suited for commercial kitchen applications. T&S electronic sensor faucets are made of chrome-plated brass, require no sealants, are ADA-compliant, and boast a wide range of convenient features, including: •    adjustable temperature control mixing valve; •    adjustable automatic time-out feature; •    adjustable water shut-off delay; •    troubleshooting LED indicator lights and low battery indicator light; •    scratch-resistant sensor lens and modular quick-release sensor connections; •    solenoid...

PEARL RIVER, N.Y.—Now in its 64th year, the Good Design Awards, one of the world’s oldest and most recognized programs for identifying design excellence worldwide, announced its 2014 winners. Hunter Douglas, a leader in custom window fashions, received design excellence awards for its Silhouette A Deux window shadings, Solera Soft Shades and the Platinum App for motorized shades. Hunter Douglas was the only window covering manufacturer to be recognized.The award sponsors, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in Galena, Ill. and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies in Dublin, Ireland, received submissions from...

REDMOND, WASH.—To help building owners and operators easily manage their heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) energy consumption while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, Alerton has released an updated version of its Ascent Compass Software. The solution provides users a cleaner, simpler interface that reduces the steps required to optimize building systems and energy efficiency.Introduced in 2014, Compass is a part of the Alerton Ascent building automation suite of products that monitors and controls a host of building systems, including HVAC; lighting; security/access control; fire and life safety; elevators and escalators; and others.Compass 1.2 software features an enhanced navigation tree...

WARWICK, R.I.—CleanBrands LLC, a provider of mattress, box spring and pillow encasements and protectors, announced that its CleanRest PRO Mattress Encasement product line, featuring the award-winning MicronOne fabric and Zip-N-Click closures, has been nominated for Innovative Product of the Year and promoted to Platinum status by the American Hotel Register.The announcement came at the Global Hospitality Expo in Chicago, sponsored by American Hotel Register. CleanRest bedding encasements offer protection to the assortment of furniture often found in hotels to help stem the growing bed bug issue in a proactive way. CleanRest’s MicronOne and Zip-N-Click technologies provide secure protection against...

CHICAGO—United Airlines announced the launch of United Eco-Skies Vacations, a new travel program that provides United customers with vacation options that incorporate sustainability and environmental responsibility into their getaways. The airline is working with The Mark Travel Corp., exclusive tour operator for United Vacations, and long-time partner and global nonprofit organization Sustainable Travel International to launch the vacation program. The program is being piloted in Costa Rica, a destination known for its stunning beaches and breathtaking rain forests, as well as its commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship.“United understands the importance of protecting the cultural, economic and environmental...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—Building on its line of flexible outdoor lighting solutions, MaxLite announces a new family of adjustable, installation-friendly LED Wall Packs and the launch of LED Bullet Flood Lights for hotels, resorts and restaurants. DesignLights Consortium-qualified LED Small and Large Adjustable Wall Packs offer significant energy savings over metal halide fixtures and are ideal for lighting outdoor walkways, landscapes, parking areas, schools, hospitals, hotels, offices and other commercial spaces. The fixtures are constructed with chip-on-board LEDs on pivoting heads that aim light precisely, minimizing glare and backlight. The wall packs are designed for quick and easy installation. They feature an...