ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc. announced the addition of Connected STAR to its Emergency Lighting with Self Testing Automated Reporting (STAR) solution. This enhancement aids in code compliance through its new method of deployment suited for large scale applications, ensuring proper emergency operation and illumination during power outages. With the introduction of Connected STAR, powered by the Connected STAR Gateway by IOTA, test data is securely logged within the unit, and compliance reports are automatically emailed directly to users’ devices. The market demand for robust emergency lighting solutions is driven by the need for life safety code compliance. Life Safety Code NFPA 101...

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—BeCause, the Danish start-up transforming how the global hospitality, travel, and tourism industries manage their sustainability data, is gearing up to offer a new digital tool that helps global hotel chains meet their reporting and compliance obligations under the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Starting in the second half of 2024, hotels utilizing BeCause’s enterprise solution will gain access to a digitized version of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the first-ever mandatory and standardized sustainability framework for companies in Europe. With this solution, hotels can efficiently collect and create audit-ready reports on their sustainability data. Current BeCause users will...

CULVER CITY, CALIF.—As part of a broader initiative to reduce environmental impacts and keep ahead of evolving global chemical regulations, Active Apparel Group (AAG), manufacturer of performance apparel for the leisure/lifestyle and active market, is embracing water-based OEKO-TEX 100 Class 1 Standard Printing Inks in their manufacturing process. Common and inexpensive inks used in the global manufacture of apparel contain a wide range of toxic chemicals, including phthalates, petroleum-based co-solvents, PVC, and other volatile organic compounds. AAG’s initiative to use OEKO-TEX approved, water-based inks creates benefits for factory workers, people living local to these factories, consumers, and everyone downstream. The...

SEATTLE—Ahead of its official Earth Day launch, Atomo Coffee, innovators of the world’s first “beanless” espresso, announce its partnership with Bluestone Lane, the Australian-inspired coffee shop and café chain celebrated for its dedication to quality and sustainability. Starting in August, Bluestone Lane will begin offering Atomo’s “beanless” espresso at all 58 locations nationwide. Atomo crafted its espresso by replicating the exact molecular structure of conventional coffee sourced from upcycled, farm-grown superfoods such as date seeds, guava, and sunflower. The espresso delivers a healthier alternative that’s high in antioxidants, lower in acidity with a cleaner caffeine experience. The taste profile is exceptional with notes...

NEW YORK—Voltpost, the lamppost electric vehicle (EV) charging company, announced the commercial availability of an innovative, award-winning curbside EV charging solution. The company is developing and deploying EV charging projects in major U.S. metro areas, including New York, Chicago, Detroit and others, this spring. Voltpost decarbonizes mobility by democratizing charging access. The company retrofits lampposts into a modular and upgradable Level 2 EV charging platform powered by a mobile app. This first-of-a-kind platform provides people convenient and affordable charging while reducing the installation cost and time, maintenance, and footprint of chargers for communities. While Voltpost can serve any EV, the lamppost charging...

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS—Revolution, the company dedicated to creating and championing sustainable loop solutions that preserve the environment and empower everyone to contribute to a more sustainable future, announced the launch of Dailygood Bags, eco-friendly heavy duty trash bags made for everyday use. Dailygood trash bags are a more sustainable solution because they are made with as much as 97 percent post-consumer recycled plastic resin (PCR), resulting in lower environmental impacts compared to trash bags made without recycled content. The average American family creates 18 pounds of trash daily, and 100 billion bags made from virgin plastic are tossed out and...

NEW YORK—Humanscale, the leading designer and manufacturer of innovative high-performance ergonomic products that offer wellness and comfort wherever work happens, announced it is certified as a B Corporation (B Corp), recognizing the company’s commitment to planet positive manufacturing. “At Humanscale, we believe that it’s our responsibility to ensure that both people and the planet are better off because we’re here,” said Bob King, Founder and CEO of Humanscale. “We have led the industry in embracing systemic change for multiple decades, from implementing transparency labels on our products and eliminating many of the commonly used Red-List chemicals, to launching the world’s first...

HELSINKI, FINLAND—SolidRoam, a leader in the field of electric vehicle (EV) charging, announced it has built an EV roaming hub product that connects EV charging providers to each other through only a single connection point. This scalable, flexible, and modular software effectively “democratizes” the charge hub. Now, EV charging providers can connect to each other through a single connection point. The company developed the technology based on the most recent roaming protocol versions and charging technologies, including OCPI 2.2.1. There are plans to support protocols such as Plug&Charge and Autocharge to enable a seamless charging experience. The goal of SolidRoam...

ATLANTA—Juno, an established leader in the manufacture of downlighting and track lighting, introduces 2-inch Canless Wafer Downlights featuring an innovative, slim design that installs quickly and easily into ceiling spaces. With no housing required, these miniature wafer downlights install in spaces where most traditional recessed housings do not. The all-in-one design of the canless wafer downlight features five switchable white color temperature options and three adjustable lumen output settings, delivering up to 900 lumens, making them perfect for accent, task, or general downlighting applications. This innovative technology gives distributors, contractors, and others the ultimate in flexibility by providing the equivalent of 15 static fixtures in one. Additional features include:  Available in three...

SHELTON, CONN.—Budderfly, a sustainability partner for businesses with repeatable footprints, announced a corporate partnership with restaurant platform company Craveworthy Brands to drive down energy consumption at Cravewothy’s corporate and franchise-owned restaurants. Craveworthy Brands owns, operates, and franchises multiple restaurant brands across the country, including Genghis Grill: where Budderfly’s Energy as a Service (EaaS) offering will first be rolled out to 21 corporate-owned restaurant locations and 11 franchise locations over time, generating an estimated 30 percent reduction in energy usage at each site. This corporate partnership underscores the impact and scalability of Budderfly’s solution. The cost-saving and sustainability outcomes stemming from this...