ALEXANDRIA, VA.—TRSA has launched its Hygienically Clean certification program to recognize textile services companies’ commitment to cleanliness through third-party, quantified biological testing and inspection. The certification process eliminates subjectivity by verifying that textiles cleaned in these facilities meet hygiene standards appropriate for any type of business that uses garments, linens, towels, floor mats, mops and other professionally laundered items. A specific designation for laundries with medical work (Hygienically Clean—Healthcare) is available and another will soon be offered for those who serve restaurants and other businesses where food safety is paramount (Hygienically Clean—Food Service). To attain a Hygienically Clean certification, a laundry...

DALLAS—Kimberly-Clark Corp. announced its Water for Life focus area as part of the company’s Sustainability 2015 strategy. The announcement came during Earth Week last month to draw attention to the global importance of fresh water and the sustainable management of fresh water resources. Kimberly-Clark’s Water for Life program provides a platform on which to collaborate with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to provide clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene education to communities around the world. “Water was chosen as a sustainability focus area, as the availability of potable water is a serious global issue and also has a significant impact on our...

HOUSTON—Toshiba International Corp. announced that it has introduced a new BR30 lamp that provides significant energy savings compared to incandescent bulbs. The new lamp is ideal for accent lighting. Toshiba’s new BR30 650 Series is a direct replacement for 65W incandescent lamps and offers outputs of up to 650 lumens. In addition, the lamp is dimmable and contains no mercury or lead. The BR30 lasts up to 20 times longer and uses up to 79 percent less energy than its incandescent equivalents, and is rated to last 40,000 hours. “This new BR30 produces gorgeous light with an even glow, offers...

TULSA, OKLA.—Totally Green, Inc., a maker of organic food processing systems and compostable packaging alternatives, announced that Intertek has approved the ORCA Green Machine to carry the ETL certification mark on all current production models. ETL certification represents a globally recognized standard that ensures consumers of product quality and safety.Intertek is a global inspection, product testing and certification company that is the largest tester of consumer goods in the world. It is an industry leader with more than 127 years of experience with more than 30,000 people in 1,000 locations in more than 100 countries.“After an extensive process, where...

MILWAUKEE—Telkonet, Inc., developer of the EcoSmart energy management platform and patented Recovery Time technology, announced that the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates in Dubai has become the latest hospitality leader to select Telkonet’s cloud-based EcoSmart energy management platform. The 506,000-square-foot five-star hotel is attached to one of the biggest shopping malls in the world as well as the United Arab Emirates’ first indoor ski slope. The hotel is 17 stories high, with an outside pool-terrace situated on the second floor and 393 rooms and suites including 15 chalets with views over the indoor ski slope. The Kempinski Hotel Mall of...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Cascades Tissue Group as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Cascades Tissue Group is the fourth largest paper tissue producer in North America and serves the hospitality, office building, institutional, and foodservice market segments. Cascade offers a broad range of products including bathroom tissue, paper hand towels, facial tissue, napkins, perforated roll towels, wipers, and dispensers.Cascades Moka bathroom tissue is made from 100 percent unbleached recycled fiber. In making Cascades Moka, corrugated box fiber is added to the pulp mixture at a ratio of 20 percent....

PARIS—Concorde Hotels & Resorts announced that the Hotel Lutetia is the eleventh hotel in its portfolio to receive Green Globe certification. Hotel Lutetia received a success rate of 71 percent for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. This accreditation is a reflection of the company’s strong commitment to CSR since June 2010, which includes three key pillars: Respecting the Environment, Respecting Men and Women, and Respecting our Community.“I am proud of the work accomplished by our hotel teams over the past two years as part of our global CSR initiative,” said Bernard Granier, CEO Concorde Hotels & Resorts. “The...

CINCINNATI—In honor of Earth Day, Cintas Corp. announced that it helped eliminate more than 15 million plastic bottles from the waste stream and save 8.5 million trees by reusing plastic waste within its eco-apparel product line. Cintas also reduced water use, packaging and chemical waste through its facility services and recycled paper products as part of its document shredding services. “Cintas is always looking for ways to help our customers achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their impact on the environment,” said Pamela Brailsford, senior director of Supplier Diversity and Sustainability, Cintas. “We are thrilled to be able to...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—Lucid, a provider of real-time energy monitoring and display systems for buildings, announced a partnership with the Seattle 2030 District to provide energy and water monitoring for commercial buildings in Downtown Seattle. Lucid’s Building Dashboard will allow managers and tenants to track performance and conserve resources. Several hotels are participating in the District.The Seattle 2030 District is a public/private partnership of more than 60 members, including Architecture 2030, 19 property owners and managers, the City of Seattle, King County, and numerous professional and community stakeholders. Their aim is to enroll nearly 88 million square feet of buildings in...

SAN DIEGO—HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, a leading supplier of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products, recently released its Volume 10 Hospitality Solutions catalog. Customers will find an expanded selection of textiles, amenities, guestroom appliances, janitorial supplies and kitchen and bath products specifically designed for hotels, resorts and timeshares. Many of these products are also sustainable, which helps properties save money on utility bills, decrease their environmental impact and meet their sustainability goals.“With the addition of the new and expanded product lines from some of the industry’s most trusted brands, our new Volume 10 Hospitality Solutions catalog features thousands of...