MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Famed explorer, environmentalist and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau is partnering with Concept Amenities and Maricoid to introduce a carefully crafted environmental collection of bath and body care products for planet-savvy hotel guests across the world. This unique collection—Jean-Michel Cousteau by Maricoid—is inspired by the beauty and wonders of the oceans and reflects Cousteau’s life-long commitment to the environment. The line contains a 100 percent organic seaweed extract from Tasmanian waters. Eighteen months in the making, the project is the brainchild of Maricoid, an Australian skincare brand. Pure organic marine ingredients are used from Marinova, an Australian biotechnology company which researches marine...

CARTERSVILLE, GA.—To help combat bed bug infestations, BugBand, Inc. has developed Bed Bugs No More!, a naturally derived pesticide that kills bed bugs and eggs on contact, then continues to repel the blood-thirsty pests for up to two weeks. Bed Bugs No More! relies on Geraniol, the same naturally derived active ingredient in BugBand’s line of environmentally-friendly DEET-free insect repellent products. Bed Bugs No More! uses a highly concentrated, Swiss-developed version of Geraniol, which kills adult bed bugs, eggs, larvae, nymphs on contact by attacking their exoskeletons. Standard pesticide products are nerve agents that only kill insects with developed nervous...

RICHMOND, CALIF.—Excellent Packaging & Supply, a wholesale distributor of sustainable, biodegradable, and nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications, has added Ingeo biopolymer-lined clamshell containers to its line of BagasseWare pulp-based foodservice products. These new products address a problem that has long frustrated operators of cafeterias, restaurants and to-go establishments: the tendency of bio-based containers to soften and lose their structural integrity when serving hot and moist food. Today, many foodservice operators who might otherwise use bagasse-based containers for take-out foods reluctantly use Styrofoam or starch-filed polypropylene containers for hot or greasy foods because they don’t want to risk food...

SPICELAND, IND.—Draper, Inc. is continuing the company’s commitment to sustainable building products with the introduction of a new eco-friendly window shade fabric. Draper’s all-new GreenScreen Revive provides excellent solar control, reducing heat and glare while offering a clean view through to the outdoors owing to its finely knitted weave. This fire retardant, PVC-free fabric is constructed of 100 percent polyester yarn, with a minimum of 89 percent REPREVE polyester. REPREVE is made from 100 percent recycled materials, is recyclable, contains low VOCs, and is made in the United States. GreenScreen Revive featuring REPREVE is RoHS compliant (free of heavy metals)...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently introduced the Continental Pro-Series natural gas Heated-Chest Ironer. The new natural gas model—delivering 90 percent efficiency—complements the Pro-Series Heated-Chest Ironer line, which also includes steam and thermal fluid models. Offering single-roll configuration and finishing widths of 130 and 138 inches, the Pro-Series natural gas ironers are designed to fit the needs of a variety of high-volume laundry applications. Continental’s new Pro-Series ironer works by using natural gas to heat thermal fluid. The ironer features a rear-mounted natural gas boiler. “Because of the on-board, natural gas boiler, and its patented coil design, the chance of oil...

SATELLITE BEACH, FLA.—At a press conference held recently in India, Lighting Science Group, a maker of LED lighting solutions, and Dixon Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., an electronics products manufacturer in India, unveiled one of their first joint products: a high-performance, sub-$15 omnidirectional 60-watt equivalent A19 LED bulb that will be available in India by the end of the year and will be sold worldwide by Lighting Science Group early next year. Utilizing Lighting Science Group’s technical design, the bulb is the first in a series of products being jointly manufactured and distributed by the two companies. The full line of...

TRENTON, N.J.—Hotel amenities are now more readily recyclable, thanks to a new partnership between manufacturing leader Marietta Corporation and TerraCycle. Until recently, hotels had limited recycling options for the small bottles and soaps, however Marietta is providing a solution for its partners so these products no longer have to go to the landfill. The collected containers will be recycled into new products such as hangers, ice buckets and recycling bins to be used in hotel rooms. Finding a way to reduce plastics and packaging in landfills has been a priority for Marietta as part of its Social Responsibility Plan. “We are...

HOUSTON—Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa, a historic mountain resort in New Hampshire, has reached its platinum certification status through the Green Business Bureau’s (GBB) green certification program. The resort, located in the heart of the White Mountains in Whitefield, N.H., is recognized by GBB for its outstanding commitment to conserving the environment and for adopting principles and practices that demonstrate the ability to operate in a green manner. The GBB provides national, third-party green business certifications for businesses that strive to reach sustainability, save money and improve the environment. In order for companies to achieve the platinum level of...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Aquamenities as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Aquamenities offers the high quality, tamper resistant Amenity Station. Clients can supply their own amenity products or choose from the company’s own line of spa-quality products. One fixture installed in a guestroom can save a hotel an average of 60 cents per room per day, and eliminates more than 1,000 plastic bottles from the landfill annually. Bottles that come with the Amenity Station are durable, made with PET, and have a capacity of 250 ml. Pumps are one-way, resistant...

LANSING, MICH.—Sustainability is an important topic that affects every stage of hotel development and operation. Hotel Sustainable Development: Principles and Best Practices, published by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), provides hospitality professionals with a wealth of information about key factors to be considered when exploring sustainability.Editors A.J. Singh, international lodging, finance and real estate associate professor in The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, and Hervé Houdré, general manager of the InterContinental New York Barclay, and leading sustainable development experts identify emerging trends and discuss how sustainability affects regulatory, policy, development, architectural, financial, and...