ATLANTA—Softscribe Inc., an Internet public relations firm that drives sales for companies targeting green tourism and hospitality, green government and related markets, announced it will provide marketing and Internet public relations services to Hawaiian Mahogany Inc., a U.S.-based, 12-year-old certified provider of verifiable carbon offset credits for environmentally responsible Fortune 1000 firms and companies in hospitality, travel and other industries. “Carbon credits are a growing channel for businesses that want to go on record for effectively helping to stop global warming,” said Michael Squires, president of Softscribe Inc. “Carbon offset credits are mandated by many countries today; I expect to...

ATLANTA—Amtico International introduces its Tropical Woods luxury resilient flooring that provides an aesthetic alternative to endangered woods that have been logged almost to extinction. Four patterns—Brazilian Rosewood, Merbau, Tigerwood and Caramel Bamboo—mimic the rare rainforest species in a flooring that’s low-VOC and low-maintenance but high-performance. The products are certified by GreenGuard and FloorScore and are manufactured in a 14001 and 9001 certified U.S. facility. Tropical Woods projects the distinctive style of its endangered namesakes. While export of Rosewood from the wild is now banned, Amtico’s Brazilian Rosewood captures its chocolately good looks in deep purples, reds...

STANDISH, MAINE—PRC Technologies, a division of Print Recovery Concepts Inc., announced that it is offering the first laser printer cartridges that use toner powder derived from soybeans. PRC reports they will supply cartridges for the most popular laser printers under the SoyPrint brand at prices comparable to brand name versions currently available. Soy ink has been available for some time but this is the first soy toner cartridge for laser printers. Debe Overhaug, president of Print Recovery Concepts, reports a printer cartridge contains one pound of toner powder and that U.S. businesses, schools, institutions and governments consume more than 100...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Green Hotel Expert Atlantis Hospitality Group announced that Richard “Rick” C. Henrikson has joined its network of hospitality consultants. Henrikson is an award-winning hotel management executive with experience in every facet of hotel operations. He has developed broad-based skills in P&L management, multi-site operations, sales, marketing and development. “We are proud and excited to have Rick join our team here at Atlantis Hospitality Group,” says Ray Hobbs, president of Atlantis Hospitality Group, and a senior vice president for Kelco Management & Development in Jacksonville, Fla. “Rick is a proven ‘hands-on’ team leader with an astute ability to...

INDIANAPOLIS—Gilchrist & Soames has unveiled its BeeKind Collection. BeeKind is the first Gilchrist & Soames collection to employ an environmental alternative to plastic bottles. The BeeKind paper bottle is a 59 percent reduction in packaging material by weight, as well as a 92 percent reduction in waste space after use compared to rigid plastic bottles. “We are very excited about this new collection,” says Kathie De Voe, president of Gilchrist & Soames. “It is perfect for today’s market with our new environmentally friendly packaging, unequalled skin-friendly formulations and modern, yet natural design.” The BeeKind Collection will feature Gilchrist & Soames’...

LA MIRADA, CALIF.—Architectural Area Lighting (AAL), North America’s first carbon neutral lighting manufacturer and a leading provider of efficient, effective and environmentally sound outdoor fixtures for the commercial, municipal and institutional building markets, unveils its Carbon Neutral for Life lighting sustainability program. The program provides end users, such as building owners, site operators and municipal officials, the opportunity to neutralize the carbon footprint created by fixtures when in operation. “As a company we are committed to lessening our impact on the environment, evident through the eco-friendly luminaries we produce and our effort to eliminate the carbon impact of our manufacturing...

BOULDER, COLO.—Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced an agreement with Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand for travel and tourism, under which Green Globe International and STI will partner to deliver co-branded products and services to the global travel and tourism industry. Green Globe International offers comprehensive sustainability and carbon neutrality programs under its internationally recognized Green Globe brand, including benchmarking and certification, consulting, communications, and carbon neutrality programs. Under the license agreement with Sustainable Travel International, Green Globe International will license certain STI properties for use as part of Green Globe programs. STI will...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Universal Lighting Technologies introduces new Program Start models to the ULTim8 high-efficiency family of ballasts. With Program Start technology, these ballasts fit the growing need for energy-saving ballasts that are compatible with occupancy sensors and other switching applications. ULTim8 Program Start ballasts are specifically designed to increase fluorescent lamp life by properly heating the lamp filaments during the starting process. Designed to meet NEMA and CEE High Efficiency T8 Ballast specifications, these ULTim8 models are compatible with current ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 and California Title 24 for energy efficiency. New ULTim8 Program Start ballasts are available with universal voltage operation (120...

AURORA, OHIO—TCP, Inc. has combined the benefits of its compact fluorescent lamps with new LED technology to create the SpringLamp three-way CFL/LED light bulb. The three-way CFL/LED hybrid switches between 19 watts, 30 watts and a 1-watt LED night light, comparable to a 50/100/150-watt incandescent bulb, for use in table lamps and floor lamps. Lasting an average of 10,000 hours (more than 10 times longer than an incandescent), the three-way CFL/LED is manufactured using lead-free glass. This gives the bulb better lumen maintenance over its life and a color temperature closest to incandescent light. A new amalgam technology provides cooler...

YUBA CITY, CALIF.—Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI), is now making its OrganicPedic line available to green hotels and B&Bs. “In the environmentally-conscious lodging industry, businesses now have an opportunity to share (and sell) environmentally safer products together with their comfortable surroundings,” says Walter Bader, co-founder of OMI. “Green lodging is about the sustainable, eco-friendly practices and products that enhance a guest’s stay. Shouldn’t that philosophy extend to the mattresses as well?” The opportunity to include organic mattresses in green lodging operations is often overlooked, and represents a huge potential profit center. Plus, ecologically aware travelers appreciate knowing about the extra purity...