SEATTLE—Starbucks announced plans to develop a new sustainability learning and innovation lab at Hacienda Alsacia—the company’s global agronomy headquarters for research and development, located in Costa Rica. The lab will serve as a hub for hands-on and virtual learning opportunities for Starbucks partners (employees), students, researchers, and industry leaders to innovate and scale sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most challenging environmental and social issues, including climate adaption and agricultural economics. Starting this fall, the lab will offer the first wave of educational programming to select Arizona State University (ASU) students and Starbucks partners. The first wave will leverage ASU’s...

NEW YORK—Invisible Urban Charging announced that it has partnered with global leader in project development and management JLL to roll out and service large-scale banks of electric vehicle (“EV”) chargers worldwide. Under the terms of the partnership, JLL will serve as IUC’s exclusive Project Management partner, providing a global installation capability through JLL’s network of electrical contractors, logistics, and signage partners, with all chargers connected to IUC’s proprietary core software platform to deploy and provide maintenance for large numbers of EV charger banks at heavily trafficked sites. “To meet the growing need for better EV charging infrastructure, you need partners able...

HONG KONG—With an urgency to curb climate change and help the planet, green packaging solutions company, ChoosePlanetA, has launched a new alternative to single-use paper cups—THE GOOD CUP. The unique and patented paper cup comes with an integrated top flap that easily folds and locks into place which does away with the traditional use of plastic lids. Made from a bio-based, 100 percent certified home compostable paper, it is also free from PE (Polyethylene) coating. One of the key advantages is that it is produced using the same machines as those used for traditional paper cups, and because no plastic lids...

HALLANDALE, FLA.—Groupe GM has relaunched its Gemology hotel line in partnership with Gemology Cosmetics Paris, with an emphasis on sustainability. Passionate about beauty and precious stones, Chrystelle Lannoy, the founder of Gemology, had the intuition to test the cosmetic virtues of minerals. Thirteen years ago, she commissioned talented researchers to work on the active principles of the stones, to extract all their richness and power. Gemology was able to unveil a secret buried in the heart of minerals. Since then, their laboratories have been exploring the functions and benefits of these trace elements on the skin. This is when skin oligotherapy...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a leader in innovation and sustainable flooring solutions, has expanded its nature-inspired Renewal Series with two new, sophisticated prints. Inspired by the refreshing outdoors, the new designs, Veiled Grove and Ebbing Waves, boast soothing designs. “From the scent of fresh pine needles to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, nature awakens our senses and renews our spirits,” said Omoleye Simmons, Vice President of Design for Tarkett Contract, North America. “We trust its longevity, rely on its rhythm, and are centered by its beauty. With sophisticated patterning and a soothing palette, these two additions to the Renewal...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—UMF|PerfectCLEAN introduced QUICKtab, a unique, touchless disinfectant tablet dispensing system, at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 2023 Annual Conference in Orlando. With its innovative features and unparalleled convenience, QUICKtab is set to transform the way one dispenses disinfectant. With QUICKtab, there is no need to handle disinfectant tablets. Hygiene specialists never have to handle tablets while dispensing or using Klorese ready-to-use (RTU) tablets, which are ideal for hospitals, hotels, schools, and universities. “The latest addition to our comprehensive infection prevention program, QUICKtab ensures that environmental services (EVS) hygiene specialists stay safe while decreasing the risk of infections throughout their facilities,” said UMF|PerfectCLEAN CEO George Clarke. “QUICKtab is...

SALT LAKE CITY—R-Zero, a leader in healthy buildings and green buildings, unveiled the results of its new “Indoor Air Impact” report, which sheds light on the impact of indoor air quality on physical and mental health, Americans’ attitudes towards crowded indoor spaces, and workplace hygiene. The findings reveal significant concerns around indoor air quality, an underlying health issue that has long gone unaddressed. “Not only are people demanding healthier indoor spaces, but it has become mission critical for businesses to protect their workforce while maintaining sustainability goals and creating spaces that optimize productivity," said R-Zero CEO Jennifer Nuckles. “While we are...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—The Beverly Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, two of California’s most iconic luxury hotels and champions for the environment, together with Nostromo Energy, provider of breakthrough energy storage solutions for commercial buildings, announced the launch of Nostromo’s sustainable energy storage system serving the two adjacent hotels. The system is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable the hotels to reach their sustainability goals while saving on energy costs. This project with hotel ownership and leading real-estate asset management groups Alagem Capital Group and Cain International marks the first hospitality industry partnership using Nostromo’s innovative technology. During peak hours, air conditioning...

IRVINE, CALIF.—Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering has unveiled a new collection designed by Sina Pearson that holds texture and color in playful juxtaposition: Unexpected. Robust with visual intrigue, color, texture and style, the Unexpected collection offers the commercial industry three fresh designs in a range of surprising and bold colorways. For Pearson, textile design has always been rooted in balancing inspiration with a deliberate, yet organic process. This new collection—Momentum’s 12th with Pearson—celebrates this idea with exuberant colors, textures and designs that are, as the name suggests, unexpected. The textile range also meets the most demanding industry performance standards and sustainability metrics—including GREENGUARD...

LOS ANGELES—EVgo Inc., one of the nation’s largest public fast charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), announced that the company will be adding North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors to its fast-charging network across the country following the recent announcements by Ford and General Motors (GM) that they will be leveraging NACS starting some time in 2025. “EVgo first deployed integrated Tesla connectors in 2020, and with the recently announced expansion of the number of automakers using the NACS connector, we are excited to announce that we will also be integrating NACS connectors on the EVgo network in future deployments...