LOS ANGELES—Lettuce Grow introduced the Farmstand Nook, the second edition of its flagship product, designed to make it even easier to grow produce indoors, in tight spaces and across seasons. With enhancements including a smaller tank and fully integrated grow lights, the Farmstand Nook empowers any chef to grow the best ingredients just steps from their stovetop. The Farmstand Nook simultaneously grows 20 plants among four levels, comes with integrated proprietary LED grow lights and, as is the case with the flagship Farmstand, is manufactured utilizing upcycled materials. New plant maintenance features, including newly designed Grow Cups and Sleeves, and digital...

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—Henkel published its 32nd Sustainability Report, outlining its performance and progress on implementing its sustainability strategy and targets. In a highly challenging market environment, the company was able, among other things, to drive progress in sustainability in many key dimensions, by further reducing its CO2-emissions and expanding its social engagement. “I cannot recall a year in the recent past in which the overall business environment was so challenging for our company. The war in Ukraine has deeply shaken us and has far-reaching consequences. It has shaped the economic environment, particularly the energy crisis and higher raw material prices. But...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. is nearing completion of a multi-year companywide LED lighting transition project to help reduce facility-focused energy use and support the company along its Path to Net Zero. Cintas’ 475 facilities throughout the United States and Canada fulfill the needs of its four business divisions. These field locations, distribution centers and corporate facilities combine for about 23 million square feet of space that requires heating, cooling and appropriate lighting. Cintas identified an opportunity to decrease energy use by installing LED lights at its older, more energy-intensive locations, and initiated the company-wide LED transition project in FY’19. Cintas’ Quality and Engineering Team...

SARASOTA, FLA.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently found that several common pesticide ingredients pose a risk to humans, animals and the environment, and proposed new regulations that would impose restrictions on their use. EcoClear Products, maker of minimum-risk pesticides and cleansers, has reviewed the EPA action and announces that its pest control solutions, like RatX, MouseX, VoleX, and MoleX, do not include the targeted FGAR and SGAR ingredients. “Our pest control products are formulated with FDA GRAS ingredients and are safe to use around non-target animals when used as directed,” said Christopher Stidd, founder and CEO of EcoClear Products. “EcoClear Products...

TROY, N.Y.—Audubon International—the environmentally focused nonprofit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play—announces the addition of a new Signature Sanctuary Platinum Certification level. Signature Sanctuary Certification is specifically designed for properties undergoing renovation or new development with the goal of ensuring sustainable design, construction, and long-term management of golf courses, resorts, and communities, and has traditionally been offered on three levels—Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Platinum Certification level offers the opportunity to encompass an entire resort under one certification umbrella—Signature Sanctuary for golf course and maintenance structures and systems...

HORSHAM, PENN.—Sofidel launched its Language Learning Program to help employees improve vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and reading skills, all based on their personal interests and professional goals. The Language Learning Program is free and accessible to all Sofidel employees and includes useful tools like daily exercises, educational videos, articles and specific tools to help team members who want to improve their grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation for various languages, including English, Spanish, German, French and Italian. “Sofidel is proud to have a diverse team of employees who come from different backgrounds and speak various languages,” said Linda Bonfanti, Training Manager, Sofidel. “Our Language Learning Program offers classes in English, Spanish,...

GREER, S.C.—LifeMade Products LLC (LifeMade), an operating company of Jadex Inc., announced that the company’s LifeMade Compostable Straws have received OK compost HOME certification from TÜV Austria. This achievement is in addition to the product’s BPI Commercially Compostable certification previously received. TÜV Austria OK compost HOME certification provides assurance to consumers that LifeMade Compostable Straws will compost safely in any home compost heap. Made in the USA, LifeMade Compostable Straws are available in Jumbo size and packaged for most foodservice operations, having a diameter of 0.25” and a length of 8”. The straws are individually wrapped and available in case...

KEHL, GERMANY—ADA Cosmetics is setting new standards for sustainability in hotel cosmetics. The industry-leading company is the first and only hotel cosmetics manufacturer whose entire product portfolio is Cradle to Cradle Certified. Based on scientific criteria, the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard is one of the most ambitious sustainability certifications in the world. Products that receive this award must satisfy an independent third-party assessment center in five categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness. All the products in ADA’s current portfolio have received Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver. “With its holistic approach,...

MEMPHIS, TENN.—Auto-Chlor System, a national leading supplier of commercial dish machines and chemical solutions for hospitality operations, highlights the UCR Glass Washer, a fast, water-efficient, and energy-efficient machine that accommodates all glass sizes and shapes. The UCR Glass Washer is ideal for high volume glass applications in hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, cocktail lounges, wineries, breweries and more. The complete wash cycle is a fast 60 seconds. A three compartment, rotating rack allows washing to occur in one section while soiled items are simultaneously loaded into a second section and cleaned items are ready for removal from the third section. The large...

PHILADELPHIA—Aramark, the provider of food, facilities, and uniform services to millions of people in 19 countries around the world, released its 2022 Be Well. Do Well. Progress Report, an update to its global environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) performance. In the report, Aramark shares important progress on its diversity, community building, climate, food and worker safety, responsible sourcing, and waste reduction programs and initiatives, among other topics. Key highlights from the report include Aramark signing the Cool Food Pledge—a commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the food it serves in the U.S. by 25 percent by 2030; submitting enterprise-wide,...