ATLANTA—The Coca-Cola Company announced in the United States the introduction of a new 13.2oz bottle made from 100 percent recycled plastic material (rPET)*. This new bottle will be available first in the company’s biggest and most iconic brand: Coca-Cola. In addition, the company announced in the U.S. the transition to bottles made from 100 percent recycled plastic material* across a selection of brands in the portfolio, including DASANI and smartwater, which will be available in various package sizes this year. The moves are a substantial step in addressing plastic waste, among the top environmental concerns globally, reducing the company’s...

AMSTERDAM—As part of its Environmentally Conscious Design (ECD) philosophy, gategroup company deSter has entered a strategic partnership with PulPac, a Swedish Research & Development and Intellectual Property company. Together they will focus on the development and manufacturing of fiber-based, single-use food packaging products for the airline and food service industries. By working with PulPac and its new production technology, deSter will accelerate the development of naturally compostable fiber-based products. This will enable deSter to extend its portfolio of sustainable food packaging and service solutions. PulPac’s Dry Molded Fiber technology is an innovative technology that can be used to manufacture almost any...

DENHAM, ENGLAND—IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched Journey to Tomorrow, a series of ambitious new commitments to make a positive difference for people, communities and planet over the next decade. Guided by IHG’s purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good, it will work side by side with those who stay, work and partner with it, to help shape the future of responsible travel—supporting people and making a positive difference to local communities, while preserving the planet’s beauty and diversity long into the future. In an open letter, IHG’s CEO, Keith Barr, said that the global response to Covid-19 has shown what can be achieved when organizations...

TUSCALOOSA, ALA.—Performance Food Group, and pizza box manufacturer, WestRock are working together to deliver Sustainable Choices—a pizza box recycling educational program—to pizza box customers, and pizza consumers across the United States. The foundation of this project is a WestRock study, which was reviewed and endorsed by members of the American Forest & Paper Assn. The study was designed to determine whether grease or cheese contamination levels typically associated with pizza boxes, impact the finished product quality of the corrugated cardboard. Conclusions from the study state corrugated pizza boxes can be recycled with normal levels of residual grease and cheese. Additionally, a consumer...

TRENTON, N.J.—As companies move into 2021 and set new corporate goals for the year and beyond, the question on the lips of environmentally aware executives is, “How do you set sustainability goals that benefit the health and future of both the business and its customers without breaking the bank?” To help establish, implement, and meet these new sustainability targets—all within the corporate budget, TerraCycle Regulated Waste (TCRW), a commercial recycling solution provider that specializes in the collection and repurposing of complex regulated waste streams, has announced the new BulkPak Recycling Program. This new system allows companies the freedom of bulk...

With multiple effective COVID-19 vaccines emerging, hotels are looking forward to hosting more guests in 2021 and beyond. Even after most of the population has been vaccinated, many guests will likely maintain heightened awareness of hotel cleanliness. At the same time, the environmental crisis is worsening, and a growing number of Americans are feeling its impact. A recent Pew Research Center survey found a majority (62 percent) of Americans see the climate crisis affecting their local communities. These conditions create a perfect opportunity for hotels to emphasize sustainability in their cleaning programs. It is crucial to understand that green cleaning...

BANGKOK—For Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, sustainable travel is the first step in establishing a collaborative relationship with nature and understanding how operations can fit into the design of the whole system. Regenerative travel takes the idea of sustainability a step further to consider a more reciprocal relationship with future ecosystems and generations. While the future of travel remains uncertain, the appeal of traveling more consciously and carefully is growing among guests. Initiated in 2012 and led by the group’s Vice President of Sustainability Jeff Smith, all properties monitor and measure their actions closely. “Our ultimate aim is to do...

WILMINGTON, DEL.—Corian Design, a leading global brand in advanced surfacing solutions for interior design and architecture, announced Corian Solid Surface in Widesheet Dimensions, enabling the fabrication of larger, more complex applications in North America. The new Corian Widesheet Dimensions feature a Class A Fire rating, helping designers meet and exceed safety code requirements. “Corian Solid Surface in Widesheet Dimensions supports architects, designers and fabricators, so they can create solutions that solve the toughest design challenges,” said Catherine Congress, Americas Commercial Marketing Leader at Corian Design. “The product represents an expanded opportunity to serve our customers with a solution that can...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leader in sustainable cleaning tools, completed a large solar panel installation at its facility in Choloma, a city in the Honduran department of Cortés. Proving its commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing, ABCO expanded its solar capabilities by installing an additional 2,058 solar panels at the site, which collectively generate 1 megawatt (MW) of power. “This solar array will help power our operations with clean energy as we continue to minimize environmental impact throughout our vertically integrated process,” said Jose German Lopez, facility manager at the Choloma plant. “Sustainability is always a priority for us, from the...

With COVID-19 disrupting commercial activities around the globe, one of the many knock-on effects has been on the composition and volume of waste generated by organizations. The crisis has added new considerations for why transparency about the way waste management systems are designed and function is essential for adequate performance, both now and beyond the pandemic. For example, some companies are faced with the challenge to offer adequate protection for workers who deal with waste. Others are presented with trade-offs and new waste-related impacts, as they have shifted from physical commercial activity towards e-commerce. And some companies are already re-thinking...