HOUSTON—Waste Management has been recognized as a leader among companies from around the world by environmental not-for-profit CDP for the depth and quality of climate change data it discloses to investors and the global marketplace. Waste Management’s leadership status was announced on CDP’s 2017 Climate A List, which includes those companies from around the world that have been identified as leading in their efforts and actions to combat climate change in the past CDP reporting year. Waste Management is among 5 percent of companies participating in CDP’s climate change program to be featured on the 2017 Climate A List. This...

CHINO, CALIF.—Lollicup USA Inc. will halt all production on PS (polystyrene) hot cup lids starting the end of this year, and will only produce PP (polypropylene) hot cup lids. This unprecedented decision is based on Lollicup’s move towards producing products that are recyclable, compostable, and eco-friendly. “PP is more heat resistant than PS, more environmentally friendly, and leaves less of a carbon foot print,” said Lollicup’s founder and CEO Alan Yu. This decision could not be timelier, as the world’s largest coffee chain has recently switched their lids from PS to PP, and the PS lids are on the Plastics Ban...

BETHESDA, MD.—From human rights protections to sustainable hotel development, Marriott International yesterday launched a new sustainability and social impact initiative designed to foster business growth while balancing the needs of associates, customers, owners, the environment and communities. Under Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, Marriott’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Platform seeks to continue the company’s 90-year commitment to the communities it serves, the planet and people worldwide. “As the global hospitality leader with properties and associates across 125 countries and territories, Marriott International has a global responsibility and unique opportunity to be a force for good in all...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.— GreenTree Hospitality Group, Inc., hotel owner, operator and franchisor, with roots in Asia, is beginning to branch out to North America—beginning in the Southwest, with eight limited-service, midscale properties called GreenTree Inn. The GreenTree Inn brand originated in Asia in 2004, and today through acquisition and franchisee development, now boasts 2,600 properties worldwide. GreenTree Hospitality Group recently announced its first franchised hotel in the United States. What was the Arizona Inn in Prescott Valley, Ariz. has been rebranded as a GreenTree Inn property. Pro Hospitality One PV LLC will operate it under the franchise agreement. This property joins...

NATIONAL REPORT—As Green Lodging News has learned in its own research and by talking to industry suppliers, there are numerous ways to reduce the environmental impact of a towel. Certainly chemicals and laundry equipment come into play, as does whether or not that equipment is matched with an ozone laundry system. Of course towel reuse programs can make a huge difference as well. But can your choice of the towel itself—how it is made and what it is made from—help you reduce your annual laundry-related costs? Many suppliers say yes and each has its own unique story to tell....

A key tenet of the “circular economy” sustainability paradigm is the reduction in reliance on virgin materials. The goal is to create high-functioning products that flow from cradle to cradle instead of cradle to grave—that is, a closed-loop system, where products are reused rather than disposed of, as opposed to a linear, single-use oriented system. This goal is aptly captured by the classic chasing arrows symbol. Early in its efforts to promote the “Three R’s” (reduce, reuse, recycle) waste management campaign, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explained that the first arrow represents the collection of recycled materials, the second arrow...

GRANT, MICH.—When Greenbuild convenes next month in Boston, Porous Pave, Inc. will mark another environmental milestone: surpassing 10 million pounds of recycled rubber used in applications of its permeable paving material. An eco-friendly green building product made in the U.S.A., Porous Pave is a highly porous, durable and flexible paving material. The controlled shredding and processing of discarded tires produces the 1/8-1/4-inch, fine-cut chips of recycled rubber incorporated into Porous Pave. Porous Pave installations retain storm water on site, decreasing runoff into storm drains and storm sewers. Porous Pave XL is the company’s strongest and most durable formulation for hard-wearing...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit sector of Clean the World’s social enterprise, earned the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. By sharing metrics that highlight Clean the World’s commitment to global health, donors will receive deep insights into Clean the World’s mission-critical, outcome-based reporting. “Our dedicated team rigorously measures Clean the World’s impact to guarantee global health needs are met around the world,” says Sam Stephens, Executive Director of Clean the World Foundation. “GuideStar is the gold standard for nonprofit transparency...

NATIONAL REPORT—If you have ever considered or you are weighing the prospect of getting a baler, then reading how it will reduce your environmental impact may push you towards buying one. Reducing costs is usually the most significant factor behind getting a baler. Any business wants to save money and a baler is a terrific way of doing this. By reducing bin numbers and bin collections and replacing them with a baler, cost savings are virtually guaranteed. This is what attracts businesses to balers first and foremost. When businesses find this to be true, it also comes to light that...

KNOXVILLE, TENN.—Millennials are less likely to recycle than other generations, but more likely to buy from companies making a positive impact on the world, a new survey finds. The reason, according to the new survey and report from The Shelton Group: Millennials believe corporations have more power to solve global problems than individuals. “Millennials are pushing companies to make a positive impact on the world because they believe global problems are too big for individuals to solve,” said Suzanne Shelton, President and CEO of The Shelton Group, a marketing and research firm focused on energy and the environment. “Millennials will reward...