TORONTO—Green Key Global and La Tablée des Chefs have announced a new partnership. With this collaboration the two organizations will work to get hotels to focus on food waste.By partnering with Green Key Global, La Tablée des Chefs will rely on the support of the association to promote its services to its members’ institutions. The efforts invested by hotels in the reduction of food waste will be recognized in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program.When a hotel wants to be environmentally responsible by giving a second life to ready-to-eat surpluses and enabling people in need to enjoy quality food, it...

OAK BROOK, ILL.—The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center is going above and beyond in its effort to give back to the community and help the environment.   In addition to local homeless shelters, the multi-faceted west suburban resort recently donated its premium linens to Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, where the 250-thread count bedding is being used as additional nesting material for the western lowland gorillas at Regenstein Center for African Apes. “While we continue to elevate our guest experience at the hotel,” said Nathan Karsten, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills...

WALNUT CREEK, CALIF.—Bay Area Trash Compactor announced the installation of the first-of-its-kind combination solar powered trash compactor and portable cardboard baler at the LEED Platinum Certified Bardessono Hotel and Spa in Napa Valley. Completely off the grid, the solar powered compactor packs 16 yards of loose trash into just 4 yards, reducing waste pickup at the busy property to just once per week, thus slashing hauling costs by 50 percent, reducing CO2 emissions by over 14 tons annually, and importantly limiting garbage truck noise to guests and neighboring residents. The solar cardboard baler fits into a small space, yet...

NEW YORK—GROHE is now offering three new advanced technology filters and an eco-friendly cleaning cartridge for its GROHE Blue Chilled + Sparkling faucet.“Here at GROHE, it’s our goal to produce a sustainable and enjoyable water experience for all of our customers,” says Cheryl Dixon, Head of Brand Trade and Marketing for GROHE America. “Blue Chilled + Sparkling can significantly reduce a user’s carbon footprint by eliminating the need to buy bottled water. Our new filter options offer a better-tasting, customized drinking experience as well as a cleaning cartridge to further enhance this already outstanding product.”Three different filter options, each...

PROVINCETOWN, MASS.—With the recent ban on plastic bags throughout Provincetown, a push towards more environmentally friendly solutions is sweeping town as it prepares for the summer season. The Cape Colony Inn, located in Provincetown’s East End, is working to help in this movement by offering complimentary tote bags to guests checking into the hotel. The bags are a high quality material and perfect for carrying purchases from shopping or supplies for the beach.“I am excited about this new initiative for our guests at Cape Colony Inn after Provincetown’s environmentally friendly decision,” said Steve Sleeper, General Manager. “The hotel has...

INDIANAPOLIS—William Roam, creators of American-made personal care products for the hospitality market, has committed to helping keep Hawaii’s beaches clean through a donation to Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii (SCH). The annual 1% for the Planet donation was made after considerable research and vetting of charitable organizations in Hawaii.“It was important we donate to an organization making a visible environmental impact in their communities with a passionate, hands-on approach in support of their own natural features, as well as foster a close relationship to the very places that helped inspire our business,” says Ali Murphy, CEO of William Roam. “SCH work...

One glance around a hotel lobby and the trained eye can see many opportunities for flexible and rigid polymeric materials necessary for efficient, effective and safe construction. It would seem that Cliff Goldman, author of the guest column in January entitled, “A Hotel Industry Future Without Vinyl Products,” would have these potential opportunities exclude vinyl as an option, for reasons he may not fully understand. Most professional designers and engineers know the benefits of flexible vinyl, including its inherent flame retardant advantages, UV resistance, stain and scratch resistance and low VOC properties, not to mention recyclability. These characteristics all fare...

NATIONAL REPORT—Throwing out food scraps and leftovers hardly seems controversial until you consider the stats: Some 870 million people, one-in-eight on Earth, go to bed hungry every night, notes the World Food Programme. Shortly after taking his post, Pope Francis took this issue to heart and to the public to mark the U.N.’s 2013 World Environment Day, noting “throwing away food is like stealing from the table of the poor and hungry.” The Pope’s remarks are made all the more poignant by a U.S. Department of Agriculture report estimating that 31 percent, or 133 billion pounds, of food available for...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced an initial three-year commitment with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reduce its impact on the environment. As Hilton’s signature environmental partner, WWF will work with the company to evolve its global business practices. The collaboration also will further WWF’s mission to protect and conserve the Earth’s life-supporting resources by making the hospitality industry more sustainable.Hilton Worldwide properties around the world already contribute to the company’s waste reduction and water conservation targets through thousands of on-property projects. The collaboration with WWF builds on existing efforts in these areas and leverages the company’s initial work on sustainable...

PHOENIX—After years spent working in the automotive and aerospace industries, Ray DelMuro quit his job and set out to combine his passions for engineering and art. Now, DelMuro and his business Refresh Glass, which creates products from recycled wine bottles, is getting national attention from Deluxe Corp. and its Small Business Revolution documentary project. The Small Business Revolution, which also features “Shark Tank” star Robert Herjavec, is a yearlong campaign that celebrates the vibrancy, variety and community impact of small businesses all across the country. Its latest story is a photo essay profiling Refresh Glass, one of 100 profiles...