IRVING, TEXAS—Darling International Inc. and Griffin Industries LLC recently announced the launch of DAR PRO Solutions, A Darling/Griffin Brand. DAR PRO Solutions was an exhibitor at the recent National Restaurant Association Show offering premium recycling services to the food service and restaurant industries in all 50 states, repurposing inedible meat and cooking oil by-products into globally-marketed animal feed nutrients, renewable fuels, and ingredients used in a diverse range of commercial and industrial applications.In addition to announcing a new brand, DAR PRO Solutions is also introducing the BOSS Fresh Oil Management Solution—a fresh and used cooking oil management solution. This...

CHICAGO—Carpet tile manufacturer Interface introduces Net Effect, inspired both by the ocean’s life-giving power and its plight—marine life and habitats that are endangered by discarded fishing nets, acidification, over-fishing, pollution and climate change. Net Effect debuted at NeoCon this week in Interface’s Chicago Merchandise Mart showroom, and will roll out globally throughout 2013. Manufacturing will take place locally in Interface’s North American, European, and Asia-Pacific facilities. This uniform global production allows for specification on six continents.The collection was born of Net-Works, an innovative global business and conservation association between Interface and the conservation charity the Zoological Society of London...

SYOSSET, N.Y.—Emerald Brand, a leader in environmentally friendly facility, break room and disposable products for hotels and offices, and WNW Hospitality announced that they are proactively working together to reduce the environmental impact of traveling, by partnering to supply tissue and paper products made from rapidly renewable materials for WNW’s Woodbury, N.Y.; Fort Lee, N.J.; and Boston hotels. In an effort to proactively make a positive impact on the environment and set an example for other companies to follow, WNW is working with Emerald Brand to use alternative products in their Best Western Inns.“We are so proud to partner...

PORTLAND, ORE.—LeanPath Inc., creators of the patented LeanPath Food Waste Prevention System, recently unveiled their next-generation, cloud-based solution. LeanPath Online is a complete system to measure food waste, analyze data and make changes to prevent recurring waste in the future. LeanPath focuses on pre-consumer food waste prevention, understanding that food service operations throw away from four to 10 percent of food purchases prior to serving them to consumers. The system also includes features to track and minimize post-consumer food waste.The next generation of the LeanPath Tracker, an automated food waste collection terminal, functions as the foundation for the new...

A guest first arrives at your property. When they do, those first few moments will likely be what they remember and set the tone for their entire stay and experience. So how do you imprint the green behaviors that you want your guests to have, or convey the “green facility” features that you want to convey? If you miss that window and your guest harbors negative perceptions of your facility, you will likely spend their entire stay trying to overcome that. The moment your guests arrive is an incredibly busy moment for them. They are likely tired from their trip....

CINCINNATI—Cintas announced that it diverted more than 17 million 16.9-ounce plastic bottles from landfills in 2012 through the production of its EcoGeneration line. This represents a 13 percent increase over the company’s 2011 totals. Cintas also reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water and solid waste production, energy use and fuel emissions through its document management and fire protection services.“Our increased plastic bottle recycling is made possible because of our customers’ dedication to environmental stewardship,” said Melanie Boyle, sustainability manager, Cintas. “We are continually working to identify new ways to achieve sustainability savings across our divisions and share these ideas with...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—On Wednesday, May 29, 2013, California’s State Senate approved SB 254 (Hancock/Correa) by a 32-5 bipartisan vote. SB 254 creates a used mattress recycling program that will reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, create jobs, and minimize costs to both government and consumers.International Sleep Products Assn. president, Ryan Trainer commented, “We are very pleased the California State Senate recognizes that SB 254 will improve used mattress recycling in the state in a practical and efficient manner. Since its inception, all stakeholders have been diligently working to craft sound...

CAMBRIDGE, OHIO—On a day very soon Ohio State Park Lodges will be buying most of the food served in its restaurants from sustainable sources, generating zero hazardous waste and significantly decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. At least that is the goal for five Ohio State Park Lodges operated by concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts. “Our sustainability practices permeate every aspect of our operations—rooms, restaurants, gift shops, swimming pools, marinas—you name it, and as new technologies and products become available, we take a fresh look at what we are doing to see if we can improve upon it,” said Greg Woodland, regional...

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—Ellerman House has launched an initiative to become Cape Town’s most eco-friendly boutique hotel. Through newly implemented green projects such as solar panels, LED light bulbs, heat pumps, earthworm farms and recycling systems, the property aims to be Cape Town’s leader in eco-friendly luxury hospitality by September 2013.In order to measure the carbon footprint for the entire property, including the main house, villas, spa, art gallery and all administrative housing and offices, Ellerman House hired an energy efficiency company, BrightBlack, as a consultant and to administer extensive energy testing. The staff at Ellerman House began taking...

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—Mario and Annemarie Delicio of Dematech are the owners behind Hotel Verde. Dedicated and passionate about sustainability, they have transformed what was initially just a sensible business proposition into a showcase for some of the most advanced environmentally conscious technological installations as well as construction and operation practices in the world.“We have a responsibility as a company, as an employer and as a visitor on this planet to live as sustainably as possible,” says Mario Delicio. “This is the only way we can survive long-term and hand over to our children in a responsible manner.”Construction on...