CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc. announced that it has become the first tile manufacturer in the United States to achieve certification of its waste recycling programs through Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent, third-party certifier of recycled claims. Crossville has joined with TOTO, the world’s largest manufacturer of sustainable, luxury plumbing products, to recycle that company’s pre-consumer fired sanitary ware. This material from TOTO has been recently certified by SCS as part of the EcoCycle Fired Waste Process, marking the latest development in Crossville’s EcoCycle Recycling Processes program. SCS has verified that through these recycling processes, Crossville annually recycles approximately 12 million...

SAN DIEGO—Cali Bamboo, a manufacturer of green building materials for residential and commercial projects made primarily from bamboo, launched its BamDeck Composite Bamboo Decking made from 100 percent recycled materials. With durability characteristics twice the density and strength of other decks, it’s the only decking product made from 30 percent recycled bamboo fibers and 70 percent recycled plastics. “We’re really excited about the launch of BamDeck Composite,” said Jeff Goldberg, CEO of Cali Bamboo. “Not only is it the ultimate green choice in outdoor decking, but it’s incredibly easy to install using the hidden fastening system. Another factor that residential...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Marietta Corp., a leading hotel amenities provider to the hospitality industry worldwide, has partnered with Clean the World Global LLC to help recycle hotel soaps and bottled amenities and stop the spread of preventable diseases worldwide. The partnership broadens Marietta’s corporate social responsibility initiatives among its extensive list of hotel partners in North America and extends its eco-friendly portfolio of amenity services, which already include “green” product offerings, such as Aveda, Naturals, PAYA Organics, ProTerra, Sonoma Soap Co., Earth’s Accents, Dispensers and Eco Gallons. Orlando, Fla.-based Clean the World is the largest global recycler of hotel amenities and offers sustainable,...

SNOWMASS, COLO.—Viceroy Snowmass, which opened to rave reviews in late 2009, announced that it has been awarded LEED Gold certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Viceroy Snowmass is the first hotel in Aspen/Snowmass to be awarded LEED Gold as well as the first luxury hotel in Colorado to receive this prestigious designation. By incorporating sustainable design and construction, innovative operational practices, and a culture of environmental stewardship, Viceroy Snowmass aims to...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Neenah Paper has launched an enhanced version of its Neenah Eco-Calculator featuring greater customization capabilities. The Neenah Eco-Calculator instantly calculates the environmental savings achieved by choosing one of Neenah’s large selection of recycled papers made with post-consumer fiber papers. Highlights of the new Eco-Calculator include allowing the user to create a personalized, customizable and printable report and recording each project for future reference. Additional new features include:  • Personalized Environmental Savings Report. Each calculation is saved to a customized report that includes the client/customer’s name, project name and a detailed listing of the Neenah Paper selections including brand chosen;...

VERNON, ALA.—Marathon Equipment Co. and BioHitech America announced a strategic alliance to promote organic waste processing products worldwide. Industry experts estimate that more than 40 percent of the food produced in the United States—more than $50 billion—is thrown into the garbage every year. This equates to more than 32 million tons of food waste, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates costs more than $1 billion annually in disposal costs. In its commitment to help customers reduce the costs associated with managing solid waste, Marathon, an industry leader in compaction and recycling equipment, has sought the expertise of Allendale, N.J.-based...

DALTON, GA.—California consumer support is needed to ensure the success of a new, ground-breaking Carpet Product Stewardship Law that will increase the recycling of carpet into valuable new products, preserve landfill space, reduce dependency on fossil fuels and create green jobs in California communities. Signed into law on September 30, 2010, AB 2398 is the first product stewardship law in the country to specifically address carpet. Beginning July 1, a $.05 per square yard stewardship assessment will be added to the sale of all carpet sold or shipped into California. The assessment will appear as a separate, after-tax line item...

MORROW, GA.—TOTO announced that it has expanded its sustainability initiatives at its manufacturing facility in Morrow, Ga. The company has formed a cross-industrial strategic partnership with Crossville, Inc., manufacturers of premium Porcelain Stone tile, which has developed proprietary systems for processing pre-consumer sanitary ware, fired tile, and filtrate waste back to powder that is used in the manufacture of new tile. Crossville will introduce its new EcoCycle Recycling Processes at NEOCON, where both companies will display in Chicago, June 13 to 15, 2011. “There’s no ‘silver bullet’ when it comes to reducing a facility’s carbon footprint,” said Bill Strang, senior...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has increased the recycled content in Eco Solution Q, the company’s premium branded Cradle to Cradle Silver certified carpet fiber, to 45 percent. Eco Solution Q now contains 20 percent pre-consumer recycled content and 25 percent post-consumer recycled content sourced from caprolactam (the monomer or ‘building block’ of Nylon 6) recovered through Shaw’s Evergreen Nylon 6 Recycling facility in Augusta, Ga. The recycled content is based on allocated nylon fiber from Shaw’s total nylon fiber production and determined as a percent of total Eco Solution Q nylon output; based on this method, recycled content...

RICHMOND, CALIF.—Excellent Packaging & Supply, a wholesale distributor of sustainable, biodegradable, and nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications, has added the complete range of Bridge-Gate compostable serving ware and take-out packaging made from 100 percent renewable resources to its extensive selection of products available through its BioMass Packaging division. Excellent Packaging now carries Bridge-Gate plates, bowls, clamshells and hinged containers, trays, platters and lids—all of which are made entirely from renewable, organic, GMO-free agricultural wheat fibers that are a natural by-product of crop harvests and certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). “Consumers and foodservice businesses are looking for...