ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International, a leading provider of sustainable business solutions, announced that it has earned accreditation from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to test plastic materials and products for compostability. “Accredited testing services such as NSF’s evaluate and authenticate green claims, including compostability, helping to cultivate trust and eliminate greenwashing in the marketplace,” said Tom Bruursema, general manager of NSF International’s Engineering and Research Services, which offer research and development testing, validation of product claims, and certification to several protocols. NSF International’s Sustainable Services group verifies environmental claims for consumer products, which includes certification for green chemicals, sustainable furnishing and...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—The Refinishing Touch, a specialist in providing environmentally safe and sustainable on-site furniture refinishing, upholstery and armoire modifications to public and private organizations, has launched a teaming agreement with Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (also known by its trade name UNICOR), a government corporation which provides job skills training to inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to recycle televisions as part of its e-waste program. The Refinishing Touch will work with UNICOR to recycle electronics safely and responsibly as part of its TV recycling program, designed to complement its armoire conversion services and reduce e-waste. According to a...

BARRIE, ONT.—Busch Systems has launched its newest line of recycling bins. The Wave Series features two new recycling containers designed for high traffic areas. The Wave Solo & Duo are targeted for outdoor areas but are easy to clean and ideal for indoor applications as well. Each container manufactured by the company is 100 percent recyclable, made in North America and contains a minimum of 35 percent recycled content. The Wave Solo & Duo are the next generation of Busch recycling containers. The Wave Solo is designed for single-stream collection and the Wave Duo is designed for multi-stream collection. The Wave...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Grant & Sons Co., the Personal Care Division of Erwyn Products, as a Green Product & Service Directory sponsor. The division of Erwyn Products recently introduced My Earth, an amenity line featuring 100 percent compostable bottles that contain no petrochemicals. The soaps and accessories are packaged in recycled cardboard and printed with vegetable-based inks. Specific items that are part of the My Earth line include: shower cap, dental kit, convenience kit, nourishing shampoo, hydrating conditioner, cleansing body wash, moisturizing lotion, facial soap, moisturizing bar, and bath soap. For...

DALLAS—Two proven ecopreneurs and ecological advocates have launched CompostMania.com, a comprehensive online destination for all things composting, including state-of-the-art products and educational resources for beginners to seasoned composters. “CompostMania.com provides composting products for the most advanced gardener to families who want to start teaching their children about the importance of being good stewards of the environment,” said CompostMania.com founder and CEO Robert Olivier. “Our goal at CompostMania.com is to encourage consumers to reconnect with their local ecosystem through composting and organic gardening, which will promote the Earth’s natural lifecycle.” CompostMania.com offers composting, gardening and water harvesting products. Specialty indoor...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has launched Eco Impacts, an environmental product label for the company’s commercially branded carpet tile and broadloom products. Detailing each product’s ingredient materials, recyclability, environmental certifications and environmental impact, the Eco Impacts label is available through the Patcraft and Shaw Contract Group websites as part of each brand’s product specifications. “In the same way a food label provides consumers with at-a-glance nutrition information to help them make informed purchase decisions, the Eco Impacts label provides our customers with details about the specific environmental attributes of each of our products—all in one place,” said...

CAMAS, WASH.—Environmental issues are a top priority for many consumers. These days, it’s hard to watch TV without hearing about how you can help the environment by “going green.” One increasingly popular way of contributing to the green movement is to install compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), a fluorescent bulb designed to emit as much light as traditional light bulbs while using less energy. CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer. CFLs also produce about 75 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut cooling...

MADISON, WIS—On the one-year anniversary of the company’s Project Green Wolf, Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, continues to celebrate its distinction as the first and only national hotel chain to have all properties achieve the Green Seal certification—Silver for the lodging portion of its 10 Great Wolf Lodge brand resorts and its Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in the United States. Additionally, Great Wolf Lodge—Niagara Falls received a four leaf Green Leaf Eco-Rating from the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program in Canada. In 2007, Great Wolf Resorts started reducing energy and water...

LOS ANGELES—The Green Garmento marked the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with a new partnership with Green Wish. Green Wish is a grassroots, nonprofit charitable organization focused on helping local green organizations fund projects for their communities through small donations at local retailers and online in “pay what you can” denominations. Currently Green Wish, whose board of directors includes actress Sharon Lawrence, actor and noted environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. and his wife Rachelle, funds organizations such as Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots (www.rootsandshoots.org), Organic Farming Research Foundation (www.ofrf.org), Friends of the Los Angeles River (www.folar.org), Santa Monica Baykeeper (www.smbaykeeper.org)...

ATLANTA—Simmons Hospitality Bedding, a division of Simmons Contract Sales LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simmons Bedding Company, is making public its findings from a November 2007 survey aimed at gauging the interest of hotel guests in eco-oriented hotel elements and programs. The survey, which Simmons originally conducted for internal research purposes only, involved more than 300 respondents who are members of different hotels’ frequent guest programs. The results show that hotel environmental responsibility gained traction among guests, with 93 percent of respondents aware of hotel programs geared toward conserving water or energy. Simmons’ research also illustrates how hotel eco-elements potentially...