Utilizing breakthroughs in design and technology, hotel owners and designers around the world are establishing new benchmarks for what it means to be a “dark” green hotel—one that has gone far beyond investing in easy low-hanging fruit. As published previously on Green Lodging News, Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton just opened within the last two weeks in Connecticut. It is believed to be the first net-zero hotel in the United States. It will utilize renewable solar power sources on site to generate the electricity needed for its common areas, restaurant, laundry, meeting rooms and 165 guestrooms and...

BAYONNE, N.J.—Eastern Tabletop announced its new exclusive U.S. partnership with EcoBurner. Eastern Tabletop began distribution of EcoBurner and EcoServe buffet lines on May 19. This partnership with EcoBurner comes from alignment in both companies’ missions. EcoBurner’s mission is “To improve the quality of buffet services around the world and reduce buffets’ impact on the environment”. Eastern Tabletop boasts that its products “make their mark in the tableware industry with innovation, fine quality, personal service and exceptional value.” This partnership will elevate the green initiatives at Eastern Tabletop and complement its ZOZZ Modular Flat Pack and Hub Buffet System. EcoBurner is in...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across over 95 countries, released its 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report highlighting its dedication to operating in a socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible way. These commitments are underscored by recent accolades, including recognition by DiversityInc, which highlighted Wyndham as a company with leading diversity practices for 2022, and Forbes as one of The Best Employers for Diversity 2022. “The significance of our company’s vision—to be the world’s leading hotel company by delivering the best value to owners and guests—is more important than ever....

BANGKOK—With booming demand for adventurous and eco-conscious travel, northern Norway is one of the last frontiers for a self-sustainable, off-grid destination. The 94-room Six Senses Svart combines a futuristic design and technological innovation with earthy, organic materials that use the least embedded energy. The name Svart, which means black and blue in old Norse, is a reference to the natural heritage of the ancient Svartisen glacier, which lies just within the Arctic Circle, where summer days last forever and winter nights are lit by the breathtaking Northern Lights. To minimize the on-site impact, Six Senses Svart is poised on...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels—a holistic hospitality company founded on the values of wellness, social good and sustainability—announced it has partnered with EarthCheck, a leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, to provide scientific benchmarking and certification of its company-wide regenerative practices. EarthCheck helps businesses, communities, and governments to evaluate their environmental footprint, improve sustainability and enhance business performance. SCP Hotels’ certification is done in two phases including Benchmarking—the quantitative evaluation of a property’s environmental and social performance, and then Certification—the verification of those standards by an approved independent third party EarthCheck Auditor. While the full...

Finding solutions to single-use plastic is the focus of a lot of for-profit and nonprofit companies these days. I mentioned Clean the World’s efforts in a recent article. This past week I posted an article on LOLIWARE and its unique approach to plastic replacement. This coming week I will be chatting with a company that converts post-industrial and post-consumer plastic waste into something called STORM BOARD—a replacement for plywood or other wood fiber boards in applications where water resistance and durability are critical. Many of my advertisers—and readers—are also finding their own ways to reduce plastic consumption. The more...

SAN FRANCISCO—A plastic alternative made from seaweed is now a reality thanks to the work of LOLIWARE and its founder and CEO Chelsea Briganti. On Earth Day, April 22, the company announced that it has developed the first seaweed pellet—the SEA Tech Pellet—created from natural biomaterials to replace plastic at scale. Already, with the help of American manufacturer Sinclair and Rush, LOLIWARE has produce a seaweed straw that has captured the interest of the hotel industry’s leading chains. The company has also produced disposable cutlery and single use packaging products. From a cost standpoint, the straws are competitive with other leading...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—If we don’t act now, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans. Humanity produced an estimated 9.2 billion tons of plastics between 1950 and 2017. Of this, approximately 7 billion tons are now waste, either deposited in landfills or accumulating in terrestrial and aquatic environments and ecosystems. To compound the problem, more than 98 percent of plastic is made from fossil fuels and plastic production is expected to double by 2050. Emissions from plastic alone will take up between 10 and 13 percent of the world’s remaining carbon budget to meet a 1.5-degree Celsius target under the Paris Agreement. In our...

UNITED KINGDOM—Global hotel group YOTEL and beauty brand Urban Jungle have announced a world exclusive partnership. YOTELs around the globe will become the first hotels in the world to stock Urban Jungle’s innovative amenities. Australian-born Urban Jungle is already disrupting the beauty industry with attainable and easy-to-use products and will now be available for all hotel guests staying in YOTELs from Miami to Manchester, Singapore to San Francisco and many more. Urban Jungle is set to be stocked in every YOTEL, YOTELAIR and YOTELPAD by the end of the year. Cleverly created to be cruelty-free and vegan, Urban Jungle is a...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced the publication of its 2021 Social Impact and Sustainability Report and significantly refreshed website. The report and website tell the story of the company’s continuing and steadfast commitment to its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles of embracing humanity and protecting the planet. The report and website (mgmresorts.com/ESG) also highlight the company's strategies, programs and performance focused on creating a more sustainable future and making a positive impact on the lives of employees, guests and communities. “Last year was a time of economic change and disruption, but with it came heightened reflection, ultimately resulting in...