At last month’s HD Expo in Las Vegas, there were many companies that caught my attention. One was Vancouver, B.C.-based ChopValue. The company is diverting millions of wooden chopsticks from landfills by converting them into high-performance composite material. The material is manufactured using proprietary technology that compresses recycled bamboo chopsticks along with a water-based resin, making it harder than maple, stronger than oak, and as durable as teak. Tables, wall décor, coasters, cutting boards, and many other items can be made with the material. The chopsticks are picked up from local businesses and converted to useable products in micro...

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA—Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of the Caribbean’s leading luxury all-inclusive resort brands Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, is bridging the gap between healthy oceans and its Caribbean communities through a series of ongoing environmental initiatives. In honor of World Oceans Day, for every booking made on June 8, a donation of $100 will be made on guests’ behalf to the Sandals Foundation, the not-for-profit organization established in 2009 to make positive change throughout the Caribbean. “In the Caribbean, a ‘home’ is not merely a house or a room. Home is in the sands, in the breeze, and...

LAS VEGAS—ChopValue-Las Vegas, a leading manufacturer of sustainable products utilizing the circular economy model, announced it has collected and recycled more than 7.5 million chopsticks from the Las Vegas area during its first eight months of operation. ChopValue-Las Vegas launched the first U.S. microfactory of its kind last summer, with a goal of giving single-use chopsticks a second life; diverting what was once “wooded waste,” into sustainable products and custom solutions for the home and office. All the while, keeping tons of waste out of the Las Vegas landfills. “Alongside our 100 Asian restaurant partners in Las Vegas, we are doing...

NATIONAL REPORT—Data analytics has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its ability to derive insights and value from data. This technique is now being applied to the environment to address some of the planet’s most pressing issues, as sustainability moves up in the agenda of many companies. In this article, we will explore the impact of data analytics on the environment and how it can be used to promote sustainability. What is Data Analytics? Data analytics refers to the process of examining and interpreting data to gain insights and make informed decisions. This can involve a variety of techniques,...

DORAVILLE, GA.—SSB Hospitality, LLC, a division of Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (SSB), announced the launch of Serta iComfortECO Hospitality, a new quilted hybrid mattress that features all the comfort, support and cooling that Serta is known for while incorporating more sustainable materials. “For decades, hotels have come to trust Serta to deliver industry-leading comfort and together, we are committed to introducing new innovations that provide brand-defining sleep experiences to guests,” said Brian Coughlin, Vice President and General Manager of SSB Hospitality. “Serta iComfortECO builds on Serta’s performance legacy in the hospitality market by marrying the latest in support and comfort...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The aim to reduce food waste and offer more low carbon foods in the hospitality industry is set to be a key focus for the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s (SHA) partnership with World Resources Institute (WRI). The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and WRI have a shared commitment to helping the hospitality industry reduce its food-related emissions by 25 percent by 2030. By shifting to low carbon foods and reducing food waste the industry can maximize its action on climate change and meet its targets for addressing the climate crisis. The partnership aims to engage employees and customers by bringing the latest science...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels International recently released its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. (See the recent press release.) The report highlights significant new steps that should cut utility costs, save time for franchisees, and increase the company’s ESG commitments. Among the steps highlighted in the release is the hiring of Megan Brumagim, Vice President, Sustainability for Choice Hotels. That hiring was announced in April 2022. Green Lodging News recently interviewed Brumagim about Choice’s ESG initiatives. Here are the results of that interview in Q&A format. GLN: Prior to your appointment, nobody was leading the ESG charge at Choice. (Unless...

STRATHAM, N.H.—BioGreen360, a leading innovator in distributed food waste management solutions, announced it has entered into a national partnership with Sage Hospitality Group to develop a closed-loop program to divert 100 percent of their hotels’ food waste from landfill with the residual material being integrated into an array of all-natural compost and fertilizer products. The companies have agreed to roll out the BioGreen360 circular solution to food waste in a phased approach across Sage Hospitality Group’s portfolio of hotels. The first phase of the collaboration includes program installations at five properties in key urban and resort markets across the U.S. After...

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) is leading the way to make New Orleans one of the most sustainable destinations in America. Just since March, the NOENMCC has served a 4,000-guest meal, free of garbage cans; served a gourmet lunch in a dumpster using leftover foods; and plated its largest banquet since the COVID-19 pandemic using over 10,000 pieces of China. “We have worked closely with our internal and external partners to create event experiences that reduce environmental impacts, emphasize sustainability, and promote social responsibility,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President. “These practices are vital to...

AHLA last conducted The Lodging Survey with STR in 2018. It provided valuable information on numerous trends in lodging, including ones falling under Sustainability. AHLA and STR no longer conduct that survey. A very valuable replacement to that survey is the 2022 Green Lodging Trends U.S. Market Report. It is based on U.S.-specific data gathered for the 2022 edition of the global Green Lodging Trends Report (GLTR). The newly available U.S. report from AHLA—representing its Responsible Stay program—is based on data from 17,000 U.S. hotels. There were two data collection methods: direct participation by responding to the GLTR survey on...