It was just two days before Earth Day that Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed his state’s Plastics Reduction Bill. It requires water bottle filling stations in new buildings and eliminates single-use plastics for personal care products in hotels. “In any construction subject to the requirements of this chapter in which a drinking fountain is required under the international building code as amended and adopted by the building code council, the rules adopted by the building code council must also require the provision of a bottle filling station, or a combined bottle filling station and drinking fountain for each drinking fountain...

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—Serge Ferrari Group, a leader in designing and manufacturing innovative composite fabrics, is showcasing a variety of performance textiles suitable for hospitality environments at HD Expo from May 2-4, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Soltis Loop Sunmate is the first-ever interior solar protection fabric made from 100 percent recycled materials from post-consumer waste. Since its creation in 1973, Serge Ferrari Group has established itself as a leader in the hospitality space, offering a variety of products available to its industry partners that provide comfort and style. In 2023, the team at Serge Ferrari...

BETHESDA, MD.—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s debut in the luxury safari segment. Sitting within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge is a sophisticated sanctuary from which to discover animals and breathtaking vistas in harmony. Exhilarating guided game drives offer guests the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September, the reserve is...

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINN.—Restaurant Technologies (RT) released its sustainability numbers from 2022, helping over 36,000 customers nationwide reach their ESG goals and create a cleaner, more livable planet. In 2022, RT recycled nearly 290 million pounds of used cooking oil, which eliminated 16 million plastic oil jugs, saved 7.4 million cubic feet of landfill space, and reduced about 67 million pounds of GHG CO2e emissions. In partnership with renewable energy organizations such as Chevron Renewable Energy Group, RT converts 100 percent of used cooking oil from its customers into renewable diesel or biodiesel. They exceeded the amount of waste oil recycled in 2021 by almost...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company with operations at several U.S. national parks, announced it is expanding deployment of the CIRQU Powered by PepsiCo recycling program, as well as other sustainability initiatives. Delaware North launched CIRQU in its lodging, retail and food and beverage operations at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia in 2022. This year, the company plans to deploy the program at select other national park operations. The CIRQU program provides retailers with giant “super sacks” for temporary storage of aluminum cans and recyclable plastic #1 PET bottles for pickup, so the...

KEHL, GERMANY—In contrast to other dispenser systems such as pumps, Smart Care+ guarantees no dripping, no back contamination, and no wear-out effect, thanks to a unique membrane now protected by the Safe Lock Seal. With this patented technology, clean dosing is assured, and the contents of the dispenser cannot be contaminated. The power of Smart Care+ is recognized by a renowned independent hygiene institute, the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Scientific analysis carried out by the institute found zero bacteria inside Smart Care+ dispensers. “At ADA, our pledge is to be surprising, sustainable, and safe,” says Gerd von Podewils, CMO...

SEATTLE—Luvia, creator of the world’s first plastic-free, all-glass countertop water filtration pitcher, announced a Kickstarter campaign to produce the first generation of its pitchers. Luvia’s countertop water filtration pitcher unites sustainable, heirloom-quality design with advanced filtering technology that removes contaminants and improves taste. The company aims to raise $20,000 to fund their first run of production which will begin shipping in late fall. “Over the past several years, consumers have become more aware of how harmful plastic is for our health and the environment,” said Jacob Shumaker, founder and CEO of Luvia. “The Luvia pitcher filters harmful substances from water...

NATIONAL REPORT—The hospitality industry accounts for much of the world’s food, water, and plastic waste. Hotels need a vast amount of energy and resources to run; on the flip side, the resources are also spent at a high rate. Hotels generate waste in all shapes and sizes as every hotel offers different services and facilities to their guests. Hotel kitchens generate food waste, and there are also large volumes of bathroom-related waste and various other kinds of trash that hotels deal with. The good news is that hotel waste can be recycled. All you need is a proper understanding of...

DOMINICA—One of the planet’s most outstanding examples of a modern, off-the-grid eco-luxury resort is Coulibri Ridge. It is in Dominica amid 285 acres. The 14-suite property is powered by sun and wind and is the result of more than 20 years of research, environmental testing, infrastructure building, and community engagement to ensure the highest degree of sustainability, respectful development, and community collaboration. Coulibri Ridge is the brainchild of Quebec-born entrepreneur Daniel Langlois. Langlois traveled the globe throughout his career in software technology, and the contrast between wealthy and poor communities in many places left him pondering why sustainable practices like...

HALLANDALE, FLA.—An international leader in the guest amenity industry, Groupe GM has relaunched its luxurious amenity line in partnership with Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle. Frédéric Malle is an iconic French perfume expert. He was born into a family of industrialists, artists, and perfumers. His grandfather, Serge Heftler-Louiche, founded Parfums Christian Dior before passing on his art direction to Frédéric’s mother. Malle himself now represents the third generation of perfume specialists in his family and has become a world authority on perfume making. History of the Line A true perfume lover, Frédéric Malle’s decision to found Editions de Parfums in 2000 was...