HARRISBURG, PA.—Hersha Hotels and Resorts (Hersha Hospitality Trust) has released its 2019 Hersha EarthView Sustainability Report. The 35-page report summarizes Hersha’s 2019 impact and the strides it has made in its environmental, social, and governance efforts towards a more sustainable, connected, and inclusive world. For those of you not familiar with Hersha, a Real Estate Investment Trust, the company owns and operates 48 upscale, luxury and lifestyle hotels in urban gateway markets and coastal destinations. Hersha’s EarthView program has existed since 2010. According to Hersha, $100 million in portfolio value has been attributed to EarthView as of 2019. EarthView has...

Hoteliers and their partners shape the vision of their hotels—the interiors, the food and beverage spaces, the theme and the list goes on. Their mission focuses on creating a unique and thoughtful destination that provides guests with personalized experiences no matter where in the world the property is located. With many hoteliers hopping on the green movement bandwagon over the past five to 10 years, the choices hoteliers and interior designers make when they select products have been shifting—big hotel brands are actively seeking a greener approach in every aspect of their properties. One easy eco-conscious decision hoteliers and designers...

SWEDEN—Industrialization of the disruptive Dry Molded Fiber technology is taking off as PulPac reveals its very first pilot line. To speed up the replacement of single-use plastics globally, the company licenses the technology to manufacturers and brands setting up their own production. The pilot line is a sequential step towards the goal to help licensees produce billions of completely plastic-free and degradable fiber products within a few years. “We have invented the first industrial method that can convert cellulose fibers into packaging that is price competitive enough to replace single-use plastics at scale. And it is possible to utilize all...

BOULDER, COLO.—Eco-Products announced its award-winning new line of molded fiber plates and containers—once in limited release—is now available to all customers nationwide. The groundbreaking new line—called Vanguard—is made from sugarcane and uses propriety compounds to achieve grease resistance without the use of conventional chemistry, known as PFAS. “Vanguard demonstrates our deep commitment to providing new choices for those seeking grease-resistant packaging,” said Sarah Martinez, Senior Marketing Director for Eco-Products. “Our goal is to stay at the cutting edge of innovation, and the Vanguard line keeps us right there. It's another outstanding option for our customers.” The Vanguard line meets the new requirements...

MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—Vero Water, a leading provider of luxury still and sparkling water to the hospitality industry, announced the introduction of VERO+4 featuring Touchless Technology to meet the heightened sanitation and safety requirements for HORECA establishments as a result of COVID-19. The new VERO+4 with Touchless Technology includes all the industry-leading features of the original Vero+4, such as the proprietary VERO+ Five-Stage filtration process that consistently delivers Vero’s signature taste, but with the added benefit of touchless filling. The Vero+4 with Touchless Technology includes the following features ideal for high-volume venues: Touchless Filling Technology. Simply place a bottle on...

SINGAPORE—Vulnerable members in communities across 11 cities in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka will soon have greater access to reusable face masks with the regional Linens For Life Face Masks (L4LFM) partnership between Shangri-La Group and Diversey, a leading global hygiene solutions provider. As part of the L4LFM program, the 12,500kg of used linen donated by 20 Shangri-La hotels will be repurposed into reusable fabric face masks by local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Colombo, Hambantota, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Surabaya, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok and Yangon. In some cities such as Yangon, Manila, Johor Bahru, Jakarta, Surabaya and Bangkok,...

On average, nearly 70 million tons of food is wasted each year in the United States. With the novel coronavirus COVID-19 effectively turning the world upside down, this number promises to increase. Among those expected to experience an increase in food waste generated on-site is the hospitality industry. As short-term lodging sites and hotels adjust their practices and occupancy levels, food is discarded at a higher rate due to a lack of sales or guests. Hotels have typically been at the forefront of the food waste challenge in the hospitality industry. Overnight guests are known for adding to the amount...

LONDON—A pasta straw company, Stroodles, has launched to provide an environmentally friendly solution to the single-use plastic crisis and rise of greenwashing from the paper straw industry. In comparison to soggy paper and plastic straws, Stroodles are an improvement as they provide greater durability, are flavourless, vegan, 100 percent biodegradable and are edible raw or cooked after use. A core principle for Stroodles is their “drink-easy” ethos, meaning drinkers don’t have to change behaviour or compromise on drinking experience to do good for the environment. Speaking about the inception of his pasta straws, Chief Stroodle and Founder, Maxim Gelmann, says: “While we’re...

Here is a challenge for all of you: Given the current pandemic, still try your hardest to do things in a sustainable manner—focusing on worker and guest safety, energy and water conservation, waste reduction, and enhancing, not worsening indoor air quality. With each step you take to stop COVID-19, ask yourself if you are helping or hindering environmental protection. I know it will not be an easy thing to do, or even accomplishable in some cases, given the severity of the virus. This past week I heard from Allied Feather + Down. The maker of bedding is now manufacturing reusable...

RIVIERA BEACH, SINGER ISLAND, FLA.—Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa has earned Green Key Global’s ultimate honor: a 4 Green Keys rating. It is the first hotel in Palm Beach County to achieve the designation, which is reserved for hotels that show national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide-ranging policies and practices. Coupled with Marriott’s Commitment to Clean, spearheaded by the Marriott Cleanliness Council, the resort is committed to providing guests with a safe environment that aligns with expert protocols for working to defeat COVID-19. Green Key Global is a leading international environmental...