The idea for the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system was hatched almost 30 years ago in 1993. Today, there are more than 100,000 buildings participating in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) certification program. Approximately 1,000 of those buildings are lodgings located around the world. According to USGBC, “LEED certified buildings are proven to save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and create healthier places for people. They are a critical part of addressing the climate crisis, meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities.” The most recent version of LEED is LEED...

SINGAPORE—In an article published earlier this week on Green Lodging News, the introduction to Greenview’s just released 83-page Green Lodging Trends Report (GLTR) was summarized. In this article, Green Lodging News takes a deeper dive into the report, highlighting key results from this fourth GLTR. The GLTR is separated into 10 sections, with findings highlighted primarily in easy-to-read bullet-point format. The sections include Hotel Sustainability Basics, Management System, Community Impact, Health & Wellness, Responsible Consumption, Single-Use Plastic Elimination, Waste Management, Water Conservation, Energy Management, and Climate Action. The following are observations from each of the 10 sections, followed by highlights from...

HALLANDALE, FLA.—Groupe GM, a leading international player in the guest amenity sector, has announced the relaunch of its Pascal Morabito Contemporary hotel line. Redesigned to better reflect Groupe GM’s sustainability goals, this specially tailored product range will be available worldwide thanks to Groupe GM’s extensive distribution network. Pascal Morabito has been an artistic visionary for almost 50 years, creating avant-garde jewelry and sculptures since 1970. He is known for creating masterpieces—and his hotel lines are no exception. In 2000, Pascal Morabito launched his first hotel line with Groupe GM, marking an entirely new venture for him. When designing his collections, Pascal Morabito wanted to...

When thinking about resorts leading in sustainability, you don’t often think about RV resorts but there are some with very green stories to tell—the Golden Village Palms RV Resort in the San Jacinta Valley in California, for example. The property has been certified as the only RV resort within the California Green Business Network. Golden Village Palms Green Practices The use of energy efficient lighting. The use of certified non-toxic laundry, cleaning and building maintenance products in non-aerosol containers to reduce pollution. The donation of previously used furniture, supplies and materials to local nonprofit organizations for waste diversion. The placement...

HORSHAM, PENN.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, won a 2022 ISSA Innovation Award for its Papernet HyTech Seas dispensers. The dispensers are made using recovered ocean plastic, primarily from fishing lines, and Sofidel earned an Environment & Sustainability Award for its dedication to environmental innovation. “This award demonstrates our commitment to sustainability,” said Giorgia Giove, Marketing Manager at Sofidel America. “We are dedicated to developing products that help protect our planet now and into the future.” Sofidel’s Papernet HyTech Seas dispensers are made by taking recovered ocean plastic and turning it into an injectable material....

RICHMOND, B.C.—Ocean Legacy, a Canadian nonprofit organization that develops and implements worldwide plastic pollution programs, with the goal to end ocean plastic pollution, announced that they have produced the first commercially available plastic pellet in North America, called Legacy Plastic. Legacy Plastic is made from high-grade 100 percent post-consumer processed recycled plastic recovered during ocean, shoreline, and marine equipment cleanups. With the introduction of Legacy Plastic, companies can use recycled marine plastics in their products, continuing to close the loop on plastic management systems. “We soft launched Legacy Plastic in 2021 and we are thrilled with the amount of interest...

BANGKOK—Six Senses has always believed in taking guests beyond destinations into new experiences and cultures, so they feel the purpose behind their travels. But the past few years have provoked a renewed appreciation that exploration and escape go hand in hand with thinking about the impact this has on the environment and local communities. As a leading sustainability pioneer within the hospitality industry, Six Senses has set an audacious goal towards plastic freedom and committed to weaving long-term positive change into the fabric of every property. Following its pledge as a founding signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative in 2019,...

Reducing our industry’s environmental impact takes teamwork and making best practices easily available so that those who are not as far along the green path can copy and improve upon what has been done. That is the message behind the announcement this past week by AHLA to launch Responsible Stay, an industry-wide commitment to make meetings, events, and guest experiences in America’s hotels more environmentally and socially responsible. (See article on Green Lodging News.) The Responsible Stay website details the program’s principles and areas of focus, provides examples of what more than 20 companies are doing, features company success snapshots,...

As January 1, 2023, approaches, I still see confusion in handling the transition from single-use to cartridge and bulk-size dispensing amenity systems. My dos and don’ts primarily address independent lodging establishments such as hotels, motels, and resorts. The selection and investment in compliant replaceable and refillable pump dispenser solutions is a decision for operations, property, general managers, and housekeeping. Don’t: Make your final system decision based on hearsay or lodging speculation. Do: Base your transition on criteria detailed in the actual legal documents. The California Assembly Bill No. 1162 states that commencing January 1, 2023, for lodging establishments with more than 50...

ATLANTA—Georgia-Pacific has been recognized with an Innovation in Sustainability award for Juno Technology. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced its Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 Sustainability Award winners, recognizing exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry. “This is the first year we are presenting awards in alignment with our new Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 sustainability goals and statement of principles on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “It is exciting to see examples of these goals in action.” Juno Technology is Georgia-Pacific’s breakthrough solution to waste...