LONDON—Winnow, a market-leader in AI-powered food waste management, announced an exclusive partnership with zero-waste chef and pioneer Vojtech Végh. As Winnow’s new Zero Waste Culinary Advisor, Vojtech brings his expertise in helping chefs to reimagine food waste. The focus of the partnership will be on reducing trimmings waste—an often-overlooked opportunity in commercial kitchens. “I’m thrilled to join Winnow as their new Zero Waste Culinary Advisor,” said Vojtech. “I’ve spent my career reimagining what’s possible with wasted ingredients. Winnow’s data shines a critical light on what ends up in the bin, and I see enormous potential in what we can achieve...

NATIONAL REPORT—If you knew the history of the leather that you buy, would you still buy it? While there are degrees of severity, depending on the supplier, the leather that you specify for furniture, headboards or other items often has a dirty past—from the breeding of the animal (most likely a cow) to the processing of the leather from that animal. Factors to consider when buying leather range from its geographical source—China, the largest leather producing country, or maybe Brazil, where cattle ranching for beef and leather production is the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon—to its biodegradability. There...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have detected microplastics in human brains at much higher concentrations than in other organs—and the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased 50 percent over just the past eight years. Microplastics—tiny bits of degraded polymers that are ubiquitous in our air, water and soil—have lodged themselves throughout the human body, including the liver, kidney, placenta and testes, over the past half century. In a new study published in Nature Medicine, a team led by toxicologist Matthew Campen, PhD, Distinguished and Regents’ Professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy, reported that plastic...

Last month I had the opportunity to visit the Orlando, Fla. headquarters of Clean the World. It was great to meet with founder and CEO Shawn Seipler and his team again. My first article about Clean the World appeared on Green Lodging News on June 12, 2009. In that article, entitled, “Unused Soap & Shampoo Problem Hits Salesman ‘Like a Hurricane,’ I explain the origin of the nonprofit that repurposes partially used soap bars and amenities, and that does so much more to help those in need. If you are one of the few unfamiliar with the work of Clean...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—On America Recycles Day (ARD), the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) applauded the efforts of bottled water drinkers to “recycle right,” as new research shows that PET bottled water containers are the most common drink container found in curbside recycling bins. The association encourages all consumers to remember the many benefits of always recycling any recyclable packaging. Recycling reduces the amount of material headed for landfills, and it also drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions. New data from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) shows bottled water containers make up 53 percent of all PET plastic bottles in...

NATIONAL REPORT—Renovating the landscaping and operations of a lodge property requires a thoughtful approach that balances functionality, aesthetic appeal, and longevity. Lodge owners and lodging professionals hold the keys to designing effective outdoor spaces that align with eco-friendly practices, enhance guest experiences, and reduce operational costs. Explore this guide and consider these five low-impact tools for simplifying lodge lawn renovation. 1. Compost Tumblers: Efficient Waste Management Compost tumblers are essential for turning organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. Enclosed systems accelerate the decomposition process, allowing you to recycle garden waste such as leaves, grass clippings,...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Since its inception in 2009, Clean the World’s impact has been staggering with 18 million pounds of soap and 10 million pounds of plastic collected from its more than 8,000 hospitality partners worldwide. A total of 28.6 million pounds of waste has been diverted from landfills and 88.5 million bars of reprocessed soap have been distributed to those in need. With the assistance of its hospitality partners, soap bars and amenity bottles are collected for processing in one of Clean the World’s five global locations. This year alone, 200,000 new hotel rooms will be added to the mix of...

NATIONAL REPORT—Green Key Global, one of the leading sustainable certification programs for hotels in North America, has announced a strengthened collaboration with BetterTable, a pioneer in hotel food and beverage sustainability. This collaboration is designed to help hotels significantly reduce food waste and carbon emissions while boosting profitability. In the hospitality industry, food waste represents 7 percent of total food revenues, with a staggering 66 percent deemed avoidable. Food related operations also contribute approximately, 20 percent of a hotel’s carbon footprint. The collaboration marks a major milestone as BetterTable.ca transitions to BetterTable (now available at BetterTable.com) broadening its reach across North America....

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The recently unveiled white paper “Decarbonizing Hotel Food Systems” provides a roadmap for the global hospitality industry to cut food-related emissions by 30 percent by 2030, potentially reducing up to 70 million tons of CO2 annually. The paper was produced by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and Systemiq. It underscores that hotels, representing 1 percent of all food production emissions and generating 3 percent of global food waste, can significantly influence the global food system by optimizing energy use and leveraging their procurement power. The white paper presents innovative solutions, such...

SAN FRANCISCO—Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc., a leading sustainable consumer products company, Certified B Corporation, and Public Benefit Corporation announced the launch of a new partnership pilot with hotel management company Crescent Hotels & Resorts. The two brands are working together to develop a Beyond Plastic Stay at a number of properties across the U.S., meeting the needs of eco-conscious travelers who are looking to reduce the environmental impact of their business and personal travel. The average American is increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their actions and the general state of pollution, especially as it relates to plastic: 85 percent of...