ORLANDO, FLA.—Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. has fulfilled its commitment to eliminate single-use straws from its 34 branded properties as part of its continued effort to reduce its overall environmental footprint. According to the EPA’s Trash-Free Waters Program, one-third to two-thirds of debris found on beaches comes from single-use, disposable plastic packaging from food and beverage-related goods (plastic cups, straws, bottles and utensils). Plastic straws are number five on the top 10 items found during beach cleanups. Of all trash, plastic trash has the greatest potential to harm the environment, wildlife and humans. “As we expand our corporate social responsibility program, HGV...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL.—It’s official: VITO Fryfilter has a clearly structured quality management, certified by the ISO 9001 standard. This means that the processes are systematically organized and therefore obviously understandable for every employee. Continuous improvement is the basis for a sustainable company development. When consequently implementing this principle, the company can increase its potential of overall performance. Therefore, the quality of service, products and projects significantly improves—customers profit from a faster processing and high standard manufacturing. In addition, all the necessary requirements that define environmental management according to ISO 14001 were met. This is a central component of corporate environment...

CHICAGO—A year and a half ago, Great Wolf Resorts announced it would replace plastic straws at all 17 of its indoor water park resorts with more environmentally friendly paper straws. That step completed by the end of 2018 stopped more than 5 million plastic straws from entering local landfills annually. Bob Holesko, Corporate Director of Engineering at Great Wolf Resorts, said there were very few complaints about the switch. Eliminating plastic straws is just one of many of the steps Great Wolf Resorts has taken to reduce its environmental impact as part of its Green Wolf program. Great Wolf Resorts...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Hotel Emporium to the “Amenities/Dispensers/Toiletries” section of its Green Product & Service Directory. Hotel Emporium has just introduced Eco Pod by Terra Green, sustainable innovation giving hotels worldwide a one-stop solution to face plastic waste and bacteria contamination arising from bulk liquid dispensers. The packaging is fully compostable with bamboo, sugarcane, and wood fibers, plus soy-based ink printing. It is a waste stackable product containing up to four uses, ensuring a bacteria-free environment and easy disposal. It is a water-activated, powder-based amenity collection allowing lighter transportation and lower carbon footprint. Just add water...

ATLANTA—Interface Hospitality announces the launch of its latest carpet collection, Guest Rooms, designed for the hospitality segment. The collection was created based on how texture, pattern and color impact a person’s experience with a space and has 19 versatile patterns in square and plank styles. Assembled into color palettes that evoke the four distinct shades of nature—Painted Light, Windswept Terrain, Winter Chill and Morning Haze—these carpet styles create a home away from home for guests through the integration of diverse textures, patterns and custom colors. The carpet can be installed in a variety of ways—wall-to-wall, in combination with other...

MINNEAPOLIS—When it rains on the 1.6 million square foot Minneapolis Convention Center, that water is collected in an underground rainwater storage area that holds up to 250,000 gallons of water. According to Jessica Klimisch, Marketing Manager for MCC, that water is used for irrigation around MCC and diverts an estimated 5.4 million gallons of runoff annually from the Mississippi River. The rainwater collection system is just one of many green initiatives at the LEED Certified MCC. For example, kitchen areas and restrooms have been upgraded with fixtures that use 50 percent less water. Atop the center are 2,613 solar panels...

CALHOUN, GA.—This year at The International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas, Mohawk is showcasing the company’s dedication to a more sustainable future through innovative manufacturing processes, product design and strategies around positive environmental and social impact. A feature display within the company’s award-winning presence at booth 5803 highlights inspiring sustainability efforts and stories for attendees. As the largest recycler of plastic bottles in North America, Mohawk has made a corporate commitment to support the work of The Ocean Cleanup. The Netherlands-based nonprofit organization is developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Mohawk unveiled an interactive art installation...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Tayst Coffee to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Coffees & Teas category. Tayst Coffee is transitioning hotel rooms and offices from traditional plastic Keurig Kcups into Tayst’s earth friendly compostable pods for Keurig. Tayst Coffee’s premium South American beans are roasted fresh, packed in compostable pods and shipped directly to customers in Earth friendly packaging. Click Here to try Tayst Coffee and to receive a complimentary box. You may also call (516) 962-2141, ext. 704, or e-mail greg@tayst.com. Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

The hospitality industry has immense scope of embracing sustainability and going green. Waste management is a critical aspect and has a huge impact on any hotel’s environmental as well as financial bottom line. Irrelevant of your hotel size, effective waste management can help you optimize operations, save resources, cut down expenses and enhance your brand value, which can attract more customers. There are numerous areas within which you can work to improve your waste management. Listed here are four key areas which are solid opportunities for you to make substantial positive impact on the way your hotel handles waste. ...

PARIS—Accor announced its commitment to join the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and to remove all single-use plastic items in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022. This action by Accor toward reducing environmental impacts and strengthening efforts to combat plastic pollution of the world’s oceans and other natural environments is a significant step forward for the global hospitality industry and for the group, which has been committed to sustainability for many years. “We are aware of the significant impact we have on our planet and our responsibility to create tangible benefits for our employees, guests, suppliers, partners...