SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.—Santa Cruz-based startup Steeped, Inc. has launched its Steeped Coffee brewing method to serious coffee drinkers across the nation. Brewed like tea, Steeped Coffee’s nitro sealed Steeped Bags, along with their packaging made using renewable and compostable materials, achieve the unthinkable: freshly ground specialty coffee in a single serving. That’s why it earned the “Best New Product” award for their innovative packaging at the recent Specialty Coffee Expo. Steeped Coffee launched when serial entrepreneur and coffee lover Josh Wilbur decided to combine the convenience of a single-serving brew method with the premium quality of ethically sourced coffee. Wilbur...

DEPOE BAY, ORE.—Soul Community Planet (SCP), a Holistic Hospitality company providing fair-priced lodging centered on the values of personal wellness, social good and the environment, announced the newly renovated SCP Depoe Bay has opened. Located near many of Oregon’s top surf breaks, most picturesque shorelines and best fishing, the new lodge features bohemian-style guestrooms, a communal coworking space, fitness and yoga studio, and Provisions market. “Each SCP venue uniquely embodies the values of Soul, Community and Planet,” said Soul Community Planet Co-Founder and CEO Ken Cruse. “SCP Depoe Bay has been renovated into an intimate surf lodge—ideal for coastal adventure-seekers...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added a Hotel Emporium video to the Vendor Videos section of its website. 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 to...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Scandinavian Spaces introduces Ridge, Kite, and Cloud. The three very different recycling stations each provide unique characteristics to accommodate a diverse range of work environments. More than a recycling station, Ridge provides a stylish interior detail. Designed by Studio Doms, the series is reminiscent of a city skyline with beveled edges and sloped upper frames. Offered in 11 trendy hues and sophisticated neutrals, Ridge also provides eight different recycling symbols to accommodate all waste purposes. Constructed in two versions—one for waste bins and another for hanging bags—both are easily emptied with 180-degree door hinges. User friendly, each unit offers...

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...