PHILADELPHIA—Aramark, a leading U.S.-based provider of food, facilities and uniform services, announced a new 2025 sustainability plan, Be Well. Do Well., focused on positively impacting people and the planet. Be Well. Do Well. is built around several key priorities. People priorities: to engage employees, empower healthy consumers, support local communities, and source ethically and inclusively. Planet priorities: to source responsibly, operate efficiently, and to effectively manage food waste, packaging, emissions and other activities that could adversely impact the environment and planet. “Aramark strives to do our part with respect to environmental, economic, social and ethical considerations,” said Kathy Cacciola, Aramark’s Vice President, Enterprise Sustainability. “Be...

Name: Kristen Royal Title: Sustainability Program Director Company: Tayst Coffee Years in Current Position: 1+ years Primary Responsibilities: “I do a lot of outreach and communication on sustainability. I am in constant communication with other sustainability directors. I research lifecycle reports. I analyze our product and compare it with others. I analyze the machines themselves and the complexities and differences between plastic pods and a compostable one like ours.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Our pod return service. Our clients are demanding this. We are hoping to scale up the service nationwide in January 2020.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “Making sure we...

NATIONAL REPORT—In July, IHG announced that its entire hotel estate of almost 843,000 guestrooms would switch to bulk-size bathroom amenities, with the transition to be completed during 2021. Not included in the announcement was whether IHG had committed to refillable or non-refillable dispensers. In response to a Green Lodging News query, an IHG spokesman said, “Given that the team is currently in the process of working to establish the best bulk-amenity solutions for each brand based on market availability, brand expectations and environmental impact, it’s a bit too early to speak.” In August, Marriott International announced that it’s expanding an...

As you consider whether to implement dispensers in your guestroom bathrooms, or what type of dispenser to install, consider the results of a new study conducted on behalf of Clean the World (CTW). CTW gave Green Lodging News exclusive access to the Executive Summary of the report that should be available in its entirety in early 2020. Research conducted by the University of Arizona (UA) showed a 100 percent bacterial contamination rate in refillable dispensers that contain shampoo, body wash, conditioner, hand soap, or lotion. Of 82 samples taken, 63 (76 percent) yielded bacterial numbers greater than 1,000 colony-forming units...

ORLANDO, FLA.—A research study conducted on behalf of Clean the World by the University of Arizona (UA) showed a 100 percent bacterial contamination rate in refillable dispensers that contain shampoo, body wash, conditioner, hand soap, or lotion. Of 82 samples taken, 63 (76 percent) yielded bacterial numbers greater than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram of product (CFU per gram), and 40 samples (49 percent) exceeded 10,000 CFU per gram. According to The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, for non-eye-area products, counts should not be greater than 1,000 CFU per g or mL. An Executive Summary of the...

BOULDER, COLO.—Eco-Products, a Novolex brand, announced the introduction of a line of compostable utensils for use in Cutlerease, a new dispenser that offers customers one fork, knife or spoon at a time. The patented system improves cleanliness, reduces waste, saves space and provides customers with a more convenient way to get compostable utensils. Waddington North America, also a Novolex brand, introduced the Cutlerease system for single-use utensils earlier this year. Eco-Products is now offering BPI-certified compostable forks, spoons and knives that are compatible with this dispenser. “Cutlerease’s innovative design dispenses clean, compostable cutlery one piece at a time, with the guest using the...

PHILIPPINES—Hotel of Asia, Inc., the hotel arm of DoubleDragon Properties Corp., has engaged Barone International as its sustainability consultant in its application for the LEED Gold certification of Hotel 101 Resort Boracay which is poised to become the largest green hotel to rise in the Philippines. “In this day and age when most modern buildings are built to have customary green features, DoubleDragon looks to go a step further in developing Hotel 101 Resort Boracay to become a true beacon of sustainability in the hospitality industry. With its 1,001 hotel rooms, it is poised to become the largest truly green...

MIAMI—Green Lodging News welcomes ffuuss to its Green Product & Service Directory in the “Hand Dryers” category. Organizations like the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Johns Hopkins Medicine clearly state: hand dryers equal hand hygiene. The most effective way to reduce the risk of infection is to wash your hands with soap and water, then drying your hands is crucial for good hygiene, because wet skin provides a hospitable environment for microorganisms and, as a result, can increase probability of transmitting pathogens. FFUUSS hand dryers contain a high-quality HEPA H13 filter with 99.97 percent efficiency to ensure...

NATIONAL REPORT—Environmentalism has spread through every industry it can touch, and hospitality is one of them. Guests have always wanted enjoyable, high-class hotel experiences, but they’re increasingly requesting sustainable practices along with this. They want to know they’re spending their money on morally conscious, socially responsible businesses. Environmental issues are too significant to ignore for many people, and part of being eco-conscious means aligning their spending with their values. If your hotel isn’t already a master in sustainability, you can quickly reach that level by applying some green practices. Staying on top of consumer trends and preferences enables you to...

FORT WASHINGTON, PENN.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, launched two new Papernet brand products at ISSA Show North America 2019 in Las Vegas. The small core toilet tissue and Ready Table interfolded napkins contribute to waste reduction and, as a result, greater environmental stewardship. “We continue to develop products with an emphasis on sustainable hygiene,” said Giorgia Giove, Marketing Manager—Away from Home for Sofidel America. “Small core toilet tissue and Ready Table interfolded napkins empower businesses to reduce their carbon footprints by reducing waste.” The new small core tissue limits waste by allowing more paper to fit in a smaller roll—each roll holds more than eight rolls of...