PHUKET, THAILAND—Since July 1, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort has stopped using single-use plastics in the workplace. All hosts have received Outrigger “bags for life” and a takeaway mug to help them kick the habit of takeaway plastic drink containers, straws and bags. The push is part of Outrigger’s OZONE—the company’s global conservation initiative to safeguard oceans and island environments. The property’s OZONE ambassador, Leah Matters, says the initiative, still in its first phase, is to hold management and hosts accountable and eliminate single-use plastics from the resort. “We have received a lot of positive feedback on social media platforms,” says...

NATIONAL REPORT— Antonio de la Rosa just completed a 2,951-mile paddleboard journey from San Francisco to Oahu, Hawaii. One thing he saw every day during his trip was plastic nets and other plastic debris. He hoped his trip would bring attention to the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean. Attention to the problem is needed. It is estimated that a garbage truck load of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute. Getting that plastic out of the ocean is no small task. One way to do that is to create a demand for ocean plastic or plastic...

If you placed 700 million amenity bottles end to end, assuming 3 inches for each bottle, they would stretch for 33,143 miles. That is far more than once around the equator (24,901 miles) and about 1/7th the distance from the Earth to the moon. Why am I mentioning 700 million? This past week, Marriott International announced that it is expanding an initiative to replace tiny, single-use toiletry bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bath gel in guestroom showers with larger, pump-topped bottles. To date, the company has already rolled out larger bottles at about 1,000 properties in North America, and now expects most...

POKHARA, NEPAL—Swiss International Hotel Sarowar, an upscale, 96-room hotel in Pokhara, Nepal, offers stunning views of the Himalayan Ranges and the famous Phewa Lake. What is most impressive about this property is its eco-efficiency—the attention to green design and sustainability from below ground to the rooftop. Swiss International Hotel Sarowar opened at the beginning of this year. The hotel is powered by the sun, heated and cooled using geothermal technology and sells its digested combination of human and food waste as organic manure at the local market. Swiss International Hotel Sarowar sits 2,655 feet above sea level. Its design incorporates...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International announced that it’s expanding an initiative to replace tiny, single-use toiletry bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bath gel in guestroom showers with larger, pump-topped bottles. To date, the company has already rolled out larger bottles at about 1,000 properties in North America, and now expects most of its other hotels to make the switch by December 2020. When fully implemented across the globe, Marriott International’s expanded toiletry program is expected to prevent about 500 million tiny bottles annually from going to landfills; that’s about 1.7 million pounds of plastic, a 30 percent annual reduction from current amenity plastic usage. “This is our...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—Recycling at home or work has become part of our daily routine, but one ubiquitous device that still raises questions over disposal is light bulbs. Do they go out with the normal trash? Get tossed in recycling containers? Do you save them for the next neighborhood e-waste event? The answers aren’t easy, thanks in part to new technologies to Thomas Edison’s illuminating invention along with society’s growing environmental concerns. A 60-day initiative to help raise awareness on how citizens and companies can properly recycle lighting devices launched on August 20. The Green Lights Initiative is sponsored by LEDtronics, one...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Green Suppliers offering items ranging from stainless steel straws to electric vehicles to Tree Free paper products will be on hand at next month’s Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo Florida. More than 400 total vendors will showcase, demonstrate and sample the newest food products, technology and equipment for the restaurant, foodservice, retail and hospitality markets in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center from Sunday, September 15 through Monday, September 16, 2019. At least 25 suppliers will offer green products and services. In addition to an expansive exhibit hall, The 2019 Florida Restaurant & Lodging...

CAPE CORAL, FLA.—WooBamboo, a leader in environmentally-friendly bamboo toothbrushes and other natural oral care products, has been named the Official and Exclusive Eco Oral Care Brand for the 2019 Forbes Travel Guide. Forbes Travel Guide, formerly known as Mobil, was founded in 1958 and created the nation’s original star rating system for the luxury hospitality industry. With incognito experts who travel to hotels, restaurants, and spas across the country, Forbes Travel Guide works hard to give consumers the power to make better decisions about the products they buy and services they use. Each year, Forbes Travel Guide provides a list...

Yesterday was a big day at San Francisco International Airport. Effective yesterday, August 20, water is no longer allowed to be sold in plastic bottles. The rule requires all airport retailers, restaurants, airline lounges, and vending machines to sell or provide water in recyclable aluminum, glass or BPI-certified compostable bottles. The policy applies to purified water, mineral water, carbonated or sparkling water, and electrolyte-enhanced water, but does not include flavored beverages such as sodas, teas, or juices. “SFO continues to lead the way in airport sustainability initiatives,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “With this move, we take a giant...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—Nespresso is partnering with Swedish bike brand Vélosophy to produce a stylish bicycle made from recycled aluminum coffee capsules, demonstrating both brands’ commitment to a circular economy. One thousand limited edition RE:CYCLE bikes made from over 300,000 recycled Nespresso Arpeggio capsules have been available from August 12, sold exclusively on Vélosophy’s ecommerce platform velosophy.cc. Aluminum is one of the world’s most valuable resources, because it can be re-melted and reused infinitely. Designed to highlight the potential of recycling Nespresso’s aluminum capsules, RE:CYCLE encourages consumers to consider how they can make a positive impact. Sustainability & Style Meet Jean-Marc Duvoisin, CEO of Nespresso, said:...