NEW YORK—Colgate has found a way to make the toothpaste you rely on for a healthier smile a part of the solution for a healthier planet. Colgate has finalized the design of a first-of-its kind recyclable toothpaste tube. The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) last week announced its recognition of the new tube—an essential step in bringing it to the public. The Colgate design is the first oral care or personal care tube to earn APR recognition for recyclability. Under development for more than five years, the tube will debut under the company’s Tom’s of Maine brand in the United...

It was in my April 26 column that I discussed a Nature Geoscience article about the volume of microplastics falling in the air—yet another reason for all of us to eliminate as much plastic as possible from our lives. If that article was not scary enough for you, review the results of a June 5, 2019 article appearing in Environmental Science & Technology. According to the “Human Consumption of Microplastics” article, we are all ingesting thousands of microplastic particles each year. The research focused on commonly consumed foods in relation to their recommended daily intake. The potential for microplastic inhalation...

Whether you’re the owner of a cozy bed and breakfast or the manager of a luxury hotel, there’s no escaping the issue of waste management. From everyday consumables such as food and toiletries to bulky furniture and construction waste from renovations, the nature of the business ensures that hotels and other types of temporary lodgings generate plenty of trash. In fact, it is estimated that hotels produce around a 2.2lb of waste per guest, per night—a figure that may seem small at first glance but that becomes truly staggering when you consider that there are more than 1.1 billion...

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYO.—Signal Mountain Lodge—the only lodging on the shores of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park—launched a composting partnership with Haderlie Farms of Thayne, Wyoming, in 2018. Over the course of the 2018 summer season, the lodge’s Peaks Restaurant, Trapper Grill, Leek’s Pizzeria, General Store, front desk and staff dining room diverted 42 tons of food waste from the landfill. Erik Kimball, Food and Beverage Director, Signal Mountain Lodge, provided Haderlie Farms with the list of vegetables and herbs he plans to feature on his menu for the 2019 season, which begins May 10. On the...

NATIONAL REPORT—A recent market study published provides a holistic analysis of various trends, drivers, and restraints of the reusable water bottles market. According to the study, the reusable water bottles market will envisage 3.1 percent y-o-y over 2017 to exceed $8.3 billion by the end of 2018. The study remains bullish on the continual rise in demand for reusable water bottles, as growing environmental concerns are driving consumers as well as end-use industrial sectors to switch to eco-friendly alternatives of single-use water bottles. Concerns over the alarming rise in plastic waste has initiated various movements aimed at curtailing its use....

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.—CKI Solutions has joined forces with a well-established and seasoned mattress recycler under the brand name GreenSource Mattress Removal and Recycling. CKI, in its continual “Green” effort, now offers this vital service to the Cruise, Hospitality, and Healthcare industries. Contracts have ranged from MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Boyd Gaming Hotel & Casinos, Wynn Resorts, as well as multiple ships for both Holland America and American Cruise Lines. When it’s time to dispose of old mattresses and box springs, the landfill is no longer the answer. The amount of space a mattress takes up in the landfill...

DALLAS—Informa and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the release of the 2018 Greenbuild Sustainability Report, highlighting valuable metrics and key benchmarks regarding the impact on sustainable sourcing, community involvement, and carbon footprint reduction at the 2018 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, held last November at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event achieved an overall 86 percent waste diversion rate. “We’re thrilled to have made such great strides for event sustainability,” said Sherida Sessa, Greenbuild Brand Director, Informa. “We had a lot of ‘firsts’ in 2018 and tried new approaches that worked well. Our hope is that these achievements...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—Nespresso issued an invitation to other portioned coffee manufacturers to join its recycling program, paving the way for a global recycling scheme for aluminum coffee capsules. The move was endorsed by the Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board (NSAB) during its annual meeting in Geneva. By inviting other portioned coffee manufacturers to join its scheme, Nespresso hopes to improve the accessibility and convenience of aluminium capsule recycling. Companies joining the Nespresso recycling program will also take part in defining the funding and governance model and encourage more widespread use of the service. Jean-Marc Duvoisin, CEO of Nespresso said: “Aluminium is a valuable...

HOUSTON—Waste Management has been named to Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s prestigious 100 Best Corporate Citizens list for the fifth consecutive year. The 20th annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens list recognizes standout environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of public companies across the United States. “At Waste Management, we work every day to serve and support our communities, stakeholders and world,” said Jim Fish, President and CEO of Waste Management. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to operate responsibly and respectfully – and to the highest environmental, social and ethical standards. It also inspires us to continue our quest for sustainable solutions, collaborative...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Tupperware Brands Corp. announced the donation of 43,000 reusable drinking items to Clean the World Foundation, a global leader in WASH (water, sanitization, and hygiene) and sustainability. The donation comes as a result of Tupperware’s 2019 Buy One, Give One campaign held last month in the United States and Canada in honor of World Water Day. Both Orlando-based companies rallied around the mission to support access to clean drinkable water while supporting the hygiene and sanitation needs of those in developing countries. In support of World Water Day, from March 16 through March 22, Tupperware committed to donating one...