Category: Customer Spotlight

Cascades Aims to Change the Status Quo for Paper Products

Posted on by Green Seal
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO CASCADES?

Cascades is a leading producer, converter and marketer of packaging and tissue products made principally from recycled fibers. The company’s mission is to improve the well-being of people, communities and the planet by providing sustainable and innovative solutions that create value. Sustainability has been integral to the company’s DNA since its inception in 1964. Over the years, Cascades has remained an environmental leader largely owing to its extensive material recovery and recycling infrastructure, pioneering of chlorine-free whitening processes in tissue product manufacturing, proactive use of renewable energy to meet its energy needs, and active support for countless organizations and causes.

This year Corporate Knights has ranked Cascades #17 on its list of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations, after analyzing more than 8,000 international corporations with more than $1 billion in revenues. We are the leader among the corporations assessed in our sector. 

HOW DOES CASCADES MAINTAIN ITS LEADERSHIP IN A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING MARKETPLACE?

This year more than ever, we saw that the products manufactured by Cascades are essential to the daily lives of families and to countless customers’ supply chains. But it is our sustainable operations, environmentally friendly products and social responsibility practices that differentiate us from the competition. Throughout the years, Cascades has remained true to its values and we are very proud of that.  We are committed to continually improve and follow our sustainable development plan with ten ambitious goals organized in three main pillars: planet, prosperity, and partners. 

WHY DO YOU PARTNER WITH GREEN SEAL? 

Green Seal certification is a stamp of credibility and integrity for our customers. Our customers want to work with suppliers that share their commitment to sustainability and being Green Seal-certified differentiates us from our competitors. We highlight our Green Seal-certified products in our communications, including sales material, marketing tools and social media platforms. We also put the Green Seal mark on our packaging.   

Our customers want to work with suppliers that share their commitment to sustainability and being Green Seal-certified differentiates us from our competitors. 

WHAT SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC? 

Due to the economic lockdown, some facilities that were manufacturing products primarily for the away-from-home market (hotels, restaurants, etc.) had to slow down or even stop their production for a couple of months. However, lately we have noticed a strong growth in the market for sustainable products. To respond to this demand, we had to be more agile – we worked on the relocation of our Green Seal-certified finished products on our converting lines while making sure to maintain the traceability of our Green Seal products. Many people within the organization were required to work on this project. It was wonderful teamwork to bring people from different departments together to be able to deliver products to our customers on time. 

WHICH PRODUCTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT? 

From our Electric Vehicle Program for Employees to the Alain-Lemaire Solar Park, many sustainability projects in recent years were firsts in our industry, a testimony to our desire to challenge the status quo and innovate with sustainability in mind. A recent product launch really embodies Cascades’ commitment to make circular solutions mainstream and integrate eco-design principles: The Cascades Fresh™ thermoformed cardboard tray, which is composed of 100% recycled fibres and is 100% recyclable. A first in North America! The main driver behind this innovation was to develop a circular packaging solution for fresh food applications that would also adapt to automated equipment without impacting their performance. With its water-based coating, the Cascades tray is easily recyclable because it is different from traditional containers coated with a thin layer of plastic or other non-recyclable coatings.

In our Cascades PRO products portfolio, we recently launched a communication campaign for our Latte Collection. Cascades PRO’s Latte™ Collection offers several eco-friendly benefits without compromising softness, absorbency, and overall quality. All Latte products are certified by Green Seal® and made from 100% recycled fiber—80% from white recycled paper and 20% from brown cardboard fibers—offering facilities a reduced environmental footprint.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CASCADES? 

In the Spring of 2021, Cascades will launch its brand-new sustainability strategy with goals to push its environmental and social responsibility, including commitments regarding its product portfolio. Climate change, packaging recyclability, employee well-being, responsible supply chains… our teams are really excited about the new themes and commitment in this new action plan. Stay tuned and visit our website later this year.

Service Leader GSF on Changing the Culture of Clean

Posted on by Green Seal
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO GSF?

For more than a decade, GSF has incorporated sustainability into its cleaning programs for customers. We clean 40 million square feet per month in schools and commercial office buildings. We believe in sustainability because it is the right thing to do for our employees and our customers. Cleaning in an environmentally friendly way not only benefits the planet but the people who live, visit and occupy indoor environments. 

WHAT DO YOU VALUE IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN SEAL?

Partnering with a trusted leader like Green Seal helps GSF enhance its understanding of sustainable cleaning and improve its customer offerings. We care about clean and want to deliver it in the most responsible way. Green Seal has decades of experience building a greener, healthier world and we are proud to be a partner.

We will be heavily promoting that GSF’s carefully developed processes are now Green Seal certified to give our customers even greater confidence that we know how to effectively and sustainably clean and maintain their buildings. 

DO YOUR CUSTOMERS SEE THE VALUE OF GREEN CLEANING? 

Customers are increasingly demanding that cleaning service providers help them limit waste and reduce the environmental impact of their cleaning operations. Indoor air quality is paramount, and cleaning can help uphold good IAQ, which in turn supports the health and wellbeing of facility occupants. We are proud to work with like-minded customers that truly believe in the power of sustainable cleaning.

We train our employees to have the skills and knowledge to effectively clean and to confidently communicate the importance of green cleaning with customers so they can educate them about best practices and new trends that are worth pursuing. 

Customers are increasingly demanding that cleaning service providers help them limit waste and reduce the environmental impact of their cleaning operations.
FROM AN OPERATIONS COST PERSPECTIVE, HOW DO YOU FIND THAT GREEN CLEANING COMPARES TO REGULAR CLEANING?

There is a common misconception that green cleaning requires a greater investment than regular cleaning. Over the long term, green cleaning is the right choice because it provides savings for the bottom line, the environment and people, both people using facilities and those who clean them. Implementing the right green cleaning solutions, whether from a chemical, equipment or tool perspective, can offer water, chemical and energy savings, as well as enhanced efficiency.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT?

What we are doing with the electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS) from PathoSans is without a doubt our biggest accomplishment. It goes beyond simply purchasing and installing an on-site generator in a custodial closest. We are changing the entire culture of clean in these facilities, which takes tremendous effort from top to bottom, including training, education and communication around this innovative technology. 

ECAS is an industry disruptor because it completely upends the way facilities engage with chemical companies and distributors. Using cleaning and disinfecting solutions made from water, salt and electricity is a safer, more sustainable and better solution for facilities. It will transform the standard of cleanliness and we are proud to be part of this movement. 

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR OPERATIONS AND THE DEMAND FOR GREEN CLEANING? 

The pandemic has increased the public’s awareness about the cleanliness of facilities and their interest in how organizations are achieving cleanliness. We have always been clear about the way we approach cleaning and our customers appreciate this now more than ever.

With cleaning happening more frequently, this can increase the risk of poor indoor air quality, especially if caustic chemicals are used. Cleaning more regularly can also generate higher volumes of waste, such as from ready-to-use cleaning products in plastic bottles. Facilities can often achieve safer cleaning by transitioning to greener alternatives that benefit the health of building occupants without harming the environment. 

We believe that the demand for green cleaning will continue to be a priority as more organizations look to improve transparency and demonstrate to their customers that they are taking the right steps in their cleaning program. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR GSF? 

We recently expanded our Illinois operation into the Rockford area, and are on pace to continue growing our business by bringing on additional customer accounts and talented cleaning technicians and staff members. We are excited to bring our Green Seal-certified Écologique cleaning program to new customers to show them the value that green cleaning can bring to their operations.

Aqua ChemPacs on the Rise of Dissolvable Cleaning Packs

Posted on by Green Seal
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO AQUA CHEMPACS?

We are relentlessly focused on water-soluble innovation in the cleaning products world — not just to satisfy customer demand for sustainability, but also to help protect our planet. Over the last year alone, we have prevented 36 million bottles, the equivalent of 7 million pounds of plastic waste, from reaching landfills, oceans and water ways. Our mission is to make cleaning more sustainable and keep people and businesses safe, clean, and healthy.

Over the last year alone, we have prevented 36 million bottles, the equivalent of 7 million pounds of plastic waste, from reaching landfills, oceans and water ways.
WHY DO YOU PARTNER WITH GREEN SEAL?

Green Seal is a leader in recognizing green cleaning products. With their respected name and our shared commitment to safe, sustainable products, they are a natural fit with our philosophy of creating a healthier planet.

In our marketing, we not only tout the ease of use of our innovative products but also promote the benefits of having certified green formulations. Many of our customers request this.

AQUA CHEMPACS WAS AN EARLY LEADER IN DISSOLVABLE CONCENTRATED CLEANING PRODUCTS. HAVE YOU SEEN AN UPTICK IN INTEREST IN THESE TYPES OF PRODUCTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD CONSUMER MARKET? 

We’ve been approached by numerous national brands to produce green, sustainable cleaning products. There has been a substantial increase in interest for dissolvable, concentrated packs. Today’s consumers not only recycle, but they also think that companies should take the lead. Plastic waste is a top consumer concern — especially when it ends up in landfills, oceans and waterways.

WHAT INNOVATIONS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT?

Traditional cleaning product packaging (premixed liquids in single use plastic containers) has worked for the past 100 years or so, keeping people safe and businesses up and running. It also brings some major problems — namely plastic waste and carbon emissions. 91% of plastics are not recycled, and much of that ends up in landfills and oceans. We need to stop thinking only about what we can do with plastic waste once it’s created, and instead think about what we can do to prevent it from being created in the first place. We take great pride knowing our 100% dissolvable packs replace heavy, outdated conventional products with lightweight packaging and the concept of keeping your bottle for future use. Every time an Aqua ChemPac bottle is reused, that is one less bottle polluting the environment!

WHAT’S NEXT FOR AQUA CHEMPACS?

Innovation is our focus and Aqua ChemPacs proudly continues to research new, sustainable packaging materials and formulations. We are also launching a consumer focused brand to complement our industrial line. To help accomplish this, Aqua ChemPacs is moving into a new, state of the art facility…7 times larger than our current home!

We believe we not only sell a product but a “system”. This system delivers on a key principle that you can’t manage what you don’t measure. This concept has met great success and cost savings with our retail chain customers in the form of custom cleaning kits. We believe, along with being “green”, our water-soluble technology will meet equal success with the consumer as well.

Cleaning Leader Diversey Shares Views on Ecolabelling

Posted on by Green Seal
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO DIVERSEY?

As Diversey approaches 100 years of providing revolutionary cleaning and hygiene technologies, we’ve demonstrated that improving health and protecting the environment is good for business. Although it has been given many names since 1923, sustainability has been at the core of the value Diversey delivers to our customers. Energy efficiency, water conservation, waste prevention and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are not only good for the health of the planet, but they also invariably translate into economic benefits. In short, sustainability is at the core of the Diversey business strategy.

We’ve offered Green Seal certified solutions to our customers for over 15 years. Our customers often use Green Seal as a definition of a green cleaning product.
HOW DO YOU SELECT YOUR ECOLABEL PARTNERS?

We’re careful when selecting ecolabel partners, focusing on those that follow international best practices such as those outlined in ISO 14024. Ecolabel standards need to be transparent, reward more sustainable solutions, based on good science, and unbiased. Green Seal meets all those requirements and is trusted by our customers.

WHY DO YOU PARTNER WITH GREEN SEAL?

We’ve offered Green Seal certified solutions to our customers for over 15 years. Our customers often use Green Seal as a definition of a green cleaning product in addition to the water savings, energy conservation, and waste prevention that Diversey delivers to the marketplace.

The HOW HAS EARNING THE GREEN SEAL CERTIFICATION HELPED YOUR BUSINESS?

Diversey has hundreds of ecolabelled products sold around the world. Having our core cleaning products carry an ecolabel in North America allows us to transform our customers’ portfolio of solutions while also saving them money. Green Seal’s leadership on rewarding closed-loop dispensing has facilitated use of green cleaning products on a much larger scale than seen in other parts of the world.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR DIVERSEY?

Diversey recently announced the acquisition of Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide® (AHP®), an innovative and revolutionary technology. Alpha-HP® is a Green Seal certified multi-purpose cleaner that helps customers simplify the number of products needed for general purpose cleaning. The active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide breaks down to oxygen and water after the cleaning process giving Alpha-HP® an excellent environmental profile.

The Fairmont Chicago Reaps Benefits of Certification

Posted on by Taryn Tuss

In order to set smart and ambitious sustainability goals hotels generally find they must address unique infrastructure, operations, and purchasing challenges, often without a road map.  Significant water, energy and cost savings, increases in corporate bookings, an improved guest experience, and higher staff morale are just some of the benefits that make the effort worthwhile. 

Forward-looking hotels are also leveraging their sustainable purchasing policies to lure a growing market of wellness-focused travelers. An average-sized hotel purchases more products in one week than 100 families do in a year, representing significant opportunity to reduce waste and create a wellness environment where guests and staff can stay safe from allergy and asthma triggers and reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals and endocrine disruptors found in common household and personal care products.

With an increase in the use of cleaning chemicals amid the COVID-19 pandemic, hotels that use cleaning products that are certified for health, sustainability and effectiveness promote safer indoor air, protecting the health of their guests and employees without sacrificing cleaning performance.  This is especially vital for housekeeping staff, who are already twice as likely to experience occupational asthma compared to workers in other professions.

To meet strong sustainability benchmarks, staff report the need for technical training, access to local networks, and support systems for solving problems. Where to begin? For a firsthand account from a property that has succeeded in the journey, we turned to Colleen Sweitzer, Marketing Manager and Co-Champion of the Planet 21 Environmental Committee at the Fairmont Chicago, a Green Seal-certified luxury property at iconic Millennium Park.

Taryn Tuss: Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and insights with us, Colleen. Let’s start with the basics.  Could you give a quick snapshot of the building – the year it was built, recent renovations, etc.?

Colleen Sweitzer: The Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park is a 45 story, 750,000 square foot hotel with 687 guestrooms. The building is Neoclassical in design, constructed of granite and opened in 1987. Guestrooms were refreshed in 2018.

TT: When did the hotel begin to go green and why was it important?

CS: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has always been a leader in hotel sustainability.  Locally in Chicago, we had the extraordinary opportunity to work with the city of Chicago on our 2016 Olympic bid. The bid was built on a core of sustainability and hotels that wanted to participate were encouraged to achieve a Green Seal certification.  While Chicago didn’t win the Olympic bid, this opportunity started us down the road and helped us to get to where we are today. 

TT: We’ve seen that staff buy-in can make or break a hotel’s sustainability initiative. How do you engage and motivate staff? Why is this important?

CS: Staff buy-in is 100% necessary to be successful. Each member of a hotel team is responsible for the sustainability duties in their areas – for example, recycling or composting. If every member of your team is not ‘all in’ then it can affect policy, training and purchasing.

We are fortunate that we have a culture of environmental responsibility within our hotel that is cultivated by our leadership and supported by our city, Chicago, and our parent company, Accor. 

Green Seal has been an invaluable resource in helping us to achieve our goals

TT: How do you involve guests in the hotel’s green initiatives? 

CS: We are a luxury hotel, so we must balance good sustainable choices with making sure we are not sacrificing the standards that have made our brand great for more than a century.

For example: Every one of our guestrooms and meeting rooms has a recycling bin, and we have electronic messaging throughout the hotel.  We have an electronic newspaper app in lieu of the traditional hardcopy.  We also do things that our guests don’t necessarily see, like thoroughly vetting suppliers prior to contracting with them to make sure that our partners are not only environmentally conscious, but also productive members of our community.

TT: What sort of challenges did you overcome when converting and updating systems? Were there any surprises (good or bad)?

CS: A key step is to show long term financial benefits to our key stakeholders.  Without their support of our environmental efforts, it would be impossible to convince them to make a greater initial investment.  Several strategic equipment purchases over the last few years have proven that there can be a significant ROI in making great sustainable choices when purchasing high-dollar equipment. 

TT: Of the sustainability upgrades that you’ve made, what has produced the quickest ROI?  What has produced the biggest ROI over time?

CS: In January 2017, we replaced the water pumps in our 45-story hotel. We spent about 10% more by selecting a super energy efficient model. In 2017 alone, we saw a 13% reduction in our electric costs.  This savings exceeded the originally estimated ROI of 5 years and actualized at just over three years. 

In 2019, we replaced our entire laundry system.  The new super energy- and water-efficient tunnel system has reduced our water usage for laundry by more than 50% compared to the previous 30-year-old system.

In 2019, we also purchased a new digester.  As a city center property, we don’t have the space to compost and a digester helps us to divert food waste from landfill. The projected ROI on the digester is 5 years; however, we are hoping to exceed that expectation.

TT: What are the top 3 benefits you’ve seen from implementing such a strong sustainability program? 

CS: The top benefits are:

  • We are saving money by reducing our utility usage
  • We are saving money by diverting recyclables and food waste, instead of paying for our waste hauler to dump it in a landfill
  • We are making money by attracting groups that look for hotels that mirror their corporate social responsibility policies

And as an added bonus, our entire team is proud of the work we do to minimize our footprint.  Which leads to a more dedicated and engaged workforce and by extension ancillary savings on reduced hiring/training costs.

TT: What do you still want to accomplish for the hotel?

CS: We are just finishing up replacing all of the pipes in the hotel. The updated plumbing infrastructure allows us to install low-flow toilets. 

As an all-electric hotel, I would love to find a way to subsidize our energy with an alternate power source.  We don’t have the land for a turbine or enough space on the roof for solar cells, but we are always looking at options beyond credits.

We have always wanted to find a community partner that not only mirrored our social conscience, but also was a beneficial partnership on additional levels. We have just started working with a local non-for-profit organization, Ignite Promise, that focuses on at-risk teens. This holistic partnership is more than donating product; we are collaborating on job training, mentorship, and helping to facilitate the successful transition from their program. 

TT: What is one thing you’ve learned during the process, and do you have any advice for hotel managers who are just beginning the process of greening their properties?

CS: When the Fairmont Chicago started down this road, we were fortunate to have Green Seal and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts to help us navigate policy implementation.  My suggestion is to tap into the resources you have available. Many local lodging associations have sustainability programs. When we were starting our journey, I spoke with local and brand colleagues to seek their advice and support.  Since that time, I have had the opportunity to share my experiences with hotels looking to implement new procedures in their hotels. 

Green Seal has been an invaluable resource in helping us to achieve our goals.  The tenor of our relationship has been supportive and without their assistance, we would not have achieved the successes that we have.  If you are looking to start this journey, the investment in certification is a good way to get started.

TT: Is there anything else you’d like to share regarding the hotel’s sustainability journey?

CS: Our sustainability efforts have opened up interdepartmental communication and have encouraged connections amongst our colleagues on a personal level.  From the line chef that that grows her own produce in her rooftop greenhouse to house person that started an environmental program at her church, embracing the connection that we all share to the earth has been rewarding for all of us.

Conclusion

Global lodging companies including Fairmont parent company AccorHotels are using the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals as guidance for incorporating sustainability into their operations. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals — the outcome of an historic agreement among world leaders at the UN in 2015 on a universal 2030 agenda for sustainable development – recognize that tourism is an economic powerhouse and the third highest world category in export earnings.

Marriott-Starwood, Hilton International, and InterContinental Hotels Group are also among those implementing some or all of the Sustainable Development Goals, which include a goal for “responsible consumption and reduction” that targets sustainable procurement.

Setting strong targets is only part one of a successful sustainability journey. Making good on your commitments demands determination, partnerships and property-wide staff buy-in.  The results are a lower environmental impact, healthier and happier employees and guests, and a boon to your bookings — the triple-bottom-line benefits of leading on sustainability. 

This article was reprinted with permission from the Hotel Business Review, www.HotelExecutive.com  

Interview from the Front Lines: Cleaning for COVID-19

Posted on by Green Seal

With cleaning workers on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, Green Seal caught up with Michael Doherty, president of BMS Building Maintenance Service, to learn how the industry-leading green cleaning company is approaching the challenges of operating during a pandemic.   

Certified to Green Seal’s GS-42 commercial cleaning standard since 2014, BMS cleans more than 100 million square feet of space across New York, Chicago and the Mid-Atlantic, including iconic buildings like Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. 

GS: What are your clients asking you for right now, and how are you communicating to them about how you’re addressing the outbreak? 

MD: Now more than ever the importance of the work we do is top of mind for clients.  The biggest concern is how our staff is cleaning their spaces, and whether our procedures and the chemicals we use will disinfect for COVID-19.  In many cases, clients are asking us to increase the frequency of cleaning, particularly for high touch surfaces such as doorknobs, kitchen surfaces and appliances, and restroom fixtures.  Additionally, there’s a high demand for certain supplies such as hand sanitizer liquids and wipes.  We are providing these to clients, and continually working our supply chain to ensure we have stock.

We are communicating through a variety of methods, including mass communications, email, but most importantly, over the phone in real time.  As the situation is evolving so rapidly, voice communication is often the quickest means to get the work done.

GS: How have you had to adjust your operations or internal communications to deal with this crisis?

MD: As the COVID-19 situation began to unfold, BMS established an internal emergency communications team, consisting of company leadership and representatives from our operations, safety, and quality assurance departments.  The team members are in regular communication to evaluate factors affecting our ability to deliver service, and to make operational adjustment to meet new demands.

In many cases, roles and responsibilities have also shifted.  Team members are being pulled from their regular work to focus on critical COVID-related initiatives that wouldn’t normally fall in their scope of responsibility.  It’s an “all hands-on- deck” mentality.  I’m proud of how our team has risen to the occasion.

Our internal communications have also been affected by the fact that all “non-essential” staff is now working from home.  The company is holding more virtual meetings than ever and has established new tools for group communication such as mass-texting.

GS: Have you had to handle any supply chain issues and adjust your procurement? Have you had to quickly switch to different products and conduct new trainings?  

MD: We are working closely with our suppliers to stay abreast of changing supply conditions and supply chain shortages.  Products in highest demand include sanitizing wipes and liquids, disinfecting chemicals, and face masks.  

We are adding safety stock where possible for these critical products.  We are sourcing from multiple suppliers, not relying on one sole vendor or one brand manufacturer.  As worldwide demand for these items continues to grow, shipping times are often in flux, so we are closely tracking all orders.

GS: How are you protecting your frontline employees? 

MD: For our cleaning staff, we are taking proactive approaches to infection prevention and emergency preparedness in response to concerns about COVID‐19, including providing personal protective equipment as necessary, and continued safety and hygiene training.  Additionally, we are closely tracking cases or potential cases in our buildings and notifying our staff as soon as we are notified.

We are also attempting to educate them with whatever information becomes available.


GS: Are you encountering questions about the effectiveness of green cleaning for coronavirus? If so, how are you addressing them? 

MD: The EPA has published a list of approved disinfectants for COVID-19, which has been the number one concern for our clients.  While some disinfectant manufacturers claim to be green, the reality is that EPA considers all disinfectants to be a part of the pesticide family and requires them all to be EPA registered.  

That said, some disinfectants have less harsh ingredients than others.  Product with ingredients such as alcohol, lactic and citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide are examples of what we look for. 

Additionally, another thing to note is that before we disinfect, we clean.  We continue to use the same green products and processes already in place for cleaning.

GS: Can you give us an overview of your protocols for de-contamination of a building that may have had an individual with coronavirus? 

MD: In the regions where we provide this service, we follow very specific protocol.  To start we isolate the area and dispose of any contaminated materials.  We then use an advanced electrostatic disinfecting application that offers 360 degrees of touchless disinfection and sanitizing.  It’s important to note that even with the electrostatic disinfecting application there is no way of knowing if every infected surface has been treated. BMS cannot guarantee surfaces are contamination-free.

After the job is done, we dispose of all PPE according to BMS’s Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, and remove signage and barricades following completion of cleaning and disinfection.

GS: How are you supporting and responding to any fears and concerns or sick leave requests by your staff?  Have you been able to respond to new requests for services with the staff you have?   

MD: We are requiring staff to stay home if they are sick or experiencing any symptoms of acute respiratory illness. Additionally, if staff has had contact with someone who has or may have coronavirus, we are requiring them to stay home.  We are closely tracking staffing, and continually assessing the need to shift staffing to maximize resources.

GS: With more people teleworking, have you been able to shift work hours for your cleaning crews? 

MD: As more clients are work remotely, tenant spaces are shutting down completely.  Our goal is and will be to continue to reallocate those cleaning crews to other projects to the best of our ability.   

In many cases we are rotating the cleaning crews methodically to avoid an entire crew being infected should one person become infected.  

Our cleaning staff are on the front lines of this pandemic, working tirelessly, day and night. The work they do will save lives, and we could not be more grateful to them.  

GS: When was the last time you had to implement these kinds of emergency protocols? For example – during flu season at a school, or during the 2009 H1N1?

MD: In 2009 during H1N1 we provided continuous sanitizing of public areas in buildings.  But unlike what we are dealing with today, we did no heavy-duty disinfecting of tenant spaces.  

Other comparable events would be the emergency procedures the company implemented after 9/11 and after Hurricane Sandy in New York City.

GS: What are some lessons that you’ve learned in this tough time and while addressing urgent requests?

MD: Keeping spaces clean and helping keep clients healthy has always been our goal.  We have seen validation of this goal and the work we already do.  That said, we have also learned more than we’d like to about infectious disease protocol.  However, we have also adapted our practices to major disinfecting of tenant and building spaces in accordance with CDC protocol.  We have learned that communication between management and building staff is critical in extended emergencies.  It is vital to make line managers and cleaning staff feel informed, valuable, and safe.   Also, we have learned that working by telecommunication is not nearly as painful as we had anticipated.

Mike Doherty is President of BMS and its subsidiary companies. He has over 35 years of experience in the building service industry. Since 1998, he has run all operations for BMS and is currently responsible for janitorial, security, architectural surface maintenance and window cleaning services managing more than 2,800 employees.

USC Hotel: Why We Pursued Green Seal Certification

Posted on by Green Seal

by Ron Mackovich, USC University Communications

When USC rebranded our university-owned hotel as USC Hotel a year ago, we made it a goal to be an example of sustainability practices in the hospitality industry.  Traditional hospitality practices use significant resources and materials and generate substantial waste. We aim to serve our hotel guests and the Trojan Family responsibly and strive for a more sustainable future for the next generation of Trojans.

In a major step toward sustainability, USC Hotel has now achieved certification from Green Seal, a national leader in setting environmental standards. To earn this premier certification, the hotel underwent an in-depth audit of purchasing records, practices and on-site operations to meet Green Seal’s GS-33 green lodging standard.


A Sustainable Stay

USC Hotel’s sustainability efforts, aligned with Green Seal’s guiding principles, have produced impressive results. Since January 2019, the hotel has kept 250,000 plastic bottles out of landfills and composted 5,000 pounds of food waste. By switching to glassware in guest rooms, the hotel is saving 36,000 paper cups a year.

USC Hotel has transitioned to environmentally conscious vendors, including those that incorporate recyclables into their packaging and accept the packaging back after it’s been used. Linen, blankets and pillows that are being replaced are donated to local homeless and animal shelters. Thanks to waste diversion and composting, the hotel has kept over 30 tons of materials out of landfills. A property-wide conversion to LED lighting is nearly complete, which will cut electricity use by up to 75%.


Silver-Level Certification

USC Hotel is certified at the advanced silver level, which requires facility-wide measures to reduce waste, water and energy use, along with products that contribute to pollution. Single-use plastics are being reduced or eliminated under a “less is best” policy. Drought resistant landscaping and plumbing fixtures are cutting water use, and the hotel has switched to nontoxic, biodegradable cleaning products. Other sustainable steps include:

  • Durable equipment and furniture that can be reupholstered, refinished or recycled.
  • Shower curtains made of recycled plastic water bottles.
  • New, energy-efficient washers and dryers.
  • Extensive staff training in waste reduction, water conservation and energy savings.

USC could not have achieved this rigorous certification without the enthusiastic support from our people. Our team members are partners in sustainability and have us their full support in learning and following better practices.

USC Hotel’s Green Seal certification is a milestone in the hotel’s commitment to a sustainable urban future and lines up with the university’s forthcoming 2028 sustainability plan. We look forward to partnering with Green Seal as we continually seek new measures to reduce USC Hotel’s impact on the environment. 

Kittrich Shares What Green Seal Means for Consumers

Posted on by Green Seal

by Rachel Bolin, Kittrich Corporation Formulator

Update: You can find Kittrich’s Eco-Me brand certified products on Amazon here

Can cleaning products be effective and be safer for people and the planet?  At Kittrich Corporation®, we think they can.  

To prove just how serious we are about making a difference to the health of our planet, we set out to certify our plant-based formulations in our Eco-Me® and Little Twig® brands with Green Seal®. Having the Green Seal certification means a product has met rigorous standards proving they work just as effectively as conventional products without including harmful chemicals.

We are proud to announce that our Little Twig Dish Soap & Bottle Wash and Eco-Me Dish Soap, Steel Cleaner, and Wood Polish have officially been Green Seal certified.  

We choose to pursue Green Seal certification because we know just how high a standard Green Seal sets and what seeing that seal on our label would mean for consumers looking for better alternatives.  Having the Green Seal certification mark symbolizes that we care about the health of our environment and our customers, while setting us apart from the competition.   

Eco-Me and Little Twig are made with simple ingredients such as vegetable glycerin, coconut derived surfactants, and food grade preservatives. Each label includes every ingredient in our formulation, and our ingredients are free from harmful chemicals. Little Twig and Eco-Me cleaning products have become a staple in many homes – now, our customers can feel even more confident that they are using safer products that have been tested and certified by Green Seal. 

We work hard to put out the best possible products and being Green Seal certified is a great way to shout our mission out to the world. We are honored to apply this seal as we know that our consumers consistently search for brands that care about the future of the planet and the people who borrow it. 

(Read the press release here.)

Branch Creek De-Icer Melts Competition with Certification

Posted on by Green Seal
TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW CHLORIDE-FREE ICE MELT.

Entry® uses a potassium formate blend that spares homes, residential yards, campuses and corporate parks from the hazardous and corrosive effects of rock salt and other chloride-based deicing products. By breaking down the hydrogen bonds that form when water freezes, Entry removes thin layers of ice and snow and prevents new ones from accumulating up to a freezing point of minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, colder than any other product on the market.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

I knew we were entering a figurative lion’s den. The unregulated North American ice melt market is awash in inflated environmental claims and blatant greenwashing. Even if research and development panned out as hoped, our as-yet-unknown de-icer might not endure among louder, win-at-all-costs products and brands.

We can point to Entry’s Green Seal certification, and what it stands for, instead of engaging in evidence-free debates about a product’s environmental and performance claims.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE GREEN SEAL?

Green Seal’s criteria, designed to protect our planet and health, emphasize performance. It’s widely said – and I agree – that a product shouldn’t qualify as “green” if it doesn’t work as well as, or better than, other commercially available alternatives. After all, if a product’s better for the environment but doesn’t perform, have we really made progress or solved anything? And because Green Seal uses verifiable research and sound practices their benchmark becomes the market’s standard. 

HOW DOES BEING GREEN SEAL-CERTIFIED HELP DIFFERENTIATE ENTRY? 

If another product wants to make environmental or performance-related claims, we encourage them to pursue a similar certification. If they don’t, we can point to Entry’s Green Seal certification, and what it stands for, instead of engaging in evidence-free debates about a product’s environmental and performance claims.

HOW IS THE ENTRY DE-ICER BETTER FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT? 

Entry was designed from the molecular level to the final product packaging to reduce adverse environmental impacts, making it safer for families, pets, waterways, and floors. When rock salt and other calcium, sodium and magnesium granular chloride products seep into groundwater supplies or wash into lakes or streams, they reduce the available oxygen levels and threaten aquatic wildlife. Salt-based ice melters also can erode soil, kill plants, burn grasses, and burn the skin and eyes of people and pets.

HOW DOES THE GREEN SEAL STANDARD SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION?

The prospect of investing in a worthy product, only to have it get lost in a whirlwind of dishonesty, almost kept us from moving forward. The unchecked marketing claims in the ice melt market are particularly troublesome given the number of ice melts that claim to be high performance, pet safe, and/or environmentally sound without any independent verification. Consumers depend on these assurances. Much is at stake and much can be lost when they don’t deliver. People understandably have differing opinions about government regulation, but as a well-intentioned brand in an unregulated market, I crave the accountability that regulation provides.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?

Green Seal verification of both environmental integrity and efficacy let Entry not only enter the market with a reputable ally behind it, but also let us introduce structure and accountability to the larger ice melt scene. Even with a Green Seal certification, Entry® chloride-free ice melt will face challenges. But carrying a highly regarded certification in a space that’s never had any standardization is, I think, a major step in the right direction – for our product and for us all. 

SAVOR…Chicago Earns First Convention Center Certification

Posted on by Green Seal

by Doug Bradley, SAVOR…Vice President of Culinary

Managing food service waste in a convention center is an immense challenge. Chicago’s McCormick Place, the largest convention center in the Americas, draws almost 3 million visitors each year. SAVOR… Chicago takes the responsibility and opportunity to manage our business sustainably very seriously, a commitment that led us to be the first convention center in the world to receive Green Seal certification for sustainable restaurant and food services. Sustainability is embedded in everything we do. One of our most exciting challenges is to seek out new innovations that enable us to drive continual improvements. Every year, more than 30% of our country’s food supply — 133 billion pounds – is sent to landfills, where it emits potent methane gas into the atmosphere instead of feeding millions of people. As the official food service provider of McCormick Place, SAVOR…Chicago has more than doubled our waste diversion rates since 2011. While much of this increased diversion comes through food donations within our community and visitor education, we’re also undertaking new approaches like the Grind2Energy food-waste-recycling system.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_KqhREQauhs

Making its McCormick Place debut this week at the 2019 National Restaurant Association Show, our Grind2Energy system will allow us to divert nearly 100% of pre-consumer organic waste. Grind2Energy’s technology combines a specialized grinder that processes food trim and scraps into slurry that will be stored onsite, in a safely sealed 8,000 gallon tank. As needed, the slurry is transported to a local anaerobic digestion facility, where microbes will break down the material to extract methane for energy production and to produce a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Minimizing waste is a challenge we fight daily through steps large and small; adding this tool that both eliminates waste and creates usable energy is a win for all of us. Also at the National Restaurant Association Show, SAVOR…Chicago is pleased to launch a new Green Seal promotion to the show’s more than 40,000 attendees and food industry leaders through digital menu messaging promoting Green Seal certification. We have found that education is one of the most powerful tools available to help spread the message that we can do so much more with less.  

Doug Bradley is Vice President of Culinary at SAVOR. He leads SAVOR’s talented team of 80+ chefs around the country and also manages SAVOR…Chicago. Classically trained as a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Doug has 20+ years of industry experience in high profile organizations.

Green Cleaning is an Organization-Wide Effort at NC State

Posted on by Green Seal

North Carolina State University’s certified green cleaning program has generated a host of benefits for the campus community, including improved air quality, reduced operational costs, and improved employee health and morale. To maintain Green Seal certification, University Housekeeping will be reevaluated annually to ensure its cleaning products, processes and employee training meet leadership levels.

PILOT GREEN-CLEANING PROJECTS LED TO CAMPUS-WIDE ADOPTION

 “NC State began its shift toward green cleaning more than a decade ago as increased awareness of environmental and human health prompted many manufacturers to develop eco-friendly options. First, University Housekeeping tried a chemical-free cleaning solution made of ionized water and salt. Not only did it work on campus, but it saved money and was safer for building occupants and housekeeping employees. With that success, NC State continued pilot green projects that led to campus-wide adoption. Housekeeping also found safe, effective alternatives to aerosols and harsh chemicals. They use many Green Seal certified cleaning chemicals and hand soap to protect indoor air quality and reduce chemical exposure.”
CARLA DAVIS
University Sustainability Office

WE’RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

“We’re looking out for the health of our employees, customers and the environment. What makes us stand out is that we adopted green products early and saw benefits early. We were very progressive in making our products and processes better.”
HEZEKIAH HENRY
Supervisor – University Housekeeping

We’re looking out for the health of our employees, customers and the environment.

GREEN SEAL EXAMINES ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU DO

“Green Seal examines absolutely everything you do. They verify every chemical, every piece of equipment, your cleaning process, your training program. They leave no stone unturned. It is rigorous and comprehensive and helped us standardize our cleaning program in every building. This certification shows our commitment to sustainability and helps us become a leader.”
VINCENT TAYLOR
Deputy Assistant Director – University Housekeeping

GREEN SEAL CERTIFICATION HAS GIVEN OUR STAFF GREATER PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO

“Our staff have to know the reasoning behind our process and the difference between cleaning and green cleaning. There’s a lot that goes into that, and Green Seal certification has given our staff greater pride in what they do.”
TONY BROWN
Supervisor – University Housekeeping

I COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY HOUSEKEEPING TEAM

“Green Seal Certification affirms our dedication to sustainability and the health of our employees and the campus community. I could not be prouder of the entire University Housekeeping team.”
ADA BALDWIN
Director – University Housekeeping

OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE LESS CHRONIC ILLNESS AND ERGONOMIC PROBLEMS

“Our industry is much more concerned with employee health than it was before. With our green cleaning program, our employees have less chronic illness and ergonomic problems.”
TAFT WALDON
Deputy Assistant Director – University Housekeeping

Green Cleaning is an Organization-Wide Effort at NC State

Posted on by Green Seal

North Carolina State University’s certified green cleaning program has generated a host of benefits for the campus community, including improved air quality, reduced operational costs, and improved employee health and morale. To maintain Green Seal certification, University Housekeeping will be reevaluated annually to ensure its cleaning products, processes and employee training meet leadership levels.

PILOT GREEN-CLEANING PROJECTS LED TO CAMPUS-WIDE ADOPTION

 “NC State began its shift toward green cleaning more than a decade ago as increased awareness of environmental and human health prompted many manufacturers to develop eco-friendly options. First, University Housekeeping tried a chemical-free cleaning solution made of ionized water and salt. Not only did it work on campus, but it saved money and was safer for building occupants and housekeeping employees. With that success, NC State continued pilot green projects that led to campus-wide adoption. Housekeeping also found safe, effective alternatives to aerosols and harsh chemicals. They use many Green Seal certified cleaning chemicals and hand soap to protect indoor air quality and reduce chemical exposure.”
CARLA DAVIS
University Sustainability Office

WE’RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

“We’re looking out for the health of our employees, customers and the environment. What makes us stand out is that we adopted green products early and saw benefits early. We were very progressive in making our products and processes better.”
HEZEKIAH HENRY
Supervisor – University Housekeeping

We’re looking out for the health of our employees, customers and the environment.

GREEN SEAL EXAMINES ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU DO

“Green Seal examines absolutely everything you do. They verify every chemical, every piece of equipment, your cleaning process, your training program. They leave no stone unturned. It is rigorous and comprehensive and helped us standardize our cleaning program in every building. This certification shows our commitment to sustainability and helps us become a leader.”
VINCENT TAYLOR
Deputy Assistant Director – University Housekeeping

GREEN SEAL CERTIFICATION HAS GIVEN OUR STAFF GREATER PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO

“Our staff have to know the reasoning behind our process and the difference between cleaning and green cleaning. There’s a lot that goes into that, and Green Seal certification has given our staff greater pride in what they do.”
TONY BROWN
Supervisor – University Housekeeping

I COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY HOUSEKEEPING TEAM

“Green Seal Certification affirms our dedication to sustainability and the health of our employees and the campus community. I could not be prouder of the entire University Housekeeping team.”
ADA BALDWIN
Director – University Housekeeping

OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE LESS CHRONIC ILLNESS AND ERGONOMIC PROBLEMS

“Our industry is much more concerned with employee health than it was before. With our green cleaning program, our employees have less chronic illness and ergonomic problems.”
TAFT WALDON
Deputy Assistant Director – University Housekeeping

BMS Cleans Over 100 Million Square Feet of Space

Posted on by Green Seal
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO BMS?

Because the environmental impact of the janitorial industry is so enormous, so is our potential to reduce it. As a responsible company committed to sustainability, it’s our obligation to offset this however we can. Annually the janitorial industry consumes 6.2 billion pounds of mostly petroleum-based chemicals. Additionally, our industry goes through about 30 million trees worth of sanitary paper and one billion pounds of equipment. Not to mention a huge amount of packaging and equipment is disposed of each year.

WHY DO YOU PRIORITIZE GREEN CLEANING?

It’s no longer a trend, but an expectation. While BMS is leading this effort, we now see that almost all cleaning companies have green cleaning programs. The benefits reach beyond statistics. Green cleaning has a significant impact on the health of janitorial workers and building occupants who are now breathing cleaner indoor air with less exposure to harmful chemicals that can cause asthma and other serious health conditions.

Being Green Seal certified gives BMS leverage with prospects. In a competitive market, being able to showcase points of differentiation is key. Our BMS Green Clean℠ program was designed to enhance human health and foster sustainability within the commercial real estate, hospitality and education spaces we clean.
WHY DID YOU PURSUE GREEN SEAL CERTIFICATION? 

Third-party auditing from Green Seal demonstrates our commitment to transparency and accountability in our operations. It’s critical to us that our sustainable practices and procedures are best-in-class. Being Green Seal certified is an important part of ensuring we maintain our standards. It helps us ensure sustainability becomes a part of our corporate culture. Our staff receives annual Green Seal training, which results in companywide buy-in. And regular Green Seal recertification ensures our continued adherence to best practic

DO YOU HIGHLIGHT YOUR GREEN CLEANING PRACTICES WITH CUSTOMERS?

Being Green Seal certified gives BMS leverage with prospects. In a competitive market, being able to showcase points of differentiation is key. We are proud to share our sustainability practices with our customers! Our BMS Green Clean℠ program is Green Seal certified, and was designed to enhance human health and foster sustainability within the commercial real estate, hospitality and education spaces we clean.

DOES CLEANING WITH GREEN PRODUCTS COST MORE?

It is a common misconception that green products are more expensive and less effective. This is false. These products are never more costly than traditional chemicals, and are equally, and in many cases more, effective. In fact, when used properly, they should cost less. Microfiber dusting cloths, dilution control systems, efficient machinery and ample staff training provide tangible savings. The only cleaning program offered by BMS is a sustainable one. We have built green cleaning into our everyday operations and clean to LEED standards all the time.

HOW ARE YOU DOING ON OFFSETTING YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS?

We annually track our sustainable efforts using the tools available to us. Our last Sustainability Report outlined the following environmental savings, and we have Green Seal to thank for helping us achieve these statistics: 

  • 81% purchasing of Certified “Green” products 
  • 92.8 tons of packaging reduction by purchasing chemical concentrates 
  • Over 531,551 gallons of water use reduction 
  • Use of 2.3 million pounds of recycled paper 
  • 1,500 of gallons of chemical reduction 
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?

BMS cleans over 100 million square feet of space across New York, Chicago and the Mid-Atlantic. The statistics show that it is essential that our industry act now by investing in green cleaning practices. Collectively, we can make a tremendous impact. All of us, businesses and individuals, have a part to play in protecting the environment.

Green & Glamour Go Together for Certified Sofitel LA

Posted on by Green Seal

The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is the definition of luxury — an urban oasis surrounded by the decadence and glamour of West Hollywood, California. Through ongoing sustainability initiatives, their staff have learned that you don’t have to sacrifice guest experience or quality of service to be green. In fact, being green can improve guest enjoyment and impart a lasting impression that keeps them coming back. In this interview, Rex Umbay, the hotel’s Director of Engineering, sits down with Green Seal’s own Cerise Bridges to discuss why sustainability is important, shares the lessons he’s learned through the hotel’s sustainability journey, and offers practical “how-to” advice for other hotels looking to go green. 

Cerise Bridges: Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience and insights with us, Rex.  Let’s start with the basics.  Could you give a quick snapshot of the building – the year it was built, recent renovations, etc.?

Rex Umbay: The building was originally built in 1988 as a Sofitel, part of the AccorHotels Group, and was fully renovated in 2006. Soft renovation projects have been taking place since then, including a full renovation of our food and beverage areas (bar and restaurant). 

CB: When did the hotel begin to go green and why was it important?

RU: AccorHotels has been pioneering green initiatives and leading sustainability in the hospitality industry since 1994, when its Environment Department was created. In 2002, the Sustainable Development Department was formed, and in 2011, an action plan came to fruition as the Planet 21 program. Planet 21 consisted of 21 sustainable key actions and granted 4 levels of certification to hotels successfully executing certain initiatives. It is at this time that the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills made eco-friendly initiatives its number one priority – and nothing has changed since then. Being green is still our own hotel’s main objective — we have a great responsibility to balance our activities with eco-friendly practices. This positive environmental impact starts at the property level. Now, more than ever, we are working on sustaining and improving our green initiatives.

CB: What is one thing you’ve learned during the process and do you have any advice for hotel managers who are just beginning the process of greening their properties?

RU: Without a doubt, sustainability has become a global trend. Customers highly consider your sustainability initiatives when making their decisions on where to stay or conduct their business. Gaining recognition for our actions with green certifications is very honorable, but it is just the beginning. This is why we did not slow down or stop innovating when we received our 4 keys Green Key certification and Green Seal® SILVER Certification, and why we did not stop when our restaurant received the LA Green Business certification. Our guests don’t stop thinking about the planet, why should we?

The advice we would share includes:

1. Check your city, learn what the sustainability initiatives/programs are and take advantage of them — they can help you. Here in Los Angeles, we have the LA Green Lodging Program (LAGLP), a collaboration of the Mayor’s Office and key LA City agencies to encourage hotels to earn Green Seal certification and provide financial incentives. In addition, the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) helped us with our lighting and water-saving fixtures upgrades.   

2. Your state may have sustainability regulations that are currently in place. Know them and they will guide you. You may be pleasantly surprised that you are already abiding by them.  Also, be sure to ask your utility provider about their rebate program and take advantage of its offerings if feasible.  

3. Look for certification guidelines from organizations like Green Seal and Green Key and do an in-house audit. Self-examination is the first step to success.

4. Start the process now. There are a lot of organizations out there ready to help.

CB: Because managers can’t do it alone, how do you involve staff and keep them interested and active in the process? Why is this important?

RU: Although the Planet 21 committee and myself are leading the greening process, it is important that all hotel employees are supportive of our green initiatives for them to succeed. Before people can change their habits, whether in the workplace or at home, they need to understand the affect that their actions will have. For this reason, our hotel hosts awareness campaigns for employees to participate in year-round. Earth Hour, Earth Day, World Food Day, and many others are celebrated not only at Sofitel Los Angeles, but also within our Sofitel brand and the entire AccorHotels Group. The celebrations are perfect opportunities for us to explain to the staff why our green actions are so important. Whether meeting with our green partners, detailing the recycling processes, or participating in gardening sessions, the key takeaways are keep people interested in what we do and why we are doing it, not only for the hotel, but for the planet. We also emphasize the fact that our daily activities have a real impact on our community, and that going green also involves a social responsibility. By choosing local environmentally-responsible vendors, whether it is for food products or for printing services, we support the local businesses while reducing our carbon footprint. Think globally, act locally!

CB: What do you still want to accomplish for the hotel?

RU: As mentioned earlier, there are always more ways to improve eco-friendliness and sustainability. We have a couple of new objectives for this year: plant a vegetable garden on our rooftop and replace our major mechanical equipment with energy-efficient units, including our chillers and cooling tower. We are just a few steps away to reaching the highest level of the Planet 21 program and becoming platinum certified, and we hope to succeed this year! We have full support from AccorHotels on this project, as sustainable development is a priority for them now more than ever. Every hotel within this group is willing to exchange ideas for new practices and technologies to become greener — we believe that solidarity is key to accomplishing our goals.

CB: Have you had the opportunity to quantify the benefits of your sustainability initiatives?  Any fun stats to share re: water or energy savings (esp. since the lighting upgrade and energy management system), reduced waste, etc.?

RU: Since we started to work on our sustainability, we have saved about 868,793 KWh energy annually (about $121,631/year), about 9,375 HCF water annually (about $49,400/year), plus annual trash reductions of about 24 tons (about $13,750/year). As a result of our cardboard bailer being installed in fall of 2017, we now recycle an average of 4500 pounds per month, with savings of 30% on trash disposal. And due to the installation of our ORCA machine, a unique food waste recycling technology, we have managed to reach zero food, with all food waste composted in-house. The ORCA is housed in a stainless-steel container, and its proprietary, natural microorganism solution works with water and recycled plastic Bio Chips to quickly break down the waste. Through a process called “aerobic digestion,” the ORCA technology constantly churns the material, adding oxygen that accelerates its transformation into earth-friendly water. Within 24 hours, this technology turns food waste into environmentally safe water that flows straight into the municipal sewage system. At Sofitel Los Angeles, we are able to compost an average of 200 pounds per day, and 6,000 pounds per month, with the ORCA machine. The numbers really do say it all! And because we believe sustainable behavior goes hand-in-hand with strong social responsibility, our partially-used personal amenities (shampoos, gels, conditioners and lotions) are donated to the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition and redistributed to the local homeless shelters, at an average of 400 pounds per quarter.  Another social responsibility initiative was signing EPCAT’s Tourism Child Protection Code of Conflict to help prevent the sexual exploitation of children. This code is framed at our front desk, and trainings are regularly done with our employees on how to identify and fight the sexual exploitation of children.

CB: How do you involve guests in the hotel’s green initiatives? Why is this important? What type of feedback have you received from guests regarding the hotel’s green initiatives?

RU: Our guests are the judges and the promoters of our green initiatives, therefore, it is paramount that they are aware them. At Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, aside from the usual informative techniques like in-room flyers, we promote a lot our green actions and our green successes on social media platforms. Our social channels are the perfect communication tool to share daily details about our property and create excitement that reaches people on a national and international level. With the use of online promotion techniques, we can reach thousands of potential guests who are looking for greener lodging options. We know that being green is now a very important component for our guests, so we make sure to incorporate our green actions and successes in every step of the customer journey, from the reservation to the post-stay survey. We make sure our staff is fully aware of our green initiatives and can answer all questions posed by our guests during their stay. We now provide full training on our green actions during employee orientation. 

CB: What sort of challenges did you overcome when converting and updating systems? Were there any surprises (good or bad), such as the pipes were in better condition that you thought, or the lighting/wires weren’t salvageable, etc.  What achievements are most notable or make your team the proudest?

RU: We thought that our initial investment in upgrading existing lighting and water fixtures into energy-efficient ones would be our biggest challenge, but it quickly became our biggest achievement.  By taking advantage of a program through our utility vendor, which in our case was LADWP, we were able to upgrade to energy- and water-efficient light bulbs and fixtures with little to no cost to us! This great discovery prompted a sense of optimism in our staff, as they realized the amount of support we had from the city, and it meant a lot to them. By the city demonstrating its immense care for helping us reach our goal, the staff was able to better understand that they were not alone in the process, which encouraged them to increase their efforts in making our property even greener. 

CB: Of the sustainability upgrades that you’ve made, what has produced the quickest ROI?  What has produced the biggest ROI over time?

RU: As we were implementing our green actions, we quickly realized that some of our projects had an instant ROI, like the lighting upgrade. As mentioned, this was made without an initial investment from the hotel. LADWP calculated the savings of upgrade and gave rebate incentive that covered installation and light bulbs. They took care of everything, which was life-changing for us, and did the same thing for the water-efficient toilet upgrade.  Additional ROI successes are our cardboard bailer and ORCA food waste technology, which pay for themselves on a monthly basis through the savings of trash disposal – they’re incredible! All of these projects are very satisfactory from a financial standpoint as well as a motivational standpoint. You can quickly see the positive results, which helps employees and our partners envision what we set out to accomplish. 

CB:  What are the top three benefits you’ve seen from implementing such a strong sustainability program?  

RU: Our most valuable benefit would have to be the savings – both in terms of money and carbon footprint — from these green initiatives. The figures really speak for themselves.  Another great benefit we have reaped since earning Green Seal® SILVER Certification and implementing the sustainable actions it requires, is the increased ability to answer to companies’ proposals. Big corporations and technology pioneers like Google or Microsoft have substantial environmental charters in place and want their partners to be the same. We are now aligned with their green criteria and are eligible to host their events.  The final benefit is really the engagement of our employees. The excitement and satisfaction they portray when helping the community and the planet is beyond rewarding.

CB:  Any additional stories or anecdotes you’d like to share regarding the hotel’s sustainability journey…?

RU:  Last year, on World Food Day, we displayed some salad towers on our garden patio and then collected the salads to serve them to our employees in our cafeteria during lunch break. We had prepared the salads with fresh items from our garden on the patio, so we served a delicious salad that was grown and made in house! Our employees were very happy about this initiative and curious about the process. Their elation gave us the idea to extend this concept at a higher level and develop a rooftop garden, which is now part of our 2018 objectives. Ideas truly grow, like seeds in a garden! (Pun intended.)

Of the many reasons to go green, the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has shown that active and engaged staff can really make a difference in a hotel’s green program, and that there can be major benefits to a hotel’s bottom line.  By providing a healthier environment for guests and staff and improving efficiencies in hotel equipment and operations, a hotel can also reduce turn-over, potentially increase the number of reservations and event bookings, and save money and precious natural resources along the way. 

The good news is that there is no right or wrong way to begin to green your property. Every effort made to upgrade old systems, purchase greener products, and increase efficiency is a step in the right direction. 

As Rex says, “Start now. Look for organizations or government programs that are willing to help and take advantage of what they have to offer.” Your own region may offer incentives and tools like Los Angeles’ Green4Green grant money, LADWP’s lighting and water fixture rebates, and LA Better Buildings Challenge’s assistance with water and energy benchmarking requirements.  Also, don’t be afraid to get creative.  A big part of sustainability is innovation.  What works for one property may not work for another.  Whether you have 10 rooms or 1000, it is never too late to begin your sustainability journey and no act is too small to make a difference.  

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from www.HotelExecutive.com.

Study Quantifies GHG Reductions of Certified Hotels

Posted on by Green Seal

In a market full of different certifiers, it is important for hotels to distinguish between a green-washed standard and one with real environmental benefits.

Green Seal recently collaborated with the Bren School of Environmental Sciences and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, on a year-long study to quantify the environmental benefits (in terms of greenhouse gas [GHG] reductions) for hotels in the City of Los Angeles that are certified under Green Seal’s hotel standard (GS-33).

Let’s go back a few years to get the full picture…. in 2008, the City of Los Angeles recognized the role hotels can play in reducing the city’s overall GHG emissions, and created the Los Angeles Green Lodging Program (LAGLP) to meet its Climate Action Plan goals.  Green Seal was selected as the official certifier for the LAGLP, which now has 7 certified participating hotels including: JW Marriott Los Angeles LIVE, Hilton Universal City, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, Sheraton Gateway, Crowne Plaza, Westin Bonaventure, and Westin Los Angeles Airport. Los Angeles now has more Green Seal-certified hotels than any city in the nation (over 6 million square feet certified), with a number of additional hotels in the process of getting certified.  Until the recent Bren Study, however, neither the City nor Green Seal had a quantitative metric of the environmental benefits of the LAGLP.

The Bren team used electricity consumption data from 6 certified hotels in Los Angeles, and found that on average:

  • entering at Bronze level saw 2.8% reduction in GHG emissions,
  • those progressing to Silver saw an added reduction of 8.8% (hotels entering directly at Silver would see a 2.8% + 8.8% = 11.6% reduction)
  • those progressing to Gold saw a further reduction of 18.2% (hotels entering directly at Gold would see a 11.6% + 18.2% = 29.8% reduction)

The Bren team took this study one step further to see how Green Seal certification benefits a hotel itself. They conducted surveys of over 1000 participants and found that consumers were willing to pay $6.50 more per night for hotels with demonstrated sustainability measures.

A case study by the Bren team showed that meeting the most basic requirement in the GS-33 standard of upgrading lighting (mandated by the Bronze level), can reduce a hotel’s emissions by a total of 1,066 MT CO2 annually, which is equivalent to emissions from 225 passenger vehicles driven for a year. Furthermore, these replacements reaped financial benefits as well: over a 20-year project cash flow period, the hotel would see $1,562,157 in cumulative savings from avoided utility costs.  Hotels can target lighting upgrades as “low-hanging fruit” thatyield higher benefits than costs. 

Green Seal avoiding C02

Finally, the Bren team also created a user-friendly Excel-based tool that can be used by an individual hotel to calculate its GHG reductions and financial savings from different energy and electricity reduction projects undertaken because of Green Seal certification. This tool can be used by hotel managers and engineers to calculate their GHG and long-term financial savings.

As hotels across the globe increasingly embrace green practices, it is important for the lodging industry to pursue practices with real environmental benefits. Hotels can be one of the most energy and GHG intensive buildings, as they tend to keep lights on throughout hallways at night or run thermostats even when there are no occupants in the room. Green Seal’s GS-33 Hotels and Lodging Properties standard requires hotels to upgrade their energy intensive equipment and to integrate sustainability practices in their daily operations.

The Bren study strengthens the findings of an independent study by Washington State University, which stated that:  “The single most important thing is to become certified by an independent and credible agency such as Green Seal and Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), the major certification programs in the lodging industry.”

Green Seal - Bren Study