OAKBROOK, ILL.—1888 Mills LLC has launched its first socially sustainable luxury terry line for the hospitality industry through its exclusive partnership with the Cotton Made in Africa project (CmiA). 1888 Mills, a leading global manufacturer of home and commercial textiles, will pair CmiA cotton with Oasis, one of its top-selling hospitality terry programs.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.—Worrell Water Technologies and YMCA of Silicon Valley announced that YMCA Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek, Calif., installed a Living Machine ecological wastewater treatment and reuse system for its year-round camp. The YMCA opted to install an on-site solution that would support year-round camping and also serve as an outdoor learning lab for its popular Outdoor Science School.

SAN FRANCISCO—Global sustainability consultancy Five Winds International, and sustainability hospitality consultants Business Evolution Consulting (BEC) have announced that BEC has been merged into Five Winds International. The addition of a San Francisco office expands Five Winds International’s geographic reach to nine locations worldwide. The merger also expands the firm’s service offerings within the hospitality sector.

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International announced that its new draft standard for Commercial Furnishing Fabrics (NSF Draft Standard 336) is now open for public comment. The Commercial Furnishing Fabrics standard is one of eight sustainability standards and certification programs NSF International has developed. These standards provide manufacturers an independent, third-party means of demonstrating their commitment to the environment and avoiding accusations of greenwashing. NSF International has also developed standards and certification programs for sustainable carpet, flooring, business and institutional furniture (BIFMA e3), and green chemicals. NSF Draft Standard 336 for Commercial Furnishing Fabrics provides pathways toward sustainability by establishing measurable criteria for multiple levels of achievement and performance.

ITHACA, N.Y.—The Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) has posted the proceedings of its inaugural Sustainability Roundtable. The proceedings, which are available at no charge from the CHR website, cover the roundtable’s examination of key points regarding the lodging industry’s efforts to operate sustainably, including such issues as the definition of sustainability, emerging regulations and laws, engaging guests, and the complexity of carbon neutrality. “When we issued highlights of the sustainability roundtable late last year, people were interested in learning more about the discussions,” said Rohit Verma, CHR executive director. “So, with the assistance of our panel members, we now have the expanded proceedings.” The roundtable was chaired by associate professor David Sherwyn. The roundtable participants agreed that guests expect hotels to operate in a sustainable manner—so the question no longer is whether to be sustainable, but how to do it.

CHICAGO—Coalesse, a new premium live/work furnishings brand, has received the prestigious Designs for Dignity 2010 Sustainability Award. Coalesse is committed to environmentally-responsible design practices and materials and has several products that have earned SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) certification for indoor air quality protection.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc., a leader in sustainable textiles for hospitality, announced the results of a 360 Degree Green Audit of the company conducted by MindClick SGM. Valley Forge, already known for its award winning FRESH fabric collections—including LIVING FRESH Bedding with Tencel+Plus Lyocell—looked to MindClick SGM for the next step in their sustainability evolution.

PARK CITY, UTAH—The Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City’s only 100 percent wind powered and 100 percent carbon-neutral “eco-tique” hotel, has taken an additional step towards sustainability by adding solar power to its host of green initiatives. The system was appropriately launched on the first day of winter, the darkest day of the year, and is now generating green power for the lodging property’s spa and courtyard. Andy Beerman, Treasure Mountain Inn’s co-owner and general manager, said the solar system cost about $35,000. The inn’s owners were unable to obtain tax credits for the installation because the inn is considered a condo hotel.

ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—Building on its successful Destination Earth environmental sustainability program, Destination Hotels & Resorts has created a new platform for all group and meetings business which is built on green practices to reduce waste, conserve water, better manage energy output and more. “A ‘green’ meeting will now be standard throughout all group, meeting and conference center properties in the Destination collection,” said Mark Hickey, senior vice president of operations for the company. “Basic principles of waste reduction, water conservation, as well as sustainable food and beverage practices are among the customary meeting offerings. However, there are different shades of green available too if a planner wants to employ even more aggressive sustainability practices. We believe this will allow our corporate clients, meeting planners, wedding planners and others to make informed choices about the environmentally aware options available throughout the collection.”

UVITA, COSTA RICA—When a property is part of a nature preserve and adjacent to a national park, there is the expectation that special care will be taken to minimize one’s environmental impact. The operators of La Cusinga Lodge in Uvita, Costa Rica, which is located in a preserve that borders the Ballena Marine National Park, do recognize their responsibility and are setting a standard for other eco lodges around the world to follow. Up and running since 1996, it is only within the last year that La Cusinga has been connected to the grid. Even with that “advancement,” the lodge still relies primarily on solar panels and hydroelectric power to generate the power it needs. Water from a nearby stream is diverted into an area where it is collected to rotate a wheel that generates electricity that is stored in batteries. A dozen solar panels generate additional electricity that is stored and 10 other solar panels heat the hot water used by guests and staff.