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Ikea to ditch single-use plastics by 2020 as part of sustainability push

Tracy Szwec Waste Management & Environmental

Ikea announced on June 7 that it would phase out all one-time use plastic products from both stores and restaurants by 2020. Not only does this include the products used in the cafe and store, but it means they will not be selling those products on their shelves. You won’t find freezer bags, garbage bags and the like at Ikea anymore. This big announcement is part of a much broader sustainability plan for the Swedish company.

Remodeling activity maintains momentum

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Riding a solid growth trend at the end of last year, remodeling activity continued its upward trajectory in the first quarter of 2018. Business indicators were positive across the board, with remodelers reporting increases in projects and revenues. Industry experts forecast sustained growth throughout 2018 and into 2019. In releasing the results of its Q1 2018 Residential Remodeling Index (RRI), MetroStudy announced remodeling activity in the first quarter had its strongest year-over-year performance in four years and strongest quarter-over-quarter performance in five years.

State, city efforts address US exit from Paris climate agreement

Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & Environmental

When President Trump announced the U.S.' exit from the 2015 Paris climate agreement on June 1, 2017, committed state governments, cities, businesses and organizations initiated or continued carbon-reducing projects. As it turns out, positive demand for alternative energy sources competes with federal inactivity and economic growth demands that still use readily available and traditional energy. What will steer the path of climate change initiatives in the years to come? That has yet to be decided.

Preparing your business for hurricane season

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

Perhaps the following bit of guidance only applies to approximately one-third of the United States, but with another storm season upon us, one can never be too prepared. The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1, and with deadly subtropical storm Alberto having moved through the Gulf Coast and the Midwest already, and an extremely deadly storm season only a year behind us, preparation now could save lives and facilities.

Why are our houses so bland?

Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building Materials

Who designs our houses? Not always architects, it turns out. Looking at modern housing developments, we can see a wave of monotony overtaking the places we live, as row upon row of "pattern book" houses roll off the production line and onto our pavements. Why are our housing estates becoming so soulless? What lies behind these “identikit” rows of faux-traditional executive homes on the outskirts of our cities?

Is the US a nation of nontraditional workers? Not yet

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Do not believe the hype of a boom in gig jobs. Such nontraditional work arrangements reveal a pattern that has remained largely unchanged over the past 12 years, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. The survey, called Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements, found that 5.9 million Americans or "3.8 percent of workers...held contingent jobs" in May 2017 vs. 1.8 percent to 4.1 percent of the workforce in February 2005. The BLS also surveyed other workers in alternative work arrangements.

The evolution of the office workspace

Susan Mulholland Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

The office. No, I’m not talking about the sitcom, I’m talking about the phenomenon defined as a place where we work. Since our work life has moved from outside to in, the definition of what an office is has been pretty consistent. Or has it? Where did this definition come from, and why are we seeing more and more companies rethinking their workspaces?

The road to ruin: How US infrastructure is hurting logistics

Delany Martinez Distribution & Warehousing

From crumbling, aging bridges that failed to pass any but the most basic of structural tests to endless waves of patch-fixing on the torn-up highways traversing them, many of the 4 million miles of roadways in the United States have seen much better days. For everyday drivers, this amounts to an inconvenience, and perhaps a pinch of worry when ugly weather is tossed into the mix. For logistics professionals, however, the situation is much more dire.

Negotiating commercial leases: Don’t give post-dated checks

Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield Retail

For many commercial tenants, negotiating a good lease or lease renewal against an experienced agent or landlord can be a challenge. While an entrepreneur focuses on marketing and managing, savvy real estate agents and brokers are specialized salespeople. Their job is to sell tenants on leasing their location at the highest possible rental rate. Whether you are leasing a new location for the first time or negotiating a lease renewal for your business, here are two money-saving tips.

Developing a sustainable cooling industry for the future

Andrew Gaved Manufacturing

The present view from the cooling industry in Europe has something of an air of déjà vu about it. There are tightening markets, and therefore significantly rising costs for higher-GWP refrigerants like R404A. The industry is dealing with general consternation from end-users that they are having to pay more than they forecast even a year or two ago, and mild panic from AC contractors that R410A is no longer available from some wholesalers. These views were all represented, or reported, at RAC’s recent F-Gas Question Time.

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