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Combating waste in the hospitality industry
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementPopular Southeast Asia destinations like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are beginning to close off areas due to overcrowding, unplanned development and pollution. These are countries where tourism forms a significant stream of revenue. They are risking business to save the environment, and other countries should follow suit. One of the most important steps taken in this regard is combating the use of plastic waste.
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How food choices impact the environment
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageThere is a growing, worldwide consensus focused on reducing the use of nonrecyclable materials for environmental purposes. A new study conducted by a Swiss research institute and Oxford University says that our food choices can help, too. The researchers calculated the impacts of foods around the globe, and studied the food production chain from the farm to the fork. This extensive study found that switching to a plant-based diet will not only have positive health impacts, but could have a significant impact on the climate as well.
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More big brands join the war on plastic
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe effort against single-use plastic straws has officially become more than a skirmish and is now an all-out war, as several more major brands have decided to do away with them in their businesses. SeaWorld Entertainment, in an effort to protect the environment, has removed all single-use straws and plastic bags from the company’s 12 theme parks. The Orlando-based company made the announcement June 8. SeaWorld, while leading in this effort, is not alone.
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Is there a market solution to the feral hog problem?
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureTexans have been struggling with the feral hog problem in the state for years now, and it’s pretty clear that traditional hunting and trapping methods aren’t enough to contain their growth. What if, instead of using poison (regardless of whether it’s warfarin- or sodium nitrite-based) to control hog numbers, there was a market-based solution to the problem? That's what some researchers from Texas A&M University-Galveston are trying to do with invasive numbers of lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Beauty products increasingly turn focus to the skin’s microbiome
Cherie Buziak Science & TechnologyA growing area of scientific research in skin health is the skin’s microbiome. For the most part, the beauty industry has been able to easily define new technologies in their personal care products and how they benefit skin at a cosmetic level. However, the skin’s microbiome is a bit more complex, and this ecosystem is still being studied. The findings are proving to be more interesting and intriguing than how cosmetic technologies have been discovered and introduced in the past.
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State, city efforts address US exit from Paris climate agreement
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalWhen 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.
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Nanoplastics consumed by marine life may be harmful to aquatic food chain
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalAccording to a new study by researchers from the National University of Singapore, plastic nanoparticles — extremely small plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer in size, the length of a typical bacterium — could pollute food chains and eventually affect human health. The research found that these particles are easily ingested by marine organisms, with a risk of being transferred up the food chain, threatening food safety and posing health risks. This news adds to the ever-growing problem of plastic pollution in the oceans.
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Waterless and low-flow toilets save more water than money
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsWaterless urinals and low-flow toilets are an increasingly pervasive investment being made by facilities managers and building owners throughout the world, mostly because they help save water. However, there are arguments about the amount of money they save. The waterless units really do operate without water, but when making the case for their investment, the best argument might be a green one — as in the environment and not cash — as a corporate responsibility effort.
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Simple ways to save energy and money at your business
Sam Radbil Facilities & GroundsEvery month, you face a multitude of bills. These expenses will inevitably take a toll on business owners. For most of those providers — your grocery store that sells office snacks, your lenders, your phone and internet company — you can shop around. But when it comes to utilities and the cost of keeping your office building or your home office up and running, there are no coupons or sales that can help you.
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NYSCC Suppliers Day showcases latest in cosmetic technology
Cherie Buziak RetailNew product concepts, technologies and innovations were shown off May 15-16 at the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists' (NYSCC) Suppliers Day held at the Javits Center in Manhattan. This two-day event featured beauty industry suppliers of raw materials, ingredients, and cutting-edge technology. Here are three noteworthy technologies to keep your eye on as new personal care products come to market.
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