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Are restaurant owners, managers, and consumers on the same page when it…
Linchi Kwok Food & BeverageSome big restaurant chains, such as Starbucks and McDonald's, have already taken action in responding to sustainable trends in the industry, even though a study from 2016 suggests that consumers might not want to make a concerted effort themselves to eat at a green restaurant. Do owners, managers, and consumers think alike when it comes to the green attributes that matter the most to the restaurant business? With several questions in mind, I helped conduct a study where we asked 386 consumers, 115 restaurant managers, and 80 owners in the United States to rate the importance of 12 green practices that a restaurant can undertake.
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US outdoorsmen to contribute more than $1 billion to conservation in 2019
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureMen and women who shoot, hunt, and fish will provide over $1 billion in conservation funding across the United States during fiscal year 2019 through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Federal Sport Fish Restoration Acts. Better known as the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, respectively, those programs fund fish and wildlife conservation efforts through excise taxes placed on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle, and boating equipment.
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First-of-its-kind report lays foundation for world food sustainability
Scott E. Rupp Food & BeverageThe EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet and Health released its scientific review in early 2019, publishing the world's first scientific targets for healthy diets and sustainable food production. It provides "targets that join civil society, public health and environmental conservation’s various goals toward health and sustainability." The purpose of the report is to provide a framework for the "urgent actions" needed from consumers, policymakers, businesses and government agencies to transform the food system. Leading scientists in nutrition and public health laid out global guidelines for a universal, healthy diet.
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The trends that will power the energy industry in 2019
Terri Williams Facilities & Grounds2019 promises to be a busy year for the energy sector. With the expansion of renewables, we can expect a plural energy future. However, many energy policies are in limbo. MultiBriefs spoke with several energy experts to find out some of the biggest energy trends for 2019.
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Green-collar jobs in the spotlight
Michelle R. Matisons Facilities & GroundsWhen referring to occupations, the word "collar" usually refers to class/income or gender designations. "White collar" is used for professional jobs, "blue collar" for manual labor/working-class jobs, and the phrase "pink collar" is used for fields predominantly occupied by women, such as teaching and nursing. But there’s a new collar color on the horizon that cuts across these class and gender distinctions. "Green collar" jobs include any occupation related to environmental issues: the category encompasses lower-wage solar panel installation positions all the way up to high-paying research and executive positions.
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New bill looks to alleviate Texas’ feral hog problem, but will anything…
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureThe Texas Legislature is back in session for the first time since 2017. Compared to the furor surrounding the use of poison to control the feral hog population in Texas during the last session of the legislature, things are relatively quiet regarding legislation directly related to outdoor activities this time around. However, two identical bills in the House and Senate might look interesting for residents concerned about the feral hog problem in Texas: House Bill 3550 and Senate Bill 317. Introduced by Rep. John Cyrier and Sen. Bryan Hughes, HB 3550 and SB 317 would remove the existing requirement to possess a hunting license to kill feral hogs on private land in Texas.
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Climate change and the price of being poor
LeRon L. Barton Waste Management & EnvironmentalIf you were to ask most people in low-income communities where climate change would rank in degree of importance, I would wager that it would be pretty low. This is not to say that folks living in these neighborhoods don't care or have no knowledge about the issues that affect the environment, it's just that paying the rent or mortgage, getting to work, and the stress of living in poverty take precedence. However, in 2019, there may be a change in how climate change is viewed, due to new legislation, research, and outreach.
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Supreme Court rules on controversial Alaska waters case
Michelle R. Matisons Recreation & LeisureAfter 12 years of legal battling, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in a controversial Alaska public lands case. Sturgeon v. Frost is resolved for now, but this does not mean that the issues of federal vs. state regulations concerning Alaska's public lands, including navigable waterways, are settled. In 2007, the National Park Service confronted moose hunter John Sturgeon for hover-crafting on Alaska’s Nation River. This activity is not allowed by the NPS because of its impact on waterways, and Sturgeon reacted that he had the right to hovercraft there since the waterway is regulated by the state, not the NPS.
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Facilities managers and spring cleaning: The time is now
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsThere's something about the spring that motivates us to clean. The end of the internal hibernation of winter is no different for facilities managers. As the days get longer and warmer, there's no better time than now to evaluate the building you manage to ensure it survived the brutality of winter and is ready for the coming dog days of summer. For those professionals who have been in the facility management game for a bit, the following information likely is routine. For newcomers, there's no better time than the changing of the season than to make spring cleaning and maintenance routine.
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America may need to rethink how it handles recycling
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalYears of educational programs and campaigns to drive awareness about recycling in the U.S. may be headed for the trash. As it turns out, the waste produced by consumption is overwhelming to the point that recycled materials no longer have a marketplace. According to The Atlantic, much of the recycled material is ending up in the trash. Where was the recycled trash going? China. Tons and tons of it were sent over on ships, with the materials remade into shoes and bags and new plastic products. But that’s changed.
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