http://www.environmentalleader.com Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 17:41:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/shaw-industries-kilian-reveal-chemical-substitution-successes/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/shaw-industries-kilian-reveal-chemical-substitution-successes/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 14:27:50 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77277 German sign manufacturer Kilian Industrieschilder and carpet firm Shaw Industries are among the companies that have found environmentally friendly substitutes for problematic or dangerous chemicals in their manufacturing processes, according to the backers of a new online tool for manufacturers. According The International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec), one of the organizations behind online substitutions tool SubsPort, [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/shaw-industries-kilian-reveal-chemical-substitution-successes/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/23/cintas-eco-apparel-saves-8-5-million-trees/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/23/cintas-eco-apparel-saves-8-5-million-trees/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:30:00 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74832 Cintas Corporation says it has helped eliminate more than 15 million plastic bottles from the waste stream by reuing plastic waste in its eco-apparel product line, and saved 8.5 million trees through document shredding services. The company, which manufactures corporate uniforms, entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products and more, says it has also reduced water [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/23/cintas-eco-apparel-saves-8-5-million-trees/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/05/dignity-healthcare-taps-medline-industries-for-dye-free-plastic/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/05/dignity-healthcare-taps-medline-industries-for-dye-free-plastic/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:27:48 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=73576 Dignity Health has become the first health system in the U.S. to switch to dye-free patient plastics. Under the new initiative, Dignity Health will replace everyday products that are used at the patient’s bedside, such as bed pans (pictured), wash basins, water pitchers and drinking cups, with pigment-free products from Medline Industries in all of [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/05/dignity-healthcare-taps-medline-industries-for-dye-free-plastic/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/30/danone-developing-bio-based-bottles-with-avantium/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/30/danone-developing-bio-based-bottles-with-avantium/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:30:54 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=73153 Danone, the global food and drinks manufacturer, has partnered with biotech company Avantium to produce bio-based plastic bottles made from renewable material that won’t threaten food resources. Avantium, a spinoff from oil company Royal Dutch Shell, uses a chemical-catalytic technology called YXY to convert carbohydrates from grains, energy crops and other non-food sources, including waste [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/30/danone-developing-bio-based-bottles-with-avantium/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/09/over-90-universities-curbing-bottled-water-sales-borealis-biomass-launch-packaging/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/09/over-90-universities-curbing-bottled-water-sales-borealis-biomass-launch-packaging/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:10:35 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=71538 Brown, Harvard, the University of Vermont and about 90 other educational institutes are banning sales or restricting use of plastic water bottles due to student activism or administrations’ sustainable policy plans, in moves that may affect the $22 billion U.S. retail packaged-water industry, Bloomberg said. The University of Vermont is the latest to join the [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/09/over-90-universities-curbing-bottled-water-sales-borealis-biomass-launch-packaging/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/08/standards-compliance-nsfansi-fabrics-volvo-50001-green-globe/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/08/standards-compliance-nsfansi-fabrics-volvo-50001-green-globe/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:40:22 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=71477 Glen Raven Custom Fabrics says it is the first company to declare compliance under the NSF/ANSI 336 Sustainable Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabrics. Two of Glen Raven’s new Sunbrella contract fabrics have attained silver level compliance with the sustainability standard, adopted by the Association of Contract Textiles (ACT) in 2011, writes Specialty Fabrics Review. Volvo [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/08/standards-compliance-nsfansi-fabrics-volvo-50001-green-globe/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/19/kaiser-permanente-switches-to-pvc-and-dehp-free-iv-bags/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/19/kaiser-permanente-switches-to-pvc-and-dehp-free-iv-bags/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:07:43 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=68595 Kaiser Permanente announced today that it is converting its IV medical equipment to alternatives free of PVC and DEHP, two industrial chemicals that the company says have been shown to harm human and environmental health. Kaiser Permanente has agreed to purchase IV solution bags that are 100 percent PVC- and DEHP-free and intravenous tubing that [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/19/kaiser-permanente-switches-to-pvc-and-dehp-free-iv-bags/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/09/recyclers-arrested-charged-with-stealing-plastic/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/09/recyclers-arrested-charged-with-stealing-plastic/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:01:00 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=68016 Los Angeles police made three arrests at two recycling businesses after discovering over $250,000 worth of stolen plastic containers, according to the county sheriff’s department. Deputies with the department’s Industrial Plastic Theft Task Force made the discovery Dec. 19 as part of an ongoing investigation into trademarked plastic theft and grinding operations. The task force [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/09/recyclers-arrested-charged-with-stealing-plastic/feed/ 3 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/22/sustainable-packaging-briefing-defra-recycling-targets-polyden-folien-cardia-bioplastics-seattle-bag-ban/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/22/sustainable-packaging-briefing-defra-recycling-targets-polyden-folien-cardia-bioplastics-seattle-bag-ban/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:12:03 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=67401 The UK Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has introduced proposals for tougher packaging recycling targets to stop 400,000 tons going to landfill by 2017. The proposal includes: increasing the plastics recycling target by five percent per year, from 32 percent to 57 percent by 2017; increasing the aluminum recycling target by three percent per [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/22/sustainable-packaging-briefing-defra-recycling-targets-polyden-folien-cardia-bioplastics-seattle-bag-ban/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/15/standards-compliance-briefing-iso-50001-leed-carb-global-reporting-initiative/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/15/standards-compliance-briefing-iso-50001-leed-carb-global-reporting-initiative/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:45:52 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=66825 Impact Exhibition Management Co., operators of the Impact Arena and Convention Centre in Thailand, is the nation’s first firm to receive ISO 50001 certification for efficient energy management, the Bangkok Post writes. Ahead of applying for ISO 50001, the company found that electricity accounted for 90 percent of its energy usage, and reduced consumption per [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/15/standards-compliance-briefing-iso-50001-leed-carb-global-reporting-initiative/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/09/hasbro-to-cut-pvc-from-packaging-beats-10-ghg-goal/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/09/hasbro-to-cut-pvc-from-packaging-beats-10-ghg-goal/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:05:59 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=66479 Hasbro will eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all new core toy and game packaging beginning in 2013, the company has announced, as it launches its 2010 corporate social responsibility report. The company says it has already started to phase out PVC from some packaging. It says its 2013 commitment will cover blister and window box [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/09/hasbro-to-cut-pvc-from-packaging-beats-10-ghg-goal/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/08/standards-compliance-briefing-green-building-initiative-leed-gri-international-maritime-organization/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/08/standards-compliance-briefing-green-building-initiative-leed-gri-international-maritime-organization/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:24 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=66397 The Green Building Initiative released its Guiding Principles Compliance certification program for existing buildings – a tool designed to help federal agencies comply with sustainability requirements in federally owned or leased buildings. A 2009 executive order says that by 2015, 15 percent of federal buildings 5,000 square feet or larger must incorporate sustainable practices. The Department of [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/08/standards-compliance-briefing-green-building-initiative-leed-gri-international-maritime-organization/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/07/purell-dispenser-cuts-down-on-plastic/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/07/purell-dispenser-cuts-down-on-plastic/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:29:39 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=66317 Gojo Industries, the company behind Purell instant hand sanitizer, has released dispensers that it says use less material and are more recyclable. The Gojo ADX Dispensing System, the result of four years of development, dispenses Gojo and Purell formulations. These include a line of new USDA Biobased- and EcoLogo-certified formulations in sustainable packaging, the company [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/07/purell-dispenser-cuts-down-on-plastic/feed/ 2 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/05/utt-to-turn-park-waste-into-carpet-backing/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/05/utt-to-turn-park-waste-into-carpet-backing/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:11 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=66227 Universal Textile Technologies has formed a partnership with Grand Teton National Park to convert bottles from the park into backing for carpet and synthetic turf products. The PET Park Project will also educate park visitors on the reuse of discarded plastic bottles. Project partners include Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, CPE, Inc. and the [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/05/utt-to-turn-park-waste-into-carpet-backing/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/01/plant-to-develop-green-textile-component/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/01/plant-to-develop-green-textile-component/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:16:29 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=66057 Verdezyne has opened a pilot plant to produce adipic acid, a key component in a “green” nylon that could be used in carpets, clothing and other textiles. The industrial biotech company will use the facility (pictured) in Carlsbad, California to accelerate commercialization of bio-based adipic acid, which is used to make both nylon 6,6 and [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/12/01/plant-to-develop-green-textile-component/feed/ 1