March 15th, 2013 by TRT Blog

84 ski resorts in the Western United States were evaluated and ranked last month by the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition for its annual environmental report card, and it’s great to see so many well-known ski areas topping the list and continuing an ongoing commitment to sustainability.

In addition to information submitted by resorts, ranks were determined based on information compiled from various web sites and public documents pertaining to 35 criteria points across four categories, and evaluated based on ski areas’ environmental practices, including environmental policies and regulations, addressing climate change, habitat protection, and watershed protection.

However, here at The Refinishing Touch, we were surprised to find that a resort’s score was subject to a significant drop while undergoing expansions or renovations. As a company that specializes in sustainable furniture asset management solutions, we are well-versed in the workings of a successful environmentally-friendly development project. While everyone, from ski resorts to college campuses, must still pay careful attention to the land on which they choose to expand, they can begin to eradicate a move’s negative environmental impacts by implementing some of the countless sustainable options available today.

Through the utilization of The Refinishing Touch’s furniture refinishing services, our customers have been able to undergo major construction and renovation projects whilst simultaneously reducing their carbon emissions as much as 90%. Instead of buying new, organizations can refinish, refurbish, or reupholster existing furniture with non-toxic, low VOC lacquers – eliminating harmful landfill waste, carbon impact, and negative effects to surrounding air, trees, water and communities.

Although we were disappointed to see poor results from resorts such as the Arizona Snowbowl – that have reportedly begun making snow with 100% sewage effluent – the overall ski industry’s improvement in just a year’s time is encouraging. We hope these results will serve to inspire even more resorts in the years to come.

For more information on The Refinishing Touch and its services please visit the website at www.therefinishingtouch.com. For full ranking and results from the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition, please click here.

Arizona Snowbowl, development, environment, furniture asset management, Park City Mountain Resort, refinish, refinishing, refurbishing, rennovations, reuphostering, Ski Area Citizen's Coalition, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch, Western United States

March 12th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we’re continuously dedicated to upholding the highest environmental standards and, in turn, commending others who are striving towards the same goal. We do this through distributing Sustainability Awards to deserving businesses in the hospitality sector, and this quarter, 12 companies received our environmental recognition.

We want to take the time to congratulate this quarter’s winners, who have successfully executed practices that reduce carbon impact and the overall amount of landfill waste, by implementing green practices like The Refinishing Touch’s refinishing, remanufacturing and re-upholstery services during renovations.

The winners of this past quarter’s Sustainability Awards include Best Western Fort Walton; Best Western Jacksonville; Best Western King of Prussia; Best Western Ocean Reef; Best Western Plus Flathead Lake; Candlewood Suites Killeen; Hilton Garden Charleston; Hilton Garden Inn Columbia; Towne Place Federal; and Towne Place Tech. The Refinishing Touch is proud to have worked with each of these recognized establishments and hope to see their continued, sustainable success.

Typically, large-scale renovations in the hospitality sector create mass amounts of landfill waste and environmentally-damaging carbon emissions. However, by choosing to reuse furniture, re-upholster soft assets and refinish case goods using our non-toxic, low VOC lacquers, a restoration project’s carbon footprint can be reduced by nearly 90 percent – creating lasting, award-winning results without damaging the environment or one’s budget.

For more information on The Refinishing Touch, please visit the website at www.therefinishingtouch.com. To learn how your establishment can win a Sustainability Award from The Refinishing Touch, request a free quote today.

Best Western, Candlewood Suites, environmental preservation, Hilton, hospitality, Hotels, re-upholstery, refinishing, Sustainability Awards, The Refinishing Touch, Towne Place

March 1st, 2013 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we pride ourselves in delivering top-of-the-line, sustainable and fiscally responsible furniture asset management services, delivering to a customer base of over 20,000 clients throughout the hospitality, government and higher education industries.

For over 35 years, our innovative furniture refinishing processes – which are clean, non-toxic and feature no hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – have helped us receive national recognition, winning the General Service Administration’s Evergreen Award for environmental consciousness, the Most Innovative Small Business Award, and being named as part of the White House’s transition team.

And now, we are thrilled to announce The Refinishing Touch has been certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant by the International Organization for Standardization, with certificate number 588518. This type of certification is given to organizations that continually demonstrate the ability to enhance customer satisfaction whilst producing a service and abiding by statutory and regulatory systems – a priority of ours since The Refinishing Touch’s inception in 1977.

Staying true to the bigger, greener picture and mainlining cost-effective services is what we’re all about. To date, The Refinishing Touch’s refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing services have saved an estimated three million tons of carbon dioxide and nine million trees, while simultaneously saving our clients an average of 80 percent in budget costs.

Learn more about our newly acquired ISO 9001:2008 certification by reading the full press release here. To inquire about our refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing services at your own establishment, please email us today for a free quote.

customer satisfaction, furniture asset management, ISO 9001:2008, ISO certification, The Refinishing Touch, VOCs, White House

December 7th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Last month the Governor’s Sustainability Awards and the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact Awards Program recognized 42 local universities, businesses and government bodies for implementing environmentally-friendly initiatives and their commitment to a sustainable future.  These awards have been presented to organizations in the state of Illinois for over twenty years.

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we are always thrilled to hear about organizations across our target industries – higher education, government, and hospitality – that are working to decrease their environmental impact and carbon footprints. One of the most important requirements to win the award is: “demonstrate a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices that will also save money and help the economy.”

The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services help our clients do just that. Through refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing, our clients save an average of 80 percent in project costs and 90 percent in carbon emission, when compared to buying new furniture.

Recently, we started our own awards program, the Sustainability Awards, which similar to the Governor’s Sustainability Awards and the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact Awards Program, to recognize organizations across different industries for their commitment to a greener future. For our company, since implementing the awards and continuing to expand our services to organizations worldwide, we have seen an increase in those interested in sustainable solutions.

As Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn said about the awards, by encouraging innovation across universities, businesses and organizations, we can create jobs and increase investments across all environmentally-conscious sectors. And we couldn’t agree more.

businesses, cost efficiency, furniture asset management, Government, Governor Patrick Quinn, Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact Awards Program, re-upholstery, refinishing, The Refinishing Touch, Universities

October 19th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Over the past week, The Refinishing Touch has been tipping its hats to several businesses in the hospitality industry that have been demonstrating a commitment to environmental preservation. Not only have we extended praise through our blog series, but we’ve also recently rewarded 29 hospitality companies with the latest installment of our quarterly Sustainability Awards.

The latest chain to set a great example for the industry is none other than the Marriott International, a hospitality giant with $12 billion in revenue across hospitality locations in 74 countries. The Marriot has announced that 75 percent of its furniture, fixtures and equipment budget for fiscal year 2013 will be dedicated to employing the services of suppliers who are part of the MindClick Hospitality Sustainability Performance Index.

The MindClick Index analyzes suppliers in terms of corporate social responsibility, product sustainability efforts and environmentally-friendly operations. Marriott has announced that the index will be an important factor in choosing its future suppliers, in an increased effort to go green.

Recent studies conducted by MindClick have revealed that sustainable initiatives are not only important, but are becoming crucial in retaining customers. For example, two out of three Expedia consumers believe hotels need to be environmentally-conscious and proactive about sustainability efforts in an order to protect communities and the earth.

As a supplier of on-site, environmentally-safe and sustainable furniture asset management services such as refinishing and reupholstering, we’ve worked in various Marriott hotels all over the nation, and our services have even trickled into Marriott’s subdivisions – the Residence Inn and the Renaissance Hotels and Resorts.

For more information on our production team’s latest renovations projects in the hospitality, government and higher education industries, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter, InTouch.

Are you unfamiliar with our newsletter? Then browse our updated archives here, and read some of the previous issues. As always, we encourage you to stay ‘in touch’ – tweet us your thoughts on sustainability in the hospitality industry today!

Expedia, furniture asset management, Government, higher education, hospitality, intouch, Marriott International, MindClick Hospitality Sustainability Performance Index, newsletter, refinishing, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, Residence Inn, reupholstering, Sustainability, Sustainability Awards, The Refinishing Touch, twitter

September 25th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we firmly believe that sustainability matters when it comes to the expenditure bottom line in businesses’ supply chains. When we came across a recent study that identified business management practices and effective cost saving approaches, we couldn’t help but share the findings with our readers.

The innovative study, conducted by Forbes, ASQ, Deloitte and The Institute for Supply Management, followed a product through the entirety of its lifecycle and looked at the actions that most efficiently increased supply chain sustainability. The research team pinpointed key business management practices that foster sustainability and cost savings, which included:

-        Creating a corporate culture that embraces sustainability

-        Participating in and discuss sustainability initiatives with supply chain members

-        Rewarding suppliers for sharing expertise about sustainability, even utilizing monetary rewards

-        Awarding suppliers future business opportunities for their commitment to sustainability

-        Highlighting sustainability efforts to attract and retain employees who value renewable business practices

-        Hosting sustainable education events

At The Refinishing Touch, we do our part in fostering an eco-friendly environment by distributing our Sustainability Awards, which we offer quarterly to honor companies in the hospitality industry that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainable business practices. We hope our awards will not only provide motivation for the companies to continue green practices throughout future renovations, but also encourage competitors to join in the sustainability trend.

Our own commitment to sustainability is also demonstrated through offering renewable furniture asset management services, including refinishing, reupholstering and remanufacturing to clientele in the higher education, hospitality and government sectors.

To view the most recent batch of Sustainability Award winners, please click here. For more information on how The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services can be a part of your business practices, visit our website at www.therefinishingtouch.com.

ASQ, Business, business management practices, cost savings, Deloitte, Forbes, furniture asset management, Government, higher education, hospitality, refinishing, remanufacturing, reupholstering, Sustainability, Sustainability Awards, The Institute for Supply Management, The Refinishing Touch

September 18th, 2012 by TRT Blog

As suppliers of on-site, safe and sustainable furniture asset management services, The Refinishing Touch commends businesses that invest in environmental preservation, especially when undergoing renovations. To commemorate such companies, The Refinishing Touch distributes its quarterly Sustainability Awards to deserving hospitality organizations all across the nation.

Today, The Refinishing Touch is pleased to announce the latest batch of winners to receive its Sustainability Awards. This past quarter, The Refinishing Touch proudly distributed the awards to 29 eco-conscious companies in the hospitality industry that demonstrated green initiatives during restoration.

To qualify for the awards, businesses in the hospitality sector must demonstrate a commitment to eco-friendly efforts, including refinishing, remanufacturing, and reupholstering. These strategies reduce a renovation project’s carbon footprint and minimize landfill waste. The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services alone have reduced clients’ carbon emissions by nearly 90 percent, resulting in a three-million-ton total reduction in emissions.

To read the complete list of winners, please read the press release here. The Refinishing Touch congratulates all of the businesses that received awards, and encourages the winners to keep up with the great work!

For more information on The Refinishing Touch’s services, or to get a free quote for the services at your business, visit the website at www.therefinishingtouch.com.

Business, carbon footprint, environmental preservation, furniture asset management, Government, higher education, hospitality, Hotels, landfill waste, refinishing, remanufacturing, reupholstering, Sustainability, Sustainability Awards, The Refinishing Touch

March 20th, 2012 by TRT Blog

For the fourth year in a row, Indiana State University has received the Tree Campus USA Award for their increasing involvement in environmental sustainability via their community forestry management program. This award is issued by the Arbor Day Foundation to universities across the country that make a conscious effort to plant new trees and recognize the importance of spreading knowledge about environmental sustainability.

ISU’s plan, which has involved community forestry programs, creating a tree canopy on campus that has managed to survive two droughts, and encouraging student involvement has been such a success that it is being seen as the model for which other universities should follow. ISU continues to both meet and exceed the five markers needed in order to receive the Tree Campus USA Award: have a tree conservation committee, devise a campus tree-care plan, dedicate funds to support the program, observe Arbor Day, and sponsor campus-wide student service-learning projects.

The Refinishing Touch firmly believes that ISU is a shining example of the growing awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability. This program aims to spread this knowledge amongst ISU’s student body in hopes that it will trickle down to their local communities and result in a conscious effort to integrate sustainability and environmental awareness into everyday actions and habits. Here at The Refinishing Touch, we can only hope that what starts off as a movement can become a permanent part in everyone’s life.

Arbor Day, Arbor Day Foundation, environment, Indiana State University, ISU, Sustainability, Tree Campus USA award

January 17th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Since 2006, the American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has collected over 674 signatories for the cause. ACUPCC has aimed to combat global climate change through a network of high education institutions that have committed to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions as well as increase research and education to promote the importance of sustainability.

The ACUPCC states that signatories will set a target date and interim goals to become climate neutral, integrate sustainability into the educational experience, and more. The most recent university to announce its sustainability target date is University of Wisconsin, Green Bay (UWGB).

The school has recently set a plan of action to become climate-neutral by 2050. The university has categorized its campus emissions into three categories: direct emissions from university owned and controlled sources, emissions from products that deliver on-campus energy, and emissions related to university operations.

UWGB’s climate plan was released campus-wide for an entire institutional collaboration. To learn more about UWGB’s sustainability plans read the entire article here. To learn more about the American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment visit the website.

ACUPCC, climate change, education, greenhouse gas, Sustainability, University of Wisconsin

January 6th, 2012 by TRT Blog

As sustainability becomes more important, schools have begun to take the notion of ‘going green’ more seriously. Not only does energy efficiency save money and the environment, it has increasingly become a draw for students. The Department of Education, through its new ‘Green Ribbon’ awards, will be recognizing public schools of all levels around the country for being environmentally conscious.

Experts around the country have made it clear: schools don’t have to be originally built for sustainability in order to lower their carbon footprints. According to senior associate at the nonprofit, Global Green USA, Ted Bardacke, simply by keeping the thermostat at a certain temperature in both the winter and summer, as well as turning off lights and computers at the end of the day, schools can dramatically decrease their energy usage—up to 30 percent.

Very few states have actual environmental education requirements, but through creative teaching, schools can bring learning and sustainability together. For example: English courses can think of creative recycling campaigns, while math courses can learn to calculate a school’s carbon footprint.

As a refinishing and refurbishing company, we support schools of all levels moving towards sustainability. We’re sure that all of the winning schools will be more than worthy!

States begin nominating schools in December and the Department of Education will announce awards in the spring. To read the entire article visit USNews.com and to learn more about the Green Ribbon program visit Ed.gov.

carbon footprint, Department of Education, Global Green USA, Green Ribbon awards, Sustainability