December 4th, 2012 by TRT Blog

At The Refinishing Touch, we are constantly staying informed on the latest research findings surrounding the sustainability efforts in the hospitality, government and higher education industries. These statistics give us valuable insight into our clientele, as well as provide us with an overview of the long-term goals each sector is striving towards.

Recently, three different surveys narrowed in on hospitality’s shift towards a greener and healthier lifestyle for guests. As providers of cost-effective, sustainable refinishing and re-upholstery solutions for many world-leading hotel brands, such as Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and more, we’ve witnessed the gradual change first-hand, and the research in these surveys offer a look into probable sustainability trends of the future:

- According to a Deloitte poll of 1,000 business travelers in the US, 95% of respondents believed all hotels should be implementing green initiatives

- The same Deloitte poll showed that 35% had taken steps to determine whether a hotel was green – through online research, requesting information over the phone or other forms of research

- A 2012 Canadian Travel Intentions survey found that 42% of business travelers said that recycling and energy efficiency matter to them when making hotel accommodations

- The Canadian report also found that 42% would be willing to pay $1 or more to offset their carbon footprint during a stay at a hotel or inn

- Euromonitor listed Marriott as the most eco-friendly brand among all global hotel chains, based off of the company’s recent pledge to reduce water and energy consumption by 20% in 2020 and initiatives to reduce its overall carbon footprint

The Marriot brand demonstrated its environmental preservation efforts when calling on The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management to renovate existing furniture at Marriott hotels and resorts across the US, including its Renaissance Hotels and Residence Inn subdivisions. Our services helped the hotel giant save 80 percent in renovation costs, and over 90 percent in carbon emission output, when compared to buying new.

For more information on how to increase cost savings and lessen the carbon footprint at your own hotel, university or government office, request a free quote today. If you’re curious about your personal carbon emission production, then access our carbon footprint calculator here. The results may surprise you!

Canadian Travel Intentions Survey, carbon footprint, Deloitte poll, eco-friendly, Euromonitor, green, hospitality, Hotels, lodging, Marriott hotels, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch

February 14th, 2012 by TRT Blog

It’s the season of expensive gifts, dinners and heart-shaped cards, but this year, why not shower your loved one with beautiful gifts that are also environmentally-friendly? We’ve done our research and have come up with some great ideas to please your sweetheart and Mother Nature:

Chocolates. When you’re picking out the best looking box of chocolates this February 14^th, these will be free of pesticides, will help support sustainable agriculture and will support the workers who produced the. Plus, who doesn’t like a tasty box of chocolates?

Flowers. Flowers are a staple for Valentine’s Day, and although the florist right around the corner is convenient, try thinking ahead this year. Organic and fair-trade flowers cost about the same as regular flowers, but are grown with the environment and the workers in mind.

Unique Gifts.  Try thinking out of the (chocolate) box this year. Choose something for your loved one that will stand out and last all year long. Pick up a unique fair-trade gift, such this hand-painted jewelry box to make an extra special, thoughtful gift.

Regardless of the gifts you give on Valentine’s Day this year, do your best to choose those that don’t harm the environment. While it may not be the most conventional route, there are plenty of products out there that are made with recycled materials that are not only romantic but will reduce your environmental impact as well.

eco-friendly, fair-trade, sustainable

February 10th, 2012 by TRT Blog

As sustainability steadily moves from a trend to a necessity, we’ve begun to see all of our target industries—education, government, and hospitality—re-consider how things are done, not only to save money, but to attract customers as well. Previously underrated and essentially nonexistent, green MBA programs are finally gaining the respect and attention they deserve.

For most of these emerging green MBA programs, the courses combine traditional business with focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices, including how finances come into play. Overall, green MBA programs teach students to combine real world business practices with a sustainable mindset. As the environment continues to be a critical, widely-discussed issue, it’s clear that the business world will need to adapt, and graduates with this new type of MBA will be at the forefront.

Babson College is a great example of how schools are integrating sustainability into its curriculum. Instead of simply offering courses related to sustainability, Babson students can choose an eco-friendly concentration. In other words, Babson treats sustainability as a focus, not an afterthought.

With the right education and determination, graduates can help shape the business world into a more eco-friendly and socially responsible place, which to us, sounds like something worth studying.

Babson College, eco-friendly, Green MBA, Sustainability

February 7th, 2012 by TRT Blog

With an increasing demand for eco-friendly practices, many industries have already begun their own initiatives in an effort to increase and standardize sustainability. With continued advancements, both socially and technologically, going green is a reality for many sectors. However, not all industries have had such luck. One industry in particular has come under fire for the little advancements that have been made in innovation and green practices: construction.

According to an article by Construction Digital, over the past few decades the construction industry has seen little movement towards green building. Although the demand for green building has increased and much of the appropriate technology is available, construction has not changed in the ways other industries have. Many have argued that the construction industry has not become more environmentally friendly due to the high costs of replacing machinery, an area which largely has seen little to zero new technology. 

Despite its past, the construction sector has a hopeful future. Sustainable technology continues to advance (as well as become less expensive) and will soon help to ease the transition into green building. However, one issue for green building that has remained unresolved is the translation from digital designs to physical materials. Exciting new technologies such as 3D printing is emerging as a technology that can speed up the building process and most likely require little man power. This technology is already being applied around the world—a 30 story skyscraper was recently completed in less than 360 hours in China using similar technology.

While as a refinishing and refurbishing company, we try to incorporate as many sustainable practices into our business as possible, we also understand those practices aren’t as plausible for other industries. We hope that the construction industry continues to look for sustainably alternatives to help it catch up with the demand for green building and structures as well as seek out new, emerging technologies to help it get there.

construction, eco-friendly, green, green building, sustainable

January 31st, 2012 by TRT Blog

As the importance and need for sustainability grows, many businesses have begun taking action to reduce their carbon footprints and environmental impact. As traveling is a large part of most business ventures, the demand for eco-friendly travel options has continued to increase. Even though businesses are making more of an effort to pursue green travel plans and options, they often aren’t sure where to begin. Here is a list of ideas that can help businesses, and individuals, incorporate sustainability when traveling around the world:

Necessity: First make sure that a business trip is absolutely necessary. With the marvels of modern technology and great services such as Skype, GoToMeeting and Google+, it’s easy to utilize time and money with face-to-face meetings, even if you’re miles away, without ever leaving the office.

Public Transportation: Taking the subway, including to and from the airport, is a great way to reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Subways are fast and accessible and are conveniently located in most cities. Plus it saves money, as subway fare often costs far less than renting a car.

Hybrids/Eco-Friendly vehicles: If you happen to land in a location where public transportation is not readily available, many cities now flooded with hybrid taxis, and renting a hybrid car is also an easy way to save money on gas and reduce environmental impact.

Air Travel: As airplane travel produces 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, choosing an airline that is environmentally conscious can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Germany’s Lufthansa and Air Canada have both made significant strides in obtaining a carbon-neutral status. If your choice of airline is limited, think about purchasing environmental credits to offset your plane travel emissions.

Lodging: Before booking a hotel room, research hotels that are implementing green initiatives. There is a growing trend in the hospitality world to go green, so these hotels shouldn’t be hard to find. If a certified green hotel isn’t in the cards, be conscious of your actions during your stay—opt out of every day linen and towel washing, during a short stay choose to decline room cleaning and remember to turn the lights off when you leave your room.

Dining: While most of your meals might be eaten on the run, if you have time to sit down look for restaurants, in your hotel or otherwise, that have implemented sustainable methods. Many restaurants these days will advertise where they’ve gotten their food, so choose dishes that feature locally, seasonally grown and organic ingredients to help reduce your carbon footprint and fill your belly.

While it’s not always easy to travel green, it’s important to make the effort to fly, lodge and eat as sustainability as possible to help save the environment and make our world a better place. To learn more about how businessmen and women are traveling green, read an interesting Financial Post article here.

eco-friendly, green, hybrids, Sustainability, Travel

January 20th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Going green is no longer a novel idea on college campuses nationwide, it has become a necessity. One school, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, has plans to build eco-friendly housing for its students. In the works for the past three years, the college will replace popular housing in need of repair with eco-friendly dorms complete with cutting edge technology

Cost has persuaded the school to replace these facilities rather than renovate, as the project is expected to reduce energy consumption by 75%. While many fear losing the old structures because they a part of the college’s history, the new plans will certainly make history of their own.

The students in these seven cottages will enjoy state-of-the-art faculties; the school is calling them an eco-village. Each cottage will house nine students, each helping to reduce the schools’ carbon footprint. The cottages will include energy efficient amenities like washers and dryers, water conserving bathroom features, and each building will be repositioned to use solar power. In addition the entire eco-village will feature a solar plaza which will power the entire complex and a rain garden around the perimeter.

To read the college’s entire plan, read the article here.

carbon footprint, eco-friendly, energy consumption, energy efficient, renovate

August 6th, 2010 by TRT Blog

It is said you grow wiser with age. Or that as you mature, so does your palette. Both may be true. Though any age can be discerning.

A new study in the workplace among Generation Y, basically people born between 1981 and 2000, found that they have certain expectations of what they want from their employers in their workplaces; and a green workplace is one of them.

The study found that respondents wanted to work in organizations that were ‘on the cutting edge’ of technology, where they could work effectively.  And when asked about work environment, they said they didn’t just prefer employers who provide eco-friendly conditions, but they wanted them to exceed minimum compliance standards.

Logic dictates that if this generation expects above average working conditions with regards to green practices, then it’s probable that these workers when they’re traveling  for work or pleasure, are going to hold the same, if not higher, standards to the entire travel industry.

It’s refreshing the leaders of tomorrow say that they have standards and want to see organizations demonstrating theirs. This also presents an opportunity for every hotel and travel destination to demonstrate its sustainability and commitment to green, and a lost demographic for those that don’t.

eco-friendly, environment, green, Sustainability