August 2021

Acknowledging a problem is where the solving process has to begin. In our last blog, Sustainability Director, Garry Knox discussed the Climate Change Report issued by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel. Clearly, the alarming concerns addressed by this report will require action on a large scale, but that does not negate the positive impact every small action has toward finding a solution. Don’t let the “what difference can I make?” perception deter you from making a cognizant effort in minimizing your carbon footprint. You alone, and we together can make a real difference. We’re not here to tell you we have the answer to climate change. What we have done, though, is compile a list of some easy-to-implement lifestyle changes that can ensure you’re doing your part to contribute to a better ecosystem for future generations.  10. Recycle Let’s start with the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind. Recycling is probably the easiest way we can minimize our carbon footprint. Most municipalities make it super easy to recycle nowadays. A quick Google search (recycling in *insert city*) can lead you to the specifics for your local facility. 9. Reduce Water and Energy Usage It’s much easier said than done, but by simply being conscious of our habits throughout our day-to-day routines, we can slowly start to make changes that help us achieve our goal. There are countless small things we can do that add up, like taking shorter showers, not running the water while brushing your teeth or shaving, turning off lights when you’re not in a room, shutting down computers and other electronics, and buying energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs—just to name a few. 8. Eliminate Plastic Plastic is everywhere—we get it. When we’re in public spaces, sometimes it’s out of our control. But at work and home, it’s definitely achievable. A lot of the plastic we use daily can be replaced with reusable products, like water bottles, food storage containers, grocery bags, straws, etc. Even when we’re shopping, there are usually options (sometimes they cost a bit more) packaged in paper or cardboard instead of plastic. We’ve noticed a lot of companies using bamboo as a replacement for plastic as well. Again, we understand it’s not happening overnight, but incremental changes will have you plastic-free in no time at all! 7. Go Digital A digital lifestyle admittedly is harder for some than others. In this day and age, however, if we make the effort, it turns out to be pretty easy. Bills can be paid online, documents can be shared and edited through a variety of applications, most stores allow you to choose to receive your receipts digitally—we honestly can’t come up with a situation where paper is absolutely necessary. Can you? 6. Ditch the Car (When Possible) Obviously, if you have a 30-minute commute to work in a car, biking or walking isn’t an option. Is carpooling a possibility? Is there a public transit route that will get you there in a reasonable amount of time? Maybe not, but if there is, consider it. Even if it’s not possible in your daily commute to work, when you’re attending an event, having dinner with your family, or meeting friends out for a drink, think about walking, biking, carpooling, or taking the bus. Again, simply being cognizant of these options at all times will help us all make better choices for the environment. 5. Meatless Mondays “Woah, Woah, Woah. Now they’ve gone too far!” Hear us out. We’re headquartered in Kansas City, considered by many to be the champion of BBQ, so cutting meat out of our diet isn’t taken lightly. But what if we just do it one day out of the week? The climate impact of meat, specifically industrial factory farms, is enormous—roughly equivalent to all the driving and flying of every car, truck, and plane in the world. So cutting out our meat consumption one day out of the week can have a massive impact on minimizing our carbon footprint. And to take it a step further, try purchasing locally sourced meat and produce; it tastes better too! 4. Smart Home Renovations The new craze of the last decade seems to be flipping houses. How many more home improvement shows can they come up with? We have a feeling we will find out. But if you’re buying a new home and flipping it, or maybe you’re just tackling one small project at a time as you form your house into your dream home, think sustainably. There is an endless list of smart tech that can increase your home efficiency, not to mention products like eco-friendly insulation and solar panels, which are surprisingly affordable with city rebates. Any home project you’re working on, big or small, always keep in mind, “How can we make this more sustainable?” 3. Ethical Purchasing Decisions Whether we’re talking about food, clothes, or personal care products, these days there is always an option that has the environment in mind. Of course, sometimes this takes a little due diligence on our part to confirm its legitimacy. There is no short supply of products claiming to be “green” for one reason or another when in fact many aspects of their business are not. But some simple things we can do is shop from local suppliers as often as possible. Check out antique shops and vintage clothing stores–the stuff is usually super cool too. And pass on fast fashion. Buy clothing that is quality and long-lasting or even made out of repurposed fabrics! These garments might cost a little more, but you’ll get your mileage out of them and then some.  2. Support Sustainable Causes Plastic Soup Foundation, Water.org, tentree, 4Ocean, Natural Resources Defense Council, Greenpeace, Rainforest Alliance, WildlifeDirect—just pick one. We couldn’t list them all if we tried. There are countless wonderful charity organizations out there doing great things to lower our impact on the environment and oceans and leave a better planet for our children. If you’ve got a budget, you can

On Monday, August 9th, a report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was issued and delivers the starkest warnings yet. The latest findings, approved by 195 member states, deal with the physical science basis of climate change and the contribution of humans to that change. Many world leaders, particularly those of the 50 countries said to be at greatest risk have reacted strongly to the report, with the U.K. Prime Minister stating that this is a “wake up call to the world.”  The UN’s Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has labeled it a “code red for humanity.”  No region on Earth has escaped the impacts of the climate crisis. The report states that “human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe.” It clearly expresses that in the not-too-distant future, heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts will become more common and extreme.  The assessment also reveals that levels of CO2—the primary driver of global warming—were higher in 2019 than at any other time in “at least 2 million years.” It adds that levels of methane and nitrous oxide—the second and third biggest drivers, respectively—were higher in 2019 than at any time in “at least 800,000 years.” Under the Paris Agreement in 2015, over 190 governments agreed that a global warming limit should be set at 1.5°C to 2.0°C above pre-industrial levels. However, the IPCC report states that, under all scenarios, this target will not be achievable. There is a real risk that both targets will be broken this century unless huge reductions in carbon emissions can be realized. Later this year, the U.K., in partnership with Italy, will host COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. It is considered more vital than ever that firm agreement to carbon emission reduction targets can be put in place with a matter of urgency. The new report backs up the many recent calls for a “green recovery” as a solution to the economic instability caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry has voiced that to achieve carbon reduction targets, all governments need to change their economies. He went on to say, “This is a critical decade for action, and COP26 in Glasgow must be a turning point in this crisis.” GreenEarth Cleaning has long made a commitment to protecting the planet, not just through the gentler and safer composition of its environmentally non-toxic solution but also through the reductions in energy and water usage achieved from using the GreenEarth System. We will continue to strive for further improvement in the technology that we are responsible for, the relationships we manage, and our own actions in terms of sustainability targets. We will also continue to share ideas and solutions that help to inform individuals to make a difference to help the world achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement. There are many examples of how we can make a difference, by adjusting our behavior. The actions range from finding alternatives to travel to eating less meat and dairy to using your voice to challenge your local government or parliamentary representatives to affect change on a national level. The Grantham Institute recently published a guide on “9 Things You Can Do About Climate Change.” Yes, overall there’s a lot of information to take on board from the IPCC, but every small step in the right direction has a positive impact. By: Garry Knox  

This summer has actually felt like summer. And not just because of the sweltering heat either. Last year, we were all still at home twiddling our thumbs next to the A/C (a whole new definition to “long, hot summer”). But as vaccinations have become widely available and local economies have begun to reopen, we’ve been able to enjoy the best parts of the season again, and travel and hospitality companies are trying to keep up.  Over the past few months, we’ve seen a spike in in-person events, dining out, and namely, travel. Based on data from FlightAware, an aviation tracking service, the week of the 4th of July recorded an average of roughly 23,000 flights per day. While that’s still down from more than 28,000 average daily flights in 2019, it’s a 97.32% increase from 2020, which saw only 12,000. With the surge in airport traffic, hotel bookings are also on the rise. Marriott’s Q2 results show a worldwide occupancy of 51%, already a 13-point rise from the first three months of the year, according to a report from Travel Weekly. These metrics are encouraging, to say the least, and display a road to recovery, yet it’s also important to remember that some habits we developed at the height of the pandemic are sticking around. People may be going all out on vacations after over a year stuck at home, but health and well-being remain top priorities. The cleaning and sanitization of surfaces and fabrics must go beyond the standards they were held to in 2019. Travelers expect a level of cleanliness that is both inviting and safe. GreenEarth helps achieve just that. The hotels that use our system of care can feel good about not costing the planet while providing for the needs and peace of mind of their guests. GreenEarth, which replaces traditional dry cleaning petrochemicals with pure liquid silicone, is environmentally non-toxic and gentle on fabrics but cleans items thoroughly at temperatures that inactivate most bacteria and viruses. It sounds like a bit of a paradox—a process that truly cleans and is truly green—but we assure you it’s not. You just don’t need harsh and harmful chemicals to accomplish a pure clean. In fact, many of the world’s best-known brands in quality hospitality have made the choice to partner with a local GreenEarth cleaner or install compatible machinery in their own facilities, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Montage, St. Regis, and Jumeirah Emirates Tower. For more information about our work in the hospitality space and how we can help you improve your sustainability commitments, click here. Or to find a GreenEarth cleaner in your market, search our Store Locator.  By: Zarah Eads