October 13, 2011 // Franchising.com // Accor North America (ANA), one of the largest hotel chain owner and operators in North America, was recognized at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Sustainable Materials Management ceremony on September 20 for its environmental stewardship. ANA successfully met two key environmental goals as part of its commitment to the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP), a partnership focused on reducing hazardous chemicals from products and processes.
ANA’s first goal – to divert one pound of mercury from unsafe landfill disposal – was achieved through the company’s fluorescent light bulb recycling program. Since 2009, ANA locations have recycled 9,529 fluorescent lamps, amounting to just over one pound of mercury. The second goal – to reduce the amount of zinc, manganese dioxide and potassium hydroxide discarded into landfills – was achieved by increasing ANA’s existing battery recycling goal from 1,933 pounds of alkaline batteries to 4,000 pounds. By June 2011, ANA surpassed that goal and recycled 4,692 pounds of alkaline batteries.
“We have consistently proven our commitment to the environment across all our brands through internal policies and external partnerships such as NPEP,” said Renee Swoger, director of energy and environment for Accor North America. “Working with the EPA gave us the opportunity to push the boundaries of what we can achieve to reduce our impact on our local environment.”
Some of the other ways all ANA hotels actively care for the environment and local communities include:
Accor North America operates more than 870 upscale and economy properties including nationwide economy leaders Studio 6 and Motel 6 and the upscale Sofitel and mid-scale Novotel and Ibis hotel locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.