NEWH - Fall 2021 - 49

SUSTAINABILITY | POINT OF VIEW
Taking it Commercial
But what about at commercial scale? Is " old " the " new black " ? I'd argue yes, for at least two reasons:
First, the making of things requires energy, and our current model for generating energy largely relies on fossil fuels. That
equates to the generation of carbon emissions, and, subsequently, global warming and climate change. Responding to climate
change is a global, local, and individual responsibility.
Secondly, waste management is in crisis. In 2018 alone, the U.S. generated 292.4 million tons of solid waste, and of that,
containers and packaging materials made up the largest portion, accounting for 28.1 percent-82 million tons of stuff designed
to be discarded. Food waste came in second: 21.6 percent, or 63.1 million tons sent from the grower to manufacturer, to the plate
and then to the landfill. Durable goods came in third at 19.5 percent or 57 million tons. This includes all things furniture, fixture
and equipment related-a critical element of the built environment, and specifically poignant to the hospitality sector.
We have to consider addressing waste management at a global scale using a multifaceted approach.
Organizations Doing the Work
At the commercial scale, fostering a circular economy is already happening both globally and in our backyards through a variety
of business models.
On Earth Day in 2005, Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) pioneered a responsible alternative to common
liquidation practices with a vision to foster surplus stewardship specifically within the commercial industry. CEO Rose Tourje
states, " Our mission is dedicated to the stewardship of commercial office surplus by doing what's right with what's left. "
Through that business model, ANEW provides free surveying of commercial facilities slated for re-stacks, lease exits, and/
or demolition. Surplus is identified for resale, reuse, repurpose for community orgs, recycle, and as EfW (energy from waste
conversion) for nearest zero impact on the environment; Items include furniture, fixtures, equipment, appliances, art, carpet tile,
miscellaneous building materials, and more. They manage the entire process of removal as a single point resource across North
America. Donations to nonprofit and charitable organizations in need has reached a worldwide audience. As a nonprofit 501
(c)(3), they issue a certificate of sustainability quantifying the metrics of landfill diversion and engage a third-party auditor for
every project to provide transparency, verification, GHG emissions savings, and tax documentation.
In one example, Gensler aligned ANEW with PIMCO to decommission 14 floors of commercial office space, consisting of
over 3,000 surplus items. A four-week removal process equated to 900,00 pounds of material diverted from the landfill and
delivered to over 40 local recipient organizations, including Second Harvest, the Center for Autism, and the Boys & Girls Club of
Santa Ana, to name a few.
Other examples of durable good stewards include Rheaply, a corporate asset management firm. In their business model,
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Fall 2021 49

NEWH - Fall 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Fall 2021