Month: April 2023

CSRHub recently learned about an extensive analysis of US grocery store ESG performance that was conducted by Ratio Institute. Their “2022 ESG State of the Industry” Report covers the 107 largest grocery chains. It consistently evaluated 127 ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) criteria across both 62 publicly-owned and 45 privately-owned entities.

Ratio Institute is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating measurable sustainability and viability in food retail through expert collaboration, industry resources, and practical tools. It works with food retailers, trade organizations, and other partners to create enterprise-level sustainability solutions that reduce costs, optimize internal practices, and improve overall performance. CSRHub data was available on 95% of the entities Ratio Institute studied. We felt it would be useful to tie our aggregate, consensus, outside-in view of how grocery companies perform to the detailed, inside-out view that Ratio Institute provides.

Limited Data Available, Still

In its report, Ratio Institute showed that there are still many grocery chains that have not publicly revealed ESG data. Only 40 of the 107 entities they studied have provided a formal ESG report.

See “Primarily Public Available Information Source Table”

A natural consequence of this lack of public information is that CSRHub didn’t have any data for five entities from the study and had too little data to publish a report on 30 entities. Of the remaining 72 entities, only 48 had ratings for all twelve of the areas CSRHub studies.

See “Summary of Matching and Coverage Summary Table”

As a result, we had to focus our analysis on the 48 entities that were well-known to our expert sources of sustainability ratings. We were pleased to see a good connection between the overall view of these entities from our outside-in perspective and the detailed analysis done by Ratio Institute.

See “Good Connection Between General Report Score and CSRHub Overall Rank”

The 13% correlation is paired with a F score of 7. This indicates a strong connection despite the small number of overlaps available for us to consider. We also found good F scores between the CSRHub Energy & Climate Change indicator and Ratio Institute’s Scope 1 Carbon score. This suggests that carbon reports are being understood and considered by outside expert ratings groups. However, the Scope 2 and Scope 3 carbon reports did not show a correlation with CSRHub data. These indicators may not be sufficiently consistent yet to be useful for generating external ratings.

There was an excellent correlation between CSRHub’s Social area indicator of Training Health & Safety and the Ratio Institute Health & Wellness Score. The 4.8 F score suggests there is a 97% chance these indicators are positively correlated. In general, it seems that Ratio Institute is measuring the ESG performance of these entities in a manner that is generally consistent with how outside groups approach them. However, we are also seeing that Ratio Institute’s analysis is much more detailed and that it is seeing information that has not yet been fully processed or understood by ESG experts, in general.

We look forward to next year’s report from this new source. We hope to show that changes in Ratio Institute’s ratings are reflected by changes in the consensus view of how grocery chains are performing on ESG issues. We expect that our coverage of this important group of companies will grow and that this will allow us to more fully connect our data sets.

Bahar Gidwani is CTO and Co-founder of CSRHub. He has built and run large technology-based businesses for many years. Bahar holds a CFA, worked on Wall Street with Kidder, Peabody, and with McKinsey & Co. Bahar has consulted to a number of major companies and currently serves on the board of several software and Web companies. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy. He plays bridge, races sailboats, and is based in New York City.

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers one of the world’s broadest and most consistent set of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, covering 50,000 companies. Its Big Data algorithm combines millions of data points on ESG performance from hundreds of sources, including leading ESG analyst raters, to produce consensus scores on all aspects of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. CSRHub ratings can be used to drive corporate, investor and consumer decisions. For more information, visit www.CSRHub.com. CSRHub is a B Corporation.

International Paper mobilizes our people, products and resources to address critical needs in the communities where our employees live and work.

Our four signature causes — education, hunger, health and wellness, and disaster relief — address basic needs to build stronger, more resilient communities. Often, the underserved and vulnerable populations that most need this support include people who are Latinx, African American, Native American, refugees, LGBTQ+, and children and women. By addressing the most basic needs of these populations, we can help eliminate or reduce barriers that impede self-sufficiency, resilience and opportunity.

Through our community giving strategy, we aim to improve the lives of 100 million people by 2030.

Empowering Employees to Support Communities and Causes

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we found ways to engage and connect our employees to support our communities and signature causes. Our initiatives included:

Day of Caring volunteer kits delivered for six separate initiatives to interested employees
100,000+ trees planted in 10 International Paper communities through our partnership with Arbor Day Foundation, including an environmental equity event to improve the urban tree canopy in Chicago and tree planting in Cedar River to restore the area following a devastating derecho
14 facilities participating in packing Period Poverty contributions for local community distribution

While our overall volunteer hours were down due to pandemic restrictions, we are proud of the contributions our International Paper volunteers made, and especially pleased to welcome the increased participation by our hourly employees, made more accessible with our shift to virtual volunteerism.

In 2021, International Paper contributed more than $23.3 million worldwide to support charitable organizations aligned with our signature causes, positively impacting more than 13.6 million people
84,626 people of that total were reached in Sylvamo communities

Giving Locally, Nationally and Internationally

Our strategy is implemented through a combination of locally driven support, grant funding and national and global collaborations.

Despite the ongoing challenges, International Paper employees generously supported our communities through approx. 13,500 socially distanced volunteer hours across 32 U.S. states and eight countries.

At the local level, for example, our facility in Chile supported Casa Betal, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Graneros, with supplies, volunteerism and a cash donation. Our Chalon, France facility supplies corrugated offcuts to Id’ees Services, a social agency that supports people with disabilities, which uses the waste material to make cat litter.

In North Carolina, our Maysville and Henderson Mills awarded the Henderson Boys & Girls Club $75,000 over three years. The grant will contribute to the renovation of the local armory into their new facility.

Nationally, we continued our support to Wreaths Across America and its mission to remember fallen U.S. veterans. Each year, we provide in-kind donations of customized shipping boxes, as well as funding and transportation for more than two million wreaths to Arlington Nation Cemetery.

Read more about our community contributions here.

Our Signature Causes: How We are Making a Difference

Education: We focus on literacy from birth through third grade because reading skills form the foundation of all childhood learning.

Hunger: We partner with food banks and other agencies to address hunger and food security for children, families and seniors.

Health and Wellness: We engage our employees and work with agencies to promote healthy living habits and achieve measurable improvements in health and wellness.

Disaster Relief: We partner with agencies to help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters, and we use our Employee Relief Fund to support our affected colleagues.

Our employee giving campaigns and company matching gift programs generated $3.4 million to help people in need throughout our communities.

Tracking our Progress to 100 Million Lives

Working collaboratively with our non-profit partners, we can quantify our impact on people in our communities. Standardized metrics and reporting enable us to track each organization’s impact and quantify the number of lives improved through our volunteers and contributions.

$23.3M in IP Global Giving in 2021
13.6M people reached
160,000 corrugated products, boxes, bags, paper and absorbent pulp products donated
$3.4M employee giving and company match combined
approx 13,500 volunteer hours across 32 states and 8 countries
2,800+ IP employee volunteers

Read more

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal care products that promote health and wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting InternationalPaper.com.

Originally published by Ericsson

Tomorrow’s sustainable transport systems will be powered by electrification and ignited by high-performance connectivity. Erik Ekudden, CTO of Ericsson, and Christian Levin, CEO of Scania, talk about the importance of intelligent, advanced, and emissions-free transport, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The digitalization of global transport systems is enabled by 5G and high-performance connectivity. It will prove pivotal in the journey to more data driven, intelligent, and emissions-free goods transport and logistic operations.

According to the Exponential Roadmap, transport-related emissions represent around 16 percent of the global total. While most are generated from short journeys, mainly in and around cities, by cars, motorbikes, buses and trucks, a sizable 27 percent of this figure is accounted for by long-haul transport, including shipping, aviation and heavy vehicles. And while existing solutions could reduce fossil fuel usage by 50 percent in these sectors by 2030, doing so will require significant policy initiatives, in addition to complete industry-wide transformation based on electrification, alternative fuels and digitalization.

Scania has become a global frontrunner in driving the shift to sustainable heavy transport. Like Ericsson, Scania is a partner of the Exponential Roadmap Initiative and the Pathways Coalition, and was also a forerunner in committing to science-based carbon reduction targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. More recently, Scania also committed to decarbonizing its entire European supply chain by 2030. Ericsson meanwhile aims to cut emissions by 50% in the supply chain and portfolio by 2030 and to be Net Zero in its own activities at the same time.

Those are ambitions, but which solutions are needed to transform a 100-year-old fossil-dependent transport sector – one the exponential roadmap itself says will be “difficult to decarbonize”? In the latest CTO focus session, Erik Ekudden sits down with Scania CEO Christian Levin to find out. Here are the five key takeaways:

1. Digitalization is the critical platform that connects tomorrow’s sustainable transport ecosystems

Electrification is the key to emissions-free transport, but it involves much more than just a change of fuel type. As a new platform it will require vast structural consequences. For over 100 years vehicles have been driven by a standardized, fossil fuel-based platform where everyone in the ecosystem has a clear, long-standing understanding of their role. A new, non-fossil ecosystem driven largely by electricity, however, means multiple players will have to collaborate to succeed.

Communications providers, vehicle suppliers, energy companies, grid operators, software producers and more will need be involved in a huge flow of information that makes it possible to provide vital digital support and answer pivotal questions such as how and where to charge, how to optimize those processes and how to get the right price for your operational requirements. 

Digitalization – underpinned by high-performance connectivity and based on horizontal platforms capable of rapid scale – will be critical in connecting future transport systems and the ecosystems around them. This means advances across transport operators, drivers and charging infrastructure – in essence throughout the value chain, as well as in adjacent sectors.

Connectivity and fast access to ‘big data’ are already making a major impact on the ecosystem of sustainable transport and altering business models within the sector as products, production processes and supply chains become more interconnected. This will fundamentally transform traditional transport ecosystems and vehicle value chains – turning vehicle manufacturers increasingly into “vehicle-as-a-service” providers.

This digital infrastructure will continue to play a crucial role in building the business cases to support battery electric vehicle (BEV) alternatives – helping to optimize energy costs, transport routes (including charging) and payment solutions. Also, future autonomous transport systems will enable automation across all parts of the transport system, allowing for higher utilization of safer and more efficient transport alternatives supported by vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-anything (V2X) technologies.

The need for integrated planning, deployment and operations of digital infrastructures is one of three core infrastructure developments needed for electrification of the transport system; the other two being the development of physical road and hub infrastructure, as well as electricity infrastructure. All three developments require long term planning and capacity assurance in a coordinated way as well as an aligned policy and regulatory framework.

2. Data from connected vehicles can create new possibilities for transport systems

Today Scania has one of the biggest fleets of connected heavy commercial vehicles with more than 600,000 operating across more than 100 countries.

The massive data generated from such a large fleet provides a detailed and thorough foundation to improve internal efficiencies such as inbound and outbound logistics, as well as continuous improvement of the energy efficiency of existing and emerging solutions. This not only includes electrification and autonomous transport solutions, but also more energy-efficient internal combustion engine (ICE) solutions that can improve transportation around the world.

In addition to this, connected vehicle data can also be used to:

provide Scania with insights to optimize the vehicle configuration and solution using over-the-air updates. This improves the vehicles in the fleet over time where one of many benefits will be reducing overall fuel and electricity consumption.closely monitor the health status of the vehicle and its components, enabling repair and maintenance (R&M) teams to proactively adapt R&M intervals through the help of advanced statistical and AI models.create more efficient fleet management and intelligent routing models, based on real-time vehicle data.

3. Public policy must keep pace with enterprise demands and technological developments

While heavy transport operators can optimize, retrofit, electrify, and encourage the use of renewable fuels to enable the halving of emissions by 2030, the commitment to fully decarbonize long-haul transport will require ambitious technology roadmaps, strong investment and close collaboration across public and private domains.

From Scania’s perspective, it is clear that the vehicle itself will not be the biggest challenge when it comes to electrifying and decarbonizing transport. Electrified heavy transport vehicles are already on the market, capable of managing almost any transport task, and serial production is increasing year on year. The biggest challenge lies in setting up the enabling factors for electrification, and that is all about the charging ecosystem and the demand for emission-free transports.

Charging Infrastructure, together with the power grid and digital infrastructure related to that, is today the main obstacle to electrification of heavy transport. What is needed is a monumental infrastructure build-out that can keep pace with enterprise and societal demand for electric vehicles. Moreover, demand is closely connected to electric vehicles’ total cost of operations that in turn is dependent on the relative cost of emitting CO2.

From a somewhat longer perspective, the transport and logistics ecosystems need policies that are adaptable to changes in the reality of autonomous vehicles. That means legislative processes that continue to keep pace with technological developments. It also means that legislation must address new types of responsibilities, interfaces and features.

Future sustainable transport systems will also continue to require significant investment in the build-out of charging and digital infrastructure, including the underlying electric grid, as well as high-performance mobile networks that offer the right capacity and coverage.

4. A competence shift will be key

As transport sectors move to more data-driven operations and deploy digitalized solutions, this will also coincide with a competence shift within those sectors.

Scania is a transport leader that is driving this shift and has in recent years recruited more software engineers and data analysts than traditional mechanical engineers. The demand for new competences also includes chemical engineers for Scania’s battery manufacturing center, and automation technicians and operators for its automated manufacturing facilities.

To move forward, we must also find new ways to encourage the cross-sector exchange of skills and experiences with an extra focus on ensuring readiness to deploy horizontal skills related to cyber security and AI.

And let’s not forget that one of the biggest challenges for long-haul transport continues to be the shortage of drivers. Digitalization can contribute to solving this challenge both in the short term and long term, from enabling safe and comfortable resting with good mobile coverage, to enabling remote tele-operations of vehicles where drivers sit in a control room instead of the vehicle.

5. Cross-industrial partnerships will be pivotal in driving change

The convergence of transport, energy, and digital sectors will bring about a greater need for close collaboration across industries. Today, both Scania and Ericsson work extensively across both horizontal and vertical ecosystems to identify and activate partnerships that align strategically with business and sustainability objectives.

One example where Scania and Ericsson have joined forces is the CEO Alliance which serves as both an action tank for tangible sustainability pilot projects, as well as a consultative arm for European policymakers regarding implementation of the European Green Deal.

In a separate cross-vertical initiative, Scania has joined forces with Volvo Group and Daimler with the ambition to build at least 1 700 public high-capacity charging points for commercial vehicles across Europe and thus help push the shift to electrification.

The continued formation of new partnerships and ecosystems across horizontal, vertical and public-private divides will be pivotal in realizing future sustainable transport systems.

The road ahead

All enterprises, industries, policymaker ecosystems and even consumers can make a decisive contribution on the road to decarbonize transport systems. 

As we look ahead, two particular technology areas that could have the biggest impact on this journey are the electrification of transport at scale, including the buildout of charging infrastructures, as well as the secure and trusted exchange of real-time data between stakeholders, supporting data-driven optimization of asset utilization and route planning. 

The development and deployment of digital technologies will continue to be the critical enabler behind both factors. For instance, digitalization not only allows transport to become more efficient, but in some cases can even swap out the need for transport altogether i.e. through remote control of assets, real-time digital collaboration, and e-commerce with smart delivery boxes, etc. 

Enterprises and consumers can also make a decisive contribution by placing higher demands on e.g. detailed emissions reporting across the supply chain and consumer markets respectively. 

Last but by no means least, policymakers will also be required to find novel policy and regulatory instruments to support such a transition, for instance through harmonized cross-sector policies across transport, energy, and digital domains.

Learn more

Read Ericsson’s latest connected transport report.

Find out what cellular IoT can do for EV charging station operations.

Find out how cellular IoT is reshaping the truck transport industry.

Learn more about Ericsson connected vehicles.

Explore other Ericsson CTO focus sessions.

FISHERS, Ind., April 4, 2023 /3BL Media/ – ekō Solutions (“ekō”) , a division of Land Betterment and a Fishers Indiana-based company specializing in state-of-the-art, eco-friendly dwellings unveiled its newest repurposed shipping container, the Gateway Park Model RV, at the recent Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 11, 2023. At the same event, ekō’s sponsored professional motocross racer, Josh Cartwright, stayed on location in a Gateway Park Model while competing.

“Having our Gateway Park Model RV, which is built from repurposed shipping containers, on location at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is a new endeavor for us, and we could not be more pleased with the positive response. In fact, our sponsored professional motocross racer, Josh Cartwright stayed in the Gateway Park Model which was parked right in the paddock on the event grounds. Josh was able to sleep and live right at the track making his weekend of competing a whole lot simpler. He was very pleased with the quality and comfort of the unit. This was a great example of the convenience and functionality of the Gateway Park Model, in addition to its durability and affordability. We can see this being a perfect solution for all kinds of athletes, fans and travel and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Peter Rodriguez, ekō Solutions’ President.

ekō’s Gateway Park Model units can be installed in a vast amount of property types such as existing residential properties, RV and mobile home parks, campsites and even events requiring temporary on-site housing for athletes and their support crews. These units are easily deployed through quick and simple utility connections. The Gateway Park Model RV measures 160 square feet and includes 1 bedroom and 1 full bath.

ekō Solutions already offers an extensive line of shipping-container housing solutions to include mobile workstations, mobile bathrooms, mobile dog grooming, containerized food stands, ekō farms, hunting retreats and modular homes. ekō Solutions even dispatched its models to Western Kentucky in December 2021 to provide housing for displaced families impacted by the deadly tornado outbreak.

Now, the Gateway Park Model RV adds even more variety and function to the Company’s already compelling offering.

To learn more about ekō Solutions’ commercial and residential offerings, please click on “Buy eko!”

ekō Solutions will continue to sponsor a professional motor cross athlete at the upcoming Monster Energy AMA Supercross Round 16 Championship in Denver, Colorado on May 6th at 6:30 MT. At this event, ekō Solutions is sponsoring professional motocross racer, Alex Ray from Jackson, Tennessee. The Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the world’s most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing series. Elite riders race handlebar-to-handlebar over 17 rounds on custom-designed tracks inside the most prestigious stadiums across the country. Storylines abound for the 2023 Supercross season as the 450SX Class continues to feature some of the most talented athletes the sport has ever seen. To learn more about the upcoming Denver, CO event visit Empower Field at Mile High.

About ekō Solutions 
ekō Solutions, a Land Betterment Company, is a sustainable development company utilizing innovative, low-cost, container-based structures to provide durable, high-end solutions to the building marketplace while also maintaining the ability to be utilized in a mobile environment. ekō Solutions uses innovative ecological structures to replace legacy inefficient and ineffective methods of living, growing and working. The sustainable craftsmanship of our structures is what separates us from the alternatives. Our structures are suitable for residential, crisis, recovery, commercial and recreation use. For more information visit ekosolutionsllc.com and connect with ekō Solutions on LinkedIn and Twitter. 
 

About Land Betterment Corporation 
Land Betterment Corporation, an Indiana Benefit Corporation and Pending B-Corp, is an environmental solutions company focused on fostering a positive impact through upcycling former coal mining sites to create sustainable community development and job creation. The Company utilizes a complete solution-based lifecycle program to restore and rehabilitate the environment and revitalize communities in need of change and opportunity. Land Betterment accomplishes this by identifying un-reclaimed, run-down and neglected coal mining sites, fixing the environment through reclamation and remediation, and then repurposing the land to support a sustainable business that serves the community. Land Betterment firmly believes that with real solutions it is possible for restoration of impacted areas to live side-by-side long term employment, while building sustainable and safe surroundings for communities and our planet. For more information visit landbetterment.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Land Betterment Corporation’s control. The words “believes”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “continue”, “seeks”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved. 
 

Company Contacts: 
Mark LaVerghetta 
317.537.0492 ext. 0 
Chief Governance Officer, Corporate Finance 
info@landbetterment.com

Stephanie Conzelman 
207.205.0790 
Stakeholder Engagement Director 
info@landbetterment.com

Source: Land Betterment Corporation