Month: May 2023

Jamestown Engine Plant commits to reducing water waste through reverse osmosis | Cummins Inc.

The Cummins Inc. Jamestown (New York) Engine Plant wants to set the standard for plants across the U.S. as it makes progress on the company’s goal of having a net positive impact on local communities.

Part of Cummins’ PLANET 2050 environmental sustainability strategy is the 2030 goal to reduce absolute water consumption in facilities and operations by 30%. Plants like Cummins Mid-Range Engine Plant in Columbus, Indiana, for example, have removed their 6.7 turbo diesel engine coating process to help reduce their water consumption.

Sustainability leaders at Jamestown, however, hope to achieve this goal by eliminating 100% of potable water for irrigation, and reusing 100% of fire sprinkler test water and 100% of treated wastewater. Recycling and reusing wastewater through the science of reverse osmosis will be one of the largest initiatives in plant history.

Reverse osmosis is a technology that separates potable water from the outgoing waste streams by removing contaminants. This process is a major water-saver at the plant. 

In 2022, the plant used 16 million gallons of fresh water, a 59% reduction in total water usage since 2016. Of that 16 million gallons, approximately 8 million gallons left as wastewater to the local sewer system for treatment. The reverse osmosis system provides the potential to recycle or reuse 80% of that outgoing water, which goes a long way towards meeting Cummins’ 2030 water reduction goals.

“If we want 30% to 50% water reduction at the plant, the reverse osmosis (process) is what gets us there,” said the plant’s Machining Director of Operations David Burlee.

This is no easy feat, as a significant amount of effort is required to maintain a reverse osmosis system at its peak efficiency. Water is extracted and reused in the deionizer water process, which removes the metals, calcium and magnesium that are normally in city water.

“City water has a lot of minerals that we need to take out. The beauty of the (reverse osmosis) system is that it removes 98% of it,” Burlee said. “We don’t want minerals in our water because when it evaporates, it leaves behind all that as scale – and we don’t want that in our cooling systems.”

Before the introduction of reverse osmosis, wastewater needed to be regenerated — a process that creates giant vats of acidic and caustic waste that requires treatment — every three or four days. Now, the water is fed into the deionizer where it can run for weeks before it needs to be regenerated, reducing the production of the acids and caustics associated with regeneration.

Today, 80% of deionized water used in the factory process is from the reverse osmosis system.

“Our plant is a case study to show that it is viable to implement green energy solutions or energy conservation measures in a workplace such as ours with heavy machine manufacturing,” Burlee said.

Burlee said the more significant impact comes with long-term viability. With machinery purchases, the return on investment is usually one to two years. The return on investment for green energy solutions, however, is usually closer to eight to 10 years. 

“You’re in it for the long haul. You’ve got to play the long game,” Burlee said. “The technology fits our manufacturing profile. So as long as up-front financials can be overcome, a business can see the long-term benefits of these things.”

Washington, D.C., May 31, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Pyxera Global, a leading global nonprofit organization dedicated to creating  sustainable solutions to global challenges, is thrilled to announce an engaging on-demand  session focused on the achievements of their partnership with Mastercard on the Global Pro  Bono for Racial Justice Program. This exciting session will be presented at the prestigious Points  of Light Conference 2023. 

The Points of Light Conference 2023, held in Chicago from June 14-16, brings together leaders  and organizations from across sectors to share insights, build partnerships, and inspire action on  the most pressing social issues of our time. Pyxera Global’s session will highlight the innovative  approaches and measurable impact of the Racial Justice Program, a partnership between  Pyxera Global and Mastercard to address systemic racism and promote equitable and inclusive economies. 

“We are proud to partner with Mastercard on their commitment to support Black communities  and minority-led organizations working on the frontlines of racial justice. Through the Racial  Justice Program, employees learn, serve, and act in solidarity with local organizations to address racism and barriers to inclusive growth.,” said Maura Fulton, Vice President of Global Pro Bono  at Pyxera Global. “We look forward to highlighting our progress and sharing the deep impact of  the Racial Justice Program with other organizations that are committed to this important work.” 

Pyxera Global’s presentation will be on-demand, allowing attendees to engage with the content  at their convenience. Mastercard’s Global Pro Bono portfolio includes the Virtual Global Pro  Bono for Racial Justice Program (and Launch for Social Impact Challenge). 

The 11-week Virtual Global Pro Bono for Racial Justice Program engages employees to support organizations working on the frontlines of racial justice, while the month-long Launch program  engages new hires to support organizations addressing financial inclusion, education, and  workforce development. The program stands as an exemplary model for organizations in the  esteemed Points of Light community striving to advance equity and inclusion.

To register for the Points of Light Conference 2023 and access Pyxera Global’s on-demand  presentation on the Racial Justice Program, please visit https://www.pointsoflight.org/points-of light-conference/. 

Featured Speakers: 
Maura Fulton is Vice President of Global Pro Bono at PYXERA Global, partnering with  corporations and their employees to provide pro bono expertise to nonprofit organizations and  communities around the world. She believes in the power of skills-based volunteering programs  to deliver gains to corporations, employees, and nonprofit organizations simultaneously.

Maura has held leadership roles in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors, and has  dedicated her career to intercultural understanding, social impact, sustainable community  development, and organizational and leadership development. Prior to joining Pxyera Global,  Maura served in senior leadership roles with the Peace Corps, including as senior advisor to the  director and as country director in Myanmar and Georgia. She led the development of the  agency’s current strategic plan, centered around creating inclusive and equitable systems and  advancing racial equity and programs for underserved communities worldwide. 

Kendra Brown is Vice President of Public Policy, Federal Affairs for Mastercard. She is also  the Chair of the Maryland State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.  Previously, she was the Chief of Staff for Representative G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) in the United  States Congress and Senior Director for Diversity, Inclusion and Affinity for the Washington  College of Law at American University where she led the law school’s diversity and inclusion  initiatives.  

She is a Former National Chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). During  her term as National Chair, NBLSA was active in election protection, leadership training and  development, academic planning, career development, and extensive advocacy efforts. Kendra  completed her undergraduate studies at Hampton University, her Master of Divinity at Howard  University Divinity School, and received her law degree from Vermont Law School. Additionally,  Kendra attended the George Washington University School of Law for her Master of Law. 

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About Pyxera Global 

Pyxera Global works around the globe to improve community livelihoods and resiliency by  leveraging the resources of business, government, and community to solve the world’s most  pressing challenges. Building on 30 years of experience channeling the innovation, skills, and  expertise of industry and community, Pyxera Global customizes its strategy advisory and service  delivery to bring about positive social change for people and planet. 

For more information, please contact: 
Jillian McFarland 
jmcfarland@pyxeraglobal.org

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Regeneration, a restoration and remining social enterprise, welcomes Mejuri as its first jewelry partner.

The announcement comes as part of Mejuri’s first sustainability report.

Regeneration is a public benefit company supported by founders, including RESOLVE, Rio Tinto, Apple, and now Mejuri, dedicated to the idea that waste from past mining is a hidden solution; it can support restoration while providing minerals for the energy transition and sustainable brands. This unique combination offers an opportunity to “begin again” for communities and lands impacted by legacy mining.

“Regeneration thinks and works outside the box to address our biodiversity and climate challenges. Our success requires innovative, creative partners in communities and across the minerals-to-product supply chain, like Mejuri. As we build these partnerships, Mejuri is an obvious choice as our first jewelry partner,” says Stephen D’Esposito, founder and CEO of Regeneration. “With Regeneration, Mejuri brings something back – remining creates beautiful, compelling jewelry that supports rebuilding habitat and restoring biodiversity and tells the story of regeneration.”

Regeneration is structured as a social enterprise because it is commercially ambitious but also works with patience and humility and offers something back to nature and communities. In addition to $1.5 million (US) in funding Mejuri will undertake significant work with Regeneration to share the story and build awareness of the opportunity through its jewelry.

“Since inception, we have been transparent – about our wins and our challenges – with our customers, which has built a loyal community who have come to expect high standards,” says Noura Sakkijha, Mejuri’s Co-founder and CEO. “When it comes to our sustainability goals, it’s no different. As we grow and learn more, these goals will evolve and we’ll bring our community along for the journey. What won’t change is that we will always aim to focus on where we can make an impact.”

Mejuri’s sustainability report describes its commitment to Regeneration. Within Mejuri’s sustainability framework is the brand’s commitment to help restore the environment where they can.

“As a next generation brand that is deeply in tune with our community’s values, Mejuri takes our responsibility seriously to help push this industry forward where we can,” says Holly McHugh, Mejuri’s Vice President of Sustainability. “Mejuri is committed to remining with restoration, which is central to responsible sourcing and represents the future of our industry. We’re excited to invite our community into this conversation now that we’re ready to share our progress as we continue down this innovative and exciting path.”

Mejuri is already supporting Salmon Gold, another RESOLVE initiative, now part of Regeneration. Salmon Gold produces precious metals while restoring vital habitats for salmon and other anadromous fish species. For Giving Tuesday 2022 Mejuri donated significant funding to this initiative.

Regeneration extracts minerals from mine waste, where past mining methods left value behind; utilizing new methods and strategies so that our partners can create responsibly, sustainably made jewelry, climate tech, and other end-products. Because Regeneration is a social enterprise, earnings from sales then go back to the sites to fund habitat restoration and closure activities.

Regeneration will soon announce additional founding partners across the minerals and metals value chain. “Our partners, like Rio Tinto, Apple, and Mejuri, each bring unique expertise and value to Regeneration; together we will draw from jewelry, mining, technology, and in the future other areas” noted Stephen D’Esposito. Apple included its support for Regeneration in its People and Environment in Our Supply Chain Report. The law firm Paul Hastings is providing legal support.

Media Contacts

Stephen D’Esposito, President and CEO, Regeneration 
+1 (202) 255-2717 | sdesposito@regeneration.enterprises

Nicholas Mitchell, Program Manager and Policy Analyst, Regeneration 
+1 (704) 222-2994 | nmitchell@regeneration.enterprises