Month: May 2023

Originally published on Essity.com

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Emissions and pollution have a negative impact on biodiversity. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of our operations has been a major focus for Essity for many years. The company has committed to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and has Science Based Targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3, encompassing both our own operations and our suppliers’ value chain. We have raised our ambitions for existing Science Based Targets in Scope 1 and 2. Essity has a clear strategy and plan for how it will achieve these targets and the most important priorities have been identified. These actions will encompass the entire value chain, from raw materials, production, distribution, and consumer use to the management of used products. Essity has joined the UN Global Compact’s “Business Ambition for 1.5°C”. The climate targets are aligned with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement to reduce global warming. The initiative is supported by the CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), WWF and UN Global Compact.

The road to net zero emissions

Essity focuses on the following areas to achieve our ambition of net zero emissions.

Sustainable innovations: For many years, we have worked with life cycle assessments (LCAs) to reduce material use in products and to develop thinner products without affecting functionality or quality. We support sustainable consumption with products such as leakproof apparel, hybrid baby diapers and digital services such as TENA SmartCare. Through sustainable innovation and daily improvements, Essity has reduced the carbon footprint in the company’s different product offerings by up to 43% over a ten-year period in Europe. Essity’s Group target is that at least 50% of the company’s innovations are to yield social and/or environmental improvements. In 2022, the outcome was 68%. 
 Climate-smart materials: Essity strives to use more materials with lower greenhouse gas emissions. The largest share of greenhouse gas emissions from purchased raw materials is from fresh fiber and fossil-based plastic used in our products and packaging. We collaborate with our suppliers to develop sustainable products with a focus on alternative, renewable and recycled materials, and encourage them to establish targets and increase the use of renewable energy. 
 Fossil-fuel-free tissue production: Our tissue manufacturing is an energy intensive process and one of our most important tasks to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 is therefore to become free from fossil fuels. To achieve this, measures include the increased use of low-carbon hydrogen, biomass, bio-gas, geothermal steam, and electrification of our tissue processes. Essity’s production facilities in Kostheim, Germany, and Lilla Edet, Sweden, are examples of how we strive to replace fossil fuels with renewable resources. 
 Resource efficiency: Essity has extensive experience of working with resource efficiency, including in our M-Save and E-Save programs that focus on material and energy efficiency in our tissue manufacturing. The reduction in CO2 emissions per ton produced between 2005 and 2022 was 23%. During the 2022 energy crisis, we took additional measures such as investing in our capability to utilize a wider variety of fuels, enabling us to react quickly to peak market prices, and conducted global training courses on the most effective ways to reduce energy use. 
 Breakthrough technology: In 2021, Essity began tissue manufacturing using pulp from wheat straw. Essity’s facility in Mannheim, Germany, is the world’s first facility in the tissue industry to use these agricultural by-products for large-scale production. We are also exploring future tissue technology to reduce resources used in our production. 
 Zero production waste: Essity acts to make production waste a valuable resource and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. The target for 2030 is that all production waste will be subject to material and energy recovery. In 2022, the total amount of production waste decreased, and 62% was recycled. 
 Clean transport: We continue to reduce emissions in our transportation network by maximizing the load-fill, optimizing routes, and gradually switching to lower emission fuels. We are integrating sustainability into Essity’s global transportation model by adding emission factors as a way toward optimizing our load planning. 
 Less waste after use: To reduce waste from our products and packaging, Essity is developing innovative solutions to reduce consumption as well as new business models for recycling after use. To address recycling, we have improved the recyclability of our paper and plastic packaging. We offer compostable tissue products to reduce waste and the Tork PaperCircle recycling service has been expanded to ten markets.

To ensure that we meet our targets, Essity has appointed a steering committee led by members of the Executive Management Team. Additionally, we are identifying the impact of climate change on Essity’s business using the TCFD framework.

Read more about Essity’s strategic priorities, earnings and leading sustainability work in the Annual and Sustainability Report 2022, which can be downloaded at www.essity.com.

To access the digital short version, please click here.

Originally published on Entrepreneur

BY ENTREPRENEUR PARTNER STUDIO STAFF

These days, business leaders are thinking about a lot more than generating revenue. They gauge success not only by profits but also by the culture within their business and its impact on the community.

This is where topics like inclusivity and sustainability take precedence. For many companies, inclusivity is about ensuring opportunity and empowerment are accessible to all employees. Meanwhile, sustainability efforts help ensure that what enables everyone to live well and succeed lasts for the long haul.

“Inclusivity and sustainability must be prioritized together when we want to create and sustain change for our employees, customers, and communities,” explains Kristy Lilas, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at GoDaddy, the company that helps entrepreneurs thrive.

GoDaddy recently released its 2022 Sustainability Report, highlighting the progress the company made toward inclusivity, sustainability, and much more.

“Organizations have a responsibility to make their employees feel empowered and supported, which is not only paramount to creating an inclusive culture, but also a necessary ingredient to drive innovation and develop the best products and services for customers,” Lilas says. “For these reasons, at GoDaddy, we prioritize inclusivity and sustainability together as they are both at the core of our mission to make opportunity more inclusive for all, no matter a person’s identity, background or circumstance.”

Here are the three business pillars GoDaddy identified as most critical to creating an inclusive, sustainable future—and tips for how you can do the same at your organization or business.

1. Customers

GoDaddy aims to do more than just offer domain registry, website hosting, and commerce solutions. It positions itself as a company that “empowers entrepreneurs everywhere, making opportunity more inclusive for all.” In its 2022 Sustainability Report, GoDaddy says it believes that “inclusive entrepreneurship helps fuel local economies globally, increases generational wealth, decreases wealth gaps, and ultimately improves lives.”

Prioritizing inclusive entrepreneurship for GoDaddy means providing equitable resources that support and empower everyone, including entrepreneurs in and from underserved communities. Through its social impact program, Empower by GoDaddy, the company offers in-person and virtual educational workshops, technology tools, mentorship opportunities, and peer networks to thousands of small- and micro-business owners across the U.S., Europe, and Canada. In 2022, GoDaddy provided more than 9,700 learning engagements for entrepreneurs around the world through Empower by GoDaddy.

What you can do: Kami Hoskins, Director of Legal Operations and Training and Head of Corporate Sustainability & Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) at GoDaddy, recommends that businesses engage customers directly to find out what they need to succeed and offer meaningful solutions. For instance, GoDaddy launched Venture Forward, a multi-year research initiative that quantifies the impact of more than 20 million online U.S. microbusinesses on their local economies. Venture Forward research indicates that for every one microbusiness per 100 people in a community, two new jobs are created (not including the business owner). Further, for every additional microbusiness founded, the median household income in the immediate area rises $195 over a one-year period. GoDaddy uses insights like these to better serve its customers, including Empower by GoDaddy participants.

“When designing and building your offerings, it is particularly important to engage customers who are underserved and underrepresented,” Hoskins says. “Otherwise, they may not be adequately supported, and you may miss valuable opportunities.”

2. Employees

“Authentically serving a diverse customer base starts with cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce,” GoDaddy says in its 2022 Sustainability Report. To do this, the company says it made a deliberate effort to recognize and reduce unconscious bias in its recruitment and employee practices and systems, including performance reviews and promotions.

Last year, GoDaddy said it achieved gender pay parity (global) for the eighth year in a row and ethnicity (in the U.S.) pay parity for the sixth year in a row. These findings were also included in the release of GoDaddy’s 2022 Diversity and Pay Parity Annual Report.

GoDaddy additionally says that its employee resource groups (ERGs) play a critical part in fostering its culture of inclusivity. These are employee-led groups formed around common missions, identities, affinities, or interests. ERGs provide a space for employees to develop relationships, support professional development, engage in corporate projects and programs, learn from each other, and participate in fun activities, the company says.

What you can do: To get a fresh perspective and truly understand where your business can improve workplace culture, Lilas recommends partnering with and learning from a research-driven third party.

Through a partnership with Stanford University’s VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, GoDaddy learned in detail how traditional performance evaluations “often contain biases that hold women to a higher behavioral standard than men,” Lilas says. “This led to us creating processes to remove ambiguity from both recruitment practices and performance reviews and ensuring that we assess both the work that people complete and how they complete it in alignment with our inclusive values. It also includes focusing on action and outcomes as opposed to style and personality, ensuring consistency in feedback, and requiring equal evaluation time.”

3. Operations

How can we ensure the longevity of our business in the face of dynamic and shifting forces like climate change and social change?

That’s the question GoDaddy’s leadership team asks itself when setting its operational objectives and standards. The company takes a multi-pronged approach to accomplish goals related to corporate governance, social impact, and the environment.

“We know that global organizations like GoDaddy have a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations,” Hoskins says. “For this reason, we’re proud to have reduced GoDaddy’s scope 1 and 2 emissions by 35% from a 2019 baseline. To achieve this result, we focused on decreasing the impact of our data center operations, as well as our workspaces, on the environment.”

In 2022, the company also reduced its active global real estate footprint by approximately 105,000 square feet, thanks in part to a hybrid work model with reduced office requirements, according to the report.

What you can do: To achieve big environmental, social, and corporate goals, leadership needs a clear strategy, focused intention, and a plan for prioritization, Hoskins says. “This requires dialog and education among stakeholders across diverse aspects of the business,” she says.

“I like to think that everyday consumers want to do business with companies they believe in and that are making a positive impact on the world,” Hoskins adds. “We hope that part of the reason why our customers continue to come back to us and build businesses with us is because of our relentless commitment to sustainability and inclusivity.”

Click here to learn more about GoDaddy and here to download GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report.

Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

After opening its first three DICK’S House of Sport stores in Rochester, New York, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Minnetonka, Minnesota, DICK’S Sporting Goods plans to add more than 12 new locations in the next two years.

The decision to expand the House of Sport brand comes following incredible responses from athletes, vendors, and the local communities.

DICK’S House of Sport is a 100,000+ square foot store that provides athletes with an incredible assortment of products along with in-store experiences including a climbing wall, multiple golf bays with TrackMan simulators, and multi-sport cages that can be used for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer and give athletes an opportunity to try product while measuring and tracking their performance. House of Sport stores also focus on deep integration with the local community through partnerships and events. Some locations have a field attached to the store that can be used for open play, clinics, league space or as an ice rink in the winter.

“DICK’S House of Sport is redefining sports retail,” said Lauren Hobart, President and CEO of DICK’S Sporting Goods, on DICK’S Sporting Goods’ 2022 Q4 earnings call in March. “It is an experience that fosters deep community involvement that goes well beyond traditional retail and has become a destination where athletes can fuel their passions.”

The nine new House of Sport locations slated to open in 2023 are:

Katy, Texas at The Shops at Park WestBaybrook, Texas at Baybrook MallDavenport, Iowa, at Davenport CommonsChampaign, Illinois at Market Place Shopping Ctr.Chesapeake, Virginia at Greenbrier SquareFayetteville, North Carolina at Freedom Town CenterLatham, New York at Latham FarmsScranton, Pennsylvania at Viewmont MallJohnson City, New York at Oakdale Commons

The Johnson City House of Sport is just minutes from the very first DICK’S store in Binghamton, New York, and will debut as the company celebrates its 75th anniversary year. The remaining eight locations are existing DICK’S Sporting Goods stores that are currently closed for renovations and will be reopened as House of Sport stores later this year.

In 2024, House of Sport will open several additional locations, including in the following three communities:

Boston, Massachusetts at the Prudential CenterPittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Ross Park MallSalem, New Hampshire at the Mall at Rockingham Park

Episode Summary

In this episode of the “Better Together” podcast, SEE® (formerly Sealed Air) employee Angela Su explains how Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month reflects the sacrifice and risks her family made when they emigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. Throughout her seven years at SEE, Angela says she’s been encouraged by the company’s increasing DEI efforts. “It empowers me as someone from an Asian background,” Angela says. “I look forward to seeing more diverse leaders in the future.” 

Listen to the episode here.

About the Podcast

Believing employees can strengthen connections by learning from the experiences of co-workers, global packaging solutions provider SEE® (formerly Sealed Air) created “Better Together,” a DEI-focused podcast that gives employees the opportunity to share personal stories and perspectives that spark understanding and respect. The corporate podcast encourages employees to embrace their identities and look beyond differences to help foster inclusion in the workplace. “Better Together” is hosted and produced by Akilah Garvin, SEE’s Senior Manager of Supply Chain Communications.

BOSTON, May 24, 2023 /3BL Media/ – This week, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose© (CECP) is bringing together 200+ senior social impact and corporate responsibility professionals from the world’s leading global companies for the 20th annual CECP Summit: The Age of Agility: A Defining Moment for Business.

The CECP Summit will feature leaders engaging and learning together about powerful insights on trends, partnerships, and the impact of creating a better world through business. The variety of session topics reflect the many issues companies are currently facing to create long-term value for all stakeholders, such as: communicating ESG goals, addressing sustainability challenges, advancing health equity, creating long-term business value, innovating through corporate foundations, and more. 

“Today’s corporate purpose leaders, who gather at the CECP Summit, play a unique role by bridging all business units, people, products, and services with their companies’ purpose, which can help make the business work,” said Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, managing director of corporate insights and advisory at CECP. “CECP strengthens these leaders for the constant pressure to deliver positive impacts for the business and society.”

The Summit includes the presentation of the Charles H. Moore Award for Leadership in Corporate Community Engagement. The 2023 “Charlie Award” is awarded to John Damonti, President of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy and Patient Assistance at Bristol Myers Squibb Company. The award is named in honor of CECP’s founding Executive Director and is presented to senior leaders who exemplify perseverance in the pursuit of societal advancement, the trait for which Charlie Moore was best known.

“I’m truly honored to be receiving the Charles H. Moore Award. Charlie was a close friend for so many years and was the catalyst who would always strive to demonstrate the true impact and positive change that industry can have on society,” said John Damonti, President of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy and Patient Assistance at Bristol Myers Squibb Company. “Which is why I am humbled to receive this award from CECP, a purpose-driven organization, built on Charlie’s vision, that sets the standard for corporate philanthropy.”

For over 25 years, the mission of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation has been to improve health outcomes of populations disproportionately affected by serious diseases. And as its president, John has done just that in 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, China, India, Brazil, as well as across the U.S. He has more than 35 years of experience working in the areas of health policy, government affairs and social responsibility. John unites partners—such as governments, NGOs, and local communities—to promote health equity and improve the health of vulnerable communities in disease areas that are aligned with the therapeutic strategy of the Bristol Myers Squibb company.

CECP will also share with attendees’ the first look at data from the 2023 Giving in NumbersTM Survey. Giving in Numbers is the unrivaled leader in benchmarking on corporate social investments, in partnership with companies. As the premier industry survey and research, Giving in Numbers provides standard-setting criteria in a go-to guide that has defined the field and advanced the movement. Over 20 years, CECP has created the largest and most historical data set on trends in the industry, shared by more than 617 multi-billion-dollar companies, representing more than $388 billion in corporate social investments over that time span. See the new 2023 infographic. CECP thanks its Giving in Numbers sponsors, PwC and Newman’s Own Foundation.

The CECP Summit offers an unparalleled line up of speakers including:

Tanya Jeong, Director, Employee Engagement Global Philanthropy, AbbVieCaitlin Bell, Senior Vice President, Bank of AmericaDanielle Fritz, Senior Communications Specialist, Communications & Community Engagement, Beckman Coulter DiagnosticsSona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer, BenevityJennifer Chavez Rubio, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationAndrew J. Troup, Director, Giving & Engagement, Blackbaud, Inc.Shannon Trilli Kempner, former Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Diversity & Inclusion, Catalent Jeff Erlich, Senior Social Investment Advisor, ChevronCharu V. Adesnik, Executive Director, Cisco Foundation Director, Social Innovation Investments, Cisco Systems Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc.Major Joe Womack, President/Executive Director, Clean, Healthy, Educated, Safe & Sustainable CommunityAnne Black, President of Goldman Sachs Gives, Goldman SachsHenri G. Moore, VP/Head of Responsible Business, HaleonAdi Ignatius, Editor in Chief, Harvard Business ReviewSharon Vidal, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability, IlluminaJenny Lewis, Vice President, Foundation, Kimberly-Clark CorporationSabrina Spitaletta Johar, Sr. Director, Center for Public Health, Milken InstituteKate Isaacs, Senior Lecturer, MITJoanna Breitstein, Lead, Leadership & ESG Communications, OrganonDelvon Worthy, Director, Partnerships, ParticipantC.D. Glin, President of Pepsico Foundation and Global Head of Philanthropy, PepsiCo FoundationKathleen Ryan Mufson, VP, Global Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, President, Pitney Bowes Foundation, Pitney BowesJessica Bigazzi Foster, Ph.D., President, RHR InternationalJeff Senne, CEO, Sandbar SolutionsDavid Etzwiler, CEO, Siemens FoundationBurt Fealing, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary, SouthwireMarilyn Sherman, Founder/Owner, UpFront PresentationsChelsea Clinton, DPhil, MPH, Vice Chair, The Clinton Foundation and Clinton Health Access InitiativeNish Acharya, Senior Fellow, Inclusive Economic Recovery and Growth, Clinton Global InitiativeGwyneth Gaul, Strategic Partnerships & Philanthropy, Comcast NBCUniversalHeidi Spahn, Global Community Investment Leader, Corteva AgriscienceAmy Nakamoto, EVP, Social Impact, Discovery EducationKris Taylor, VP Global Community Impact & President of the Ecolab Foundation, EcolabLex Suvanto, CEO, Edelman SmithfieldJenny Holaday, President of Encore Boston Harbor, Encore Boston HarborMaeve Miccio, Head of Philanthropic Consulting, Fidelity InvestmentsJennifer Edwards, Director, GE Foundation, General Electric Sam Di Scipio, Senior Director, Social Impact, Macy’sAnu Gupta, Leader, Global Social Responsibility, McKinsey & CompanyAnnette Jennings, Director Global Community Engagement and Charitable Giving, Mars, IncorporatedJoan Steinberg, Head of Global Philanthropy & President, Morgan Stanley Foundation, CEO, Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health, Morgan StanleyHasting Stewart, Senior Communications, External and Public Affairs Leader, NRG EnergyKaren Price-Ward, Director, Social Impact, Stanley Black & DeckerSuresh Muthuswami, Chairman – North America, Tata Consultancy ServicesVeda Robbins, Community Organizer, The BIG WeKatrina Briddell, Senior Manager, Social Impact & ESG, The Hershey CompanyBree Fram, Lieutenant Colonel, US Space ForceOtis Rolley, Head, Philanthropy & Community Impact, Wells Fargo Bank President, Wells Fargo Foundation, Wells FargoMonica Moradkhan, VP Community Relations, Wynn Resorts, LimitedJames Nguyen, Head of Procurement, Zoetis

Breakout sessions include:

Choice, Customization, and Communications: A Winning Strategy for Engaging EmployeesSocial Impact with Global ReachLong-Term Business Value Creation: How Social Impact Goals AlignEmbracing Change through the Lens of Agility, Engagement, and IntegrationCommunity-Driven Solutions through Local PartnershipsBuilding a Workplace Dialogue around ESG: Communications Tools + TipsStronger Together: Collaborative Community EngagementCorporate Foundations: Designing for ImpactIntegrating Climate Action with Social Impact Efforts

CECP thanks its sponsors for their generous support of the 2023 CECP Summit: Bank of America, BNY Mellon, State Farm Insurance Company, and Wynn Resorts.

CECP also congratulates the 2022-2023 Company Spotlight honorees: Applied Materials, Travelers, Illumina , Macy’s, Merck & Co (Merck Foundation), Moody’s, Philip Morris International (PMI), Sanofi, Intel, Logitech, Organon, Campbell Soup Company, Fidelity Charitable®️, and Wells Fargo. On a quarterly basis, CECP selects companies for the sought-after Company Spotlight, through a thoughtful information-sharing and communications-support process. Company Spotlights are shared with CECP’s nearly 2,000 affiliated corporate contacts, posted on the CECP website as case studies, and recognized at the CECP Summit.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 CECP Summit, CECP will be posting on its website photos, videos, guest blogs, and an Executive Summary.

The application process for the 2024 Charlie Award is open. Nominate a peer senior leader in corporate responsibility today. The deadline is August 30, 2023. The application can be accessed on CECP homepage or by emailing CECP.

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About Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) 
Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose® (CECP) is a trusted advisor to companies on their corporate purpose journeys. Working with CEOs and leaders in corporate responsibility, sustainability, foundations, investor relations, finance, legal, and communications, CECP shares actionable insights with its CEO-led coalition to address stakeholder needs.

Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and other business leaders, CECP is a movement of more than 225 of the world’s largest companies that represent $7.7 trillion in revenues, $37.4 billion in total community investment, 14 million employees, 22.5 million hours of employee engagement, and $21 trillion in assets under management. CECP helps companies transform their strategy by providing research, benchmarking, strategy, communications, and convening in the areas of societal/community investment, employee engagement, environmental social governance/sustainable business, diversity equity inclusion, and telling the story.

For more information, visit http://cecp.co.

CECP Media Contact

Katie Leasor

kleasor@cecp.co

Originally published on Illumina News Center

Alejandro Pliego is attending Princeton, class of 2027. He is smart and poised, but Princeton was hardly a foregone conclusion. The child of immigrants from Cuernavaca, Mexico, he is the first member of his family to go to college. Pliego plans to focus his studies on molecular biology and public policy. As he puts it: He wants to fix things.

Recently, Pliego visited Illumina’s San Diego headquarters to meet Princeton alums and learn more about genomics. He’s one of the first fellows of the yearlong mentorship program San Diego Squared (SD2) and a recipient of the Illumina SD2 STEM Scholar Award. This visit was a chance for him to celebrate his accomplishments and make academic and professional connections.

“I’m really interested in genomics and understanding different genes in the body to diagnose and treat disease,” Pliego says. “This visit, I got to meet a lot of people who do that work and see how Illumina is such a vibrant community. I really enjoyed it.”

SD2 is looking for stars 
SD2, a grant recipient of the Illumina Corporate Foundation, connects high school students from underrepresented communities to hands-on STEM education, mentorship, and other resources.

“We are hyper-local, going into high schools and colleges to identify diverse, incredibly talented students who have shown excellence in STEM,” says H. Puentes, co-founder, president, and CEO of SD2. “We give them front-row access to STEM opportunities and help them develop a network who can be their allies, their support, and their advocates.”

The organization adopts a comprehensive strategy to support the whole student, providing whatever they need to succeed—from books to transportation to food stipends. SD2 wants to build their confidence, teach them about STEM industries, and show them they belong here.

“We believe talent lives in all communities,” Puentes says, “but historically, STEM fields haven’t been looking in diverse areas. Imagine the incredible talent we will find when we go places we’ve never looked before. Alejandro embodies that, but he’s not alone. We’ve got a ton more Alejandros out there.”

A day at Illumina 
During his visit, Pliego toured Illumina headquarters, met with several Princeton alums—including Chief Public Affairs Officer John Frank—and chatted with Chief People Officer and SD2 Board Member Aimee Hoyt.

“I was really impressed with how Alejandro approached these meetings,” Puentes says. “He’s not intimidated at all. I don’t think I could have done it at that age. Illumina has been a great partner with SD2. They’ve been at the table, sleeves rolled up, since day one.”

Pliego was impressed by how welcoming the people at Illumina were. “Being able to have these conversations, that was big,” he says. “It helps me grow my confidence and see what this world is really like.”

He applied to Princeton through QuestBridge, a nonprofit that connects students from low-income families to elite universities, and was awarded a full scholarship. He even wrote about Illumina in one of his college essays, recounting an earlier meeting with an employee who had a similar background. Eventually, he’d like to start his own company.

“I want to be able to help people, specifically underrepresented minorities and underprivileged kids, get the necessities they need in life,” Pliego says. “Listening to employees from different companies in this industry and understanding why they chose their career paths gives me perspective into the different missions companies have and how I might fit.”

Illumina is committed to inspiring the next generation of genomic leaders, and we are working to nurture a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce for the future. To do this, we collaborate with community partners like San Diego Squared that are empowering learners like Alejandro Pliego and engage our employees to reach and inspire students of all backgrounds.

Learn more about Illumina’s commitment to STEM education and our goal of reaching 5 million learners by 2030.

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M Forward is a program that highlights how materials science-based innovation at scale can help society progress against three unstoppable forces shaping our planet—climate change and resource scarcity, shifting demographics and social change and the convergence of the physical and digital world—and how solutions from 3M scientists, engineers and experts are building a brighter future. 

“The global reach of our business combined with our science-first approach to developing scalable solutions uniquely positions us to tackle the world’s biggest and most pressing challenges,” said Mark Copman, 3M senior vice president, new growth ventures.

This is supported by insights from the 2023 3M State of Science Index, which shows 85% of people globally see the connection between science and the role it plays in improving their life, and 88% believe that in the future, we will be more dependent on scientific knowledge than ever before.

“People around the world recognize the relevance of science in their lives and to their communities, and they look for it to be a part of the solutions driving change,” said Dr. Jayshree Seth, corporate scientist and chief science advocate at 3M. “We must work together to overcome these global challenges and build a brighter tomorrow for all.” 

Climate change and resource scarcity

Increasing rates of global development and decreasing levels of natural resources have contributed to negatively impacting the environment and accelerating global climate change. These impacts are widespread, and the risks extend beyond any one continent, industry or species—they present a global concern. According to the 2023 3M State of Science Index, 93% of people globally are concerned about the consequences of climate change, and 9 out of 10 believe science can help minimize the effects of climate change. 

To address these challenges, 3M is harnessing science-based innovations at scale to create more sustainable homes, businesses and communities. One way 3M is accelerating the delivery of new climate solutions to contribute to a low carbon economy is through collaborations, reflected in the company’s recent partnership announcement with Svante. 3M and Svante will collaborate to develop Direct Air Capture (DAC) products for sale to the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) industry. The company is also focused on alternative energy solutions—3M’s Advanced Materials Division is developing an innovative 3M™ Nanostructured Supported Iridium Catalyst Powder that could make the production of green hydrogen more cost-effective, efficient and obtainable—potentially enabling a more sustainable fuel solution for manufacturing and industries where electrification is difficult, such as long-haul trucking or steelmaking.

“Innovations that deliver scalable impact across industries have never been more important,” said Gayle Schueller, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at 3M. “At 3M, we are committed to making a positive impact through our operations, products and partnerships to accelerate science-based solutions in the critical areas of decarbonization, energy, transportation and circular economy.” 

Shifting demographics and social change

Greater global connectivity means shifts to education, sustainability, equity and technology, which can have impacts far beyond their geographic origin. These shared social changes offer personal and professional opportunities but also present challenges. For example, urbanization rates continue to grow as the world redefines the future of work and consumerism with technology, but a diminishing population in more rural areas can create labor shortages and impact supply chains.

3M understands how people’s needs are changing, in and out of the workplace, and creates solutions to help anticipate and accommodate those needs. In health care facilities, the company’s Clinician Solutions Portfolio is reducing the administrative burden on providers so they can better focus on their patients and create better health outcomes. To address labor challenges within manufacturing while improving productivity and quality, 3M is introducing automated technologies like the 3M™ Finesse-it™ Robotic Paint Repair System, which works with third-party vision systems to automatically identify and repair common paint defects on automotive production lines. And to empower new ways of working, 3M recently launched The Post-it® App for Microsoft Teams. The app provides the technology to support hybrid teams, allowing workers to share hand-written notes with their colleagues and take action on projects, no matter where they live or work, providing more freedom and flexibility.

“3M is working to make each of these evolutions a force for good. Our technology platforms and institutional expertise allow us to move forward through disruption,” said Dr. Seth. “We can see around the corners of intersecting trends to understand and respond with science-based innovations at scale in ways no one else can or does.”

Convergence of the physical and digital world 

The world we live in today is a fast-evolving ecosystem comprised of software, sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) and human-machine interfaces that power industry, commerce, and our daily lives. Societal shifts, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, make us not only more engaged with these interfaces, but also more dependent on them. Shaping this new reality and living in it requires a combination of technical mastery, courage and understanding—which most are eager to accept. 85% of people believe companies should embrace digital transformation, and 75% agree AI is an exciting technology that impacts their everyday life (2023 3M State of Science Index). 

“As the dividing line between physical and digital blur, innovations and technological advancements continue to revolutionize the way we interact, work, live and entertain,” said John Banovetz, 3M executive vice president, chief technology officer and environmental responsibility. “3M is addressing these changes by developing materials and process solutions—digital and physical—that serve the evolving needs of the consumer and our customers.”

Advances in connectivity, sensor and robotic technologies enable new opportunities for growth and efficiency in urban infrastructure, manufacturing and supply chains; similarly, digital augmentation of the human experience drives health, wellness, ability and experiences through personalized technologies.

3M’s expertise in optical materials technology made it an industry leader in successfully demonstrating the viability of pancake optics in VR headsets. Pancake optics, enabled by 3M’s patented reflective polarizer technology, reduce the size of VR headsets and significantly improve image resolution.Advancements such as 3M™ VHB™ Extrudable Tape blend robotics with adhesive science to help reduce waste and improve manufacturing process efficiency.3M’s Abrasives Systems Division in collaboration with robot suppliers and third-party robotic solution builders use automation to deploy the solution. Abrasive products like the 3M™ Trizact™ Finesse-it™ Discs anchor the technology by removing defects with ease.Filtrete™ Smart HVAC Air Filter helps trap and capture allergens and other microscopic particles, like bacteria and viruses, from the air in your home. It tracks the life of your filter based on airflow and usage—not just time.

3M Forward and science-based innovations at scale 

As the transformative forces of climate change and resource scarcity, shifting demographics and social change and convergence of the physical and digital world continue to shape the world around us, 3M is committed to leveraging its full capabilities to innovate meaningful solutions that help us adapt and make more informed decisions to reimagine the future.

To learn more about how 3M solutions are improving lives around the world, and the areas 3M is focused on innovating next, visit 3M.com/Forward.  

On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, FedEx and Operation Warm received one of North America’s highest honors for corporate social impact initiatives. The Engage for Good Conference recognized our collaborative efforts with Operation Warm with a Golden Halo Award for the 2023 Best Employee Engagement Initiative. This prestigious award celebrates programs that blend brand purpose and social impact to build a better world and the bottom line.

Through our work with Operation Warm, we were able to deliver warm coats and shoes to children in need around the U.S., Canada and even into LAC. Operation Warm and FedEx teamed up to provide an impactful volunteer experience for team members, while leveraging shipping and logistics expertise to ensure a seamless delivery.

The FedEx Cares teams greatly appreciates all the wonderful volunteers who have participated in the over 193 coat or shoe events that have occurred since 2016. These special deliveries provided the gift of warmth, confidence and hope to students. In return team members were gifted with joy, high-fives, smiles, and hugs.

This campaign was also a key part of FedEx Cares’ successful 50 by 50 initiative, in which the company aimed to positively impact 50 million lives by its 50th anniversary in April 2023.

May 24, 2023 /3BL Media/ – AEG Presents: Rocky Mountains and Keep The Party Safe, Colorado’s awareness effort to prevent fentanyl overdoses, have launched a new partnership to help educate concertgoers in Colorado about the risk of fentanyl contaminated recreational drugs across the state.

The partnership will run through April 2024, with the potential to reach more than 1.2 million concertgoers with life-saving messages and resources that will be integrated into

AEG Presents owned and operated venues and festivals in the region: Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, The Ogden Theatre, The Bluebird Theatre, 1STBANK Center, The Gothic Theatre, Mission Ballroom, Global Dance Festival and Civic Center Park Concert Series.

Through the new partnership, AEG Presents: Rocky Mountains and Keep the Party Safe will help ensuremusic and live-entertainment fans have the information they need for a safe and fun time, no matter the events they attend.

“Keep The Party Safe is targeted to those who might not know they are vulnerable and might not know about ways to stay safe, like having naloxone to reverse overdoses or picking a designated non-user,” said Robert Valuck, PhD, RPh, executive director of the Consortium and a professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy. “With AEG Presents, we’re finding creative ways to get the word out about life-saving precautions people can take by integrating Keep The Party Safe messages and resources into the concert experience.”

Keep The Party Safe representatives conducted a naloxone training for AEG staff, empowering them to recognize and respond to an overdose. Organizers also debuted new Keep The Party Safe concert-themed venue creative and Emergency Overdose Kits.

Within AEG Presents owned and operated venues and festivals, concertgoers will engage with the campaign via bathroom mirror clings, venue posters, digital signage, and event activations as well as interactive giveaways at a select number of shows and festivals. Additionally, Keep The Party Safe will help drive raise awareness for fans with key brand messaging across the respective venue and festival’s digital and social channels.

Keep The Party Safe encourages people to create a checklist for a safer night out.

B.Y.O.N: Bring Your Own NaloxoneBefore the party, designate a non-userKnow the signs of an overdoseAs soon as you spot an overdose, call 911 and use naloxone

Launched in 2022 by the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention (Consortium), Keep The Party Safe educates and empowers audiences to take steps to protect themselves and their friends from overdose. For more information, visit KeepThePartySafe.org.

“The health, safety and well-being of our guests will always be our number one priority,” said Don Strasburg, Co-President, AEG Presents Rocky Mountains & AEG Presents Northwest. “We’ re proud to be teaming up with Keep The Party Safe, an important and timely awareness effort that mirrors our commitment to helping combat overdose and supporting the people and communities we both serve across the state of Colorado.”