Month: June 2023

Originally published by Can Manufacturers Institute on April 21, 2023. 

WASHINGTON /3BL Media/ – Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and all its aluminum beverage can manufacturer and can sheet producer members endorsed Mission Possible Partnership’s (MPP) transition strategy for a net-zero, 1.5°C-aligned aluminum industry. These endorsements reflect the aluminum beverage can industry’s aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the relatively small amount of primary aluminum in beverage cans, thereby contributing toward the needed progress in the fight against climate change.

Since the 1990s, the carbon footprint of aluminum beverage cans made in North America has dropped by nearly half. Endorsing and acting on the MPP strategy will result in even further reductions in the carbon footprint of the aluminum beverage can since the primary aluminum incorporated into aluminum beverage cans would have a reduced carbon profile.

Transitioning the aluminum industry to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while complying with a target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C from preindustrial levels will require a variety of actions including deploying new technologies, decarbonizing power supply and increasing material and product efficiency. The MPP aluminum transition strategy provides an actionable, achievable plan. Through their endorsements, CMI aluminum beverage can sector members are agreeing on the importance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and recognizing that actions to support the transition to achieve a 1.5°C-aligned scenario should be pursued expeditiously.

One of the other ways to reduce the carbon footprint of aluminum beverage cans is increasing the recycled content used in new cans. Today, aluminum beverage cans manufactured in the United States average 73 percent recycled content, the highest average of any beverage container. That number will increase, decreasing the need for primary aluminum, if the industry is successful in reaching stated aluminum beverage can recycling rate targets. These targets, as set by CMI and its members, entail going from a 45 percent recycling rate in 2020, which makes it the most recycled beverage container in the United States, to a 70 percent rate in 2030, 80 percent rate in 2040 and 90 percent rate in 2050. CMI’s Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling Primer and Roadmap details how these targets can be achieved. Recycling more aluminum beverage cans means a greater environmental and economic impact, as well as more cans exemplifying the circular economy as they go from recycling bin back to store shelf as a new can in as little as 60 days.

“Our strategy has two parallel paths to further reduce the carbon footprint of the aluminum beverage can— lower the carbon footprint of any primary aluminum incorporated into beverage cans and increase the recovery of used beverage cans so the recycled content in new cans increases,” said Scott Breen, CMI’s vice president of sustainability. “Our members have shown leadership in both of these areas by endorsing Mission Possible Partnership’s strategy to foster a net-zero, 1.5°C-aligned aluminum industry and by committing to ambitious U.S. aluminum beverage can recycling rate targets.”

These endorsements follow a gathering of more than 100 leaders across the aluminum beverage can value chain for the Global Aluminium Can Sustainability Summit in September 2022. CMI and the International Aluminium Institute co-organized the event with funding from Ardagh Metal Packaging and Crown Holdings. One of the two focus areas of this Summit was aluminum decarbonization. A representative from MPP unveiled the aluminum sector transition strategy for the first time as part of the Summit.

Enacting the sector transition strategy will take time and large investments. MPP believes cumulative investment of approximately $1 trillion across the primary production value chain will be needed to deliver a net-zero sector, or a 1.5°C pathway. CMI, its aluminum beverage can manufacturer members (Ardagh Metal Packaging, CANPACK, Crown Holdings and Envases), its aluminum beverage can sheet producer members (Constellium, Kaiser Aluminum, Novelis and Tri-Arrows Aluminum), as well as its partner and fellow endorser The Aluminum Association, will be working with a variety of stakeholders inside and outside of the industry to catalyze the necessary actions and investments to pursue this transition strategy.

About Can Manufacturers Institute
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) is the national trade association of the metal can manufacturing industry and its suppliers in the United States. The can industry accounts for the annual domestic production of approximately 130.7 billion food, beverage and general line cans; employs more than 28,000 people with plants in 33 states, Puerto Rico and American Samoa; and generates about $15.7 billion in direct economic activity. CMI members are committed to providing safe, nutritious and refreshing canned food and beverages to consumers in the most sustainable packaging.

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Alsip, Ill., May 16, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Griffith Foods is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2023 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams.

The 2023 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic culture, as well as strong financials.

“We are incredibly proud and grateful for this recognition, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all our team-members,” said Griffith Foods CEO, T.C. Chatterjee. “At Griffith Foods, we aspire to be a product development partner that helps create and scale positive impact in the world through our focus on delivering nutritious, affordable food for a healthy planet.”

Griffith Foods’ successful application highlighted the company’s triple bottom line approach, which guides the company to think about People, Planet and Performance at all times.

People: Taking care of employees and the communities in which it does business.Planet: Taking environmental action to responsibly take care of the Earth.Performance: Operating ethically and strategically to create positive impacts for its business and all of those with whom the company interacts.

Designees propelled their businesses forward and remained true to their purpose and values by investing in their people, creating advantage through digital transformation, taking measurable action on sustainability, and demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 46 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program.

About the Best Managed Companies Program

The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices — strategy, execution, culture and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.

About Griffith Foods

Griffith Foods is a family-owned global developer and manufacturer of customized food ingredient solutions guided by their Purpose of “We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World”. The company’s product capabilities range from seasonings and breading, to marinades and sauces blended to exacting specification that are culturally authentic, taste great and are wholesome. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods has grown and expanded globally to include a presence in over 30 countries. For more information, visit www.griffithfoods.com.

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Further exploration is needed, including cost and economic studies, regulatory conditions, site evaluations and additional technology assessments

(Editor’s note: The Purdue University and Duke Energy Small Modular Reactor and Advanced Reactor Feasibility Study Interim Report and fact sheet are available at https://purdue.ws/smrstudyreport.)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., June 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Purdue University and Duke Energy released an interim report today that describes small modular reactors as one of the most promising emerging technologies and a potential, carbon-free option that should be further explored to help meet the future, long-term power needs of Purdue University.

This finding came following the first year of a small modular reactor and advanced reactor feasibility study into whether advanced nuclear technologies could power the university’s West Lafayette campus and supply excess energy to Indiana’s electric grid in the 2030s and beyond.

Electricity from nuclear power plants is a carbon-free source of energy that operates continuously 24 hours a day. Small modular reactors will typically produce up to 300 megawatts of clean energy, with some designs having higher generating capacities. They also have enhanced safety features and are simpler than traditional nuclear plants, making them easier, faster and more affordable to build.

“Our early findings show that advanced nuclear technology presents a potential path to zero emissions for our university, and we intend to continue our teamwork with Duke Energy in the next phase of the study,” said Purdue University President Mung Chiang. “The persistent collaboration among Duke Energy, Purdue University and world-renowned energy and policy experts demonstrates the critical importance of this exploration into advanced nuclear energy and what it could mean not only for our campus, but also the community, state and nation.”

In the interim report, no technology has been selected and no decision to build a new nuclear plant has been made at Purdue University or on Duke Energy’s Indiana system. The interim report confirmed:

Small modular reactors are a promising, carbon-free energy option for Purdue University that should be further explored. 
 Because small modular reactors can operate continuously and their energy output can adjust to meet power demand, they complement other resources, such as renewable energy. This is important for reliable energy as wind and solar power becomes a larger percentage of the generation mix. 
 Small modular reactor designs have enhanced safety features and are simpler than traditional nuclear plants, making them easier, faster and more affordable to build. 
 First-of-a-kind small modular reactors are expected to be in service in the U.S. later this decade, and the federal government is helping to fund several projects. 
 Small modular reactors offer many economic benefits, such as: 
 Generating millions in taxes for local communities 
 Creating thousands of temporary construction jobs and hundreds of permanent high-wage jobs 
 Attracting private companies to locate and expand in Indiana 
 Federal and state law supports advanced nuclear development, but the federal licensing process is complex and lengthy. Streamlined planning, design, construction and financing are needed.

“To reach a clean, carbon-free future, we need to explore a broad range of technologies, including advanced nuclear,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. “We need to study this and other options further, and this report starts a conversation about how we might transition to carbon-free power that can operate on demand in concert with renewable energy, such as solar and wind.”

The interim report also explored challenges – such as public acceptance, regulatory conditions, cost competitiveness, technology development, used fuel management and skilled workforce availability – and recommended these next steps:

Advocate for federal and state policy and funding needs.

Federal policy recommendations:

Federally backed funding insurance options 
 More nuclear engineering and science workforce development programs 
 A public-private advanced reactor development program 
 A fuel availability program 
 Maintaining federal tax credits

State policy recommendations:

Additional support for initial planning and development activities for first movers considering advanced nuclear technology 
 State tax credits for small modular reactors and advanced reactors 
 Build on the successful stakeholder engagement to date to continue regional and national dialogue on nuclear energy. Purdue University and Duke Energy hosted a six-part lecture series, “Understanding Tomorrow’s Nuclear Energy,” from August 2022-February 2023. It reached an audience of 4,900 in-person and virtually. As technology and policy advance, additional stakeholder engagement will help ensure a broader understanding of the benefits and challenges of new nuclear development.Conduct cost and economic studies, site evaluations and additional technology assessments. As first-of-a-kind projects progress through approvals and construction, Purdue University and Duke Energy will continue monitoring developments. Quantifying the costs and economic benefits of advanced nuclear, performing additional technology assessments and evaluating potential sites for development will help inform the path forward.

The process to site, permit, receive regulatory approval, build and bring online a new nuclear plant currently takes about 10 years to complete. If Purdue University and Duke Energy at any point in the future decide to pursue small modular reactors near campus or elsewhere in Indiana, public and stakeholder input will be an important part of the process first.

“The more we learn about small modular reactors, the more potential we see for this technology to help our university achieve a sustainable energy future and eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Michael B. Cline, senior vice president, Purdue University Administrative Operations.

The Purdue University and Duke Energy feasibility study was announced in April 2022. The interim report released today culminates hundreds of hours of research and evaluation from nearly three dozen leaders and industry experts, including world-renowned experts who serve on the team’s executive and technical advisory committees.

Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Purdue University Contact: Tim Doty 
Telephone: 765.494.2080 
Email: doty2@purdue.edu

Duke Energy Contact: Angeline Protogere 
Email: Angeline.Protogere@duke-energy.com 
24-hour media line: 800.559.3853

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Originally published in Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

In 2022, Webster’s merger with Sterling National Bank increased our capabilities and scale, allowing us to build on both companies’ long-standing records of citizenship, sustainability and responsibility. As part of these efforts, the new Office of Corporate Responsibility (OCR) was established.

Reflecting our shared values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, agility, respect and excellence, OCR manages all community-facing activities across the company, including Supplier Diversity; Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and Fair and Responsible Banking; Community Investment, Engagement and Philanthropy; Government Relations and Public Affairs; and ESG efforts.

Led by Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer Marissa Weidner, OCR partners with Human Resources to drive our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging efforts. OCR also provides oversight of Community Engagement and Philanthropy programs related to Webster’s Business Resource Groups.

The OCR oversees Webster’s $6.5 billion, three-year Community Investment Strategy, providing opportunities for individuals in our communities to excel. In developing the strategy, Webster worked with more than 100 community groups across the footprint, listening to their needs and concerns.

The Community Investment Strategy has four key focus areas: (see chart above)

Affordable housingCommunity developmentSmall business lendingCommunity support

Community Liaison Officer Program

Webster’s new Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Program was launched in 2022 as part of our Community Investment Strategy. Working in partnership with the Office of Corporate Responsibility, the CLOs provide support and financial education to LMI and minority borrowers. They also work to increase lending opportunities to meet local credit needs, especially for first-time homebuyers. The CLOs cover territory surrounding their base locations in the Northeast, and partner with existing banking centers in their respective territories to provide additional support.

Community Liaison Office video

Webster Finance Labs

The Webster Finance Labs are a signature OCR initiative, designed to help nonprofit partners in LMI communities create opportunities for students to gain the skills needed for economic empowerment and financial success. 

Three Webster Finance Labs were launched in 2022: Yonkers Partners in Education (Yonkers, New York), Eagle Academy Foundation (Bronx, New York) and Wakeman Boys and Girls Club (Bridgeport, Connecticut). The Labs provide support for technology and curriculum, and also offer volunteer opportunities for Webster colleagues. Each Finance Lab is funded with a $100,000 grant from the Webster Bank Charitable Foundation. 

Additional Finance Labs are planned for launch in 2023.

YPIE video

Eagle Academy video

To learn more about Webster Bank’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit our CR webpage.

For full details about Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report, visit here.