Month: June 2023

Abbott

Duct tape. Electrical tape. Painter’s tape. Tape is one of those useful tools that is always good to have in the toolbox. And to support children’s health, we must utilize all the tools available to us.

A unique kind of tape called the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) z-score tape — an innovative and easy-to-use tool in our global health toolbox — is playing a key role in the fight against childhood malnutrition, which affects millions of kids each year.

To encourage communities to come together for children, we’re launching a “Beat Malnutrition” campaign alongside our partners at Real Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation to highlight the importance of nutrition education and screening using the MUAC z-score tape. As part of the campaign, we co-created a custom “Beat Malnutrition” armband inspired by the MUAC z-score tape that will be worn by Real Madrid players before their final game of the 2022-2023 La Liga season and distributed to fans at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to drive awareness of the ongoing efforts between Abbott and the club.

“Measuring children with the MUAC z-score tape happens in seconds but has the potential to be lifesaving,” said Ann Smith, co-lead of the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions.

“Through our partnership and ‘Beat Malnutrition’ campaign with Real Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation, we’re spotlighting the importance of education and malnutrition screening to identify kids who are at-risk, which is an important step on the path to prevention.”

Our Matchups Against Malnutrition

Our partnership with the Real Madrid Foundation is one example of what we do with the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions, working with partners in multiple countries to focus on reducing malnutrition globally.

We’ve trained Real Madrid Foundation coaches to use the MUAC z-score tape in Mexico, India, and the U.S., with the goal of screening more than 2,500 children in nine countries by the end of the program’s first year.

In addition to the armbands, we’re hosting the first-ever Run to Beat Malnutrition on June 3, where over 1,000 runners will travel through the Ciudad Real Madrid to raise awareness for the cause. All the proceeds will be donated to Real Madrid Foundation. We’re also offering a virtual version of the race with the support of our Abbott World Marathon Majors Global Run Club. For every runner who participates virtually, Abbott will donate $5 to the Real Madrid Foundation to help fight malnutrition.

“To beat malnutrition, we must find it early — and to find it, we need more people to know how to identify it. We hope this campaign and our partnership with Abbott brings needed attention to the issues of malnutrition and gives communities the knowledge and tools to address it and to help children live healthy lives,” said Iker Casillas, deputy general manager, Real Madrid Foundation.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to fighting malnutrition around the world. By raising awareness with accessible tools like the MUAC z-score tape and providing nutrition education, however, we can empower communities to improve the health and potential of children.

BOISE, Idaho, June 6, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI), along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, is amplifying its commitment to fight hunger by declaring June 6 as Nourishing Neighbors Day. To mark the occasion, the Foundation is also announcing the recipients of three multiyear Nourishing Neighbors Spark Grants totaling $9 million to nonprofit organizations that are spearheading innovative programs designed to create long-term solutions for moving people out of food insecurity.

“Our grocery stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s, Jewel-Osco and Tom Thumb, have a long-standing history of donating money, fresh food and pantry staples to area food banks, soup kitchens, community fridges and more to help ensure our neighbors in need have access to a nutritious meal,” said Susan Morris, Chief Operations Officer for Albertsons Cos. and Board Chair for Albertsons Companies Foundation. “While regular food distribution is an important and critical part of addressing hunger, we developed these grants so we can advance our efforts further by supporting organizations that are at the forefront of empowering individuals and families to achieve lasting food security.”

Hunger is a complex health and social issue impacting more than 13.5 million American households, including those with children.* The following nonprofit organizations were selected for a Nourishing Neighbors Spark Grant of $3 million each for their unique solutions, expertise and promise of far-reaching impact in ending hunger.

Share our Strength 
Share Our Strength is a nonprofit organization working to end hunger and poverty through their No Kid Hungry campaign and other programs. With the Nourishing Neighbors grant, Share Our Strength will design and fund a program to help single mothers break the cycle of poverty through career coaching; stipends for food, housing and childcare; counseling support; tax services and more. Single mothers in the United States are the group mostly likely to live in poverty and struggle with hunger**. With this program, Share Our Strength can help these women, and their children, live the healthy, happy lives they deserve. 
 United Way of the Bay Area 
Almost 900,000 people are food insecure in the San Francisco Bay Area. United Way Bay Area mobilizes a network of community partners to effectively respond to food insecurity by collaborating across sectors including nonprofits and government agencies to address both short-term essential human needs and advocate for long-term systemic changes in the pursuit of a healthier, more equitable region. The Nourishing Neighbors grant will fund a pilot program with 100 low-income families in Alameda County by 2027. Families will receive customized financial coaching and monthly stipends as part of an immersive and innovative community-based program to help the most marginalized communities break through the cycle of poverty and hunger. 
 FIND Food Bank 
FIND is a regional food bank in southern California feeding an average of 150,000 people each month through their network of 150 distribution sites and over 80 community-based partners. The food bank will use their grant to create a program targeted to food insecure college students, primarily at community colleges, and provide career coaching, employment opportunities, stipends and other services to provide a pathway for success when they graduate.

Nourishing Neighbors Program

Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of Albertsons Cos. Foundation and seeks to ensure at-risk children, adults, seniors and families have access to the food they need to thrive.

During the month of May, Nourishing Neighbors raised more than $6.2 million through customer donations made at the register across every Albertsons Cos. store. Since the program’s inception in 2014, Nourishing Neighbors (formerly Hunger Is) has raised more than $200 million for thousands of nonprofit organizations that are on the front lines of combatting hunger in America. In 2020, Nourishing Neighbors enabled 350 million meals, invested $10.4 million in schools to feed kids and provided $9 million toward empowering BIPOC communities through hunger programs.

“By declaring June 6 as Nourishing Neighbors Day, our goal is to raise continued awareness and support for Americans who continually struggle with where their next meal is coming from,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, President and Executive Director for Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers, the Nourishing Neighbors program is able to help millions of people gain access to a nutritious meal.”

Nourishing Neighbors New PSA Campaign

To further advance the fight to end hunger, Nourishing Neighbors debuted a new PSA campaign last month to inspire communities to learn how they can get involved and help millions of Americans who are food insecure. The campaign, which emphasizes that “everyone should be welcome at the table,” appears nationally across media platforms including TV, radio, digital, print and a Times Square digital billboard in New York City.

For more information on Nourishing Neighbors, click here. To download related video assets and images, please click here.

For media relations, contact media@albertsons.com.

* USDA Household Food Security in the United States in 2021: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/104656/err-309.pdf?v=3584.2

** USDA Economic Research Service, September 2022:

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=58384

About Albertsons Companies 
Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of February 25, 2023, the Company operated 2,271 retail stores with 1,722 pharmacies, 401 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2022, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $200 million in food and financial support, including more than $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat.

By Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile

I was honored to deliver a commencement speech June 4 at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business undergraduate graduation ceremony. What an incredible day to celebrate with the amazing, determined and resilient graduates of the Class of 2023! They persevered to reach this important milestone despite a once-in-a-generation pandemic that changed everything about how we learned, worked and lived life.

Looking out at their faces, what struck me the most is that change is upon them again. From this moment on, no one is prescribing their path for them or what success will look like. So, I was excited to put myself in their shoes and offer up some advice I’ve grown to live by in my career, along with some real-world advice that they don’t teach you in college!

Here’s what I shared:

Good afternoon, everyone! Thank you for the great introduction, Dean Hodge. Graduates, and your families and supporters, thank you for giving us a reason to come together to celebrate today — and congratulations!

 I remember sitting in your chair. You’re probably feeling ALL the emotions: Excited. Proud. Relieved. Nervous. Maybe a little Uncertain. (By the way, if you put yourself out there, those nervous feelings never go away — I’m pretty sure I just experienced them again stepping up here today!)

Preparing for this day took me back to my own graduation milestone … and how it feels. And I realized this, right here, today — is the first time in our lives no one is telling us what comes next, or even how to define our own success.

Think about it: Up until now, 11th grade followed 10th grade. Senior year followed junior year. There were even specific steps you had to take to be successful, like to gain admission to the incredible Foster School at the University of Washington. And once you were here, you completed every prescribed requirement to make it to graduation day.

Other people told you what success looked like. OTHER people decided YOUR success criteria. Get good grades, good scores, get involved in your school community, maybe pursue athletics or the arts. Pass each grade with success in these areas, and progress to the next. Year after year until this very moment.

Now, in a few short minutes, they’re gonna open those doors, release us into the world, and for the first time in your lives, there’s no path. There’s no prescribed definition of success. It’s COMPLETELY up to you. Your adult post-graduate life is a completely blank sheet of paper with no boxes on it to check off.

It’s exhilarating and sort of daunting all at the same time, isn’t it? I felt it when I graduated for sure, but also SO many times during my career. This feeling of not knowing the path ahead never goes away, so you might as well get used to it — and even learn to embrace it!

I know I felt it again when I joined T-Mobile almost 11 years ago. Back then, T-Mobile was a struggling #4 provider in the U.S. and was rapidly shrinking. It was a company without a clear path ahead. Seems like a great time to join a company, huh? I got there and thought, I really know how to pick ’em, you know?

I distinctly remember that feeling of, “OK, so what the heck do we do now?” during a time when very little that was happening was working. We knew we needed to make some changes pretty fast. So, what did we do?

We got curious. We listened to customers who were angry at our whole industry, and we made some big changes to show them we’d be a company that would put them first — in an industry famous for the opposite back then. We took smart risks and made some audacious moves. Fast forward just one decade, and we’ve gone from a distant #4 in the U.S.A. to, at the end of last year, the world’s largest telecommunications company of any kind by market cap. It’s been just a remarkable journey, and you know what?

We got here by constantly asking two simple questions that probably apply to each of us sitting here today. The questions are: “What if?” and “Why not?” What if? And why not? WHAT IF we eliminated data buckets and went all-in on Unlimited plans? WHY NOT give customers a free thank-you every single Tuesday with T-Mobile Tuesdays? What IF we allowed customers to roam with their phones worldwide for free?

And in providing ourselves the answers, we figured out what we were good at — which is loving customers and changing an industry in their favor — then doubled down on it. Love is a funny word for a company to use. But it applies, because we put ourselves out there, hoping customers would reciprocate and love us back. And it has worked out pretty well so far.

And today, as graduates, you’re at a similar crossroads. For the first time, you have the complete freedom to ask “What if” and “Why not” every day, to chart your course, and to define what success looks like to YOU.

Now, some of you might already have a sense of where you’re initially headed — you have accepted a job, you might be getting involved in the community, you might be pursuing another degree, or you might be looking for a job. And if you’re anything like I was as a new graduate, you may not be sure you’ve made the best choice for this next chapter. Or you may not have made a choice at all, and that’s OK! What’s pretty great, and a little scary, is that the choices are yours, and yours alone, to make.

But this is a commencement speech, and that means two things. First, even though the choices ahead are all yours, I’m going to give you some pearly bits of wisdom from an old Gen Xer. And second, SINCE it’s a commencement speech, you’ll almost surely have forgotten those pearly bits by tomorrow.

So, I revert to, “Hey listen, it’s up to you, just follow your gut.” Well actually, that’s if your gut is curious about what you are good at. Because my real advice is to follow your competence. That’s my first pearly shiny bit of wisdom. Follow your competence. Figure out what you enjoy, because you are good at it, and then do more of it. I’ll come back to that one.

The second? Don’t worry about it. Really. If you are wondering if your first thing out of school will take you in the right direction, I’m here to tell you not to sweat it. Because the journey is all about figuring it out.

Try to remember this for the sake of your own mental health. You can spend the entire next decade exploring what you enjoy doing — and what you are good at — and still not fall behind. I know, I know, we’re all type-A business students who overthink everything. But I mean it. We all put so much pressure on ourselves and think, man, this first thing right out of school … right now … is going to determine the whole road ahead. I better get this exactly right. And you know what? It’s just not the case.

There are SO many examples to back me up on this. Successful people who discovered their thing in their 30s and 40s. Today, you already have a solid sense of your own strengths and what you like doing … and your first step will help reaffirm that. But if not, you’ll just try again … and that’s OK, too!

Now let me go back to following your competence. Some people may tell you to just “follow your passions,” but I think that’s only part of the answer, because we often learn our passions over time.

Here’s the thing — I know people who are really great tax attorneys. Do you think they were passionate about taxes in college? I started my career marketing toothpaste. Let me tell you, I didn’t go into toothpaste because it was my passion. I went into it because I had a sense that I might be GOOD AT — and enjoy — marketing, and the company I went to was an ideal place to develop marketing skills. I’m pretty sure the best tax attorneys are people who discovered that the math and logic of it, or the client advocacy, were things they could thrive in. And you know what? Thriving is enjoyable. Most people I know who have found true career satisfaction have discovered something they’re good at. They have followed their competence. And it became a passion.

When we do more of the stuff we’re good at, we find ourselves getting better and better. We feel satisfied. We get positive feedback from others. This opens doors, and the potential for a cycle of success and satisfaction follows. That’s what following your competence is all about.

But here’s the asterisk (because there are always asterisks in life!): I’m not saying we should shy away from things outside of our comfort zones. We don’t always find our competence and true skills by playing it safe. So … take risks, try things. And remember to ask “What if” and “Why not?” a lot!

In 2011, I threw myself into flying airplanes and seaplanes just because it was a challenge, and I suspected it might be something I’d be able to get good at and enjoy. The whole appeal of it was that it was hard, at least at first. Some people pursue golf for the same reason, although why, I have no idea.

SO, yeah, take risks, try things, be curious, and along the way, my advice is this: Pay attention to what you find you’re good at. Your competence. Develop those skills. Invest in them. Not just because it might bring you success, but because it might bring you joy.

Now that we’ve covered my two main pearly bits of wisdom, I have some practical, real-world bits to share, too. I’m calling them my “10 partially plagiarized nuggets” from the so-called wisdom of my 54 years. Ready?

At a buffet, the salad’s always first. It’s a trap. Don’t fall for it. They want to fill your plate with cheap lettuce. Hold out for the good stuff.When someone offers to shake your hand, stand up, and look them in the eye. It’s a simple sign of respect. That’s one of my favorites.If you are panic flossing and brushing the night before your dentist appointment, you’re doing it wrong.If you have drinks with co-workers, drink less than the boss. I learned that one the hard way in my 20s.Sunscreen sucks. Wear it anyway. I learned that one the hard way in my 40s.If someone cooks for you, do the dishes or help with them. You’ll be amazed how far this one takes you. Or so I’m told.If you ask someone their name, and this one’s hard, I know, actually listen to their answer. Crazy, right?Make your bed. I’m not kidding. There’s a whole speech on this one. You can Google it. But seriously, make your bed. It starts your day off right.Be curious. Listen to this hack: Ask people about themselves, and then follow up with more genuine questions when they answer. You’ll be amazed how far this one simple trait can take you.Finally, if someone offers you a mint, go ahead and take it. You’re welcome.

And here’s one for the parents. Fire your kids from your wireless plans this very afternoon, before they suck your bank accounts dry! Don’t worry though, graduates, T-Mobile is here for you with open arms!

OK everyone, I hope my main points struck a chord. Follow your competence: You’ll find you enjoy and thrive at the things you are good at. And second: Don’t worry about it too much right now. You’ll be fine. Give yourself a break — you aren’t falling behind, you’ll figure it out, and sometimes it just takes a few tries at asking “What if” and “Why not?” So, walk out those doors at the end of this session and chart your own course, and define your own version of success. I can’t wait to see where the “what ifs” and “why nots” take you.

Congratulations to the Class of ’23!!

Watch the full speech here.

Originally published by Ericsson

Kim Arrington Johnson, Principal Analyst

Bhushan Joshi, Head of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility for Ericsson in Market Area North America

Communication Service Providers (CSP) want to monetize 5G networks, and they also want to work with partners that are reducing network energy use and minimizing their impact on the environment.The ABI Research Sustainability Assessment for telco network technology suppliers scored over 80 vendors on a comprehensive list of criteria, providing an in-depth view of companies that can best support CSPs in their drive toward sustainability.Using data from the ABI Research 5G and Sustainable Technologies groups, direct interviews, and questionnaires, ABI Research selected Ericsson as the #1 overall “Most Sustainable Telco Vendor,” due to scoring highly in the areas of Net Zero climate targets, product energy management, network energy performance, sustainable manufacturing, and ability to scale impact.

Introduction

ABI Research has provided a comprehensive framework for highlighting sustainability challenges and initiatives across the telecommunications industry. According to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), roughly two-thirds of the overall carbon footprint for a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) comes from Scope 3 emissions (e.g., purchases of upstream goods and services and downstream energy use of mobile devices), while one-third of operator emission totals are comprised of a company’s own emissions, mostly from the electricity used to power their networks. Understanding these major sources for telco carbon emissions, ABI Research identified key action items for a telco operator to take for reducing its carbon emissions and overall environmental impact:

Switch to renewable energy for purchased electricity.Migrate to 5G.Invest in latest generation massive MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (mMIMO) technologies.Implement eco-design requirements for network equipment (e.g., lightweight, modular, compact).Purchase energy efficient network equipment.Recycle or reuse network equipment and e-waste, such as copper cables, network equipment, mobile phones, and other devices.Implement Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled software across the network for network optimization, anomaly detection, and dynamic optimization of the Radio Access Network (RAN) performance based on data traffic and network loads.Adopt digital twin technologies for network asset planning, field operations, and customer mapping.

In a follow-on study, Sustainability Assessment: Telco Technology Suppliers, ABI Research looked further into the telco supply chain—evaluating more than 80 global vendors providing network infrastructure and equipment for sustainable impact and implementation. Impact is defined as the innovation and advanced features of the technologies for reducing carbon emissions or waste, while implementation reflects the ability to scale impact (quantified by market share, regional rollout, number of partnerships, number of licenses, etc.) The sustainability assessment scored each vendor on a comprehensive list of criteria, providing a matrixed view of the ecosystem of companies that can best support a telco in their drive toward improved sustainability.

In the first phase of evaluation, suppliers and vendors were assessed within nine equipment categories, including massive MIMO, 5G RAN, 5G Open-RAN, on-site renewable energy, free cooling, liquid cooling, AI-driven software, antenna solutions, and 5G cloud-native platforms. The scores for each category were then rolled up into an overall assessment of telecom sector providers, grouped by similar companies, including Traditional Vendors, Non-Traditional Vendors, Chipset and Component Vendors, and Software Vendors. The companies with the greatest ability to move the needle for reducing carbon emissions and waste across the entire telecommunications supply chain received the highest scores in the sustainability assessment.

In the ABI Research Sustainability Assessment, Ericsson was recognized as the “Most Sustainable Telco Vendor” out of more than 80 vendors for both impact and implementation.

Ericsson finished in first place overall and first place for impact and implementation out of more than 80 companies assessed. Ericsson achieved the designation of “Most Sustainable Telco Vendor,” due to scoring highly in Net Zero climate targets, product energy management, network energy performance, sustainable manufacturing, and ability to scale impact.   

Net Zero Climate Targets

As part of the scoring process, ABI Research assessed each vendor for its overall sustainability strategy and Net Zero climate commitments. The technology providers in the study ranged from having no published climate mitigation or carbon reduction goals to companies, such as Ericsson, with verified science-based targets for Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions. By 2040, Ericsson aims to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain. The company has also committed to reduce emissions in the supply chain and portfolio by 50% and to being Net Zero in its own operations by 2030.

Ericsson also received high scores for what ABI Research considers “next level” Net Zero ambition, or when a company uses its sector-wide influence to request or encourage others in the supply chain to reduce their carbon emissions. With that, Ericsson has set a supplier climate target requesting that 350 strategic suppliers publicly set their own 1.5°C aligned climate targets, halving their carbon emissions by 2030. 

Product Energy Management

Studies estimate that up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined during the design phase, and to verify the company’s critical focus on Product Energy Management and optimal design (maximizing 5G performance while minimizing energy use), ABI Research met directly with Ericsson’s Head of Sustainability and Head of Energy Performance, in addition to other product representatives. In comparing vendors for the sustainability assessment, Ericsson came in first place for impact, leading the massive MIMO and 5G RAN (radio access network) categories for optimizing equipment weight, size, and energy consumption while also securing first place in massive MIMO, 5G RAN, Antenna Solutions, and AI-driven software for implementation (e.g., number of live 5G networks, global market share, etc.) To support the ranking, Ericsson’s massive MIMO technologies have up to 50% improved energy efficiency compared to earlier generation equipment, while its basebands are 30% to 60% more efficient than competition at the same capacity.

After consolidating energy reduction data from multiple vendors, ABI Research attributes Ericsson’s close co-design of Ericsson Silicon, hardware, and software as key to its Product Energy Management leadership. The Ericsson Silicon range of chips are custom-made for mobile networks versus general purpose, and they span across the Ericsson Radio System, including RAN compute, radio, and transport functionalities. With 93.5% of Ericsson’s total carbon footprint coming from “Portfolio use of equipment,” a strong focus on next generation chip innovation and energy reduction should not only equate to savings in OPEX for CSPs but also contribute to breaking the 5G energy curve and reducing carbon emissions for Ericsson and its customers, while supporting data traffic growth

Ericsson did not lead in all equipment categories in the assessment. Other competing vendors had innovative and sustainable technology solutions for base station liquid cooling and on-site renewable energy, for example. ABI Research also assessed 16 Open RAN vendors for impact and implementation, and it was determined that traditional vendors like Ericsson are currently in the best overall position to address the sustainability needs of the telecom industry (though this could change with further OpenRAN integration and technological advancement.) 

Network Energy Performance

In recent years, major network operators have set clear and ambitious targets for mitigating climate change. So, how will these MNOs achieve Net Zero? In a concise summary: renewable energy, energy reduction (across the networks), and carbon offsets only for emission technically unfeasible to eliminate. Understanding this focus and a need for more energy efficient networks, Ericsson has established the ambition to design new sites that reduce energy consumption by 40% by 2025. With renewable electricity powering the site, carbon emissions reductions per site can be up to 70%.

Moreover, in addition to designing more energy efficient equipment, Ericsson is continuing to develop and test artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics solutions. There are numerous 5G use cases for AI-enabled and data-driven networks. Ericsson highlights two popular AI-use cases for customers, including 5G key performance indicator (KPI) degradation (notifying operators of potential performance issues hours in advance) and advanced root cause analysis of a network. From a sustainability perspective, both can better enable remote operations while reducing transportation emissions of site visits. The further testing and evaluation of AI-enabled 5G power savings features (PSFs) with automated sleep and shutdown modes can also reduce energy use. Through various global trials of AI/analytics software, Ericsson has assessed that CSPs can achieve roughly 15% reductions in energy-related operational expenditure (OPEX), an approximate 15% reduction in site visits (related to passive equipment), and an approximate 30% reduction in energy-related outages.

Ericsson also scored well for its future research and development (R&D) in expanding data-driven networks to using machine learning (explained as the “how”) and machine reasoning (explained as the “what”) for allowing MNOs to potentially enable even higher levels of customer service (i.e., prioritize these customers with stringent 5G performance requirements) while intelligently managing their energy use.

Sustainable Manufacturing

In 2021, Ericsson’s 5G factory in Lewisville, TX, USA, was awarded by the World Economic Forum (WEF) a second time for leadership in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) manufacturing, and it was named a “Sustainability Lighthouse” for leveraging digital technology beyond productivity to sustainability. Ericsson’s 5G factory is powered 100% from renewable electricity both from on-site solar generation and certified green electricity from the utility grid, and the site uses 24% less energy and 75% less water than an equivalent building.

To make that happen, Ericsson has installed 1,646 solar panels, which produce electricity from direct sunlight and from light reflected from the ground, making them 30% more efficient than typical solar panels. To reduce freshwater consumption, the factory has 40,000-gallon (151,415 liter) rainwater tanks to ensure that all available sources are collected during Texas downpours. The tanks, in addition to high efficiency water fixtures, enable the significant water use reductions. Finally, to reduce energy consumption, especially during peak hours of the day, Ericsson installed thermal ice storage tanks. In these tanks, ice is produced at night, when demand is lower and electricity is cheaper, and then used to cool the factory during the day. The factory has also achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, which requires a high level of scoring that is typically associated with office and residential buildings and not factories. 

Ability to Scale Impact

Questionnaires and global market data from the ABI Research 5G Group helped to verify which vendors have the greatest ability to scale impact across the telecom sector. For example, strong implementation vendors have the most live 5G networks, the highest market share by region, the largest number of partners, contracts, and software licenses, etc. Ericsson finished #1 overall for implementation, with more than 125 live 5G networks and 50% of global 5G traffic (excluding China) carried on Ericsson networks. For scaling impact, Ericsson also offers products in numerous equipment categories (indicating a larger reach across the entire telecom sector), including massive MIMO, 5G RAN, Open RAN, AI-driven Software, Antenna Solutions, and 5G telco cloud-native platforms.

Conclusion

In all, the combination of a Net Zero-focused company, using sustainable manufacturing processes to make lightweight, compact, and energy-efficient products, while scaling those products across a large global market share, added up to make Ericsson ABI Research’s “Most Sustainable Telco Vendor.”

ABI Research Sustainability Assessment report – Ericsson