Month: August 2023

Originally published by Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has been named Disability:IN’s Employer of the Year for 2023. The award recognizes a company’s achievement in exemplary policies, strategies and initiatives that have resulted in measurable results in the areas of disability inclusiveness in the workplace, marketplace and supply chain.

“Thank you Disability:IN for this honor and for the work that you do to promote disability inclusion in the workplace,” says Holly May, executive vice president & global chief human resource officer of WBA. “We are so proud of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s leadership in the space, which we credit to our values, commitment, signature Walgreens disability hiring and inclusion programs and partnerships.”

This follows seven consecutive years of recognition from Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities with a 100% score on its Disability Equality Index. Disability advocates and business leaders developed the index, which is the most comprehensive benchmarking tool for corporate disability inclusion.

WBA was recognized with the award on July 11, during Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the strengths and achievements of people with disabilities around the world, and for us, a time to look back on our progress through the years.

While Walgreens has always championed a commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities and equal opportunity, our revolutionary “same job, same expectations, same pay” operating model was developed more than 16 years ago with two signature programs: Transitional Work Group (TWG) and Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative (REDI). Since then, Walgreens has further expanded our commitments to disability representation through our work with Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, the establishment of a neurodiversity hiring program for corporate roles and the redesign of the annual incentive plan to create leadership accountability for diversity representation. Through this work, Walgreens has enabled thousands of people with disabilities to build lives they may not otherwise have been able to, simply because opportunities were not presented to them.

Transitional Work Group (TWG): Started in 2007, TWG is a placement program for people with physical, mental and sensory disabilities. Students complete a 10-13-week program that includes classroom and warehouse training, social skills practice and education in workplace policies.To date, more than 1,000 people with disabilities have been hired at 12 Walgreens distribution centers and regional warehouses across the country, with a successful 75% training-to-hire placement rate. The ripple effects of the TWG program continue—new hire orientation for supply chain team members now includes a two-hour training on disability awareness and etiquette.The TWG program was recently expanded into Walgreens micro-fulfillment centers.Retail Employees with Disabilities Inclusion (REDI): REDI is a program that trains individuals with disabilities for customer service associate roles at Walgreens stores.REDI, first launched in 2010, consists of a 3-6 week in-store training program, where participants learn valuable retail and customer service skills, qualifying hundreds of potential team members for retail roles. By the end of fiscal 2022, there were nearly 1,900 trainees enrolled in the program in more than 413 Walgreens stores across 38 states.Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: Walgreens partners with Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, a nonprofit that educates people with autism in the life skills necessary to live and work independently. A fully operational retail store was built within Turning Pointe’s center and supported by actual Walgreens store managers. A 9-month training program was developed for students learn how to work within a team, interface with customers and manage the cash register. After graduating, participants become “Walgreens Certified” and are eligible to be hired at any Walgreens store.Neurodiversity in the Workplace: In 2022, WBA formed a partnership with Neurodiversity in the Workplace™ to design plans and programs to recruit, attract, hire and retain neurodivergent talent in Walgreens offices.Neurodiversity in the Workplace provides education and greater awareness around neurodiversity by training hiring managers about what neurodiversity means, how to be an ally, and how to provide supportive workplace accommodations. The first cohort is expected to begin work at WBA’s global support center in Deerfield, Illinois, this year.

In addition to training and work placement programs, WBA sponsors a disAbility Alliance business resource group (BRG) that educates and supports individuals with disabilities and allies by providing informational content, fostering an inclusive workforce and furthering disability-related initiatives. The BRG hosts educational programming and learning experiences for team members throughout the year, welcoming those with all abilities to join, learn and network.

A lasting impact

Due to the success of this progressive and inclusive hiring model, other businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, have taken note, asking, “how does Walgreens do it?” Rather than withhold the knowledge, the company decided to share it for the greater good, establishing Walgreens Inclusion University.

Through the program, companies can tour TWG- and REDI-enabled distribution centers and stores and sit in on disability training curriculum to learn how a properly equipped working environment can empower team members of all abilities.

“We’ve always been proud to open our doors to other companies interested in learning about our approach, programs and practices, as others set up their models, through Walgreens Inclusion University,” says Holly May, executive vice president & global chief human resources officer of WBA. “The invitation is always open.” 

A commitment that continues

To ensure accountability among our leadership, last November, WBA became the first company in the S&P 500 to redesign our annual U.S. bonus plan to include a standalone disability representation metric.

This new metric will unlock a pipeline of talent and help foster equity for a previously underrepresented sector of the workforce. 

As an award-winning employer, WBA continues to combine both our past emphasis on disability support with our future in leading new initiatives to create opportunity and access the value provided by our diverse workforce.

Originally published in Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

We continue to advance plans to create further efficiencies in our operations and reduce our emissions, including increasing the amount of green energy used for our facilities. Across our footprint, we seek to maintain low-emission and energy-efficient working environments.

We recognize the importance of the transition to renewable energy and have been working to increase our use of renewable power. In 2022, we purchased renewable energy certificates, known as RECs, in our New York market to offset our energy consumption. RECs are certificates that represent the environmental attributes related to generating one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity from renewable sources and guarantee that equivalent energy was produced using renewable sources and added to the electricity grid. Accordingly, we partnered with Green-e to invest in these projects to address our emissions from our operations for December 2022 through December 2026. By purchasing these RECs to match 100% of our annual usage (4.69 MWh), we are taking meaningful climate action and expect to grow our program in 2023 and beyond.

Webster has undertaken a number of initiatives designed to reduce our impact on the environment and to promote environmentally friendly projects and practices, such as continued digitization of administrative and operational tasks. We are also working to identify and onboard software tools to help us track and manage emissions more effectively.

In 2022

Encouraged environmentally friendly work practices by supporting recycling and reuse, and by continuing to install energy efficient equipment and systems throughout our networkRetrofitted 13 branches with energyefficient lighting fixtures, with an energy savings of 248,627 kWh150 solar arrays in serviceReduced carbon emissions by nearly 1,200 metric tonsIncreased the use of e-records and e-signing technology resulting in reductions in paper waste and carbon emissionsFocused on process improvements to facilitate standardization and efficient production, which reduces material consumption and waste

We further extend our commitment to the communities we serve by financing commercial loans with companies involved in renewable energy, environmental remediation and energy-efficient components. In 2022, Webster Bank created or maintained commitments for approximately $661 million in loans for renewable energy, environmental remediation and energy-efficient components, primarily in Connecticut, as well as in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Washington D.C.

Co-led by our Chief Risk Officer and Chief Credit Officer, we continue to develop and refine our risk management framework for measuring and managing climate-related physical and transition risks that could impact the bank’s operations and loan portfolio.

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.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have rapidly risen in relevance in recent years and are increasingly topping board agendas. But when it comes to ESG reporting, corporate purpose leaders are split on its effectiveness and intended purpose. As it’s a reporting requirement primarily driven by investors and regulators, two-thirds of companies believe that ESG is mostly a risk management strategy, with one third believing it’s a good tool for impact. The one thing they all strongly agree on? Impact reporting is a critical investment for the future and it will be used to drive greater investment in social impact initiatives from their companies.

CSR leaders agree that impact reporting is rising in importance:

92% say impact reporting will be a critical investment for 2023 and beyond.

91% say impact data will increase support for investments in corporate purpose.

86% say companies should focus on driving greater impact versus ESG reporting.

Ninety-four percent of CSR leaders say the demand for impact reporting is increasing, and 93% say they need to be able to confidently communicate their impact. This has led many to report that there needs to be a shift in priorities when considering ESG and impact.

From financial and impact materiality to generating positive outcomes

Today’s ESG ratings measure and mitigate financial risk for investors — but a new approach to reporting is emerging that shifts the focus from disclosures to positive outcomes. Why? Because a new generation of investors, employees and consumers is interested in another dimension beyond risk and compliance — they care about impact.

In 2023, employees, consumers and corporate purpose leaders all wish to make more informed decisions that will help them generate the most positive impact possible with their available resources — and they want to feel that sense of efficacy most of us look for when we give. So, it’s not surprising that individual and workplace donors are increasingly focused on whether their contributions are leading to concrete outcomes.

The biggest impact opportunity is on the human level — it’s about fulfilling the ultimate promise of philanthropy. When people give, they want to know their dollars are making a measurable difference to the causes or issues they care about. With the ability to choose from millions of nonprofits around the globe, donors need help understanding which organizations they can trust and what outcomes they can expect from their support. Research from the University of Pennsylvania tells us that with this kind of data, donors are more likely to increase their frequency of support over time, while increasing their own sense of happiness and well-being.

92% of companies agree it’s important that impact reporting doesn’t put a burden on nonprofits.

As a result, CSR leaders are looking for standardized data and reporting tools. For example, those offered by Impact Genome enable companies to understand the outcomes they are achieving, like providing people with regular access to affordable food, permanent housing or healthcare treatment services. And then they can benchmark their progress and impact over time and improve their investment decisions without burdening nonprofits with greater administrative work.

Achieving this level of impact and outcome transparency requires standardized data and guidance on giving based on an assessment of the impact generated by organizations — and it enables individuals to make choices that give them confidence.

If it is to realize its true potential, ESG will need to evolve to include a focus on positive impact. It will need to shift from measuring inputs and become a tool to drive increased positive internal and external impact — for companies and their people. Companies who measure and independently verify their impact will be ahead of the game when ESG reporting finally catches up to this.

Discover the top five emerging societal and industry trends shaping the future of CSR, DEI and ESG in The State of Corporate Purpose 2023.

by Dr. Pooja Khosla and Thomas H. Stoner Jr., Entelligent 

For investors concerned about climate change risk, the issue of which stocks to buy, hold and sell can be quite complicated. The power sector representing the largest consumer of carbon fuels is highly regulated. When plants are decommissioned, rates are typically raised to cover the cost of investment in replacement plants and equipment. Investors must understand the risks to a company that might end up with a stranded asset. When there is adequate cost recovery, it represents a cost to users, but it’s often a benefit to shareholders. The tension for regulators is striking the right balance.

More deeply, data that measures climate risk – and penetrates sector-level analysis to security-level analysis – can be vital for investors who want exposure to the power sector while minimizing transition risk to a lower-carbon future.

Before we review what this data reveals about sectors and stocks, consider the consequences of regulation. Regulation, after all, is crucial for addressing climate change. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules can accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources and encourage the adoption of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make net zero goals real.

On the other hand, there’s concern that excessive regulation creates an unnecessary bureaucratic burden, diverting resources from innovation, infrastructure development and energy security. That last factor is the most important for a nation’s economic stability, as well as its defense, geopolitical influence, environmental sustainability and resilience.

Read the full article featuring Entelligent’s forecast models as well as a look at energy companies, all here – https://greenmoney.com/navigating-the-investment-impact-from-the-epas-evolving-carbon-rules/

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A supportive community can make all the difference. Just ask Dr. Rodney Finalle.

A father of two, a pediatrician and global director of medical affairs for our vaccines organization, Finalle knows firsthand how having support at home, at work and in your community makes it possible to thrive and truly be yourself.

“I came out at a time when things were very difficult in the United States,” said Finalle, who served as medical director of the Global Health Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia before joining Merck.

“But I was fortunate to be working for an organization that was very open and supportive and made me feel welcome.”

–Dr. Rodney Finalle

Becoming a dad 

That was especially evident when Finalle and his partner embarked on starting a family in the ‘90s, at a time when LGBTQ+ families were rare. They adopted two sons within a 12-month period, doubling the size of their little family in a flash.

“I felt pressure to be perfect. There were lots of people scrutinizing the kinds of parents we were.”

–Dr. Rodney Finalle

But that attention wasn’t all bad.

“The happy surprise was that you can actually change one person at a time,” he said. “People might come in with a preconceived notion of us or our children or what our family was like, but once they met us — once they got to know my kids and see that we were just creating a beautiful family — we found support everywhere we looked.”

Finding new ways to give back 

Early on, Finalle found support and resources at a local LGBTQ+ community center. And recently, thanks to a partnership between Merck and a program that matches professionals with nonprofit boards based on their passion and skills, Finalle had the opportunity to join the center’s board of directors.

“Being able to come back and support this organization as a board member really allows me to weave in my connection with them and serve this mission that has helped me so much over the years,” he said.

It feels like a full-circle moment for him.

“It’s been a long journey, but really an empowering one. You forget what it was like in the ‘90s, and I’m happy to say that it’s far better than it was,” Finalle said. “We still have a long way to go, but I am thrilled to work for a company that has policies in place to support us and encourage us to be our true selves.”

Learn more about Merck’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach by visiting merck.com/company-overview/esg.

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“I am tired, so tired. When will this end?” That’s the refrain that Dr. Eva Natukunda, a pediatric HIV specialist at the Joint Clinical Research Center in Kampala, Uganda says she often hears from adolescents and young adults living with HIV.

Eva has been following many of these patients since birth and finds that by the time they reach adolescence, children who have grown up living with HIV are weary of having to take 4 to 6 pills every day, since single-tablet regimens are not accessible everywhere for children. Some who stop taking their pills experience a resurgence of the virus and risk one day having children with HIV – “and then the epidemic continues with another generation of babies,” she says.

But Eva wants to break this cycle. She’s one of many clinicians around the globe partnering with Gilead scientists to help find more advanced and accessible therapies for the estimated 1.7 million children globally who are living with HIV – 9 out of 10 of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Medications for children have historically lagged behind those for adults,” says Kathryn Kersey, Executive Director of Gilead’s Virology Clinical Development. “I think it’s fair to say that children living with HIV have been left behind and there’s a need to close the gap between treatment options available for adults and children.”

In fact, according to the World Health Organization’s 2020 figures, only 54% of children with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy compared to 74% of adults.

There are many reasons for gaps in medications for children, according to Eva. Limited studies in the young result in limited drug options, and there can be a lack of adherence due to regimens that require multiple doses of different therapies. Other times, medications can be unpalatable and just plain difficult for children to take.

“In some parts of the world, drug availability is the obstacle,” says Kathryn. “And stigma also still deters some parents from seeking care for their children.”

Gilead has been at the forefront of helping transform the treatment and prevention of HIV for decades, and it is also focused on helping speed the development and accessibility of new medications for children. Last year, it opened the global Pediatric Centre of Excellence in Dublin to coordinate and optimize the execution of pediatric clinical trials.

“The goal is to develop innovative therapies and have them approved sooner so they can reach children across the globe that much faster,” explains Kathryn.

At the center, more than 100 employees are devising and studying new therapies for HIV, hepatitis and COVID-19. Scientists have also begun investigating new pediatric cancer treatments and will soon begin studies on treatments for childhood inflammatory conditions.

Medication Challenges in Children
“It’s the old cliché – children are not mini-adults,” says Kathryn. “There are many different considerations in terms of how their bodies respond to medication – issues of metabolism and the impact on developing organs.”

There are practicalities in terms of how to perform clinical studies in children, including informed consent and seemingly routine matters, such as how to draw a blood sample from a child. In addition, children can struggle taking large and bitter-tasting pills. To help overcome this last challenge, Gilead is collaborating with the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Penta ID network to devise dispersible medications that can be dissolved in water in order to make medications more palatable for children. The partnership, which was announced earlier this month, especially aims to improve treatment and adherence rates among children living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries.

Kathryn notes that new single-pill regimens can also help with adherence but are not approved for the pediatric population in most low- and middle-income countries. In the future, she envisions medications being tested for children in parallel with the testing for adults to help prevent delays in availability for adolescents. But one of the most promising approaches is long-acting injectable medications, which could help youngsters and their caregivers with their medication routines.

“Injections could potentially make a big difference in the lives of teenagers. They are clamoring for this,” says Eva.

Young people are a key piece of the long-term strategy to end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere. “If the HIV treatment gap between children and adolescents can be closed, we can stop the cycle,” adds Kathryn.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

The Whirlpool Foundation is funding Camp Infinity, a Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) camp to introduce girls, in grades 5 through 8, to computer and internet technologies through hands-on activities. Campers will have an opportunity to meet with professional women and men who work in technological fields and explore the many exciting and rewarding tech careers.

Today’s career panel featured Whirlpool Corp. technology employees representing the areas of global IT, consumer services and manufacturing including Whirlpool Senior Vice President and Global CIO, Dani Brown.

“Demand is high in the tech workforce and women are underrepresented,” said Brown. “Offering girls hands-on experiences and letting them see female role models in tech careers at a young age will help them see themselves in these same types of careers in the future.”

Camp Infinity at Lake Michigan College is hosting 29 students from Berrien County and will continue through the week. The camp sessions will engage students in age-appropriate topics ranging from game design, website design, and robotics programming. The camp will conclude on Friday with guest speaker Pam Klyn, Whirlpool executive vice president of corporate relations and sustainability, speaking about her 30 year career in engineering.

To learn more about the Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) and Camp Infinity, go to https://mcwt.org/programs/list/K-12-Initiatives/CAMP-INFINITY.

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Brazilian beverage brand chooses aluminum cans for its health-conscious hydration alternative

TAMPA, Fla., August 16, 2023 /3BL/ – Brazilian beverage producer Socorro Bebidas (Socorro) has expanded its partnership with Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S.A., a subsidiary of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), to launch Acquíssima Sabor flavored mineral water in 350ml (12oz) CrownSleek cans. The premium zero-calorie drink features natural aromas, offering a health-conscious alternative for consumers to stay hydrated and incorporate key nutrients into their daily diets. The line made its debut with two flavors, Lychee and Green Apple, and is currently available in Acquíssima stores, restaurants and supermarkets in Brazil. Socorro also previously utilized CrownSleek cans to package its Acquíssima mineral water brand, its first entry into the water market.

Total canned water volume in Brazil has increased by nearly 7x between 2021 and 2022, demonstrating a growing trend in the region for water packaged in aluminum and a continued shift away from tap and bulk water. When considering the package format for the brand, Socorro knew it needed to help convey the refreshing and health-conscious nature of the beverage, while also delivering on sustainability. The inherent properties of metal packaging, including providing a powerful barrier against light and oxygen, helps maintain the product’s freshness. Aluminum beverage cans are also infinitely recyclable and are the most recycled beverage package in the world. These characteristics resonate with Brazilian consumers, who have recently helped drive the country’s recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans to an astounding 100%.

“We are proud to continue our work with Crown as we launch the newest addition to the Acquíssima portfolio,” said Maurício Cruz, Commercial Director of Socorro. “We created the Acquíssima Sabor line to give Brazilian consumers a healthy, delicious beverage alternative. It demanded packaging that would help convey the uniqueness of the brand, its refreshing appeal and our commitment to sustainability. Ultimately, the beverage can was the perfect choice.”

“Crown is thrilled to support Socorro’s rapidly expanding portfolio of products in beverage cans,” said Altair Frulane, Commercial Director of Crown. “Beverage cans meet consumer needs in ways that no other packaging format can. For example, metal packaging is lightweight and convenient to carry, serve from and enjoy. It is durable, protecting the product within and maintaining its freshness. In addition, and critical to modern consumers, is the fact that cans are extremely sustainable and represent packaging they can feel good about.”

Learn more about Crown’s beverage can offerings and capabilities, as well as the Company’s sustainability efforts at crowncork.com.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.
Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

For editorial inquiries: Madeline McCarthy, Account Executive, FINN Partners; Tel: (212) 302-5989; Email: madeline.mccarthy@finnpartners.com.

 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crowns-sustainable-beverage-cans-help-convey-health-and-freshness-for-new-mineral-water-line-from-socorro-bebidas-301871461.html

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.

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