Month: August 2023

TAMPA, Fla., August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – As part of the commitments laid out in its Twentyby30™ sustainability program to help advance responsible supply chains, Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com) has expanded its Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certifications into the Asia Pacific region. The Company’s Nong Khae and Crown TCP beverage packaging plants in Thailand were recently awarded the ASI Performance Standard certification, bringing the total facilities in Crown’s network with the designation to 12. Crown’s operations in Brazil and Mexico have also achieved ASI Performance Standard certification.

The ASI Performance Standard addresses environmental, social and governance principles for the aluminum value chain, confirming the recipient’s production practices are responsible. Beyond meeting the required criteria as part of an independent, third-party audit, the recent certifications in Thailand can be linked to advancing employee training around biodiversity, safety and human rights.

“Achieving this ASI certification is another proof point of our dedication to maintaining reputable supply chain relationships and meeting the evolving needs of brands in the Asia Pacific market,” said Carlos Baila, President, Asia Pacific at Crown. “We are committed to operating ethically and remaining accountable to our own standards, as well as those of our partners, as we continue to serve customers around the world.”

“We are proud to have two of our facilities in Thailand join their peers in Brazil and Mexico to achieve this certification,” commented Martyn Goodchild, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Asia Pacific at Crown. “It reflects strong collaboration among our employees and proves how activities taking place on a regional level can help accomplish the Company’s larger sustainability goals.”

To further expand its responsible and ethical sourcing program, Crown is pursuing ASI certification in other locations in its Asia, Europe and Middle Eastern operations.

“We warmly congratulate Crown Holdings, Inc. for achieving Performance Standard Certification at two of its plants in Thailand,” said Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI. “By training employees around vital sustainability areas such as biodiversity, safety, and human rights, Crown is driving positive change within its operations. Through this latest Certification in Thailand, Crown is extending its commitment to responsible practices and we look forward to the Company’s continued pursuit of ASI Certification across its global operations.”

ASI is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards and certification organization which works to maximize the contribution of aluminum to a sustainable society. The independent, third-party audit of Crown’s Thailand facilities was carried out by LiberoAssurance.

To learn more about Crown’s efforts around responsible material sourcing and its comprehensive Twentyby30 sustainability program, visit crowncork.com/sustainability.

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: Emily Hogan, Senior Account Executive, FINN Partners; Tel: (630) 248-5232; Email: emily.hogan@finnpartners.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities law. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ are discussed under the caption “Forward Looking Statements” in the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

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Originally published in Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

This commitment starts with comprehensive governance structures, policies, management committees and practices designed to ensure transparency in reporting and accountability for our Board of Directors and senior management. Our governance policies and procedures ensure that we maintain the highest levels of ethics and integrity, as well as data security and client privacy safeguards. We also maintain robust programs to manage operational risks and uphold compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and rules governing ethical business conduct.

Webster believes that its Board should be composed of directors with diverse experience in business and in areas that are relevant to the company. Our Board of Directors is comprised of a majority of independent directors as defined by the NYSE listing standards and the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. With the exception of the Executive Committee, our Board committees consist entirely of independent directors. Our directors bring valuable expertise and insight to help Webster realize its corporate goals.

As directors retire, our robust succession program identifies new Board members who can bring additional qualities and experience to help us continue to innovate and succeed. Each year, the Board undergoes a selfassessment process to evaluate performance of the Board and Committees. As part of the self-assessment process, the Board considers which attributes and skill sets are important to ensure optimal performance of the Board. The information learned through this process is utilized when considering outside director candidates. The Board is committed to sustaining a board that achieves balance between depth of experience in the oversight of Webster and fresh approaches to oversight and strategic deliberations, particularly as Webster’s business and best practices of corporate governance, as well as corporate sustainability, evolve.

ESG Oversight 

Our Board of Directors continues to oversee Webster’s ESG efforts, led by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Corporate Responsibility Committee is comprised of senior executive leadership, overseeing the ESG Council activities and reporting on ESG efforts to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our management-level ESG Council includes a cross-functional team with representatives from lines of business, Audit, Compliance, Corporate Responsibility, Investor Relations, Legal, Operations and Risk. The Council meets on a quarterly basis.

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.

by David Breecker, Microgrid Systems Laboratory

Private investment capital at scale will be necessary to achieve our global energy goals and to avert catastrophic climate change, while also meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and achieving universal access to clean energy. Microgrids (or mini-grids, as they are known in the developing world) are one essential component of this energy transition.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “A microgrid is a network of distributed energy resources and loads that can disconnect and re-connect to the larger utility grid as a single entity, allowing the connected loads to be served during utility outages. Microgrids can also be found in remote locations where they may not be connected to a larger grid.” These small-scale integrated energy systems are becoming an increasingly common feature of the renewable energy landscape.

They offer a high degree of resilience to utility outages caused by extreme weather events, aging assets, or cyber- and physical attacks on grid infrastructure, by disconnecting (or “islanding”) from the bulk grid and operating autonomously; and they present an opportunity to move more aggressively to 100 percent renewable energy right now. They are also considered to represent as much as 40 percent of the solution to energy poverty challenges worldwide, affecting over 2 billion people with inadequate access.

Read about the varied uses for Microgrids and potential benefits as well as the increasing investment opportunities, all in David’s article here.

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