Month: September 2023

There may not be street-style photographers, but NYC Climate Week has red carpets, VIPs and plenty of insider gossip! This annual global event dedicated to raising awareness and taking action on climate change is one of the most widely watched environmental moments in the world…kind of like seeing who’s sitting front row at NYFW. Climate Week is held in partnership with the United Nations during the start of the General Assembly, a series of sessions on topics crucial to the global population from September to December every year.

As a fashion company, it’s essential that we understand our role in this crucial initiative. You may have heard of Tapestry’s “ESG Strategy” (ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance) – what we call the Fabric of Change. We think of this as a blueprint for how we’ll weave together our business ambitions with our commitments to overcome some of the most pressing issues facing our industry and society at large. During Climate Week, the “E” or sustainability part of our blueprint comes into focus as we listen, learn, and share how the fashion industry can lead the way to a future that is both beautiful and responsible.

Real change requires bold action. Our journey to lasting, sustainable change includes deep analysis of all of our environmental impacts – emissions, water use and waste to landfill, as well as renewable energy adoption across our operations, environmentally preferred materials and a more resilient supply chain. As the impacts of climate change become more prominent, and in anticipation of the climate challenges of tomorrow, we are working to create a more responsible business model today.

Tapestry has four main focus areas, including regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, resource efficiency, and circularity. Scroll down to read more about about efforts in each area.

Regenerative agriculture is a set of farming and grazing techniques that provides environmental benefits, such as soil health and fertility, biodiversity, water quality, reduced impact on climate change, and social and economic support. Within food and farming systems, standard practices often strip soil of its nutrients and require external inputs to the environment that may cause long term harm. Regenerative agriculture is a different approach to these systems that aims to maintain and rejuvenate grasslands, increase biological diversity, soil health and productivity, and could lead to increased carbon absorption. At Tapestry, we want to source materials that don’t just mitigate harm but rather have a real, positive impact on their environment; our partnership with organizations like the Savory Institute that are leading the charge towards regenerative agriculture reflect this commitment.

Regenerative agriculture is part of our broader commitment to improving the sustainability of our leather supply chain. For example, we’ve committed to sourcing at least 90% of our leather from tanneries rated gold or silver by the Leather Working Group, which means that they have achieved the highest environmental standards in the industry. In FY2022, 96% of the leather we sourced was made from these tanneries. By seeking out suppliers that practice regenerative agriculture and produce materials, we are focused on the holistic impact of land management and grazing practices that not only reduce the impact of the leather we use in our products, but also have a net positive impact on the overall environment.

You can learn more about regenerative grazing here.

Want to see regenerative leather in action? Check out Coach’s Rogue bag that is made with regenerative leather.

Biodiversity: Fashion’s Connection to Nature 
Biodiversity – essentially all living things on Earth – is the cornerstone of a healthy planet is the cornerstone of a healthy planet, and fashion can play a crucial role in preserving it. The fashion industry relies on various natural fibers, such as cotton, viscose, hemp, and silk, which are derived from different plant species. Tapestry recognizes the impact our business has on our natural environments and know that we have a responsibility to reduce impact in a meaningful and measurable way.

We aim to attain 95% traceability and mapping of our raw materials to ensure a transparent and responsible supply chain, and identifying all low-, medium-, and high-risk impacts to biodiversity across our supply chain. Tapestry is a signatory of The Fashion Pact, a global initiative of fashion and textile companies that are committed to stopping global warming, protecting biodiversity, and protecting the oceans. Tapestry has also joined to Textile Exchange’s Deforestation-Free Call to Action, in which we commit to sourcing leather from deforestation/conversion-free supply chains by 2030.

In FY2022, we launched a $3 million four-year partnership between the Tapestry Foundation and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) designed to accelerate the development of an industry-wide standard to certify deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) leather originating from Brazil as part of Tapestry’s commitment to transparency and supply chain traceability.

In the first year, the project has restored nearly 11,000 acres of pasture and riparian areas and WWF has held seven training courses to initiate seed collection community projects with 125 rural people reached through these courses (67% women including settlers and local landowners). Native seed collection, which is a key step in the recovery of degraded areas, contributes directly to economic empowerment of rural families, the appreciation of local knowledge, and the empowerment of these women. Women who complete these courses and become involved in seed collection can substantially increase their household income.

You can read more about the WWF partnership here and here.

Resource Efficiency: Doing More with Less 
Resource efficiency is a critical aspect of combating climate change, and fashion can contribute by optimizing its production processes. By reducing waste and conserving resources, we can minimize our carbon footprint. This means adopting practices like lean manufacturing, where we only produce what is necessary, and using advanced technologies to maximize material utilization.

Tapestry has committed to procuring 100% renewable energy in our company stores, offices and fulfilment centers. Like our emissions reduction strategy, we’re focused on reducing our impact on climate change with a focus on renewable energy. For example, our global environments team has been prioritizing a transition to energy efficient LED lights in both new stores and store remodels.

In December of 2022, we joined The Fashion Pact’s Collective Virtual Power Purchasing Agreement (CVPPA) alongside 11 other brands. In doing so, we commit ourselves to accelerate renewable electricity adoption by investing in new clean energy infrastructure. In FY2022, Tapestry also procured 67% of our energy for stores, offices and fulfillment centers from renewable resources.

We also are working to engage directly with our suppliers to support their transition to renewable energy. According to Higg FEM and survey responses from LWG audits, our suppliers reported that 9% of their total electricity consumption came from renewable sources, compared to 7% the year prior.

Circularity: Closing the Loop 
Circularity in fashion is about creating a closed-loop system where products are designed, produced, and disposed of in a way that minimizes waste and extends the lifespan of fashion items. By embracing circularity, we reduce the need for constant production of new garments and decrease the environmental impact of fashion.

Longevity is a key factor in all products made by Tapestry’s iconic house of brands. We see this as an expression of a future that is both beautiful and responsible. This is one of the reasons Tapestry is staying the course on using leather as a component of so many of our products: Leather is one of the most durable natural materials that can last for generations.

In FY2023, Tapestry participated in an $18M funding round for Gen Phoenix, an innovative sustainable materials company. Gen Phoenix uses a patented hydroentanglement technology to create high-quality materials from recycled leather waste— specifically, offcuts from tanneries that might otherwise have been sent to landfill. Read more about our investment here.

On a brand level, Coach has offered repairs for their products for 30 years. This repair program supplements what is now a full portion of the brand’s business: Coach (Re)Loved. The (Re)Loved program takes Coach products and either restores them to their original glory, upcrafts them into a new, one-of-a-kind product, or repurposes damaged pieces into completely new products. The program has given over 10,000 products a second life and is currently being expanded into China, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The launch of Coachtopia, a sub-brand of Coach that is driven by circular design, is another example of how Coach is implementing circularity into their business model. Coachtopia’s products are made from primarily recycled materials and designed to be repaired, reworked, and reimagined.

kate spade new york has partnered with ThredUp, one of the largest apparel resale platforms in the world, to create the Pre-Loved Program, in which customers can turn gently used clothes for kate spade shopping credit. In Spring 2023, to coincide with the brands 30th anniversary, we took new steps on our journey to drive progress including reimagining the Sam Icon bag using 100% recycled materials. The new Sam Icon is made with 100% recycled nylon shell on the outside and 100% recycled polyester lining (and love) on the inside.

Tapestry is a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Fashion Advisory Board, an international organization working to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy, as part of our commitment to innovating and scaling circular business models. As Network Partners as well as members of the foundation, we hope to find areas of opportunity within our businesses and within the fashion industry to implement circularity into how we operate.

Climate change affects us all, and it’s imperative that we take concrete steps to address it. Let’s embrace these sustainable practices not just during Climate Week but as a part of our everyday operations. By doing so, we can pave the way for a more responsible fashion industry and make a positive impact on the world we live in. Tapestry is shaping lifestyles to contribute to a culture of change that will help us realize a better-made future. We can use our collective strengths to help make the fashion industry more sustainable.

Originally published by the World Economic Forum on September 19, 2023 
By Neil Russell, Chief Administrative Officer, Sysco

We know that climate change contributes to agricultural land degradation, but it also has a ripple effect on the food ecosystem.Regenerative agriculture – a combination of farming techniques – can restore the land and sequester large amounts of carbon.Better collaboration along the food value chain and among other parties is needed to catalyze financial investment in regenerative practices, provide resources to farmers and drive market demand.

For decades, industrialized agriculture has been optimized for efficiency and increased yields to feed a growing global population. This industrialization has led to one-third of human-driven global greenhouse gas emissions being attributed to food systems, primarily from agriculture and land use changes, according to a UN study published in Nature Food.

Furthermore, it has led to our food system becoming under strain and less resilient to climate impacts. In 2019, the IPCC showed that climate change exacerbates land degradation and threatens food production. Increases in temperatures and extreme weather events, from droughts to floods, have threatened production yields and changed where crops can be grown. This impact has a ripple effect on the food ecosystem, causing short-term supply shocks and long-term shifts in yields and price volatility, ultimately impacting food security.

Agriculture can solve its own problem

Regenerative practices – a combination of farming techniques that look to reverse the impacts of mass farming – have been shown to restore the land and sequester carbon by up to 20 tons per acre per year, improving soil health and water retention, enhancing biodiversity, making farmland more resilient and improving food security.

In addition, following the transition and investment, regenerative farms have been shown to have more consistent and higher yields, higher-margin crops and lower input costs, unlocking more profitability for farmers – all while combating climate change.

Over the past decade, some players have slowly transitioned their production to regenerative agriculture. However, these innovative practices have only penetrated high-margin foods at a relatively low scale. We will need more collaboration among the food value chain and its stakeholders to increase adoption across the entire food ecosystem.

As the largest food distributor in the world, Sysco has a key role in connecting the food value chain to help drive this change and protect food security for generations to come. But we can’t do it alone. We need others to come to the table to support farmers and growers as they adopt regenerative agriculture practices and transform farming so that it is economically viable and benefits the planet and people.

“We need more companies across the food value chain, governments, industry experts, academia and non-profits to come together to empower farmers through education, financing and other resources required to make this transition.”— Neil Russell, Chief Administrative Officer, Sysco

Collaboration to catalyze regenerative agriculture

Three specific areas where collaboration is needed:

1. Develop effective policies that generate financial investment in regenerative practices

The transition to regenerative practices takes time. According to a recent report, it requires a three-to-five-year transition period, depending on the crop, before producing higher yields.

It’s also complex; applying these practices can vary by region, crop, product or farm. For these reasons, farmers can understandably be reluctant to adopt new practices. Collaboration to develop effective public policy can drive investment and enable farmers to make changes. Importantly, this approach will also help ensure new methods don’t cause further food inflation and reduce food security.

2. Empower farmers andmi ranchers through education, financial and technical resources

We need more companies across the food value chain, governments, industry experts, academia and non-profits to come together to empower farmers through education, financing and other resources required to make this transition.

Together, we can engage more farmers and share information about the benefits of regenerative practices and how to implement new techniques and equipment that facilitate regenerative practices. It will require suppliers that purchase agricultural goods to enable farmers to transition. Buyers of finished goods such as Sysco can also help by setting goals and expectations for regenerative practices from their suppliers, providing guidance on transitioning and driving connectivity between farmers and other stakeholders.

Sysco has been driving change in this way for decades. For example, in the Southern Great Plains, Sysco partnered with one of our key suppliers, Cargill and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to bring financial and technical resources to restore grasslands and protect wildlife habitats across 1 million acres in one of America’s most critical beef-producing regions.

Through these grants, conservation experts are working alongside ranchers and farmers in five states to improve soil health and promote biodiversity while sequestering carbon and strengthening the land’s resilience to extreme weather.

3. Drive market demand, increasing consumer awareness and defining regenerative agriculture standards

Ultimately, we must aim to drive market demand for products from regenerative practices. Consumer packaged goods, retail and food distributors such as Sysco must raise the profile of regenerative foods, highlight and explain certifications to customers and increase consumers’ understanding that regenerative benefits human health, nutrition and the environment.

To do this effectively, we must also clearly define regenerative standards. Today, there are varying frameworks, definitions and interpretations of regenerative agriculture standards. That makes it difficult to assess and measure outcomes, which can further hinder adoption by farmers. In addition, consumers appreciate clear market identifiers such as certifications, which makes it easier for them to make purchasing decisions.

Sysco is working to drive awareness with our customers about the general importance of regenerative processes and how they can find products grown using these practices within our assortment to enhance the sustainability of their menus. For example, we are working to identify regenerative certifications in our product assortment to make it easy to support these practices.

If we want to continue nourishing people with all our planet’s goodness, more collaboration is needed to drive sustainable food transformation while keeping costs affordable. At Sysco, we are committed to supporting the transition and leveraging our position at the centre of the food value chain to influence change in all three ways discussed above.

We have made progress but aim to help scale these practices throughout the food industry. These changes will help us secure food supply for generations to come.

View original content here.

Agricultural productivity is enormously complex. The success of each crop grown on a field depends on countless variables, including climatic factors, nutrient and water availability, pest and disease populations, crop protection inputs, on-farm practices, and more. Since we cannot see what happens below ground, an additional obstacle for growers is that they have no opportunity to inspect the quality of the plant’s root system during the growing season.

This is particularly important because roots play a crucial role in supporting plant health and crop yields. In fruits and vegetables, root systems affect yield and quality by 30-50%. A well-developed root network absorbs a greater volume of water and nutrients from the soil; it anchors the plant and protects it against the weather; it can store energy for growth; it interacts beneficially with a range of biotic and abiotic factors. But this does not happen automatically. Just as we pay attention to many visible indicators of foliar plant health, we must also work to secure the health of our plants’ roots, protecting them from pests, diseases, nematodes, and stresses.

What makes Root2Success work?

While many products or practices could make a difference to root health in isolation, Root2Success is a holistic approach. It uses a full toolbox of innovations to meet soil challenges on a localized, custom basis.

The Root2Success toolbox starts with seeds and rootstocks from the De Ruiter and Seminis portfolios, selected for yield potential and climatic suitability. Supporting these are crop protection products, including biologicals, complemented by a digital support tool, Nematool. Depending on local conditions and backed up by research data, the program is designed to best fit grower needs. As such, growers might choose a combination of Serenade, a biological fungicide; BioAct, a biological nematicide; Velum (Verango), a small molecule nematicide; Previcur Energy, a powerful solution for disease control; or Emesto Prime for control of Rhizoctonia fungi.

However, supplying customized product packages is only a half of the equation. Root2Success is also about using these products in the most efficient, sustainable way. That is why the concept also involves the use of a drip irrigation system. The growers who participate in the program use drip irrigation systems to water and feed their crops with nutrients. That is where Root2Success comes in: our tailored solution specifically developed to promote root health. It comprises a convenient package of seeds, crop protection products, biologicals, digital tools and other support services, curated at farm level. Improved root health maximizes plant productivity, resulting in higher marketable yield for growers, while minimizing environmental impact.

Once you have calibrated it for optimal delivery of water and nutrients, it stands to reason that you can also use it for optimal delivery of biological and chemical crop protection products.

Albert Schirring , Bayer strategy lead for vegetable crops

In partnership with irrigation specialist Netafim, Bayer created a training module for growers on how to calibrate their drip irrigation system.

Another practice Root2Success helps growers adopt is solarization: When sunlight heats the soil to high temperatures for a certain period, nematodes and fungi are eradicated without needing to apply chemical products. With the help of the temperature-based soil-sensor Nematool, growers receive real-time temperature data on their field.

Another practice Root2Success helps growers adopt is solarization: When sunlight heats the soil to high temperatures for a certain period, nematodes and fungi are eradicated without needing to apply chemical products. With the help of the temperature-based soil-sensor Nematool, growers receive real-time temperature data on their field.

This practice has actually been around for 30 years, but for most of that time it was not popular because of the costs involved. But now, especially in Europe, strict regulatory landscapes are reducing availability of crop protection products for the control of soil-borne pests and diseases, and growers are starting to rediscover soil solarization.

That’s why we are working to make this technology available to all growers who are interested in it, and to spread awareness of the best ways to use solarization to control pests and diseases.

Albert Schirring , Bayer strategy lead for vegetable crops

In fact, Nematool can be used for more than just tracking solarization. The data it generates can also be used during the growing season to gauge the timing of nematode outbreaks. It sends alerts to the grower’s smartphone, saying, “The critical nematode development stage has been reached – now is the right time to apply products,” or, “The soil temperature was not reached – please check solarization levels.” Either way, it powers smarter, timely and better decisions in growers’ fields.

Evolution and expansion

Root2Success has already undergone many improvements since its inception in 2016. Starting in Mexico, it has been taken up in the Mediterranean region, from Morocco to Türkiye. And it is going further still: Australia, Brazil, South Africa and Chile are among the countries conducting research into how Root2Success will work for them, aiming to replicate the successful field results to further develop the concept. Its crop portfolio is growing too: from tomatoes to peppers, potatoes, onions, melons, and cucumbers, with many more – including citrus, banana, apple and grape – coming into focus.

All this means more growers and more partners coming on board, too. A partnership with PepsiCo in Mexico has even broader horizons, employing Root2Success as part of an overall sustainable production concept that optimizes soil health and root health, boosting the performance of the crop while enrolling growers in certification schemes that demonstrate their knowledge in these subjects. Similar partnerships are being created in other countries, making the concept accessible to more and more growers.

Why is Root2Success so well-received?

“Because”, says Albert, “it puts the benefits for growers at its heart. What we do with Root2Success is to simplify on-farm operations, make what happens in the soil more visible, and identify ways to optimize when to apply different biological- or chemical-based crop protection products, together with improved genetics. Firstly, this secures marketable yield and quality; at the same time, it reduces environmental impacts of the crop protection being used; and it ensures that over time, root and soil health will improve, so we can sustain yields for the long term.”

Root2Success embodies the principle of regenerative agriculture: not just protecting roots but also healing them and activating their natural potential, so they can improve plant health year on year, while saving natural resources and sustaining soils. It’s a powerful concept – and it is ready to go global.

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Lee Green, the SAC’s Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, recently presented on intersection between emerging policies and packaging at the “Unlocking the Power of Packaging: From Supply Chain Efficiency to Improved Sustainability” dinner hosted by Billerud, a paper and packaging materials company based in Sweden. The presentation also included remarks from the company’s Business Relationship Manager, Adam Sarama, and Global Commercial Director, Robert Testa, as well as a case study in packaging optimization presented by Maja Midebo, Senior Packaging Designer, and Johan Matsson, Manager of the EMEA & US Account Management Team, followed by interactive roundtable discussions.

Green began his presentation with the caveat that, when it comes to packaging and policy, the SAC’s Higg tools should not be seen as compliance checklists. The tools, which measure and score a company’s sustainability performance, should instead be seen as analytical frameworks, designed to provide actionable insights for continuous improvement on sustainable practices across the supply chain — including packaging. “Imagine you’re a sailor navigating treacherous waters without a compass — that’s what sustainability efforts are like without the Higg Index,” Green said. “The Higg tools provide a high-resolution map of your environmental and social impacts, helping to guide the journey toward sustainability. They’re more than tools; they’re your sustainability North Star.”

With that idea in mind, Green shared that the Higg Product Module (PM) does request information on packaging — its materials, reusability, and overall lifecycle — which can aid in determining a product’s overall environmental footprint. SAC Member brands like ALDO used the Higg PM to help commit to reducing the environmental impact of packaging through the use of post-consumer recycled materials in mailers, redesigning shoeboxes with handles to eliminate the need for additional bags, and utilizing 100% recycled materials for e-commerce shipping bags; similarly, Nike used analysis from the PM in developing its One Box packaging concept, which ships shoes in a shoebox, eliminating the need for an additional outer box and reducing packaging waste by 50%, bringing the company closer to its target of cutting waste by 10% per unit by 2025. However, Green emphasized that the tool generates analysis, rather than a compliance checklist. “While it can indicate whether your packaging strategy aligns with your sustainability goals, the Higg PM does not provide a roadmap to phase out, for example, single-use plastics,” he said. “Those initiatives need to be separately formulated, often requiring in-depth lifecycle assessments and material flow analyses.”

Green noted that the SAC’s view on regulations is that more stringent regulations can incentivize collective action. “While regulations can be seen as challenges,” he said, “We see them as opportunities — a catalyst for change. They demand that industry leaders embrace sustainable innovation, which leads to collective action, which is critical to the SAC’s mission of transforming the global consumer goods industry into one that gives more than it takes — to the planet and its people.”

As Green shared, the evolution of this idea is that out of collective action comes an ethos of shared responsibility and innovation. When it comes to packaging, Green said, “Regulations might set the rules, but they also open up a realm of possibilities for sustainable advancements in material science, design, and circular economy models related to packaging. This is where your expertise and willingness to collaborate can create industry-transforming solutions.”

Green shared how the SAC’s collective action mandate focuses on impact, not just compliance, helping members to understand regulations and their business impacts. And he described how the Higg Index tools and frameworks go beyond minimum requirements, helping members contribute positively to societal and environmental changes and providing a space where companies can collaborate and pool resources.

Finally, he closed by describing how the SAC is in a state of evolution, moving from isolated tools to holistic programs that address sustainability at scale, built on pillars like combating climate change, ensuring decent work, and creating a nature-positive future — which are all extremely relevant to packaging, given its flow in product lifecycle and waste management. “Data isn’t just a tool; it’s a compass,” Green said. “It directs us towards actionable goals and validates our journey, allowing us to participate constructively in policy dialogues and to fine-tune our practices to meet and exceed regulatory guidelines — making systemic change not just possible but inevitable.”

As a leader in health care, Boston Scientific is dedicated to creating healthier communities in a wealth of ways, including large-scale programs like Close the Gap that help increase health equity in the U.S. and global corporate volunteer initiatives such as Season of Giving and a Week of Caring.

Then there’s the Boston Scientific Foundation, a separate non-profit organization that was established to provide strategic, targeted grant funding to enable non-profits to better serve those who need it most.

Read on to learn how the Boston Scientific Foundation and The Boston Scientific Foundation Europe support and sustain the areas where Boston Scientific employees live and work.

1. The Boston Scientific Foundation is a non-profit that works to help other non-profits.

Founded in 2001, the Boston Scientific Foundation is funded by an endowment that was established by private donors. Each year, it bestows grants to non-profit organizations within 60 miles of its largest U.S. facilities in four states.

“One of the key advantages is that we’re able to help smaller non-profits that the larger company cannot and therefore maximize the benefit we’re able to have in very specific communities,” says Dave Knapp, president of the Boston Scientific Foundation.

2. Non-profits that support the Boston Scientific Foundation mission may apply for funding.

Each year, organizations may submit proposals to the Boston Scientific Foundation to be considered for financial grants.

In particular, the Foundation awards grants to organizations that serve the economically disadvantaged in one of two areas: science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and programs that improve health.

Recent grantees include Community Servings – which delivers nutritious meals to the chronically ill in the Boston area – and CreateMPLS, which teaches crucial technology skills to students in Minnesota.

The Boston Scientific Foundation also offers an academic scholarship program for children of full-time company employees in the U.S.

3. Boston Scientific employees help to determine which organizations receive grants.

With many deserving non-profits submitting proposals to the Boston Scientific Foundation, it’s up to local community teams made up of over 75 employee volunteers to review them and recommend to the Boston Scientific Foundation Board of Directors how it should best distribute its funds.

“Our employee community teams are basically the engine for the Boston Scientific Foundation,” says Knapp. “They’re helping to make things happen for non-profits in their communities and I’m so inspired that they take their personal time to do this work.”

4. There is also a non-profit organization that specifically serves communities in Europe.

The Boston Scientific Foundation Europe was established five years ago to help non-profits based on that continent and is funded each year by local legal entities of the company in Europe.

The first grantee was Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque for their 5/5 program – a remote learning platform for doctors practicing in underserved African countries to improve the diagnoses of heart conditions in children. The Boston Scientific Foundation Europe has continued to prioritize innovative digital health solutions ever since.

“There’s so much that needs to be done in health care,” notes Simonetta Balbi, president of the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe. “We decided to create this focus so that we could address gaps in healthcare in a specific way and increase our ability to make an impact.”

Similar to the Boston Scientific Foundation, the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe relies on employee ambassadors representing countries across Europe who bring grant proposals to a board that includes six Boston Scientific employees and three senior representatives of patient organizations for their final review.

5. The work of the Boston Scientific Foundation and the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe affects the granters and the grantees alike.

In 2022, the Boston Scientific Foundation gave 34 STEM grants and 21 health grants as well as 118 college scholarships. It also made a one-time grant to Project HOPE to help refugees during the Ukraine crisis.

Additionally, in its first five years, the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe has funded 20 digital health initiatives and reached communities in more than 50 countries in Europe and EMEA, including humanitarian relief efforts for the people of Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

Balbi and Knapp both say that the work they do to help people in need brings great personal reward.

“One project I loved this year is that we funded a mobile STEM bus in Indiana,” says Knapp. “In rural communities, people have to drive many miles to find resources for students to learn coding and other key skills. This bus can go from location to location to develop STEM talent at a high level.”

For Balbi, it’s the pediatric projects that are most moving.

“We are supporting a French hospital, the Centre Pediatrique de Cote, that takes care of seriously disabled children, many of whom cannot speak,” she says. “Our grant is funding special tablets so they can communicate. When we visited the hospital, we met a little girl that was using the technology to communicate with her eyes. She’s a great candidate for this tablet and we’ll be able to help her receive it.”

Learn about the work that Boston Scientific does to support its communities through donations and volunteer programs.

Visit the Boston Scientific Foundation and the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe to learn more about the work they do and their impact around the world.

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