Month: September 2023

As seen on westga.edu, the following announcement highlights the University of West Georgia’s sustainability partnership with Southwire.

The University of West Georgia and Southwire, one of North America’s leading manufacturers of wire and cable, have joined forces to advance sustainability efforts and promote the holistic development of their shared community.

By combining their expertise, resources and shared commitment to responsible practices, the two institutions are set to make a lasting impact on talent pipeline development, student recruitment, business operations and environmental sustainability. Leaders from UWG and Southwire recently met on the university’s campus to formally launch the partnership during the UWG and Southwire Sustainability Summit.

“This collaboration marks an important milestone for our institution and our community as we curate a first-choice university,” said Dr. Brendan Kelly, UWG’s president. “By forging this first-of-its-kind partnership with Southwire, we can amplify our impact on sustainability efforts beyond what we could achieve independently. Together, we will not only build a university town where learning thrives but also foster a culture of sustainability and responsible citizenship, shaping a better tomorrow for generations to come. I extend special gratitude to Burt Fealing, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer at Southwire, for the commitment we share to these efforts.”

The summit was facilitated by Southwire Spark, the company’s design-centered innovation arm. During the summit, leaders from both UWG and Southwire collaborated in focused group discussions centered on topics like wellness, giving back to the community, ethics and compliance, information technology, environmental stewardship and more.

Both UWG and Southwire look forward to continuing the partnership and bringing to life the ideas discussed during this summer’s summit, with Fealing saying the company’s partnership with UWG aligns with Southwire’s core tenets.

“At Southwire, our core tenets are Growing Green, Living Well, Giving Back, Doing Right and Building Worth, and through these tenets, we can create more value for both of our organizations and enhance sustainability in our local community,” said Fealing. “Southwire’s strategy is to help drive sustainability through four lenses: local, state, national and global. Working with UWG is so important to our local lens, because together, we can better support the wellbeing of our communities and the environment in which we live.”

The partnership comes as a result of a shared vision to create a more sustainable and prosperous future, not only for UWG and Southwire, but for the entire region. The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including:

Talent Pipeline Development: Recognizing the importance of nurturing future leaders committed to sustainability, UWG and Southwire will work together to design specialized educational opportunities to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in sustainability-focused careers.Student Recruitment: Southwire is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. The partnership will open doors for UWG graduates and students, creating internship and employment opportunities that align with their passion for sustainability and corporate social responsibility.Business Operations: By fostering a knowledge-sharing environment, the partnership seeks to optimize business processes and find ways to integrate sustainable practices into daily operations. UWG students will have the unique opportunity to work alongside Southwire’s experts, gaining hands-on experience in implementing sustainable principles in a real-world setting.Environmental Sustainability: Both UWG and Southwire recognize the pressing need for environmental stewardship. Through joint research projects, technology sharing and best practices, they aim to develop innovative solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and conserve precious natural resources.

For more information about UWG, please visit www.westga.edu. For more Southwire news, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom.

WEST CHESTER, Pa., September 14, 2023 /3BL/ – Qurate Retail GroupSM, a world leader in video commerce (“vCommerce”), which includes video driven shopping across linear TV, ecommerce sites, digital streaming and social platforms, today announced the release of its third annual Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report. In 2022, the company made significant advancements toward its critical role in protecting the environment, championing empowerment and belonging, and curating product responsibly. Qurate Retail Group is part of Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB, QRTEP).

Qurate Retail Group’s strategy to inspire a more sustainable way to retail comes from its long-standing commitment to doing business the right way and the company’s emphasis on fostering an inclusive business for the benefit of all stakeholders – customers, team members, vendors, community members, and shareholders. Putting trust and transparency at the heart of its business, Qurate Retail Group has set measurable, time-bound goals for its corporate responsibility program, focused on those challenges and needs where the company believes it can have the greatest impact. To maintain that trust and transparency, Qurate Retail Group’s reporting follows relevant sector standards published by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and the company’s corporate responsibility commitments are informed by a materiality assessment and guided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

“Qurate Retail has continued on its transformation path announced in June of 2022, and we are working feverishly to improve the value we provide to all of our stakeholders and execute against our commitments,” said David Rawlinson II, President and CEO of Qurate Retail, Inc. “We understand our critical role in protecting the environment, championing empowerment and belonging, and curating product responsibly. As this year’s Corporate Responsibility Report attests, we are doubling down on those efforts.

“We embrace the Business Roundtable’s Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which sets a vision of a free-market system that empowers each person to succeed through hard work and creativity and to lead a life of meaning and dignity,” added Rawlinson. “Our theme, ‘Moments That Matter,’ reflects this holistic view of our business. As a video commerce retailer, we enrich life’s everyday moments for our customers and we’re committed to using the power of our platforms to inspire a more sustainable way to retail: intentionally inclusive, entrepreneurially driven, responsibly curated and waste smart.”

Highlights from the 2022 CR Report include:

Protecting Our Environment 

Decreased Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 26% from a 2018 baseline, exceeding target of 14% set for 2022.Set a new target of 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.Reduced Scope 3 packaging GHG emissions intensity by 33% from a 2018 baseline – beating the company’s 20% target three years early.Offset emissions for 100% of QVC Germany’s grid electricity.

Championing Empowerment and Belonging 

Facilitated $114M in total charitable contributions to communities since 2020, surpassing goal of $100M by 2025.Directed $31M of total charitable contributions towards women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship since 2020.Continued progress on leadership and representation goals, including:21% of QRG U.S. leaders are members of underrepresented racial/ethnic groups.Achieved near gender parity with 49% representation of women at the Director level or above globally.Published pay equity strategy and U.S. results.Included for a second consecutive year in Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and recognized by Disability Equality Index (DEI) as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.Featured nearly 100 diverse entrepreneurs in 2022; to date, the company has spotlighted 415 underrepresented small businesses, reaching 83% of its 2025 goal.

Curating Product Responsibly 

Added traceability audits to enhance supply chain visibility and published the company’s Prohibited Products Policy.Expanded the range of products made from traceable, sustainable fibers and continued to invest in sourcing more products made from sustainable ingredients.Made it easier for customers to make informed purchasing decisions by pursuing third-party product certifications for responsible production.

To learn more about Qurate Retail Group’s Corporate Responsibility initiatives or to access the company’s 2022 CR Report, visit: www.qurateretailgroup.com/lp/corporate-responsibility.

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About Qurate Retail Group 

Qurate Retail GroupSM comprises six leading retail brands – QVC®, HSN®, Ballard Designs®, Frontgate®, Garnet Hill® and Grandin Road® – all dedicated to providing a more human way to shop. Qurate Retail Group is the largest player in video commerce (“vCommerce”), which includes video-driven shopping across linear TV, ecommerce sites, digital streaming and social platforms. The retailer reaches more than 200 million homes worldwide via 15 television channels, which are widely available on cable/satellite TV, free over-the-air TV, and digital livestreaming TV. The retailer also reaches millions of customers via its QVC+ and HSN+ streaming experience, websites, mobile apps, social pages, print catalogs, and in-store destinations. Qurate Retail Group combines shopping and entertainment to curate products, experiences, conversations and communities for millions of highly discerning shoppers. Headquartered in West Chester, Pa., Qurate Retail Group has team members in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan, Italy, Poland and China. For more information, visit qurateretailgroup.com or follow Qurate Retail Group on YouTube or LinkedIn.

Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB, QRTEP) is a Fortune 500 company that includes the Qurate Retail Group portfolio of brands as well as other minority interests.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Wilson’s Image, a barbershop in the heart of North Minneapolis, is known for being more than just a place to get a haircut. It’s been transformed into a place for community.

“I make relationships with key stakeholders in the community to make sure that I can provide resources for our customers far beyond haircutting services,” said Teto Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Image, who points to U.S. Bank as one of those stakeholders.

In August 2022, Wilson met Tim Farrow – the business access advisor serving the Twin Cities – at an Access Commitment Live! event in Minneapolis. Farrow and other business access advisors across the country help Black business owners network, connect to resources and gain access to capital.

By working in partnership with Farrow and the business banking team at U.S. Bank, Wilson purchased the building his barbershop is in.

“Teto told me that one of his goals was to own his own barbershop,” Farrow said, “and we helped him get there.”

Wilson’s partnership with U.S. Bank goes beyond banking, with Wilson hosting a listening session for U.S. Bank with high school students to learn more about the North Minneapolis community and contributing to Wilson’s scholarship fund.

U.S. Bank launched Access Commitment in 2021 with the goal of increasing wealth-building opportunities for members of the Black community.

For more about Wilson’s Barbershop, watch the video linked above.

TORONTO, September 14, 2023 /3BL/ – Through a multi-year pilot partnership with New Acre Project, TC Energy has helped canadian farmers and ranchers produce nature-based climate solutions on 135 acres of marginal and uneconomic farmland to increase biodiversity, improve watershed health and mitigate the effects of climate change in the communities where it operates.

New Acre Project acres are delivered by farmers and ranchers who voluntarily enroll in the ALUS program. It is designed to help corporations realize their sustainability goals by supporting farmers in delivering nature-based projects that produce ecosystem services like cleaner air, cleaner water and enhanced wildlife habitat.

“TC Energy is dedicated to minimizing our environmental footprint and making a positive difference in the communities that we serve,” says Sharon Tomkins, Vice-President Sustainability & Social Impact at TC Energy. “New Acre Project provides an innovative opportunity to invest in building local climate resilience through farmer-delivered environmental projects in the areas where we operate.”

Each enhanced or restored acre delivered by farmers through New Acre Project include a variety of ecosystems, like forests, grasslands and wetlands, that produce a suite of ecosystem services. Projects funded through TC Energy’s partnership help mitigate the effects of climate change by capturing and storing carbon, improving water and soil quality, and providing food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.

“By investing in New Acre Project, TC Energy is working with ALUS to empower farmers and ranchers to build nature-based solutions on their land for the benefit of future generations,” says Rhonda King, Western Lead, ALUS. “These efforts deliver socio-economic and environmental benefits that extend beyond the local community to benefit all peoples of Canada.”

Community engagement is an integral component of ALUS and New Acre Project. ALUS believes local communities are best equipped to deliver effective and meaningful nature-based climate solutions that address both local and global environmental issues. The partnership complements TC Energy’s own commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities and leaving the environment where they work in a condition equal or better than they found it.

“New Acre Project is pleased to be working with TC Energy as a partner in sustainability and in building strong, resilient communities,” says Bryan Gilvesy, CEO, ALUS. “TC Energy’s investment supports ALUS’ vision to sustain agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for all Canadians.”

To date, over 47 farmers and ranchers have been engaged through the New Acre Project sponsorship in creating and restoring 135 acres of nature-based projects in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec to enhance biodiversity habitat, improve water quality and sequester carbon to mitigate the effects of climate change. 
 

About TC Energy

We’re a team of 7,000+ energy problem solvers working to move, generate and store the energy North America relies on. Today, we’re taking action to make that energy more sustainable and more secure. We’re innovating and modernizing to reduce emissions from our business. And, we’re delivering new energy solutions – from natural gas and renewables to carbon capture and hydrogen – to help other businesses and industries decarbonize too. Along the way, we invest in communities and partner with our neighbours, customers and governments to build the energy system of the future.

TC Energy’s common shares trade on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. To learn more, visit us at www.TCEnergy.com.

About ALUS and New Acre Project

ALUS (originally an acronym for Alternative Land Use Services) is a national charitable organization that provides expertise, resources, and direct financial support to 35 communities across 6 provinces where more than 1,400 farmers and ranchers establish and steward nature-based solutions on their land. These solutions deliver ecosystem services to help sustain agriculture and fight climate change and biodiversity loss for the benefit of communities and future generations. Projects such as enhanced wetlands, windbreaks, riparian buffer zones, wildlife habitats, regenerative agriculture practices and other impactful environmental solutions produce cleaner air, cleaner water, greater biodiversity, carbon sequestration, erosion control, flood and drought mitigation, pollinator and wildlife habitat, and other ecological services.

New Acre Project helps purpose-driven corporations go beyond their sustainability objectives and invest in the next-generation of conservation to generate positive impacts in the communities where they operate. Through New Acre Project, corporations are enabling these communities to become more resilient and supports ALUS in empowering farmers and ranchers to build nature-based solutions on their land, one acre at a time. Learn more at newacre.org and ALUS.ca.

Cummins

Accelera™ by Cummins, Daimler Trucks & Buses and PACCAR are partnering to accelerate and localize battery cell production and the battery supply chain in the United States.

The planned joint venture will manufacture battery cells for electric commercial vehicles and industrial applications, creating U.S. manufacturing jobs in the growing clean technology sector. Total investment is expected to be in the range of $2 to $3 billion for the 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) factory.

Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR will each own 30% and jointly control the joint venture, which will initially focus on the lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery technology family for commercial battery-electric trucks.

The LFP battery cells produced by the joint venture will be able to offer several advantages compared to other battery chemistries, including lower cost, longer life, and enhanced safety, without the need for nickel and cobalt raw materials.

Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR expect to see growing demand for battery technology throughout this decade and U.S. customers will benefit from a state-of-the-art dedicated battery cell factory. EVE Energy will serve as the technology partner in the joint venture with 10% ownership and will contribute its industry-leading battery cell design and manufacturing know-how.

EVE Energy is a global leader in the manufacture of LFP battery cells for the vehicle industry and is publicly traded on the Shenzhen stock exchange.

This strategic joint venture enables its owners to create the necessary scale for access to cost effective and differentiated battery cell technology, ultimately creating value for commercial vehicle customers in North America.

“We have the responsibility to decarbonize in a way that is best for all of our stakeholders and the planet,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “This requires working closely with key partners. Today’s announcement reflects that action. Not only are we advancing a key technology solution for our customers but accelerating the energy transition in the United States.”

“Our vision is the highest quality, locally produced battery technology to enhance the operations of our customers and help them achieve their operational and environmental goals,” added Preston Feight, PACCAR Chief Executive Officer.

Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck, said: “For Daimler Truck, partnerships and a strict focus on costs and smart capital allocation are the key levers to succeed on the path towards sustainable transportation. This planned joint venture enables economies of scale beyond Daimler Truck. It is a key puzzle piece of our battery industrialization strategy, ensuring access to the right battery cell technology at the right cost.”

Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR are leading the commercial vehicle sector’s transition to zero emissions technologies. The partners are committed to reducing carbon emissions consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and receipt of applicable merger control and regulatory approvals including the submission of a voluntary notice to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.