Month: January 2024

When it comes to sustainability, Henkel’s corporate vision provides the roadmap. But in many ways, the operations sites are where the rubber hits the road.

Waste is the largest contributor to the company’s overall sustainability footprint, making Zero Production Waste to Landfill a key component of Henkel’s 2030+ Sustainability Ambition Framework. Henkel’s operations teams are working toward an ambitious Zero Waste to Landfill target at all of their operations facilities.

“Zero Waste to Landfill means that our plants are preventing waste streams from reaching the landfill. This is achieved primarily by reducing from the source, reusing and recycling. Zero Waste to Landfill is a means to an end for Henkel to achieve complete waste circularity.”

-Dominique Haller, Manager, Sustainability & Environmental Performance – Henkel Adhesive Technologies North America

Waste circularity aims to keep materials in the supply chain through reuse, repurposing and high-quality recycling (where scrap materials are recycled into the same thing or upcycled into a higher-value process or product). At Henkel, that includes materials such as corrugated cardboard, plastics and other byproducts from the production process.

Conservation, Creativity & Teamwork

Across North America, production sites have found creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, Henkel adhesives plants in Greenville and Enoree, South Carolina, donate used wooden pallets to Izzie’s Pond, a nonprofit that sells the pallets to help fund its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation activities.

The team in Mentor, Ohio, found a colorful way to reduce waste. Every time sealant colors are switched out on the packaging line, the first 40 to 50 tubes contain a mixture of the previous and the new color. Rather than scrapping this high-quality product, Henkel sells these non-standard colors at a lower cost for use in applications where the sealant is not visible.

After focusing on the Zero Production Waste to Landfill initiative at their own site, the team at Brandon, South Dakota, reached out to help a sister site reduce costs and focus on Zero Production Waste to Landfill efforts. Through a unique partnership, Henkel’s Cannon Falls, Minnesota, facility uses internal transportation to ship aluminum oxide to the Brandon facility, where it is re-routed to a cement kiln as a raw material ingredient.

Henkel works closely with waste management partners in the region and other partners to find suitable outlets for a variety of waste produced at its facilities.

Cleaning Up Laundry Waste

In Bowling Green, Kentucky and St. Louis, Missouri, where laundry products are made, material that was once destined to clean and soften clothes eventually finds new life in buildings and roads.

Working with a waste management and processing partner, the St. Louis plant was able to qualify its production waste as green waste, so it could be burned in a cement kiln. The process creates “clinker,” a small, rock-like byproduct that is the first stage of cement manufacturing. The clinker is further processed to be 100% converted to cement. This company also routes the plant’s liquid detergent waste, using it as a raw material to make industrial cleaning products such as floor washer and commercial car wash soaps.

Internal recycling practices, including department-specific, color-coded recycling stations at the point of use, also play a key role in helping the plants work towards Zero Production Waste to Landfill.

“We’re shrinking trash volume every day. We started by getting recyclable materials out of the trash and sorting at the point of generation. Today, virtually all of our trash is going to a cement kiln or compost site.” -Gary Deck, Safety Health and Environment Manager at Henkel’s St. Louis plant

Following the lead of the St. Louis plant, Bowling Green began working with the same waste management partner to recycle 60-70% of its laundry detergent and fabric softener sheet waste in the cement-making process. Approximately 7,000 tons of trash have been diverted from landfills since the Zero Waste to Landfill initiative began at Bowling Green in December 2020.

“Burying trash at landfills is not a sustainable way to dispose of something, so Zero Waste to Landfill was one of the first major goals we set out to attain,” says Bryan Dickey, Environmental Engineer at Bowling Green. “There are many better outlets out there to manage waste.”

Next Stop: Zero Waste

Henkel North America is making significant progress towards a goal of Zero Production Waste to Landfill across the region. But the work doesn’t end there. The company will continue to look for ways to further minimize its impact on the planet — and that’s something employees and many Henkel customers are proud to support.

“Zero Waste to Landfill costs more, but it’s the right thing to do,” says Deck. “I’m proud to work for a company that is thinking about how we can protect the planet for our kids and grandkids.”

His colleague in Bowling Green agrees:

“To consumers like me, it provides a little more satisfaction and comfort to know we’re buying a product from a company that cares about the environment and is taking the needs of future generations into consideration.”

Yvonne Groenhout, an intensive-care unit (ICU) nurse for over 26 years and an International Medical Corps first responder, is just one of the thousands of people who have completed and employed the Principles of Psychological First Aid training in their work.

The training, funded by FedEx and developed by International Medical Corps, is available to first responders and other aid workers worldwide. It’s free and available in multiple languages. It’s accessible through this link.

According to the World Health Organization, survivors of conflict and disasters are at higher risk for psychological distress and mental health conditions. This is why International Medical Corps has been a leading advocate for integrating mental health and psychosocial support into emergency response for decades. With supporters like FedEx, International Medical Corps has been able to reach more than 5,000 humanitarians and first responders with essential training on Psychological First Aid (PFA).

PFA is a humane, supportive response to someone who is in distress and may need additional mental health support. International Medical Corps, with FedEx’s support, developed an interactive online training on the Principles of PFA to equip first responders across the globe with the knowledge to effectively respond to an individual’s mental health needs and ultimately help emergency-impacted communities cope and recover stronger.

Yvonne has applied the skills she gained in her PFA training to real-world scenarios. In her own words:

“I was fortunate enough to have been able to take the Principles of Psychological First Aid course as the Delta wave of COVID began in my area. It was here, in my ICU, I was able to recognize the signs and provide some ‘first aid’ through look, listen and link.

“One night I noticed a new RN, very quiet,” Yvonne continues. “She’s young and enthusiastic. It was a bit odd so I asked if everything was ok. One of her patients had died during the day. During the surge that was, unfortunately, a common occurrence. She said she thought maybe she missed something. She was tearful. We stayed in the break room and she spoke about all she had done for the patient. I assured her it sounded like the appropriate course of action. I offered to buddy up with her that night. After the shift I let her know how well I thought the shift went. I told her that COVID is unique and beginning her nursing career during an unprecedented time is probably overwhelming but here she is — doing it!

“I also reminded her that, just like on an airplane, in an emergency, you need to put on your mask and take care of yourself before you attempt to help others.

“And last summer, I deployed with International Medical Corps to Ukraine to provide trauma care training to Ukrainian nurses. A few minutes into one of our lectures, some of the participants began looking uncomfortable. One raised her hand and asked that we stop. She proceeded to explain through the interpreter how upsetting the content was because of all they had experienced. One of the others joined her in expressing her grief. Both explained the trauma they had witnessed in the previous and current conflict. They were both crying. We allowed them to speak without interruption.

“After they were finished, we thanked them for being brave enough to share in a group setting. We thanked them for the sacrifices they were making and emphasized the importance of the trainings, how participants will be able to use the knowledge to assist themselves, their patients and their country.

“We also reminded them of the need to be there for each other.

The Principles of PFA training enabled Yvonne to spot people struggling in the aftermath of an emergency and provide them with the support they so desperately needed.

KaShala Smith, the co-founder of Steeped Pearl Tea, is not just a tea enthusiast; she’s a visionary entrepreneur who turned her love for tea into a thriving business. Steeped Pearl’s origins trace back to a college dorm room, where KaShala and her co-founder Dominique Todd-Shumate, both avid tea lovers, created the concept with a shared Pinterest board.

KaShala’s entrepreneurial spark ignited during her time in the U.S. Army. Inspired by friends launching their businesses, she found the courage to transform the tea concept into a tangible business. The launch of Steeped Pearl marked the realization that a simple concept could blossom into a successful venture.

Steeped Pearl is About More Than Just Tea

According to KaShala, Steeped Pearl in concept is not just about tea. Instead, it’s an elevated, curated drinking experience. Established in 2019, the loose-leaf herbal tea brand emphasizes being chemical-free, offering a unique blend of flavors that narrate stories. KaShala passionately describes it as “tea by tea lovers for tea lovers,” catering to a versatile tea community. And each blend weaves personal and familial stories into the fabric of Steeped Pearl.

For example, Elder Elixir, a customer favorite blend recently featured in GoDaddy’s 2023 Gift Guide, reimagines one of KaShala’s childhood memories. As a little girl, KaShala’s nightly ritual incorporated drinking a cup of tea made by her father to help ward off illness. Crafted with meticulous detail, KaShala describes today’s Elder Elixir as “a generational cup of healing from my father.” The blend infuses elderflower, dandelion root, lemon balm, eucalyptus, and fresh ground ginger.

Steeped Pearl’s Evolution: Challenges Turned Triumphs

Reflecting on her journey, KaShala acknowledges the initial challenge of identifying their target audience and selecting the right events to participate at. The shift toward strategic event choices, such as art shows and crafting events, demonstrated a profound understanding of retail goals – meeting customers where they are and when they want.

Participating in the Empower by GoDaddy program was a pivotal moment for Steeped Pearl. Launched in 2017, Empower by GoDaddy is a global social impact program equipping entrepreneurs in underserved communities with training, tools and peer networks to accelerate their journeys.

KaShala, a graduate of the program that operated in partnership with The Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) of Ohio, acknowledges the invaluable support received through her participation. Outside of networking, Empower by GoDaddy offered KaShala tailored business training, investment insights and a launchpad for Steeped Pearl’s website.

The GoDaddy Point of Sale (POS) system proved transformative, catapulting Steeped Pearl into streamlined inventory management and cashless transactions. Empower by GoDaddy enabled KaShala and Dominique to strategically plan their business, enhancing both efficiency and customer experience.

Generational Wealth and the Entrepreneurial Spirit 

KaShala’s journey aligns with the broader trend of Black women being the fastest-growing population of microbusiness owners in the United States, which GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative captures in its latest reports. She views entrepreneurship as a pathway to accumulating generational wealth, providing a more substantial foundation for future generations.

Steeping Success with Gratitude

Reflecting on KaShala’s entrepreneurial journey, one thing is clear – Steeped Pearl is more than a tea brand; it’s a labor of love, a commitment to community, and a vision for the future. KaShala’s gratitude for the Empower by GoDaddy program echoes the mutual appreciation between a business and the support systems that propel it forward.

With the start of a new year, Steeped Pearl’s journey is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that GoDaddy aims to foster. 2024 is the perfect time to launch a new business idea. GoDaddy encourages budding entrepreneurs to visit godaddy.com/resources for tips on getting started.

Empower by GoDaddy Spotlight Series: By partnering with diverse local nonprofits and community organizations around the world, Empower by GoDaddy aims to reach those who haven’t otherwise had access by offering skills training, resources, and mentoring to help accelerate their business journeys. This article is part of the Empower by GoDaddy spotlight series that shines a light on the individuals who make this unique initiative possible.