Month: February 2024

Tetra Pak FY2022 Sustainability Report

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for the U.S. and Canada markets came into laser focus in 2022. Recognizing a need for external expertise, the local steering committee worked with an outside consultant who specializes in actively championing environments where all humans thrive to help guide the team’s long-term DEI journey through four lenses: people, culture, customers and community.

To understand our employees’ lived experiences and desired outcomes related to DEI, we asked all employees for feedback through a series of anonymous surveys, one-on-one discussions and voluntary focus groups. As a result, several key themes were identified and serve as the basis for the market’s three-year roadmap.

One key theme was the need to level set our understanding of DEI across all teams. Several optional virtual learning sessions, including a DEI Foundations course and a “Who Am I?” interactive workshop, were offered to all employees with the ambition of building a common framework of language and tools to better facilitate understanding and discussions of shared humanity.

389 EMPLOYEES participated in the DEI survey

15 ONE-ON-ONE leader interviews were conducted

5 FOCUS GROUPS were conducted, with 52 employees participating in these discussions

Beyond Tetra Pak’s internal efforts, our leaders held discussions around DEI externally. Larine Urbina, Communications Director, Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada, was invited to a panel discussion titled, “The next generation of women leaders are ready to change the face of sustainability. Are you listening?” at the Sustainable Brands ’22 Conference Women’s Leadership Luncheon. Urbina was also featured by AMERIPEN in an article on the role of communications in sustainability.

Jennifer Montgomery, Head of Human Resources Country Services, Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada, represented Tetra Pak in the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Diversity Coalition. She also contributed to an article in Dairy Foods on “Why a DEI strategy is important for dairy processors.” 

Tetra Pak also became a Supporter Member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women of all ages with an interest in engineering and technology. As part of the membership, several of our employees became members of the organization. By joining SWE, we support current and future generations of experts who are working to solve critical and complex challenges, such as food security, that impact all people.

Core Wellbeing

In the U.S. and Canada, Tetra Pak employees can benefit from Core Wellbeing, a program dedicated to helping employees and their loved ones achieve, maintain and protect their personal health and wellbeing goals to protect what’s good for others.

In its third year, Core Wellbeing has reinvigorated the program’s platform with a more interactive and engaging portal for our employees. Every month, Core Wellbeing hosts challenges focused on its five pillars of wellbeing: social, community, financial, physical and mental. The platform connects certain activities with a carbon impact and allows individual employees, sites and the company to measure our collective carbon reductions achieved as a result of these actions throughout the year.

The program is also weaving in the company’s DEI focus as a key part of social and community wellbeing. In November 2022, we shared an employee-sourced cookbook that featured favorite recipes from contributors. The cookbook invited employees to share why the recipe was important to them and where the recipe originated, demonstrating the diverse culture and many nationalities of our U.S. and Canada team.

Promoting Wellbeing in the Community

To promote wellbeing for people in our communities, we donated nearly 18,000 cartons of water to Partners in Hope in Hodgkins, Illinois. Partners in Hope is Illinois’ leading provider of effective psychological and psychiatric services to residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities.

Dallas Marathon

In December 2022, Tetra Pak served as an official sponsor of the BMW Dallas Marathon, Dallas’ largest single-day sporting event and Texas’ oldest running event. Over 26,000 cartons of water with messaging about the sustainability benefits of Tetra Pak ® cartons were given to racers and fans.

Over the weekend, local Tetra Pak employees volunteered to hand out water and engage with attendees at an outdoor water booth in Dallas’s City Hall Plaza. Tetra Pak also hosted a booth at the Health & Fitness Expo at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Employees had the opportunity to participate in a race of their choice and invite a friend or family member to join them. This year, 65 runners joined Team Tetra Pak and ran in either the 5k, 10k, Oncor Kid’s Race, half marathon or full marathon.

Read the full Tetra Pak FY2022 Sustainability Report

Whether you’re looking for that elusive first job or trying to get to the next stage of your career, you tend to look to others for guidance. Once you’re well established, though, you may be in a position to help. The bridge between them? A mentoring program.

Meet Arnold Kintu and his mentors, Tamara Marshall and Vivian Eng.

While working on the production line at our Atlanta-area Cleaning plant, Arnold always had an eye toward advancement, especially as he pursued his bachelor’s degree in marketing. He had taken note of the work ethic of his colleague Tamara, who had previously worked on the line, earning promotions that led to her current role as a fulfillment specialist, based in our Alpharetta, Georgia, office.

Signing up for the Global Mentoring Program, Arnold hoped to be paired with Tamara, whom he viewed as a role model. But she wasn’t so sure, telling him, “I don’t feel qualified.” Yet he was insistent: “No, I heard all about you. Please don’t drop me.”

Tamara ended up contacting her own mentor for advice. “She said, ‘What did I always tell you? Pay it forward.’”

So that’s exactly what Tamara did. She applied the same lessons she learned from her own mentor about starting with a career pyramid and then creating a “board of directors” to help in areas where she didn’t have the expertise.

Enter Vivian, a brand manager based in our Durham, North Carolina, hub, who’s had great mentors who have helped shape her own career path. “I wanted to offer the same type of support that I found to be incredibly helpful,” she said.

Their mentoring relationship flourished, with Arnold soaking up all the marketing knowledge he could from Vivian, even though their connection was entirely virtual.

Arnold’s dedication paid off recently with his promotion to quality lab tech. “The process can be intimidating, but you’ve got to have the audacity to believe in yourself and the humility to ask for help when you need it,” he said. “No one has ever done it by themselves.”

His mentors, who couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments, count themselves among his biggest cheerleaders.

Said Tamara: “I didn’t expect to experience this side of mentoring. When he told me he got the promotion, I was so excited for him. I’m grateful we work in a place where you can build connections, and everyone wants to play a part.”

By Dana Obrist

It has been four years since a global pandemic first shook the foundation of the economy.

Nationwide shutdowns led to disrupted or shuttered businesses small and large. Rebuilding efforts have been strong and often supported by government-funded programs intended to fuel growth and bring jobs back to those hardest-hit neighborhoods.

Though it has been around for more than two decades, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program is integral to the rebuilding efforts. It’s designed to incentivize the private sector to invest in low-income communities.

Post-Pandemic Demand

“The demand for NMTC financing has never been bigger than it is today,” noted Steve Ross, head of the New Markets Tax Credit platform at Regions. “When the program began, it was not very well known, but over the last 20 years it has proven to be a critical tool to help businesses and nonprofits grow.”

Ross said that many of these organizations would not exist today without NMTC financing and, as we look into the future, the way NMTC financing is used continues to expand.

“NMTCs can finance real estate, equipment and working capital, and can be used on a variety of asset types, including for-sale housing, mixed-use real estate, manufacturing facilities, schools, hospitals and so much more. Its flexibility is part of what makes it such a valuable financial product,” Ross said.

Rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, and a rocky labor market in the wake of the pandemic impacted businesses across various industries and geographies. Jobs were adversely impacted and in communities already facing higher rates of poverty, business closings and job loss reverberated through these already microeconomies.

Rising interest rates intended to cool rising inflation ushered in new challenges for some businesses.

“What has happened in the wake of rising interest rates is projects that wouldn’t normally need NMTC financing have started to look for that type of subsidy,” said Ross.

Many economists predict a few decreases in the Federal Funds rates in 2024, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the demand for NMTCs will decrease, according to Ross.

“I anticipate demand increasing as rates drop, opening up opportunities for more typical NMTC borrowers, who may have slowed activity in the higher-rate environment, to begin investing in growth again,” he shared. “Many for-profit businesses chose not to move forward with planned expansions during the pandemic, but others did not have a choice – they had to invest to survive or to meet client needs.”

I anticipate demand increasing as rates drop, opening up opportunities for more typical new markets tax credit borrowers.

Steve Ross, head of Regions’ New Markets Tax Credit platform

New Markets Tax Credit: Attractive Financing for Nonprofits

Demand for NMTCs is also increasing among not-for-profit businesses, where fundraising efforts have become more challenging in the post-pandemic economy.

“In talking with our government and institutional bankers and not-for-profit clients, raising money is hard, particularly for mission-driven entities that rely on campaign fundraising and are not in the business of building up cash surpluses,” noted Ross. “We’ve seen significant challenges in fundraising from those clients and NMTC investments can be an attractive alternative for funding.

“Most non-profit organizations did not have the luxury to simply hold on to cash until the economic climate was more stable,” Ross noted. “They had to make investments to provide the critical services their communities need, but often traditional funding sources were unavailable, with so much subsidy being targeted toward pandemic relief.”

With uncertainty around so many aspects of business during the height of the pandemic, Ross noted that the addition of the NMTC subsidy created more financial stability, and often was the only thing that allowed projects to come to fruition.

North Florida Medical Centers, Inc. Expansion to Increase Capacity

Nestled in the quaint north Florida community dubbed one of the “Best Little Towns in Florida” by VISIT Florida, the city of Madison is home to one of North Florida Medical Centers, Inc.’s 10 locations. The only nonprofit community health center providing a full range of comprehensive medical, dental and enabling services within the 10-county service area within the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, the Madison location saw approximately 1,800 patients in 2022.

The patient mix at the Madison location is 36 percent Medicaid, 33 percent Medicare, 21 percent commercial and 10 percent uninsured, so the ability to expand its capabilities is important to this community.

“Regions is excited to be part of the team investing in North Florida Medical Centers, Inc.’s development of a new 11,400-square foot facility that will provide medical, dental and behavioral health services, increasing their capacity to serve Madison County and surrounding areas,” said Ross.

North Florida Medical Centers, Inc. is leveraging federal grants, internal resources and new markets tax credit investments to finance the construction of the new facility.

“We are fortunate to collaborate with Regions with our Madison Medical Construction,” said Lane Lunn, CEO of North Florida Medical Centers, Inc. “By utilizing Regions New Markets Tax Credit investments, NFMC will be equipped to serve more patients with quality medical care. The larger new facility will enable us to serve more patients with a variety of services.”

By utilizing Regions New Markets Tax Credit investments, NFMC will be equipped to serve more patients with quality medical care.

Lane Lunn, CEO of North Florida Medical Centers, Inc.

Cultivate Food Rescue’s New Indiana Facility Fights Food Insecurity

NMTC investments are helping create jobs and tackle food insecurity in South Bend, Indiana.

“Cultivate Food Rescue is an innovative nonprofit dedicated to preserving and distributing perishable food that would otherwise be bound for landfills to the most vulnerable citizens who face food insecurity,” noted Heidi Leonard, Regions Government and Institutional banker in Indiana. “The NMTC product is a great way for nonprofits to offset their overall interest cost with an equity investment and helps our bankers in these communities do more good.”

Regions is part of the financial team that helped Cultivate secure the capital to construct a new 21,000-square foot facility that can store and supply up to 20 million pounds of food a year and serve 16 million meals a year.

“A $10+ million capital campaign is ambitious,” said Jim Conklin, executive director at Cultivate Foods. “As we observe the trends in food waste and hunger in our three-county area, however, we are confident in our plans. Diversifying sources of funds is integral in a campaign of this size. New Markets Tax Credits were an important part of this investment.”

Originally published by Yum! Brands

At Yum!, we have a Recipe for Good Growth, which centers on doing right by our people, food and the planet. It’s something that we’ve continuously improved upon year after year and is the focus of our latest “Quick Bite,” a video series that documents Yum! news in about a minute’s time.

Watch and learn how the world’s largest restaurant company is committed to doing good.

Small businesses serve as the economic engine of the U.S. There are 33.2 million small businesses in the country, which account for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. Yet, these businesses often struggle in the aftermath of disasters and how to prepare for the next one.

Developed in partnership with FedEx, the Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) is a multi-year initiative to support small businesses impacted by disasters. The program guides any interested small business in preparing for a disaster, and then offers quick-turn relief funding of $5,000 for those prepared businesses after a federal disaster declaration is made in their region.

To date, the R4R program—with additional support from Allstate—has helped prepare nearly 3,000 businesses for the next disaster and distributed $5,000 grants to 51 businesses across the country. Grantees report using the funds on crucial expenses such as building their customer base, paying employee salaries, and repairing damaged or lost inventory.

Click here to read the 2023 R4R Impact Report.

Post provided by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

In January 2024, Viatris was notified that its Aurangabad, India, facility has received certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI) for meeting a new industry standard on Minimized Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

The standard was facilitated by BSI for the AMR Industry Alliance, an organization made up of over 100 companies and associations from across the life-sciences industry with the shared goal of providing sustainable solutions to curb AMR. The certification is designed to encourage drug manufacturers and those in the supply chain to prioritize the sustainable production of antibiotics.

“We are proud to be the first pharmaceutical site in India to achieve this important Minimized Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance certification from BSI, demonstrating our commitment to controlling antibiotic discharge,” said Sanjeev Sethi, Chief Operations Officer, Viatris. “Many thanks to our cross-functional team members for continuing to implement sustainable systems and processes that advance the responsible manufacturing of antibiotics.”

“Viatris having gained independent certification, and the first to do so in India, is a reflection of their leadership and commitment to tackling global AMR,” said Steve Brooks, Advisor and Manufacturing Work Group Lead, AMR Industry Alliance. “From their initial days with the Alliance, Viatris has been a key contributor to achieving greater results in our shared goal of providing sustainable solutions to curb AMR while being responsible stewards of the environment.”

AMR is recognized around the world as a significant threat to global health and economic development and is a major driver of death globally. Recent research shows that in 2019, more than 1.2 million people are estimated to have died directly from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. By 2050, it is estimated that AMR will cause more deaths than cancer unless concerted efforts are undertaken to counter its progression.1

Viatris’ Commitment to Combatting AMR

Viatris remains committed to doing its part to address AMR by advancing access, stewardship and responsible manufacturing. Access to a wide array of high-quality antimicrobials and timely treatment are key in mitigating the rise of AMR. The company currently has approximately 90 antimicrobials in its global portfolio, including antibiotics that can be valuable in treating resistant bacteria. As a founding member of the AMR Industry Alliance (AMRIA), Viatris is committed to partnering across the industry to collectively advance initiatives addressing AMR.

1 The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance – White Paper, 2014