Month: February 2024

CBRE

In November 2022, CBRE Econometric Advisors (CBRE EA) published a report outlining how local and state government mandatory regulations are aimed at combating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the real estate sector. Over the past decade, these mandatory Building Performance Standards (BPS) policies have gained momentum, as an increasing number of local jurisdictions act to mitigate climate change impacts and support building decarbonization. In 2023, 10 more local jurisdictions across the country joined the growing list of BPS implementation.

The adoption of statewide policies for BPS is also on the rise, reflecting the commitment of states to address climate change and foster sustainable practices on a broader scale. New Jersey joined California and Colorado in 2023. Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington are scheduled to do the same over the next three years. Statewide adoption ensures that compliance and community benefits will cover every corner of the state and not just cities. While Maryland’s statewide policy awaits implementation, some local legislators enacted the BPS policy at a countywide scale instead of within city limits. Montgomery County, MD, which is a suburb of Washington, D.C., is a primary example of such efforts.

Momentum is growing for a more collaborative approach

In January 2022, the federal government launched the National Building Performance Standards Coalition, a collective partnership between state and local governments to advance building performance legislation. The Coalition set a goal to implement building performance policies and programs by Earth Day 2024, with many jurisdictions already having existing policies in place. This growing momentum for the adoption of BPS throughout the United States suggests policy adoption is not slowing down anytime soon. Several cities have stipulated strict financial penalties for policy violations. The cumulative effect of such penalties will help encourage accountability and help accelerate decarbonization.

Penalties and their impact on commercial real estate

Penalties for non-compliance with BPS vary depending on the specific regulations in place. By implementing penalties, local authorities aim to create a level playing field for all market participants and incentivize building owners to invest in energy efficient and sustainability practices. However, it’s important to note that these penalties are intended to encourage building decarbonization rather than penalize building owners for failing to reduce the building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. Some jurisdictions have relatively low annual penalties, whereas others have heavy penalties.

Another penalty is reputational through the public disclosure of non-compliant assets. Some jurisdictions will publicly disclose non-compliant buildings, which could negatively impact the reputation of the building owner or operator. In today’s society with growing stakeholder concerns about climate change1, investors, tenants, and regulators increasingly expect businesses to display their commitment to sustainability and demonstrate progress. Non-compliance with BPS can be seen as a lack of commitment to responsible business practices, leading to negative perceptions among stakeholders. Commercial tenants, especially those with corporate social responsibility and sustainability policies, prefer leasing spaces in energy efficient and low or zero carbon buildings2. Non-compliance could make it challenging to attract and retain such tenants, leading to higher vacancy rates and lower returns on investment.

Calculating non-compliance penalties

The penalties for non-compliance are designed to encourage asset owners to make all efforts necessary to decarbonize the built environment and comply with local regulatory policies. Avoiding penalties can reduce business expenses, which can be quite significant. While most jurisdictions impose annual fines on a per-day basis, three jurisdictions took a step further and base penalties on energy consumption over a 12-month period.

Following are examples of the potential impact on net operating income (NOI) in three jurisdictions — Denver, Boston, and New York City — that will impose financial penalties on properties that fail to meet carbon reduction mandates. Figure 2 outlines the calculations described for each city.

1 https://www.danpal.co.za/green-buildings-are-the-goal-for-the-future-of-construction

2 https://www.cbre.com/insights/viewpoints/the-case-for-esg-adoption

Denver

The City of Denver addresses climate change through regulations and programs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of existing commercial buildings. The local Energize Denver ordinance establishes Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets for buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger; these buildings must meet a final EUI target by 2030, with interim targets in 2024 and 2027. If a facility exceeds the maximum allowed energy amount set for that building, it will incur a penalty of $0.30 for each kilo British thermal unit (kBtu)* reduction required per year that the asset owner fails to achieve in that interim period. The city also retains the authority to impose fines up to a maximum of $0.70 per kBtu. The highest potential penalty would be imposed on all property owners who have not made any efforts to achieve the 2030 targets of a 30% EUI reduction and maintained the same level of energy consumption throughout the interim periods. Figure 2 shows a hypothetical example of how this could potentially lower the building’s NOI due to excess use of energy, if the building did not receive the electrification credit, purchased, or installed renewables, and did not apply for one of the alternate compliance options.

Based on the latest data from CBRE EA, a typical 500,000 sq. ft. office building in Denver generates an average NOI of $5,180,000 in 2023. However, if such building exceeds the maximum allowed target by 1,000,000 kBtu, a penalty of $0.30/kBtu would be imposed, leading to a substantial 5.8% decrease in NOI.

* British thermal unit (Btu) is a measure of the heat content of fuels or energy sources. Energy, or heat content, can be used to compare energy sources or fuels on an equal basis. Fuels can be converted from physical units of measure (such as weight or volume) to a common unit of measurement of the energy or heat content of each fuel.

Boston

The Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) is a significant sustainability-focused initiative enacted by the City of Boston. The city’s goal is to gradually reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. The ordinance requires the owners of all commercial properties 20,000 sq. ft. and larger to report their energy and water usage annually through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager platform, the industry’s standard benchmarking reporting tool that allows asset owners to compare their building’s energy usage with similar buildings on the market or industry standards. Penalties for failure to comply with benchmarking requirements and standards will be assessed annually, ranging from $300 to $1,000 per day. Additionally, asset owners will have the option to make Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP), a form of carbon offset measure, to mitigate residual GHG emissions. The ACP fee is set at $234 per metric ton of carbon equivalent (tCO2e/year) per year and is subject to change every five years. ACP allows building owners to tailor their compliance strategy to their unique circumstances, which in turn will not decrease the building’s NOI as drastically as per-day penalties. As per the most recent research by CBRE EA, an average office building of 500,000 sq. ft. in Boston yields an annual NOI of approximately $9,705,000, and potential penalties could reduce NOI by 5.1%.

New York City

New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97) will assess penalties in a similar manner to Boston but with a slight twist. All commercial buildings 25,000 sq. ft. or larger should comply with LL97 starting in 2024. The city’s goal is to reduce GHG emissions produced by NYC’s commercial buildings by 40% by 2030 and by 80% by 2050. If a building exceeds its annual GHG emissions limits, the building owner will face the following financial penalties split into three categories: $268 per tCO2e/year over the building’s annual carbon emissions limit, $0.50 per building sq. ft. per month for failure to file report on time, and $500,000 for providing false statements.

To accurately calculate GHG emissions and the potential penalties, the authorities of New York City have issued a comprehensive advisory on emission factors. During the regulatory period from 2024 to 2029, the emissions factor3 for grid electricity stands at 0.000288962 tCO2e per kilowatt-hour (kWh). However, the emissions factor undergoes a notable reduction to a mere 0.000145 tCO2e per kWh for the subsequent period spanning from 2030 to 2034, making electrification the most cost-efficient option for the asset owners. This reduction diminishes the volume of GHG emitted per relevant time period and the potential fines associated with exceeding the emissions limit. Currently, buildings in New York City that surpass the GHG threshold will incur an annual financial penalty of $268 per tCO2e/year over the limit. Based on the figures provided by CBRE EA, the potential penalty for a 500,000 sq. ft. office property will decrease the building’s annual NOI by 5.6%4.

3 An emission factor is a coefficient which allows to convert activity data into GHG emissions. It is the average emission rate of a given source, relative to units of activity or process/processes. A coefficient is a numerical value that quantifies the relationships between different variables or factors in a mathematical or scientific context. It provides info about how one variable changes in relation to changes in another variable.

4 This number could go as high as 10.0% if the asset owner fails to file report on time and provides false statements. The $500,000 penalty for false statements is subject to change. The NYC Department of Buildings will conduct a public hearing in late October 2023 to amend this clause and introduce a new set of penalties. Under the proposed rules, building owners will be exempt from substantial fines and eligible for a two-year extension if they display Good Faith Efforts during the 2024-2029 compliance period and show progress toward meeting the city’s carbon emissions standards.

Aligning with BPS

Green Lease Clauses

Under a traditional lease agreement, clauses to support energy efficiency and other decarbonization measures (e.g., offsite or onsite solar, electrification etc.) are not typically included. With traditional leases, there is a “split incentive” challenge. This means, for example, in a triple net lease structure, the landlord is not incentivized to invest in measures that pay back over time through operational cost savings, because the tenant pays for the operational costs. Yet these are the very investments that will help support compliance with BPS. So, in a triple net lease structure, the landlord faces potential BPS financial penalties due to a tenant’s profligate energy consumption. This scenario creates a barrier that hinders both parties from prioritizing energy efficiency.

In a full-service gross lease structure, all expenses associated with building operations, including the burden of complying with decarbonization measures, also rest on the shoulders of the property owner. However, landlords, genuinely dedicated to green initiatives and those who have invested in energy-efficient building systems may be more inclined to offer incentives to tenants who share their vision. Tenants willing to commit to longer lease terms can gain more negotiating leverage when requesting concessions related to green lease clauses. These concessions may involve reduced rent or less aggressive rent escalations for tenants committed to sustainable practices. Additional incentives might include higher than usual tenant improvements and extended periods of free rent. While lease negotiations can be quite complex, it’s clear that they are a crucial starting point for achieving decarbonization goals.

To ensure tenant and landlord alignment, the parties can collaborate on adding green lease clauses to bridge this gap and provide a forward-looking solution. These clauses go beyond traditional lease terms by outlining specific obligations and commitments related to various sustainability measures, including energy efficiency, renewable power procurement, water consumption, waste management, and more. Such clauses can specifically address cost-sharing measures, for example, enabling a landlord to invest in measures that result in improved energy efficiency, reduced carbon, and operational cost savings. It can also include clauses around submeters and tracking of energy use and reward tenants who reduce their energy usage.

By incorporating green lease clauses, the goal is to align the interest of landlords and tenants, encouraging them to work together toward sustainable, lower-carbon and energy-efficient building operations. This shared responsibility fosters a collaborative approach, allowing both parties to contribute to a sustainable future by reducing carbon footprints and conserving resources. In this connection, it’s noteworthy that, according to CBRE’s 2023 Strengthening Value Through ESG survey, 36% of respondents in the U.S. said they would consider paying a premium for green lease clauses to enforce action.

Submetering

Every day, the need to reduce carbon emissions in the building sector becomes more pressing. Enhancing the efficiency of existing buildings through retrofitting is a high-impact method to decrease energy usage and move toward net zero goals. It is also a great way to comply with BPS and avoid hefty non-compliance penalties increasingly imposed by local municipalities. Prior to initiating any energy use enhancement endeavor, ensure that the building’s performance data is easily accessible through submetering, which enables the measuring and monitoring of individual tenants’ energy consumption and bills them accordingly.

Additionally, submetering can be utilized to detect disparities in energy use and pinpoint opportunities for significant savings. Furthermore, submetering allows for monitoring of the large electrical equipment, such as HVAC, lighting and building automation systems, enabling facility management to proactively address any issues that may arise.

Applying submetering to the building with multiple tenants can lead to energy savings of up to 15%5. However, the actual amount of energy savings can vary based on several factors, including the specific metering architecture installed and the characteristics of the building, such as its size, type, and spaces. It is worth noting that although submetering can contribute to energy savings, its impact is just one aspect of an overall energy management strategy. To maximize benefits, it is essential to combine submetering with other energy efficiency measures, such as equipment upgrades, energy audits, and tenants’ behavioral changes.

Looking ahead

BPS policies are here to stay, and the penalties for non-compliance are likely to increase, just as the costs for climate change impacts are expected to rise without implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies. As the illustrative examples for Denver, Boston and New York show, the financial impact of BPS penalties can be significant for building owners. At the same time, there is an upside to meeting tenant and other stakeholder expectations through the implementation of BPS measures. Thus, the sooner both owners and occupiers unite on their sustainability efforts, the greater the combined impact will be. Shared responsibility for sustainable and energy-efficient building operations is not only essential but also a key to achieving long-term success in creating a more resilient built environment.

5 GSA, https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/Submetering_Business_Case_How_to_calculate_cost-effective_solutions_in_the_building_context.pdf 

Black History Month is a time for reflection, celebration, and education around the contributions made by so many Black leaders and visionaries. This month, we’ll pay tribute to their rich history through a series of impactful events and discussions with fellow Atlantic City Electric employees.

Atlantic City Electric is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Atlantic City Electric provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 572,000 customers in southern New Jersey.

 To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.

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National Grid

Updated 1/30/2024

Increases capacity of the distribution grid by 1 GW by 2030 to support building and vehicle electrification, including enabling 492,000 more EVs and 84,000 more electric heat pumps.Expands system capacity by nearly 3 GW by 2035, to support the connection of 3 GW more solar and storage to the grid and EV charging along Mass Pike.Enables more than 31.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions.Leverages energy efficiency, distributed energy resources and demand response to manage costs and defer investments through innovative non-wire alternative (NWA) solutions.Proposes a program offering to avoid costs and enhance resiliency for income-eligible customers through use of batteries to create a virtual power plant (VPP).Commits to increased stakeholder engagement and outreach, with a focus on environmental justice communities, through the launch of a new Equity and Environmental Justice Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Framework and Community Engagement and Stakeholder Advisory Group.Supports more than $500 million in increased incremental economic activity and 3,900 jobs by 2030, and $1.1 billion in increased incremental economic activity and additional 8,700 jobs by 2035.

WALTHAM, Mass /3BL/ – National Grid submitted its Electric Sector Modernization Plan – the Future Grid Plan — to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) outlining the critical investments needed in the local electric distribution system over the next five and ten years to meet Massachusetts’ nation-leading climate change, clean energy, and equity goals. The proposed investments in the plan are foundational to meeting electric demand that is projected to more than double by 2050, due primarily to the electrification of heating and transportation.

The plan outlines a path to upgrade and expand the capacity of the electric distribution grid, ensure reliability, accelerate the connection of more solar, storage and electrified heating and transportation, empower smart customer choices, and enable a just and equitable transition away from a fossil-based economy. The plan details National Grid’s commitment to delivering a fair, affordable, and clean energy future for all its customers while meeting the goals set out in the state’s 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan (2050 CECP).

The company submitted an initial draft of this Future Grid Plan to the Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) in September 2023. The plan submitted today incorporates recommendations from the GMAC along with feedback from hundreds of customers and stakeholders from across the Commonwealth.

“We are committed to being at the heart of the clean, fair, and affordable energy transition and meeting Massachusetts’ climate and clean energy goals” said Nicola Medalova, chief operating officer for National Grid’s New England electric business. “At its core, a transformation of the energy ecosystem is required to achieve these goals and the electric distribution network is foundational to enabling this transformation. It will require new and expanded infrastructure in all communities to meet growing demand, collaboration and engagement among all of society, and an electric network that is fundamentally smarter, stronger, and cleaner than today.”

A Focus on Smarter, Stronger, Cleaner Energy Goals

Meeting the Commonwealth’s climate and clean energy goals will require the connection of large amounts of new, clean energy resources to the electric grid and the accelerated adoption of clean, electrified technologies by customers statewide. By 2050, the electric distribution system will be the primary fuel network powering the economy and everyday life. Achieving this requires a smarter, stronger, and cleaner grid and policy changes, including permitting and siting reform and anticipatory planning, to enable proactive investments that:

Empower customers to make the smart, clean energy choices that work for them and accelerate electrification to meet the 2050 CECP goals, which include more than 80% of home heating systems and 97% of all passenger vehicles to be electrified;Create a ready, reliable, and more resilient grid capable of withstanding increasingly extreme weather and enabling the quicker connection of solar, storage, and electrified buildings and transportation;Drive increased energy efficiency through new innovations, and support non-wire alternatives (NWAs) to defer or avoid system build-out; andEnable a more just and equitable energy future that benefits all.

“Our Future Grid Plan is innovative, customer-centric, and equity-focused to ensure customers and communities across our diverse service area can participate in and benefit from the clean and electrified energy future, while providing high quality service and reliability,” said Medalova.

Three Key Areas of Investment

Over the next five years, the company proposes to invest approximately $2.5 billion in three key areas to enable the Commonwealth to meet the 2050 CECP climate and clean energy goals and interim decarbonization milestones, including:

Network Infrastructure Investments: To proactively meet significant increases in forecasted loads and capacity needs driven by policies to accelerate electrification and distributed energy resource (DER) deployment, including local solar and storage. This includes upgrading and expanding 13 existing substations and undertaking 14 distribution feeder projects by 2030 to make the system stronger and increase capacity in areas where projected overloads and constraints have been identified.Communication and Technology Platform Investments: To leverage data and state-of-the art monitoring systems to make the system smarter and meet evolving customer needs. These technologies will provide two-way information flows for visibility into how grid-connected devices are operating, enable expanded use of NWAs, and leverage technology that can minimize disruptions, including systems that detect outages early and enable the immediate rerouting of electricity.Customer Program Investments: To enhance the customer experience and drive adoption of clean, electrified, and efficient energy solutions, including advancement of VPPs. This includes supplementing a program offering supported by a federal grant that provides battery storage for select income-eligible customers that can be used during times of constrained electric load, deferring potential upgrades while increasing resiliency for homes and entire neighborhoods, and expanding managed charging programs for EV drivers that will both save money for customers and reduce peak electric demand on the grid.

The investments proposed in this Future Grid Plan are projected to have an average annual impact of 0.6 percent over the five-year investment period.

Equity, Transparency, and Affordability

Centered on affordability and equity, the plan is designed to meet the state’s climate goals based on transparent, data-driven, proactive distribution system planning. The plan is designed to ensure that the most cost-effective solutions are implemented, that customer owned DERs can help meet reliability needs and defer system upgrades, and that economic opportunity is generated for all. The plan does this by:

Conducting more than 2,000 different scenarios of future electric load growth to prioritize investment plans so the company is building only what is needed, when it is needed to meet the state’s climate and clean energy goals.Pursuing NWAs to defer investments in new infrastructure and deploying communication and technology platforms that will support the expanded use of NWAs into the future.Expanding the company’s strategic Workforce Development Program to ensure a ready, available, and skilled workforce, with a focus on creating opportunities for traditionally underrepresented communities.Proposing a Community Engagement Stakeholder Advisory Group, in coordination with Eversource and Unitil, to develop an equity-centered community engagement framework to apply to major infrastructure projects proposed before the DPU and/or state’s Energy Facilities Siting Board.Launching a National Grid-specific Equity and Environmental Justice Policy and Equity Stakeholder Engagement Framework focused on communities that have not historically participated in the project development and/or regulatory processes.

Next Steps

The DPU will review the plan through a formal regulatory process that includes opportunity for public comment and intervention. This process is anticipated to take seven months, after which the DPU will issue an order approving, rejecting, or modifying the plan. The plan, a summary, fact sheet and related information, can be found on the National Grid Future Grid web page.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

Media Contacts

John Lamontagne
Massachusetts 
339-223-6077

With an outstanding score of 87.4%, Whirlpool EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) proudly announces its prestigious achievement as Top Employer Europe 2024 for the seventh consecutive year, being recognized in Italy, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.

This accomplishment underscores Whirlpool’s unwavering commitment to nurturing a work culture that prioritizes employee well-being, professional development, and inclusivity.

This year, Whirlpool stands out in particular for its remarkable achievements in three crucial domains, emphasizing the company’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive and exemplary workplace practices.

“We are proud that the Top Employers Institute has once again recognized our commitment to creating an exceptional work environment for our employees across Europe. Our dedication to empathy and care ensures that they feel valued, heard and understood, fostering a workplace culture that goes beyond professional success and extends to the personal well-being of each team member.”

Fabio Colombo, Whirlpool EMEA Vice President of Human Resources

Sustainability remains a cornerstone in Whirlpool’s 112-year culture, as the company adopts a holistic and innovative approach to seamlessly integrate environmental responsibility, community engagement and social commitment into every aspect of its business operations. This reflects the company’s dedicated efforts to create a positive environmental impact, championing sustainable practices.

The company is dedicated to fostering a safe and balanced work environment, prioritizing employee well-being, community support, and collaboration. Inclusion and Diversity are integral values embedded in Whirlpool’s strong culture, reflecting the belief that embracing diverse perspectives and ideas is essential for creating value, enriching the organizational culture, and driving success.

Concrete actions include the formation of the Executive Inclusion & Diversity Council and the establishment of voluntary Employee Resource Groups, such as the EMEA Women’s Network, Young Professional Network, and EMEA Pride Network. These initiatives underscore Whirlpool’s commitment to cultivating a workplace that embraces differences and thrives on inclusivity.

Top Employers Institute is the global authority for the certification of excellence in People Practices. It has certified more than 2,300 organizations in 122 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 9 million employees globally. This year, the recognition has been conferred upon 1,286 countries worldwide.

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Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, is pleased to announce an agreement with 1PointFive to purchase carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits from its Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility under construction in Texas.

Central to Rockwell Automation’s purpose is connecting the imagination of people with the potential of technology, to expand human possibility and make the world more connected, more productive, and more sustainable. For more than 120 years, Rockwell’s technology and expertise have improved the efficiency of industrial processes, which includes making the most of scarce resources. Our holistic strategy encompasses company-wide sustainability efforts, while also helping our customers and communities be more sustainable and equitable. Rockwell Automation is committed to environmental stewardship and exploring options to accelerate the net zero transition—the primary reason for the partnership.

“We’re excited to collaborate with 1PointFive as we take steps toward achieving our company’s goal of net-zero, carbon neutrality by 2030,” said Tom O’Reilly, vice president, Sustainability, Rockwell Automation. “Every day, we help tens of thousands of global customers achieve productivity and sustainability goals with data-driven solutions. As a global manufacturer, we have the same commitment—to make a positive impact on the world.”

Once operational, STRATOS, 1PointFive’s DAC facility, will extract carbon dioxide from ambient air directly and can address CO2 emissions from dispersed sources, such as automobile and airplane travel, which is oftentimes difficult to tackle.

The CDR credits from 1PointFive aligns with Rockwell’s commitment to support technologies, such as DAC, that can advance sustainability goals by providing a practical, transparent, and durable carbon removal solution.

“We are pleased to support Rockwell Automation’s sustainability strategy and demonstrate how Direct Air Capture credits can become a solution to remove emissions from transportation,” said Michael Avery, president and general manager, 1PointFive. “This agreement reinforces Direct Air Capture’s potential to address emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sources and provides an example that other organizations can follow to further their own climate goals.”

Learn more about Rockwell Automation’s commitment to sustainability.

About 1PointFive 
1PointFive is a Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) company that is working to help curb global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2050 through the deployment of decarbonization solutions, including Carbon Engineering’s Direct Air Capture and AIR TO FUELS™ solutions alongside geologic sequestration hubs. Visit 1PointFive.com for more information.

SAN FRANCISCO, AMSTERDAM and HONG KONG, February 14, 2024 /3BL/ – The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) will host its first Manufacturer Forum of 2024 on March 6 in Dhaka, Bangladesh; the event will be held alongside the Sustainable Apparel Forum, which will be hosted by the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange on March 5. Reflecting the theme “Catalyst for Change,” the Manufacturer Forum: Dhaka will underscore the pivotal role of manufacturers to set and achieve goals that are transforming the consumer goods industry, highlighting the unique challenges they face and providing support for collaborative solutions.

Over 200 attendees are expected at the Manufacturer Forum: Dhaka, where they will gain insights into the newly launched Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP), the Higg Index suite of tools, and critical policy developments. Participants can also receive hands-on training in and get certified in setting Science-Based Targets (SBTs) for decarbonization, as well as join interactive workshops on completing the Higg Facilities Environmental Module (FEM) 4.0, health and safety remediation plans, and workers rights.

“We are thrilled to host our inaugural Manufacturer Forum of 2024 in Bangladesh and privileged that such an important sourcing hub, known for its craft and expertise, will be the first place we will showcase a new era for the SAC,” said Andrew Martin, executive vice president, SAC, who will give the opening address. “Solving complex sustainability challenges requires a holistic approach that depends on data, tools, and stakeholder collaboration. Manufacturers are the engine that drives the consumer goods industry and this event in Dhaka provides invaluable opportunities for connection, learning, and support as we work together to take collective action for industry progress.”

In 2023, the SAC announced the return of its flagship Manufacturer Forums after a hiatus of in-person events amid the pandemic. Since then, the SAC held its July forum in Shenzhen, China followed by Bangalore, India in December. The events bring together manufacturers – who are on the front lines of critical action – with business leaders and stakeholders to discuss the future of sustainability, supply chain compliance, verification, policy alignment, and more.

“SAC’s Manufacturer Forums are a valuable opportunity to connect and take action on the goals that unite us,” said Arindama Banerjee, associate director, client services/responsible sourcing at ELEVATE – An LRQA Company, the industry leader in sustainability and supply chain services globally. “We are thrilled to participate again this year.”

Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawe, executive vice president, Epic Group and SAC board director, and Dr. Laxmikant Jawale, regional lead, South Asia & Southeast Asia, Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), will speak at the event. Additional speakers include SAC global team members and SAC members Primark, ELEVATE, a LRQA Company, and CYCLO® recycled fibers, among others. Representatives from organizations with which SAC collaborates, including Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and the Social & Labour Convergence Program (SLCP), among others, will also present.

SAC’s Manufacturer Forum: Dhaka is sponsored by Worldly, the leader in environmental and social impact data capture and analytics for the apparel and footwear industry, and the exclusive platform for the SAC’s Higg Index suite of tools; those interested in sponsorship can contact sacmeetings@apparelcoalition.org. The full list of speakers, as well as information on registration, is available on the SAC’s website. Collaborative opportunities at Manufacturer Forum: Dhaka are critical to driving equitable and restorative business practices related to the SAC’s three core pillars: Combat Climate Change, Decent Work for All, and Nature Positive Future.

— END —

About the Sustainable Apparel Coalition

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is a global, non-profit alliance of over 300 organizations in global apparel and consumer goods. Initially formed to create standardized sustainability metrics, the SAC has sharpened its focus to driving pre-competitive, collective action across three foundational pillars. As an independent entity, the SAC brings together brands, retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, academics, and industry associations to combat climate change, ensure decent work, and contribute to a nature-positive future. Central to the SAC’s mission is the Higg Index, a suite of comprehensive tools that empower members to measure, evaluate, and improve sustainability performance across the supply chain. To support evolving industry needs, the SAC also brings together a focus in policy, transparency, and programs for collective action.

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Jackie MacDonald had been working at Boston Scientific for six years when her body started behaving in unexpected ways. Her feet drooped when she walked, causing her to stumble. Her balance felt off, too; if a gust of wind blew her hair over her face, she would lose her bearings.

“It was scary,” Jackie remembers of that uncertain moment back in 2010 – and not only because she was concerned for her health, but also because she worried about what others might think. Born with a rare muscular-skeletal disease called XLH, a degenerative condition which stunted the growth of her legs, Jackie had never wanted to call attention to her disability before. “I wanted people to judge me by my personality, or by my work, and not judge me physically,” she remembers. “I’d tried to hide my disability for so long, even though it was visible.”

Now, however, Jackie’s condition was causing neurological issues, which meant that hiding was no longer an option. She would need surgeries and treatment, which in turn would mean time off from her job as a quality systems engineer, accommodations in the workplace and supportive colleagues.

“And that’s where Boston Scientific has been phenomenal,” Jackie says with a big smile.

Receiving support and raising awareness

Boston Scientific aims to build a culture in which everyone has equal opportunities and can participate fully and meaningfully. That includes a commitment to disability inclusion and equality – for which Boston Scientific was recently recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by Disability:IN for the eighth consecutive year and, for the fifth straight year, made the Seramount Inclusion Index for its best practices.

One way Boston Scientific helps support employees is through its disability-focused employee resource group, LEAD (Leadership, Education and Allies for Disabilities). With chapters all around the world, LEAD raises awareness for issues specific to people with disabilities – both visible and invisible – while creating a safe and supportive environment where people can learn, teach and share resources. In addition to organizing benefits webinars, speaker sessions and awareness events, the group helps Boston Scientific evolve to meet workforce needs by proposing and incorporating inclusive workplace modifications.

For Jackie, becoming active in LEAD was one important way to feel supported while also lending her voice to make a difference for others. “There’s been a lot of sensitivity, allyship and inclusive changes for employees with disabilities,” Jackie says, pointing to modifications Boston Scientific has incorporated to many sites like adding push buttons to busy bathrooms, lowering soap dispensers and installing closed captioning capabilities in conference rooms.

As for her own experience with inclusion at work, Jackie says, “it’s been fantastic,” starting with the very first time she reached out for support.

Funneling her passion for inclusion into patient care

Today, Jackie has been with Boston Scientific for 19 years and counting. Whenever the need has arisen, the company has been able to offer options that enable her to perform her job, including time off for various surgeries and a hybrid work schedule. At the office in Marlborough, MA, Jackie sometimes uses a crutch or a cane to get around, and although the cafeteria keeps a pair of grabbers to help people reach the higher shelves of the beverage aisle, her thoughtful coworkers rarely give her that opportunity. “Everyone is all, ‘Oh, can I reach something for you? Can I carry something for you?’” she says, laughing. “Of course, I like to do things for myself. But it’s nice to have people looking out for you. It’s wonderful to be a part of such a caring community.”

Jackie has also funneled her experiences with disability into a passion for her work at Boston Scientific. Knowing firsthand the importance of good medical care and sensitive to the nuances of the patient journey, she is earnest about her role in providing patients the highest level of quality. “These are life-changing procedures. In my case, I know what it’s like to go from, ‘Will I ever walk again?’ to ‘I will walk again,” she says. “It’s so important to me to help other patients. I’m definitely in the right place.”

Want to work at a company that values disability inclusion? Explore career opportunities at Boston Scientific

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