Month: April 2024

Originally published on March 15th, 2024 on LinkedIn.

Sysco is proud to have recently been recognized as a Top Women Employer & Top Supplier Diversity Program recipient by DiversityComm Magazine! Their ‘Best of the Best’ list recognizes organizations that have gone above and beyond to create more inclusive, equitable workspaces for diverse talent and their commitment to uplifting values – fostering great workplace culture.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 72,000 colleagues, the company operates 334 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 725,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2023 that ended July 1, 2023, the company generated sales of more than $76 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2022 Sustainability Report and 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.

For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoFoods. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

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Griffith Foods is working to make a difference in water stewardship.

In 2021, Griffith Foods performed its first water risk assessment using the WRI Aqueduct Tool 3.0, a globally recognized methodology for developing a water risk framework. We are prioritizing efforts within operations located in water stressed areas to improve water metering, implement engineering and process improvements to reduce consumption, and adopt best practices from the Alliance for Water Stewardship. Near-term, we seek to reduce unsustainable water use by 50 percent in water stressed areas by the end of 2025, and by 100 percent at the end of 2030.

Visit https://www.wri.org/freshwater to learn more about water, the challenges we face, and what we can all do to ensure a sustainable water supply for our world.

Griffith Foods

At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

Our Sustainability Platform of People, Planet, and Performance guides how we behave, conduct business, and treat people, ensuring that everything we do leads to responsible growth for our entire ecosystem.

People 
We take care of our employees and the communities in which we do business.

Planet 
We all share one Earth, and we take environmental action to responsibly care for it.

Performance 
We operate ethically and strategically to create a positive impact for our business and for all of those with whom we interact.

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Cadence announced that Fortune and Great Place To Work® named the company to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®  List.

Dr. Anirudh Devgan, president and CEO of Cadence, said, “Today, Cadence reached an important milestone. Being recognized among the Top 10 best companies to work for is an honor and an achievement. This affirms our belief that culture drives business success and that Cadence is truly a unique place for people to build meaningful careers.”

The 100 Best Companies to Work For list focuses on how employees feel about their workplace. Great Place To Work evaluates confidential feedback from employees, matching against HR data from participating companies. Only companies with consistently high survey responses across the 60 questions that comprise the Trust Index™ Survey are honored with placement on the list.

“When people ask about what sets the Best Companies apart from their competitors, it’s one key ingredient: trust,” said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work. “When employees trust their leaders, their colleagues and the organization, they become empowered to reach their full potential.”

The Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For List is highly competitive. Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture, selected the list using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback from more than 1.3 million U.S. employees. Companies are only considered for the list if they are Great Place To Work Certified™ organizations with 1,000 or more employees in the U.S.

In the past year, Cadence was recognized as a Great Place To Work in a number of countries around the world, including Brazil, China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK. Cadence was also recognized as a World’s Best Workplace and regionally as a Best Workplace in Asia and a Best Workplace in Europe.

The Fortune World’s Best Workplaces list is published at https://fortune.com/ranking/best-companies/.

New Survey Finds Companies Planning to Voluntarily Comply With the CSRD

Released today, the 2024 ESG Practitioner Survey polled more than 2,000 people involved in corporate reporting, including sustainability, finance and accounting, and internal audit professionals across North America, Europe, and Asia. Highlights from the report include:

81% of companies not subject to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive still intend to comply. 
 78% of practitioners say three or more internal teams are involved in their company’s ESG reporting processes, up from 71% in 2023. 
 88% of respondents agree obtaining assurance over ESG data increases the likelihood that a company will achieve its goals. 
 92% of companies are investing in technology to improve collaboration among reporting teams.

Commissioned by Workiva, the ESG Practitioner Survey is an annual survey conducted by an independent research firm to assess practitioners’ alignment on the challenges and opportunities facing corporate sustainability, including global regulation, integrated reporting, and generative AI.

Visit www.workiva.com/2024-ESG-survey to learn more. 

In an era marked by global disruptions, the fragility of supply chains has been starkly revealed. Pandemics, geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and climate emergencies have not only exposed weaknesses but have also sparked a wave of innovation and strategic evolution. As McKinsey notes, supply chain leaders are now vested with both the attention of top management and a mandate for tangible change.

This pivotal moment offers an opportunity to future-proof supply chains by marrying sustainability, resilience, and efficiency with traditional values of cost, quality, and service. The upward trend in supply chain sustainability importance, as observed in MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics 2022 State of Supply Chain Sustainability report, underscores a collective awakening to new priorities amidst shifting challenges.

Recent findings from Supply Chain Dive indicate a transition in supply chain concerns, with the unpredictable dynamics of supply and demand now at the forefront. This reshaping of priorities compels a reevaluation towards more robust, sustainable, and efficient supply chains. Notably, over 60% of industry professionals are embracing optimization initiatives like route shortening and inventory tuning to align with ESG goals.

A spotlight on “nearshoring” showcases this shift towards sustainability. As highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, our partnership with snack food giant Mondelez in establishing a Dominican Republic distribution center exemplifies how proximity can enhance efficiency and reduce carbon emissions significantly. This strategy not only addresses logistical challenges but also sets a precedent for environmentally conscious operational decisions.

The evolving criteria for vendor selection further emphasize this paradigm shift. Companies are moving beyond cost-effectiveness to evaluate environmental impacts and sustainability practices. There is a growing inclination to prioritize partners with strong decarbonization and sustainability credentials, and those demonstrating a commitment to eco-friendly practices are increasingly preferred.

Industry research supports this, with Supply Chain Dive reporting that 84% of supply chain executives considering a prospective partner’s decarbonization and sustainability credentials in their selection processes.

The trend towards consolidating vendors for an end-to-end service model reflects a strategic approach to streamline operations and enhance data integrity. This is particularly relevant as companies intensify their ESG commitments, with streamlined supply chains enabling more cohesive and actionable insights.

As the supply chain industry stands at a crucial juncture, the lessons from global disruptions pave the way for transformative change. Embracing sustainability, resilience, and efficiency as guiding principles, the industry is moving towards a new era. This evolution, inspired by sectors like clean energy, heralds a future where supply chains not only meet traditional objectives but also actively contribute to a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient world.

The journey ahead is complex, but the direction is clear. By innovating, partnering, and adapting with a focus on ESG imperatives, we’re not just navigating the challenges of today; we’re shaping the supply chain of tomorrow.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 30, 2024 /3BL/ – Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) is proud to announce the launch of Truist Life, Money, and ChoicesTM – its new, financial education program for community organizations tailored specifically for high school and college students. This initiative is aimed at empowering younger generations with financial lessons and essential skills to navigate their financial futures.

With the increasing complexities of the modern financial landscape, Truist recognizes the critical importance of equipping young adults with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed financial decisions. But with only 25 states requiring high school students to take a personal finance course, many young people are entering adulthood without real-world financial skills. Truist Life, Money, and Choices will provide students with comprehensive resources and interactive learning opportunities designed to enhance their understanding of key financial concepts—all free through community organization partners.

“As we close out National Financial Literacy month, we are thrilled to launch this initiative, which directly aligns with our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Truist Chief CRA/Community Development Officer Anthony Weekly. “By investing in financial education for students, we are laying the foundation for a more financially responsible society while providing our own Truist teammates with powerful ways to give back to their communities.”

Truist Life, Money, and Choices, which kicked off with a session at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School earlier this month, is a scalable, in-person, free training module that gives participants the opportunity to explore different financial strategies and understand the consequences of their choices. Hosted by schools and other community organizations, and facilitated by Truist teammates, the simulation features up to 12 learning stations, each representing a different set of expenses and choices.

Each participant is assigned a personal financial profile outlining his or her occupation, income and family composition, along with a transaction ledger to record financial transactions. With their profiles and ledgers in hand, participants make their way through each station, receiving guidance and support from Truist teammates, and making their own decisions. The stations cover common expense categories, including:

Acts of Care – giving back to community and loved onesBanking – maintaining and adding to savingsChildcare – daycare, babysitting and moreEducation – student loan repaymentFood and Grocery – food costs and eating outHealth and Wellness – healthcare costs, inclusive of any employer-provided insurance optionsHousing – renting vs. owning, insurance and maintenanceJust for Fun – pets, fitness, hobbies and moreLooking Good – hair, clothing, footwearMaking Ends Meet – earning additional income or lowering expensesTransportation – various options for transportation including cars and public transitUtilities – electric/gas, water/sewer, trash

At some point as they progress through the simulation, each participant will receive a “Life Happens” scenario that represents an unexpected financial situation. Working alongside Truist facilitators, participants will determine if the scenario represents a credit—such as getting a promotion and raise, or a debit—like needing to replace a broken cell phone screen, and record it appropriately in their ledger. Both the stations and the “Life Happens” scenarios help students develop practical skills and understanding that are vital for long-term financial success.

At the end of the training, participants will gather to debrief on key learnings and provide feedback on the simulation. This will be accompanied by an overview of key budgeting principles they can apply to their own financial decision making. Truist facilitators will also help connect students to additional resources and tools, such as Truist Money & Mindset content, so participants can continue their journey toward financial confidence.

Truist invites high schools, colleges and other community organizations to participate in this transformative program and take advantage of the valuable learnings it offers. Any organizations interested in hosting this training can reach out to CRAinitiatives@truist.com.

To learn more about how Truist invests in communities, please visit www.truist.com/purpose/community.

About Truist 
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $535 billion as of March 31, 2024. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

SOURCE: Truist Financial Corporation

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Media Contact: 
Kristen Fraser, Truist 
media@truist.com

Each spring, the Curiosity Cube, a shipping container turned mobile science lab—an initiative from MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany—receives a refresh. It gets a fresh coat of paint and is restocked with scientific equipment for the new experiments.

This year, the Curiosity Cube is sporting something new: it’s adorned with the bright, eager faces of kids who are super excited about science. These kids, with their infectious smiles, are the children of MilliporeSigma employees.

These employees work in roles ranging from project management and human resources to manufacturing and supply chain, representing the variety of STEM-related careers offered by the company. This is just one way MilliporeSigma shows students that there are many job possibilities if they choose STEM as their field of study. In fact, recent research from MilliporeSigma shows that a barrier to entry to pursuing STEM as a career is that students don’t know what jobs exist in the field of study.

“Having my kids featured on the Curiosity Cube means they get to explore science firsthand, ignite their curiosity, and potentially discover a passion for STEM,” said Theophile Antoine, a Material Handler based in Danvers, Mass.

The “Faces of the Cube” represents the future of science. Each enthusiastic smile on the side of the Curiosity Cube is a beacon of hope for a brighter, more innovative tomorrow.

To learn more about the Curiosity Cube mobile science lab and view the 2024 tour schedule, visit TheCuriosityCube.com and follow the Curiosity Cube on Instagram @curiositycube_milliporesigma.

There could be no more fitting day than Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, for HempWood® to be named the “2024 Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky!” This online voting, bracket-style tournament allowed Kentuckians to choose the 2024 Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky from among the thousands of world-class products manufactured in the Commonwealth.

The award, presented by the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and Kentucky Farm Bureau, was handed off to HempWood® founder Greg Wilson by U.S. Senator Rand Paul in Murray, Kentucky on Monday.

HempWood® flooring is manufactured in Murray using fiber hemp grown within 100 miles of Calloway County for this specific purpose. It is renewable, sustainable, and USDA Certified BioBased. HempWood® contains no VOCs and is non-toxic. The farmer-leaders of the Kentucky Soybean Board are pro-HempWood® because it contains approximately 13 percent soy. Soy flour is used in the adhesive formulation rather than traditional chemicals which often include formaldehyde.

“We have invested checkoff dollars into helping the folks at HempWood® fund research to include more soy flour in their adhesive formulation,” said Kentucky Soybean Board Chairman Barry Alexander, who farms in Christian County. “The new uses category is one of the most promising things I think we can put our soy checkoff dollars into, and I am particularly interested in uses that include soy meal and soy flour. The United Soybean Board, where I serve as one of Kentucky’s three directors, has put a lot of money into uses for soybean oil over the years, and as those uses have taken off and become commercialized and mainstream, we need to focus on using other soy components to keep up with the demand for soybean oil. This product is a great example, and I am glad to see HempWood® being so successful.”

For more information on soybean farming in Kentucky, visit KySoy.org. To learn more about renewable, sustainable products from HempWood®, visit HempWood.com.