Month: April 2024

PARIS, April 8, 2024 /3BL/ – The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Collaboration for Healthier Lives Coalition of Action today released a playbook for companies looking to launch or accelerate preventive health initiatives. Developed in partnership with global management consulting firm, Kearney, the playbook will enable businesses to offer consumers healthier options and encourage consumers to make better and healthier choices. The playbook aims to address health issues in regions where CGF member companies operate, particularly Asia, Latin America, and North America, to drive more targeted and impactful initiatives.

Download the Executive Summary

The publication of the playbook follows the launch of a Preventative Health workstream, with retail and manufacturer participation including AS Watson, Ahold Delhaize, Grupo Alen, Haleon, Kenvue, P&G and Unilever.

As part of the Coalition of Action’s broader mission of “empowering people to live healthier and more sustainable lives”, CHL is committed to improving the accessibility, affordability and visibility of healthier and more sustainable products while contributing to preventative health.

Brian McNamara, CEO, Haleon says, “As a Board Co-Sponsor of the CHL Coalition of Action I believe that, through CEO engagement and by coming together as manufacturers and retailers, we can help scale preventative health solutions – empowering more people to take active self-care of their health.”

Titled the “Digital Solutions for Preventative Health Playbook”, data is given particular importance, especially as an enabler of behaviour change, measured through online tools, applications and community support networks. An executive summary is also available, highlighting the high-level benefits and successes of digital tool integrations into preventative health initiatives.

The Playbook features:

A Guiding Framework: Step-by-step guidelines to scale-up impact.Health maps spotlighting relevant health issues: Regional focus areas based on top markets where CGF members operate.Best practice sharing through tangible case studies: Featuring Ahold Delhaize, AS Watson, Colgate-Palmolive, Haleon, Kenvue, Kroger, L’Oreal, P&G, Unilever and Walmart.

Malina Ngai, CEO, AS Watson (Asia and Europe) said, “At AS Watson, we believe that promoting preventative health is crucial to improving wellbeing for all. We are committed to encouraging more companies to join this purposeful movement, prioritising the physical and mental health of our customers for a better quality of life.” 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2023 preventive healthcare, through prevention and treatment as well as promotion of mental health and wellbeing can reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one-third.

Sharon Bligh, Health and Sustainability Director, The Consumer Goods Forum said, “We aim for this playbook to serve as a guiding light for companies seeking to develop health initiatives using innovative digital technology, establish live pilots, and expand their impact across markets.” 

Download the Playbook

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About the Collaboration for Healthier Lives Coalition of Action

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF)’s CEO-led Coalition of Action on Collaboration for Healthier Lives (CHL) is about making it easier for people around the world to adopt healthier lives for themselves and their families.CHL initiatives running across 9 countries and involving over 160 organisations.As a collective, members of the CGF, and their partners, are exploring, experimenting, innovating, and evolving business models to support positive change, while sharing data and knowledge at scale, cross industry. Health is not a competitive advantage; it’s a basic necessity. And it’s clear no company can solve this issue alone.Collaboration is needed at scale and across sectors if the consumer goods industry is to play the necessary role in the health and wellbeing of people.For more information please visit our website

About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is the only CEO-led organisation that represents both manufacturers and retailers globally. It brings together senior leaders from more than 400 retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders across 70 countries.The CGF accelerates change through nine Coalitions of Action: forests, human rights, plastics, healthier lives, food waste, food safety, supply chains, product data and net zero.Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 4.6 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs.For more information, please visit our website.

For more information, please contact our team.

Eastman

Stanley Black & Decker is well-known and respected in the tool market, but the 100-year-old BLACK+DECKER brand needed to build awareness with younger, sustainably minded, do-it-yourself consumers.

At the same time, the company’s chief executive officer was driving every area of the business to improve its sustainability credibility. By chance, a company representative connected with Eastman at a conference and learned about Tritan™ Renew copolyester, a safe, tough, durable material made with 50% certified recycled content.*

Dan Fitzgerald, Stanley Black & Decker’s senior director of product sustainability, knew the biggest impact on the company’s carbon footprint was the materials that go into making finished products.

“Historically, recycled content was looked down upon as being lower quality or having inferior performance as well as being inconsistent from lot to lot,” Fitzgerald said. “A power tool is a high-performance machine but made to fit into your hand. They are designed to deliver significant output torque in the case of drills and efficient, quality results in the case of a sander. These tools crank out considerable amounts of work and draw enough current to act as an ignition source for fire, which is why the materials need to be flame rated for safe use.”

The company needed materials that were going to be durable in a power tool housing but also consistent in quality and color to perfectly match the brand colors.

Tritan Renew could meet all those needs along with the specifications of the power tool housing, which led to the idea of a new product line aimed at a younger generation of do-it-yourselfers.

That didn’t make the decision to move forward easy.

Creating a new conversation on sustainability

“This project was initially met with some scrutiny,” said Ed Higgins, the company’s product director for power tools. “Most of our end users are requesting products that are louder, faster, bigger and stronger. A lot of the conversation was about the need to have sustainably minded material that wouldn’t compromise durability and strength.”

A big help was an Eastman video showing a tumbler made with Tritan holding up after a full-size pickup truck ran over it. Another key factor was the consumer insights provided by the Eastman team to guide BLACK+DECKER’s product strategy.

Consumers have grown to expect sustainable products in industries like fashion, cosmetics, and food and beverage. And now those expectations have expanded to products like paint, furniture, automotive and power tools.

The bottom line?

“If you’re in a space where there is no sustainability leader, by being first, you take a risk, but there’s also a lot of reward,” said Justin Coates, Eastman’s global consumer insights & research team leader. “You get the first-mover advantage. You position yourself as a sustainability leader and can command price premiums.”

Coates also stressed that consumers across markets and regions consider materials to be the No. 1 definition of sustainability, though brands must stress their products won’t compromise performance and quality. Brands also need to make waste reduction tangible to consumers. With Tritan Renew, BLACK+DECKER recognized that all these objectives were possible.

The decision was made to do something truly revolutionary for the broader company and market.

BLACK+DECKER reviva™

In 2021, BLACK+DECKER, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, released a completely new power tool line, reviva™, rooted in the concept of designing for circularity and ushering in a new wave of product innovation. Reviva means “new life” in Latin. The tools are striking in black and white with green highlights, providing a fresh and vibrant new look and feel to differentiate the brand. Ten reviva products launched globally in 2022, including a 12-volt drill, jigsaw and sander. Additional products will be available in 2024 with the introduction of a reviva stick vacuum and a range of cordless drills.

“We’re very proud of the story we have to tell,” Higgins said. “With Tritan Renew, we’re able to make the product sustainability aspect very tangible for consumers. For each cordless drill, we’re recycling the equivalent of eight single-use plastic bottles that might otherwise end up in landfills or incinerated. The sander uses the equivalent of 11 bottles, and our jigsaw uses the equivalent of 18 bottles.”**

The global pandemic resulted in a digital retailer sell-in launch for the European market in September 2021, and products started hitting store shelves in New Zealand in April 2022. While sales are still building, the buzz was immediate.

“The reaction and engagement surrounding reviva was strong on social as well as with retail partners, ” Higgins said. “Introducing a sustainable product line has been a historic moment for the BLACK+DECKER brand.”

*Recycled content is certified using ISCC mass balance allocation. 
** Contain an amount of recycled material equivalent to the weight of 8, 11 and 18 0.5-L (10.3-g) single-use plastic bottles, respectively

Yesterday was World Health Day, and the theme this year is ‘My health, my right’. Over half the world’s population can’t access essential health services. The mission of Medtronic LABS is to change that. Watch as the team travels to Kenya to capture the everyday stories from people who utilize LABS’ technology to better track their health.

Today we published a short documentary, “A voice for health”, that follows Jane, a patient engagement lead for Medtronic LABS in Kenya, as she works with community partners to bring this mission to life.

You can watch the documentary here, and learn more about LABS’ work here.

On March 19, 2024, the “Strengthening Organic Enforcement” (SOE) final rule, published in the Federal Register a year ago, reached its “implementation” date. The rule introduced significant updates and changes to the organic regulations administered by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), including rules related to certification for a broader range of entities and activities than ever before. Businesses have been mobilizing over the last year to ensure SOE compliance across their operations and supply chains.

Below, SCS addresses some of the most frequently asked questions from organic food manufacturers, handlers, ingredient suppliers, importers and exporters regarding what happens if businesses missed the SOE deadline.

FOOD MANUFACTURERS AND BRAND OWNERS 

What should I do if my company is sourcing from suppliers that were not certified by March 19?

Notify your suppliers that your ability to continue purchasing organic products from them depends on the successful certification of their products. At the same time, develop a back-up plan in case your suppliers are unable to comply. For instance, it would be helpful to identify alternative, compliant suppliers that can meet your company’s needs.

What if I keep sourcing from uncertified suppliers after March 19?

Companies that continue to purchase from uncertified suppliers must recognize the consequences to their business, including potential business disruptions, and to the organic integrity of their supply chain. In accordance with NOP 205.100, all USDA Organic certification bodies, including SCS, will be required to issue a Notice of Noncompliance to operations that are sourcing from uncertified, non-exempt suppliers. We encourage any companies that have questions to get in touch with SCS as soon as possible.

Can I continue to source from uncertified suppliers while they work to become certified?

In some cases, yes; however, SCS considers several factors when determining whether to allow continued sourcing from uncertified operations that are in the process of becoming certified. First, SCS will need to verify:

That the operation has applied for certification;That the operation was previously exempt or excluded from certification; andWhether or not the product is otherwise commercially available from a certified supplier.

HANDLERS, BROKERS, TRADERS, AND DISTRIBUTORS

Will my operation be required to undergo certification to buy and sell organic products, even if we don’t open the packages or take possession of the products?

In most cases, yes. Handlers, brokers, traders, and distributors will be required to undergo certification, except for those that distribute only organic products packaged and sealed for final retail sale. Handlers, brokers, traders, and distributors of non-retail products — as well as any operation that imports or exports organic products — are now required to be certified as of March 19, 2024.

INGREDIENT SUPPLIERS, HANDLERS, BROKERS, TRADERS, AND DISTRIBUTORS

How long will it take for my operation to become certified if my operation has missed the March 19 deadline?

From start to finish, organic certification typically takes between two to four months. The sooner an operation can begin the process, the less disruption to business it will experience. To begin the organic certification process, contact SCS Director of Sales, Ned Halaby at nhalaby@scsglobalservices.com and inquire about expediting your certification.

What happens if my operation was not certified by March 19, 2024?

Continuing to buy, sell, and trade uncertified products as organic after March 19, 2024 would be in violation of NOP 205.100. Unless you qualify for an exemption, your customers will be at risk of non-compliance if they continue to purchase organic products from your uncertified operation. If your operation remains uncertified after March 19, 2024, your customers may choose to no longer purchase organic products from your company to ensure that their organic products remain in compliance. While some additional leniency may be afforded to operations that can demonstrate they are in the process of becoming certified, this will be decided by your customer and their certifier. SCS cannot guarantee that your customers will continue to purchase from you while you work towards achieving certification. Most significantly, disregarding the requirement to become certified while still marketing your product as organic will eventually lead to your operation being subject to a civil penalty.

Will my certification be denied if I continue to sell products as “organic” after March 19?

Although SCS will issue a Notice of Noncompliance in accordance with NOP 205.100 if your operation continues to sell products as “organic” after March 19, in most cases SCS may not escalate that specific Noncompliance to Denial of Certification if your operation is making a sustained effort to become certified, subject to further guidance from USDA AMS. Additionally, if your operation is not currently under sanction by another certifier, is not otherwise compromising organic integrity, and was eligible for an exemption or exclusion prior to March 19, SCS will not escalate to Denial of Certification. In these cases, your operation will need to resolve any issues that arise during the audit and complete your certification. If your operation is denied certification for any reason, SCS will notify NOP and inform your operation that you must immediately discontinue transacting products as “organic.”

ALL PARTIES INVOLVED WITH IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

Will imports and exports be disrupted after March 19, 2024, if neither the importer nor exporter are certified?

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will likely take issue with shipments not covered by a NOP Import Certificate, which requires both the importer and exporter of the product to be certified. Operations should be prepared for shipments to be rejected after March 19 if they are not accompanied by a NOP Import Certificate issued by the certifier of the exporting organization.

Still have questions or concerns about your operation’s certification needs? Please reach out to SCS Director of Sales, Ned Halaby: nhalaby@scsglobalservices.com. Also, be sure to check out our latest on all things SOE:

Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Summary: Top Seven Changes to Watch as 2024 Deadline Nears

SOE Organic Fraud Prevention – What Every Business Needs to Know

Strengthening Organic Enforcement | Frequently Asked Questions

Originally published by TriplePundit

Avocados are having their day in the sun. From breakfast to dinnertime, this creamy delicacy is enjoyed in tacos, guacamole, smoothies, desserts and more.

Not only are avocados tasty, but they’re also renowned for their health benefits, providing a good source of potassium, fiber and other nutrients.

In the U.S., we’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for avocados, eating over 2.7 billion pounds annually. The vast majority come from their country of origin, Mexico, where avocados have been enjoyed for thousands of years. In just 10 years, exports to the U.S. from Mexico have more than doubled.

This booming business has its roots in trees — technically, avocados are fruit — which means that the healthy avocado industry is intrinsically connected to and dependent on the health of the environment.. That’s why one of the many nurseries across Mexico has set out to grow avocados more sustainably, setting an industry example from day one.

Cultivating avocado trees sustainably 

Before that avocado was mashed into guacamole, it had to start somewhere. Our southern neighbor is the largest producer of avocados in the world. In turn, the western state of Michoacán grows the most avocados in the country, predominantly on small family-run orchards and farms.

Emblematic of the region, Amadeo Teytud comes from generations of avocado producers. Today, he runs an avocado nursery, Viveros La Sidra. Together with his family, they supply over 60,000 avocado trees per year to the surrounding regions.

Teytud left Michoacán to complete his studies in agricultural engineering, but he always planned to return home. “Production of good quality trees and trees with good genetics was lacking here,” he said. “So I started to investigate what all the nurseries here were like, how they implemented everything from seed… I set out to get a plant with good genetics and improve production here in Michoacán.”

For instance, Viveros La Sidra utilizes a hybrid avocado tree — taking the Criollo avocado variety as rootstock and grafting it with Hass or Mendez varieties. The resulting plant has a stronger trunk and roots, producing a fruit better suited to the weather.

Teytud and his team also strive to run the Viveros La Sidra nursery sustainably. “We try to apply as few chemicals as possible to combat pests and diseases in order to let the tree create defenses from the moment it’s planted in the field,” Teytud said.

They also use organic fertilizers in their nursery, such as compost and manure, to further limit chemical use, Teytud explained.

Another particular challenge is water. While water needs vary based on factors like temperature, humidity and local seasonal weather conditions, an adult avocado tree could require 10 to 30 gallons of water per day in hot climates.

Viveros La Sidra tackles this issue in a few ways. Thanks to Michoacán’s abundant rainfall, the nursery doesn’t need irrigation water for nearly half of the year. In fact, many orchards in the area rely solely on rainfall for their water needs, Teytud explained. For the rest of the year, they use water sparingly, only applying what each tree needs.

Finally, to avoid plastic pollution, they attempted to use coconut fiber bags for their seedlings. However, the natural product didn’t last the full cycle from planting to selling the tree. Instead, they reverted to using plastic bags and found a way to recycle them.

Overcoming challenges

Of course, as with any agricultural sector, there are some environmental issues surrounding this fruit. Expanding production could present risks for deforestation, for example. And although plants like avocado trees pull carbon from the air and store it, in a process known as carbon sequestration, there is some carbon footprint as a result of the avocado supply chain.

Reflecting on the avocado industry over the years, Teytud also said he’s seen the impact of new environmental regulations and the positive changes that occur when growers and nurseries invest in sustainability. “It is no longer like it was years ago — there were too many nurseries, too many plants,” he said.

Farmers in the region also have to make adjustments as they begin to feel the effects of climate change. “We’ve had more problems with it being too hot,” Teytud said. “In recent years, it has rained much less than in past years, so we try to take care of the water as much as possible to prevent it from being wasted and contaminated.”

He adds that growers like him aren’t alone in raising the bar: Some organizations have also stepped in to help.

For instance, the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico supports sustainable farming practices including conserving water, prohibiting cattle grazing and hunting, and using agrochemicals safely. The trade group also supports forest conservation, reforesting over 5,500 acres in Michoacán since 2011.

Another organization, the Mexican Hass Avocado Importer Association, is working to protect monarch butterflies. Joining forces with Forests for Monarchs, the group helped to plant 1.4 million trees in monarch overwintering habitats and the surrounding areas of Michoacán. The partners also educate local communities on conservation and sustainable farming.

A greener future 

Nicknamed green gold, avocados have come a long way. Once a rare, luxury item in the U.S., this $4 billion industry now supports over 436,000 jobs here and across the border. And with increased interest in healthy and plant-based diets, the global demand for this superfood is predicted to skyrocket.

Teytud said he and his team are continuing to improve sustainability for their nursery and the region. Ensuring this fruit is produced sustainably from day one ensures a healthier product and a healthier planet where more people can enjoy their avocado toasts now and in the future.

This article series is sponsored by the Avocado Institute of Mexico and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

As the global water crisis worsens, so do financial risks facing companies and their investors. Kirsten James, senior program director of water at the sustainability nonprofit Ceres, answers questions from Cliff Feigenbaum, GreenMoney founder about the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, which is a global, investor-led effort driving companies to prioritize water risk and act as responsible water stewards in their operations and supply chains.

Cliff: What work has Ceres done related to water?

Kirsten: Freshwater is essential for people, ecosystems, and business. Growing water scarcity and pollution is threatening these systems and slowing the pathway to a climate resilient future. Research shows we’ll be unable to meet even 56 percent of global water demand by 2030. No industry is immune from financial risks stemming from this crisis.

Seeing this writing on the wall, we’ve spent more than a decade establishing the business case for the private sector to act on water risk. We’ve worked closely with investors on integrating water risk into their investment decisions and developed resources to help them understand water risk in their portfolios. Our research and corporate benchmarking has shed light on industry practices threatening freshwater supplies and how companies are responding. This information has empowered investors with the guidance and the data they need to evaluate how companies are managing water risk.

Cliff: How did this work pave the way for the Valuing Water Finance Initiative?

Kirsten: Through this pioneering work we did on water risk, we saw the need for ambitious action to match the scope of the water crisis and the systemic risks affecting communities, nature, and economies. We developed the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, aimed at driving companies to make water risk and water management a priority in their business strategies. Because water is key to their success as a business.

This work is hitting home with investors and the initiative has taken off. Just two years after we launched it, nearly 100 investors representing more than $17 trillion in assets have joined. These investors are committing to engage with 72 large companies from four water-intensive industries—food, beverage, apparel, and high-tech—on their water management practices.

Read the full interview here – https://greenmoney.com/greenmoney-interviews-kirsten-james-on-the-ceres-valuing-water-finance-initiative

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About Keysight Technologies 
At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.