Month: May 2024

Originally published in Northwestern Mutual 2023 Sustainability and Social Impact Report

Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been committed to doing what’s right—working to deliver positive, transformative results for generations to come. The value we place on both today and tomorrow requires a commitment to environmental sustainability; we work to be good stewards for our policyowners and clients, our people and our communities. 

We manage our day-to-day facility operations to reduce our climate impact through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management and a continued focus on our carbon footprint. We also recognize the importance of the relationship between spaces and the people who will use them, from our corporate employees and financial advisors and representatives to members of the public enjoying our campus. Our environmental sustainability commitment carries through to our investment strategy and to the investment products we offer consumers.

ESTABLISHING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE FOOTPRINT

Building design, construction and operation at Northwestern Mutual considers the environment as well as people’s health and well-being. We’ve built to sustainability standards such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), focused on environmental impact and sustainability, and the WELL Building Standard, focused on people’s health and wellness. We have 3.27 million square feet of corporate office space across three campuses—and more than 40% of that office space is LEED Gold certified (our Milwaukee Tower, Commons and Van Buren buildings). This matters because LEED buildings use, on average, 25% less energy than conventional buildings1. As part of our commitment to environmental protection, we continue to find new ways to increase facility energy efficiency, reduce water use and waste, and expand focus on our carbon footprint.

Energy efficiency and focus on carbon footprint 

As part of our efforts to better understand and measure Northwestern Mutual’s impact on the environment, we’re expanding the metrics we use to measure our exposure to climate risk. This includes accounting for our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions consistent with Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidelines. 

In 2024, we’re rolling out enhanced Energy Manager software to gather data from our Milwaukee and Franklin campus building systems, diagnose underperforming equipment, forecast energy use, and prioritize action. We’re adding HVAC submeters to improve energy tracking in our Van Buren office building. Daylight sensor harvesting will help reduce overhead light use and yield substantial savings. We’ve also invested in refrigerant recovery and reduction, and in using more eco-friendly options.

Water and waste management 

Our focus on environmental stewardship inspires us to conserve water and decrease and divert waste from our corporate operations. 

In programs that date back nearly 100 years, the cafeterias at our Milwaukee and Franklin campuses minimize food waste by planning and buying ingredients accurately, using “just in time” food production and composting organic materials. Partnering with local food and composting providers, this year we diverted thousands of pounds of food waste from landfills. 

We engage employees in continually decreasing waste, coordinating recycling of paper, plastic, cardboard, metal, batteries, shoes, glasses, ink pens and more— with a specialized technology recycling program to address computers, monitors, printers and other equipment. In 2023, we also removed bottled water from our cafeterias and break areas, promoting water stations for reusable cups and drink containers. 

Our rooftop gardens on the Milwaukee campus—planted with 34,000 square feet of plants and foliage—divert more than 500,000 gallons of stormwater runoff a year.

Enhanced employee experience 

We know the physical environment affects people’s well-being and the work they’re capable of doing. Northwestern Mutual considers employee feedback and empathetic design to create a welcoming environment that supports health, comfort and connection as well as productivity. In addition to our renowned free lunch for employees, we offer: 

Increased focus on air quality, with regular third-party testing Natural lighting and green spaces to encourage well-being Museum-quality art experiences to foster vibrant, innovative and diverse physical and cultural environments Free exhibitions of relevant contemporary artwork by notable artists in our public indoor and outdoor spaces Electric vehicle charging stations at our Milwaukee and Franklin campuses now available at no cost to employees Technology that lets employees submit facility service requests using their mobile devices, helping identify opportunities to save energy and reduce potential water waste

ASSESSING CLIMATE-RELATED RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Our cross-functional Climate Risk Stakeholder Group, accountable to the Enterprise Risk Executive Committee, is an extension of Northwestern Mutual’s time-tested governance practices. These subject matter experts: 

Conduct physical and transition climate risk and opportunity identification and analysis as part of the company’s enterprise risk prioritization and assessment processes. Determine integration points for climate-related risks and opportunities into operations, strategic planning, and reporting. Identify emerging climate risk practices, guidance and standards through close monitoring of and engagement with regulators, policymakers and other key stakeholders. 

For more information about how Northwestern Mutual assesses and manages climate-related risk, see our annual Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) filing administered by the California Department of Insurance on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

POWERING CHANGE THROUGH SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS

 Northwestern Mutual aims to use its best efforts to invest at least 5% of general account assets in socially and environmentally responsible investments without compromising return objectives. It’s good for business—and the right thing to do. We’ve consistently exceeded our target; such investments today total more than $24.8 billion. For retail investment clients interested in this focus, we offer a variety of responsible investment options.

General account investments 

As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual exists for the benefit of our policyowners. We seek to maximize long-term value through superior returns while maintaining exceptional financial strength, taking a balanced portfolio approach focused on diversification. We also believe proactively integrating social and environmental factors will enhance our investment process and outcomes. In particular, we focus on:

Environmentally responsible investments that support or are sensitive to the environment, including public and private corporate and sovereign green, social, sustainable, and sustainability linked-bonds and loans linked to renewable and alternative energy projects, projects qualifying for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, real estate investments that meet nationally recognized sustainable building and occupant wellness standards, and projects that invest in cleaning up state and federal environmentally contaminated sites. We’re also exploring approaches to the low carbon transition through thoughtful allocation of capital and a variety of initiatives. 
 Socioeconomically responsible investments that promote goals such as affordable housing, healthcare access, economic development through education and social infrastructure projects in underdeveloped areas, and success for businesses with owners from underrepresented groups. 
 

Impact Investment Fund investments that generate social benefits, such as deploying capital to underserved communities and businesses, looking to enhance capital access, physical or social infrastructure, or underserved neighborhoods. 

Examples of these investments include the following:

Environmental transformation. Northwestern Mutual’s real estate investment team is partnering to redevelop more than 30 acres near the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, a site that had housed a petroleum bulk facility and transfer station since 1960. The site had included piping infrastructure and 15 above-ground steel tanks, 2,000 to 3.36 million gallons each, containing gasoline, diesel, ethanol and other fuel additives. Northwestern Mutual’s investment requires this equipment to be decommissioned and the property decontaminated, consistent with the partners’ Soil and Groundwater Management Plan. We will then develop four LEED-certified warehouse buildings on the site while creating hundreds of jobs in this densely populated area. 
 Affordable housing. Our local Impact Fund is invested in the Milwaukee Community Land Trust’s “Homes MKE” initiative, which seeks to preserve access to affordable homeownership. Since 2010, Milwaukee has lost 15-20% homeownership in underserved neighborhoods, largely due to out-of-town acquisitions of city property. Families in these neighborhoods face headwinds to homeownership including low income, education about the homebuying process, and affordability. The Milwaukee County Land Trust, with the help of Northwestern Mutual, addresses all three headwinds. Low-income residents can purchase homes at or below market prices, based on neighborhood property value, cost to redevelop, and family income. In return, homebuyers agree to sell their home to other qualified individual homebuyers in the future, making affordable homeownership opportunities available to future generations. 
 Responsible investments for our clients We offer a suite of responsible investment options for retail investment clients looking to match their values with value. These offerings include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and individual securities that, like all other offerings, are rooted in Northwestern Mutual’s proprietary capital market assumptions and disciplined approach to investing, with the common objective of maximizing risk-adjusted return. Learn more about these investment options at northwesternmutual.com/esg-investing.

Learn more about Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact in the 2023 Sustainability and Social Impact Report.
 

1U.S. Green Building Council, “Top 10 reasons to certify to LEED”

May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – The USAID Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) are proud to announce the winners of their annual PSAid contest, a public service announcement design competition for college students. Each year, participants are invited to create PSAs explaining why “Cash is Best” when donating to international disaster relief efforts. 

When disaster strikes internationally, Americans want to help. While well intentioned, most people are unaware that donating material goods can hinder relief efforts by creating logistical challenges and overwhelming local infrastructure. Monetary donations to trusted organizations working on the ground helps support international disaster relief efforts and makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by these devastating events. 

The 2024 winning PSAs were selected from submissions received from universities and community colleges across the country in three categories: video, static image and GIFs. 

Congratulations to the 2024 PSAid contest winners: 

GIF:

1st: Cash is Best, Izie Figueroa, Arizona State University2nd: Cash is Fast, Emyli Hinojosa Rafael, Arizona State University3rd: Why is Cash Best?, Hyelim (Amy) Song, Arizona State University

Static Image:

1st: Send Cash!, EL Mikkelsen, Arizona State University2nd: Unblocking Relief Efforts, Emma Klarin, Arizona State University3rd: Change is Magic, Sydnee Reed, Arizona State University

Video:

1st: Global Chat, Natalie Clark, Arizona State University2nd: No Matter the Disaster, Alula Valdivia, Arizona State University3rd: Quick and in Quantity, Gabe Pante, Arizona State University

“Throughout this experience, I learned how valuable cash is during international disasters,” said Sydnee Reed of Arizona State University, third-place winner in the static image category. “I hope people see this and understand that needs are different in every situation, and the best way to make a change is to donate something that is universally valued.” 

A panel of experts from the fields of humanitarian assistance, communications and design served as volunteer judges: Oktay Dogramaci, former vice president of PayPal Giving, CTO and co-founder of MissionFish; Hillary Hoffower, editor and writer; Jeff Odom, director of digital marketing for IndyCar; Gretel Truong, producer; and Marcia Wong, deputy assistant to the administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. 

USAID also invited the public to vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice contest. 

People’s Choice winners:

GIF: Finding Your Zen With Cash, Alliyah Zaragoza, Arizona State UniversityStatic Image: The Pocket Sized Solution, Avery Cluff, Arizona State UniversityVideo: One Solution, Cash is Best, Jasmine Lawson, Arizona State University

The winning PSAs will be used in CIDI’s “Cash is Best” outreach efforts. Previous winning PSAs have reached over 1 billion people and have been in more than 150 media markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. Winning broadcast PSAs have appeared on streaming services, such as Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. Winning static PSAs and GIFs have been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, The Boston Herald, and the Arizona Republic, to name a few publications. 

All winning entries can be viewed at PSAid.org. 

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About USAID CIDI 
USAID CIDI was created in 1988 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance to inform the public about the advantages of giving monetary donations to relief organizations and warn about the risks of donating unsolicited material goods. Through its “Cash is Best” messaging, CIDI’s goal is to support donors and relief agencies as they work to provide quick, effective, and efficient relief to people affected by disasters. CIDI provides donations guidance to individuals, groups, embassies, businesses, and corporations. For more information about “Cash is Best” and helping international disaster survivors, please visit USAID CIDI at www.cidi.org. 

Media Contact: 
Ariel Selzer White 
(713) 492-5627

Learn More

Georgia-Pacific’s stewardship framework includes contributing to the success of communities where we operate, and ensuring we use natural resources thoughtfully. We responsibly source our timber and proactively monitor where our fiber comes from through our endangered forest mapping program. The company also supports wildlife conservation, uses renewable energy sources, and aims to reduce our waste responsibly.

At the same time, Georgia-Pacific continuously challenges and transforms how we practice responsible stewardship. We use biomass at our wood products facilities to generate thermal energy for production processes.

Biomass, considered carbon neutral by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a renewable organic material that comes from plants such as trees. It contains stored chemical energy from the sun produced by plants through photosynthesis, and can be used for heat, converted to liquid and fuels, and energy sources. Sources of energy include wood and wood processing waste, which is a primary raw material we use.

Using the entire tree – from bark to wood waste and other organic materials – biomass accounts for over 50% of our energy needs. For example, twenty-one of Georgia-Pacific’s Building Products facilities use biomass to make steam or heat to produce various products, such as plywood. Overall, GP has decreased our reliance on solid fossil fuels by 72% since 2013 and replaced this energy demand with either natural gas or biomass. Shifting energy choices to biomass and natural gas has resulted in a decrease in our greenhouse emissions.

In 2019, Georgia-Pacific’s Naheola mill in Pennington, Alabama, completed a coal boiler upgrade to biomass. This facility, which produces consumer products such as bath tissue and paper towels, replaced the legacy boilers as part of a strategy to produce energy more efficiently. The initiative, which also reduced water consumption, emissions, and particulate matter, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the need for landfill disposals, was chosen by the ENERGY STAR® Industrial Partners as a Top Project.

Georgia-Pacific depends on healthy working forests for its products. As a manufacturer that practices responsible sourcing, biomass is one of the technologies we use to consume fewer resources and lessen emissions, while creating more value for our partners, consumers, and communities.

Learn more about Georgia-Pacific’s approach to environmental stewardship by viewing the 2023 Stewardship Report.

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