Month: May 2024

The Sustainable Fashion Forum 2024 took place April 17 to 19 in Austin, Texas, convening a number of sustainable fashion professionals.

Topics spanned everything from labor rights to regulatory changes. The event began with workshops on policy and circularity, including an immersive upcycling activity featuring Cascale members Everlane and Eastman, as well as two full days of programming. Networking opportunities were plentiful, hosted at venues throughout the city.

Cascale’s editorial director Kaley Roshitsh and Melissa Ortuño de León, senior manager, Higg Product Tools, both participated in the event and moderated conversations.

In one conversation, “Achieving Profitability as a Small Brand,” Jan Lo, co-founder and chief executive officer at Lo&Sons spoke of the trade-offs of owning a small business. He detailed the aims of his growing business which includes strategic decision-making across his value chain, be it recycled materials or flat-packing products.

The co-founder also treated the audience to samples of Lo&Sons’ “Catalina Deluxe” tote made of recycled polyester, with utility uniquely inspired by his former New York City DJ career.

Lo is also on the board of Yale University’s Center for Business and the Environment, offering support to entrepreneurs. His advice to early-career professionals is to be willing to pursue the “not-so-glamorous job title,” often found in supply chain or operations roles.

In another panel conversation titled “Who’s at the Table: Embracing Global Voices in Fashion’s Circular Future,” experts Charles Oyamo, co-founder and CEO, Rethread Africa; Yayra Agbofah, founder at The Revival and consultancy AfroDistrict; and Sandra Gonza, senior sustainability strategist, Quantis International; traced the arc of circularity.

The panelists discussed the urgency to fundamentally transform the existing fashion system and embrace circularity while calling for major funding inroads to support their work. A former clothing market trader in Ghana’s Kantamanto Market, Agbofah shared how his community-led initiative The Revival is turning consumer textile waste exported into West Africa – into art. Meanwhile, Oyamo spoke of the reality of scaling his agrowaste fiber. Throughout the conversation, Gonza offered her strategic perspective including how she is working with brands to develop transformational sustainability programs.

In another panel conversation, Sanchita Saxena, senior advisor of supply chain at Article One, and Sheela Ahluwalia, director of policy and advocacy at Transparentem, spoke of the audit-dodging practices that persist in the apparel and textile industry.

“Many suppliers are saying, ‘I don’t think it’s ever possible there’s a true partnerships… We have to think of beyond just doing the minimum,” said Saxena, calling for the reframing of “rightsholders over stakeholders.”

In a separate policy presentation, Michelle Gabriel, graduate program director of sustainable fashion at Glasgow Caledonian College New York City said being a consumer is a “disempowered identity,” arguing for a citizen-first approach. She championed regulatory changes adding, “Businesses today face a competitive disadvantage for engaging in sustainability.”

MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Sterilis Solutions, and Pure Strategies have collaborated to address the life science industry’s approach to single-use plastic waste. Developed by Sterilis, the Remediator is a device that transforms bio-hazardous waste into non-hazardous plastic shred, paving the way for potential lab recycling and reducing the adverse impacts of traditional disposal methods.

MilliporeSigma partnered with Pure Strategies, a third-party sustainability consulting firm, to complete a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and evaluate the environmental benefits and impacts of waste processed via the Remediator versus typical bio-hazardous waste treatment and disposal. The LCA revealed a 95% reduction in carbon emissions and 90% reduction in energy demand while using the Remediator compared to a traditional autoclave.

This strategic collaboration works towards finding circular solutions that reduce the overall volume of petro-virgin plastic and minimizing the environmental impact of plastic waste disposal.

Click here to view the full article on Pure Strategies’ website.

CLEVELAND, May 2, 2024 /3BL/ — Often the first to feel the effects of inflation and economic volatility, small business owners are optimistic about their businesses, even as economic challenges remain. KeyBank’s 2024 Small Business Survey found that 65% of small business owners feel confident they could fund their operating expenses for one month with their cash reserves, if an unexpected need arose.

Still, 37% of business owners anticipate that inflation will slightly increase their operating costs and 27% expect a significant increase in operating costs in the next 12 months. The top challenges small business owners anticipate this year are fluctuating sales/revenue (35%), delayed payments from clients/customers (29%) and high overhead costs (28%).

Despite these concerns, small business owners are well-adjusted and taking precautionary measures to protect their businesses—and the employees and communities they serve. They are already implementing cost-cutting measures (32%), increasing cash reserves (30%) and exploring alternative financing options (22%). As one of the top indicators of financial resilience in the US, their actions could be the first signal of an improving economic environment.

“Running a business is not an easy task, and when coupled with uncertain economic conditions, rampant inflation and high interest rates, small business owners are faced with ambiguity,” said Mike Walters, President of Business Banking at KeyBank. “Their resilience is a testament to years of weathering financial uncertainty, and with their confidence remaining strong they’re able to power through the last leg of inflation and keep themselves on track for economic growth.”

Leaders Leverage Bank Relationships for Education and Resources

Banks are at a pivotal moment to help their small business clients navigate cash flow and business operation concerns—and small business owners are turning to them for advice. The top three pieces of advice owners have received are: cut costs by reducing discretionary spending (34%), establish an emergency fund (22%) and diversify revenue streams by introducing new products or services (20%).

While more than half (52%) of small business owners are confident that their banks understand their cash flow concerns, almost 20% are unsure if their banks do so – pointing to an opportunity for banks and business owners to expand their relationships.

“In times of uncertainty, trusted advice from qualified professionals can be a lifeline for business owners, but many may not be aware of the advice and solutions their relationships with their bankers can provide,” said Walters. “Bank services extend beyond just traditional checking and savings accounts to cash flow and credit solutions. Maintaining a strong relationship with your bank can lead to uniquely tailored strategies.”

KeyBank, a top SBA lender1, has provided more than $4.5 billion in small business loans and lines of credit. Learn more about KeyBank’s opportunities and programs for your small business by visiting key.com/small-business. KeyBank offers a range of tools, including the KeyBank Small Business Check-In, KeyBank Small Business Financial Review and the Business Cash Flow Calculator.

Fraud Becomes a Watchpoint

As business operations have become mainly digital, fraud has become a pain point among small business owners who are most concerned about payment fraud, such as unauthorized transactions or unauthorized electronic fund transfers (44%), followed by identify theft (37%), malware and ransomware attacks (28%) and phishing and email scams (27%). Fraud prevention has become a focus for small business owners who continue to be vigilant of evolving fraud tactics and implement preventative measures to stop potential future attacks. Learn more about advice KeyBank provides to business owners about business security and risk management.

Navigating the U.S. Presidential Election 

An election season creates a period of unease amongst Americans, and for business owners, political noise is magnified as potential policy changes could affect their business directly. While preparing for uncertainties, the top policy changes most owners are paying attention to are taxation (38%), employment and labor laws (25%) and healthcare policies (25%). Small businesses are the key to the country’s economic health, and while they currently feel confident, owners are keeping a close eye on potential policy changes.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by Survey Monkey. 1,983 respondents, ages 18-99, located in the United States, who own or operate a small-to-medium size business with an annual gross revenue of less than $10 million, completed the survey in March 2024.

ABOUT KEYBANK

KeyBank’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at March 31, 2024.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

CFMA #240415-2550581

This material is presented for informational purposes only and should not be construed as individual tax or financial advice. KeyBank does not provide legal advice. Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2024 KeyCorp

1Source: Statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in October 2023 for total approved loans through the SBA’s 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending October 2023.

BOSTON, May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – Sappi North America Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, today announces a notable win from the Hermes Creative Awards for its Power of Trees campaign, receiving a Gold Award in the Video TV Ad category.

Trees benefit us in every part of the day, from a morning box of cereal to the shoes we wear, to our bed sheets. In “The Power of Trees,” we demonstrate woodfiber’s potential as a material of the future because of its renewable, regenerative and recyclable capabilities. It also highlights Sappi’s responsible forestry management. Our practices not only ensure the health of the forest and enhance the biodiversity of its habitat, but they also contribute to the circular economy by introducing sustainable and recyclable woodfiber into the production stream.

“This campaign speaks directly to our core mission of harnessing the power of trees to make life more sustainable and brings awareness to the many sustainable and renewable products that can replace those made with fossil fuel-based materials,” said Patti Groh, Director of Communications. “In addition to creating awareness around the power of trees, this campaign serves to bolster employee’s pride and showcase to the next generation of employee just how innovative, sustainable, and forward-thinking the paper and packaging industry is.”

The Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

To learn more about Sappi’s award-winning initiatives, please visit: https://www.sappi.com/.

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About Sappi North America, Inc.

Sappi North America, Inc., headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. Our four diversified businesses – high-quality Graphic Papers, Dissolving Pulp, Packaging, and Specialty Papers deliver premium products and services with consistent quality and reliability. Our high-quality Coated Printing Papers are used for premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Dissolving Pulp, which is used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods. We deliver sustainable Packaging and Specialty Papers for luxury packaging and folding carton applications with our single-ply packaging brands and for the food and label industries with our specialty papers. We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of Casting and Release Papers with lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries.

Contact

Rajira Hernandez 
Account Manager 
Matter Communications 
(978) 499-9250 
sappi@matternow.com

As the Un-carrier celebrates hitting its cumulative goal of hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses over the past five years, leaders at partner organizations Hiring Our Heroes and Blue Star Families share why it’s critical for companies to double down on creating inclusive work environments and career opportunities, and what they see as most important for the success of military families.

In 2018, T-Mobile unveiled an expansive, companywide initiative to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses over a five-year time period. By the end of 2023, the goal was achieved. “This hiring goal was five years in the making and throughout that journey we’re proud to have supported thousands of veterans and their families in creating meaningful and flexible career opportunities, while also helping them build new skills and grow their professional resumes,” said Holli Martinez, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at T-Mobile. “We’re honored to welcome veterans and military spouses into Team Magenta, and we’re also just as proud to have supported others who have taken their T-Mobile experience into other arenas to further advance their careers. We’ll always consider them part of our T-Mobile family and we won’t stop looking for best military talent.”

Working with organizations like Hiring Our Heroes and Blue Star Families was critical in helping T-Mobile reach its hiring commitment and is a cornerstone for how the company will continue prioritizing and evolving programs and support for military families now and in the years to come.

Here we speak with Eric Eversole, President of Hiring Our Heroes, an arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that connects veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses with employers, and Penny Bolden, Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Blue Star Families, a nonprofit that helps connect and support military families at the community level. The two share what they believe to be most important today for veterans and military spouses, and why partnerships with companies like T-Mobile are bringing about the kind of meaningful change that impacts lives.

What are some of the things you look for when partnering with a company? 

Eric Eversole, Hiring Our Heroes: We love partnerships like the one we have with T-Mobile because they’re hiring a lot of veterans and military spouses. They’ve shown up and they’re not only just waving the flag. We try to understand if they are trying to find talent or better reach out to the military community because it’s a community that they care about and want to help create opportunities.

Meet Alex Asuncion

Penny Bolden, Blue Star Families: Through an annual military family lifestyle survey we identify the current challenges this group is facing. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that we saw military spouse unemployment and underemployment rise to the top. Organizations like T-Mobile started including military spouses in their military recruitment retention programs, which when I became a military spouse back in 1998 wasn’t a thing! I was still hiding the fact that I was a military spouse on my resume. T-Mobile took time to understand that data.

What do you see as being most impactful for veterans and military spouses in 2024 in terms of their employment?

Eric: I am proud of the progress we’ve made over the last 12-plus years at Hiring Our Heroes with great companies like T-Mobile, but I’m even more excited about the future. We are facing one of the most significant evolutions of our workforce in our nation’s history. As the workforce changes and the types of work change, companies need to evolve to stay successful — and they are looking at military talent, military spouses and veterans, as an example of what “great” looks like. It’s the adaptability, it’s the resiliency, it’s the problem-solving capabilities, it’s the trainability of these populations that companies are wanting to hire because they know that they can train someone relatively quick on certain skill sets. The big challenge in front of us is skills-based hiring, and veterans and military spouses are leading the way.

Penny: What we are trying to do is shout from the rooftops to our military spouse community that there are some organizations who have taken the time to really understand the specific and unique challenges that the military spouse community faces. From a military spouse hiring perspective, we highlight companies like T-Mobile that can provide stability and a sense of belonging for a demographic that has unique challenges. They move every two to three years and have trouble retaining their employment and trouble progressing in their career because they’re always changing jobs. Also, because of their constant moving, they often don’t have local experience or have gaps in their resumes. A lot of companies are not aware of what’s needed and haven’t done the research to understand and adjust. For us to be able to hold up T-Mobile as one of our original signatories on understanding this, it’s a way to show others how they can do their part too.

Meet Logan McIntosh

Do you have any stories or memorable moments from partnering with T-Mobile you can share? 

Eric: T-Mobile hosted an event with us with the Washington Nationals baseball team last fall. It was the first event that I know of where a Major League Baseball team focused solely on military spouses as an audience that needs employment opportunities. We brought in some great leaders that day to talk about the opportunities and the challenges that military spouses face. From there, we really worked aggressively to help those military spouses find jobs. T-Mobile supported that event and put a spotlight on the military spouse community. It was incredibly impactful that they were there to hire people. Story after story about veterans and military spouses being hired by T-Mobile have been really powerful.

Penny: I had the chance to meet a lot of people from T-Mobile when we did a home makeover event. [T-Mobile sponsored an episode of Moving with the Military, which aired throughout November 2023 on various streaming services, and was featured in USA Today and Humankind.] Forty volunteers turned up for three straight days! T-Mobile’s culture is undeniable. When a company presents itself authentically and takes the time to do this in the hiring practices, then it shows it’s also part of its culture. We’re working with the T-Mobile Military & Diversity Recruiting team on talent acquisition right now, and we have three moments coming up this year to show gratitude. It’s about really giving back and making people feel see that this brand really does care.

Meet Laura Linderman Barker

Though some of the unemployment numbers out there can be disheartening, especially for military spouses who hold the top unemployment percentage of any other demographic, what does it mean to hear that companies like T-Mobile have committed to hiring veterans and military spouses?

Eric: How do we create a culture of inclusion in our companies that makes everybody feel welcome and part of a team? T-Mobile does it incredibly well because they have great training and career opportunities, so people are able to have more than a job. They can build a lasting career, and also feel committed to the company’s mission. They’re committed to its leaders and their teammates. That’s all incredibly important for our military community. They want to feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. Companies like T-Mobile are really creating that culture and making people feel welcome.

Penny: I think the intention in the past has been perceived as checking a box to say, “We support our troops, we hire veterans.” But now when companies like T-Mobile step up and say, “We know what’s really needed and we’re going to provide it,” it’s received much differently from our community.

Meet Jamie Weare

T-Mobile is nationally recognized as a military friendly employer, received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Military Spouse Employer and Mentorship Award and is an original signatory of the 4+1 commitment, a nationwide effort to tackle the unemployment rate among military spouses.

As we recognize Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Island (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we celebrate the richness and dynamism of the Asian and Pacific Island community. With backgrounds hailing from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the diasporic communities of these regions, this large and diverse global population represents 50 ethnic groups and speaks more than 100 languages. 

This year’s AANHPI Heritage Month theme recognizes members of this community who have shaped our history and continue to influence our collective future. AANHPI leaders use their ingenuity and creativity to make lasting contributions to global economic prosperity, technological advancements, and social and political change—while also often navigating cultural and systemic hurdles.

Here, a few of our associates share the importance of advancing leaders through innovation:

Mavis Fernandes, Senior Offer Manage, Individual Investor Advice Solutions and MOSAIC @ T. Rowe Price’s Asian Heritage Community Chair

At T. Rowe Price, Asian Americans strive to be more than technical experts in their fields. Across the firm, we demonstrate innovation in small and large increments, leading efforts to grow, scale, and serve our clients. As chair of the MOSAIC’s associate-led Asian Heritage Community, we have used novel approaches to reach our associates, including online learning platforms, chat groups, and virtual mentoring circles, continuing to create a sense of inclusion and belonging. Advancing leaders will require that we continue to spend time listening to the needs of associates and clients and find ways to identify and elevate great ideas across all levels of the organization.

Lee Sun, Analyst, Vice President, Fixed Income

From boardrooms to beyond, innovation helps us advance, shaping a future where every voice matters. Unlocking the power of innovation relies on embracing diverse perspectives, promoting forward-thinking strategies, and harnessing cultural and technological insights. As innovators and pioneers, AANHPI ancestors have made outsized contribution for what’s possible today. Looking ahead, AANHPI leaders can leverage their unique heritage to inspire change, disrupt norms, and pave the way for a more inclusive and dynamic future in leadership. Join the movement and dare to innovate, because together, we are limitless.

Stephy Wong, Senior Project Manager, Global Distribution

As an individual of Asian descent, the theme of Advancing Leaders Through Innovation embodies the journey of the countless leaders who have carved out their place in history by harnessing their creativity and ingenuity. For us, innovation isn’t just a means to an end; it is a vehicle for overcoming barriers, driving positive change, and leaving a lasting impact on society. This year’s theme celebrates our ability to navigate complex landscapes while reshaping narratives, and it inspires me to continue pushing boundaries and fostering progress in my own endeavors.

Harold Wu, Head of Procurement

Intentionality is key to enjoying the career journey and finding purpose. In the realm of procurement, embracing intentionality has the power to transform our business and the communities we serve.

Our goal is not merely to provide a service, but to create opportunities and ensure fairness and equity in the process. This transformative potential should inspire us all. Supply chain inclusion is an intentional effort driven by leadership to include one or more historically underrepresented businesses in our procurement process, and to support their growth as suppliers. These programs can build strong business relationships and create meaningful change that impacts the newest entrepreneurs to the most seasoned small business owners. They can uncover new approaches, diverse ideas, and innovations for the future. By institutionalizing a procurement-driven initiative with meaningful intention, we can break down obstacles and provide opportunities for all.

As we recognize AANHPI Heritage Month and other celebrations of diversity, we invite you to learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how our differences bring us together and multiply our impact at troweprice.com/diversity.

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