Month: May 2024

DALLAS, May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCBI), the parent company of Texas Capital, announced the recipients of the Texas Capital Foundation’s second annual Honors Awards. The awards provide grants totaling $250,000 to support four nonprofit organizations addressing community needs across Texas.

The Honors Awards are a signature program of the Texas Capital Foundation, which Texas Capital launched in 2022 to fortify and elevate its commitment to Texas communities. The awards include three grants of $50,000 each that correspond to Texas Capital’s three community impact pillars of “Live,” “Learn” and “Lift.” A fourth $100,000 grant, the STAR (Supporting our Troops, Active and Remembered) Award, is presented to an organization that provides services to military members, families and veterans.

“The Texas Capital Foundation was established to expand and elevate Texas Capital’s philanthropic giving in the communities we serve across the state,” said Texas Capital President & CEO Rob C. Holmes. “We are proud to honor these four nonprofits as recipients of this year’s Honors Awards for their dedication to improving the lives of Texans and expanding the reach of services that are vital to building a brighter future for the state where we are fortunate to live and conduct business.”

The Texas Capital Foundation’s approach to grantmaking focuses on nonprofit organizations that operate in areas within the firm’s footprint. Through the Honors Awards, the Texas Capital Foundation aims to fund small to mid-sized organizations that serve the greatest needs of communities. Recipients are selected through a competitive grant application process.

The second annual Honors Awards winners are:

Skillpoint Alliance, an Austin-based nonprofit workforce development organization that provides in-demand workforce training to vulnerable members of the Central Texas and Permian Basin communities.SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit with a mission to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. As Tarrant County’s only state-designated family violence program, SafeHaven has enabled thousands of women and children to rebuild safe, independent lives for more than 40 years.Lucille’s 1913 Kitchen, a Houston-based nonprofit that is building a vertically integrated ecosystem to combat food insecurity and waste, create training and employment opportunities in traditionally under-resourced neighborhoods and empower communities to discover a self-sustainable livelihood through culinary and cultural arts.NextOp, a Dallas-based nonprofit with the mission to recruit, develop and place high-performing enlisted military personnel into industry careers. NextOp’s goal is to bridge the gap between the military and industries in need of diverse and skilled talent.

“We are very honored to receive the STAR Award and will use the funds to enable our planned North Texas expansion,” said Shelby Mounts, executive director at NextOps. “There are many veterans in the Greater DFW area and many more who want to come here for the region’s opportunities. Our career transition services aim to help connect these veterans to great careers. We look forward to building our relationship with Texas Capital and the DFW community for many years to come.”

“The recipients of this year’s Honors Awards were selected for their inspiring and innovative solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing our communities,” said Effie Dennison, president of the Texas Capital Foundation and head of Community Development & Corporate Responsibility at Texas Capital. “We are honored to recognize and support the work of these organizations to advance our shared mission of empowering communities across Texas.”

For more information about the Honors Awards, visit the Texas Capital Foundation website.

About Texas Capital

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ®: TCBI), a member of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P MidCap 400®, is the parent company of Texas Capital Bank d/b/a Texas Capital, is a full-service financial services firm that delivers customized solutions to businesses, entrepreneurs, and individual customers. Founded in 1998, the institution is headquartered in Dallas with offices in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth and has built a network of clients across the country. With the ability to service clients through their entire lifecycles, Texas Capital has established commercial banking, consumer banking, investment banking and wealth management capabilities. All services are subject to applicable laws, regulations, and service terms. Member FDIC. For more information, please visit www.texascapital.com. 

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CBRE

By Jen Siebrits Toby Radcliffe

The UK transition to net zero relies on increasing the use of renewably generated electricity. But with electricity demand predicted to double the in UK by 2050, renewable energy generation and power infrastructure will have to scale up rapidly. And so, there is a clear investment opportunity. However, traditional renewables investments can be challenging, with some connection dates as far away as 2035.

This is where real estate can play an important role. Specifically, capitalising on roof space for solar energy generation. While commercial rooftop solar will always require a grid connection, the timelines tend to be significantly shorter than utility scale generation sites (albeit there are still limitations for large systems on warehouse roofs).

So that’s the what and why, but what about the where? We know the need will increase in all cities, but demand will rise in some more than others. For a better understanding, we analysed ESO (Electricity System Operator) data to discover the minimum and maximum increase in electricity demand at city level.

The highest forecast, which shows changes on a trajectory to achieve net zero by 2050, suggests an average 24% increase in electricity demand across our cities in the next six years alone. Edinburgh and Glasgow had the highest increases of over 30%, which partly reflects its colder temperatures, but all cities show a significant increase. However, these estimates rely on improved energy efficiency, use of electricity for heating and an overall reduction in consumer demand. If this doesn’t happen, the pattern of demand will be different. For example, under a scenario where the UK fails to achieve net zero by 2050, the demand for electricity will be lower. However, even so, there is still an estimated 8% increase in electricity demand across our cities by 2030.

Regardless, in any case, in just six years electricity demand will have risen significantly. Because growth in grid capacity moves slower than this, these forecasts suggest that investing in rooftop solar in UK cities is a good strategy for utilising unused space and securing low carbon electricity as demand surges. However, solar installation is not always straight forward so site and location assessments are recommended to find the best opportunities.

Notes: The minimum and a maximum increase in electricity use reflect the different ways in which the UK power grid decarbonises. The higher range – the consumer transformation scenario – assumes the UK is on path to achieving net zero net zero by 2050 by electrifying heating, achieving high energy efficiency and reducing consumer demand. The lower estimate reflects a ‘falling short’ scenario, whereby the UK does not achieve net zero by 2050 and only takes limited steps to decarbonise power generation.

 

by Molly Frey, Frey Vineyards

Frey Vineyards started as a commitment to organic agriculture and winemaking when there was none. In 1980, young sweethearts Katrina and Jonathan Frey made their first barrel of wine. They both had become organic farmers under Alan Chadwick’s tutelage. Although they had respectively grown up in gardening families, after they studied under the charismatic Shakespearean teacher, together they embarked on their enterprise: founding America’s first organic winery. With the support of Jonathan’s brother Matthew, they built the first winery, became certified organic, and started fermenting Frey wine. There weren’t any other organic wineries at the time, and organics hadn’t caught the favor that it currently enjoys.

Surrounded by a hilly nature reserve in Northern California’s Mendocino County, the Frey Ranch started much earlier when doctors Paul and Beba Frey settled and raised their twelve children. Each of the Frey siblings took an interest in farming after their mother, Beba, passed on her desire from her youth spent in upstate New York growing food each summer. Since they were living on the Frey Ranch, there was a personal interest in supporting organics for the health of their community and their children (and now their grandchildren). Four generations of Freys now live in the areas surrounding the old winery site and vineyards.

Over the years, several of the Freys joined the Frey Vineyards team. Paul (Junior) has become internationally renowned as a no-sulfites-added winemaker. Luke Frey has been awarded similarly for his advancement in biodynamic agriculture. Tamara Frey has a successful career creating delicious meals with local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Together, they made a winery that focused on more than just grapes. Nathaniel Frey’s incredible photography skill lent itself well to winery promotion. Other siblings with business acumen joined the board, and others still used their engineering skills to build the winery infrastructure further.

Read Molly’s very interesting article on how Frey Vineyards changed and continues to influence the marketplace – https://greenmoney.com/pioneers-in-organic-winemaking

RAHWAY, N.J., May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that Merck for Mothers, the company’s global maternal health initiative, has reached more than 30 million women through programs promoting safe, high-quality, respectful care, surpassing its goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. 

Merck for Mothers supports the company’s work in expanding access to health and accelerating progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. More specifically, the initiative is focused on creating a world where no woman has to die while giving life by helping to address the first target under SDG 3, reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. 

“I am so proud of our company’s long-standing commitment to our Merck for Mothers initiative, which is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes around the world,” said Allison Goldberg, president, Merck Foundation. “Through Merck for Mothers, we have now helped more than 30 million women access high-quality, life-saving care around pregnancy and childbirth – surpassing our goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. This milestone serves as a reminder that much work is left to be done, and we remain committed to helping create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.” 

Through wide-ranging approaches, Merck for Mothers harnesses the power of public-private collaboration to strengthen health systems and mobilize solutions to address the diverse and unique needs of moms, babies and families worldwide. The initiative’s milestone of 30 million women reached reflects the combined total impact of the programs and partnerships it supports in more than 70 countries, including:

India, where Merck for Mothers collaborated with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and a consortium of stakeholders across the country to launch Manyata, a quality improvement and certification initiative specifically designed for private maternity providers. This initiative has supported quality improvements in 25 states and Union Territories across India and trained more than 23,000 providers in 2,800 maternity hospitals, delivering quality care to more than 1 million women.Brazil, where Merck for Mothers worked with the Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein, a leading hospital network, and the Ministry of Health, to implement a new curriculum to train health providers on maternity care protocols. This effort trained 250 health providers and resulted in a 54% decline in the maternal mortality rate in two years in the Pernambuco State.Kenya, where, in response to a high unmet need for post-pregnancy family planning (PPFP), Merck for Mothers partnered with Jhpiego, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, to fund a research study – PPFP Choices – facilitating greater access to evidence-based PPFP services throughout Kenya. PPFP Choices led to a 24% increase in PPFP uptake at participating sites.Nigeria – the country with the most maternal deaths worldwide – where with Pathfinder Nigeria, PharmAccess Foundation and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Merck for Mothers created the Saving Mothers, Giving Life project (SMGL 2.0). This project improved the quality of maternal health care in 25 private health facilities and led to a decrease in maternal and perinatal deaths by 60% and 16%, respectively.United States – the only high-income country in which maternal mortality is on the rise – where Merck for Mothers supports a variety of programs to address racial inequities in maternal health outcomes. For example, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, Merck for Mothers created the Hear Her campaign to disseminate critical information on pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, reaching more than 1.5 million people to date across the campaign’s website and social media channels.

To learn more about Merck for Mothers and stay informed on how the initiative is continuing to expand access to high-quality maternal care, please visit MerckforMothers.com.

About Merck 
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on 
X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Merck for Mothers 
Merck for Mothers is Merck’s $650 million global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Applying Merck’s business and scientific resources, the initiative collaborates with partners to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. For more information, visit www.merckformothers.com.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA 
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

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Media Contacts: 
Leland Laury 
leland.laury@merck.com

Julie Cunningham 
(617) 519 – 6264 
julie.cunningham@merck.com

Investor Contacts: 
Peter Dannenbaum 
(732) 594 – 1579 
peter.dannenbaum@merck.com

Alexis Constantine 
(732) 594 – 1578 
alexis.constantine@merck.com

CINCINNATI, May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Fifth Third’s Financial Empowerment Mobile, commonly known as the eBus, brings financial access and education directly into communities, especially underserved areas. For 2024, the eBus has been reimagined to offer enhanced experiences including immediate checking account opening, face-to-face consultation pods for private conversations, computer workstations for guests and broader services.

“At Fifth Third, we believe that lives are improved when people have the knowledge and tools to make wise financial decisions. With the eBus, we deliver financial tools and resources to communities that may not have easy access to such resources,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer. “This is part of our commitment to build strong communities and our focus to keep customers at the center of everything we do.”

The increased offerings of the eBus include the services of SpringFour, a leading social impact financial wellness fintech, that connects visitors to more than 24,000 free local, statewide and national financial wellness resources from nonprofit and government agencies.

Through its digital self-service financial wellness solution, community members can accesssupport in 14 categories including food savings, rental resources, childcare, employment services, small business support and more.

Visitors enter their zip code and search for assistance in the specific category where assistance is required.SpringFour provides instant, localized results for human and social services organizations.Through the collaboration, the Bank and SpringFour will provide tablets on the eBus for visitors to access the service or give instructions for use on personal mobile devices.

The eBus begins its 2024 tour with a 20-day trip through Ohio – May 3 through May 31. For a complete schedule, click here.

“We love seeing banks step up to provide financial health assistance and resources to their customers and the broader communities where they do business. It’s great for communities and great for business, and we’re excited to work with Fifth Third to help the people they serve improve their financial health,” said Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, SpringFour founder and CEO.

About SpringFour

Founded in 2005, SpringFour is the leading social impact financial wellness fintech that empowers banks, credit unions, fintech lenders, employers, mortgage servicers, nonprofits, and more to connect consumers with vetted, local nonprofit and government financial health resources. Trusted by Capital One, BMO, M&T Bank, OppFi, KeyBank, Fifth Third, Avant, Enova, Oportun, Mission Lane, and more, SpringFour’s product suite includes an innovative contact center tool, digital self-service products, and APIs that deliver payment performance, strengthen customer relationships, while driving ESG and social impact and consumer financial health and improving bottom lines. SpringFour is an award-winning fintech, recently chosen for Fast Company’s Brands that Matter award in 2023 and named a Real Leaders Top Impact Company in 2024. SpringFour’s CEO and Founder, Rochelle Nawrocki-Gorey, was named to Inc.’s 2024 250 Female Founders list and won Finovate’s 2023 Innovator of the Year award. SpringFour is a Certified B Corporation and WBE. To learn how SpringFour can benefit your organization, visit www.springfour.com.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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CONTACTS 
Adrienne Gutbier (Media Relations) 
adrienne.gutbier@53.com | 513-534-8038 
Matt Curoe (Investor Relations) 
matt.curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345

FARMINGTON, Conn., May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Four student teams from around the world are regional winners in Otis’ Made to Move Communities student challenge. In the fourth annual competition, students developed innovative mobility solutions aimed at expanding access to green space in urban communities to advance residents’ wellbeing. Otis (NYSE: OTIS) is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

The global student challenge for 2023-24 included more than 240 students across 15 countries and territories. With the guidance of Otis volunteer mentors, students used design thinking to develop mobility solutions that would use cutting-edge technologies to help increase access to parks for people living with disabilities or from underserved areas of cities – improving residents’ wellbeing, and shaping the future of urban communities. Teams then presented their STEM-based proposals to a panel of Otis judges who selected the winners and awarded financial grants to their respective schools to advance STEM programming and benefit even more students.

“In today’s hurried and fast-paced environment, green spaces are more important than ever, serving as a necessary retreat and place for relaxation, recreation or social interaction,” said Otis Chief Communications Officer Randi Tanguay. “I’m inspired by the next generation of engineers and innovators who are helping to identify and solve mobility challenges often experienced by those within their own communities and neighborhoods. At Otis, we’re proud to do our part to support these students to think creatively while improving our world for the future.”

The winning teams’ solutions are:

Liceo Polivalente Rigoberto Fontt Izquierdo, Colina, Chile
Created a comprehensive redevelopment plan for an underutilized open area outside of the city. The plan includes reforestation of the area and proposes a public-private funding model to provide convenient public transportation to access and enjoy its scenic areas.

China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
Developed a concept for a smart, green elevator that would include visual, tactile, auditory and olfactory elements often found in outdoor spaces, bringing a “virtual” green space to those with limited access to such spaces.

Lykeio Irakleiou Attikis, Athens, Greece
Prototyped a smart cane designed to give sensory feedback to individuals with visual impairment to improve navigation of green spaces.

Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School, Taiwan
Designed a concept for a wearable detector embedded in eyeglasses that would pair with a smartphone to alert the user of nearby obstacles when traveling to and visiting green spaces.

Since 2020, this annual global student competition has engaged hundreds of Otis colleagues as mentors to over 750 students, developing and presenting mobility solutions to some of society’s most critical mobility challenges. The program is also driving progress toward three of Otis’ published ESG goals impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM and vocational training, directing 50% of giving to STEM programs and dedicating 500,000 colleague volunteer hours by 2030.

To learn more about the Made to Move Communities Challenge, visit www.otis.com/mtmc.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.3 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.3 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 71,000 people strong, including 42,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

KeyBank was recently recognized by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) with its 2024 Leadership in Music Education Award during the annual Celebration of Music Education. KeyBank and First Niagara Bank, which was acquired by KeyCorp in 2016, have had an impactful relationship with the BPO that amounts to a combined total of almost $3 million in lifetime giving. Amanda Hays, Vice President and Relationship Manager for Key Private Bank, accepted the award on behalf of KeyBank.

KeyBank’s extraordinary support of the BPO’s education and outreach programs through its support of the Next Generation Education Fund have allowed the BPO to invest in the future generations of the Western New York community. Funding has helped develop and expand indispensable music education programs that enhance the classroom experience and create well-rounded citizens, especially in the neighborhood near Kleinhans Music Hall, which is home to the BPO.

Studies show that arts education has many positive effects on childhood development. Music, specifically, facilitates comprehension, fosters creativity, builds communication skills, and may lead to improved classroom performance and self-confidence in the long-term. KeyBank’s support helps the BPO serve more than 33,000 students annually.

Originally published on SupplyChainBrain

Scope 3 carbon emissions, which make up the majority of an organization’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are the result of indirect activities that occur in a company’s supply chain. Because they’re not directly under a company’s control, there are misconceptions that companies can do little to make a positive impact on that class of emissions.

I have a different view.

While the effort may be more challenging than Scope 1 and 2, there are many things a company can do to reduce Scope 3 emissions. Here’s how.

Continue reading on SupplyChainBrain.

NEW YORK, May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – ALTR Created Diamonds, the world’s leading lab-grown diamond company, has announced that its lab-grown diamond producing division has achieved SCS-007 Sustainability Rated Diamonds Certification from third-party certifier, SCS Global Services. ALTR achieved certification by meeting all the requirements of the SCS-007 Certification Standard for Sustainability Rated Diamonds, the first comprehensive, multi-stakeholder sustainability standard developed by SCS Standards for the diamond sector. With a rich history pioneering the lab-grown diamond industry that began in 2006 and serving as a leading OEM supplier to prominent brands, ALTR becomes only the second company in the world to receive this certification for 100% renewable energy powered production.

During the process to attain this recognition, ALTR became the first SCS-007 certified producer and second overall producer to enter the program using 100% renewable energy for production. In addition, as a proud participant of the Make in India Initiative, ALTR is the first SCS-007 certified producer with a Sustainability Rating score of 100 signaling perfect scores in the key pillars of the standard. ALTR also recorded the lowest emissions and met the ESG (Environment Social Governance) requirements for human rights, workers’ rights, health & safety, and business integrity.

The SCS-007 certification encompasses five key pillars of sustainability, ensuring that every aspect of the diamond production meets rigorous environmental and ethical criteria:

Verified Origin Traceability: ALTR guarantees more than 99% accuracy in tracing the origin of each diamond from its producer to the point of sale, providing transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain.

Ethical Stewardship: Aligned with internationally recognized norms of business integrity, ALTR adheres to strict environmental and social responsibility standards, promoting ethical practices in the industry.

Net Zero Carbon Footprint: ALTR achieved net zero carbon footprint and is committed to reducing future production carbon footprints through offsetting and continuous efficiency improvements in energy use and operations.

Sustainable Production Practices: ALTR worked to reduce impacts and is committed to attaining net zero impacts in at least 50% of the additional categories such as Air and Water pollutants, ecosystem, resource base, and water impacts.

Sustainability Investments: ALTR is investing not only to improve its own operations
and supply chains, but also in projects that help communities and protect climate and the environment.

Each SCS-007 certified diamond comes with an on-product consumer certificate of sustainability which outlines the achievements and sustainability journey of each stone.

“Sustainability is not a buzz word, it’s in our DNA. Receiving the SCS-007 recognition is a tremendous honor for ALTR. This certification validates our commitment to the highest ethics and morality in the lab-grown diamond industry,” said Amish Shah, Founder of ALTR and J’EVAR . “We pride ourselves on our ‘farm to table’ approach, where we meticulously grow diamonds, cut and polish them, design and craft jewelry, all under one umbrella. This integrated process enables us to ensure the highest standards of quality and transparency throughout every step. With the SCS-007 certification, we’re not just producing diamonds; we’re setting the standard for the industry.” ALTR has already reached its NetZero goal which was originally aimed for completion in 2025.

Industry veteran and SCS Global Services Sustainability Rated Diamond Program Director Kat Weymouth says, “SCS commends ALTR for this remarkable achievement on becoming a certified SCS-007 producer and meeting consumer demand by bringing Sustainability Rated Diamonds to the marketplace. We commend ALTR on their commitment to ethical practices, protecting the environment and people, and implementing sustainable production practices such as the use of 100% renewable energy and more.”

ALTR and its consumer brand J’EVAR emphasize the importance of high ethics and morality in the diamond industry. By partnering with OEM and retail partners who carry the wholesale brand, ALTR enables the promotion of better practices and environmental consciousness throughout the supply chain. This collaborative effort ensures that consumers have access to responsibly sourced and sustainable diamond products, aligning with the growing global demand for ethical luxury goods. ALTR and J’EVAR‘s dedication to environmental stewardship and responsible business practices underscore their commitment to creating a positive impact on both industry and society.

READ MORE

About ALTR Created Diamonds
ALTR Created Diamonds, the undisputed creator of the lab grown diamond market, is advancing the future of jewelry through its technological innovations, consumer and jeweler education, environmental initiatives, and top industry artisans with over 90 years of experience. Creating the purest form of diamonds known to man – Type IIa – in the only vertically integrated diamond house worldwide. ALTR has over 25 patents, providing both created diamonds and uniquely created diamond jewelry that shape our experience of a brilliant diamond. For more information, visit www.altr.nyc .

About SCS Global Services and SCS Standards Development
SCS Global Services is an internationally recognized leader in third-party certification of environmental and sustainability claims. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa. It is the certification arm of Scientific Certification Systems, Inc., a chartered benefit corporation. Additional information is available at www.scsglobalservices.com.

SCS Standards is a non-profit organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent, and collaborative approach. SCS Standards is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandards.org.

On Global Recycling Day, we cheered on Every Can Counts (ECC) and its recent on-the-ground work to advance ambitious beverage can recycling rates all around the world. By connecting with consumers at large-scale events and providing valuable insight on the circular economy, ECC is stopping the flow of unnecessary packaging waste in its tracks.

Recent activities led by ECC include a St. Patrick’s Festival where ambassadors collected cans and used a recycled can artwork installation to raise awareness around recycling benefits, as well as a Mardi Gras initiative that saved more than 150,000 beverage cans from landfills—triple the amount collected in 2023!

We’re proud to continue supporting ECC and are encouraged to see new report results that can recycling in Europe has reached a record level of 76.1% as of 2021, meaning we are making progress toward our goal of 100% by 2050.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

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