Month: June 2024

Originally published on Built From Scratch

2023 was a historic year for disasters in the United States. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a record-breaking 28-billion-dollar weather and climate events devastated communities.

The Home Depot Foundation is working with nonprofit organizations across the country to prepare communities, focusing on several hard-to-reach areas ahead of this year’s hurricane season.

“We understand the importance of being ready, especially in remote communities” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “We know that staging supplies ahead of disasters allows our partners to provide immediate on-the-ground assistance, as well as long-term support to communities rebuilding after natural disasters.”

A new partnership with Mercy Corps’ Caribbean Resilience Initiative will equip local organizations throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with supplies and equipment so they can quickly respond to a natural disaster. In Alaska, partnerships with local nonprofits will expand emergency food distribution in Anchorage and surrounding communities.

To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation’s disaster response and long-term recovery efforts click here.

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Covia is an industry-leading provider of innovative mineral solutions for a variety of industrial markets, delivering essential ingredients for a wide range of coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. To better develop a broad portfolio of value-added industrial minerals, Covia constantly strives to improve our processes.

To highlight the products and Team Members behind recent technical advancements, we’re pleased to recognize Scott Van Remortel, Applications & Technology Manager at Covia, and our most recent mineral breakthrough, CRISTOBALEX™ filler. Read on to learn more about Scott and how revolutionary CRISTOBALEX is enhancing the whiteness and performance of paints and coatings.

Profiles in Innovation: Scott Van Remortel

Scott began working in the mineral business in 1992 as a coating scientist. He was initially hired to start the paint and coating lab at Covia. From working on mineral processing projects to technical sales, Scott has worked in several positions since he started over 30 years ago.

In his current role, Scott supports Covia’s technology platform throughout the company’s industrial minerals business. He also provides technical sales support and applications testing within the lab, as well as helping guide the projects in our innovation pipeline. We use a Stage Gate approach to product development, which ensures structured evaluation and decisions throughout the innovation process.

In his personal life, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife of 25 years and two children, one who is in college studying mechanical engineering and one who is training to be a veterinarian.

Scott was one of the Team Members who helped bring CRISTOBALEX to market. We are grateful for his insight and contributions to delivering this innovative additive.

CRISTOBALEX: Ultrawhite Reflective Filler

CRISTOBALEX production begins with high-purity spherical quartz grains, which are thermally treated. Scott explains how Covia’s process takes advantage of cristobalite’s natural properties. “As you heat the silica, it increases in volume and becomes whiter. We take a ground silica material with color impurities, and through this process, the color becomes very, very white, and the structure expands and stays locked in an open position.” After processing, CRISTOBALEX is then micronized into a fine powder that is used in products such as:

Cool roofingRoad markingsArchitectural applicationsSealants and adhesives

Delivering Sustainability Through Innovation

As a highly reflective filler for cool elastomeric roof coatings, CRISTOBALEX can increase a product’s efficiency while reducing its carbon footprint. By cooling urban centers and warm cities, AC units don’t have to work so hard, ultimately resulting in decreased energy consumption and overall emissions. Covia is proud to play a role in reducing energy emissions while making buildings and communities more comfortable and sustainable.

Sustainability is critical in our mission to Act Responsibly. We are dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable solutions that empower our customers to address complex environmental challenges without sacrificing material strength and quality. Learn more about Covia’s ESG program, https://www.coviacorp.com/esg/.

Covia: Your Trusted Partner for Mineral Solutions

Covia is already hard at work developing the next generation of performance fillers to further improve our current lineup. We are piloting several next generation materials based on our customer’s needs to help further the industrial coatings industry. Covia is committed to being an industry leader – dedicating resources to rapidly grow, innovate, and plan for the future.

When asked about the future of Covia, Scott remarked, “I’m interested in developing talent in the areas of technology. I’m very excited to hire talented new scientists and chemists who will be a great fit to fulfill Covia’s vision.”

Beyond providing innovative and sustainable solutions, we are also committed to exceptional customer service. Covia is your trusted partner and has been delivering high-quality mineral solutions for more than 25 years. You can rely on our expertise, robust supply chain, strategic distribution network, large-scale production capabilities, impeccable logistics, and reliable delivery.

Looking for a partner for your next project? Contact us today to learn more about our sustainable mineral solutions, including the transformative benefits of CRISTOBALEX for cool roofs and more.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey, here at GoDaddy.

I am originally from Illinois and wanted to relocate to Arizona to be with my family. I applied to GoDaddy hoping to make that dream come true but never imagined I would be here almost thirteen years later. I was determined to learn as much as I could and I had amazing support along the way. This helped me build the confidence I needed to succeed. I often reflect on those days as I am now a Supervisor in Care for our Inbound Sales I department. I work with new hires on a daily basis. When chatting with them, I share my previous experience to show that I empathize with them and that I can guide them in their journey. I love that I get to be part of our new hires’ GoDaddy stories! A little bit about me outside of work – I recently got married, have two grown children and five grandbabies! My life is full of excitement these days! I also love to travel. My favorite trip to date was to Kenya to visit an elephant orphanage.

What does it take to succeed on your team?

To succeed within Care, you need the desire to learn and understand our products so you can confidently speak to the benefits of a product and/or troubleshoot an issue effectively. We wear a LOT of hats in our department, so we must have the ability to embrace change and be coachable. Be ready to get outside of your comfort zone!

What has been one of your proudest moments at GoDaddy?

I have had so many proud moments over my tenure. I was not very confident in my tech abilities in the beginning. However, I have always had the drive and passion to keep learning. After two years in Inbound, I started in a new department, and I found myself helping new hires by sharing best practices and offering suggestions to help my peers. Later on, I was asked to help with interviews and then worked with the Director when the department was shifting metrics. One day, I was walking in the hall and the Director of the department asked me where I wanted to go in the company, before I could answer, my supervisor at the time responded for me, by handing me his lanyard. It was at that moment that I thought maybe this IS where I belong. Additionally, I was recognized as a luminary as a Sales Guide and then again as a Sales Supervisor. These have been some of the highlights of my career thus far. However, what I cherish most are the friendships and relationships I have built with my colleagues and Guides. I love being able to support and empower them in their journeys, whether they want to explore other opportunities or advance within our department. I am proud of who I am today and I owe a lot to GoDaddy.

How do you feel that the organization supports you to do things that are important to you?

Working at GoDaddy has given me the chance to pursue my passions beyond work. I have always loved traveling and spending time with my family, and I am grateful for the flexibility and balance that this job offers. I have been able to explore amazing places around the world, such as Aruba, Dominican Republic, Kenya, and Mexico. I have also been able to visit my children frequently and share memorable moments with them. I appreciate the culture of GoDaddy that encourages us to live fully and joyfully outside of work. I feel very lucky to have this opportunity.

What advice would you give to an individual who is starting their career within Care?

When I joined GoDaddy, I was inspired by the stories of people who had transformed their lives through this work. I met people who had overcome challenges and started fresh with this company (just like I did). I learned that working for GoDaddy could be a life-changing opportunity, if I was willing to put in the effort. I committed myself to learning the products, being patient with myself, caring about our customers, and stepping out of my comfort zone. It paid off. This work has genuinely changed my life for the better.

What’s your motto or personal mantra?

I think these both represent who I am and how I live my life: When you focus on the good, the good gets even better and my personal favorite; be the main character in your own life’s story!

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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The 2023 FedEx Cares Report offers highlights from calendar year 2023. For FedEx Cares, connecting people and possibilities goes far beyond our business. We apply this credo to creating opportunities for people to access education, basic needs, jobs, mentors, business growth, cultural experiences, and more. We apply it to our team members too –volunteering helps strengthen and reinforce our culture, interact with new communities, and see new perspectives. Read about these efforts and achievements here, on fedexcares.com.

This week, Chemours released its EVOLVE 2030 Version 2.0—the Company’s portfolio sustainability assessment methodology. EVOLVE 2030 helps Chemours evaluate its product offerings and product development pipeline in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The evaluation criteria assist Chemours in demonstrating progress against its 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment goal to generate 50% or more of its revenue from offerings that make a specific contribution to the UN SDGs. The updated methodology now includes considerations on product and packaging circularity, as well as insights gained from Chemours’ experience using the methodology over the last four years.

Chemours’ EVOLVE 2030 methodology uses sustainability information and insights to inform decisions on its product portfolio, investments in innovations, and resource allocation. This data-driven, science-based, and holistic methodology is designed to maximize the positive impact of Chemours’ products on society while minimizing their planetary burdens.

“Chemours is driven by our strong commitment to sustainability. The updated EVOLVE 2030 methodology enhances our ability to align our business processes with this commitment, allowing us to better quantify the societal and environmental impacts of our products and guide our decisions accordingly,” said Dr. Amber Wellman, Chief Sustainability Officer at Chemours. “By incorporating lessons learned and maintaining our approach of continuous improvement, we are enabling a future where our products not only meet market needs but also contribute positively to our shared planet.”

Established in 2019, EVOLVE 2030 is grounded in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) Chemical Industry Methodology for Portfolio Sustainability Assessments (PSA). Chemours evaluates its offerings based on a Product—Application Combination (PAC) approach, which considers a product’s benefits and burdens throughout its life cycle, including its contribution to the UN SDGs and its overall impact – or “Imprint” – on people and the planet. By examining its products’ contributions to the UN SDGs and their overall impact on society and the environment, Chemours is strengthening its resolve to steer its product portfolio to support a more sustainable future.

EVOLVE 2030 was developed in partnership with Anthesis Group, a global sustainability advisor, and received third-party assurance from Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance in 2019 and 2024.

Click here to read Chemours’ EVOLVE 2030 methodology.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 4, 2024 /3BL/ — Against the backdrop of consistent concerns plaguing the U.S. water industry — aging workforce and infrastructure, along with the ongoing threat of natural disasters worsening by climate change — the sector continues to evolve in working to address an onslaught of change, according to Black & Veatch’s newly released 2024 Water Report.

The report, based on expert analyses of a survey of roughly 630 U.S. water industry stakeholders, details complex U.S. water, wastewater and stormwater sectors that are trying to muscle through a tug of war of conflicting priorities. Yet opportunity exists, with the promise of digital technologies and innovations leading the list of ways in which operators can make better decisions and get the most of their graying assets and limited resources.

Among sustainability, workforce and climate change, a few new themes took center stage this year, including contaminants and cybersecurity. In April, the federal government announced a regulatory limit for all municipal water systems for six perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” And on the increasingly pressing matter of cybersecurity, a March letter by the Biden administration asked all governors to bolster security in their states for water and wastewater systems, warning that “disabling cyberattacks” are targeting utilities across the country, with the trend threatening to “impose significant costs on affected communities.”

“As the headwinds whirl, the industry on many metrics appears to be better positioning itself against the challenges of the times, either independently or with outside guidance from experts like Black & Veatch,” said Mike Orth, president of Black & Veatch’s governments and communities business. “Slowly but surely, U.S. water utilities are discovering and pursuing new ways of doing business by leveraging integrated approaches to both planning and delivering strategic, financial and operational resilience.”

The new report offers a comprehensive overview of what’s changed — and what has not — in an industry with enormous potential to accelerate innovation in strategy, operations and funding.

Some other key findings of the report include:

Roughly two-thirds of survey respondents (65 percent) cited aging infrastructure again as their foremost challenge, much as it has been for decades.Aging workforce and the challenge of hiring qualified staff remains in the top two for the third consecutive year at 47 percent, down from 51 percent in 2023.41% of respondents don’t expect funding for capital infrastructure projects over the next five to 10 years to be enough; only roughly a quarter said it’ll just meet the requirement (27 percent) or that funding will be sufficient (24 percent).Nearly half (45 percent) said they’ve pursued state and federal funding (including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), with an additional 39 percent saying they plan to do so.Six in 10 respondents cast sustainability as a critical strategic focus, a slight drop from the previous two years.About half of respondents report that their utility has sustainability goals and the means to measure them.More than eight of 10 respondents to Black & Veatch’s survey cast cybersecurity investment just as important as physical security, with 97% noting both cybersecurity and physical security as “very important” or “important.”Two-thirds of respondents prefer that they govern their cybersecurity themselves, down from more than 70 percent over the previous two years.42% of survey respondents say that PFAS has been detected in their water supply; 36% foresee the need to provide a PFAS treatment solution in the next 5 years, up from 21% in 2023, and most (61%) are planning for a main treatment plant retrofit as a primary solution.

Contact Black & Veatch for more information.

Editor’s Notes: 

A free copy of the report is available for download here.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

Media Contact Information:

MEGHAN LOCKNER | +1 201-977-1628 | locknerm@bv.com 
24-HOUR MEDIA CONTACT | Media@bv.com

In the first quarter of 2024, Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, proudly welcomed 11 new members to its global membership community. With a mission to catalyze collective action toward an equitable and restorative consumer goods industry, Cascale continues to expand its reach, now comprising over 300 organizations worldwide.

Cascale stands as a global, non-profit alliance of 300 leading consumer goods brands, retailers, manufacturers, sourcing agents, service providers, trade associations, NGOs, and academic institutions. Representing every link of the global value chain, Cascale members co-create solutions to today’s biggest social and environmental challenges.

Together, Cascale members shape a more equitable and restorative future for the consumer goods industry and the planet. Operating in apparel, footwear, and textiles; home furnishings; sporting and outdoor goods; and bags and luggage, members have access to a global network of industry leaders, innovative tools like the Higg Index, and collaborative opportunities that drive transformative sustainability.

Be part of a global alliance committed to a sustainable future. Together, we can drive impactful change in the consumer goods industry. Click here to learn more about becoming a member. 

Does acting on values hurt the bottom line? According to Daniel Aronson, Founder and CEO of Valutus, the answer is no—in fact, the converse is true. In his new book, The Value of Values, Daniel shows that making ethical choices can actually increase a company’s profits and competitive advantage, often without much extra cost or risk.

Using research and real-world examples, Daniel explains that the true business value of ethical actions—like taking strong steps to fight climate change, supporting job seekers, or creating an inclusive workplace—is higher than most people think. He finds that these actions can bring returns four to ten times greater than expected.

Daniel joins host Carol Cone to talk about The Value of Values and how the book can help business leaders improve profits, gain customers, and advance their careers by making ethical choices. This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to lead with integrity in today’s business world.

Listen for insights on:

Three primary perceived obstacles to investing in valuesQuantifying values-driven investments for customers, operations, risk reduction, and employeesSteps to take as a sustainability employee to bring concrete and relevant data to the CFO

Listen to this and other episodes of Purpose 360 Podcast here.

Purpose 360 Podcast is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Hosted by Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, Purpose 360 illuminates the impact of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE (CCOP) is a pioneering social impact consultancy helping companies, brands, and nonprofits harness the power of purpose to advance their business and societal impact. CCOP’s proven approach, developed over decades and hundreds of purpose assignments, meets clients at any point on their purpose journey to unlock opportunities to build reputation, inspire and engage employees, ignite organizational culture for innovation and growth, while supporting the greater good.