Month: July 2024

MILAN, July 23, 2024 /3BL/ – The Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) in Lecce renews its collaboration with Lenovo for the installation of a powerful new HPC (High Performance Computing) system that will support climate change research by providing increased processing capabilities and optimizing energy use for the operation of the high-capacity computing infrastructure.

“Cassandra”, Lenovo’s new HPC system that will be installed in Lecce, is composed of 180 SD650 V3 nodes with two Intel® Xeon® Max 9480 CPUs, the first x86 processor with high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and can reach a processing power of 1.2 PetaFlops[1] peak, with an increase of 100% compared to the solution currently in operation at CMCC.

Cassandra also ensures better energy efficiency, allowing electricity consumption for system cooling to be kept 15% lower than similar air-cooled solutions, with the use of Lenovo Neptune™ Direct Water-Cooling technology that is able to capture up to 98% of the heat produced by the supercomputer. Liquidcooling saves the energy used for the fans, and thanks to the increased efficiency, the temperature of the CPUs does not reach critical values, avoiding the reduction of the maximum frequency of the cores.

In addition, CMCC plans to integrate the system with a dedicated AI workload solution based on 2 nodes with 8 Nvidia H100 GPUs each. The installation of this system is planned for the second half of the year.1

HPC to solve the challenges of climate change

Founded in 2005 with the financial support of the then MIUR, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Finance, the CMCC was born with the specific aim of carrying out studies and models of the climate system, ensuring reliable, timely and rigorous results useful for designing sustainable growth, protecting the environment and developing adaptation and mitigation policies based on knowledge Scientific.

Today, the CMCC is a global reference point for the integrated study of climate-related issues and is one of the few facilities in Europe dedicated exclusively to research on climate change and its interactions with society and economic systems. HPC systems are valuable tools for CMCC scientists, who have the task of processing, thanks to supercomputers, the data collected in the field to predict how the climate will change and what effects these changes will have on the planet and human activities.

On the new Cassandra supercomputer, climate simulation models of the earth system, the ocean, both global and regional seasonal forecasting systems, AI-based climate change applications will be executed.

A strong partnership

Lenovo’s new supercomputer will be installed in 2024 at the CMCC Supercomputing Center (SCC), which has been active since 2008 and is currently the largest computing facility in Italy entirely dedicated to the study of climate change, as well as one of the most advanced in Europe. The Supercomputing Center already hosts an HPC system from Lenovo: “Juno, installed in 2022, which has a total computing power of approximately 1,134 TFlops and is based on Intel® Xeon®processors and NVIDIA GPUs.

“We are delighted with this renewed collaboration with CMCC, which today is a center of excellence in Europe for research on climate change, a crucial topic for our time and for future generations,” said Alessandro de Bartolo, CEO and Country General Manager Infrastructure Solutions Group at Lenovo. “High-performance computing is a valuable tool to address the challenge of complexity in research institutes, laboratories but also in the enterprise because it makes calculations, analyses and simulations that were previously time-consuming and expensive accessible. Lenovo is the world’s leading supplier of supercomputers and at the same time took the top spot in the Green500, the ranking that measures the energy efficiency of HPC systems. Our ambition is to constantly elevate the performance of supercomputers by ensuring that our HPC systems maintain sustainable energy consumption levels.”

“Over the years, since the first installation of HPC systems at SCC, Lenovo has proven to be a very reliable technological partner by offering cutting-edge solutions, which have allowed CMCC researchers to obtain important results in climate simulations,” notes Prof. Giovanni Aloisio, Director of the CMCC Supercomputing Center.

The new supercomputer will be installed by Ricca IT, a Lenovo certified business partner, which over the years has gained significant experience in the HPC and AI fields, among the most recognized companies on the Italian scene. 

1 A petaflop equals a thousand trillion calculations per second (a trillion is a million per third), where “peta” stands for 10 to 15 (10^15) while “flop” stands for floating point operations per second, i.e. the number of floating-point operations performed in one second.

Creating spaces for social connection and fostering a sense of belonging at the workplace is important to drive the overall wellness of its people. This is the approach that Bacardi in China took following pandemic lockdowns and an accelerated digitization of the world which can interfere with human connection. That journey, which continues today, earned Bacardi an award from Mercer, a leading professional consulting firm specializing in employee health and welfare, during the Mercer China Healthiest Workplace Awards. Bacardi was the only spirits company recognized for its outstanding holistic approach towards wellbeing and received the “Outstanding Health Innovation”.

With a focus on connection, Bacardi hosts purposeful gatherings to engage its people across all offices along with the field salesforce. Together, they share a pulse on the current industry environment by also inviting consumers and customers. Gratitude boards adorn offices and encourage people to post handwritten recognition notes for colleagues whilst the business has committed to give back to the community, driving a program where Bacardi people facilitate career talks at Shanghai University to help MBA students succeed in the professional world. 

A renewed focus on wellness in China began following pandemic-induced shutdowns in the country. The team immediately launched programming to help people during this difficult time including home delivery care packages and virtual fitness classes.

These efforts and a collective leadership of wellness advocates at Bacardi China is forging a workplace culture committed to taking care of one’s wellbeing, and each other’s, in order to thrive both personally and professionally.

Find out more about Bacardi life: www.bacardilimited.com

Creating spaces for social connection and fostering a sense of belonging at the workplace is important to drive the overall wellness of its people. This is the approach that Bacardi in China took following pandemic lockdowns and an accelerated digitization of the world which can interfere with human connection. That journey, which continues today, earned Bacardi an award from Mercer, a leading professional consulting firm specializing in employee health and welfare, during the Mercer China Healthiest Workplace Awards. Bacardi was the only spirits company recognized for its outstanding holistic approach towards wellbeing and received the “Outstanding Health Innovation”.

With a focus on connection, Bacardi hosts purposeful gatherings to engage its people across all offices along with the field salesforce. Together, they share a pulse on the current industry environment by also inviting consumers and customers. Gratitude boards adorn offices and encourage people to post handwritten recognition notes for colleagues whilst the business has committed to give back to the community, driving a program where Bacardi people facilitate career talks at Shanghai University to help MBA students succeed in the professional world. 

A renewed focus on wellness in China began following pandemic-induced shutdowns in the country. The team immediately launched programming to help people during this difficult time including home delivery care packages and virtual fitness classes.

These efforts and a collective leadership of wellness advocates at Bacardi China is forging a workplace culture committed to taking care of one’s wellbeing, and each other’s, in order to thrive both personally and professionally.

Find out more about Bacardi life: www.bacardilimited.com

DALLAS, Texas, July 23, 2024 /3BL/ – Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in corporate sustainability and advocacy, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report. The report—which is organized by environmental, social, and economic impact—underscores the company’s commitment to creating and nurturing a business model that enriches women’s lives and supports communities while protecting our planet.

“Sustainability has deep roots in the Mary Kay story,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay Inc. “We like to say we did it before it was ‘cool.’ Our iconic founder, Mary Kay Ash, was passionate about not only changing the world, but protecting it. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished this year—and every year—in realizing her dream. I think she would be proud, too.”

In a world that is rapidly evolving, Mary Kay stands at the forefront of change, championing the cause of women while recognizing the immense power they hold in shaping our global economy and driving meaningful change.

The 2024 report highlights Mary Kay’s promise to make decisions that are right for our planet and its people:

Environmental Sustainability

Water Stewardship: Partnering with The Nature Conservancy for over 36 years, Mary Kay supports the “Super Reefs” initiative to protect resilient coral reefs.Resource Conservation: Through a 16-year partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Mary Kay has supported the planting of over 1.4 million trees in reforestation projects across nine countries.Sustainable Sourcing: Joining the Global Shea Alliance, Mary Kay promotes economic well-being for the 16 million women Shea collectors in West Africa.

Social Sustainability

Pink Changing Lives: Through this program, funded by designated product sales, Mary Kay has donated over $18 million to initiatives enriching women’s lives worldwide since 2008.Women’s Empowerment: On International Women’s Day, Mary Kay joined the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a set of Principles offering guidance to businesses on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. More than 600,000 women have benefitted from the trainings, events, and programs offered by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator, launched by Mary Kay in partnership with six United Nations agencies in 2019.Fostering Women in STEM: Committed to the development of the next generation of women STEM leaders, Mary Kay has awarded 29 grants totaling nearly $195,000 since 2020.

Economic Sustainability

Celebrating 60 years: Mary Kay Ash’s vision of enriching women’s lives continues. Mary Kay, still family-owned and -led, has blossomed into a global brand with nearly 4,000 employees and millions of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants in more than 35 markets. For more than 60 years, Mary Kay has provided an unparalleled entrepreneurship opportunity for women around the world. The company was named the #1 Direct Selling brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics in the World by Euromonitor International1.Digital Innovation: Mary Kay enhances the capabilities of Independent Beauty Consultants through digital tools, including augmented reality apps and the Interactive Catalog, allowing them to excel in their businesses and realize their dreams.Advocacy for Gender Equality in AI: Partnering with the Equal Rights Trust, Mary Kay pioneered research to eliminate gender bias in AI technologies.

For further insights into Mary Kay’s global sustainability strategy, engagement, and impact, view the full report here.

About Mary Kay 
Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter).

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1 “Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2023 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2022 data.”

DALLAS, Texas, July 23, 2024 /3BL/ – Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in corporate sustainability and advocacy, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report. The report—which is organized by environmental, social, and economic impact—underscores the company’s commitment to creating and nurturing a business model that enriches women’s lives and supports communities while protecting our planet.

“Sustainability has deep roots in the Mary Kay story,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay Inc. “We like to say we did it before it was ‘cool.’ Our iconic founder, Mary Kay Ash, was passionate about not only changing the world, but protecting it. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished this year—and every year—in realizing her dream. I think she would be proud, too.”

In a world that is rapidly evolving, Mary Kay stands at the forefront of change, championing the cause of women while recognizing the immense power they hold in shaping our global economy and driving meaningful change.

The 2024 report highlights Mary Kay’s promise to make decisions that are right for our planet and its people:

Environmental Sustainability

Water Stewardship: Partnering with The Nature Conservancy for over 36 years, Mary Kay supports the “Super Reefs” initiative to protect resilient coral reefs.Resource Conservation: Through a 16-year partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Mary Kay has supported the planting of over 1.4 million trees in reforestation projects across nine countries.Sustainable Sourcing: Joining the Global Shea Alliance, Mary Kay promotes economic well-being for the 16 million women Shea collectors in West Africa.

Social Sustainability

Pink Changing Lives: Through this program, funded by designated product sales, Mary Kay has donated over $18 million to initiatives enriching women’s lives worldwide since 2008.Women’s Empowerment: On International Women’s Day, Mary Kay joined the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a set of Principles offering guidance to businesses on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. More than 600,000 women have benefitted from the trainings, events, and programs offered by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator, launched by Mary Kay in partnership with six United Nations agencies in 2019.Fostering Women in STEM: Committed to the development of the next generation of women STEM leaders, Mary Kay has awarded 29 grants totaling nearly $195,000 since 2020.

Economic Sustainability

Celebrating 60 years: Mary Kay Ash’s vision of enriching women’s lives continues. Mary Kay, still family-owned and -led, has blossomed into a global brand with nearly 4,000 employees and millions of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants in more than 35 markets. For more than 60 years, Mary Kay has provided an unparalleled entrepreneurship opportunity for women around the world. The company was named the #1 Direct Selling brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics in the World by Euromonitor International1.Digital Innovation: Mary Kay enhances the capabilities of Independent Beauty Consultants through digital tools, including augmented reality apps and the Interactive Catalog, allowing them to excel in their businesses and realize their dreams.Advocacy for Gender Equality in AI: Partnering with the Equal Rights Trust, Mary Kay pioneered research to eliminate gender bias in AI technologies.

For further insights into Mary Kay’s global sustainability strategy, engagement, and impact, view the full report here.

About Mary Kay 
Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter).

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1 “Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2023 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2022 data.”