Month: August 2024

“One man’s trash is another man’s cash.” Do you know this saying? Well, take the statement to a higher level and add an industrial, private-public set-up: then you will get an idea of what the Kalundborg Symbiosis is. The Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Denmark production site is now part of this partnership to promote sustainability and a more circular approach to production.

In the Kalundborg Symbiosis, the city’s biggest industrial companies work together across sectors to share excess energy, water, and materials, so less goes to waste. As public and private companies are physically connected, one company’s surplus of resources adds value to another. Today, more than 20 different streams of excess resources flow between the companies, creating a symbiosis of resource exchange, adding more resilience and profit to the partners.

As a local industrial player in Kalundborg, our production site Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Denmark is an important partner for the Kalundborg Symbiosis. The symbiosis is a partnership between public and private companies aiming to use fewer resources and take a more circular approach to production.

While Kalundborg is located in a small corner of West Zealand, about 90 minutes’ drive from Copenhagen, the symbiosis is a globally inspiring example of ways to achieve more sustainability. Established in 1972, the symbiosis offers 50 years of experience.

Saving money and minimizing waste

Ole Jørgensen, Site Director, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Denmark, explains why we are joining the partnership: “Together with the leadership team, I’m thrilled that we are now part of Kalundborg Symbiosis. It does make sense to be in a local partnership, where we can share and reuse resources, thus saving both money and minimizing waste. Another pleasing point is that we can tap into a professional network in the field of sustainability to connect even better with key profiles in our local community. This also allows us to become more visible to new potential employees and business partners.”

Sharing excess water, energy, and materials

Including Boehringer, the Kalundborg Symbiosis now has 20 public and private companies (status: 2024). All follow the main principle of the Symbiosis: one partner’s waste becomes another partner’s resource. Collaboration and knowledge sharing is key. “Joining the Symbiosis allows us to work together with other companies across sectors to share excess energy, water, and materials, so waste is minimized. It is a tangible example of how we in Denmark are striving to be more sustainable and recycle resources, and thus implement our sustainability strategy,” Jørgensen says, adding, “We are motivated to become more green and to recycle as many resources as possible – and the Symbiosis aligns with this ambition.”

A true win-win situation

Currently, there is one specific type of waste from discarded Bovikalc (an oral calcium supplement for dairy cows) that can possibly be absorbed in another company’s raw material – or used in fertilization. “For obvious reasons, it is meaningful to let others benefit from our waste instead of paying a fee to the local environmental authorities for getting rid of production waste materials,” Jørgensen explains. “The circular approach is a greener and better way of production.” Boehringer is aiming to become carbon neutral in company operations by 2030 by reducing and minimizing emissions, a goal that is shared with the Kalundborg Symbiosis.

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Find out more about Boehringer Ingelheim’s global sustainability initiatives, ranging from creating more sustainable healthcare solutions and community engagement with impact to environmental stewardship in Imagine: our sustainability story hub.

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Mastercard

Addressing the climate crisis both domestically and internationally is key to ensuring long-term global economic stability. In November 2022, Administrator Samantha Power and then-Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry introduced the PREPARE Call to Action to the Private Sector at COP27, engaging 10 companies, including Mastercard, to help half a billion people in developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change.

Mastercard’s commitment to the PREPARE Call to Action includes a partnership with BFA Global and CIFAR Alliance, which is scaling innovative fintech-enabled solutions that help vulnerable households and businesses build resilience and adapt to climate impacts. Together, we’ve launched the Climate Smart Product Innovation Hub, showcasing 74 climate-aligned fintech innovations to attract investment and generate scale. Our commitment also encompasses our goal to bring 30 million people onto our Community Pass platform within the next five years. In early 2024, Community Pass partnered with the Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Shell Foundation to launch a program aimed at providing up to 100,000 potato, maize, and dairy farmers with access to credit for six innovative clean energy farming technologies.

Impact can be maximized when governmental initiatives are combined with private sector support. It was an honor to participate in a discussion yesterday with these leaders and representatives from the PREPARE Call to Action on how we can enhance the stability and security of supply chains, harness American ingenuity, and leverage our collective strengths to promote climate resilience globally.

About Mastercard

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

We are committed to fostering the next generation of leaders in the utility industry. Our summer internship program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop professional skills, and build meaningful connections within the company. Through engaging projects and mentorship, our interns are equipped to make significant contributions and grow both personally and professionally.

Haley Piasecki, one of our talented summer interns, shared some of her experiences and insights from her time with us.

Q: Can you introduce yourself?

A: My name is Haley Piasecki, and I’m from Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. I’m currently a rising junior, pursuing a degree in Integrated Business with a minor in Political Science at Pennsylvania Western University at California.

Q: Where did you intern this summer?

A: This summer, I had the privilege of interning with the Performance Assessment Group for Atlantic City Electric.

Q: What were some of the highlights of your internship experience?

A: Throughout my internship, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many new people who have generously shared their knowledge with me. Collaborating with various groups has given me insight into how different departments work together to drive growth within the company.

Q: Can you share a particularly impactful experience?

A: A particularly impactful experience was a ride-along with the safety team and company leaders, where we observed the routes taken by troublemen to monitor fires in New Jersey. It was truly inspiring to meet women in leadership roles at Exelon.

Q: What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

A: Initially, entering a heavily engineering-focused environment was daunting, especially with the unfamiliar terminology. However, I learned to embrace confusion and ask questions, which has been crucial for my innovation and personal growth.

Q: How has the internship with Atlantic City Electric helped you grow?

A: My internship at Atlantic City Electric has provided me the space to flourish and grow both personally and professionally. My confidence in public speaking has significantly improved, thanks to the engaging intern program. I’ve made friends from across the United States and gained valuable insights into the utility and engineering industries.

Atlantic City Electric is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Atlantic City Electric provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 572,000 customers in southern New Jersey.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.

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