Month: September 2024

Originally published on Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity

Wesco, the inaugural sponsor of Chicagoland Habitat Regional Repair Collaborative, is excited the share the story of Valerie, a proud Marine veteran who served from 1999 – 2002. 

Thanks to Will County Habitat for Humanity, her home recently received much-needed repairs. Read her story below.

Valerie, a Marine veteran who served her country with pride from 1999 to 2002, has always approached life with the discipline and strength she learned in the military. After her service, she returned to her home in Will County, a place filled with memories and a deep sense of connection to her father, who had also served in the armed forces. Her home was her sanctuary, but as the years passed, it began to show signs of wear—drafty windows, a crumbling driveway, and stairs that were becoming increasingly difficult to navigate safely.

Valerie, however, is not one to shy away from challenges. When she learned about Will County Habitat for Humanity, she reached out, hoping they might be able to help her restore her beloved home. She had heard of their work in the community, building and repairing homes for veterans, and knew they shared her values of service and giving back.

The team at Habitat for Humanity responded with the same dedication that Valerie had shown in her years of service. They replaced her old, leaky windows, allowing her to enjoy the view of her garden once more. They installed a sturdy handrail on her stairway, giving her peace of mind as she moved around her home. And they blacktopped her driveway, making it safe and accessible once again.

For Valerie, these repairs were more than just physical improvements—they were a renewal of the pride she felt in her home. “It’s beautiful now,” she said with a smile, as she looked out of her new windows at the garden she loved to tend.

Through her involvement with both Habitat for Humanity and Allen Force, Valerie has found not just support, but a sense of community that enriches her life. She expresses deep gratitude for the opportunities to engage with others and to make a positive impact in the lives of fellow veterans.

As she reflects on her journey, Valerie knows that these organizations have helped her not just by repairing her home, but by strengthening her sense of purpose and belonging. And for Will County Habitat for Humanity, the opportunity to support someone like Valerie is a powerful reminder of their mission—to build homes, communities, and hope.

Learn more about Wesco’s commitments to make a positive and lasting impact within the communities where our employees work and reside here.

Originally published on Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity

Wesco, the inaugural sponsor of Chicagoland Habitat Regional Repair Collaborative, is excited the share the story of Valerie, a proud Marine veteran who served from 1999 – 2002. 

Thanks to Will County Habitat for Humanity, her home recently received much-needed repairs. Read her story below.

Valerie, a Marine veteran who served her country with pride from 1999 to 2002, has always approached life with the discipline and strength she learned in the military. After her service, she returned to her home in Will County, a place filled with memories and a deep sense of connection to her father, who had also served in the armed forces. Her home was her sanctuary, but as the years passed, it began to show signs of wear—drafty windows, a crumbling driveway, and stairs that were becoming increasingly difficult to navigate safely.

Valerie, however, is not one to shy away from challenges. When she learned about Will County Habitat for Humanity, she reached out, hoping they might be able to help her restore her beloved home. She had heard of their work in the community, building and repairing homes for veterans, and knew they shared her values of service and giving back.

The team at Habitat for Humanity responded with the same dedication that Valerie had shown in her years of service. They replaced her old, leaky windows, allowing her to enjoy the view of her garden once more. They installed a sturdy handrail on her stairway, giving her peace of mind as she moved around her home. And they blacktopped her driveway, making it safe and accessible once again.

For Valerie, these repairs were more than just physical improvements—they were a renewal of the pride she felt in her home. “It’s beautiful now,” she said with a smile, as she looked out of her new windows at the garden she loved to tend.

Through her involvement with both Habitat for Humanity and Allen Force, Valerie has found not just support, but a sense of community that enriches her life. She expresses deep gratitude for the opportunities to engage with others and to make a positive impact in the lives of fellow veterans.

As she reflects on her journey, Valerie knows that these organizations have helped her not just by repairing her home, but by strengthening her sense of purpose and belonging. And for Will County Habitat for Humanity, the opportunity to support someone like Valerie is a powerful reminder of their mission—to build homes, communities, and hope.

Learn more about Wesco’s commitments to make a positive and lasting impact within the communities where our employees work and reside here.

Henkel’s two business units, Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands, are united by the pioneering spirit to reimagine and improve everyday life – today and for generations to come. Building on a strong legacy of more than 145 years, our brands and products play an important role in the lives of millions of people and help to transform entire industries. In this series, Beyond the Brand, you will learn about how Henkel’s top brands are contributing to organizational goals and innovating constantly to serve and succeed on behalf of customers, consumers, and partners.

This featured brand is Loctite®, which has been delighting consumers for over 60 years. Loctite’s exceptional team works on a wide portfolio of consumer products as well as many different professional applications including automotive, aerospace, energy, electronics, construction, and more. Read on for more about the history, purpose, innovations, and sustainability of Loctite’s consumer products; and the pioneering spirit of the team that goes far beyond the brand to serve consumers and professional industries alike.

The History of Loctite®

Super glue was invented in 1942 by Dr. Harry Coover, a member of a wartime research team that unintentionally discovered a chemical compound of extraordinary stickiness, and later considered the potential in this compound for use as an enhanced version of existing Glue. Production for commercial sale by Loctite began in 1958, and it quickly became popular as a useful and versatile household adhesive. In 1997, Loctite was purchased by Henkel and the organizations combined forces to continue pushing innovation with a pioneering spirit.

The Purpose of Loctite®

For over 60 years, Loctite has excelled as global leader in reliable adhesive solutions for consumers and professionals. Its state-of-the-art product portfolio is available in over 80 countries worldwide and is distinguishable for its exceptional speed, strength, durability, and ease of use.

Loctite’s Global “Say Yes” campaign outlines its purpose to Say Yes to restoring a brighter future for all and to Say No to adding to landfills. Loctite believes that every curbside find, jobsite scrap, or renovation is a chance to create inspiring projects. “Say Yes to a better tomorrow. Say Yes to a 2nd chance. Say Yes to Loctite.”

Innovations from Loctite®

Loctite has a long legacy of innovation in consumer products. For example, Tite Foam® is a cutting-edge product that launched to act as an insulating foam sealant, made with premium ingredients that deliver high performance. Foam for different applications have their own unique benefits while offering consistent durability, high density, flexibility, UV resistance, and adhesion.

PL Premium Max® is Loctite’s strongest, most durable construction adhesive. It remains 100% solid after curing, and can be used for framing, flooring, stairs, railings, and most landscaping and deck projects with consistently successful results. Customers love the innovative technology that leaves no strong solvent odor and has only a 20-minute repositioning time.

Sustainability from Loctite®

Loctite prides itself on consumer brands and a wide professional portfolio that are committed to sustainability, aiming to make a positive impact on our planet now and for generations to come. The brand does this through innovations to formulation, packaging, and production.

For example, one of Loctite’s missions is to reduce the amount of plastic in their product portfolio. They have removed the plastic blisters from a selection of consumer adhesives like Super Glue and General Adhesives with the goal of expanding this initiative to the full assortment. Additionally, Loctite uses recycled materials in its packaging and is committed to reducing harmful chemicals in adhesive formulations while maintaining its products’ high quality and well-known bonding strength.

Beyond the Loctite® Brand 

Henkel believes that companies play a huge role in making up the fabric of local communities and supporting projects and partnerships that further the greater good. For example, Loctite’s partnership with Habitat For Humanity International and its invigoration through the “Loctite® 2nd Chance House” project. This year-long program provides $200,000 in monetary support and product donations to help the global housing organization build affordable housing.

As a part of this activation, the brand partners with dedicated construction professionals, avid DIY enthusiasts, and passionate employees who use their combined knowledge and Loctite® brand products to breathe new life into a vintage home, transforming it for a deserving family. Throughout the course of the project, this team along with Loctite and Habitat For Humanity documents renovation efforts and shares homeowner stories on social media to keep the digital community engaged with the progress. See the first episode here!

All of the Loctite® brand’s successes are achieved by an exceptional team with a commitment to problem solving and formulating solutions that align to what is best for Henkel, the brand, the communities we serve, and our customers, consumers, partners.

Henkel’s two business units, Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands, are united by the pioneering spirit to reimagine and improve everyday life – today and for generations to come. Building on a strong legacy of more than 145 years, our brands and products play an important role in the lives of millions of people and help to transform entire industries. In this series, Beyond the Brand, you will learn about how Henkel’s top brands are contributing to organizational goals and innovating constantly to serve and succeed on behalf of customers, consumers, and partners.

This featured brand is Loctite®, which has been delighting consumers for over 60 years. Loctite’s exceptional team works on a wide portfolio of consumer products as well as many different professional applications including automotive, aerospace, energy, electronics, construction, and more. Read on for more about the history, purpose, innovations, and sustainability of Loctite’s consumer products; and the pioneering spirit of the team that goes far beyond the brand to serve consumers and professional industries alike.

The History of Loctite®

Super glue was invented in 1942 by Dr. Harry Coover, a member of a wartime research team that unintentionally discovered a chemical compound of extraordinary stickiness, and later considered the potential in this compound for use as an enhanced version of existing Glue. Production for commercial sale by Loctite began in 1958, and it quickly became popular as a useful and versatile household adhesive. In 1997, Loctite was purchased by Henkel and the organizations combined forces to continue pushing innovation with a pioneering spirit.

The Purpose of Loctite®

For over 60 years, Loctite has excelled as global leader in reliable adhesive solutions for consumers and professionals. Its state-of-the-art product portfolio is available in over 80 countries worldwide and is distinguishable for its exceptional speed, strength, durability, and ease of use.

Loctite’s Global “Say Yes” campaign outlines its purpose to Say Yes to restoring a brighter future for all and to Say No to adding to landfills. Loctite believes that every curbside find, jobsite scrap, or renovation is a chance to create inspiring projects. “Say Yes to a better tomorrow. Say Yes to a 2nd chance. Say Yes to Loctite.”

Innovations from Loctite®

Loctite has a long legacy of innovation in consumer products. For example, Tite Foam® is a cutting-edge product that launched to act as an insulating foam sealant, made with premium ingredients that deliver high performance. Foam for different applications have their own unique benefits while offering consistent durability, high density, flexibility, UV resistance, and adhesion.

PL Premium Max® is Loctite’s strongest, most durable construction adhesive. It remains 100% solid after curing, and can be used for framing, flooring, stairs, railings, and most landscaping and deck projects with consistently successful results. Customers love the innovative technology that leaves no strong solvent odor and has only a 20-minute repositioning time.

Sustainability from Loctite®

Loctite prides itself on consumer brands and a wide professional portfolio that are committed to sustainability, aiming to make a positive impact on our planet now and for generations to come. The brand does this through innovations to formulation, packaging, and production.

For example, one of Loctite’s missions is to reduce the amount of plastic in their product portfolio. They have removed the plastic blisters from a selection of consumer adhesives like Super Glue and General Adhesives with the goal of expanding this initiative to the full assortment. Additionally, Loctite uses recycled materials in its packaging and is committed to reducing harmful chemicals in adhesive formulations while maintaining its products’ high quality and well-known bonding strength.

Beyond the Loctite® Brand 

Henkel believes that companies play a huge role in making up the fabric of local communities and supporting projects and partnerships that further the greater good. For example, Loctite’s partnership with Habitat For Humanity International and its invigoration through the “Loctite® 2nd Chance House” project. This year-long program provides $200,000 in monetary support and product donations to help the global housing organization build affordable housing.

As a part of this activation, the brand partners with dedicated construction professionals, avid DIY enthusiasts, and passionate employees who use their combined knowledge and Loctite® brand products to breathe new life into a vintage home, transforming it for a deserving family. Throughout the course of the project, this team along with Loctite and Habitat For Humanity documents renovation efforts and shares homeowner stories on social media to keep the digital community engaged with the progress. See the first episode here!

All of the Loctite® brand’s successes are achieved by an exceptional team with a commitment to problem solving and formulating solutions that align to what is best for Henkel, the brand, the communities we serve, and our customers, consumers, partners.

September 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Annual analysis from World Wildlife Fund’s Plowprint report reveals 1.9 million acres of grasslands were converted for crops in 2022 alone across the Great Plains. While this figure’s significance cannot be downplayed, it marks an improvement from the previous 10-year average of 2.6 million acres annually. The report finds that just 55% of grassland in the US and Canadian Great Plains remains intact, putting pressure on wildlife and pollinator habitats and impacting an essential carbon sink.

“With just over half of the Great Plains grasslands remaining, every cut from the plow has significant consequences for wildlife, carbon storage and clean water,” said Martha Kauffman, vice president for WWF’s Northern Great Plains program. “The last 10 years have been a rollercoaster ride of improvements and setbacks. With appreciation for grasslands on the rise, now is the time for increased investment and policies to save what is left.”

Conversion across the Great Plains came from four main crops, including wheat (37%), corn (11%), canola (11%), and soy (9%). An additional 220,000 acres of cropland were lost for development in 2022, an increase from the 10-year average of 175,000 acres annually.

The report also found in the Northern Great Plains, which represents one of the world’s last remaining intact temperate grasslands, 70% of the grass in this region remains intact. Yet still, 480,000 acres, an area twice the size of New York City, was converted to cropland during 2022.

“Losing grasslands of course has vital climate and land use change implications, but some impacts may be less visible to the naked eye,” said Clay Bolt, manager of pollinator conservation for WWF. “Pollinators, including many native bees that once thrived in the US and Canada, play a vital role preserving natural ecosystems. But the effect of grasslands loss is compounded due to an increase in neonics – a type of insecticide that is commonly found in croplands. As a result, bees, birds, and many other species are vanishing at alarming rates.”

Balancing the protection of grasslands habitats and species that rely on them, while supporting the livelihoods of producers across the Great Plains, requires strong policies. Protecting and building upon the historic investments in Farm Bill conservation programs including, the expansion and strengthening of Sodsaver, and bolstering the Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program, will help keep grasslands standing while also supporting sustainable grazing practices. Additional investment is needed for policies and programs that improve the sustainable management of productive farmland and protect it from development. To ensure long-term success, these efforts must also increase equity and access to conservation programs and funding for Native nations.

World Wildlife Fund’s 2024 Plowprint Report is available at plowprint.org

Media Contact:

Susan.McCarthy@wwfus.org

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in nearly 100 countries for over half a century to help people and nature thrive. With the support of more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat the climate crisis. Visit http://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter and signing up for our newsletter and news alerts here.

September 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Annual analysis from World Wildlife Fund’s Plowprint report reveals 1.9 million acres of grasslands were converted for crops in 2022 alone across the Great Plains. While this figure’s significance cannot be downplayed, it marks an improvement from the previous 10-year average of 2.6 million acres annually. The report finds that just 55% of grassland in the US and Canadian Great Plains remains intact, putting pressure on wildlife and pollinator habitats and impacting an essential carbon sink.

“With just over half of the Great Plains grasslands remaining, every cut from the plow has significant consequences for wildlife, carbon storage and clean water,” said Martha Kauffman, vice president for WWF’s Northern Great Plains program. “The last 10 years have been a rollercoaster ride of improvements and setbacks. With appreciation for grasslands on the rise, now is the time for increased investment and policies to save what is left.”

Conversion across the Great Plains came from four main crops, including wheat (37%), corn (11%), canola (11%), and soy (9%). An additional 220,000 acres of cropland were lost for development in 2022, an increase from the 10-year average of 175,000 acres annually.

The report also found in the Northern Great Plains, which represents one of the world’s last remaining intact temperate grasslands, 70% of the grass in this region remains intact. Yet still, 480,000 acres, an area twice the size of New York City, was converted to cropland during 2022.

“Losing grasslands of course has vital climate and land use change implications, but some impacts may be less visible to the naked eye,” said Clay Bolt, manager of pollinator conservation for WWF. “Pollinators, including many native bees that once thrived in the US and Canada, play a vital role preserving natural ecosystems. But the effect of grasslands loss is compounded due to an increase in neonics – a type of insecticide that is commonly found in croplands. As a result, bees, birds, and many other species are vanishing at alarming rates.”

Balancing the protection of grasslands habitats and species that rely on them, while supporting the livelihoods of producers across the Great Plains, requires strong policies. Protecting and building upon the historic investments in Farm Bill conservation programs including, the expansion and strengthening of Sodsaver, and bolstering the Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program, will help keep grasslands standing while also supporting sustainable grazing practices. Additional investment is needed for policies and programs that improve the sustainable management of productive farmland and protect it from development. To ensure long-term success, these efforts must also increase equity and access to conservation programs and funding for Native nations.

World Wildlife Fund’s 2024 Plowprint Report is available at plowprint.org

Media Contact:

Susan.McCarthy@wwfus.org

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in nearly 100 countries for over half a century to help people and nature thrive. With the support of more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat the climate crisis. Visit http://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter and signing up for our newsletter and news alerts here.

Starting in 2024, SAP is doubling down on its net-zero strategy by expanding its commitment to nature conservation and making financial contributions to climate projects.

The financial contribution will support carbon removal and carbon reduction projects:

Carbon removal projects: These projects remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere and store them for decades – in an ideal scenario, the storage is permanent. Examples include nature-based and technical solutions such as reforestation, where trees store carbon emissions in their biomass as well as direct air capture and storage technologies.Carbon reduction projects: Also known as carbon avoidance projects, these projects prevent additional carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere, reducing the overall amount of carbon emitted. Examples include avoided deforestation or energy efficiency projects.

This doubling down on its net-zero strategy follows SAP’s successful delivery on its pledge to become carbon neutral in its own operations in 2023 by balancing out unavoidable emissions with carefully selected carbon credits. While the company’s use of the statement “carbon-neutrality” will be discontinued, the dedication to reduce its carbon footprint and finance climate action beyond its own value chain remains strong.

Net zero is a state where the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere. There are a number of definitions of net zero and how companies can achieve it. SAP follows the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard. Achieving net-zero emissions across our entire value chain means that all our emissions across all emission sources need to be either eliminated or, up to certain limits, compensated for. These emission areas, known as scopes, include those from our own operations, those generated by the energy we purchase to run operations, and finally, the largest area, external emissions such as those incurred by employee travel, items procured, and customer data center use.

SAP Is On Track to Plant 21 Million Trees and Plans More

SAP is on track to meet its 2025 goal of planting 21 million trees and has now raised its reforestation commitment.

By 2030, SAP will support trusted partners and communities to plant and protect a total of 25 million trees helping to conserve diverse forests. Furthermore, SAP will fund the conservation and rewetting of coastal and inland wetlands such as bogs and mangrove swamps. With these conservation initiatives and the increased reforestation pledge, SAP’s goal is to conserve more land than its offices and owned data centers occupy worldwide.

To ensure that selected projects deliver a positive outcome, SAP will continue to apply the rigorous and robust due diligence that has previously informed the selection of successful climate investments such as SAP’s long partnership with Livelihood Carbon Funds (LCF), where SAP has funded the planting of trees in Senegal, Rwanda, India, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Bridging the Gap

SAP firmly believes that financing climate projects beyond a company’s value chain should be an item on every corporate sustainability agenda. As long as it does not undermine current corporate decarbonization programs, the financial muscle of corporations can bridge the gap in parts of the world where fiscal finances are not robust enough to restore ecosystems and build resilient low carbon economies and livelihoods.

This financial contribution will provide quantifiable benefits to mitigate the effects of climate change beyond SAP’s own value chain with investments in projects that deliver a positive impact for the climate, for local and global populations, and for biodiversity.

The level of the financial contribution is determined by SAP’s own emissions in a given year and is disclosed in terms of carbon emissions, since costs for carbon projects can be subject to change.

With this financial contribution and increased commitment to land conservation and reforestation, SAP continues its journey to introduce meaningful measures to achieve net-zero in 2030, 20 years earlier than originally planned.

Financing climate projects at the same time as pursuing its corporate net-zero agenda allows SAP to take responsibility for emissions that cannot be avoided and actively mitigate climate change on a global level. Furthermore, the financial contribution will enable positive climate action on a far greater scale than SAP could achieve alone.

Shifting Perceptions

In the last 15 years, corporate sustainability at SAP has shifted perceptions on how corporations manage their own carbon emissions and how corporate sustainability agendas must be as actionable as they are accountable.

Since 2012, the SAP Integrated Report has shared information on SAP’s annual environmental performance and progress on corporate sustainability targets. SAP has led the way in showing that corporate sustainability is an integral part of business – not just an add-on to strategy or operations.

SAP’s carbon impact is one of the sustainability KPIs that are indicators of future performance and form the basis of compensation elements for members of the Executive Board of SAP SE. Today, sustainability is deeply embedded in SAP’s vision to bring out the best in every business. With its extensive portfolio of sustainability solutions, sustainability is anchored in SAP’s purpose to make the world run better and improve people’s lives.

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