Month: January 2025

Next generation of professionals challenged to develop a business concept leveraging artificial intelligence in plastics value chainFinalists will present virtually to panel of judges that includes leaders in sustainability 

OAKLAND, Calif., January 21, 2025 /3BL/ – Net Impact announces its third Circular Plastics Challenge with a case prompt that encourages emerging business professionals to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to maximize circularity in the plastics value chain.

Presented with the support of Hillenbrand, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company, the competition calls for participants to learn about the modern plastics value chain while developing AI-supported business models to maximize circularity at any point within the value chain (pre-consumer, during consumer use, or post-consumer). Final submissions are due in April, and in June, five finalist teams will present their concepts virtually to a panel of judges that includes plastics industry and sustainability leaders. The first-place team will be awarded $5,000, followed by $2,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place.

“We love this program because it enables our responsible business-oriented community to think critically about how to leverage the latest technology like AI for sustainable applications in the corporate context,” Karen Johns, CEO of Net Impact, said. “With so much growth around artificial intelligence, this will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to learn and explore this topic in tangible terms.”

Net Impact and Hillenbrand, a leading global provider of highly-engineered processing equipment and solutions, developed the Circular Plastics Challenge concept in 2022 to foster innovation and champion sustainability. The first competition was held in 2023 to engage future leaders in developing industry-shifting ideas to keep plastics in the economy and out of the environment. In 2024, finalists presented concepts during a virtual showcase at NPE2024, a tradeshow produced by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) that drew more than 50,000 attendees from over 110 countries. In the program’s first two years, teams representing dozens of countries around the world have submitted more than 115 proposals.

Net Impact facilitates the competition by bringing together its global network of social impact and sustainability leaders to address the challenge. With more than 130,000 members across over 300 chapters at colleges, universities, and local communities worldwide, Net Impact aims to address social challenges, protect the environment, develop new concepts and approaches, and leverage the tools of business toward the greater good.

“Plastics are essential to today’s global economy, and it is important that we continue to advance the material through the entire value chain. As we incorporate AI into this year’s competition, I believe we can unlock new possibilities in advancing plastics circularity,” said Kim Ryan, President and CEO of Hillenbrand. “This partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and Net Impact continues to foster innovation and engage the next generation of the plastics industry.”

In the competition’s inaugural year, participants were challenged to design solutions to keep plastics in the economy and out of the environment by using upstream innovation to reduce plastic leakage. The winning team was Ashaya, an India-based startup that is turning post-consumer multi-layer plastics, typically found in packets of chips, into new products such as recycled sunglasses. In 2024, participants were tasked with designing concepts to increase the supply of rPET, or recycled polyethylene terephthalate. The winning team, Strong Bottle, proposed a redesign of bottles intended to prevent flattening during the recycling process, which in turn could result in a 15% increase in PET collected during the recycling process.

More information about the Circular Plastics Challenge, including participant applications and previous winners, can be found at netimpact.org/programs/circular-plastics-challenge.

About Net Impact 
Over 30 years Net Impact has built a diverse community in 40+ countries committed to using business to advance social and environmental action. Net Impact mobilizes its global community of more than 100,000 emergent change agents to leverage their careers to drive transformational environmental and social change. Through a strategic set of initiatives aimed to engage and benefit its core stakeholders, Net Impact is committed to advancing climate action and building the capacity of the next generation of workforce members. Visit www.netimpact.org.

About Hillenbrand 
Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI) is a global industrial company that provides highly-engineered, mission-critical processing equipment and solutions to customers in over 100 countries around the world. Our portfolio is composed of leading industrial brands that serve large, attractive end markets, including durable plastics, food, and recycling. Guided by our Purpose — Shape What Matters For Tomorrow™ — we pursue excellence, collaboration, and innovation to consistently shape solutions that best serve our associates, customers, communities, and other stakeholders. To learn more, visit www.Hillenbrand.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company 
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT:

Net Impact 
Hilary Manzo, Associate Director of Programs 
Phone: 415-495-4230 x369 
Email: hmanzo@netimpact.org

TAIPEI, Taiwan, January 21, 2025 /3BL/ – Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, has recently partnered with the Society of Wilderness (SoW) to tackle water resource challenges. As part of this initiative, FedEx encouraged team members and their families to join a riverside cleanup along the Touchian River in Hsinchu. After several hours of dedicated effort, the team successfully removed nearly 181 kilograms of waste. This accomplishment highlights the strong commitment FedEx has for environmental stewardship and its positive contribution to Taiwan’s ecological sustainability.

The Touchian River, which plays a critical role in the Greater Hsinchu area, was selected for the cleanup due to its importance in supplying over 90% of the local water, supporting agriculture, sustaining livelihoods, and being essential for the operations at the Hsinchu Science Park. Notably, Taiwan’s high-tech sector, which relies heavily on electronic components—its largest export in 20231—benefits significantly from this water resource.

“FedEx is committed to fostering sustainable development in the communities we serve and supporting local environmental conservation efforts,” said Michael Chu, managing director of FedEx Taiwan. “The Touchian River is a vital resource for the Hsinchu area, and our ongoing partnership with the Society of Wilderness underscores our dedication to environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility. We are committed to enhancing Taiwan’s ecological environment, growing alongside local communities, and pursuing a more sustainable future through our actions.”

“A clean river is the key to a blue sea,” said Liu Yueh-Mei, Honorary Chairperson of the Society of Wilderness. “We are excited to collaborate once again with FedEx, focusing on Taiwan’s water resources. According to the results of these two riverside clean-up events, the most common debris were plastic bottles, plastic bags, and disposable utensils. This emphasizes the importance of reducing plastic usage and reminds us to minimize the reliance of single-use products from everyday activities to achieve environmental sustainability. Additionally, numerous large waste items were discovered in the streams, highlighting the urgent need to prevent dumping trash or wastewater into our waterways to preserve their cleanliness. The Society of Wilderness eagerly anticipate more companies, organizations, and individuals, like FedEx, to join in protecting our land, rivers, and oceans, for a cleaner, sustainable future.”

In addition to organizing two cleanup events on December 14 and 28, 2024, FedEx partnered with the Society of Wilderness to hold an environmental education seminar titled “For Blue Seas, Start with Clean Streams.” This initiative aimed to explore the beauty of Taiwan’s aquatic and marine environments while educating team members on the importance of protecting the natural world. Through these hands-on cleanup events and educational seminars, FedEx team members are inspired to incorporate sustainability into their daily lives, particularly by reducing the use of disposable plastic items. FedEx actively supports sustainable practices, collaborating with local NGOs to promote environmental sustainability and foster a virtuous cycle.

1https://www.ey.gov.tw/state/6A206590076F7EF/8b5032af-1a67-4c02-bd16-8791aa459cd2

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