Month: June 2025

International Olympic Committee news

As World Table Tennis Day is celebrated today, we highlight the work of Tanjun Associate LLP. This organisation uses table tennis as a vehicle for lasting environmental and social impact in rural communities in India, with the support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTF Foundation).

Tanjun Associate LLP introduced table tennis to a region in northern India primarily inhabited by farmers who rely on agriculture as their only source of income. Tanjun aims to empower marginalised women from these areas by equipping them with the skills to develop sustainable bamboo sports equipment, encouraging not only environmentally friendly practices, but also lasting social change in the mountainous and forest-covered regions below the Himalayas.

Working alongside local schools that serve as hubs for the project, Tanjun has already conducted four training sessions, and around 80 per cent of the 200 attendees were women. These sessions combine table tennis events, hands-on training in producing sustainable sports equipment and environmental awareness education on topics such as preventing deforestation, waste management and regenerative agriculture.

Tanjun’s contribution to gender equality is particularly noteworthy given the theme of this year’s World Table Tennis Day: diversity and inclusion. It also builds on the impact of initiatives that have already engaged thousands of schoolchildren. Thanks to Tanjun, mixed doubles table tennis – once a rarity – is now the norm at Paradise Academy, one of its partner schools.

Delivering lasting social and environmental impact

Rekha Dey, a managing partner at Tanjun, explains why sport has been key to unlocking the project’s potential. “We are mobilising women in remote rural areas, who are primarily from lower-income groups and who come from communities where caste-based and gender discrimination is high,” says Dey. “Sport is a relationship-builder and acts as a powerful tool to reach out to these communities; it creates an environment of friendliness and fun and breaks down the barriers you often face.”

The support from the IOC, through the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, has allowed Tanjun to increase the scale of its work and to benefit from a supportive network of social entrepreneurs in sport for development. “Our footprint in the community has increased sizeably,” says Dey. “The grant has really helped us reach out and meet the targets we had set for ourselves. This project is about sustainable livelihood development, taking positive climate action and the development of environmentally friendly sports equipment.”

Thanks to the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, Tanjun was also able to invest in research and develop further sustainable sports equipment out of bamboo, such as hand-woven jute nets, alongside its training programmes. By the end of this year, Tanjun aims to have built a 100 per cent bamboo-based table tennis table, and is also currently producing prototype equipment for badminton, volleyball and football.

Using these initiatives to spur continual growth is fundamental to Tanjun’s approach. “The products are environmentally sustainable and commercially viable. We aim to show women how they can develop a livelihood through these skills,” says Dey. “Successful prototypes will be donated to community schools, and we will be training more women to be involved in the manufacturing process as we scale up.”

Working directly with vulnerable communities

Tanjun operates primarily in the states of Uttarakhand and Utter Pradesh, in a region increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and where the importance of sustainable development is stark.

“The Himalayas are the oxygen bank for the whole of northern India, and it provides water for the entire Indo-Gangetic plain,” explains Dey. “But human development is taking place at the cost of environmental degradation; deforestation is occurring, glaciers are melting, we are having extreme climate events every monsoon season. There has to be a solution-centric approach to development.”

By embedding circular economy principles, Tanjun aims to deliver both environmental and social impact, empowering the communities most at risk. “We are trying to work directly with the people that are most vulnerable and directly affected,” says Dey. “We want to help them stand for the protection of the areas they live in and embrace climate action initiatives.”

Olympism365: A shared vision for sport for sustainable development

Tanjun is one of nine social enterprises that received IOC co-investment totalling USD 300,000 through the Olympism365 Innovation Hub – a collaboration between the IOC, Beyond Sport and Women Win – and its Enterprise365 funding stream. These enterprises promote sustainable finance solutions to advance sport for positive social change and contribute to Olympism365, the IOC’s strategy to use sport as an important enabler of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Representing Tanjun, Dey will attend the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, which will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 3 to 5 June 2025. The event will bring together representatives from the Olympic Movement, UN agencies, development and financing institutions, civil society, for-purpose business and safe sport community members who are working together to advance the UN SDGs through sport.

Dey is enthused by the chance to meet others who share Tanjun’s commitment to sport for sustainable development. “We’re looking forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration and partnership,” she says. “I would also like to learn from other projects that are being implemented around the world, and from other Olympism365 Innovation Hub initiatives and innovators.”

Find out more about World Table Tennis Day

Originally published on Rayonier.com

The world’s appetite for energy is growing exponentially, with each year’s new electricity demands exceeding Japan’s entire annual electricity consumption. In the United States alone, electricity demand is projected to rise by as much as 50 percent by the year 2040 due to growth in manufacturing, data centers and mass electrification. Amidst this surge, the need for affordable, clean energy has never been more critical. 

Solar energy is playing a growing role in shaping conversations about the future of sustainable energy.

Why Solar is a Strategic Fit for Rayonier’s Land-Based Solutions Approach

With more than 2 million acres of sustainably managed U.S. forests and nearly 100 years of land stewardship, Rayonier is uniquely positioned to strengthen the U.S. energy grid through strategic solar development.

Driven by our commitment to land-based solutions, we lease high-potential properties for solar energy development and storage.

Our expert team collaborates closely with solar developers to optimize these projects, delivering clean energy and strengthening surrounding communities through the creation of local jobs, increased tax revenue and significant economic investment.

“Renewable energy is a good fit for Rayonier,” says Rayonier Vice President of Energy Resources Rob Fancher. “Our timberlands provide a lot of environmental benefits, and renewable energy does the same thing. They’re both very long-term, focused projects. They’re both quiet, good neighbors.”

Why Solar is Important to the Growing Demand for Renewable Energy

On a macro level, solar energy enhances both the United States’ energy independence and its pursuit of energy dominance. This reliable source of domestic power reduces the nation’s need to depend on volatile global energy markets, bolstering its strategic position and global influence.

Increasing U.S. energy independence also provides more price stability for both consumers and businesses. As companies strive to meet sustainability goals and reduce operating costs, locations with robust renewable energy resources are becoming increasingly desirable for new facilities.

This trend is particularly evident in the advanced technology industry, including AI. The manufacturing industry is also a key driver of this shift, drawn to renewable energy’s cost-effectiveness and lower emissions.

​​What Research Shows About the Role of Solar

Countless studies point to clean, renewable energy as the key to meeting energy demand and reducing the impact of CO₂ in the United States:

• “After decades of innovation and cost reductions, solar is rapidly maturing, and with continued research, development, and deployment, it could potentially serve 40% or more of U.S. electricity demand.”—U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Futures Study
• “A net-zero pathway hinges on renewables capacity tripling between now and the end of the decade.”—Bloomberg’s New Energy Outlook 2024
• “Renewable energy technologies like solar and wind are the key to reducing emissions in the electricity sector, which is today the single largest source of CO₂ emissions.”— International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050 report

Rayonier’s First Solar Project

The first solar project on Rayonier land became operational in 2023. Longroad Energy’s 150 megawatt Umbriel solar project in Polk County, Texas, delivers enough clean energy to power roughly 30,000 homes, avoiding an estimated 250,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually (the equivalent to taking 55,000 cars off the road). The project also is expected to generate about $13 million in tax revenue for the community.

Project Highlights:

• Clean energy output: Powers ~30,000 homes annually
• CO₂ reduction: Offsets ~250,000 metric tons of emissions each year (equal to removing 55,000 cars from the road)
• Community impact: Expected to generate ~$13 million in local tax revenue

“Solar is the fastest-growing source of energy in the U.S.,” says Longroad Energy Vice President of Origination & Development Adam Horwitz, who led the project for Longroad. “It’s an abundant source of energy…and it’s economical.”

Advancements Driving Solar Forward

Thanks to advances in technology in both building and generating solar power, the levelized cost of solar electricity dropped by more than 80 percent since 2008, according to this Berkeley Lab study and Lazard’s 2024 Levelized Cost of Energy study. Even without national and global emissions reductions targets and federal tax incentives, market forces alone are projected to propel solar and other clean energy technologies forward. Solar is also established more quickly compared to alternatives, such as gas-powered turbines, which have a 7-8 year waiting list.

How the Umbriel Project Came Together

Longroad purchased about 1,900 acres of land needed for the Polk County project and leased the remaining 583 acres from Rayonier. The energy developer developed the site, found a long-term energy buyer for the solar project, secured financing, oversaw construction and brought the project into operation.

Advantages of working with Rayonier on a Solar Project

Working with Rayonier offers advantages to solar developers, including:

• Our company’s long history as a landowner and careful stewardship of our properties.
• Strong relationships with local and state leaders as well as neighboring property owners.
• Extensive records on the land, including topography, soil types, wetland delineation, any presence of vulnerable plants and wildlife, and other data.
• A large landbase to work with in order to optimize the plan.

Our team of experts works with the solar developer to identify ideal locations that meet their needs, buildable land at scale with access to strong power markets and transmission. The team also supports the development process by assisting with site design, layout and identification of sensitive environmental areas.

Working with a single, large landowner streamlined the process for the developer, explains Longroad Landman Cody Walker:

“When you deal with multiple landowners in one area, you have different personalities, you have to manage different needs and different histories with properties to manage,” he says. “When it’s one landowner, one use, you can easily work together to make the project work for both parties.”

Taking neighbors’ concerns into account

Cody worked closely with neighbors to ensure their concerns and expectations were taken into account during the project, as well. Kim Mueck, whose family owns nearby property, says they were at first skeptical about the project.

Kim says she expected noise and traffic, but was pleased that wasn’t the case after the solar project was built.

“We got Cody’s number and, any time we needed anything, the weekends, the holidays, if there was a problem, they were there,” she says. “It turned out to be a great relationship. The road to get to our own property is way better. They did leave a tree buffer there between our property and the solar farm, so you don’t really see it.”

“Once the construction’s done and it’s here, it’s just here,” she says. “You don’t see a lot of people. It’s not noisy. There’s not a lot of traffic. Like I said, you pass through it to get to our property, but once you’re back there, you really don’t know it’s there.”

Optimizing Land for its Greatest Sustainable Purpose

The Rayonier team is trained to look carefully at all of our properties, striving to find the best possible purpose for every acre. The majority of Rayonier’s land base is best suited for forestry activities, but our business development team is trained to recognize special sites and unique characteristics that are ideal for solar, wind and other critical land-based solutions.

Only Select Land is Right for Solar

“As we evaluate the properties that are best for solar, we find that to be a very small percentage of our portfolio overall,” explains Rayonier Business Development Landman Jose Villarreal.

Rayonier estimates that only a low, single-digit percentage of its forest land may ultimately become active solar projects.

Rayonier’s properties that are especially attractive to solar companies have proximity to a population in need of the energy and convenient access to power transmission infrastructure.

While the recent ramp up in solar projects across the nation may seem expansive, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Futures Study states that the most aggressive growth in solar energy development would use, at most, 10.3 million acres of land across the entire U.S. by 2050. That equates to less than 5 percent of land in all U.S. states (except for Rhode Island, which comes in at 6.5 percent).

Working with Sustainability-Centric Companies to Deliver Clean Energy

Rayonier uses a careful vetting process in determining which companies to work with to deliver clean energy. We choose to work with companies that, like us, put sustainability first; go well beyond the minimum standards to protect the environment; and treat our neighbors and communities with respect.

Choosing the Right Partners for the Long Term

“We want to work with solar development companies that share in our core values and our long-term commitments to environmental stewardship,” says Rayonier Energy Resources Manager Zan Frederick. He says his team was pleased with the steps Longroad Energy took to protect the environment around the project site.

Designing Solar Projects with a Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

While the project site encompassed about 2,500 acres, only 1,300 were developed for solar, allowing Longroad to work around sensitive features, such as streams and wetlands.

“The project from the very beginning was sited and designed to avoid and protect wetlands,” says Longroad Environmental Manager Lindsey Kester. “We had wetland ecologists survey the project area to identify those boundaries in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, and then our engineers sited and designed the project to avoid those boundaries. It’s a thoughtful process and it doesn’t just end with a plan. We have a whole team that ensures that that plan is in compliance through construction and operation through the life of the project.”

Construction of the solar project included the development of reservoirs, silt fences and other modalities to prevent impacts on wetlands and the surrounding area. The Longroad team also planted seed lots designed to ensure there will be vegetation such as flowering grasses on the ground year-round, stabilizing the soil.

“That vegetation includes native pollinator plant species that help enhance that environment and provide new habitat where wildlife can thrive,” Lindsey says.

You can learn more about Longroad’s approach to environmental stewardship by visiting their website here.

High Standards for the Life of the Project

Our solar leases typically span 30 years or more. When the projects come to a close, the developer will remove all materials, enabling us to resume use of the property for whatever its next highest and best use is, such as forestry.

By leasing land for solar projects on select sites, Rayonier ensures the land will be held to the same standards we hold all of our properties to: sustainable land management that will benefit our communities and planet for many years to come.

As previously seen on the CSRHub blog.

CSRHub is proud to announce that we have successfully completed our 15th B Corporation certification review, continuing a legacy that began in November 2010. Our commitment to sustainability and transparency has remained unwavering—and we’re honored to retain our B Corp status once again.

View our updated B Corp certification page →

What Being a B Corp Means to Us

From the beginning, CSRHub has aimed to be more than a “for profit” business—we’ve operated as a mission-driven organization from day one. Our vision was to offer transparent, trustworthy consensus ratings on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, helping people evaluate companies with clarity and impact.

Becoming a B Corporation back in 2010 reflected this core mission: to use sustainability / ESG data to drive positive behavior, from corporate boardrooms to supply chains around the globe.

A Platform for Global ESG Accountability

Today, more than 50,000 professionals visit our platform each month to explore how over 60,000 organizations are performing on ESG metrics. We know our work helps shape decisions by:

• Consultants helping clients with benchmarking and ratings improvement
• Supply chain managers assessing their supply chains and value stream
• Branding and marketing teams shaping corporate narratives to improve reporting
• Investors looking to allocate capital responsibly
• Consumers and stakeholders seeking accountability

Through partnerships and integrations, CSRHub data now reaches thousands more via analytics platforms, due diligence engines, and impact research tools.

15 Reviews, 3 B Lab Versions, and Growing Standards

Our latest review was conducted under Version 6 of B Lab’s certification framework—our first review used Version 2. We’re proud to have consistently scored above the 80-point threshold in every cycle, reflecting our long-standing commitment to ESG transparency and social accountability.

“It was easier to score higher in the early years,” said Bahar Gidwani, CSRHub Co-founder. “But we’ve stayed focused on growing our impact, ingesting more than 1,000 ESG data sources and continually improving our transparency.”

Why It Still Matters

As B Lab rolls out Version 7 of its criteria, we remain committed to maintaining the high standards required for certification. For us, this isn’t just a badge—it’s a living part of our identity and our purpose.

We’ll continue building the world’s most robust ESG consensus signal, so decision-makers everywhere can see corporate behavior clearly—and help improve it.

Ready to dive deeper?

Link to full B Corp listing

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers the most comprehensive global set of Consensus ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings, information, and tools. CSRHub’s business intelligence system measures the ESG business impact that drives corporate and investor sustainability decisions.  Founded in 2007, CSRHub covers 58,000+ public and private companies, and provides ESG performance scores on over 38,833 companies from 134 industries in 156 countries. Our Big Data platform uses algorithms to aggregate, normalize and weight ESG metrics from 989 sources to produce a strong consensus signal on corporate sustainability performance. Interested in learning more about CSRHub? Click here.

With nearly 40% of carbon emissions coming from the built environment, the construction industry is building and renovating more and more sustainably. With innovative solutions and new construction methods, we have a whole new vocabulary that this podcast is going to decipher for you!

“Clinkerization” is the technical term for the process of producing the backbone of cement: clinker. To produce clinker, non-renewable materials are heated to very high temperatures. One of the ingredients is limestone which releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide when heated. Consequently, the process has a big environmental footprint. Revolutionizing cement production has become a burning issue for the whole construction sector.

Listen here C…for Clinkerisation, a Saint-Gobain Podcast

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Every nine minutes, rabies claims a life. Each year, this deadly virus steals nearly 60,000 lives, despite being entirely preventable through vaccination.

Judith Masika from Kenya experienced this firsthand: Her husband died, due to a bite by a rabid dog. A tragedy that could have been prevented had there been better awareness.

Eliminating rabies requires a global effort and strong collaboration. Boehringer Ingelheim is working to help prevent these tragic stories through our Stop Rabies program. The program focuses on a holistic approach through three pillars: vaccination, education and surveillance. We’re collaborating with governmental and non-governmental organizations, health authorities, veterinarians, local communities, dog owners, and other partners, to Stop Rabies before it starts.

Judith’s story is a powerful reminder of why preventable diseases like rabies must be eliminated and how collaborative action can help save lives.

Find out more and explore other stories on Imagine: our sustainability story hub, where we share our commitment to sustainability and what we are doing to create a positive impact for humans, animals and our planet.

Southern Company

At a time when technological advancements are reshaping entire industries, Southern Company continues its longstanding tradition of embracing cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency, safety and maintaining industry-leading standards in delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to customers.

An example of this commitment is the recent testing and now ongoing implementation of Aetos technology at Alabama Power’s Plant Barry and within Power Delivery, with plans for near-term expansion to other generation and power delivery sites in the Southern Company system, allowing for the visualization of complex infrastructure and efficient access to associated documentation.

By integrating the Aetos solution, Southern Company is pioneering a transformation in how facilities are operated and maintained. This technology provides engineering, operations and maintenance teams with a high-resolution digital model of a physical location. This so-called “digital twin” provides a high level of detail, enabling them to conduct virtual walkthroughs and inspections without the need for physical presence.

Teams can remotely assess equipment documentation and training materials. They can identify potential issues and plan maintenance activities with precision. Safety is potentially enhanced by reducing the need for onsite inspections when they are not an absolute requirement.

Aetos technology is equally transformative for both generation and power delivery, facilitating comprehensive mapping of substations and plant infrastructure. The digital representation serves as a valuable tool for planning upgrades, conducting inspections and responding to outages, supporting the company’s commitment to delivering reliable service to customers.

Engineers, planners and field technicians can access the same detailed models, fostering a unified approach to problem-solving and decision-making, potentially accelerating project timelines and enhancing communication. The adoption of this technology is also an example of Southern Company’s Connected Worker program, an intentional effort to connect field workers with detailed asset information including engineering, maintenance and operations documents and data, and to develop site specific training and job aids for operations team members on processes, equipment and assets.

As the global maritime industry navigates the accelerating demands of sustainability, DP World is anchoring itself at the center of change. With a footprint spanning 74 countries and over 114,000 employees, our mission – to make trade flow – carries a critical mandate: it must flow sustainably.

At the heart of this transformation lies a bold but pragmatic approach to port and vessel decarbonization. Through the “Our World, Our Future,” sustainability strategy, we are committed to decarbonizing our port terminals, logistics, and marine services by 2030. Achieving net-zero emission by 2050 is our north star. Through our work, DP World is proving that environmental leadership and operational resilience are not opposing forces, but powerful allies.

Electrification on the Front Lines of Port Decarbonization

In Vancouver, DP World’s Centerm terminal stands as a national first by providing shore power – also known as “cold ironing” – to docked vessels. There, container ships can shut down their auxiliary diesel engines and plug into the local electrical grid while berthed – cutting emissions by up to 80%. This is a model for how port electrification improves air quality for nearby communities while supporting long-term climate goals.

Centerm is not alone. Globally, our terminals are transitioning to electric cranes, yard equipment, and terminal tractors as part of our dedicated equipment electrification capital plane.

In the Dominican Republic, we became the first port operator in Latin America to develop a charging station for our electric truck fleet. The station is powered by 100% renewable energy and is used to charge our fleet of 20 fully electric internal transport vehicles (ITVs). Earlier this year, we celebrated a major sustainability milestone when the trucks traveled more than 740,000 kilometers – the equivalent of 18 zero-emission trips around the world – avoiding more than 2,400 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

Around the world, we are proud to have achieved 100% renewable energy at our operations in Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Dry Docks World in the UAE.

Internal carbon pricing now guides capital investments, ensuring environmental gains are paired with financial discipline.

Driving Emissions Down at Sea: Marine Services Innovation

While port operations evolve, DP World’s marine fleet is transforming. With over 120 vessels handling 16,000+ port calls each year, this is where small efficiency gains yield massive emissions reductions.

We’ve introduced new ships that run on cleaner-burning methanol, upgraded vessels for greater efficiency, and improved routes to achieve measurable fuel savings. In 2023, we launched the first hybrid-electric ferry in the UK, Pioneer, which runs on a combination of traditional diesel fuel and electric battery power. A second hybrid-electric ferry, Liberte, came online in 2024. We’re not betting on a single technology. From biofuels to hybrid propulsion systems, our Marine Services business is continuously testing pathways toward a low-carbon fleet.

Preparing for a Multi-Fuel Future

The transition to alternative fuels is not just about switching tanks; it’s a system-wide overhaul. We’re preparing for a landscape where methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and liquified natural gas (LNG) coexist. This requires new infrastructure, established safety standards, and a workforce equipped for complexity.

Earlier this year, we successfully completed initial testing of a hydrogen fuel cell rubber-tired gantry (RTG) crane at the Port of Vancouver. RTG cranes are traditionally large consumers of diesel fuel, accounting for 50% of consumption in Vancouver alone. During testing, the hydrogen-powered system operated continuously for 16 hours, emitting only steam – in contrast to the 400 kg of CO₂ produced by a comparable diesel unit. On the heels of this success, we are conducting expansive field testing on the feasibility of electrifying our global RTG fleet.

DP World is also creating fueling networks and sustainable shipping routes in key hubs like Singapore and Europe. We established protocol on handling very cold fuels and transporting them seamlessly from storage to ship – ensuring safety and scalability for a clean marine fuel future.

We know this journey won’t be linear. High costs and limited availability of green fuels like methanol and ammonia are current roadblocks. But through partnerships and policy advocacy, we’re pushing to accelerate availability and affordability across our global network.

Collaboration: The Cornerstone of Global Progress

Progress at scale requires shared ambition. That’s why DP World is an active member of initiatives like the Zero Emissions Port Alliance, the First Movers Coalition, and the Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.

Through these partnerships, we’re advocating for co-investment models, harmonized regulation, and infrastructure development that serves a broader vision: ports not just as gateways of commerce, but critical hubs in the world’s renewable energy supply chain.