Month: August 2025

• Grants will fund programs focused on protecting and improving natural environments, biodiversity and community resilience
• Funds will benefit 19 environmental impact programs, including conservation groups and community-led initiatives
• Over $6.6 million in environmental impact grants have been awarded over the past five years

CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 26, 2025 /3BL/ – Duke Energy today announced $550,000 in grants for environmental impact programs in North Carolina. The funding will support a variety of projects aimed at enhancing and preserving the state’s natural surroundings.

What’s happening: Nineteen programs are receiving Duke Energy Foundation grants to help bolster the natural environment of North Carolina communities through vegetation enhancement, cleanup initiatives and improvements to natural spaces.

Why it matters: Promoting a thriving natural environment is key to supporting the well-being of the communities Duke Energy serves. By uplifting community partners that are working to champion conservation efforts, Duke Energy Foundation is supporting those who know their communities best.

Zoom out: Duke Energy Foundation has provided grants totaling $6.6 million to support environmental impact programs across North Carolina over the past five years.

What they’re saying

• Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president: “North Carolina’s natural surroundings are an asset to our communities, our residents and our economic growth. We’re proud to work alongside local nonprofits to promote our state’s natural resources and build communities that are great places to live, work and play.”
   
• Kyle Prairie, CEO/Executive Director, Keep North Carolina Beautiful: “We are deeply grateful to Duke Energy for their generous support of the 2025 Greatest American Cleanup. Their investment in this statewide effort enables our affiliates and partners to roll up their sleeves and make a tangible impact in communities across North Carolina. Thanks to Duke Energy’s commitment, we’re not only providing the tools and resources needed to tackle litter and recycling – we’re also empowering thousands of volunteers to help create a cleaner, more beautiful North Carolina for everyone.”

Grant recipients

• Alliance for Cape Fear Trees
   
• Broad River Greenway
   
• Carolina Raptor Center
   
• Catawba County Historical Association
   
• City of Greensboro
   
• City of Lumberton
   
• Daniel Jonathan Stowe Conservancy
   
• Gateway Environmental Initiative
   
• Happy Roots
   
• Keep Durham Beautiful
   
• Keep North Carolina Beautiful
   
• North Carolina Arboretum Society
   
• North Carolina Coastal Federation
   
• North Carolina Wildlife Federation
   
• Sturgeon City of Jacksonville
   
• Town of Cary
   
• Town of Sylva
   
• TreesCharlotte
   
• Wildlife & Outdoor Recreation Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Garrett Poorman
X/Twitter: @DukeEnergyNC
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

Mastercard

Over the past several years, the circular economy — a system that repurposes rather than discards existing goods — has been gaining momentum, driven by a combination of powerful forces:

• The environment: The circular model keeps waste out of landfills, captures value back into supply chains, and reduces the energy necessary to manufacture new products. As awareness of climate change and environmental risks rises, these product lifecycle considerations are coming to the forefront for consumers.
• Regenerative: The inherent nature of the circular model means it thrives in various forms, from thrift shops, to reuse, to rentals. By connecting buyers and merchants around the world, the internet has expanded resellers’ options and extended their reach beyond local thrifters.
• Economic resilience: For consumers, the upshot is a wider range of high-quality, affordable alternatives to brand-new merchandise. This is proving especially attractive amid turbulence from external factors like higher tariffs on certain imports.

Recently, the Mastercard Economics Institute explored the influence of these forces on the rise of circular fashion. Now, we are turning our focus to a subset of the circular economy: circular sports, or the resale of used equipment.

To isolate the impact of economic and behavioral factors on the circular sports market, we concentrated our analysis on merchants who specialize in used sports equipment, although it is also widely sold at general-purpose online marketplaces and second-hand stores.

Why circular sports makes sense

Sporting equipment is a natural candidate for circular models. For starters much of it is highly durable. With a quick refurbishment, used equipment can look — and perform — almost like new. Furthermore, many of the most avid participants, eager for an edge, will regularly trade up to the latest models, defraying the costs by selling their old equipment to buyers satisfied with last year’s technology.

Also, new athletic gear can be very expensive. For example, to take up golf, you need a set of clubs, golf balls, a bag and appropriate clothing — a significant investment. But what if you discover, after giving it your best shot, that golf just isn’t your game? You could move on with less regret if you’d opted for a set of used clubs instead of investing in brand-new gear.

The benefits of circular sports for children are even clearer. Kids cycle through sports quickly — and they grow fast, requiring frequent gear replacements. Circular options save parents money while allowing kids to experiment with new activities. This could expand opportunities for children in underrepresented economic environments, who currently face greater barriers to participating in sports compared to their more financially included peers: the National Survey of Children’s Health indicates that only 33% of children at or below the poverty line play on a sports team or take lessons, compared to 71% of those in households with incomes at least 400% above the poverty line (about $130k for a family of four).

Tariffs reshape the market

Broader economic factors are also pushing circular sports into the mainstream. The enactment of higher tariffs on many imported sporting goods has raised prices and reduced availability. Sports equipment imported to the U.S. in May were subject to an average tariff rate of 25.8%, compared to 5.5% in 2024, based on official figures (USAtrade.census.gov). While trade negotiations continue, it’s already clear that many sporting products will carry steeper price tags.

In 2024, according to the same source, 56.6% of U.S. sporting goods imports came from China. Taiwan supplied another 12.4%; Vietnam, 9.3%; Canada, 3.4%; Mexico, 3.3%; and Thailand, 2.8%; followed by Italy, South Korea, Czechia and Japan. Together, these countries account for about 92% of U.S. imports of sports and fitness gear. China’s share has steadily fallen from 68% a decade ago; Vietnam has filled in the gap.

As the chart below shows, tariff effects vary significantly depending on the type of sporting equipment. For example, racquet sports are taking a hit: tariffs rates on pickleball and table tennis gear jumped 37% from last year; they now carry tariffs higher than 40%, as do nets and squash racquets. Golf and winter activities like snowboarding and cross-country skiing are less exposed, with tariff rates at or below 20%.

Circular sports sales are picking up speed

Analyzing Mastercard’s aggregated and anonymized transaction data, the Mastercard Economics Institute identified spending trends on used sporting equipment over the past few years.

Key insights:

• Momentum is already building: Circular sports sales are up 11% YTD; for comparison, the total sporting goods category grew 3% YTD. After rising 6% in 2024 and 10% in 2023, sales of used sporting equipment are now nearly 30% above 2022 levels.
• Unique seasonal spending spikes: While spending at mainstream sporting goods retailers surges during the holidays, especially on Black Friday and Christmas Eve, activity in the resale sector is more staggered. Peak spending corresponds with the start of schools’ sports seasons in the spring (and fall, to a lesser degree), with baseball gear selling particularly well.
• Demand is highest in Northern U.S.: In 2024–2025, households in Northern U.S. states spent the most on circular sporting goods, with Alaska, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Missouri, North Dakota, Vermont and Montana topping the list. What’s driving the trend? High youth sports participation rates in these states fuel demand not only for circular options but for sporting goods overall. When it comes to total sporting goods spend per household, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and New Hampshire lead the way.

The final score

The circular sports market is on an exciting trajectory, driven by environmental concerns, economic incentives — particularly tariffs — and changing consumer behavior. Niche specialty platforms to major resale marketplaces are capitalizing on this momentum, offering consumers more affordable — and more environmentally conscious — choices.

As tariffs reshape the economics of new sporting goods, the Mastercard Economics Institute expects the circular share of the market to continue to expand. Within this fertile landscape, new entrants and innovative business models are poised to thrive.

Originally published by Mastercard

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

Businesses today are operating in an environment where a discussion about climate risk must be front and center. The question is: How do companies move from simply being aware of climate risks, to taking real, strategic action? In this episode, we discuss regional climate risks, data technology, and the forward-looking planning critical for building resilience. We hear from co-host for this episode, Laura Kirkvold, Sustainability Working Group Leader with Inogen Alliance and Consultant with Antea Group USA, James Hughes, Technical Director for Climate and Resilience and Strategic Consulting at Tonkin + Taylor, Audrey Beattie, Senior Manager in the Sustainability Practice at Antea Group USA, and Michalis Lellis, Water and Environmental Specialist at Baden Consulting.

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

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Rethinking EHS: Global Goals. Local Delivery.

The key to a sustainable future lies in our ability to coordinate global efforts built on the foundation of local expertise. So how can those of us passionate about protecting planet and people harness this knowledge and turn it into practical solutions on a worldwide scale?

On this podcast, we’ll traverse the globe to unearth the stories of EHS and sustainability communities making an impact on the ground. We’ll share compelling stories from biodiversity and energy transition to workplace safety and more; expert insights, on topics such as PFAS and CSRD, and diverse perspectives to highlight tangible solutions and share innovative strategies to drive change.

Whether you’re an EHS practitioner, a sustainability specialist, or a leader striving to improve your organization, join us, as we explore the path forward and Rethink EHS.

Brought to you by Inogen Alliance.

During the 2025 Georgia Forestry Association Conference on Jekyll Island, I participated in a panel discussion titled “Insights from Corporate Brands on Sustainability and Transparency“. What transpired during and after that session was an incredible dialog between some of our country’s largest and most sustainable brands and the landowners and loggers who have responsibly managed Georgia’s working forests for generations. Hundreds of landowners in the room had the opportunity to hear directly from Georgia-Pacific, Mary Tucker (Walmart), Chris Weber (Kimberly-Clark), and Maureen Kline (Pirelli Tire North America) about their sustainable forestry strategies. Those of us representing these brands, in turn, had the opportunity to hear landowners talk about their efforts to be good stewards of their land for future generations, as well as the economic challenges and realities they face as small business owners. These discussions went a long way towards improving knowledge and understanding across our value chain and we should have them more often.

Forests are essential to our society. They help protect air and water quality, support plant and wildlife biodiversity, sequester carbon, offer recreational opportunities, and provide economic value. Companies like Georgia-Pacific rely on forests to produce products and services that help people improve their lives, providing solutions that create shelter, improve hygiene, facilitate the convenient delivery of food, and protect goods as they move through the supply chain. As a company that doesn’t own forests but relies on them for the wood and wood fiber used to make the building and paper products society values, we are committed to using these resources efficiently and reducing waste and helping maintain healthy forests not only in the areas in which we operate, but also in other areas where forests are at risk.

Regardless of where one stands in the value chain, we are united in our recognition of the value that forests provide and the need to manage them responsibly. In the United States, we have been managing forests sustainably. Since 1920, the U.S. population has more than tripled, while per capita GDP rose tenfold. As our society built homes, diapered babies, printed schoolbooks, and shipped goods, forested acres in the United States have remained stable. Changes in land use have been common, as certain timberlands are converted for development, infrastructure, and agricultural use when they provide higher value to their owners. Other lands are reforested or afforested when forest ecosystems are more valuable. The primary cause of forest cover loss in the U.S. is the relative value of alternative use for the land, not timber production.

Strong markets for timber and related ecosystem services create economic incentives for landowners to keep forests as forests. The reason that a log truck is pulling up to the scales right now at Georgia-Pacific’s sawmill in Warrenton, Georgia, is that someone needs a house. And when the mill cuts those logs, the reason they’re going to ship the residual chips to our pulp mill in Brunswick, Georgia, is that there’s a baby that needs a diaper. After a harvest, if a landowner has confidence that they’ll be able to sell timber from thinnings to a pulp mill 15 years from now and saw timber to a lumber mill 25 years from now, they’re more likely to replant.

Our customers, consumers, and other constituents want to do business with ethical and responsible companies and ensure that their practices aren’t contributing to deforestation. The timber industry in the United States, where GP purchases more than 90% of our wood fiber, has materially different dynamics than Brazil, where a few large companies manage millions of hectares of land. Canada is materially different from both countries, as much of their timberland is owned by the Crown, who establishes forest management expectations. As we create policies to support these objectives, we need to ensure that these policies recognize the local markets and don’t create unnecessary costs or disadvantage small family landowners in a way that leads to more land use change instead of less – the exact opposite of the policy’s intended outcome.

Forestry certification is an important part of our stewardship strategy. Georgia-Pacific holds several sustainable forestry certifications, including FSC®, SFI®, and PEFC, and maintains them through regular third-party audits across all our operating areas. When I speak of certification, I’m referring to both chain of custody, which allows brands to track certified material through the supply chain and programs like SFI Certified Sourcing and FSC Controlled Wood, which ensure responsible forest procurement practices and screen out high-risk sources.

All of Georgia-Pacific’s fiber purchases comply with procurement certification standards, ensuring legal and sustainable sourcing practices. These certificates provide evidence that our practices are sustainable but cannot be the extent of our actions to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to our care. They also must make sense for the landowners. Here in Georgia, there are more than 24 million acres of forestland, of which roughly 115,000 have FSC Forest Management certification (Source: FSC Acreage by State – 2022). That’s less than one half of one percent. Clearly, landowners haven’t seen value in taking on the administrative burden of certification, particularly if they only plan on harvesting once or twice a generation.

Some recent traceability requirements, which seek to ensure that all parcels of land that are harvested to produce a specific product are replanted, are also problematic in the context of U.S. ownership patterns. As we looked at one of Georgia-Pacific’s large pulp mills, we determined that, in any given year, more than 10,000 different landowners are providing fiber to that mill. A bit over half of these landowners send fiber directly to the mill, primarily during thinning operations, and the balance comes from sawmills who send us residual chips from logs they’ve processed. The logs and chips are mixed at scores of different sites, both GP-owned and 3rd-party. The following year, it will also be more than 10,000, with little overlap. It is therefore impossible to know which specific plot of land grew the trees for an individual roll of pulp. As a result, the policies of a single customer or country create a de facto requirement for that mill’s entire purchasing practices, potentially excluding landowners who can’t commit to replanting due to their own personal incentives.

Forest landowners in the United States have been demonstrating that they’re good stewards of their property for over a century. Private property rights, a free market, and the rule of law create incentives for them to continue to be. We should be wary of imposing broad requirements that restrict market access and unintentionally make other uses of land more attractive. Increasing knowledge of their specific supply chain puts companies in a better position to conduct sourcing in a way that supports their stewardship priorities and those of their customers. As a large U.S. forest products company, Georgia-Pacific has over 100 foresters and wood buyers who live and work in our wood basins. We have developed strong relationships with the loggers and landowners who help us to ensure that our expectations are met. This knowledge informs our Statement on Forest Stewardship and helps us to build the tools that will help us meet our customers’ expectations and continue to support a thriving forest products industry for generations to come.

License numbers: FSC-C108208, SFI-00007, PEFC/29-31-221

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Originally published on AdoptAClassroom.org

Subaru Loves Learning month is here, and our friends at Subaru are partnering with us for the fifth consecutive year to support students who need supplies. 

During the month of August, Subaru and its retailers are funding classrooms in their local communities across the country through AdoptAClassroom.org^®.

As our largest corporate supporter, Subaru’s award-winning Subaru Loves Learning initiative will help provide school supplies to more than 950,000 students in high-needs schools with us by the end of 2025.

Subaru Helps Students Thrive in School

For Jackie, a third-grade teacher in California, support from Subaru has helped keep her students engaged.

“If we don’t have all of the supplies that they need, then a lot of times we have limited participation,” said Jackie. “So we work really hard to make sure that our students have the school supplies they need to really avoid that decrease of engagement and continue to boost their confidence in their learning as well.”

A donation from her local Subaru retailer helped teachers at Jackie’s school purchase classroom supplies that spark curiosity and excitement.

Jackie’s school isn’t alone. A 2025 AdoptAClassroom.org survey found that 77% of students in classrooms adopted by Subaru were more engaged in their learning because of the donation.

“Thank you Subaru from the bottom of my heart for supporting the students in my classroom and Parkview Elementary School as a whole. We would not be able to continue to help our students and support their learning if it wasn’t for companies like you.”

– Jackie, Teacher

Alysia, a K-6 instructional coach in Arizona, spends $750 to $1,000 out of pocket each year on supplies for her high-needs classroom. Her students go through most classroom items faster than she can replace them. 

As her sixth-grade student Ben remembers, “One time we had to share pencils because we didn’t have enough.”

Alysia used donations from her local Subaru retailer to purchase flexible seating and fidgets for her students. She sees the impact of the new supplies daily.

“It keeps kids in the classroom,” said Alysia. “They don’t have to go take a break or go for a walk. They can move their hands to keep them focused.” 

92% of teachers’ students supported by Subaru were able to access learning materials they wouldn’t have received without the donation.

Students like Ben thrive when they have the right learning tools, and over the past five years, Subaru has made that possible for 950,000+ students.

Learn more about Subaru’s educator vehicle discount program on their website.

A special thank you to the following Subaru retailers who adopted an entire school in their community for the 2024-2025 school year:

• Adventure Subaru – Fayetteville, AR
• Peoria Subaru – Peoria, AZ
• Findlay Subaru Prescott – Prescott, AZ
• Tucson Subaru – Tucson, AZ
• Albany Subaru – Albany, CA
• Santa Cruz Subaru – Capitola, CA
• Fairfield Subaru – Fairfield, CA
• Modesto Subaru – Modesto, CA
• Stevens Creek Subaru – San Jose, CA
• DCH Subaru of Thousand Oaks – Thousand Oaks, CA
• Schomp Subaru – Aurora, CO
• AutoNation Subaru Arapahoe – Centennial, CO
• Heuberger Subaru – Colorado Springs, CO
• AutoNation Subaru West – Golden, CO
• Step One Subaru Fort Walton Beach – Fort Walton Beach, FL
• Subaru of Gainesville – Gainesville, FL
• Subaru of North Miami – Miami, FL
• Subaru of Naples – Naples, FL
• Subaru of Pembroke Pines – Pembroke Pines, FL
• Subaru of Wesley Chapel – Wesley Chapel, FL
• Wackerli Subaru – Idaho Falls, ID
• Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne – Fort Wayne, IN
• Zeigler Subaru of Lafayette – Lafayette, IN
• Subaru of Olathe – Olathe, KS
• Quantrell Subaru – Lexington, KY
• Subaru of Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge, LA
• Baldwin Subaru – Covington, LA
• Annapolis Subaru – Annapolis, MD
• Bel Air Subaru – Bel Air, MD
• Gateway Subaru – Delmar, MD
• Fox Subaru – Grand Rapids, MI
• Suburban Subaru of Troy – Troy, MI
• Bloomington Subaru – Bloomington, MN
• Walser Subaru – Burnsville, MN
• Walser Subaru St. Paul – S. St. Paul, MN
• White Bear Subaru – Vadnais Heights, MN
• Reliable Subaru – Springfield, MO
• Sunset Hills Subaru – Sunset Hills, MO
• Johnson Subaru of Cary – Cary, NC
• Williams Subaru – Charlotte, NC
• Beardmore Subaru – Bellevue, NE
• Subaru of Englewood – Englewood, NJ
• Lester Glenn Subaru – Toms River, NJ
• Subaru of Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV
• Goldstein Subaru – Colonie, NY
• Subaru White Plains – Elmsford, NY
• Boardman Subaru – Boardman, OH
• Ferguson Subaru – Broken Arrow, OK
• Cavender Subaru of Norman – Norman, OK
• Bob Moore Subaru – Oklahoma City, OK
• Royal Moore Subaru – Hillsboro, OR
• Capitol Subaru of Salem – Salem, OR
• Faulkner Subaru Harrisburg – Harrisburg, PA
• Stuckey Subaru – Hollidaysburg, PA
• W & L Subaru – Northumberland, PA
• Bowser Subaru – Pittsburgh, PA
• Budd Baer Subaru – Washington, PA
• Crews Subaru of Charleston – North Charleston, SC
• City Limits Subaru – Buda, TX
• Subaru of America Dallas Zone Office – Coppell, TX
• Huffines Subaru Corinth – Corinth, TX
• Hicks Family Subaru – Corpus Christi, TX
• Bert Ogden Subaru – Edinburg, TX
• Hiley Subaru – Fort Worth, TX
• Team Gillman Subaru North – Houston, TX
• Brandon Tomes Subaru – McKinney, TX
• North Park Subaru – San Antonio, TX
• Doug Smith Subaru – American Fork, UT
• Bob Wade Subaru – Harrisonburg, VA
• Casey Subaru – Newport News, VA
• Southern Team Subaru – Roanoke, VA
• CMA’s Subaru of Winchester – Winchester, VA
• Subaru of Puyallup – Puyallup, WA
• Dick Hannah Subaru – Vancouver, WA
• Bergstrom Subaru – Green Bay – Green Bay, WI
• Don Miller Subaru East – Madison, WI
• Don Miller Subaru West – Madison, WI
• Sommer’s Subaru – Mequon, WI
• Jenkins Subaru – Bridgeport, WV
• Dutch Miller Subaru – Charleston, WV

DP World’s Growing Footprint in the Dominican Republic

For more than two decades, DP World has been a cornerstone of the Dominican Republic’s logistics and trade landscape. Since beginning operations in 2003, the company has invested more than US$700 million in the Port of Caucedo and its adjoining Free Trade Zone, transforming it into one of the Caribbean’s most advanced gateways for global commerce. Today, DP World manages over 60% of the country’s container traffic, providing integrated services that span marine terminals, warehousing, logistics, and even workforce training through the DP World Academy.

This long-term commitment has positioned DP World as not only an operator but also a partner in the nation’s sustainable economic growth, advancing trade connectivity while investing in people and skills development.

Launching a Transformative New Chapter

In May 2025, DP World and the Dominican government signed a landmark US$760 million agreement to expand both the Caucedo port terminal and the adjacent economic zone. The expansion will unlock 225 hectares of new development land, add 1.25 million square meters of industrial space, and boost the terminal’s capacity from 2.5 million TEUs to approximately 3.1 million TEUs annually.

The investment is evenly split: US$380 million for port infrastructure – including extended quays, new cranes, breakwaters, and upgraded security systems – and another US$380 million for Free Trade Zone development, with roads, utilities, and pre-built warehouses to attract global tenants.

“This agreement marks a major step forward in our vision to transform Caucedo into the most advanced logistics hub in the Caribbean,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, in the announcement.

A Reliable Alternative in Global Supply Chains

The expansion comes at a critical moment. With geopolitical tensions and tariff shifts reshaping global manufacturing, companies are urgently seeking cost-effective, resilient nearshoring options. The Dominican Republic is emerging as a top contender. Its free zones already host over 850 companies across industries such as apparel, electronics, medical devices, and aerospace. The island’s location – just three days by sea to Miami and five to New York – offers unmatched proximity to U.S. markets.

Recent high-profile moves, such as World Emblem relocating production from Mexico and China to the Dominican Republic, highlight how businesses are leveraging the country’s incentives, workforce, and stability to future-proof supply chains.

Sustainability and Shared Prosperity at the Core

Beyond infrastructure, the new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is being designed with sustainability in mind. DP World in the Dominican Republic already operates electric equipment fleets and has invested heavily in energy efficiency and emissions reduction programs. The company applies international best practices in environmental management and partners with the Dominican government to strengthen green logistics standards.

Equally important is the human element. DP World’s expansion is expected to generate up to 50,000 new direct jobs. Coupled with initiatives like the DP World Academy and partnerships with local institutions, the SEZ will build a talent pipeline that advances social mobility and equips workers with future-ready skills.

A New Trade Horizon for the Americas

With this multi-million-dollar expansion, DP World and the Dominican Republic are not simply building more warehouses or container berths – they are reshaping the logistics architecture of the Americas. The project is projected to attract nearly US$3.9 billion in foreign investment and drive over US$4 billion in new manufacturing output.

By integrating world-class infrastructure, a competitive regulatory framework, and a strong ESG foundation, the Dominican Republic is positioning itself as a reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective hub for manufacturers navigating an era of uncertainty.

This historic investment marks a bold bet on the future of global trade, and one that could redefine supply chains across the Western Hemisphere.

Technology is not stagnant and keeping up can prove to be a challenge, especially in the education sector. But in the heart of Australia’s capital, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is setting an inspiring example of how education can evolve to meet the challenges of today while preparing students for the opportunities of tomorrow.  CIT is not only a cornerstone of the local economy but a leader in addressing the nation’s skills gap by preparing a future-proof workforce. Through a bold commitment to digital transformation, CIT is reimagining how education is delivered with Cisco.  

A Vision for Digital Learning

CIT’s Digital Transformation Strategy is driven by one, simple vision: “To improve the lives of our students through incredible teaching that takes full advantage of available technologies.” This vision isn’t just about adopting new tools but creating immersive, scalable, and effective learning environments that connect students and empower educators. 

As CIT embarks on this journey to transformation, there are challenges when it comes to balancing innovation with practicality. The goal is to seamlessly integrate digital solutions into a wide range of learning spaces—from kitchens to classrooms—without overwhelming students or staff. These solutions must enhance teaching methods while aligning with the institution’s teaching goals and needs of its community. 

A Collaborative Approach to Innovation 

Cisco’s collaboration with CIT highlights a milestone in educational transformation. Within just two months, Cisco and its partners designed and delivered two state-of-the-art prototype rooms equipped with cutting-edge, collaborative technology. These spaces provide educators and students with hands-on opportunities to explore how digital tools can complement traditional teaching methods.  

The prototype rooms are active learning environments where feedback drives continuous improvement. Teachers and students are directly involved in shaping how these spaces evolve, ensuring the technology is both practical and impactful. 

Supporting this transformation is a robust network architecture designed in partnership with Digital Data Technology Solutions, the Australian Capital Territory  (ACT) Government’s in-house technology provider. This architecture supports CIT’s immediate needs while enabling future enhancements such as Software-Defined Access (SDA), wayfinding, and Cisco Spaces. By replacing traditional audiovisual systems with multiple endpoints, CIT has adopted a streamlined, cost-effective solution that enhances functionality and adaptability.

Transforming Lives, Strengthening Communities 

The impact of CIT’s digital transformation extends far beyond the classroom. For students and educators, the new digital learning spaces mean greater accessibility, engagement, and inclusivity. This helps lead to higher retention and success rates, helping to close the skills gap and prepare a workforce ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. 

On a national level, CIT’s transformation serves as a model for other institutions, showcasing how technology can revolutionize educational experiences. By demonstrating the potential of digital classrooms, CIT is inspiring a movement toward more inclusive, engaging, and sustainable education across Australia.

A Win-Win for Cisco and Education 

For Cisco, this collaboration highlights the power of partnership in driving innovation. By delivering tangible results through its digital platforms and network designs, Cisco reinforces its leadership in educational technology solutions. The success of this project not only strengthens Cisco’s reputation but also creates a scalable framework that can be replicated in other institutions, both within CIT and beyond. 

This partnership with CIT underscores Cisco’s commitment to creating practical, impactful solutions that address today’s needs while anticipating the future of education. It’s a collaboration that transforms how people learn and also opens doors to new opportunities for Cisco to support the education sector in meaningful ways. 

As CIT continues its digital transformation journey, possibilities are boundless. With innovative technology, dedicated educators, and engaged students, the institution is poised to lead the way in shaping the future of education. Together, CIT and Cisco are proving that when technology meets Purpose, the results are nothing short of extraordinary. 

View original content here.

MetLife is working to increase efficiencies, reduce risks and deliver sustainable growth across our global operations. This includes improving the performance of our 9.2 million square feet of offices and reducing business travel emissions—implementing initiatives that lower operating costs, promote collaboration and enhance workforce vitality. We have decreased location-based emissions by 44% since 2019 and have maintained carbon neutrality for our offices, fleets and business travel since 2016.¹

We continue to promote energy efficiency and implement green building practices. We look for opportunities to analyze and manage data center operations strategically and improve performance as energy demands rise. Elsewhere, vehicle fleets, office energy upgrades and office consolidation represent strong opportunities to lower energy use and reduce emissions. Throughout our regions, we are replacing vehicles in our fleets with electric or hybrid options where possible.

We also encourage global reductions in business travel to promote efficiency and lower operating costs. These could include recommendations to combine two trips into one, to travel by train instead of by air, and to fly in premium economy instead of business class on long-haul flights.

Since 2009, we have procured renewable energy by purchasing energy attribute certificates—issued when one megawatt-hour of electricity is generated and delivered to the grid from a renewable energy resource—to match our global electricity consumption (see GHG Emissions and Energy data in Sustainability Scorecard). In Spain, we generate on-site renewables through a solar array on our office in Madrid. We are exploring options for on-site renewable generation in Cyprus, Jordan and other sites, while working with energy providers and landlords across our markets to source green energy.

We supplement emissions reductions and energy efficiency initiatives with a diverse portfolio of third party-certified carbon offset projects that empower local economies. Enhanced due diligence is conducted on all projects purchased for MetLife.

Read more about how MetLife is reducing global emissions through its sustainability efforts in our 2024 Sustainability Report.

¹ MetLife’s carbon neutrality efforts apply to global owned and leased offices, global vehicle fleets (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) and employee business travel (Scope 3 Category 6). 

When Keith Holloman saw how COVID-19 affected his own family, the importance of accurate healthcare technology became deeply personal.

“It’s not just this ambiguous patient out there,” said Holloman, a clinical research program manager at Medtronic. “It’s someone I care for that could benefit from our technologies.”

Holloman now works in Acute Care & Monitoring developing pulse oximeters — devices he used regularly when he worked as a respiratory therapist.

Pulse oximeters measure oxygen in the blood. They became even more critical for decision-making during the pandemic, and that surge in use spotlighted a troubling flaw: studies showed the devices can be less accurate on patients with darker skin tones.

Holloman is part of efforts to change that by using artificial intelligence to design technology for all from the start.

“We’re making sure that our technology is equitable for every patient we serve,” Holloman said.

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Doctors have relied on pulse oximeters for more than 40 years to monitor patients’ oxygen levels and knowing oxygen levels helps clinicians detect when a patient’s health is declining.

“They’re dependent on having an accurate measurement which potentially could result in them making decisions in terms of what level of intervention is necessary for that patient,” Holloman said of doctors.

At Medtronic, the Nellcor^TM pulse oximeter has been using artificial intelligence for more than 20 of those years — a move that positioned the company as an early adopter of AI to enhance device accuracy, said Jason Case, who leads research and development in the Acute Care & Monitoring business.

How does AI work in these small devices? First, consider how pulse oximetry works, he said.

“We’re shining light, through tissue, to measure oxygen in the blood,” Case said, “You can think of this like shining a flashlight into fog to look for something. And because blood moves with every heartbeat, the pulse lets us know when to take a measurement. Our AI is really good at identifying each and every pulse, and that enhances our accuracy.”

Every pulse is an opportunity to accurately measure oxygen supply, and AI in Nellcor^TM sees every single one – helping clinicians ensure patient safety moment-to-moment.

Still, said Case, there’s more work to be done.

The human touch

Long before pulse oximeters get clipped to a patient’s finger in the hospital, Medtronic scientists and engineers are innovating AI algorithms with the help of regular people, Holloman said.

The company opened a clinical physiology lab near the Five Points neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, to conduct its clinical trials not only with a wide array of participants but with more speed and frequency, leading to faster innovation.

“We’re looking at ways to improve our algorithms to accurately account for the variations in skin pigmentation, and we’re going a step further to actually design clinical studies that will give us the data that shows our algorithms, our new technology, is indeed accurate,” Holloman said.

The lab in Denver empowers Medtronic to not only examine current device performance but to inform new designs. This work includes thinking through how AI can help predict and prevent complications – perhaps even before a doctor knows something’s wrong, Case said.

“Imagine if we could use AI to look at small variations in the pulse to see an infection early and then do something about it,” he said.

The technology under development has been accepted into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Safer Technologies Program for Medical Devices (STeP) — a designation that accelerates the development, assessment, and review of devices that are expected to improve the safety of current treatments.

“This means a ton for our patients,” Case said.

Learn more about Medtronic here.

Patient monitoring products should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis or therapy and are intended only as an adjunct in patient assessment. Note: Oxygen saturation accuracy can be affected by certain environmental, equipment, and patient physiologic conditions (as discussed in the operator’s manual for the monitor) that influence readings of SpO2. Please consult the IFU and operator’s manual for full safety information. Some of the technologies discussed in this article are aspirational, pipeline projects and not cleared or available for sale at this time.