Recently, 26 of our incredible employees and summer interns spent time volunteering at the Food Bank of South Jersey, packaging a whopping 9,540 pounds of food – enough for nearly 7,630 meals – to support our neighbors across Salem, Burlington, Gloucester and Camden counties.
We’re thankful to have employees who dedicate their time to give back to our communities and for the contributions of our interns who helped make a difference this summer.
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NEW YORK and LONDON, August 20, 2025 /3BL/ – In an environment of intensifying geopolitical tensions, shifting regulatory frameworks, and inconsistent stakeholder expectations, AccountAbility CEO, Mr. Sunil (Sunny) A. Misser urges global corporate leaders to recalibrate for a balanced approach to sustainability and business resilience at this time of uncertainty and volatility.
Mr. Misser outlined a pragmatic path forward during his annual interview with Nareit, the leading voice for US-based REITs and real estate companies, at their Washington, D.C. headquarters.
“Geopolitical risks — from state backed armed conflict, to commercial aggression, to the erosion of civic freedoms — very quickly manifest themselves in adverse geoeconomic outcomes like supply shocks, inflation, and unemployment,” said Mr. Misser. “Corporate resilience will depend on the ability of business leaders to anticipate, adapt, and respond to these larger forces at play.”
Five Key Themes Shaping Corporate Sustainability in 2025
“Businesses face a convergence of risks that are systemic, complex, and constantly evolving,” said Mr. Misser. “Leaders must move toward a proactive and integrated approach to sustainability — one that embeds risk management, collaboration, and innovation at the core of their operations.”
Mr. Misser emphasizes five key themes that emerged from AccountAbility’s recent report, Rethinking Sustainability in Corporate America – 2025:
The Trump Test — While political shifts have not halted sustainability efforts, they have reshaped external messaging and stakeholder engagement. Companies are focusing on material issues and further aligning sustainability initiatives with business needs in order to maintain resilience amid regulatory uncertainty.
The Brussels Effect — Companies with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and EU regulatory frameworks post significant cost and resource burdens, but they nonetheless are seen as a pathway towards global standardization. U.S. companies with European operations continue to heavily invest in reporting resources and legal teams to meet these stringent standards.
From the Sideline to the Bottom Line — Sustainability functions are expected to drive financial value, reflecting and requiring comprehensive business integration. Companies embedding sustainability within their core business strategy are unlocking greater value through innovation and operational efficiency.
The Supply Chain Black Box — Companies struggle to measure Scope 3 emissions and comply with global Supply Chain mandates. Despite increasing investor and regulatory pressure, supply chain data and information remain inconsistent and difficult to verify.
Green Finance, Red Tape — Access to sustainable finance remains limited due to shifting government incentives and wide-ranging investor expectations. Companies must navigate a labyrinth of requirements to unlock green funding and investment opportunities.
The report draws on extensive interviews with Chief Sustainability Officers across industries and geographies, revealing the growing integration of sustainability across organizations, extending beyond ESG or compliance efforts into risk management, strategic planning, operations, and capital allocation.
Three Major Systemic Risks
“People often tend to focus on a risk based on the probability and likelihood of its occurrence – which is critical. I also tend to evaluate risks on their intensity and the impact that they are likely to create. A risk with a slightly lower probability of occurrence that can wipe you out should be taken very seriously”, said Mr. Misser.
These themes exist within a backdrop of three primary categories of systemic risk that companies must be prepared to navigate immediately and in the near future:
Geopolitical Events and Geoeconomic Shocks — state-backed armed conflict and escalating commercial aggression can have serious consequences including supply chain disruption, volatility in the cost and supply of energy, and amplify unemployment, inflation, and the cost of capital.
Environmental Risks — ranging from extreme weather events (which are becoming more commonplace and routine) to biodiversity loss combined with intensifying pollution and natural resource depletion (water, air, food), require advanced risk modeling, resilience planning, and mitigation efforts.
A Strategic “Way-Forward” Framework for Sustainability Management
To help companies navigate this complex terrain, Mr. Misser highlights AccountAbility’s proven framework, “The Three C’s” — Collaborate, Calibrate, and Commercialize. The framework is not a singular effort but an ongoing process that must be rigorously embedded to enable organizations to remain resilient and competitive.
Collaborate — Establish continuous, structured coordination both internally and externally. Internally, sustainability must be fully integrated with finance, legal, operations, and other key functions. Externally, companies must actively engage their stakeholders — suppliers, regulators, investors, and civil society to build trust, share data, and scale impact.
Calibrate — Regularly assess and realign sustainability strategies, governance, and risk frameworks in response to evolving geopolitical, environmental, and technological risks. Companies must continuously iterate and prioritize what matters most — adjusting metrics, investments, and oversight to reflect current realities.
“As the velocity of global change accelerates, we are seeing the basic algorithm of governance shifting from the hierarchical model to a collaborative one. Businesses and their ecosystems will require a fundamental reset.”
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About AccountAbility
Established in 1995, AccountAbility is a leading global consulting and standards firm dedicated to advancing the sustainability and ESG agenda. The firm works with businesses investors, governments, and multilateral organizations to improve sustainability performance, drive innovation, and create lasting impact. Operating as a Public Benefit Corporation, AccountAbility has a global presence with offices in New York, London, Riyadh, and Dubai. The firm has been recognized by the Financial Times, Forbes and Capital Finance International for its excellence in sustainability, strategy, and governance and its website is archived by the United States Library of Congress.
Media Contact
Evan Achiron
Head of Marketing & Communications
(646) 507-5903
evan.achiron@accountability.org
What is the Net Zero goal
A company to achieve a net-zero (Net-Zero) emissions state must consistently reduce its emissions at source, to the lowest point that techniques in its economic sector allow, by going to counterbalance the impact of emissions that remain unaffected (so-called hard-to-abate emissions) through techniques for removing excess carbon from the atmosphere and then storing it permanently (including through actions outside its value chain).
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a valued partner supporting sustainability goals
For this journey, Sofidel will collaborate with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a partnership between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi promotes best practices in sustainability and aids companies in setting greenhouse gas reduction targets grounded in scientific evidence. Sofidel will have 24 months to see its decarbonization pathway validated by SBTi.
Key initiatives in Sofidel’s 2050 decarbonization roadmap
The strategy to accomplish this highly ambitious objective is based on a comprehensive plan that not only focuses on activities directly managed by Sofidel but also involves stakeholders throughout the entire supply chain. The most significant actions include:
Learn about the path to energy efficiency
Learn about our commitment to sustainability
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State, and Wellcare are excited to announce their continued sponsorship of the 2025 Great New York State Fair. As a committed partner, Fidelis Care and Wellcare are proud to support both the Women’s Day celebration and the Fair Cares program, reinforcing their dedication to improving community health and accessibility for all New Yorkers.
This year, Fidelis Care and Wellcare are key sponsors of Women’s Day, scheduled for Wednesday, August 27. Women’s Day will offer attendees an array of activities and educational experiences, with a focus on encouraging a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Free checkups will be available during a mini health fair at the Chevy Court Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Among the highlights will be a mobile mammogram bus, free blood pressure screenings, and wellness discussions.
The Fair Cares program, formerly known as Adopt a Family, has been a cornerstone of Fidelis Care’s partnership with the Fair since 2014, providing free admission, parking, and food vouchers to more than 2,500 families that might otherwise be unable to attend.
“Fidelis Care and Wellcare are proud to sponsor the Great New York State Fair, bringing families together through the Fair Cares program and championing women’s health and empowerment on Women’s Day,” said Shannon Lombardo, Fidelis Care Director of Sales and Marketing. “Our mission to provide quality, affordable health coverage to all New Yorkers drives our commitment to making the fair a memorable and accessible experience for our communities.”
Representatives will be available throughout the Fair’s 13 days at Fidelis Care’s booth in front of the Art and Home Center, near the Chevy Court Pavilion, to answer questions about health insurance, renewals, and help eligible residents apply for enrollment.
About Fidelis Care
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.4 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fidelis-care, on X (formerly Twitter) at @fideliscare, Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.
Media Contact
Allie Abbate
MediaInquiries@fideliscare.org
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SOURCE Fidelis Care
KeyBank recently contributed $5,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo in support of the annual “2 Pack A Backpack” school supply drive with WGRZ-TV. This initiative plays a vital role in helping families across Western New York access the essential supplies their children need to begin the school year prepared and confident.
“For many families, the rising cost of school supplies can create unnecessary stress at the start of the school year,” said Chiwuike Owunwanne, KeyBank Buffalo Corporate Responsibility and Community Relations Officer. “We’re proud to stand behind the 2 Pack A Backpack campaign and commend the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo and WGRZ-TV for their commitment to easing this burden and supporting students throughout our community.”
At WK Kellogg Co, our sustainable business strategy – Feeding Happiness – guides how we show up for people and the communities where we live and work. It’s rooted in our commitment to Make Eating Well Easy, Help Kids Be Their Best and Better Our Communities – and in the first half of 2025, our teams have made a real difference:
This summer, our Sales Team in Rogers, Arkansas brought Feeding Happiness to life by supporting the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank’s 2025 Summer Cereal Drive, a seasonal initiative to help fight childhood hunger.
To help launch the drive, in early June, WK Kellogg Co donated 32 pallets – nearly 13,000 packages – of cereal and granola, helping ensure families had access to nutritious breakfast options. Later that month, WK team members joined KNWA-TV outside the Walmart in Pleasant Grove, Arkansas, to raise awareness about the cereal drive and encourage community participation.
Thanks to generous consumer donations and a corporate match, the drive collected over 45,000 packages of cereal, granola and other breakfast items.
In early July, our team members volunteered at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, assembling breakfast bags for distribution through the Food Bank’s Mobile Pantries –directly supporting families across Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties.
With more than 89,000 people in the region facing hunger, the need is urgent – and growing. We’re proud to partner with organizations like the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to help make a meaningful impact.
Together, we’re Feeding Happiness – one act of care at a time.
To learn more about Feeding Happiness, visit wkkellogg.com/our-impact.
SINGAPORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– #cre–Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed by Woodside Energy to deliver integrated real estate solutions across the company’s global office portfolio.
Do you feel a bit lost when people refer to certain environmental sustainability topics and aren’t sure where to start when it comes to learning more? Sustainability 101 is a blog series that you can turn to for information about different environmental terms that may come up at work, during discussions with friends, and even at your annual holiday gathering.
Chances are when someone flips on a light switch or turns on a computer, they don’t think about what is generating that electricity.
The demand for energy is increasing across a range of industries and sectors, driven by technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and electric vehicles (EVs) and the digitization of emerging and developing economies. According to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity consumption is forecast to expand at around 4% annually through 2027. That’s the equivalent of adding an amount greater than Japan’s annual electricity consumption every year between now and 2027.
How is the world going to meet this demand for electricity? More energy-efficient technology, grid digitization, and clean energy are things that can help. Clean energy in particular can play an important role in creating a more secure, reliable, replenishable, and durable energy system that lowers costs and reduces environmental impacts. According to the IEA’s Renewables 2024 report, “…renewables will account for almost half of global electricity generation by 2030.”
What is clean energy
Clean energy is any power source that releases little to no direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. As a pollution-free energy alternative available in virtually every part of the world, it boosts and diversifies the global energy supply and can often be more cost-effective.
Solar and wind power often come to mind when you think about clean energy sources, but they also include ocean, geothermal, nuclear, and hydropower.
enewable energy is a subset of clean energy. However, not all clean energy is renewable. Take nuclear power, for example: It’s considered clean energy because the power released from splitting atoms doesn’t release GHGs but is not renewable since the uranium resources necessary are limited.
Benefits of clean renewable energy
For Cisco, clean renewable energy has shown numerous benefits such as:
For communities located nearby, a new clean energy plant can:
What is Cisco doing?
For Cisco, using clean renewable energy for our operations makes good business sense. In addition to cost savings, increased energy access, and playing a role in our goal to reach net zero GHG emissions across our value chain by 2040, it also strengthens our reputation as a leader in sustainability.
Cisco began its clean energy journey in 2007 with 11% of its electricity generated by clean energy sources. Today, 96% of our global electricity use comes from renewable sources, and we strive to support further adoption of clean energy. Areas where we focus include:
In India, Cisco’s Bangalore campus, which includes offices, a research lab, and a large data center, recently entered a 15-year, fixed-price agreement with a clean energy plant 164 miles away. At any given time, the Cisco complex runs on anywhere from 98 to 100% clean power.
Some organizations they have invested in include:
SHYFT Power. In Africa roughly 600 million people still lack electricity, mostly in sub-Saharan countries. SHYFT power has introduced a technology platform encouraging clean energy adoption in Nigeria.
CorPower Ocean, a Swedish company developing viable ways to harness ocean waves as a continuous, renewable energy resource.
Evolving towards a more energy secure and sustainable world
Clean energy adoption provides opportunities to increase energy security while helping to reduce costs, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Through our efforts to procure clean energy for Cisco, we have seen the benefits to our business, to our customers, and to the planet.
Read more about Cisco’s clean energy journey, as well as how other companies can start or advance their own in the new Cisco Clean Energy Playbook.
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Evan Brown is based out of Cisco’s Research Triangle Park campus in North Carolina. Vijay Ettiyagounder is based out of Bangalore, India, Cisco’s largest campus outside of the United States.
KAWANSHI-CITY, Japan, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Green Science Alliance developed a plant biomass based biodegradable film bag. These plant based biodegradable film bags can be purchased at the company shopping website as follows:
https://www.nano-sakura-shop.com/
https://www.nano-sakura-shop.com/shop
Environmental problems such as climate change, deforestation, extinction of species, water and food shortage etc., due to the explosion of the human population, are becoming increasingly severe worldwide. Plastic pollution is an especially severe environmental problem which cause adverse effects; nanoplastics, in particular, are already present in the human body as a result of breathing polluted air and though our meals. For example, we are ingesting nanoplastics through drinking water with PET bottles. Recently, there have been some medical studies reporting the enhanced risk of heart attack caused by nanoplastics in blood vessels. In addition, they may also possess ill effects for the immune system, as well as cause an inflammation reaction in the digestive system (Figure. Nano-plastics Pollution Risk to Human Health).
The production and usage of biodegradable plastic is slowly increasing, although greater than 90% of plastics worldwide are still petroleum-based non-biodegradable plastics. In addition, the production of these petroleum-based non-biodegradable plastics are still increasing regardless of these plastic pollution problems. Therefore, plastic pollution is worsening each year.
On the other hand, biodegradable plastics can biodegrade and return back to nature and do not become plastic pollution; although biodegradability needs to be carefully examined in various types of conditions including compost condition, soil, water, sea water etc. However, biodegradable plastics including PLA (polylactic acid), lactone-based materials are already applied for medical usage in the human body. When biodegradable plastics are made from plants, since plants absorb CO2 from the surrounding atmosphere, the amount of CO2 emission will be less than that of petroleum-based plastics. Because the status of CO2 is circulating so that they can be regarded as carbon neutral.
One of the goals for Green Science Alliance is to replace all the petroleum based materials with plant biomass alternatives, as Dr. Ryohei Mori, CEO of the company, wrote the scientific article which made front cover page of British scientific journal “RSC Sustainability.”
Based on his concept, Green Science Alliance has been making an effort to develop various types of plant organic biomass based materials such as biodegradable plastics, resins, coatings, paints, glue, plasticizer, lubricant, biochar, nanocellulose, 3D printer materials and products, etc. And this time, Mr. Daiki Tanaka and Dr. Ryohei Mori have made biodegradable film bags with plant based resins. There are already some plant based film bags in the market but they are not biodegradable so that they can be nano-plastic pollution if they are thrown away after usage. But Green Science Alliance’s film bags are not only plant based but also biodegradable. The plant biomass content is 50% – 60%, although they will keep challenging to make the biomass content higher.
The product is printed with company trademark “Bio Sakura“; however, they can also print different a logo or design as the customer requests.
Media Contact:
Ryohei Mori
399777@email4pr.com
81-72-7598501
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SOURCE Green Science Alliance Co., Ltd.
Kim Allman | Impact Blog
Technology is an integral part of the modern classroom. Kids of all ages use new devices to enhance their learning, and these days, that includes artificial intelligence. In 2024, a Harvard University study found that 51% of young people surveyed have used generative AI, most often to get information or help brainstorm ideas, and 31% use it for its creative potential, like making music or images. While AI has its risks, like scams or inappropriate content, using it responsibly can have significant benefits.
That’s why Norton, one of our trusted Cyber Safety brands, partners with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and has released a new version of the Surf Smart 2.0 curriculum, updated to include information on AI literacy and how to get the most out of AI tools. WAGGGS estimates that the new curriculum and its associated programs has the potential to reach more than 90,000 girls and young women around the world, equipping them with the skills they need to get the most out of their digital lives in an ever-evolving tech landscape.
Empowering Girls to Surf Smart
Norton has worked with WAGGGS on digital education and training projects for more than a decade. Following the initial Surf Smart program, Surf Smart 2.0 launched in 2021 as a badge-earning course designed to empower girls and young women with digital safety skills.
The program has impacted an estimated 880,000 young people to date, and from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, WAGGGS directly reached more than 219,000 girls and young women with Surf Smart 2.0 digital education programming globally.
Norton continues to provide technical support and curriculum consultations for Surf Smart 2.0, which is available free to all on Campfire, WAGGGS’ online hub. The latest version, which includes the AI education modules, can be accessed here.
As the program continues, it will also expand advocacy opportunities to more girls and young women globally. Through the launch of a new advocacy toolkit and curriculum, Surf Smart will help them design and implement action campaigns and community-led projects designed to make the internet a safer place for girls, addressing issues such as online harassment, digital privacy and gender-based discrimination. Surf Smart has also been shortlisted in the Big Impact category for this year’s Third Sector Awards, the winners of which will be announced in September.
Providing Tools for Digital Safety
Our partnership with WAGGGS is a key component of our broader efforts to equip individuals, families and vulnerable and under-resourced communities with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the digital world securely and responsibly.
In addition to our work with nonprofits, we also carry out our purpose to Power Digital Freedom through products like Norton 360, which provides real-time protection against scams, viruses, malware and ransomware. This now includes Genie Scam Protection, an AI-powered defense against scams, as well as a VPN, Parental Control and more.
For more digital safety resources as kids head back to school, check out Norton’s recent blog post.
These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Published by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
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