Month: January 2026

Complimentary Webinar:

BRCGS Certification Explained: What Food and Packaging Manufacturers Need to Know

Thursday, January 22, 2026, 9:00 AM PST (12:00 PM EST)

Register Here

Join BRCGS and SCS Global Services in this live webinar designed for businesses looking to achieve certification in 2026.

Together, our experts will introduce you to:

• The requirements of the standards
• Outline the certification process
• Explain how SCS supports you as an approved certification body

If you are a food manufacturer, or a manufacturer of packaging materials for food and non-food applications, this will provide you with valuable information about BRCGS certification and a clear roadmap for achieving certification.

A live Q&A session will follow the discussion.

REGISTER HERE

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Analyst, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

Originally published by firehero.org

Program supported by the Motorola Solutions Foundation and partners increases access to education for spouses and children of firefighters who have died in the line of duty

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation selects 56 recipients for 2025-26 academic year; program surpasses $7 million in total support

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has awarded 56 scholarships totaling $535,109 to the spouses, children, and stepchildren of fallen firefighters for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Since 1997, the NFFF Scholarship Program has provided more than $7.39 million in tuition assistance to 1,765 students across the country. By reducing the financial burden of higher education, the program ensures the legacies of fallen firefighters live on through the accomplishments of their families.

This year’s recipients include 38 returning scholars and 18 first-time recipients. NFFF awards scholarships based on applicants’ financial need and academic performance, with a special consideration for those working toward degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and public safety fields.

“These scholarships reflect the NFFF’s ongoing commitment to the families of our nation’s fallen firefighters,” said National Fallen Firefighters Foundation CEO Victor Stagnaro. “Stepping up to cover all or some of their tuition is the least we can do, and I know our generous partners feel the same. We are proud to provide stability and support for these families as they pursue higher education and build brighter futures.”

The NFFF scholarship program is made possible through its partners, including Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions. Since 2005, Motorola Solutions Foundation has funded the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Scholarship program, named in honor of U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, a longtime advocate for firefighters and fire safety who played a crucial role in the establishment of NFFF.

In 2020, Motorola Solutions Foundation expanded its support by launching the Enhanced Scholarship Initiative (ESI), which provides larger scholarship funds to individuals pursuing degrees in STEM or public safety. Since its inception, ESI has provided 14 full scholarships totaling nearly $400,000.

This academic year, 46 of the 56 scholarship recipients received funding through Motorola Solutions Foundation, including two students pursuing degrees in STEM, with one recipient in their second year of medical school.

“For 20 years, our partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has been an unbreakable bond, rooted in our deep commitment to honor the enduring legacy of these national heroes,” said Wesley Barden Touhy, Executive Director, Motorola Solutions Foundation. “These scholarships reflect our respect for their service and are an investment in the future. We’re proud to empower these incredible and resilient students to pursue higher education and build the bright futures they deserve.”

“My dad, FDNY Lieutenant Steven Reisman, was called to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center on September 11, and I lost him at 14 years old due to 9/11-related cancer,” said Natalie Reisman, a Sarbanes Scholarship recipient. “Seeing what he endured, I decided to dedicate my career to the service of human dignity, specifically seeking a career in public interest law. This year, I began my first year at Fordham Law – studying in the same city my dad fought fires – and none of this would be possible without the generous support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation and the continued support of NFFF.” In addition to the support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the NFFF Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of the following scholarship partners and donors:

• Alan Patrick Sondej Scholarship Fund
• Kenneth M. Hedrick Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Sander Cohen Memorial Scholarship Fund
• MissionSquare Retirement
• National Association of State Fire Marshals
• Burton A. Zipser and Sandra D. Zipser Foundation
• Global Health & Safety
• Steel Family’s Fire Engine 5 Charitable Foundation
• Ann & Frank Cahouet Foundation
• Chief Elwood Banister Memorial Scholarship Fund

For more information about the NFFF Scholarship Program, or to make a donation supporting the NFFF’s educational initiatives, visit www.firehero.org

Continue reading here.

When I look back on the year we just completed, what stands out most isn’t a single milestone—it’s how our people showed up for each other, for our customers, and for our communities. That commitment is the foundation we carry into 2026.

This year, we will continue to anchor our decisions and actions in Chemours’ core values: Safety, Integrity, Partnership, Ownership, and Respect. These aren’t words on a wall—they’re behaviors we practice in every plant, lab, and office. They support our simple and powerful vision to deliver Trusted Chemistry which guides the way we operate, innovate, and engage with stakeholders.

And while our values and vision guide how we show up, our strategy guides what we do. We’re continuing to execute our corporate strategy, Pathway to Thrive, to drive performance today while strengthening Chemours for tomorrow. In 2026, our work remains grounded in a balanced and disciplined approach to capital allocation as we continue to drive progress across our four pillars: Operational Excellence, Enabling Growth, Portfolio Management, and Strengthening the Long Term.

I believe Operational Excellence starts with people. Early in my career, leading a shift of operators taught me that the best ideas often come from those doing the work at the source. That lesson has never left me: listen, learn, empower, and implement. In 2026, I’m focused on helping our team elevate insights, strengthen consistency and reliability across our operations, as we drive continuous improvement – always with a disciplined approach to how we allocate our resources.

When I think about Enabling Growth, it really comes down to solving real problems for customers and society. From thermal management solutions that make high‑performance computing and electrification more efficient to advanced materials that support semiconductor manufacturing and pigments that make coatings more durable, our chemistry is essential to modern living. We always aim to advance innovations responsibly—and talk about them clearly—so stakeholders understand how our work supports progress they can feel.

Portfolio Management is about focus and fit. We’ll continue to look at how we deploy capital, capabilities, and leadership attention to areas where we believe we can create distinctive value, sharpening our portfolio so we can deliver more impact for our stakeholders.

Strengthening the Long Term is how we protect our privilege to operate, grounded in our commitment to responsible manufacturing. That includes advocating for the essentiality of our chemistry, transparent reporting and action against our Corporate Responsibility Commitment goals, and continued engagement to advance science‑based understanding of our chemistry. We know we still have work to do—and we’re committed to doing it constructively.

I believe the science of chemistry can also build its credibility through conversation at all levels—patient, fact‑based, human conversation. Each of us can help people understand how chemistry powers everyday life, from smartphones and air travel to technologies enabling cleaner energy and smarter infrastructure. Engaging with integrity and openness helps build the trust that responsible, science-based work and solutions can earn.

To our employees: thank you for how you show up. To our partners and neighbors: thank you for the collaboration. And to anyone curious about how chemistry can improve lives—reach out. Let’s talk. Trusted Chemistry becomes real when we work on it together.

Denise Dignam is the President and Chief Executive Office of The Chemours Company, a global chemistry company with a vision to deliver Trusted Chemistry that makes people’s lives better and helps communities thrive.

At Trane Technologies, innovation drives how we approach every challenge. As a global leader in climate solutions, we are committed to creating brighter tomorrows by empowering the sharpest minds to transform cutting-edge ideas into real-world results. We see promise and possibility where others see limits, and by fostering a culture of innovation, we are working to create a more sustainable future.

A journey of growth and purpose

Corey Letcher, a Comprehensive Solutions Account Executive based in New York City, started working at Trane Technologies in 2015, drawn by the opportunity to work on large-scale energy projects where he could leverage his creativity and curiosity. He participated in our Graduate Training Program, where six months of immersive learning accelerated his understanding of HVAC systems, customer needs and the business as a whole.

“The experience I gained through the Graduate Training Program gave me the confidence and ability to contribute meaningfully to large, multifaceted projects early in my career,” Corey shared. However, what has kept him at Trane Technologies for nearly a decade extends far beyond technical training.

Corey spends his days collaborating with customers and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with innovative HVAC solutions. Advancing thermal battery storage adoption is one area where Corey has demonstrated great passion and made a measurable impact.

Thermal battery storage reshapes how buildings use energy. Instead of wasting heat generated during daytime cooling, the system captures and stores that heat in water tanks. When the building later needs heat, the stored water is frozen to extract energy.

“The brain gymnastics behind this work excites me,” Corey explained. “I like getting into the details, asking the right questions, and figuring out how all the pieces fit together.”

When Corey joined Trane Technologies ten years ago, thermal storage was mainly used for cooling. As the technology evolved to support heating, it opened the door to new opportunities. By shifting when and how energy is used, buildings can operate far more efficiently in ways that once seemed out of reach. “The more layers you peel back, the more you realize how much this technology can do,” he said.

Corey attributes much of his growth to the collaborative culture that surrounds him. On every project, he’s proud to be part of a team that supports him and shares a commitment to doing what’s right for the customer, sustainability and our planet.

“There’s a fundamental acceptance of ideas at Trane Technologies,” Corey said. “People challenge each other, but with respect and a desire to understand. That culture makes the work fun and rewarding.”

Leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive sustainable solutions

While innovation is exciting, it also requires courage. Corey experienced that first-hand when the 55 Water Street project presented him and the team the opportunity to implement an industry-first thermal battery storage system in one of New York City’s largest and most complex buildings.

For Corey, the most rewarding moments come when complex ideas become reality. After years spent working as part of the team to advance thermal battery storage capabilities, seeing it successfully come to life on a scale as grand as New York City’s largest office building reminded him how meaningful it is to work for a company that fosters innovation and allows him to truly make a difference.

Corey finds deep purpose in the work and takes pride in Trane Technologies’ sustainability commitments. “I feel like I’m on the front lines,” he shared. “Every proposal we put in front of a customer has a carbon impact component. That’s powerful.” Learn more about our Gigaton Challenge and how Corey’s work contributes to our commitment to help our customers reduce one billion metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030.

Excitement for what the future holds

Corey’s story is defined by curiosity, courage and a commitment to continuous growth. His experience reflects what’s possible when a company culture fosters innovation and collaboration, and he’s excited by what the future holds. As Trane Technologies continues to challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world, leaders like Corey are helping turn that vision into reality.

Explore careers that make an impact at Trane Technologies.

SEATTLE, January 13, 2026 /3BL/ – Building a regenerative future requires more than just technical data; it requires a new map for the human heart and the built environment. Living Future is proud to announce that Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson, acclaimed climate strategist and co-founder of The All We Can Save Project, will headline Living Future 2026, taking place April 14–17 at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.

Dr. Wilkinson’s forthcoming book, Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home, offers a bold roadmap for navigating the climate crisis with clarity, courage, and community. Drawing on personal insights, climate science, and practical strategies, Wilkinson’s work empowers leaders, designers, and communities to translate concern into meaningful action—a message at the heart of Living Future 2026.

We are at a pivot point where design must become a tool for healing,” says Lindsay Baker, CEO of Living Future. “Dr. Wilkinson’s work perfectly captures the spirit of LF26. She doesn’t just talk about the problem; she gives us the ‘wayfinding’ tools to strengthen our resolve and abilities as climate leaders, as world shapers, and as community members in this beautiful community of climate action. 

Living Future 2026 is far more than a conference; it is a collaborative meeting ground where architects, designers, developers, and advocates unite to shape the next era of the built environment. This year’s program is strategically built around four high-impact tracks designed to address our most urgent challenges. Through Radical Climate Action, we focus on decarbonizing our buildings at scale, while Thriving Communities ensures we center equity and health in every zip code. We further explore the shift from mere sustainability to restorative design through Nature as Co-Designer, while identifying the policy and financial levers that serve as Catalysts of Transformative Change to accelerate the movement.

The Path to a Regenerative Future 
The climate crisis demands that we move beyond the safety of incrementalism toward the bravery of radical innovation. Living Future 2026 is a vital convening for those ready to lead the transition from a “less bad” built environment to one that is truly restorative. Living Future 2026 is where global visionaries and practitioners unite to bridge the gap between climate policy and regenerative action. By immersing themselves in the wisdom of nature-aligned design and the integrity of healthy materials, attendees gain the essential tools to transform our buildings into catalysts for healing. This is more than a conference; it is where connections are forged and solutions are shared to cultivate a world that gives more than it takes.

Registration & Additional Information
Full conference access includes keynote sessions, workshops, building tours, networking events, and receptions. Registration rates and details are available now: https://bit.ly/Register-for-LF26

About Living Future
Living Future is a globally recognized nonprofit at the vanguard of the building industry. We provide industry leaders with the tools and support they need to drive an urgent transformation toward a regenerative, resilient, and just future. Our vision is simple: cultivate a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.

Media Contact

Anjula Duggal
Living Future
anjula.duggal@living-future.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 13, 2026 /3BL/ – Fairtrade businesses in the U.S. are leading the food and beverage industry on sustainability this year. Despite economic uncertainty and increased pressure to shy away from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, Fairtrade businesses have raised the bar for trade justice by increasing their investments in the farmers that make their products possible.

Through Fairtrade certification, businesses foster long-term partnerships with some of the most exploited actors in the global food system: small-scale farmers, workers, and cooperatives. These partnerships, in concert with Fairtrade’s unique pricing model, increase stability and assurance in the high-risk business of farming. Sourcing ingredients from Fairtrade’s network of farming organizations enables brands to build transparent, sustainable supply chains that they can be proud of – that provide decent livelihoods and greater climate resilience.

From March 2024 to March 2025, the 5,000+ Fairtrade products sold in the U.S. exceeded $1 billion in sales. By using the power of trade for change, these sales resulted in real impact for farming communities around the globe. Fairtrade farming organizations earned about $9 million in Fairtrade Premium from U.S. brand partners in 2024 alone, giving them greater ability to reinvest in their businesses and communities.

When partners go beyond their certification commitments, they up their impact for farmers, workers, and cooperatives. Fairtrade recognizes the following brands’ achievements:

Feastables commits to living income reference pricing

The chocolate brand founded by Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, pays the Fairtrade Minimum Price and Premium for 100% of the cocoa it sources and has committed to paying the Fairtrade Living Income Reference Price. Feastables is the first American chocolate company to make this commitment, sending an important signal to the industry that there is a need to collectively change the way cocoa business is done. The Living Income Reference Price is a way for brands to action on their livelihood goals, knowing that the price a company pays for a commodity has a direct impact on farmers’ quality of life. This price is set in direct consultation with farmers and not only includes the cost of doing sustainable business, but also accounts for basic needs like food, housing, education and savings in case of emergency. This will make a real difference during market downturns and is important because “stopping child labor starts with addressing its root cause – poverty,” as Feastables asserts.

Frontier Co-op collaborates on Fairtrade spice market expansion
Organic spice leader, Frontier Co-op – who launched the first regenerative organic spice line in the U.S. this year – is working to expand the impact that Fairtrade spice purchases have in farming communities in Guatemala. While Fairtrade has historically certified a range of herbs and spices, Frontier Co-op identified a few they were interested in sourcing that Fairtrade had not previously established fixed premium for, specifically organic cardamom, turmeric, and allspice from Guatemala. Setting Fairtrade premiums for these three commodities will help the farmers who grow them under Fairtrade Standards weather market volatility more effectively, strengthen the smallholder farmer supply chain and increase the availability of sustainable spice options on the market for consumers.

Grace Farms Tea & Coffee steps up for sourcing partners in crisis

Cyclone Senyar left Sumatra’s Ketiara Cooperative, a Fairtrade-certified, women-led coffee farming collective, isolated from surrounding areas and cut off from food, clean water, electricity, and communication. Wasting no time to coordinate a response for their long-standing partner, Grace Farms Tea & Coffee launched a humanitarian relief effort. Their swift actions, in collaboration with Ketiara Cooperative Founder and Chairwoman Ibu Rahmah, enabled the delivery of generators, Starlink satellite communication devices, rice, and essential food supplies by air to the most isolated communities. To support a sustained response in the region, Grace Farms Tea & Coffee is contributing $5 from every bag of its Single-Origin Indonesian coffee sold toward ongoing recovery and rebuilding initiatives in the region.

Hu connects directly with farmers

Dan Waters, Chief Executive Officer at Hu, spoke at Fairtrade’s 2025 Cocoa Producer Forum in Lima, Peru. This gave certified cocoa producers a rare opportunity to hear directly from an American chocolate brand that has made significant investments in sustainable sourcing with Fairtrade. It is especially important for farmers and cooperatives to understand the American chocolate market because Americans have a strong affinity for chocolate and the market is expected to grow 5% by 2030. Hu leadership’s presence at the forum marked an exciting addition to their 2024 support, when the brand sponsored two farmers from the cooperatives they source from in Sierra Leone to attend the Cocoa Producer Forum in Cote d’Ivoire.

Hu’s commitment to Fairtrade sourcing goes beyond cocoa. They also source 100% of their coconut sugar, quinoa, cashews, and vanilla on Fairtrade terms. Hu’s coconut sugar-focused Producer Development Initiative has driven progress on gender equality at the cooperative level, increasing women’s membership to 48% and leadership in decision-making groups. Today, women hold 15 of 19 delegate positions, which shape long-term planning and farmer representation, at Koperasi Nira Kamukte, a coconut sugar-farming cooperative in Indonesia.

More sustainable celebrations with Whole Foods Market

In 2025, Whole Foods Market made Halloween better for people and the planet with their new line of Fairtrade certified 365 by Whole Foods Market chocolates, packaged especially for Halloween handouts. By sourcing the cocoa for these specialty items on Fairtrade terms, Whole Foods Market contributed to more secure livelihoods and more resilient ecosystems that cocoa farmers depend on. Whole Foods Market dropped more seasonal chocolate offerings in partnership with Fairtrade in December. As Americans continue to tighten household budgets, it’s exciting to see private label offerings that also prioritize Fairtrade.

Despite global economic head winds and volatile trade conditions, American consumers remain interested in ethical and sustainable grocery options. Research conducted in 2025 by independent firm GlobeScan showed that 72% of American consumers who have seen the Fairtrade Mark are willing to pay more to ensure the farmers behind their favorite products are paid a fair price. When consumers and brands choose to invest in Fairtrade, they help build more resilient supply chains for grocery basket mainstays, including coffee, chocolate, and bananas.

Now more than ever, Fairtrade-certified businesses are instrumental in bringing these options to market and creating the more ethical trade structures needed to reduce poverty and injustice. To learn more about becoming Fairtrade certified, visit our website or sign up for our newsletter.

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About Fairtrade America

Fairtrade America works to rebalance trade, making it a system rooted in partnership and mutual respect rather than exploitation. It’s about businesses, shoppers, farmers and workers all working together so we can all experience the benefits of trade. Fairtrade America is the U.S. branch of Fairtrade International, the original and global leader in fair trade certification with more than 30 years of experience working for fair trading practices in more than 60 countries across the globe. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Fairtrade America is part of the world’s largest and most recognized fair trade certification program —part of a global movement for change. Learn more at fairtrade.net, and by connecting with Fairtrade America on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Liz Davis, ldavis@fairtradeamerica.org | +1 202-930-4349