Month: May 2026

Hino Trucks Introduces the Le Series Battery Electric Medium-Duty Truck at ACT Expo 2026

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

NOVI, Mich., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hino Trucks today introduced the all-new Le Series battery electric vehicle (BEV) at ACT Expo 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to reducing environmental impact across its product portfolio. The Le Series is available in both 25,950 lbs. (L6e) and 33,000 lbs. (L7e) GVWR configurations.


Hino Trucks corporate logo

The introduction of the Le Series reflects Hino’s continued focus on supporting customers as they work to improve their environmental footprint, while maintaining the performance, durability, and ownership experience fleets expect.

“Introducing the Le Series is an important step in our efforts to reduce environmental impact and support our customers’ sustainability goals,” said Rodney Shaffer, Vice President, National Accounts & Zero Emission Vehicles of Hino Trucks. “We’ve focused on delivering a solution that builds on our proven platform and is well-suited for the applications where electric vehicles make the most sense, helping fleets take practical and meaningful steps toward lower emissions.”

Energy is supplied by the Hexagon Purus ProPack™ Battery System with Panasonic Energy lithium-ion battery cells rated at 269 kWh and up to 750 volts. DC fast charging (CCS Type 1 / 120 kW) enables 0–80 percent state-of-charge in approximately 1.8 hours. Powered by Accelera’s Integrated e-Axle 14Xe Gen 4.5, the Le Series delivers 260 kW / 348 hp of peak power and 180 kW / 241 hp continuous power through an integrated two-speed automatic transmission and axle.

The advanced electrical system supports high energy efficiency and optimized range, helping fleets improve operational efficiency while reducing emissions. Programmable regenerative braking and improved weight distribution further enhance overall vehicle performance.

Drivers benefit from smooth, responsive electric torque and quiet operation, contributing to reduced fatigue and improved driving comfort. For body builders, the clear back-of-cab design simplifies upfitting across a range of applications.

The Le Series also comes standard with an automatic emergency braking system and lane departure warning system.

Production is scheduled to begin in Q3 2026, supporting Hino’s broader efforts to deliver practical solutions that align with evolving environmental standards and customer needs.

About Hino Trucks: Hino Trucks, manufactures, distributes, and services a lineup of Class 6-8 commercial trucks in the United States. Hino Trucks offers a product lineup focused on low total cost of ownership, proven reliability, maneuverability, and a comprehensive bundle of standard features. Hino is committed to supporting customers with practical solutions that help reduce environmental impact while meeting the demands of real-world applications. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Hino has a nationwide dealer network committed to delivering the ultimate ownership experience.


Hino Trucks all-new Le Series Battery Electric Vehicle

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hino-trucks-introduces-the-le-series-battery-electric-medium-duty-truck-at-act-expo-2026-302761451.html

SOURCE Hino Trucks

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Missouri American Water Marks Drinking Water Week with Focus on Safe, Reliable Water

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Missouri American Water (PRNewsfoto/American Water)

ST. LOUIS, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — /PRNewswire/ — Missouri American Water celebrates Drinking Water Week (May 3-9, 2026), reaffirming its commitment to providing safe, reliable water to 1.7 million customers throughout the state.

An annual observance led by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) during the first full week of May, Drinking Water Week brings together water utilities and communities across North America to recognize the importance of high-quality drinking water in protecting public health, supporting economic growth and sustaining everyday life. 

“Providing safe, reliable water is at the core of what we do,” said Rich Svindland, President of Missouri American Water. “We are focused on maintaining strong systems today, while continuing to invest in the infrastructure needed to serve our communities every day and into the future.”

Missouri American Water continues to invest in its local systems to focus on the people who rely on them every day, strengthening reliability, enhancing water quality and supporting long-term resilience. These investments—ranging from upgrading treatment facilities to replacing aging infrastructure and advancing new technologies—help ensure that about 1.7 million customers across the state can trust water in their homes and communities.

From 2023 to 2025, Missouri American Water invested about $1.1 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure across the state, including the replacement of over 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipes, all aimed at delivering safe, consistent service that customers can depend on. 

Missouri American Water encourages customers to take an active role in water stewardship by: 

  • Learning more about their local water systems. 
  • Taking steps to help protect vital water resources. 
  • Recognizing the essential role water plays in sustaining healthy communities. 

Missouri American Water customers can find more information on their water quality by zip code at https://www.amwater.com/moaw/Water-Quality/Water-Quality-Reports/.

Learn more about the AWWA’s communications and outreach around Drinking Water Week by visiting https://www.awwa.org/communications-and-outreach/drinking-water-week/.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Missouri American Water
Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 700 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.7 million people. For more, visit missouriamwater.com and follow Missouri American Water on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/missouri-american-water-marks-drinking-water-week-with-focus-on-safe-reliable-water-302761567.html

SOURCE American Water

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Missouri American Water Marks Drinking Water Week with Focus on Safe, Reliable Water

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Missouri American Water (PRNewsfoto/American Water)

ST. LOUIS, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — /PRNewswire/ — Missouri American Water celebrates Drinking Water Week (May 3-9, 2026), reaffirming its commitment to providing safe, reliable water to 1.7 million customers throughout the state.

An annual observance led by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) during the first full week of May, Drinking Water Week brings together water utilities and communities across North America to recognize the importance of high-quality drinking water in protecting public health, supporting economic growth and sustaining everyday life. 

“Providing safe, reliable water is at the core of what we do,” said Rich Svindland, President of Missouri American Water. “We are focused on maintaining strong systems today, while continuing to invest in the infrastructure needed to serve our communities every day and into the future.”

Missouri American Water continues to invest in its local systems to focus on the people who rely on them every day, strengthening reliability, enhancing water quality and supporting long-term resilience. These investments—ranging from upgrading treatment facilities to replacing aging infrastructure and advancing new technologies—help ensure that about 1.7 million customers across the state can trust water in their homes and communities.

From 2023 to 2025, Missouri American Water invested about $1.1 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure across the state, including the replacement of over 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipes, all aimed at delivering safe, consistent service that customers can depend on. 

Missouri American Water encourages customers to take an active role in water stewardship by: 

  • Learning more about their local water systems. 
  • Taking steps to help protect vital water resources. 
  • Recognizing the essential role water plays in sustaining healthy communities. 

Missouri American Water customers can find more information on their water quality by zip code at https://www.amwater.com/moaw/Water-Quality/Water-Quality-Reports/.

Learn more about the AWWA’s communications and outreach around Drinking Water Week by visiting https://www.awwa.org/communications-and-outreach/drinking-water-week/.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Missouri American Water
Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 700 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.7 million people. For more, visit missouriamwater.com and follow Missouri American Water on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/missouri-american-water-marks-drinking-water-week-with-focus-on-safe-reliable-water-302761567.html

SOURCE American Water

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Missouri American Water Marks Drinking Water Week with Focus on Safe, Reliable Water

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Missouri American Water (PRNewsfoto/American Water)

ST. LOUIS, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — /PRNewswire/ — Missouri American Water celebrates Drinking Water Week (May 3-9, 2026), reaffirming its commitment to providing safe, reliable water to 1.7 million customers throughout the state.

An annual observance led by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) during the first full week of May, Drinking Water Week brings together water utilities and communities across North America to recognize the importance of high-quality drinking water in protecting public health, supporting economic growth and sustaining everyday life. 

“Providing safe, reliable water is at the core of what we do,” said Rich Svindland, President of Missouri American Water. “We are focused on maintaining strong systems today, while continuing to invest in the infrastructure needed to serve our communities every day and into the future.”

Missouri American Water continues to invest in its local systems to focus on the people who rely on them every day, strengthening reliability, enhancing water quality and supporting long-term resilience. These investments—ranging from upgrading treatment facilities to replacing aging infrastructure and advancing new technologies—help ensure that about 1.7 million customers across the state can trust water in their homes and communities.

From 2023 to 2025, Missouri American Water invested about $1.1 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure across the state, including the replacement of over 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipes, all aimed at delivering safe, consistent service that customers can depend on. 

Missouri American Water encourages customers to take an active role in water stewardship by: 

  • Learning more about their local water systems. 
  • Taking steps to help protect vital water resources. 
  • Recognizing the essential role water plays in sustaining healthy communities. 

Missouri American Water customers can find more information on their water quality by zip code at https://www.amwater.com/moaw/Water-Quality/Water-Quality-Reports/.

Learn more about the AWWA’s communications and outreach around Drinking Water Week by visiting https://www.awwa.org/communications-and-outreach/drinking-water-week/.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Missouri American Water
Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 700 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.7 million people. For more, visit missouriamwater.com and follow Missouri American Water on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/missouri-american-water-marks-drinking-water-week-with-focus-on-safe-reliable-water-302761567.html

SOURCE American Water

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Hirdaramani Group: Advancing Responsible Purchasing Through Better Buying

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

As a globally recognized apparel manufacturer with over a century of industry leadership, Hirdaramani Group continues to play a defining role in advancing sustainable and responsible practices across the apparel value chain. A Cascale member since 2013, the Group operates vertically integrated facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Africa, partnering with leading global brands to deliver end-to-end apparel solutions and enable more transparent, future-ready supply chains.

Guided by its Future First Sustainability Roadmap, Hirdaramani integrates environmental stewardship, social impact, and responsible governance across its operations. Within this broader strategy, participation in Cascale’s Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) serves as a strategic platform to strengthen buyer-supplier partnerships and support the evolution of responsible purchasing practices across the industry.

Impact at a Glance

  • Leveraging Better Buying to amplify supplier voice and inform more responsible purchasing practices
  • Integrating purchasing practice dialogue into the Future First sustainability framework through Better Buying
  • Strengthening transparency and accountability across global buyer relationships
  • Advancing measurable sustainability progress, including:
    • Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from energy across Sri Lanka’s manufacturing operations
    • 17 LEED Gold and Platinum-certified facilities across the global footprint
    • Over 21,000 employees engaged through well-being and empowerment programs
    • First Sri Lankan company to have its net-zero science-based targets approved

Creating Better Conditions for Supplier-Buyer Collaboration

Manufacturers are expected to keep advancing climate and social priorities while managing the daily realities of sourcing and production. Purchasing practices play a direct role in shaping that environment. Planning changes, delayed payments, and pricing pressure can affect how suppliers manage resources, schedule production, and sustain longer-term efforts.

Better Buying brings those conditions into view through structured supplier feedback on buyer purchasing practices. For Hirdaramani Group, this creates a practical opportunity to contribute insight from the manufacturing side of the value chain. A consistent feedback process can bring alignment for day-to-day operations and open stronger conversations with buyers about how to improve together.

Aligning the Group’s sustainability progress with accountability, transparency, and stronger working relationships throughout the supply chain, Better Buying supports a more consistent and constructive dialogue between suppliers and buyers.

How Hirdaramani Uses Better Buying to Strengthen Dialogue with Buyers

Hirdaramani approaches Better Buying not only as a reporting mechanism but also as a practical tool for engagement and industry advancement. Across its Future First Roadmap, the company has connected sustainability progress with clearer structures, stronger reporting standards, and greater transparency and accountability. Better Buying fits within that approach by offering the Hirdaramani team a confidential way to share supplier experience and help inform more effective purchasing practices over time.

As noted by Nikhil Hirdaramani, Director at the Hirdaramani Group, the tool offers a “secure and anonymous feedback channel” that has supported more constructive and action-oriented engagement with customers. Better Buying has also driven stronger, more transparent conversations that contribute to continuous improvements over time.

Better Buying complements Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability efforts by strengthening accountability and more closely linking operational performance to buyer relationships.

Partnership as a Driver of Improvement

Collaboration is central to Hirdaramani Group’s approach to sustainability. Through its Future First Roadmap, the Group works closely with global brands, industry platforms, and stakeholders to advance progress across climate action, social impact, traceability, and innovation.

Participation in Better Buying strengthens this collaborative approach by:

  • Translating supplier experience into actionable insights
  • Supporting more informed and responsive decision-making by buyers
  • Building trust through greater transparency and shared accountability

In this way, the partnership becomes part of how progress is shaped and sustained across the value chain.

Why This Matters

Hirdaramani’s experience shows how structured supplier feedback can strengthen partnerships and support more effective purchasing practices. By connecting operational insights with strategic buyer engagement, Better Buying helps bridge critical gaps in the apparel value chain.

As expectations on sustainability continue to grow, aligning purchasing practices with these ambitions will remain essential. For Hirdaramani Group, Better Buying strengthens this effort by connecting day-to-day operational realities with buyer relationships, helping ensure that progress across the value chain is both practical and sustained.

For more on Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability journey, listen to Nikhil Hirdaramani on Cascale’s Source of Good podcast episode, “From Tailors to Global Trailblazers: Talking Climate Action with Hirdaramani and ASICS.”

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Hirdaramani Group: Advancing Responsible Purchasing Through Better Buying

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

As a globally recognized apparel manufacturer with over a century of industry leadership, Hirdaramani Group continues to play a defining role in advancing sustainable and responsible practices across the apparel value chain. A Cascale member since 2013, the Group operates vertically integrated facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Africa, partnering with leading global brands to deliver end-to-end apparel solutions and enable more transparent, future-ready supply chains.

Guided by its Future First Sustainability Roadmap, Hirdaramani integrates environmental stewardship, social impact, and responsible governance across its operations. Within this broader strategy, participation in Cascale’s Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) serves as a strategic platform to strengthen buyer-supplier partnerships and support the evolution of responsible purchasing practices across the industry.

Impact at a Glance

  • Leveraging Better Buying to amplify supplier voice and inform more responsible purchasing practices
  • Integrating purchasing practice dialogue into the Future First sustainability framework through Better Buying
  • Strengthening transparency and accountability across global buyer relationships
  • Advancing measurable sustainability progress, including:
    • Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from energy across Sri Lanka’s manufacturing operations
    • 17 LEED Gold and Platinum-certified facilities across the global footprint
    • Over 21,000 employees engaged through well-being and empowerment programs
    • First Sri Lankan company to have its net-zero science-based targets approved

Creating Better Conditions for Supplier-Buyer Collaboration

Manufacturers are expected to keep advancing climate and social priorities while managing the daily realities of sourcing and production. Purchasing practices play a direct role in shaping that environment. Planning changes, delayed payments, and pricing pressure can affect how suppliers manage resources, schedule production, and sustain longer-term efforts.

Better Buying brings those conditions into view through structured supplier feedback on buyer purchasing practices. For Hirdaramani Group, this creates a practical opportunity to contribute insight from the manufacturing side of the value chain. A consistent feedback process can bring alignment for day-to-day operations and open stronger conversations with buyers about how to improve together.

Aligning the Group’s sustainability progress with accountability, transparency, and stronger working relationships throughout the supply chain, Better Buying supports a more consistent and constructive dialogue between suppliers and buyers.

How Hirdaramani Uses Better Buying to Strengthen Dialogue with Buyers

Hirdaramani approaches Better Buying not only as a reporting mechanism but also as a practical tool for engagement and industry advancement. Across its Future First Roadmap, the company has connected sustainability progress with clearer structures, stronger reporting standards, and greater transparency and accountability. Better Buying fits within that approach by offering the Hirdaramani team a confidential way to share supplier experience and help inform more effective purchasing practices over time.

As noted by Nikhil Hirdaramani, Director at the Hirdaramani Group, the tool offers a “secure and anonymous feedback channel” that has supported more constructive and action-oriented engagement with customers. Better Buying has also driven stronger, more transparent conversations that contribute to continuous improvements over time.

Better Buying complements Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability efforts by strengthening accountability and more closely linking operational performance to buyer relationships.

Partnership as a Driver of Improvement

Collaboration is central to Hirdaramani Group’s approach to sustainability. Through its Future First Roadmap, the Group works closely with global brands, industry platforms, and stakeholders to advance progress across climate action, social impact, traceability, and innovation.

Participation in Better Buying strengthens this collaborative approach by:

  • Translating supplier experience into actionable insights
  • Supporting more informed and responsive decision-making by buyers
  • Building trust through greater transparency and shared accountability

In this way, the partnership becomes part of how progress is shaped and sustained across the value chain.

Why This Matters

Hirdaramani’s experience shows how structured supplier feedback can strengthen partnerships and support more effective purchasing practices. By connecting operational insights with strategic buyer engagement, Better Buying helps bridge critical gaps in the apparel value chain.

As expectations on sustainability continue to grow, aligning purchasing practices with these ambitions will remain essential. For Hirdaramani Group, Better Buying strengthens this effort by connecting day-to-day operational realities with buyer relationships, helping ensure that progress across the value chain is both practical and sustained.

For more on Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability journey, listen to Nikhil Hirdaramani on Cascale’s Source of Good podcast episode, “From Tailors to Global Trailblazers: Talking Climate Action with Hirdaramani and ASICS.”

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Hirdaramani Group: Advancing Responsible Purchasing Through Better Buying

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

As a globally recognized apparel manufacturer with over a century of industry leadership, Hirdaramani Group continues to play a defining role in advancing sustainable and responsible practices across the apparel value chain. A Cascale member since 2013, the Group operates vertically integrated facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Africa, partnering with leading global brands to deliver end-to-end apparel solutions and enable more transparent, future-ready supply chains.

Guided by its Future First Sustainability Roadmap, Hirdaramani integrates environmental stewardship, social impact, and responsible governance across its operations. Within this broader strategy, participation in Cascale’s Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) serves as a strategic platform to strengthen buyer-supplier partnerships and support the evolution of responsible purchasing practices across the industry.

Impact at a Glance

  • Leveraging Better Buying to amplify supplier voice and inform more responsible purchasing practices
  • Integrating purchasing practice dialogue into the Future First sustainability framework through Better Buying
  • Strengthening transparency and accountability across global buyer relationships
  • Advancing measurable sustainability progress, including:
    • Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from energy across Sri Lanka’s manufacturing operations
    • 17 LEED Gold and Platinum-certified facilities across the global footprint
    • Over 21,000 employees engaged through well-being and empowerment programs
    • First Sri Lankan company to have its net-zero science-based targets approved

Creating Better Conditions for Supplier-Buyer Collaboration

Manufacturers are expected to keep advancing climate and social priorities while managing the daily realities of sourcing and production. Purchasing practices play a direct role in shaping that environment. Planning changes, delayed payments, and pricing pressure can affect how suppliers manage resources, schedule production, and sustain longer-term efforts.

Better Buying brings those conditions into view through structured supplier feedback on buyer purchasing practices. For Hirdaramani Group, this creates a practical opportunity to contribute insight from the manufacturing side of the value chain. A consistent feedback process can bring alignment for day-to-day operations and open stronger conversations with buyers about how to improve together.

Aligning the Group’s sustainability progress with accountability, transparency, and stronger working relationships throughout the supply chain, Better Buying supports a more consistent and constructive dialogue between suppliers and buyers.

How Hirdaramani Uses Better Buying to Strengthen Dialogue with Buyers

Hirdaramani approaches Better Buying not only as a reporting mechanism but also as a practical tool for engagement and industry advancement. Across its Future First Roadmap, the company has connected sustainability progress with clearer structures, stronger reporting standards, and greater transparency and accountability. Better Buying fits within that approach by offering the Hirdaramani team a confidential way to share supplier experience and help inform more effective purchasing practices over time.

As noted by Nikhil Hirdaramani, Director at the Hirdaramani Group, the tool offers a “secure and anonymous feedback channel” that has supported more constructive and action-oriented engagement with customers. Better Buying has also driven stronger, more transparent conversations that contribute to continuous improvements over time.

Better Buying complements Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability efforts by strengthening accountability and more closely linking operational performance to buyer relationships.

Partnership as a Driver of Improvement

Collaboration is central to Hirdaramani Group’s approach to sustainability. Through its Future First Roadmap, the Group works closely with global brands, industry platforms, and stakeholders to advance progress across climate action, social impact, traceability, and innovation.

Participation in Better Buying strengthens this collaborative approach by:

  • Translating supplier experience into actionable insights
  • Supporting more informed and responsive decision-making by buyers
  • Building trust through greater transparency and shared accountability

In this way, the partnership becomes part of how progress is shaped and sustained across the value chain.

Why This Matters

Hirdaramani’s experience shows how structured supplier feedback can strengthen partnerships and support more effective purchasing practices. By connecting operational insights with strategic buyer engagement, Better Buying helps bridge critical gaps in the apparel value chain.

As expectations on sustainability continue to grow, aligning purchasing practices with these ambitions will remain essential. For Hirdaramani Group, Better Buying strengthens this effort by connecting day-to-day operational realities with buyer relationships, helping ensure that progress across the value chain is both practical and sustained.

For more on Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability journey, listen to Nikhil Hirdaramani on Cascale’s Source of Good podcast episode, “From Tailors to Global Trailblazers: Talking Climate Action with Hirdaramani and ASICS.”

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Hirdaramani Group: Advancing Responsible Purchasing Through Better Buying

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

As a globally recognized apparel manufacturer with over a century of industry leadership, Hirdaramani Group continues to play a defining role in advancing sustainable and responsible practices across the apparel value chain. A Cascale member since 2013, the Group operates vertically integrated facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Africa, partnering with leading global brands to deliver end-to-end apparel solutions and enable more transparent, future-ready supply chains.

Guided by its Future First Sustainability Roadmap, Hirdaramani integrates environmental stewardship, social impact, and responsible governance across its operations. Within this broader strategy, participation in Cascale’s Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) serves as a strategic platform to strengthen buyer-supplier partnerships and support the evolution of responsible purchasing practices across the industry.

Impact at a Glance

  • Leveraging Better Buying to amplify supplier voice and inform more responsible purchasing practices
  • Integrating purchasing practice dialogue into the Future First sustainability framework through Better Buying
  • Strengthening transparency and accountability across global buyer relationships
  • Advancing measurable sustainability progress, including:
    • Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from energy across Sri Lanka’s manufacturing operations
    • 17 LEED Gold and Platinum-certified facilities across the global footprint
    • Over 21,000 employees engaged through well-being and empowerment programs
    • First Sri Lankan company to have its net-zero science-based targets approved

Creating Better Conditions for Supplier-Buyer Collaboration

Manufacturers are expected to keep advancing climate and social priorities while managing the daily realities of sourcing and production. Purchasing practices play a direct role in shaping that environment. Planning changes, delayed payments, and pricing pressure can affect how suppliers manage resources, schedule production, and sustain longer-term efforts.

Better Buying brings those conditions into view through structured supplier feedback on buyer purchasing practices. For Hirdaramani Group, this creates a practical opportunity to contribute insight from the manufacturing side of the value chain. A consistent feedback process can bring alignment for day-to-day operations and open stronger conversations with buyers about how to improve together.

Aligning the Group’s sustainability progress with accountability, transparency, and stronger working relationships throughout the supply chain, Better Buying supports a more consistent and constructive dialogue between suppliers and buyers.

How Hirdaramani Uses Better Buying to Strengthen Dialogue with Buyers

Hirdaramani approaches Better Buying not only as a reporting mechanism but also as a practical tool for engagement and industry advancement. Across its Future First Roadmap, the company has connected sustainability progress with clearer structures, stronger reporting standards, and greater transparency and accountability. Better Buying fits within that approach by offering the Hirdaramani team a confidential way to share supplier experience and help inform more effective purchasing practices over time.

As noted by Nikhil Hirdaramani, Director at the Hirdaramani Group, the tool offers a “secure and anonymous feedback channel” that has supported more constructive and action-oriented engagement with customers. Better Buying has also driven stronger, more transparent conversations that contribute to continuous improvements over time.

Better Buying complements Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability efforts by strengthening accountability and more closely linking operational performance to buyer relationships.

Partnership as a Driver of Improvement

Collaboration is central to Hirdaramani Group’s approach to sustainability. Through its Future First Roadmap, the Group works closely with global brands, industry platforms, and stakeholders to advance progress across climate action, social impact, traceability, and innovation.

Participation in Better Buying strengthens this collaborative approach by:

  • Translating supplier experience into actionable insights
  • Supporting more informed and responsive decision-making by buyers
  • Building trust through greater transparency and shared accountability

In this way, the partnership becomes part of how progress is shaped and sustained across the value chain.

Why This Matters

Hirdaramani’s experience shows how structured supplier feedback can strengthen partnerships and support more effective purchasing practices. By connecting operational insights with strategic buyer engagement, Better Buying helps bridge critical gaps in the apparel value chain.

As expectations on sustainability continue to grow, aligning purchasing practices with these ambitions will remain essential. For Hirdaramani Group, Better Buying strengthens this effort by connecting day-to-day operational realities with buyer relationships, helping ensure that progress across the value chain is both practical and sustained.

For more on Hirdaramani’s broader sustainability journey, listen to Nikhil Hirdaramani on Cascale’s Source of Good podcast episode, “From Tailors to Global Trailblazers: Talking Climate Action with Hirdaramani and ASICS.”

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Panthalassa Raises $140 Million to Power AI at Sea

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Series B led by Peter Thiel funds manufacturing and first deployments of autonomous ocean-powered computing systems for a new class of AI infrastructure

PORTLAND, Ore., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Panthalassa, a renewable energy and ocean technology company, today announced $140 million in Series B financing led by Peter Thiel, with participation from new investors John Doerr, Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures, Max Levchin’s SciFi Ventures, Susquehanna Sustainable Investments, Hanwha Group, Anthony Pratt, Fortescue Ventures, Future Positive, WTI, Nimble Partners, Super Micro Computer, Sozo Ventures, Dylan Field, Planetary VC, Leblon Capital, Resilience Reserve, Portland Seed Fund, and the Intrepid Oregon Fund. They are joined by returning investors Founders Fund, Gigascale Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, Unless, and WovenEarth. The funding will complete the company’s pilot manufacturing facility near Portland, Oregon, and accelerate deployment of its Ocean-3 series of nodes, which will perform AI inference computing at sea using power generated from ocean waves.

“There are three sources of energy on the planet with tens of terawatts of new capacity potential: solar, nuclear, and the open ocean,” said Garth Sheldon-Coulson, Co-Founder and CEO of Panthalassa. “We’ve built a technology platform that operates in the planet’s most energy-dense wave regions, far from shore, and turns that resource into reliable clean power. We’re now ready to build factories, deploy fleets, and provide a sustainable new source of energy for humanity.”

Panthalassa’s nodes are autonomous, floating energy systems that are mass-produced from plate steel in coastal factories. They operate in the distant ocean, where they generate clean electricity around the clock. Rather than transmitting energy back to terrestrial grids, Panthalassa uses it directly on board to power AI chips, sending inference tokens to land by satellite. The surrounding ocean provides free supercooling, eliminating one of the largest engineering challenges in land-based data centers and lengthening chip lifetimes.

Panthalassa has spent the past decade developing the core power generation, propulsion, autonomy, and at-sea computing technologies behind the platform. Its Ocean-1, Ocean-2, and Wavehopper prototypes in 2021 and 2024 proved these capabilities at sea. In 2026, the company plans to deploy its Ocean-3 pilot node series in the northern Pacific Ocean, demonstrating AI inference capabilities and refining its manufacturing process in preparation for commercial deployments in 2027.

As demand for new electricity and computing continues to surge, terrestrial data centers face mounting constraints: limited grid capacity, cooling water scarcity, supply chain bottlenecks, permitting delays, and impacts on local communities and infrastructure. Panthalassa’s platform expands energy and AI computing capacity without requiring new data centers or power plants on land—relieving strain on the grid, reducing ecological impacts, and lowering energy costs for families and businesses.

“The future demands more compute than we can imagine,” said Peter Thiel. “Extra-terrestrial solutions are no longer science fiction. Panthalassa has opened the ocean frontier.”

“Panthalassa’s autonomous wave power system is a game changer in addressing global energy needs and clean power generation,” said John Doerr. “It is a triple win: workers benefit, communities benefit, and we gain a strategic asset that strengthens American technological leadership.”

About Panthalassa

Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to ensuring a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Its self-propelled nodes capture wave energy and use it to generate clean electricity and run AI computing onboard, with data transmitted by low-Earth-orbit satellites. Panthalassa is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading investors. For more information, visit panthalassa.com.

Abigail Hanson
Director of PR
VSC for Panthalassa
Abigailc@vsc.co

“This release was issued through WebWire®. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.”

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panthalassa-raises-140-million-to-power-ai-at-sea-302761078.html

SOURCE Panthalassa

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Panthalassa Raises $140 Million to Power AI at Sea

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Series B led by Peter Thiel funds manufacturing and first deployments of autonomous ocean-powered computing systems for a new class of AI infrastructure

PORTLAND, Ore., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Panthalassa, a renewable energy and ocean technology company, today announced $140 million in Series B financing led by Peter Thiel, with participation from new investors John Doerr, Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures, Max Levchin’s SciFi Ventures, Susquehanna Sustainable Investments, Hanwha Group, Anthony Pratt, Fortescue Ventures, Future Positive, WTI, Nimble Partners, Super Micro Computer, Sozo Ventures, Dylan Field, Planetary VC, Leblon Capital, Resilience Reserve, Portland Seed Fund, and the Intrepid Oregon Fund. They are joined by returning investors Founders Fund, Gigascale Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, Unless, and WovenEarth. The funding will complete the company’s pilot manufacturing facility near Portland, Oregon, and accelerate deployment of its Ocean-3 series of nodes, which will perform AI inference computing at sea using power generated from ocean waves.

“There are three sources of energy on the planet with tens of terawatts of new capacity potential: solar, nuclear, and the open ocean,” said Garth Sheldon-Coulson, Co-Founder and CEO of Panthalassa. “We’ve built a technology platform that operates in the planet’s most energy-dense wave regions, far from shore, and turns that resource into reliable clean power. We’re now ready to build factories, deploy fleets, and provide a sustainable new source of energy for humanity.”

Panthalassa’s nodes are autonomous, floating energy systems that are mass-produced from plate steel in coastal factories. They operate in the distant ocean, where they generate clean electricity around the clock. Rather than transmitting energy back to terrestrial grids, Panthalassa uses it directly on board to power AI chips, sending inference tokens to land by satellite. The surrounding ocean provides free supercooling, eliminating one of the largest engineering challenges in land-based data centers and lengthening chip lifetimes.

Panthalassa has spent the past decade developing the core power generation, propulsion, autonomy, and at-sea computing technologies behind the platform. Its Ocean-1, Ocean-2, and Wavehopper prototypes in 2021 and 2024 proved these capabilities at sea. In 2026, the company plans to deploy its Ocean-3 pilot node series in the northern Pacific Ocean, demonstrating AI inference capabilities and refining its manufacturing process in preparation for commercial deployments in 2027.

As demand for new electricity and computing continues to surge, terrestrial data centers face mounting constraints: limited grid capacity, cooling water scarcity, supply chain bottlenecks, permitting delays, and impacts on local communities and infrastructure. Panthalassa’s platform expands energy and AI computing capacity without requiring new data centers or power plants on land—relieving strain on the grid, reducing ecological impacts, and lowering energy costs for families and businesses.

“The future demands more compute than we can imagine,” said Peter Thiel. “Extra-terrestrial solutions are no longer science fiction. Panthalassa has opened the ocean frontier.”

“Panthalassa’s autonomous wave power system is a game changer in addressing global energy needs and clean power generation,” said John Doerr. “It is a triple win: workers benefit, communities benefit, and we gain a strategic asset that strengthens American technological leadership.”

About Panthalassa

Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to ensuring a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Its self-propelled nodes capture wave energy and use it to generate clean electricity and run AI computing onboard, with data transmitted by low-Earth-orbit satellites. Panthalassa is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading investors. For more information, visit panthalassa.com.

Abigail Hanson
Director of PR
VSC for Panthalassa
Abigailc@vsc.co

“This release was issued through WebWire®. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.”

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panthalassa-raises-140-million-to-power-ai-at-sea-302761078.html

SOURCE Panthalassa

Posted in UncategorizedTagged
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