Month: July 2026

Through The Ray’s ongoing collaboration with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), they’ve recently deployed advanced natural capital solutions at the Scatter Creek Rest Area, demonstrating how active transit corridors can perform double duty for local ecosystems and public infrastructure.

Targeted Wildlife Support: The project demonstrates how federally protected species (in this case, the regionally threatened Mazama pocket gopher) can safely coexist with active transportation corridors.

Botanical Design for Ecological Health: Custom-engineered native seed mixes were specifically adapted to the site’s unique soil profile. Deep-rooted plants anchor the roadside, optimizing natural stormwater runoff, and providing long-term forage for local pollinators.

Smart Environmental Monitoring: The Ray and WSDOT integrated PheNode® automated sensor systems from Agrela Ecosystems. The on-site units continuously stream microclimate data, allowing the team to track real-time soil and weather conditions as the habitat develops.

Read the full story here.

The KeyBank Foundation is committing $300,000 to Syracuse Community Health (SCH) to support wraparound patient care programs through the new Thrive Together family wellness initiative.

Addressing the Root Causes of Health Challenges

Thrive Together is a modern, integrated care initiative designed to enhance patient outcomes and reduce overall healthcare costs by aligning medical care, behavioral health, and social care support services. Grounded in a patient-centered model, the project will bring patients and SCH staff together as true partners in care planning and delivery. Using cost-analysis software, SCH will be able to align resources more effectively, monitor value-based performance, and reinvest savings into services most needed by patients, especially those facing complex health challenges and unmet social needs.

“Too many families face barriers that make it difficult to access the care they need. Thrive Together helps close those gaps by connecting patients with critical resources and support, creating a ripple effect that strengthens families and communities across Central New York,” said Stephen Fournier, KeyBank Central New York Market President. “This initiative is about meeting people where they are and ensuring they have access to the care, resources, and advocacy they need to thrive. We’re proud to partner with Syracuse Community Health to support a program that addresses the root causes of poor health and creates stronger outcomes for patients and families.”

Transforming Patient Care

Syracuse Community Health’s mission is to provide quality healthcare services to all individuals with a commitment to those who might otherwise be excluded from the healthcare system, while remaining cost-effective, efficient, and competitive.

As a wellness and care coordination framework, Thrive Together will incorporate practical supports such as nutrition counseling, mindfulness, and health literacy, into individualized care plans while addressing critical social care needs, including housing, transportation, and income stability.

Improving Outcomes for Patients and Families

For patients, the project is designed to strengthen management of chronic conditions, address health-related social needs (HRSNs), reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations, increase completion of preventive screenings, and improve maternal and child health. It will also foster health literacy, enabling patients to feel confident in asking questions, making informed decisions, and advocating for their own care.

At the community level, these changes will help reduce strain on emergency and hospital systems, promote earlier intervention, and contribute to a healthier, more stable population.

“Equity in healthcare means giving every person the precise resources, care, and support they need to attain their highest level of health by addressing their unique challenges,” said Alexandria Pisarczyk, Syracuse Community Health Chief of Business Development and Strategy Officer.

“Creating healthier communities starts with investing in the whole person. Syracuse Community Health’s Thrive Together initiative recognizes that lasting wellness is shaped by many factors beyond a medical diagnosis, including access to reliable support systems, health education, and community resources,” said Tamika Otis, KeyBank Syracuse Corporate Responsibility and Community Relations Officer. “We’re proud to support an approach that empowers individuals and families, strengthens community well-being, and helps create a healthier future for Syracuse.”

Shaping the Future of Central New York

This latest investment builds on KeyBank’s broader history of community-driven philanthropy, economic mobility initiatives, and inclusive banking investments. Since 2017, KeyBank has invested more than $821.8 million in Syracuse and Central New York, supporting affordable housing, small business and home lending, and transformational philanthropic initiatives.

• Learn more about how KeyBank helps clients, teammates, and communities thrive by making meaningful investments in the places it’s proud to call home.

Key Points

• Vets with Nets welcomed 375 veterans for a day of fishing, connection and appreciation on Lake Erie.
• Detroit refinery employees, including members of the site’s HONOR employee network group, supported the event as boat captains and on-shore volunteers.
• The event helped veterans spend time outdoors, share stories and connect with others, with MPC volunteers proud to help make the experience possible.

Vets with Nets brought hundreds of veterans together for a day of fishing, connection and appreciation, with Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) volunteers from the Detroit refinery helping support the annual event on and off the water.

Employees, including members of the site’s HONOR employee network group, volunteered at the annual Vets with Nets event. Four MPC employees volunteered as boat captains and joined the broader group of more than 170 boats, helping take veterans out on Lake Erie for a day designed to recognize their service and create a memorable experience.

This year’s event welcomed 375 veterans. Despite rough conditions that caused some smaller boats to return early and others to stay ashore, 92 boats brought fish to the weigh station, with a total of 1,480 fish tallied.For one veteran, the experience left a lasting impression.“Between the laughs, the stories and just being out on the water, it was exactly the kind of day we all needed.”“What started with a little uncertainty ended up being one of the most fun days we’ve had in a long time,” the veteran shared. “Between the laughs, the stories and just being out on the water, it was exactly the kind of day we all needed. You made us feel welcome, and your generosity didn’t go unnoticed.”

On shore, volunteers for MPC and its midstream component MPLX also hosted a booth and handed out giveaways to guests. The refinery’s Maintenance Director Jason Harmon, who helped organize MPC’s participation, said the event is meaningful because it offers employees a tangible way to show appreciation for veterans.

“We don’t take lightly the sacrifices veterans have made,” Harmon said. “We wanted to show our gratitude in a meaningful way, investing time and energy to help ensure they enjoyed their time on the water and have a successful fishing trip.”

As interest in debt conversions for nature continues to grow globally, so does the need for detailed case studies that help sovereigns, financial stakeholders, and conservation practitioners understand how these structured transactions come together. 

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has pioneered a sovereign debt refinancing model, under the Nature Bonds Program, that helps countries unlock sustainable long-term financing for national conservation and climate priorities while advancing their financial, economic, and development goals. Since launching its Nature Bonds Program, TNC has successfully closed six Nature Bonds transactions – unlocking ~$1 billion for conservation, communities and climate, raising more than $2 billion of new financing, and refinancing more than $3 billion of existing debt. 

Over the past decade, TNC has built an interdisciplinary team of dedicated finance, legal, science, safeguards, and trust fund experts to advance this growing asset class. Drawing on TNC’s deep technical expertise in originating, structuring, negotiating, and executing debt conversions, we have published a new case study on The Bahamas Debt Conversion Project for Marine Conservation. The publication provides an in-depth overview of the financial structure and credit enhancement package, how funding was unlocked, and the role of the conservation trust fund. 

The innovative project refinanced $300 million of The Bahamas’ external sovereign debt, creating $132 million of funding to improve ocean conservation and management over 15 years. Building on earlier Nature Bonds transactions, this project introduced a first-of-its-kind credit enhancement package that combined private guarantees and insurance with a public-sector anchor guarantee. In this instance, in collaboration with TNC, the IDB played a pivotal role in de-risking the transaction by crowding in a co-guarantee from Builder’s Vision and co-insurance from AXA XL.

Read the case study to dive deeper!

With thanks to all who helped make this possible, including Government of The Bahamas, Inter-American Development Bank, Builders Vision, AXA XL, Standard Chartered, Bahamas Protected Areas Fund (BPAF), Bahamas National Trust, and many others. And congrats to the many colleagues across TNC that worked so hard to achieve this win for nature and for The Bahamas. 

Learn more about the TNC Nature Bonds Program and watch out for more news as our project pipeline continues to grow.

 

For media inquiries:

Rachel Winters
Deputy Director, Global Media
The Nature Conservancy
Email: rwinters@tnc.org

Cascale is pleased to welcome four new members to its membership community in the second quarter of 2026.

Spanning brands, retailers, and manufacturers across AMER, APAC, and EMEA, these organizations join a network of more than 300 corporate and affiliate member organizations working toward a more equitable and restorative consumer goods industry.

Organizations that joined Cascale between April and June 2026 include:

• Shahi Exports — Manufacturer, Corporate Member
• Bemis Associates — Manufacturer, Corporate Member
• Pepco Poland (part of Pepco Group N.V., WSE: PCO)— Brand & Retailer, Corporate Member
• Celio France — Brand & Retailer, Candidate Member

The new members join at a time when consumer goods companies face intensifying pressure to demonstrate credible progress — from regulators tightening due diligence and reporting requirements, from customers, and from supply chains that overlap across the same countries and facilities. Those pressures are largely shared, and Cascale’s belief is that the response should be coordinated as well.

Cascale membership is built around that logic. Organizations bring their hardest operational questions to peers who have already worked through them, and take on the systemic challenges collectively, drawing on industry data, expert guidance, and training to move from measuring performance to improving it. The work runs in both directions: the frameworks and methodologies Cascale stewards and governs are shaped by the organizations that use them, and members set priorities through Cascale’s councils, task forces, and governance bodies. For manufacturers in particular, that is a route into industry decision-making that has not always been open.

Cascale will support the new members’ participation across its programs, events, and member-led initiatives throughout 2026 and beyond.

Please join us in welcoming Bemis Associates, Shahi Exports, Pepco Poland, and Celio France to the Cascale community.

Interested in learning how Cascale membership can support your organization’s sustainability journey? Explore what membership offers and find out how you can be part of driving industry-wide change.

In 2026, sustainability continues to be a major value system that impacts the way we design our kitchens. Designers and homeowners are increasing their alignment with eco-friendly brands and products, while embracing design trends that project environmental wellness. While this isn’t confined to the kitchen, the room in which we cook our foods and nourish our families is perhaps closest at heart to our growing concern for the planet.  

Bringing eco-friendly materials into the kitchen

When measuring kitchen design sustainability, eco-friendly material use is an important parameter. According to Idit Maayan Zohar, Caesarstone’s Chief Marketing Officer, it has become an essential part of the material selection process:

“In certain markets, for example in Europe, North America and Australia, choosing a sustainable material for home and kitchen design goes almost without saying. Designers and homeowners do their research, examining potential materials in terms of their incorporation of recycled elements, lifecycle assessments, and more.” 

Incorporating sustainable materials can be accomplished in a number of ways. For starters, when designing a kitchen with wood elements – from flooring and cabinetry to butcher blocks – some wood solutions are more eco-friendly than others. Traditional wood is often unsatisfactory from a sustainable perspective, but alternatives such as natural cork and bamboo fare much better in that department, and can be used for flooring, cabinetry and more – with dazzling effects. Wood lovers can also use reclaimed wood – which was used in previous structures – to design modern kitchens instead of going to waste.  

Speaking of material, countertops play an important role in kitchen design. Luckily, homeowners can choose high-quality surfaces for their kitchens, islands and splashbacks that are mostly made from recycled materials. Caesarstone’s ICON™ collection, for example, features a dazzling array of designs for today’s modern kitchens, which are made with ~85% recycled materials, including recycled industrial glass. Caesarstone ICON’s advanced fusion surfaces open up breathtaking design possibilities in terms of depth, dimension and color play, due to their unique material composition.

“Caesarstone ICON™ is made primarily from post-industrial recycled glass”, says Ido Winer, Caesarstone’s Head of Materials & Research. “We chose this option over post-consumer recycled glass because it creates a balance between sustainable values and the high-quality raw materials our surfaces require. Our industrial glass originates from local factories situated relatively close to the Caesarstone ICON™ production site, which reduces transportation and lowers our carbon footprint.”

Energy efficiency in the kitchen

Sustainability is synonymous with energy and resource conservation, and today’s kitchens can practice eco-efficiency in so many ways. Here are several prominent examples:

• Low-flow faucets and smart taps can save significant amounts of water, without compromising on elegant design.
   
• High-quality LED lighting not only saves a ton of electricity, but also comes in a dizzying array of designs, from sleek spotlights to vintage light bulbs. 
   
• The power of natural light can be harnessed to flood kitchens with wonderful sunlight, reducing electricity use. Appropriated window size and placement, which takes the kitchen’s geographic direction into account, can do wonders in this regard. 
   
• Ventilation: Optimized airflow can reduce energy consumption in the kitchen (AKA: less AC!). Smart window design and demand-control fans can not only minimize electricity use, but also improve air quality. 
   
• Recycling systems: Many of today’s sustainable kitchens include a designated storage space for waste sorting prior to recycling. Designers can position these systems far from sight, in a cabinet or a large drawer. 
   
• Durable countertops: Countertop durability translates into an eco-friendly edge. Long-lasting surfaces mean less replacements, less maintenance and less hassle that requires transportation and installations. It’s that simple. 
   
• Transportation emissions: From wood to ceramics, locally sourced materials ensure delivery that emit less greenhouse gases and waste less energy.

Biophilic design: Kitchens filled with nature

Sustainability and environmental friendliness are associated with nature, and in recent years, nature has become an indoor staple, galvanizing kitchens and other spaces with vibrant energy. Recognizing nature’s positive effects on human well-being, home design trends have responded with countless nature-inspired trends. Suffice to say, kitchens are leading the way – embracing green wellness in design and beyond.  

• Large windows and skylights: If you’re living in the countryside, in the suburbs, or even in the city overlooking a park, large kitchen windows can open a gate into some of that wonderful outdoor greenery. Skylights bring ample natural sunlight into the kitchen, and perhaps more importantly, situate a slice of blue sky (or starry night tapestry) right above your cooking station. 
   
• Plants and herbs: Herbs and kitchens go hand in hand, and recent design trends are amplifying this joyous connection to the max. Alongside herbs gardens on kitchen windowsills, the internet is flooded with ideas for possible plant assortments in kitchens – from wall, beam and ceiling installations to dedicated shelving. 
   
• Countertop shades: Rocks and stones are an important part of nature, and nothing brings their allure into the kitchen better that work surfaces. Today’s countertops feature colors and designs that offer dazzling interpretations of natural stone. Caesarstone’s Porcelain Collections feature designs that capture the imperfect, unrefined beauty of natural stones and minerals such as onyx, travertine and fossilized elements. Caesarstone ICON™ surfaces include designs inspired by sea foam and seaweed, oxidized patina and clay, and luxurious Calacatta marble. 

Choosing beauty, with responsibility

When it comes to kitchen design, many eco-conscious homeowners prefer purchasing products from companies that are transparent about their sustainability actions, and which actively promote environmental protection through considerate production processes. 

To understand whether a product is actually aligned with their environmental values, consumers often seek labels and verifications. Once such example is lifecycle assessment (LCA), a systematic method that evaluates a certain product’s end-to-end environmental impact – from its raw material beginnings to its disposal methods.

“At Caesarstone, we know that many of our consumers are interested in understanding what our surfaces are made of, and what happens to them once they are dismantled”, says Idit Maayan Zohar. “I am happy to report that as of today, after recently adding 68 porcelain models to our EPD-certified portfolio in 2026, we now offer a total of 139 certified models. Additional EPDs are expected for more Caesarstone ICON™ models in the coming months, so there’s a lot to look forward to.” 

As hospitals and healthcare systems face growing pressure to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining high standards of patient care, Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are increasingly being used to evaluate the environmental footprint of products, processes, services, and operations. However, HPRC’s engagement with healthcare stakeholders revealed that while awareness of LCAs is widespread, understanding of how they work and how they should be applied remains inconsistent across the industry.

Our latest resource, HPRC’s Guidance on Life Cycle Assessments and Their Applicability to Healthcare Systems, is designed to help healthcare organizations understand and effectively use LCAs to support sustainability goals and decision-making.

Developed as an educational resource, the guide provides a practical overview of LCA fundamentals, including common assessment approaches, ISO standards, healthcare applications, and key considerations when reviewing or conducting an LCA. The publication also examines real-world healthcare case studies that demonstrate how LCAs can support evidence-based decision-making, identify environmental hotspots, improve resource efficiency, advance circular economy initiatives, and inform policy development.

Among the key takeaways from the whitepaper:

• LCAs provide a science-based framework for understanding environmental impacts across a product, process, or service lifecycle.
• Hospitals can use LCAs to support procurement decisions, waste management strategies, operational improvements, and sustainability planning.
• Real-world healthcare studies demonstrate measurable environmental benefits from initiatives such as medical device reprocessing, circularity programs, and energy efficiency improvements.
• LCAs are most effective as decision-support tools that help organizations identify priorities, evaluate trade-offs, and focus efforts where the greatest environmental benefits can be achieved.
• Continued development of healthcare-specific data, methodologies, and reporting standards will be important to improving the consistency and usability of LCAs across the sector.

Download HPRC’s Guidance on Life Cycle Assessments and Their Applicability to Healthcare Systems here.

 

About HPRC

HPRC is a private technical coalition of industry peers across healthcare, recycling, and waste management industries seeking to improve the recyclability of plastic products within healthcare. Made up of more than 30 brand-leading and globally recognized members, HPRC explores ways to enhance the economics, efficiency, and ultimately the quality and quantity of healthcare plastics collected for recycling in support of a circular plastics economy. HPRC is active across the United States and Europe working with key stakeholders, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and participating in industry events and forums. For more information, visit www.hprc.org and follow HPRC on LinkedIn.

HPRC is facilitated by Antea Group.

Las Vegas Sands

In closing its most recent corporate responsibility reporting period spanning 2021-2025, Sands had surpassed all of its environmental targets, and one of the areas in which the company excelled was carbon emissions reduction.

By the end of 2025, Sands had reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 54% from a 2018 base year, achieving its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated 17.5% reduction target as well as its 1.5°C-aligned 30% reduction target, in line with the United Nations Paris Agreement.

Along with green energy certificate purchases and broader progress in power grid decarbonization, a key factor in achieving this performance was the company’s energy conservation initiatives. Aggregate energy savings totaled nearly 34,000 MWh at Marina Bay Sands and approximately 39,000 MWh at Sands China.

“Our regions’ energy conservation initiatives have balanced the world-class experience we offer to guests with our global sustainability commitment,” Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, said. “We align our emissions-reduction initiatives with the operational complexity and specialized requirements of large-scale integrated resorts. The commitment of our properties to excellence in both areas is why we were able to achieve our environmental goals and still exceed guest expectations.”

Pursuing Excellence

Sands implemented a dual strategy of making strategic infrastructure upgrades, while pursuing operational efficiencies.

In Singapore, Marina Bay Sands realized 51% of its five-year energy savings through retrofits and upgrades to air-side equipment, which entails heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. These improvements spanned operational areas such as the casino; retail spaces; meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) venues; and entertainment zones.

Ongoing LED lighting projects also contributed to total energy savings, with upgrades implemented in the resort’s casino, ArtScience Museum®, company-owned restaurants, and select MICE areas and back-of-house locations.

An air-side optimization project conducted in 2025 allowed Marina Bay Sands to reduce energy consumption by over 4,000 MWh alone, while improving air quality standards through strategies such as adjusting equipment schedules and usage to optimize indoor air circulation in its multi-level casino.

In Macao, Sands China drove energy reduction through enhancements to the company’s central chiller plant, which included cooling tower upgrades, optimization initiatives and adoption of advanced control systems. In the past five years, these efforts accounted for 45% of Sands China’s total energy savings. Operational projects, such as equipment resizing and optimization to better match actual needs, contributed to another 44% of Sands China’s energy savings.

The company’s cooling system initiatives focused on ventilation systems in car parks, The Londoner Macao® and The Parisian® Macao theaters, The Venetian® Macao’s mall and exposition hall, the Shoppes at Londoner retail mall, and back-of-house office areas. In all areas, Sands China ensured that minimization of energy use did not compromise operational standards and air quality.

Looking Ahead

Moving into 2026, Marina Bay Sands has been working to improve ventilation efficiency through fan motor and filter upgrades. Sands China began electrifying kitchen operations by replacing a large gas soup kettle with an electric model and continues to transition equipment in its Team Member dining room and banquet kitchens in 2026.

Global energy conservation strategies are guided by the Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more about Sands’ environmental initiatives, read the latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/.