Author: sHq_LoGiNz

July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Covia’s Roff Plant was recently named the Pontotoc Technology Center (PTC) Partner in Progress for 2025, recognizing its outstanding commitment to workforce development and hands-on education in south-central Oklahoma.

For years, Covia has collaborated with PTC to deliver a wide range of technical and safety training programs to PTC students, including MSHA safety certification, welding, drone operation, and electrical systems training. These initiatives have not only enhanced employee skills but also provided invaluable real-world experience for PTC students.

Welding students contributed directly to Covia’s mining operations by fabricating on-site parts, and Lineworker Academy students from PTC gained practical experience by safely dismantling over 1,000 feet of decommissioned high-voltage lines. This effort required strict adherence to multiple safety protocols.

Covia is proud to be a good neighbor to Roff and its surrounding communities, actively investing in initiatives that foster long-term growth and opportunity. Our commitment to community engagement goes beyond business—it’s about building meaningful relationships, supporting local programs, and contributing to a vibrant, resilient economy. Through our ongoing partnership with local educational institutions, like PTC, we’re helping to create pathways for students and workers alike, ensuring they have the skills and resources needed to thrive in today’s workforce. Covia’s continued support has made a lasting impact on the region’s educational and economic landscape.

Learn more about Covia’s community impact here.

Published by Action Against Hunger.

Empowering Communities Through Climate-Smart Agriculture and Women’s Leadership 

In the remote village of Malkadaka, home to just 800 households in Kenya, climate change was wreaking havoc. Once a self-sufficient pastoralist community, Malkadaka was devastated by recurring droughts and floods that decimated livestock and left families struggling with hunger and uncertainty. More than 100 miles from the nearest major town, Isiolo, the village remained isolated and cut off from vital resources needed to recover and rebuild.

As their traditional pastoralist lifestyle became increasingly unsustainable, some members of the community were determined to adapt. In 2018, a group of local women came together to form the Habsa Women’s Group, united by a shared goal: to improve access to nutritious food through agriculture. They started with maize farming, learning the fundamentals of crop cultivation. Encouraged by early success, they expanded their efforts to grow vegetables like onions and kale—taking a vital step toward food security and resilience.

Despite achieving a remarkable milestone—learning to grow crops with limited tools and in a harsh, unpredictable climate—the women still faced significant hurdles. Persistent droughts and pest infestations continued to threaten their harvests, keeping true food security out of reach. In 2023, the Habsa Women’s Group partnered with Action Against Hunger through the “Building Resilience of Drought-Affected Communities” project in Isiolo County, funded by the UBS Optimus Foundation. The initiative focuses on improving access to nutritious, diverse diets in communities affected by climate change—especially for women and children under five, who are most vulnerable to malnutrition. By offering sustainable solutions to the challenges of food insecurity, poor dietary diversity, and limited livelihoods, Action Against Hunger is working hand in hand with the women of Malkadaka to build resilience and adapt to the realities of a changing climate.

 

Innovative, Climate-Smart Techniques to Conserve Water and Boost Yields 

Action Against Hunger began by introducing farming techniques tailored to improve yields in a challenging climate by focusing on methods like crop rotation and the use of drought-resistant seeds. Designed to be farmer-centered, regenerative, and nature-based, the program emphasized eco-friendly practices that nurtured the land and empowered local communities. For the Habsa Women’s Group, the training prioritized sustainability and self-reliance. They learned techniques such as intercropping—growing different crops together as a natural way to manage pests. To protect their harvests from grazing animals, Action Against Hunger also supported the construction of a fence around the group’s two-acre farm.

Malkadaka Village’s greatest challenge was its harsh, arid climate—marked by low rainfall and prolonged droughts. To help the community adapt, Action Against Hunger introduced a range of climate-smart farming techniques designed to improve water retention and make the most of scarce resources. One key innovation was the installation of solar-powered water pumps, which provided a reliable source of irrigation even during dry spells. Another simple yet effective solution was the use of sunken beds—garden beds dug below ground level to create natural basins that capture rainwater and retain moisture in the soil.

“We have trained the farmers in climate-smart agriculture because our farming is irrigation dependent,” explains Janet Muema, Action Against Hunger’s Food Security & Livelihoods Officer for Kenya. “Water is a big challenge, and rainfall is unreliable in this area.” In addition to conserving water, sunken beds also helped enrich the soil by trapping organic matter—an affordable, sustainable practice well-suited to the region’s changing climate.

“Since then, we have witnessed a lot of benefits,” says Wario Huka, a key community leader who mobilized women to join the initiative. Now serving as Chair of the Habsa Women’s Group, Wario worked closely with Action Against Hunger’s agricultural officers to support the group in selecting and cultivating high-value crops. Their efforts paid off: the women produced a strong harvest of tomatoes, onions, green grams, and hot peppers—nutritious vegetables that are both scarce and costly in the local market. The group used part of the harvest to nourish their families and sold the surplus. Even after covering labor costs, they earned a profit of approximately Ksh60,000 (about $463)—a promising step toward sustainable livelihoods.

For the women of the group, this income opened doors to new possibilities—allowing them to invest in farm tools, launch side businesses, purchase essential household items, and support their children’s education. These were not just transactions, but life-changing steps toward lasting resilience. To help the women build on this progress, Action Against Hunger established a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), offering training in financial literacy and encouraging financial independence. With newfound confidence and knowledge, the women were empowered to manage their earnings, plan for the future, and strengthen their community’s economic foundation.

 

Partnering with Local Government to Scale Impact and Sustainability 

To ensure long-term success, Action Against Hunger partnered closely with the local government of Isiolo to coordinate efforts and align with community priorities. “Value addition was a key focus of the project and a top priority for the county,” explained Janet Muema, Food Security & Livelihoods Officer. This shared vision helped guide the selection of high-value crops for the Habsa Women’s Group. Mansur Shaban, Acting Director of Investment & Industrialisation for Isiolo’s Department of Trade, Cooperative, and Industrialization Development, is also working alongside other county actors to scale up the production of these profitable crops—supporting broader efforts to strengthen local markets and livelihoods.

Mansur Shaban is also working closely with Action Against Hunger to help the Habsa farmers expand their reach by linking them to markets within Isiolo County, including Merti and Sericho. This market access has a two-fold benefit: it increases the group’s income—allowing for reinvestment into their agricultural efforts—and improves access to fresh, affordable produce for communities across the region.

Recognizing the limitations of Isiolo’s rural market, Action Against Hunger and the county government are also working to connect farmers with markets beyond Isiolo, including cities to the south like Meru, where goods are often more affordable and accessible. “We are working to link farmers with main suppliers in those towns,” explains Mansur. “We encourage them to form cooperatives or aggregation groups so they can purchase inputs in bulk and reduce costs. These groups will also make it easier to market their products once harvested.”

Opportunities for further growth are on the horizon. The Kenyan government has launched the Isiolo County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) initiative, which will offer cold storage, agro-processing facilities, and value-addition services to farmers—helping reduce post-harvest losses and increase earnings. A government feasibility study identified strong market potential for tomato-based products from Malkadaka. “We want our farmers to take advantage of that,” says Mansur. “With the CAIPs project, we will have a food processing plant that includes a tomato processing unit. We want these farmers to increase production now so that when the time comes, they’ll have the volumes needed.”

The Habsa Farm is one of six groups in Isiolo County trained by Action Against Hunger in climate-smart farming. Similar efforts are now underway in Chumvi-are Village, where two new groups have begun preparing for planting. Expanding these techniques across villages is critical to ensuring consistent access to fresh produce and reducing malnutrition in the region.

In Malkadaka, the Habsa Women’s Group currently operates the only vegetable-producing farm in the community. The model has already inspired replication: in Kitengesi village, a similar project has taken root, offering new pathways to food security and resilience. These climate-smart farming initiatives have led to more diverse diets, reduced reliance on livestock, and greater economic empowerment—especially for women—across Isiolo County.

 

Why Holistic, Climate-Smart Agriculture Is Key to Ending Hunger 

The collaborative efforts in Malkadaka underscore the transformative power of sustainable agriculture to address environmental challenges, economic needs, and nutritional well-being. For climate-smart agriculture to succeed, it must be rooted in a long-term, holistic framework. “Action Against Hunger engaged multiple government departments—including gender and social services, trade, agriculture, and health—to ensure the root causes of malnutrition were addressed in a coordinated and sustainable way,” says Mansur Shaban, Trade, Investment, and Industrialization Officer for the Isiolo County Government. In his role, Shaban leads the Department of Trade and works to strengthen market linkages that prevent post-harvest losses and support local farmers.

As Malkadaka continues its journey toward climate resilience, its story stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when communities, governments, and humanitarian actors come together with a shared vision.

The success of the Habsa Women’s Group and the broader transformation of Malkadaka Village reveal the extraordinary potential of climate-smart agriculture—especially when it is grounded in community leadership, supported by cross-sector collaboration, and guided by a systems-based approach. Through agroecological practices, improved market access, and women-led innovation, this initiative has done more than grow food. It has built resilience, strengthened livelihoods, and empowered women to lead lasting change.

This partnership-driven model shows that sustainable farming isn’t just viable in the face of the climate crisis—it’s essential. It offers a roadmap toward a more just, food-secure future for rural communities everywhere.

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

• Andrex^® and Kleenex^® producer Kimberly-Clark, together with partners HYRO and Carlton Power, invest a combined £125 million into UK green hydrogen
• The long-term offtaker hydrogen supply agreement is an industry-first in the Consumer Products sector in the UK, and is signed with partners Carlton Power and HYRO
• Green hydrogen will reduce Kimberly-Clark’s natural gas consumption by 50% at its UK manufacturing sites in Kent and Cumbria from 2027

LONDON, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, manufacturer of leading household name brands including Andrex® and Kleenex®, becomes the first major consumer products company in the UK to make a significant commitment to green hydrogen, signalling its commitment to a more sustainable future.

The company announces today that together with its energy partners, Carlton Power and HYRO (a joint venture between Octopus Energy Generation and RES), it is investing over £125 million into the emerging energy solution at its two plants in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and Northfleet, Kent. Combined, the two sites produce nearly one billion Andrex toilet rolls and over 150 million boxes of Kleenex tissues every year. Through the investment, Kimberly-Clark expects to see a 50% reduction versus its 2024 consumption of natural gas across its UK production lines from 2027.

The two long-term offtaker hydrogen supply agreements signed with energy partners Carlton Power, and HYRO– will mean a green hydrogen facility is installed next to Kimberly-Clark’s Barrow plant, while a separate facility will be built on Kimberly-Clark’s Northfleet plant.

These two green hydrogen projects are being supported with funding from the UK government after being selected for the Government’s Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) – a global first (also known as Hydrogen Allocation Round One – HAR1). Carlton Power’s Barrow Green Hydrogen project secured local planning consent in June 2023. HYRO’s innovative project at the Northfleet paper mill received planning permission, after the local council granted consent for the scheme in August 2024.

The Barrow hydrogen project will supply 100GWh of hydrogen per annum while the Northfleet project will supply 47GWh per annum. Collectively the displacement of natural gas with hydrogen will reduce carbon emissions by 28,500 tonnes per annum, equivalent to removing approximately 20,000 petrol cars off the road every year*.

These projects will further decarbonise the production of toilet and facial tissues by directly replacing fossil-fuel natural gas used for steam generation. Green hydrogen – created through the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources, like wind and solar – allows a versatile energy source to be generated and stored without emitting polluting gases during combustion or production.

Dan Howell, Vice President and Managing Director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland said: “This is a significant investment into a green hydrogen solution, and alongside other investments that support our ambition to move our UK manufacturing operations to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

“Now is the right time for us to tap into hydrogen’s significant potential, improving energy supply and our decarbonisation needs. We are delighted to be the first UK consumer goods manufacturer to really embrace green hydrogen, showing that an energy intensive industry can take the lead and overcome the technical challenge and adopt green hydrogen at scale. This initiative builds on the investments and progress we’ve already made with innovative technologies for our business, our consumers and our customers.”

Minister for Industry, Sarah Jones, said: “This government is rolling out hydrogen out at scale for the first time, with ten of the first projects now shovel-ready to start powering businesses with clean, homegrown energy from Teesside to Devon.

“Hydrogen will help us cut industrial emissions and support Britain’s industrial renewal by creating thousands of jobs in our industrial heartlands as part of the Plan for Change.”

Keith Clarke, Founder and Chief Executive of Carlton Power, said: “Kimberly-Clark’s commitment to using green hydrogen in its operations is a significant move and shows great ambition and leadership. Our development of the Barrow scheme has been forged through strong partnerships with Kimberly-Clark, our financial partner Schroders Greencoat and with DESNZ as well as with local agencies and stakeholders. Our Barrow Green Hydrogen facility will be the first in a series of projects that we will bring into commercial operation over the next 2-4 years to support UK industry make the transition to using green hydrogen and away from fossil fuels.”

Alex Brierley, co-head of Octopus Energy Generation’s fund management team said: “This is an exciting milestone for HYRO and for green hydrogen in the UK’s industrial sector. HYRO’s project with Kimberly-Clark at their Northfleet paper mill has progressed well, with government funding contracts in place and planning permission approved too. Green hydrogen will play a significant role in decarbonising hard-to-electrify industries – and Kimberly-Clark has been a pioneer in this space. This scheme will help produce household products using renewables and flush away fossil fuels for good.”

Lucy Whitford, RES’ Managing Director, UK & I, said: “Green hydrogen, created using British low carbon energy, will revolutionise how we power industry, helping the UK to build a globally competitive, zero carbon economy in the process. We are proud of the success of HYRO’s Northfleet project and this latest backing for the plans by Kimberly-Clark shows how we can make green hydrogen a reality.”

The initiatives are expected to enable Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland to achieve a total reduction of its operational greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% in 2027 (vs 2015 baseline). These improvements will also help Kimberly-Clark meet its sustainability ambitions to achieve a 50% reduction of absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions globally, from a 2015 base year by 2030.

It represents another major milestone in Kimberly-Clark’s ambitious drive towards low carbon energy in the UK, following its announcement in September 2023 of a power purchase agreement supporting the opening of a new £75 million onshore wind farm in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Managed by Octopus Energy Generation on behalf of Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT), RES also provides the necessary asset management services for the wind farm which has been supplying green power to Kimberly-Clark’s operations since it was commissioned.

Sources:
*Emissions equivalency based on UK Government’s average passenger vehicle emission factor: 120 gCO2/km, assuming 12,000 km driven annually.

Notes to editors

Imagery:

• Infographic to show how green hydrogen is made
• Made With Hydrogen video of Northfleet
• CGI Images of Barrow and Northfleet installation – for illustration only
• Aerial images of Barrow and Northfleet plants

About Kimberly Clark’s ongoing sustainability projects 
Kimberly-Clark’s global 2030 sustainability strategy aims to address the key social and environmental challenges of the next decade, improving the lives and wellbeing of one billion people in underserved communities around the world.

This announcement represents a milestone in Kimberly-Clark’s ambitious drive towards green energy and its global goal to reduce its scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% against a 2015 baseline. Other recent Purchase Power Agreements include:

• A new multi-country European power purchase agreement supporting three solar farms in Italy and Spain, forecasted to generate 164 GWh of renewable electricity each year.
• Installing one of the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing site at Salamanca facility in Spain, completed in early 2025 (6,500 MWh per year).
• Installing rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing site in Cape Town, South Africa in 2024 (3,700 MWh per year);
• Opening a new £75 million onshore wind farm in Scotland, UK in 2023 (160,000 MWh per year).

Kimberly-Clark also recently announced that its plant in Koblenz, Germany had become the company’s first tissue plant on path to 100% renewable energy, expected to reduce carbon emissions at the facility by approximately 50,000 MTCO2e per year.

For more information: Sustainability Report 2024

About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries and territories. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, Goodnites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. Our company’s purpose is to deliver Better Care for a Better World. We are committed to using sustainable practices designed to support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and enable our business to thrive for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and learn more about the company’s more than 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.

About Carlton Power (www.barrowgreenhydrogen.co.uk / www.carltonpower.co.uk)
Carlton Power, headquartered in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, is one of the leading green hydrogen developers in the UK. In addition to Barrow, its first phase of green hydrogen schemes are at Trafford in Greater Manchester and Langage (Plymouth) in Devon. These three projects, via HAR1, represent 33% of the total capacity awarded contracts by the UK Government (11 projects were awarded HAR1 contracts). In April 2025, its projects at Hartlebury in Worcestershire and in Walsall (West Midlands) were shortlisted for financial support in DESNZ’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 2. Carlton is a member of Hydrogen UK and the North West Hydrogen Alliance. Carlton Power has more than 25 years of development experience in the UK including bringing forward over 3.5GW of gas fired generation and 8MW of solar, with c2.5GW of energy storage at various stages of development.

About Octopus Energy Generation
Octopus Energy Generation is driving the renewable energy agenda and building green power for the future. It is reshaping the market by leading the transition to a cleaner, greener future through renewable projects connected more deeply to customers and businesses. As one of Europe’s largest specialist renewables investors, it manages 4.3 GW of energy projects like wind and solar farms in over 18 countries, worth £7bn ($9bn).

Octopus comes up with innovative tech-enabled products to change ingrained thinking about energy, positively influence the net zero economy and deliver cheaper energy for customers. This includes the ‘Fan Club’, a world-first tariff providing discounted energy to people living near wind turbines when it’s windy, which has seen 35,000+ requests for local wind turbines, and Winder (Tinder for Wind), Octopus’ tech platform to speed up new turbines development driven by community demand. For more information, check out our website.

About RES
RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, working across 24 countries and active in wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, transmission, and distribution. An industry innovator for over 40 years, RES has delivered more than 28GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and plans to bring more than 26GW of new capacity online in the next five years.

RES is the power behind a clean energy future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy bringing together global experience, passion, and the innovation of its 4,500 people to transform the way energy is generated, stored and supplied. Visit: www.res-group.com.

Media enquiries

Kimberly-Clark
E: Kccorporate@mhpgroup.com | M: +44 (0) 7802 380 481 – Isabella Reed

Georgina Coro, KCC UK & Ireland Communications Manager
E: georgina.coro@kcc.com | M: +44 (0)7971 602092

Octopus Energy Generation
E: press@octoenergy.com | M: +44 (0)20 4530 8369

RES
Sam Murgatroyd, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, UK&I – sam.murgatroyd@res-group.com

Carlton Power
Paul Taylor, Taylor Keogh Communications – 07966 782611 / paul@taylorkeogh.com

View original content here

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Otis (NYSE: OTIS) will provide innovative technology and connected vertical mobility solutions for Arte Star, a luxury residential building located near iconic landmarks such as the Kuala Lumpur Tower and Merdeka 118.

• Otis will complete installation of 22 SkyRise® and 1 Gen3™ elevator systems by 2027
• Otis will maintain Arte Star’s vertical mobility systems through 2029
• Otis is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation, and service company

“We are proud to collaborate with our customer Arte Corp on this project, delivering smarter, safer and more sustainable solutions that enhance Kuala Lumpur’s urban landscape and redefine luxury living,” said Pradeep Nair, Managing Director of Otis Malaysia and Brunei.

FAQ: What Otis systems will be in the Arte Star, Kuala Lumpur?

• The flexible SkyRise system, available in a range of speeds and rises up to 900m, is equipped with the Otis regenerative-drive technology (ReGen® Drive) which feeds electrical energy back into the building power grid during braking. This can then be used to power equipment in the building, helping to lower net electricity consumption and enable building cost savings
• The Gen3 elevator system launched in Malaysia in 2024, is digitally connected. It enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and seamless building integration. The Gen3 elevator system enhances efficiency, improves safety, and elevates the customer’s experience
• The Arte Star will be equipped with the Otis ONE™ IoT digital platform that connects elevators to the cloud. Otis ONE monitors, collects and analyzes data from elevators’ smart sensors to deliver performance information, proactive communication and predictive insights to Otis’ customers. This translates to improved savings and value for building owners and managers.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

View original content here.

I come from a big, close-knit family and always dreamed of having one of my own someday. What was in store is even more than I could have ever expected.

When I graduated from high school, instead of going to college, I jumped immediately into career mode, starting as an administrative assistant for an Aflac agent. I was just 19 at the time, and it was in that role that I learned about the earning potential and asked for mentorship opportunities. It was on that path that I met my husband and today, we have built both a beautiful family and a very successful insurance business.

But, as with all things in life, there were valleys that came along with these peaks. In those years in between, I lost loved ones to cancer. But if there is ever a silver lining in a situation like this, it’s that their cancer journeys were exactly the reminders I needed to get myself checked.

Later that year, I went to my routine wellness mammogram and through that exam, I found out I had an aggressive breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. Over the next year, I underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy — all while raising our two young kids (3 and ½ years and 18 months) and running our thriving business.

Today, I’m so happy and grateful to say that I’ve been cancer free for eight years. That experience taught me so much, and ever since, I’ve been on a mission to share it with others, whether it’s recommendations for finding comfort during treatment or the unexpected after diagnosis.

It’s at this point that I usually tell people what gave me peace of mind during this time.

But I have an even more important point to share, especially after seeing the results of my company’s most recent Wellness Matters Survey, which showed that 90% of respondents delayed checkups and routine screenings that could help save their lives.

So my message to you is simple: Schedule and commit to your routine wellness exams. Let my story be a reminder — because I followed through on my regular mammogram appointment, I’ve been able to watch my kids grow and keep my business flourishing.

About the study: The 2025 Wellness Matters Survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 employed U.S. adults ages 18-65 in April 2025 by Kantar Profiles on behalf of Aflac.

The results from the 2025 Wellness Matters Survey are intended for informational purposes only.

This letter contains the opinions of an Aflac policyholder and is not intended to portray any specific benefits or details of Aflac insurance.

WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500327 
Exp. 5/26