Author: sHq_LoGiNz

“Leaning into sustainable packaging solutions helps us meet consumer expectations today and prepare for the trends to come.”

The increasing consumer demand for sustainable packaging is being driven by growing environmental awareness and the desire to reduce waste. Consumers are increasingly seeking products with packaging that is recyclable, biodegradable, compostable or made from renewable or circular materials.

This shift is inspiring companies like Dow and our customers to continue innovating all aspects of the processes that go into packaging, from design to materials to collaborations. Leaning into sustainable packaging solutions helps us address consumer expectations today and prepare for the trends to come.

Understanding packaging design for recyclability

Overall, there are numerous dimensions to sustainability, and it is a similar case if we look at packaging specifically.

Consumers may choose to examine packaging before deciding to make a purchase to see if the packaging includes circular materials or whether it is recyclable. However, even before it gets to the store shelf, the design of the packaging and the materials that go into it can have a significant impact on its sustainability.

When we say packaging is designed for recyclability, it means it has been produced in a manner that is conducive for the materials to be processed and reused in the production of new materials.

What are circular materials?

Circular material refers to material that has been recycled from some form of waste. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is an example of a circular material.

“As companies and consumers in general, our responsibility doesn’t end in delivering the product and consuming the product, but also in what happens after that.” — Daniella Souza Miranda, global business marketing director, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics

Promoting circularity in packaging

Design is an important aspect of creating sustainable packaging solutions, and so are the materials selected for those designs. To gain a better understanding of how design for recyclability shows up in daily life, we can look to a morning cup of coffee as an example of how materials contribute to circular packaging.

Café Sello Rojo

The number of cups of coffee consumed globally each day reaches into the billions.

In Colombia, the third largest coffee producer in the world, about 2.5 million people rely on coffee for their livelihoods¹. As a main export and key contributor to Colombia’s gross domestic product growth (GDP) in 2024², the overall sustainability of coffee production and consumption is increasingly critical in Latin America’s fourth largest economy.

Traditional coffee bean and ground coffee packaging uses a variety of materials formed into layers to preserve the quality of the product and to control moisture. To achieve this, it is common for coffee packaging to use a combination of paper, plastic and foil. This multilayered approach to packaging design extends the shelf life of many consumer products, not just coffee, but it presents a challenge once the product has been consumed and the packaging becomes waste.

With this challenge in mind, Dow began a collaboration with the Colombian coffee brand, Café Sello Rojo, and their packaging manufacturer, Alico, to produce coffee packaging designed for recyclability. Together, we have created a mono-material packaging for Café Sello Rojo’s 400g product that is made from 100% polyethylene. That means that once consumers have enjoyed the coffee, the packaging can be recycled in areas that offer polyethylene recycling services. By considering sustainable packaging trends during the design phase, the team was successful in creating packaging that uses 15% less material than traditional coffee packaging designs.

To take a deeper dive into our collaboration with Café Sello Rojo and Alico, check out this video interview on the packaging success story.

Paper coffee cups

Have you ever wondered what keeps hot liquids like coffee and tea from leaking through a paper to-go cup from your local coffee shop?

Fiber-based packaging like paper cups and plates often have a thin coating that provides that liquid barrier. Barrier coatings can also provide oil and grease resistance and control the amount of moisture and oxygen that products in sealable paper food pouches are exposed to on the grocery store shelf.

Traditional paper cups are about 93% paper and 7% hard-to-recycle barrier coating. That material composition contributes to more than 90% of disposable cups ending up in landfills. But advanced packaging technology can help change that statistic.

The Dow product portfolio of barrier coatings for paper products address the multifaceted performance needs for paper packaging while still working within existing paper recycling systems. In fact, our RHOBARR™ 320 Barrier Dispersion coating is so thinly applied, often less than 8 microns in thickness, it supports up to 99% fiber recovery when those paper products are recycled.

“Dow paper coatings are designed to meet evolving regulations, brand sustainability commitments and consumer perceptions that drive interest in packaging options.” — Harry Fowler, global market segment leader for paper and metal packaging, Dow Coating Materials

We also make barrier coatings, like RHOBARR™ 214 Barrier Emulsion, with 30% bio-based content, meaning this latex incorporates plant-based raw materials. It is a part of our Ecolibrium™ sustainability pillar brand which provides our customers the assurance to confidently share that their packaging includes renewable or bio-based materials.

Dow Pack Studios: A collaborative approach to designing for recyclability

Design, materials and collaboration all contribute to sustainable packaging innovation.

That is what happens at Pack Studios. It is the place where our passionate teams work alongside our customers to develop innovative and better packaging ideas.

Pack Studios brings together advanced materials, cutting-edge technology, and industry expertise to help brands create effective packaging solutions. These facilities offer services like rapid prototyping, design testing and recyclability assessments.

Meeting our customers’ needs and consumer trends in packaging are priorities, but our commitment does not end there. We are working to address market demands, current challenges and pave the way for a sustainable future through our approach to materials science. Pack Studios collaborates with brands from concept to commercialization, ensuring solutions meet the highest standards, focusing on sustainability and performance.

About the article

This case study was developed by a cross-discipline team representing circularity and market expertise across Dow. To learn more about how Dow collaborates through science and sustainability to help transform waste, visit our Purpose in Action page.

Sources

1. Caballero, C. (2025, June 06). Colombia’s sustainable coffee sector and its lessons for climate solutions. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/columbias-sustainable-coffee-sector-and-its-lesson-for-climate-solutions/.
2. Colombia’s Economy To Grow 1.7% In 2024, With Coffee As The Protagonist. (2025, February 18). AmCham Colombia. https://amchamcartagena.org/en/colombias-economy-grew-by-17-in-2024-with-coffee-as-a-protagonist/.

View original content here.

International Olympic Committee news

For the first time in over a century, Parisians are once again swimming in the River Seine. What once seemed impossible is now a reality – thanks in large part to the vision, momentum and partnership inspired by the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Three new natural swimming sites – at Bras Marie, Bercy and Grenelle – officially opened to the public on 5 July 2025, just over one year after athletes swam through the Seine during the Olympic triathlon and marathon swimming competitions.

About 1,000 swimmers a day will be able to access the sites until the end of August. With clean waters and secure access, these sites offer not only places to cool down in the summer heat, but also a lasting symbol of what the Games can create when aligned with a city’s long-term ambitions.

An in-depth transformation

More than a sports venue, the Seine became the soul of Paris 2024. It hosted the Opening Ceremony, where thousands of athletes sailed down the river in a flotilla of boats, and served as the backdrop for multiple competitions.

But the real transformation happened beneath the surface – literally.

A century ago, swimming in the Seine was part of everyday Parisian life, but it was banned in 1923 due to pollution. The origins of the clean-up efforts date back to the early 90s. In 2015, the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority announced the plan to make the Seine swimmable by the time of the Olympic Games. These efforts targeted aging sewage systems, stormwater runoff and wastewater discharge – culprits long blamed for the Seine’s pollution.

A massive underground storage basin near Austerlitz now intercepts and retains overflow from the sewer system during heavy rains, preventing untreated water from spilling into the river. It is capable of holding over 50,000 cubic metres – roughly twenty Olympic-sized swimming pools – of wastewater until it can be safely treated.

Social, environmental and economic Impact

This effort, while technical, was never only about engineering. It was about giving the people of Paris – and its visitors – new access to green spaces, physical activity and leisure in the heart of the city.

The Seine now serves as a free, safe and refreshing public space. The sites offer fully accessible facilities, lifeguards, showers and sun decks. Kayaks can be borrowed at Grenelle. Swimming zones are clearly demarcated, navigation is temporarily paused during opening hours, and water quality is tested daily under strict safety protocols.

These open-air sites – carefully integrated into the urban landscape with removable, modular structures – were designed with the future in mind. They also address a growing climate need: public access to cooling spaces as urban temperatures rise.

But the Seine’s revival is not just about Paris. It echoes across France and beyond, with public swimming spots planned along the Seine and Marne throughout the Île-de-France region.

A living Olympic legacy

The Seine’s clean-up proves that the Olympic Games, when thoughtfully planned, can accelerate citywide – and regionwide – improvements that affect every layer of society. Although the efforts had already been in progress, they were accelerated by the Games, which provided an additional incentive – and a deadline – to complete them in time for the event, helping to reconnect Paris with its river.

In line with the goals of Olympic Agenda – the IOC’s strategic vision to ensure that the Games are more sustainable, more inclusive and better integrated into the fabric of host cities – Paris 2024 became a powerful catalyst for urban regeneration, environmental progress and social benefit.

“The spirit of the Games continues to live on in the streets of Paris. And now, in the waters of the Seine,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris. “This progress would not have come so quickly without the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is through this joint, demanding project, supported by all the stakeholders of the State and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, that we have been able to meet the environmental, health and technical challenges to make swimming possible, safe and sustainable.”

The reopening of the Seine is a reminder that the Olympic Games are not just about sport – they are about transformation.
Tania Braga, IOC Head of Legacy

“When a host city sees the Games as a catalyst for long-term progress, as Paris has done, the impact can reach far beyond venues and competition. It’s about reconnecting people to their environment, creating lasting public value, and showing how ambition and partnership can deliver change.”

For more information about Paris 2024 sustainability and legacy, see here.

Through innovation and cross-functional collaboration, Saint-Gobain North America has successfully created a circular economy program within its CertainTeed Interior Products Group, allowing insulation fibers from its facility in Kansas City, Kansas to be recycled and reused as raw material in the production of ceiling panels at its facility in L’Anse, Michigan. In its first full year, the project has saved over one and a half million pounds of insulation from landfills.

Established in 1951 and 1959 respectively, the manufacturing facilities in Kansas City and L’Anse are two of Saint-Gobain’s longest operating plants in the United States. Fiberglass, a lightweight and strong material made from fine glass fibers, is a key component in production for both insulation and acoustic ceiling panels, creating natural synergies that make the program possible. In addition to reducing waste-to-landfill in Kansas City, one of the world’s largest fiberglass insulation plants, the use of recycled materials in production lowers the global warming potential of CertainTeed L’Anse’s ceiling panels and is estimated to save nearly 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. 

“Creating circular economies within our production process is truly a win-win for our company, our customers and our communities,” said Jay Bachmann, President of CertainTeed Interior Product Group. “I commend our teams in Kansas City and L’Anse who through innovation, collaboration, and out-of-the-box thinking are reducing waste and exemplifying Saint-Gobain’s mission to be the leader in light and sustainable construction.”

Reducing waste and increasing the circularity of raw materials in its production processes remains a major commitment for Saint-Gobain. Over the past few years, the company has made significant advancements in circularity initiatives through several programs including: 

• Announced in October 2024, Saint-Gobain launched RenuCore^TM by CertainTeed, technology that enables the recycling of asphalt shingles to be reused in hot mix asphalt paving. 

• Working with partners The Durst Company and Infinite Recycled Technologies, Saint-Gobain North America has initiated a successful pilot to recycle architectural glass from buildings in New York City to be recycled and reused in the production of insulation. 

• In 2023, Saint-Gobain Canada celebrated a major achievement in its robust gypsum wallboard recycling program, returning over 1 million tonnes of recycled gypsum back into production. This program has expanded beyond British Columbia to other provinces throughout the country. 

• In its Ceramics division, Saint-Gobain has created a circular economy program for scrap finished goods, recycling and reusing materials from its Bryan, Texas facility in production at other plants throughout the United States. 

With over 160 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company’s team plays a vital role in achieving its sustainability goals. A current list of job openings, including in Kansas and Michigan, can be found on the company’s career website.

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050 

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain
 

 

CLEVELAND, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – The KeyBank Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization funded by KeyCorp, is investing $1.56 million in four non-profit organizations in its hometown of Cleveland. These grants align with the foundation’s work to create thriving communities and drive meaningful, lasting change.

“As Cleveland’s hometown bank, we take great pride in making transformative investments that provide hope and opportunity for all,” said Kelly Lamirand, KeyBank Cleveland Market President. “We congratulate the organizations that are receiving these grants and look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our community.”

Funding will support workforce development and financial education programs at the following organizations:

Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland
Funds will support educational programming at the organization’s new Experiential Learning Center. This in-classroom component is delivered by a combination of teachers and volunteers to 6th-12th grade students, with a focus on the following topics: income, savings, investing risk, debit and credit, and budgeting. KeyBank will also receive lead naming rights to the JA Finance Park simulation space, including a KeyBank storefront presence to promote banking business and career opportunities at KeyBank.

“The Junior Achievement Experiential Learning Center and JA Finance Park presented by KeyBank will transform how students and young adults learn about important life skills like budgeting, saving, and investing money wisely,” said Al DiFranco, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland. “We are grateful to the KeyBank Foundation for providing critical resources to help us create an in-classroom and experiential program that will positively impact financial literacy and wellness in our community.”

Towards Employment Incorporated
Funds will support the “Giving Clevelanders a Chance to Advance” program. This capacity-building campaign is aimed at helping Greater Clevelanders escape poverty and achieve economic mobility. This initiative focuses on providing skill development for in-demand jobs, comprehensive support, extended career coaching, and connections to employers.

“This funding makes sure that 4,000 Clevelanders, 60% of whom have justice involvement, have the support they need to successfully connect to rewarding careers while businesses are gaining new talent motivated to succeed,” said Jill Rizika, President & CEO of Towards Employment. “KeyBank, a long-term workforce partner, has provided an investment that lets us deepen Towards Employment’s career pathway services with additional behavioral health, financial literacy, and career coaching support.”

Building Hope in the City
Funds will support One World Kitchen which teaches food handling and preparation skills, commercial kitchen management lessons and business training to prepare participants to obtain meaningful employment in the food industry. The first cohort graduated 15 students in February 2025.

“Refugees bring innumerable and needed skills, talents and abilities to our city,” said Brian Upton, Building Hope in the City’s executive director. “Key’s generous partnership in these workforce and employment efforts in Cleveland will result in the launch of new immigrant and minority-owned catering enterprises and food-based businesses over time. This effort will create new opportunities for these new Americans to provide for their families and add to our region’s diverse cultural heritage and future.”

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
Funds will support the Vivian von Gruenigen, MD STEM Center of Excellence on the Daley Family Campus for STEM Innovation at Camp Ledgewood and STEM Learning for All Students program. This programming empowers participants with hands-on, age-appropriate experiences in fields like engineering, computer science, robotics and more.

“The Vivian von Gruenigen, MD STEM Center of Excellence is located in the only Girl Scout camp in the country located in a national park,” said Jane Christyson, CEO of Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. “That is why the theme of the building is ‘making the world a better place through nature inspired design.’ Visitors will come to understand that nature is the best engineer and inventor, and we know they will be inspired to create their own big ideas using STEM technology, showcased in and around the building. We are thrilled and incredibly grateful to the KeyBank Foundation for their amazing investment in our Girl Scouts and the youth in our region! Thanks to their support, we’re able to educate and inspire young minds about the exciting world of STEM careers.”

“Each of these organizations do amazing work each day that lifts our community up and helps people from all walks of life grow and succeed,” said Mattie Jones-Hollowell, Corporate Responsibility Officer for KeyBank in Cleveland. “As we celebrate our bicentennial, we are proud to invest in the work they do and provide people in Cleveland with financial education and opportunities to build successful careers.”

Since 2017, KeyBank has invested more than $2 billion in Northeast Ohio supporting affordable housing and community development projects; small business and home lending; and transformative philanthropy.

ABOUT KEYCORP

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $185 billion at June 30, 2025.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

ABOUT KEYBANK FOUNDATION 
KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that supports organizations and initiatives aimed at improving financial wellness, education, and community development. Through strategic philanthropy, KeyBank Foundation works to create thriving communities and drive meaningful, lasting change.

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Authored by Baker Tilly’s Dave DuVarney

Enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) agents are emerging as the next wave of workplace productivity. These custom-built assistants streamline tasks, automate processes and personalize support for users across the organization. And much like the low-code movement of years past, this innovation isn’t coming from developers alone.

The rise of low-code AI adoption is empowering power users, business analysts and frontline employees to create AI agents without writing a single line of code. With tools like Microsoft Copilot, agent-building has enabled employees to design and deploy AI-powered helpers using natural language, intuitive workflows and contextual prompts.

This democratization of development presents a powerful opportunity and a familiar challenge. To scale responsibly, organizations must apply the lessons learned from the low-code era to ensure these agents are governed, supported and aligned to business priorities.

Why it matters: AI agents are growing fast 

The demand for AI agent capabilities is accelerating rapidly. In a recent Cloudera1 survey, 96% of U.S. enterprises said they plan to expand AI agent deployments within the next 12 months. As the barrier to entry falls, the number of agents being created and the range of use cases is poised to multiply.

These tools unlock innovation by enabling users closest to business challenges to design their own solutions. However, without the right frameworks in place, this growth can lead to redundancies, inconsistencies and risk.

The low-code playbook still applies 

Many of the practices that helped organizations succeed with low-code platforms apply equally to enterprise AI agents:

• Tiered environments: Just as with app development, organizations should establish development, testing and production environments for agents to ensure quality and safety
• Champion networks: Identifying and empowering early adopters or “agent champions” help promote best practices, support peers and surface high-value solutions
• Usage analytics: Monitoring engagement with AI agents can highlight what’s working, what needs refinement and what should be retired

This approach enables safe experimentation without sacrificing oversight. It also creates a structured path for successful agents to be scaled across the enterprise.

Agent champions: A proven model for scale 

Champion networks are one of the most effective ways to scale emerging technologies. In the context of AI agents, champions are the users building, testing and refining solutions to real business problems.

By fostering a community of practice, where these champions can share learnings, answer questions and showcase their work, organizations can accelerate innovation while creating a strong feedback loop with IT and governance teams. Successful agents can then be reviewed, hardened and promoted to broader use, ensuring that grassroots creativity leads to enterprise-grade outcomes.

Managing agent sprawl through governance 

As with SharePoint sites or Microsoft Teams channels, unchecked growth can quickly lead to “agent sprawl.” AI agents may be created in isolation, duplicated across teams or left unused over time.

To stay ahead of this, organizations should implement a governance framework that includes:

• Publishing controls: Require a review process before agents are made broadly available
• Monitoring and maintenance: Use analytics tools to track usage and identify dormant agents for decommissioning
• Ownership models: Assign accountability for active agents, ensuring they are maintained, updated and aligned with evolving business needs

This approach balances agility with control, allowing innovation to flourish while minimizing duplication, drift and technical debt.

A call to action for digital leaders 

• AI agents aren’t a future state — they’re already here. Digital leaders should take proactive steps now to channel emerging energy into sustainable programs. This includes:
• Establishing clear guidelines for agent development and deployment
• Supporting communities of practice and champion contributors
• Implementing monitoring tools and governance processes
• Creating a culture where innovation is encouraged, but not unbounded

Those who act early will not only mitigate risk but also unlock a new level of distributed problem-solving across the enterprise.

How Baker Tilly can help 

Baker Tilly’s digital solutions team supports enterprise AI adoption with tailored services that accelerate progress while managing risk. Through AI innovation workshops and readiness assessments, organizations can:

• Identify opportunities for agent development
• Empower business users with the tools and training they need
• Build governance structures that prevent sprawl and ensure sustainability

By combining grassroots innovation with strategic oversight, enterprises can safely scale the next generation of AI-powered productivity.

Connect with a Baker Tilly specialist to learn more

In the latest blog, Cascale’s Vice President of Communications & Marketing, Lee Green shares insights from Cascale’s latest Awareness & Industry Impact Survey. The findings reflect a clear optimism about the industry’s, and Cascale’s, ability to drive meaningful change. At the same time, the survey surfaced a few misconceptions, prompting reflection on how Cascale communicates who we are, what we offer, and how we show up alongside our partners.

Read the full blog, titled: What Our Latest Survey Taught Me About Clarity, Confidence, and a Few Misconceptions

Our Scotts brand is proud to announce a new partnership with U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team captain Tyler Adams and Every Kid Sports.

This partnership is dedicated to increasing youth access to natural turf sports fields, as we believe in the power of green spaces to foster healthier, happier and stronger communities.

For the official kick-off, Tyler hosted a field day at his childhood playing field in Wappingers Falls, New York, teaching soccer skills to local youth. He attributes his early success to his experiences as a youth athlete. And as a new father, he is adamant about spending time with his family outside.

Tyler will help give back to local communities by working with Scotts to launch a nationwide Keep It Real sweepstakes, offering five youth sports nonprofit organizations the chance to win a natural turf field refurbishment and soccer balls signed by Adams.

Learn more about the Keep It Real Movement and sweepstakes: https://scotts.com/en-us/about-us/keep-it-real.html

View original content here.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.6 billion in sales, the Company is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting, and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com. 

Addressing the complex health needs of people with chronic conditions requires innovative solutions and strong collaborative efforts. The Food is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) is helping highlight the crucial role nutrition plays in healthcare and is working to provide medically tailored meals and nutrition support to those facing health-related dietary restrictions.

Through a grant under the DaVita Giving Foundation, FIMC and DaVita seek to create meaningful impact by improving food security, quality of life and self-reported hospitalization rates among individuals living with kidney disease receiving medically tailored meal services from three FIMC agencies — Open Arms of Minnesota (Minneapolis), Project Angel Food (Los Angeles) and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (Orlando).

Alissa Wassung serves as the Executive Director of FIMC. In this Q&A, she talks about the role food plays in managing health, expanding access to nutritious food and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

How do you define food insecurity and why is this an important topic as we think about improving health in the U.S. today?

Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to nutritious food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity goes beyond hunger — it includes uncertainty about where one’s next meal will come from, the inability to afford nutritious food, and reliance on cheaper, unhealthy options.

This is a critical issue for health in the U.S. because food insecurity disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, including low-income families, veterans, older Americans, communities of color, and people with chronic illnesses. Poor nutrition is often linked to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions, creating a cycle where food insecurity leads to poor health, which in turn increases medical costs and limits economic opportunities. Addressing food insecurity is essential for achieving better health outcomes and ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to thrive and flourish.

How does FIMC view this dual crisis of chronic illness and food insecurity, and what are some of the most pressing needs you see on the ground for individuals facing this experience?

The Food Is Medicine Coalition acknowledges the dual crises of chronic illness and food insecurity as deeply interconnected — one exacerbating the other in a cycle that disproportionately affects already at-risk populations. While medically tailored meals (MTMs) are not primarily designed to address food insecurity, rather illness-specific nutrition needs, they can be a key intervention to halt this cycle. Without access to nutritious, medically tailored meals, individuals with severe, complex and chronic illnesses can struggle to manage their conditions, leading to more hospitalizations, higher healthcare costs and poorer overall health outcomes.

Some of the most pressing needs include:

• Access to Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) and other food is medicine (FIM) interventions: Access to meals, tailored for their illness and delivered to their home, can be the tipping point in recovery.
• Nutrition Education & Counseling: Nutrition professionals can offer person-centered insight, helping to ensure that client choice and cultural competency are embedded in the service.
• Healthcare Integration: There is a growing need to ensure that food is seen as part of treatment, with healthcare providers screening for food insecurity – and other risk factors – and offering MTMs as part of patient care.
• Sustainable Funding: Many organizations providing these services – like our FIMC nonprofits – rely primarily on grants and donations, highlighting the need for policy changes that integrate medically tailored nutrition into healthcare.

Addressing these challenges requires a systemic approach that combines direct meal assistance, research that continues to build the evidence base, policy advocacy, and collaborations between healthcare and community-based practitioners.

Many people may not immediately connect food insecurity with specific health outcomes. Can you explain the direct link between access to nutritious food and the management — or even prevention — of chronic illnesses, like kidney disease?

The link between food insecurity and chronic illness is well-documented, and kidney disease is a prime example of how access to nutritious food directly impacts health outcomes and overall quality of life.

For individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), diet is not just a lifestyle choice — it’s a necessary part of care. Proper nutrition helps manage blood pressure, blood sugar and fluid balance, all of which are critical for helping slow the progression of CKD and prevent complications like cardiovascular disease. However, people experiencing food insecurity often face limited access to a diet with appropriate levels of sodium, potassium and phosphorus, which is essential for CKD management. Many affordable and accessible foods — such as processed meals — contain high levels of these substances. When fresh, healthy options aren’t available, individuals often turn to low-cost, high-sodium and high-sugar foods that can contribute to worsening kidney function, diabetes and hypertension. Many cases of CKD stem from poorly managed diabetes and hypertension, both of which are significantly influenced by diet. Early intervention with nutritious food could prevent or delay disease progression.

Evidence shows that MTMs help people manage their conditions and can reduce hospitalizations and healthcare costs. By integrating MTMs into healthcare by providing access to nutrition in addition to medical treatment, we can create better health outcomes and prevent chronic illnesses from worsening.

How does FIMC collaborate with organizations like DaVita to expand access to medically tailored meals and nutrition support for people with health-related dietary restrictions? What makes these collaborations effective?

Collaborations between FIMC and organizations like DaVita are essential in expanding access to high-quality medically tailored meals and nutrition support for individuals with chronic illnesses, including kidney disease. By working together, we can continue to emphasize the critical role nutrition plays in disease management and help patients receive both the medical care and nutritional support they need to manage their health — and even thrive.

FIMC agencies created the MTM interventions 40 years ago in response to community need during the HIV epidemic. Since then, peer-reviewed research — largely done on FIMC agencies — has shown that MTMs produce better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs, and many states have leveraged flexibilities in the health care infrastructure to provide these services. The demonstrated success emphasizes the need to help ensure access to cost-effective services across the U.S.

Philanthropic collaborations like the one we have with DaVita help us make a difference and fill those gaps. In three of our focus markets with DaVita — Minneapolis, MN (Open Arms of Minnesota), Los Angeles (Project Angel Food), and central Florida (Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida) — our clients would have struggled with or gone without access to the nutrition they need. We pride ourselves on innovation in service, and philanthropic support allows us the flexibility to address needs that others cannot satisfy and develop cutting-edge nutrition programs that are in high demand in the field.

What are some of the components of FIMC’s programs — beyond meal delivery — that can empower people to make healthier food choices and manage their conditions long term? How do collaborators like DaVita contribute to this broader goal?

FIMC agencies’ programs go beyond meal delivery by integrating education, community engagement and policy advocacy to empower individuals to make sustainable, healthy food choices while managing chronic conditions. Collaborators like DaVita enhance these efforts by providing identification and referral, patient engagement strategies, and clinical expertise and support.

We know our research outcomes are not possible without nutritious food, community connection and cultural competency. That’s why last year, we embedded our commitment to quality into the first-ever standard for the medically tailored meal intervention.

Registered dietitians are also critical to success in MTM interventions. They can provide medical nutrition therapy, counseling and education to help people gain the knowledge and resources they need for long-term health. Client choice is embedded in this interaction — showcasing the cultural variety of menus, languages and approaches.

Food is more than just nutrients, and so our agencies remain tied to our communities’ needs through volunteerism, donations, community co-design of programs and more. Engaging with DaVita and other healthcare organizations strengthens these efforts to create a comprehensive care system for people managing chronic conditions.

Looking ahead, what role do you envision for continued collaboration with healthcare providers like DaVita in building a more equitable and health-focused system?

Continued collaboration will be critical in shaping a more efficient, compassionate and health-focused system. The future of these joint efforts lies in integrating food as medicine into standard healthcare practices, expanding access to medically tailored meals and other FIM interventions, and driving systemic change through policy and innovation.

Together, FIMC and DaVita can help shift the healthcare system toward a patient-centered model where nutrition is treated as a critical component of care. This work not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces healthcare costs, advances community health, and provides individuals with access to the nutrition they need to thrive.

Originally published on newsroom.marykay.com

DALLAS, Texas, July 24, 2025/3BL/ – Global cosmetics giant, Mary Kay Inc., today announced a major milestone in its legacy of empowerment: the transformation of its beloved pink Cadillac into a fully electric vehicle (EV). The pink Cadillac OPTIQ made its debut during Mary Kay’s annual Seminar, hosted for the first time in the vibrant city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Cadillac OPTIQ is a significant step forward in Mary Kay’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and meeting expectations of the next generation of both Mary Kay independent sales force members and their customers. The transition from internal combustion to electric symbolizes more than just a vehicle upgrade, it marks a recharged vision for the future of the iconic beauty brand.

“For decades, the Mary Kay pink Cadillac has symbolized accomplishment, aspiration, and the power of recognition,” said Ryan Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Mary Kay. “With the introduction of the all-electric OPTIQ, we’re honoring that iconic legacy while driving into a transformative future—one grounded in our commitment to sustainability and dedication to inspiring and celebrating the achievements of our independent sales force for generations to come.” 

“Our relationship with Mary Kay spans decades and is built on shared values of innovation, empowerment, and excellence,” said Ian Hucker, VP GM Envolve. “As the organization takes bold steps into the future with the transition to an electric vehicle, we are proud to stand beside them, supporting a vision that’s not only sustainable but also deeply inspiring. The pink Cadillac OPTIQ is an exciting step forward, bringing together the performance and luxury you expect from Cadillac with meaningful innovation and purpose-driven impact.”

About The Pink Cadillac OPTIQ:

• OPTIQ retains the instantly recognizable pink pearl exterior, while introducing a sleek, modernized chassis with cutting-edge features. As part of Mary Kay’s commitment to sustainability, the vehicle showcases the company’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint while continuing to inspire.
• OPTIQ’s exceptional aerodynamic performance enables its EPA-estimated 302-mile driving range^[1]. The revolutionary GM EV Battery Platform and drive units, along with the use of low rolling resistance tires, also play an important role in the impressive range of the vehicle.
• A vented rear spoiler, diffusers, and other sculptural elements enhance aerodynamics at the rear of the vehicle without compromising the striking SUV vehicle design.
• OPTIQ packages interior spaciousness and luxury into a comfortable suite. Illuminated décor and embellishments add to OPTIQ’s unique interior interpretation of Cadillac luxury, while the suite of in-vehicle technology includes features such as the 19-speaker AKG Audio System and Dolby Atmos, creating an intuitive experience.

Did You Know: 

• The iconic pink Cadillac was born in 1968 when Mary Kay Ash purchased a Cadillac Coupe De Ville from a Dallas dealership and promptly had it painted to match the pale pink Mary Kay® lip and eye palette. General Motors later named the color Mary Kay Pink Pearl, and the shade is exclusive to Mary Kay.
• Mary Kay has been named the #1 Direct Selling Brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics in the World^[2] by Euromonitor International for three consecutive years, in 2023, 2024, and again in 2025. 

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

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^[1] GM-Estimated range based on development testing and/or analytical projection consistent with SAE J1634 revision 2017- MCT and subject to change prior to production. Actual range may vary based on several factors, including temperature, terrain, battery age, loading and how you use and maintain your vehicle. Visit www.cadillac.com for more information.

^[2] “Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2025 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2024 data”