Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2024 Sustainability Report

Energy

Minimizing our energy impact is a key driver in our commitment to sustainability.

Technology and data centers are at the heart of what we do, and we recognize their energy-intensive nature. Our data center teams are relentless in their pursuit of maximizing energy efficiency and, where available, seek renewable energy sources to cover our consumption. Our approach to energy management helps to optimize performance and reduce costs, while also helping us to serve our customers, and limiting our environmental impact.

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

We focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency as the two main levers to effectively reduce the environmental impact of our operations. These two levers work together, with energy efficiency measures reducing our demand at the outset and renewable energy helping to reduce emissions from the energy that we do consume in our operations. This strategy supports our environmental objectives and drives value for our business.

Since 2019, our managed data centers in Europe and, as of 2023, our managed data center in the U.S., have operated on 100% renewable electricity. We’re also working to ensure our electricity usage within third-party co-location data center facilities is covered with renewable electricity.

As the primary driver of our scope 1 and 2 emissions, our data centers are a critical focus for renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts. Some key initiatives at our data centers include:

• Workload Densification: We seek opportunities to increase our workload density, allowing us to reduce servers, consolidate footprints, and leverage scale efficiencies.
   
• Server Power Optimization: We optimize server performance by opting for balance mode to balance server performance with energy savings, where possible.
   
• Alternative Fuel Sources: We prioritize purposeful, well-researched, and tested solutions that align with our operations such as the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) for back up generation, where available.

In addressing the energy impact from our business, GoDaddy recognizes that GenAI models are inherently energy intensive. We are committed
to ensuring energy efficiency across AI workloads, both within our data centers and in collaboration with our third-party partners to ensure they appropriately manage their environmental impacts. We are also working with our partners to obtain more granular data to better understand the full extent of the energy usage associated with AI workloads and in the interim are refining our GHG estimation methodologies, where relevant.

STRASBOURG DATA CENTER

At our Strasbourg data center, we’ve embraced innovative energy solutions to reduce our environmental impact. In addition to being covered with 100% renewable electricity, GoDaddy introduced HVO as an alternative fuel source for back up energy generation.

To cool the facility, we also utilize heat exchangers to pump water from an underground aquifer and return it to the local ecosystem, eliminating the need for energy and water-intensive chillers for cooling. GoDaddy completes ongoing monitoring to ensure this innovative cooling technology does not adversely impact the local aquatic biodiversity.

To learn more, read our 2024 Sustainability Report.

About This Report

This GoDaddy 2024 Sustainability Report details our progress toward our corporate sustainability goals, strategies, and initiatives in support of our overarching corporate mission and values. Unless otherwise noted, this report reflects our corporate sustainability performance across our global operations covering the fiscal year period from January 1 to December 31, 2024. To demonstrate our commitment to transparent communication regarding our sustainability progress, we routinely share updates through our website and our annual Sustainability Report. We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback on this report by contacting ESG@GoDaddy.com.

This report references the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, includes select Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) metrics for the Internet Media and Services sector, and the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). We also disclose our contributions and progress toward priority UN SDGs. For additional information on how we align with these frameworks and key indicators demonstrating our sustainability performance, please refer to the Frameworks & Metrics section.

By Chris Goldschmidt

Imagine moving to a completely new place. Not just to the next town over, but the next country – or even another continent.

It’s a leap of faith, one that requires newcomers relearning almost everything: language, customs, laws. And banking concepts that may be different from their home countries.

Based on their first-hand experiences coming to America, two Regions branch managers know the importance of making the transition to American life as seamless as possible.

Meet Arpita Patel, Branch Manager in Anderson, South Carolina, and Saira Tajani, VP and Branch Manager in Suwanee, Georgia. Both arrived with a dream. But, at the same time, they came here with little knowledge of the American approach to banking and financial management.

“My parents never had financial literacy,” Patel offered. “As a result, I didn’t know the basics of how to save money, how to buy a car and how interest rates worked. To my mother, saving money added up to having enough to buy one week of groceries. So, when I came to the States, my financial education came from the struggles in my own life.”

Tajani agreed that some financial concepts might prove second nature to those who have grown up in America. Yet how Americans manage money may prove completely new to our newest residents.

“One example?” Tajani offered. “One common theme we see a lot among immigrants is how home equity is a completely new concept to them. Some are skeptical, worried that the bank will take away their house. Others become very interested once they realize how a home’s equity, not their fixed cash, can be used for other purposes.

“Another example?” Tajani added, “For many, that credit cards can be a valuable financial tool, as well as their responsible use. That’s why financial education is such an important part of what we do.”

Teaching new concepts in money

For many lifelong residents of the United States, financial rules of the road are practically second nature – resulting from years of parental advice or experience and wisdom that’s earned over time.

However, for newcomers, financial education is vital. Not only does it shorten the learning curve for enjoying success, but it’s the passport to achieving the American Dream. One Regions associate who is attuned to the needs for the specialized financial education needs of this audience is Keren Treme, Regions Community Engagement Financial Education Trainer. She, too, draws on her personal immigration experience when helping newcomers.

“For many new to this country, life back home is completely different than it is here,” Treme pointed out. “There’s not just the language and cultural barriers. And it’s not just a different array of financial products, either. There’s also a hesitancy based on past experiences.”

That hesitancy, Treme added, comes from banks, and banking services, not being used as frequently. “That means helping them understand how to harness a bank, any bank, is an important part of building one’s financial confidence.”

According to Treme, what questions get raised the most?

• Understanding Credit. What is a credit score, why it is needed, and how to build a credit score over time
• Credit Options. What products are available? And what product is right for what situation?
• Mobile banking. The importance of having app authentication up to date before traveling back to home countries
• Avoiding identity theft and fraud. Immigrants are often considered easy targets by fraudsters
• General banking product information. How and when to use a checking account, savings account and more
• Home ownership. How to qualify for a mortgage, what to avoid in a purchase, and how to leverage equity for wealth building and other needs

Regions is a strong advocate for financial education. As a result, it provides a wealth of resources, not to mention team members, dedicated to helping newcomers gain financial literacy.

Treating newcomers like new neighbors

Empathy matters.

That’s evident in how Patel and Tajani harness their own experience every day, treating immigrants like fellow travelers. This helps build bridges for those unfamiliar with the American approach to financial management.

“The reason I take this part of my job personally is due to all the struggles I experienced in my life,” offered Patel. “This is not just a job for me. I remember what I went through, so I continually educate the people I meet. I want to help this community, so I ask questions such as ‘Where are your savings? What is your retirement account?’ Because no one advised me to invest for the future to protect my loved ones, I make sure I give them the knowledge they need.”

Patel’s mission for financial education isn’t confined to immigrants, either. She devotes time to other members of the community, too.

“As one example, Hope Ministries of the Upstate helps many homeless and financially challenged people. I consider it a privilege to help them with coaching plans, lunch-and-learns, and budgeting and credit classes.”

At the same time, international students at nearby Anderson University and Clemson University must learn the ins and outs of money management even while they’re busy taking classes. And Patel is there to help.

“We have a real campus focus, with an emphasis on campus activations. We’ve found that our Breakfast and Learn program is a great way to make connections.”

Meanwhile, Tajani draws on that same wellspring of personal experience when establishing rapport in the community. The result? Greater trust and comfort, both in Regions and in understanding how financial products work.

“I take great pride in actively taking part in all kinds of community initiatives. Engaging with local events strengthens the ties between our bank and the surrounding area. At the same time, it provides me with valuable insights into the unique needs and aspirations of the people we serve. The fact that I also speak the language of many in that community helps create a great deal of trust.”

Just the same as Patel, Tajani relies on an energetic outreach effort to help others enjoy stronger financial awareness.

“We make it a priority to take part in events. Some of those opportunities include Cultural Night at Johns Creek Elementary, Baisakhi Mela for the Pujari Association at Lambert High School, and The Festival for the St. Mary Orthodox Church. These efforts foster trust and build long-lasting relationships. It’s a mutually beneficial experience—helping both the bank and the community thrive.”

The bank for everyone. Wherever they’re from

It’s important to support customers in their journeys. Even those journeys that originate in other countries.

As one example of its range of services to newcomers, Regions offers TransPerfect translation services in all branch locations.

To Tajani, this capability is just an extension of the customer service values Regions associates already share.

“I see my job as doing more than just selling product,” Tajani said. “Instead, I focus on the relationship building that is so crucial to customer success. My motto is to enjoy life, help others. That means, I can feel blessed to be with a company that wants you to grow and to help in the community. That’s what Regions is all about.”

Arpita also feels that Regions provides the much-needed support to help customers from all walks of life grow in their financial understanding.

“I like that the Regions culture puts people first and always encourages associates and customers to reach higher. I love working with people and like to connect with the customer and make differences in their lives. That keeps me motivated in my mission.”

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M’s vehicle wrap demonstration was a popular stop at the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta.

Students interested in the skilled trades, as well as their parents and instructors, watched as Jody Frego smoothed the tiny bubbles and wrinkles in the vehicle wrap, leaving behind a smooth, sleek surface on the car.

Frego runs a 3M-authorized training facility in Phoenix called Full Circle Wrap Training, where he offers a variety of hands-on classes teaching wrap design and installation to both beginners and experienced installers.

He also strives to help students get into his line of business by going to classrooms in the Phoenix area to talk about the work he does and the need for highly skilled workers to install wraps on cars, windows, and buildings.

“We’ve gone from a niche business to a full-blown industry,” Frego said. “There are new applications, like architectural films, that open doors to other industries. We need people to keep up with this growth.”

The need for more workers to fill skilled trades positions is something that a lot of industries, including manufacturing, are keeping their eyes on right now.

The National Association of Manufacturers reports that the skilled trades gap could result in 2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030.  

3M’s commitment to helping close that coming gap includes efforts to interest students in these well-paying careers as early as middle and high school.   

3M’s collaboration with SkillsUSA and its participation in the National Leadership and Skills Conference is one way the company is helping address the future need for more workers in the skilled trades. 3M is also working to support skilled trades through community partnerships and workforce training initiatives.

“This partnership is part of a broader commitment we’ve had at 3M to our communities,” Michael Stroik, 3M’s vice president of community impact, told NYSE TV. “Last year alone, we invested over $56 million back into local communities where we operate. The 3M and Skills USA partnership was established to bridge the gap between industry needs … It’s a win-win for business and community outcomes.”

Stroik, while acknowledging the concern over the looming gap in skilled trades, also sees positive moves in preparing more young people to enter the skilled trades.

“We want students to have access to cutting-edge technologies, preparing them for successful careers and inspiring the next generation of skilled workers,” Stroik said. “We aim to foster a generation of leaders equipped with the necessary skills to drive progress in their communities.”

Packaging not only plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficacy of our products, but also in protecting it from wide-ranging environmental conditions. Recognizing this, our engineers employ rigorous methods in the design, testing, and qualification of both packaging and application devices. Furthermore, clear labeling and information are prioritized to optimize product use and prevent misapplication.

“Our team recognizes and shares the concern consumers have with plastic packaging. One of our main goals is to find and implement more sustainable solutions,” says Keith Miller, senior packaging engineer. “Our efforts include reducing the use of virgin plastics, while increasing the incorporation of Post Consumer Recycled content, and new package designs to allow for increased recyclability.”

Packaging to match the environment

For heavy and bulky products within the Lawn & Garden category, such as fertilizer, soil, and mulch, plastic remains the most effective packaging material due to its durability in challenging outdoor environments. Approximately two-thirds of the plastic we use in our packaging consists of thin films, which are highly efficient systems capable of transporting significant product weight with minimal material.

The realities of recycling

While the majority of these bags are constructed from mono-material thermoplastic film that is technically recyclable, the infrastructure to collect and sort post-consumer films does not exist today for these types of products.

”Despite this existing challenge, we maintain a strong commitment to continuous improvement while pursuing sustainable packaging solutions and environmentally responsible packaging practices,” says Keith Miller.

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.

EL CERRITO, Calif., July 22, 2025 /3BL/ – Net Impact announced the launch of the Community Innovation Challenge, a global case competition that seeks innovative ideas that leverage Cisco’s technology to drive social impact and positive business outcomes.

The global competition invites students around the world to learn about how social impact programs drive meaningful business outcomes for corporations. Prospective participants are invited to join a virtual program launch call in September learn how Cisco approaches its social impact work. Final submissions are due in October, and in December, five finalist teams will present their social impact program designs to a panel of judges, including representatives from Cisco. The first-place team will be awarded $10,000, followed by $5,000 for second place and $2,500 for third place.

“This collaboration couldn’t have come at a better time. Corporations like Cisco are in a powerful position to teach student leaders how corporations can both give back to the communities where they reside while also driving business growth,” said Karen Johns, CEO of Net Impact. “We’re proud to work with Cisco on this program as a leader in corporate responsibility and a leader in technology and innovation.”

Net Impact manages and facilitates the program by bringing together its global network of emerging social impact and sustainability leaders at colleges and universities worldwide and supporting participants throughout the program experience. With more than 10 years of experience building and executing experiential education opportunities such as the Community Innovation Challenge, Net Impact specializes in equipping business leaders to address social challenges, protect the environment, develop new concepts, and leverage the tools of business toward the greater good.

More information about the Community Innovation Challenge, including participant eligibility and how to apply, can be found at netimpact.org/programs/community-innovation-challenge.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

About Net Impact
Net Impact, one of the largest and oldest global member organizations focused on impact, engages over 50,000 students and professionals annually. With almost 300 chapters in over 40 countries, our members are pursuing impactful careers and impactful lives across diverse industries, including business, sustainability, and social impact fields. Net Impact engages its global chapter community in experiential education-focused programming, convenings, and civic and community engagement projects. Net Impact is committed to using business as a force for good and building the capacity of the next generation of workforce members. Visit www.netimpact.org.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

CONTACT:

Net Impact
Hilary Manzo, Associate Director of Programs
Phone: 415-495-4230 x369
Email: hmanzo@netimpact.org

Global growth and adoption of the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) WELL Building Standard (WELL) has surged to more than 6 billion square feet (557.4 million square meters) of real estate, demonstrating incredible market penetration in nearly 100,000 locations across 137 countries that are realizing the positive impacts of people-first places.

WELL recently eclipsed 6 billion square feet of space globally…so we asked our President and CEO six questions [VIDEO] about the milestone.

1. WELL adoption has eclipsed 6 billion square feet–wow! What is the most important takeaway that comes from this announcement?
This milestone represents a paradigm shift that investing in health isn’t just a cost, it’s a catalyst…

2. What is something you learned about WELL’s global footprint through this milestone news?
If WELL enrolled assets were a country, it would be the 12th largest country in terms of GDP…

3. How do you demonstrate the ROI of WELL to someone who might be skeptical of its efficacy?
10 years of third-party research has proven that WELL assets perform; that they deliver on matters of occupant satisfaction, well-being, physical and mental health, as well as productivity…

4. How does WELL adoption tie in to what investors are looking for today?
Today’s investors are not just looking for less risky investments. They’re looking for winning investments. And we know by way of the research that WELL Certified spaces outperform their newly constructed non-certified peers and their green-certified peers when it comes to matters of occupant satisfaction…

5. We wouldn’t be here without our community, clients and champions. Would you like to share something with leaders across the WELL movement?
To the leaders of this movement, I’d really just like to say, thank you! Thank you for your tireless work; thank you for believing in this little idea that health could be transformative in the built environment…

6. Where are you looking to take WELL next?
I’d like to see WELL continue its global growth. We want to see all of our markets participating in our global summit series…

BONUS QUESTION
In one word, what does this 6 billion-square-foot milestone mean to you?
Thirty. That’s the number of people, in millions, that are positively impacted by WELL spaces every single day.

Watch the video

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In this follow-up to our last episode on landfills, Host Angelique Dickson sits down with Andrew Green, Senior Associate at Peter J. Ramsay & Associates, to discuss the success of the ET capping system in Australia. They dive into the benefits of ET capping systems, highlighting their contribution to biodiversity and reduced environmental impact.

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

Time Stamps
(00:50) Overview of Evapotranspiration Landfill Capping(

(01:27) Benefits of ET Capping Systems

(03:20) Challenges and Adoption of ET Capping Systems

(06:21) Global Perspective and Future of ET Capping

“ You drive past a conventional landfill and all that you’re seeing is grass and some monitoring infrastructure, and it’s a pretty bleak environment. Whereas the ET capping systems we’re seeing at the environment now are proper ecosystems. In Australia, we’ve got kangaroos living on these capping systems. They’re raising their young on them. We’re seeing a return of predatory native birds. The reestablishment of ecosystems. It’s a wonderful reuse of this otherwise bland and hostile environment.” – Andrew

The following is an excerpt from our FY24 Purpose Report, celebrating 40 years of impact at Cisco. Data and metrics are reflective of Cisco’s fiscal year 2024, ending on July 31, 2024.

We envision a world of resilient and empowered communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 

In 1997, the Cisco Foundation was established by a gift from Cisco Systems, Inc. to help address basic human needs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past 27 years, that localized support has grown to a global mission across multiple areas of need. 

Today, the Cisco Foundation and our corporate Social Impact Investments together leverage our people, technology, and funding to promote a healthy planet and increase the wellbeing of people and communities everywhere. We provide catalytic capital to high-potential organizations for ideation, innovation, and experimentation of tech driven solutions, and we help scale those solutions for measurable and sustained impact. These efforts are underpinned by technology donations, capacity building support, and more.  

We invest along a continuum of needs in Crisis Response, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Climate Regeneration. This investment model was critical to achieving Cisco’s goal to positively impact One Billion Lives, and it continues to guide our approach today. In fiscal 2024, our early investments drove ecosystem-level impact, and we saw nearer-term positive results from investments in new solutions, such as AI for Good. Together, we aim to catalyze an ecosystem of changemakers and create positive impact globally. 

Learn more about Cisco Foundation’s legacy, strategy, and impact in the FY24 Cisco Foundation Report.

Leveraging AI for Good 

As our world and workforce continue to evolve with AI, our strategic approach and investments must evolve alongside it. Today, our partners are actively creating, testing, and applying AI to bridge the digital and data divide, and we’re proud to support our partners’ critical work, including:  

• Bridges to Prosperity’s Fika Map uses ML to identify the most impactful places to build trail bridges for maximum education, health, and economic opportunities.
• charity: water’s AI-powered algorithm uses data from rural water pump sensors to predict when water pumps are likely to fail. 
• CareerVillage’s AI-powered Career Coach provides qualified career coaching to more students and teachers at scale.  

Improving Education

We support students, teachers, and schools around the world—helping to increase engagement, build skills, promote subject mastery for students, and teacher professional development. For example, we partner with Human-I-T to expand access to Internet connectivity at home and provide refurbished devices for Los Angeles and Detroit schools. We also support Glific.org—an open source, two-way communication platform that bridges the gap between nonprofits and their beneficiaries. With Cisco’s support, Glific education partners are leveraging technology to improve teacher capacity and student outcomes across Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.  

Supporting Sustainability

In 2021, the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over the next 10 years to support climate solutions. Our funding applies a diversified, blended approach: climate impact investments in early-stage, for-profit climate startups and climate venture capital funds, and grant funding for nonprofits.  

One of the Foundation’s clean energy impact investments was made in support of Jaza Energy, which works to integrate solar powered hubs and telecommunications towers.  

Our Foundation’s climate grants also support protection of natural ecosystems. For example, we supported Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance to promote a regenerative bioeconomy and protect 86 million acres of rainforest where 600,000 people from 30 Indigenous nationalities live. We also supported Kara Solar, an Indigenous-led organization in South America that provides solar river transport solutions, community energy grids, and training programs for local technicians.  

Driving Economic Empowerment 

Our investments support skills development, entrepreneurship, and access to financial services that enable individuals and families to achieve economic security and contribute to local community growth.  

Our skills-to-career partner Defy Ventures equips formerly incarcerated individuals with skills to obtain jobs or start businesses. Our support helped them engage 7,000 individuals, launch 175 new businesses, and achieve an 84% post-release employment rate. In addition, our entrepreneurship partner, Agora Partnerships, created an interactive platform to help small and medium businesses across Central and South America build innovative climate solutions to improve efficiencies and outcomes. 

Read the full FY24 Purpose Report

To learn more about the progress we’re making to Power an Inclusive Future for All, visit our Cisco Purpose Reporting Hub.

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