Author: sHq_LoGiNz

TEMPE, Ariz., July 16, 2025 /3BL/ — A new GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) survey reveals a surprising paradox among younger consumers: while Gen Z and Millennials appear less concerned about protecting themselves online, they have little tolerance for businesses that fall short on security.

In the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers, 42% of Gen Z and 40% of Millennial respondents admit they would not immediately change their passwords or credit card information after being notified of a data breach at a business they use—if they act at all. In contrast, 72% of Gen X and Boomers would take immediate action.

Meanwhile, these same younger consumers are the first to walk away when a business fails to protect their data.

• More than half of Gen Z (53%) and 42% of Millennials surveyed have cut ties with a business because it experienced a security incident—notably higher than the 37% of Gen X and Boomers
• When faced with data breaches at both a large corporation and a small business, 1 in 3 (34%) Gen Z and Millennials say they would stop shopping with both entirely, compared to 27% of Gen X and Boomers

Consumers assess business credibility with a fine-tooth comb
Most consumers (68%) surveyed expect small businesses to maintain the same level of digital security as large corporations or better.

A website with misspelled or grammatically incorrect words, broken links, a poor design, slow load times, or an unfriendly mobile user experience rank among the top five red flags that deter consumer purchases.

However, younger generations find a few things more concerning than older shoppers:

• About 1 in 3 (30%) Gen Z and Millennials say sites that are not mobile-friendly are concerning vs. 24% of Gen X and Boomers
• 31% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials feel uneasy when websites have ads vs. 18% of Gen X and Boomers
• Nearly 1 in 4 (21%) Gen Z and Millennials feel businesses using a free email address like Gmail or Yahoo are concerning vs. 15% of Gen X or Boomers

“With younger consumers, you might not get more than one chance to earn their trust,” said Dennis Smith, director of security go-to-market at GoDaddy. “They assume some risk but expect businesses to take responsibility for keeping their data safe. If small businesses don’t invest in a secure, professional online presence and clearly demonstrate to their customers how they’re protecting their data, these younger shoppers will take their business elsewhere.”

Consumers lack cybersecurity hygiene
Although more than 1 in 3 (38%) consumers report they have been a victim of identity theft in the past, people across all generations have quite relaxed security habits.

The majority of consumers (61%) repeat passwords across their various accounts—a habit slightly more common among Gen Z and Millennials compared to Gen X and Boomers. Notably, 69% of consumers also do not check if a website has a secure padlock icon before making online purchases.

Personal risk is perceived as inevitable
The findings suggest a growing sense of cybersecurity fatigue among consumers. While 65% of all consumers say they’re more concerned about online security than they were five years ago, a small subset of younger consumers (21% of Gen Z and 16% of Millennials) report being less concerned than they were five years ago, compared to 7% of Gen X and Boomers.

Meanwhile, the majority (67%) of consumers believe that their personal information is already on the dark web.

“The data points to classic signs of consumers feeling overwhelmed,” said Smith. “Businesses that can step in to take security concerns off consumers’ plates will build deep loyalty, while those that ignore or downplay security risks will forfeit long–term growth.”

What can small businesses do?
The survey found consumers are more likely to remain loyal to businesses that respond to breaches with transparency and extend support to their customers.

• More than 2 in 5 (43%) of consumers appreciate when a business is open and transparent about a security breach
• Half (53%) of consumers would stay loyal to a business that takes immediate steps to fix a breach and offers proactive protection like credit card monitoring
• 1 in 4 (23%) consumers said having loyalty or rewards points on the line would influence your decision to remain a customer

There are some simple, cost-effective changes small businesses can implement to improve consumers’ perception of their business. For example, they can test that their website loads quickly and renders well across Apple and Android mobile devices. Or they can upgrade to an email address that matches their business’s domain name, if they don’t already use one.

To help small businesses protect their website, GoDaddy offers a suite of security solutions—from Website Security firewall bundles to a range of SSL certificates and Managed SSL plans. These tools, paired with sound security practices, can help businesses of every size meet rising consumer expectations.

To learn more about GoDaddy and its products, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

*GoDaddy Consumer Pulse is a series of surveys of consumers ages 18 and above conducted throughout the year.

About GoDaddy
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo^®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

Explore the often-overlooked “hidden middle” of agrifood value chains, which offers a key opportunity for global food-system transformation.

The world is at a pivotal moment in the global climate conversation. As nations grapple with the urgent need to curb greenhouse gas emissions and enhance food security, the transformation of food systems has become a top priority. And as the latest Climate COP in Baku (COP29) highlighted, world leaders, policymakers, and sustainability advocates are focused on an often-overlooked segment:the hidden middle of agri-food chains.

“Working together, we aim to enable policies, technology, financing, and partnerships that can shine light on this under-appreciated yet essential segment.” 

This segment, which includes critical midstream activities such as processing, packaging, storage, transportation, and distribution, plays an essential yet underappreciated role in food systems. While it accounts for 18% of food-related emissions, it contributes up to 40% of the economic value added within food systems.

“Ignoring the hidden middle means missing a critical piece of the sustainability puzzle,” says Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President Sustainability at Tetra Pak. “And while discussions on food systems are often focused on agriculture and consumption – the beginning and the end of the supply chain – this undervalued segment has the power to make a big difference on the environment and economy. Improving the hidden middle is not just an opportunity, but a necessity for building sustainable, resilient and just food systems.”

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports that approximately one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally each year. By investing in midstream infrastructure and technologies, these losses can be substantially decreased, leading to better resource efficiency and increased availability of food. It can also bolster economic growth through job creation, support rural and urban livelihoods, and empower smallholder farmers and marginalised groups by integrating them into value-added activities.

Why the hidden middle is under-financed on the world stage

The hidden middle represents a range of critical functions that bridge the gap between farm and fork. These activities support social stability and economic development, and are instrumental in ensuring that farmed ingredients are transformed into food products that actually reach consumers – in a safe and nutritious form.

“Improving the hidden middle is not just an opportunity, but a necessity for building sustainable, resilient and just food systems.”

But despite recent data highlighting the hidden middle’s significant environmental and economic impact, it continues to receive only a fraction of climate financing: while food systems contribute about 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions, only 2.5-4% of climate finance goes towards transforming this sector. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in this segment face a $106 billion financing gap globally, and limited investment results in inefficiencies, food loss (which can reach 14% globally), and bottlenecks that affect the entire chain.

“There are many reasons why this midstream segment can be overlooked, including that tracking emissions and efficiencies, when so many stakeholders are involved, can be logistically tricky,” says Lars. “But the truth is that this is essential: the hidden middle is exactly where we have the biggest opportunities to improve food systems and cut emissions.”

What opportunities for improvement does the hidden middle contain?

Harnessing the potential contained in the hidden middle could be a game-changer for achieving global climate targets. According to recent estimates, addressing inefficiencies and emissions in the midstream could provide up to 20% of the emissions reductions required to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals by 2050.

It also holds vast untapped potential for optimising food systems, reducing waste, and improving food security. Improved midstream infrastructure can dramatically reduce food loss and increase food access, particularly in developing regions where up to 40% of food can be lost post-harvest. This loss is due in part to lack of refrigerated transport infrastructure in many regions – and that is where smart, aseptic packaging solutions can help bridge the gap in protecting food safety during transport and preventing waste through spoilage.

“We have been working hard to improve midstream infrastructure in vulnerable regions, through partnering with local governments and organisations,” says Lars. “We’ve implemented renewable-powered cold chain solutions to help reduce food loss and enhance food security in areas where these systems are lacking. And as we announced at COP29, we’re committed to investing in innovating packaging solutions and energy-efficient processing equipment to further support the hidden middle.”

Change can take place on the production floor, too. The best-performing factories take a holistic approach to resource optimisation, delivering sustainability, performance, and cost benefits. Tetra Pak’s best-practice line for UHT milk with OneStep technology, for example, combines several process steps – separation, standardisation, blending, and heat treatment – into one.

This results in using less equipment and ultimately massive energy savings, as demonstrated by Mengniu’s Ningxia dairy factory, which was recently awarded World Economic Forum “Lighthouse Factory” status with the help of Tetra Pak technology. One of the world’s most intelligent dairy factories, it has leveraged cutting-edge Tetra Pak equipment and technology to reduce operational costs by 32% and delivery lead time by 55%.

Investment and policy gap: the key to unlocking the hidden middle

Bridging the gap between funding and impact requires governments and international organisations to create enabling policies and financial incentives that recognise the hidden middle’s value, such as subsidies for midstream innovations or tax breaks for sustainable practices.

“Our goal is to drive progress in critical discussions on food systems by convening policymakers, government leaders, NGOs, IGOs, and industry stakeholders, and we encourage these conversations through forums like COP29,” says Lars. “Together, we aim to explore actionable solutions through collaboration and dialogue, working to enable policies, technology, financing, and partnerships that can shine light on this under-appreciated yet essential segment.”

There is great opportunity for integrating the hidden middle of food value chains, especially as countries are actively revising their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for submission by 2025 – a crucial step toward aligning policy with climate goals and ensuring this vital segment receives the funding it deserves. Transformative public-private partnerships will also be essential for scaling up the infrastructure and innovations needed to unlock the hidden middle’s potential.

“Success in this area would help ensure a future where the hidden middle operates efficiently to reduce emissions, support livelihoods, and bolster food security for all communities around the globe.”

What’s next? Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil

The outcomes of COP29 have laid a strong foundation for the future of food systems transformation. Tetra Pak has long been committed to enabling change in food systems, and our support of improvement within the hidden middle continues this work, helping the transition to secure, sustainable, and resilient food systems. From advanced manufacturing processes to renewable energy-powered processing equipment and sustainable packaging solutions, we are working to extend the shelf life of foods and reduce waste throughout the supply chain.

“Looking ahead to COP30 in Belem, Brazil, there is growing momentum for policy shifts and funding initiatives to improve midstream food systems infrastructure,” says Lars. “This is hopeful – and success in this area would help ensure a future where the hidden middle operates efficiently to reduce emissions, support livelihoods, and bolster food security for all communities around the globe.”

Learn more about the hidden-middle and other related topics discussed at COP29 here.

Originally published in Aflac’s Do Good Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

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EXP: 06/26

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 16, 2025 /3BL/ – In honor of World Snake Day, International Paper (IP) and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) take a moment to recognize how forest restoration is fueling the recovery of one of America’s most iconic serpents, and how NFWF and IP’s Forestland Stewards Partnership is supporting this effort.

The eastern indigo snake is part of the Drymarchon genus of snakes, which comes from the Greek words “drymos” (forest) and “archon” (ruler or lord). This species lives up to its name as it is the longest native snake species in the United States. The eastern indigo snake once flourished in the longleaf pine forests. Its striking glossy blue-black coloring could be seen slithering across the forest floor, but now due to habitat loss, this federally threatened species has been pushed to the brink disappearing from the forests it once thrived. 

However, thanks to a grant from NFWF with funding support from IP and four additional funding partners, efforts to bring this species back are gaining new momentum.

The grant, awarded to The Nature Conservancy Florida Chapter through the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund, is part of a broader, multi-year initiative to restore critical longleaf pine habitat in Southwest Georgia and Florida. These open-canopied forests not only support the indigo snake but are home to many at-risk species like the gopher tortoise, red-cockaded woodpecker, and Bachman’s sparrow.

This funding will also support the care and breeding of eastern indigo snakes at the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC), the world’s first and only facility dedicated to this species. Captive-bred snakes raised at OCIC have been released at The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve since 2017. And for the first time in 2023, wild-born juveniles were documented on the landscape, signaling a huge milestone in recovery efforts.

“Seeing wild-born indigo snakes for the first time in decades is an incredible milestone,” said Sophie Beckham, Chief Sustainability Officer at International Paper.  “It’s proof that when we invest in both species and habitat, we can reverse declines and rebuild populations from the ground up.”

In tandem, the grant will fund habitat restoration by supporting prescribed burning, hardwood reduction, and the planting of more than 4,900 acres of longleaf pine. These actions help restore the open, sun-dappled understory that snakes and their prey need to thrive.

This support from IP marks its first direct investment in eastern indigo snake recovery. Through NFWF’s Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund grant program, IP is also helping restore habitat for other at-risk snake species such as the Louisiana pine snake and northern pine snake.

As invasive species and development continue to threaten the Southeast’s forests, partnerships like this are critical. That is why World Snake Day is a great reminder that even the most misunderstood animals deserve a place and a future on our planet.

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About International Paper 
International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com 

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation.  Since its founding, NFWF has supported more than 7,000 grantee organizations and funded over 23,300 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of $11.3 billion. Learn more at nfwf.org. 

Joleen Ong, Cascale’s senior director of brand and retailer membership, recently joined a panel at the Good Business Forum in New York to discuss how workplace strategies, particularly those focused on women, have translated into tangible business outcomes.

The event, hosted by Good Business Lab, brought together industry leaders to showcase innovative tools, share success stories, learnings, and insights, and catalyze collaborations that drive measurable change. The “Business of Better Work” panel brought together experts from global apparel brands, the UN system, and sustainability coalitions to explore why investing in women-friendly workplaces makes smart business sense.

Ong noted that brands are shifting from one-off CSR initiatives to systemic and long-term investment in women workers. Sharing insights from Cascale collaborator SLCP’s Impact Report, she highlighted that 35 percent of facilities reported a gender pay gap and that only 25 percent of managers are women despite making up 59 percent of the workforce. She emphasized the importance of strong HR management systems — a key area assessed by compliance tools such as the Higg Index, SLCP, and other compliance tools, to successfully achieve gender equity within a workplace.

Reflecting on her experience at Columbia Sportswear Company, Ong shared how she helped establish the ¹Women’s Leadership Initiative — an internal employee resource group — with support from the chief human resources officer and approval from the CEO. The initiative provided a sounding board for how to be more intentional with DEI efforts, mentorship, and internal learning and networking to support career advancement.

²Ong highlighted how facilities with strong social indicators tended to succeed in environmental metrics, noting that gender-inclusive HR systems supported better overall facility management. She pointed out how women in leadership often drive stronger follow-through on ESG initiatives, emphasizing that gendered risks are frequently overlooked in audits unless assessed through a gender lens.

Drawing on her experience as a board member of the menstrual health and education INGO Days for Girls International, Ong highlighted how menstrual stigma and inflexible workplaces that overlook menstrual health needs can contribute to absenteeism and limit opportunities for advancement.³She underscored that Inclusive workplaces are not only more effective but also more sustainable– highlighting the inextricable link between gender equity and climate resilience.

Ong shared challenges that hinder suppliers’ ability to invest in gender equity, including inconsistent trust between sustainability and sourcing teams and misalignment between sustainability goals and purchasing practices. She concluded by underscoring the importance of business cases framed around factors such as return on investment, compliance and reputational risk, and competitive differentiation as key drivers of meaningful investment in gender equity.

¹ Columbia Impact Report 2023 https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/_7243294f6152cc533d813bdcb6c832fb/columbia/db/641/5807/pdf/Columbia_Impact_Report_2023.pdf (pg15)

² Better Work (2022). Gender Equality and Inclusion Strategy 2022–2027 https://betterwork.org/reports-and-publications/global-gender-strategy/

³ Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change: https://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/climate_change/