Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Companies have made significant progress in recent years in identifying the risks and opportunities related to how sustainability is considered in a company’s strategy. However, in many instances, the realization of these opportunities or risks falls outside the normal business planning cycle. Therefore, incentivizing sustainability-minded behavior is a key element of an overall governance model that supports day-to-day decision-making.

A company’s strategic course is set by its management, yet it is these managers who must help ensure that this course is adhered to in their daily decisions. An effective way of providing them with further incentives to stay on course is to anchor the company’s sustainability targets in their remuneration, in the same way as other strategic aims.

Consequently, linking strategic priorities to the key governance setup of a company remains an aspect of utmost importance to stakeholders, particularly investors. Remuneration is one strategic pillar of a robust governance model.

For this reason, the management board pay system is a key aspect of corporate governance for a company’s shareholders. With this overview of 375 companies from 15 countries, we take stock of the integration of sustainability criteria into board members’ pay, finding that an impressive 78 percent of these companies already do so. We hope this report can serve both as an inspiration and a contribution to debates within companies and between stakeholders.

Key findings

• 78 percent of the companies included in this research consider sustainability in their senior executives’ pay.
• Among companies that specify the sustainability targets used in their board members’ pay, 88 percent align these to ESG topics that are material to their businesses, although this varies widely by country.
• ESG targets included in executive remuneration are most commonly linked to climate change and a company’s own workforce. On climate change they typically refer to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, while those on a company’s own workforce often refer to employee engagement, the percentage of female managers and injury rates.
• Of the 274 companies that measure board performance based on sustainability-related targets and that provide information on how these are included in variable remuneration, 37 percent include ESG targets in both short-term and long-term incentives, 23 percent include such targets only in long-term incentives and the remaining 40 percent use them only in short-term incentives. Use of both short-term and long-term sustainability targets is more common in EU countries.

Click here to download this report on kpmg.com

Originally published by Progressive Grocer.

By Lynn Petrak.

Albertsons Cos., another winner of PG’s Impact Awards, has long highlighted its “Recipe for Change” commitment to making a positive commitment to the earth and people. That mission includes three pillars of products it sells, communities it serves and the planet it shares.

As part of that Recipe for Change framework, the company is using its social media pages during Earth Month and on Earth Day to showcase products with on-pack labels and certifications such as USDA Organic Certified, Fair Trade USA Certified, Responsible Choice and EPA Safer Choice Certified. The company also touts its Own Brands packaged salad with trays made from recycled plastic.

See original article on Progressive Grocer and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

• Veolia helps MassBio member companies reduce waste, ensure safety and compliance and increase recycling, including sustainable treatment of medical waste
• As part of the expanded agreement, Veolia will offer building energy management and digital metering services to support energy savings and decarbonization of lab buildings and research facilities. 

BOSTON, April 29, 2025 /3BL/ – Celebrating a partnership built on trust, expertise and a vision for the future, Veolia North America announced an expanded partnership with MassBio, one of the world’s leading consortiums of biopharmaceutical research and development companies. The multi-year contract extension allows the parties to continue providing sophisticated, safe and reliable waste management services to members along with digital energy efficiency management.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., MassBio includes more than 1,700 leading life sciences companies that require a deep level of expertise and resources to manage complex environmental needs. For over 20 years, Veolia North America has served as MassBio’s primary partner for meeting the waste management needs of its members, developing a strong track record for safety and customer service. Veolia and MassBio are today expanding the scope of the contract to accelerate efforts to make the biotech industry more environmentally sustainable.

As part of the agreement, Veolia will also provide MassBio members with leading solutions and recommendations to decarbonize buildings where MassBio members conduct research. The Cities of Boston and Cambridge require property owners to reduce the carbon output of their buildings, and Veolia’s expertise will help MassBio member companies meet and exceed these requirements by promoting energy efficiency solutions.

“MassBio is thrilled to take this important step toward ensuring the long-term future success of our member companies and the groundbreaking work they are doing on behalf of patients around the world,” said Jason Cordeiro, Chief Operating and Innovation Officer for MassBio. “Veolia North America has proven year after year that they are a committed and trusted partner to MassBio by offering best-in-class resources to our 1,700+ members at all stages of the biopharma life cycle.” 

“As the world’s leading environmental services company, Veolia is proud to support MassBio and the important work being done by their member companies to revolutionize healthcare and the sciences,” said Bob Cappadona, President and CEO of Veolia North America’s Environmental Solutions and Services business. “As part of our GreenUp strategy, we aim to help our customers meet their business goals and ambitions to make the planet a better place for future generations. That’s a passion that we share with MassBio, which is why this partnership has been such a success for over 20 years now.” 

Cappadona said the contract extension reflects the level of mutual trust and respect that has developed between Veolia and MassBio over the past 20 years, as MassBio has come to rely on Veolia to collect and dispose of a wide variety of waste streams with an emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance.

Cappadona said the added focus on sustainability is consistent with Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy for supporting innovation and growth to create a cleaner environment. He said Veolia is proud to support efforts by MassBio members to revolutionize healthcare.

“We know that the work we are doing at Veolia plays a key role in helping MassBio and their members on their quest to find the next great vaccine or medical cure,” Cappadona said. “It gives even more meaning to what we do.”

Click here to learn more about the partnership between Veolia North America and MassBio.

ABOUT VEOLIA
Veolia Group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024.
www.veolia.com 

ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.
www.veolianorthamerica.com 

ABOUT MASSBIO
MassBio is the driving force behind Massachusetts’ life sciences ecosystem, supporting innovation and industry growth by offering best-in-class resources to over 1,700 member organizations at all stages of the biopharma lifecycle. Founded in 1985, MassBio aspires to extend Massachusetts’ impact as the global center of excellence in biomedical breakthroughs. Through strategic cost-saving initiatives, robust business partnerships, educational and networking opportunities, and proactive advocacy, MassBio empowers its members to launch the next generation of medical advancements to deliver the cures and therapies that enhance patient lives.
www.massbio.org 

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CONTACT
VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
Matt Burgard
Tel: (203) 859-4168
matthew.burgard@veolia.com

At Trane Technologies, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. As a global leader in climate solutions, we are committed to creating a sustainable future through groundbreaking technologies and forward-thinking strategies. We believe that by fostering a culture of innovation, we can drive meaningful change, set new standards in our industry and create growth.

How Baris Akcora helps drive electrification and sustainability 

Baris Akcora, Thermo King® Power Portfolio Leader, is a transformational leader at Trane Technologies and exemplifies our commitment to innovation and collaboration. Baris is on the product management team and responsible for the power solutions portfolio for Thermo King EMEA, which includes new products launched within the last year such as our high voltage battery systems, AxlePower, EnergE Pack and E-COOLPAC.

Traditionally, our Thermo King brand is known for making refrigeration units for the transportation sector but in this case, we are also creating power solutions. These high-voltage battery solutions are helping our customers with the electrification of their fleets, removing the diesel operation, so we can help make the transport sector more sustainable.

“Our solutions have quite a lot of edge compared to what others have in the market,” shared Baris. “We offer self-sufficient technologies like AxlePower that allow our customers to transition to electric without negatively impacting their day-to-day operations,” said Baris. “Our customers can simply transition into electrification, stop consuming fossil fuels and see the benefits from day one. So, that’s what I call innovation.”

Our latest product, AxlePower, is state-of-the-art technology that works by utilizing an electrical axle and a high-voltage battery pack with a Thermo King trailer refrigeration unit with or without a diesel engine for hybrid or full-electric operation. The electrical axle generates power to recharge the high voltage battery pack, and the battery pack powers the refrigeration unit.

When the vehicle is running on the road, we are continuously recovering energy that’s normally lost energy. This recovered energy is used to recharge the battery pack and extend its autonomy while helping customers run an electric operation, reducing their operational costs. The result is the most advanced energy recovery system that is currently in the transport refrigeration market.

“It’s a win-win for everyone in the ecosystem. You know, it’s financially a win for the customer since we are helping them to reduce their operating costs, but also for the environment and our sustainability goals as an enterprise,” shared Baris.

A journey of growth and alignment with company values

Baris’ journey at Trane Technologies is a testament to the forward-thinking culture we foster. He started his career 12 years ago in our Accelerated Development Program, an early career program for recent graduates that provides broad exposure to Trane Technologies’ operations and senior leadership. After Baris’ two-year rotation, he held positions that offered him product management and business development experience. He has been promoted multiple times from within as he continues to gain skills and contribute to our company’s growth.

“When people ask me why I stay at Trane Technologies, it’s the team here, it’s the people I’m working with on a daily basis. It’s having a positive mindset towards sustainability and achieving profitable growth together,” said Baris. “And the mission of the company [to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world], what we want to achieve as an enterprise is also aligned with my personal values as well.”

Through his work, Baris continues to make a direct contribution to our sustainability goals and the Gigaton Challenge, which is our commitment to help our customers reduce one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) from their carbon footprints by 2030.

“We are daring to do things differently, and I really appreciate that,” Baris added. Reflecting on the company’s culture, he mentioned, “We are leading the industry in terms of innovation, developing new solutions that are more sustainable and future-proof.”

Join us in challenging what’s possible

Learn how every job can be a sustainability job at Trane Technologies.

By continuously pushing the envelope in the development of our products, Trane Technologies remains at the forefront of the HVACR industry, setting benchmarks for competitors to follow. Trane Technologies is a dynamic, innovative and globally-minded team dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.

Explore careers that challenge what’s possible for a more sustainable world.

RESTON, Va., April 29, 2025 /3BL/ – Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) is committing $10 million to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence for detecting and managing diseases, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE).

The initial focus of the five-year collaboration will be developing AI-powered tools for quicker detection of diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, reducing diagnostic turnaround times, and enabling earlier, more effective care management.

“Our investment is aimed at using the transformative power of artificial intelligence to speed detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect millions of people annually,” said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. “These efforts will also focus on developing future health care specialists, and expanding the care that’s available to underserved communities, including our veterans.”

For more than 25 years, Leidos has operated the National Cancer Institute’s Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, supporting progress in the fight against cancer. The company also brings more than two decades of experience applying AI to important areas like health care, national security, and energy, and helps improve care for military families and veterans by strengthening delivery, access, and continuity of care.

Key objectives of the Leidos-University of Pittsburgh collaboration include:

• Establishing a World-Class Research Hub: University of Pittsburgh will enhance CPACE by continuing development of its state-of-the-art Digital Pathology Research Center. These facilities will drive pioneering research in digital pathology and AI-driven diagnostics.
• Developing Digital Health Care Solutions: Advancing AI-powered technologies will cement the University of Pittsburgh’s leadership in digital pathology and enable Leidos to develop innovative solutions designed to support digital health and diagnostics.
• Accelerating Global Impact: Leidos plans to leverage the collaboration to deploy AI-powered digital pathology solutions across public and private health care sectors with the goal of leading the commercialization of innovative healthcare technologies.

“The University of Pittsburgh’s leadership in research and innovation, coupled with the expertise in technology solutions offered by Leidos, establishes a path forward to delivering advancements in diagnosis, disease management and health care delivery,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Through this multi-year collaboration, Leidos and the University of Pittsburgh will drive advances in several critical areas:

• Research & Technology Development: Joint research projects will explore new imaging methods, advanced scanning technologies to analyze tissue samples, and improved techniques for analyzing medical images with precision.
• Workforce Development & Education: The initiative will cultivate the next generation of health care and AI innovators through comprehensive educational programs, including industry-focused best practices, annual symposiums, and hands-on internship opportunities where students will collaborate directly with Leidos experts.

“We want these tools to impact as many people as possible globally. Leidos can help get them into many more hands, ensuring that they are validated properly and get through the right regulatory frameworks,” said Hooman Rashidi, executive director of CPACE and associate dean of AI in medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

By merging academic excellence with technological innovation, the collaboration is poised to redefine the future of health care delivery and disease management.

“This relationship with Leidos serves as a catalyst to expedite our mission. Industry partnership will help broaden the impact of Pitt’s innovation,” said Liron Pantanowitz, Dr. Maud L. Menten Professor and chair of the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 48,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

About University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

As one of the nation’s leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition.

Written by Nate Tibbits

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed an incredible technological revolution. The way we interact with each other and the world around us has been transformed by groundbreaking advances in wireless communications, improving the quality of people’s lives. In less than a generation’s time, the mobile phone has gone from a device designed primarily for making voice calls, to a ubiquitously connected computer that fits in the palm of your hand. And through its relentless pursuit of innovation, Qualcomm has played an indispensable role in driving many of the monumental changes we have seen in wireless technology since the dawn of the mobile era.

On Wednesday, we kicked off the celebration of our 40th anniversary with a special event at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. This celebration, led by Qualcomm Incorporated President and CEO Cristiano Amon, took place in the rotunda below the “Cellphone: Unseen Connections” exhibit, which showcases the profound impact of mobile technology on our world. It was a proud evening where we reflected on our achievements and shared the remarkable journey that has brought us to this milestone.

“What is unique about this company is it’s a company that’s been founded on a deep commitment to R&D and technology, and trying to solve some of the world’s biggest problems,” said Amon, who went on to recount how our foundations in cellular technology have expanded and evolved into us enabling intelligent computing beyond mobile phones to areas such as automotive, computers, Internet of Things (IoT) and AI. “We could not be more excited about the roadmap for technology and the potential for companies in America to continue to innovate and continue to drive this innovation economy, at the same time transforming the world through our history.”

Since our founding in 1985, Qualcomm has played a central role in furthering American technology leadership on the world stage. To date, we have invested over $100 billion in R&D, representing nearly 20% of our annual revenue. That extraordinary investment in innovation is what has allowed Qualcomm to truly move the wireless industry forward: first through successfully enabling the mobile phone to scale into the hands of everyday consumers, then by integrating essential functions into the mobile phone — such as GPS and location services for public safety, plus various consumer electronic features like your music player and camera — and finally by transforming the mobile phone into a bona fide mobile computer.

Leveraging a legacy of breakthroughs

Qualcomm’s journey began in 1985 with a team of visionary engineers that defied convention with their groundbreaking work in CDMA, a radio transmission technology that set the stage for the mobile revolution. That breakthrough laid the groundwork for 4G — which truly brought the internet to the smartphone — and then 5G, which led to everything from lightning-fast streaming to 4K-quality video chats.

But more recently, our work has extended beyond just radio technology. Over the last several years, we have expanded in a number of areas, from our powerful and energy-efficient Snapdragon platforms that drive innovation in smartphones, PCs, cars and XR, to our new Qualcomm Dragonwing platforms, which are enabling the digital transformation of industrial and embedded IoT.

And as we look to the future, we know that AI is changing everything — from smarter, more personalized and responsive AI agents, to devices powerful enough to handle AI tasks themselves. Once again, we’re pushing the boundaries of what technology can do, with an eye toward changing the way we interact with each other, and the way in which we interact with the devices that connect us all.

Our solutions are transforming not just personal devices, but entire industries — from automotive to energy, and retail to manufacturing. To that end, at our 40th anniversary celebration, we were delighted to showcase some of the exciting new technological innovations that we have recently been driving. These demos included a Copilot+ laptop powered by our Snapdragon X Elite processor, which illustrated how an AI-enhanced digital assistant can save you hours of productivity by proactively helping you with daily tasks. Ray-Ban Meta glasses were on hand to show off how XR can serve as a new interface for AI, with built-in cameras and multimodal AI giving your digital assistant the ability to “see” what you see. Guests, meanwhile, were entertained by a DJ leveraging AI to mix music for the event.

These incredible demos of our technology, alongside others that highlighted the location-tracking Qualcomm Aware solution and Snapdragon Digital Chassis for the cars of tomorrow, represent just the beginning of the AI revolution. They also offered an exciting glimpse into the kinds of innovations we have in store for the next 40 years and beyond — innovations that will help uphold American technology leadership for decades to come by continuing to bring intelligent computing everywhere.

Engineering Human Progress: Learn more about Qualcomm

Breakthrough innovation: Discover Qualcomm Research

April 29, 2025 /3BL/ – David Grant, Senior Director: Global Climate & Water Solutions at PepsiCo

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Welcome to the BIER Member Spotlight series, highlighting the individual leaders driving sustainability and innovation within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations.

As BIER enters its 19th year, the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable continues to build on nearly two decades of industry collaboration and impact. In 2025, we are proud to be led by Chair Nicolas Clerget and Co-Chair David Grant, whose leadership will guide BIER’s collective efforts in advancing environmental stewardship across the beverage sector.

Join us for this insightful interview, where David, BIER’s 2025 Co-Chair, shares his experience, perspectives, and vision for the year ahead.

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities, and how long you have worked with your company.

I joined PepsiCo in 2020 as Global Water Stewardship Director, overseeing the company’s water strategy—including internal water use efficiency, replenishment, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) certification, and water risk assessments. In December 2023, my role evolved, and I now lead the Climate & Water Solutions Team. We focus on identifying and scaling innovative technologies to reduce the cost of climate tactics and advance PepsiCo’s sustainability strategy. On the water side, our work now centers on watershed health—supporting both operations and agriculture.

What inspired you to take on the role of BIER Chair and Co-Chair? What aspects of the role do you find most compelling?

I’ve long believed in the power of the collective—and in not reinventing the wheel. BIER exemplifies both: it brings together the beverage industry’s collective expertise to create shared value. Having engaged with BIER over the years, I’m motivated to contribute however I can to accelerate sustainable progress across the industry. It’s a privilege to be part of a group that drives impact through collaboration and shared learning.

Reflecting on 2024 and looking ahead to 2025, what BIER initiatives stand out as most impactful or inspiring?

We’re operating in a time of unprecedented urgency. With the planet’s condition worsening and the window for action narrowing, BIER must remain agile and focused—keeping pace with developments in science, regulation, and technology. I believe our current priorities reflect this urgency well, and I continue to be inspired by the commitment and expertise of our members.

One area I find especially compelling is nature and biodiversity. Like climate, it’s broad and deeply interconnected with other sustainability areas, yet highly nuanced at the local level. I’m excited to see how this workstream evolves, especially as it integrates both internal and external expertise.

As BIER enters its 19th year, what personal quality do you bring to your leadership that will help advance its impact?

With more than 20 years in the food and beverage industry, I’ve learned that sustainability is not linear—it’s interconnected. I bring a holistic mindset to this role, helping to identify where BIER’s various workstreams can align and support one another. That integrated perspective will help us prioritize effectively while staying adaptable as new challenges and opportunities arise.

If you had one superpower to radically accelerate sustainable practices, what would it be?

I’m going to cheat and choose two:

The Power of Collective Clarity – a form of telepathy that brings common sense and shared purpose to decision-making. It would unite individuals, companies, and governments around a clear path forward—one rooted in strategic, collaborative action.

The Ability to Break Through Complexity – a kind of super-intelligence that simplifies the intricate systems we work within. It would help surface practical solutions and enable us to scale them faster.