Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Climate action is becoming an increasingly important business priority, shaping how organisations innovate, grow, and create long-term value. To make meaningful progress, businesses need clarity. They need to understand where they stand today, where they are improving, and where they can go further. Benchmarking provides this clarity. It turns sustainability from an ambition into something measurable, comparable, and actionable. Lenovo already leads in this space, as demonstrated with clear progress and transparency shared in the latest ESG report. 

To support this shift for others, Lenovo partners with ClimateChoice to help its global partner ecosystem build sustainability capabilities and accelerate climate maturity. Through structured climate benchmarking and practical capability building, Lenovo 360 Circle provides the framework that enables partners to benchmark progress, strengthen expertise, and accelerate sustainable business transformation. 

A Community for Sustainable Business Transformation 

Lenovo 360 Circle is Lenovo’s global sustainability community, designed to help partners build sustainability capabilities, connect with expertise, and accelerate sustainable business transformation. By bringing together partners, Lenovo leaders, and industry experts, Lenovo 360 Circle provides a collaborative environment where organisations can share best practices, strengthen their capabilities, benchmark progress, and create greater value for customers. 

Lenovo 360 Circle is founded on the belief that sustainable business transformation is achieved through collaboration. By connecting partners across the ecosystem, the community enables organisations to build knowledge, access practical insights, measure progress, and develop the capabilities needed to differentiate their business, support customers’ sustainability objectives, and unlock long-term growth.  

To support partners at different stages of their sustainability journey, the Lenovo 360 Circle uses a structured three-stage model: 

• Connect: partners are taking their first steps in sustainability. They are building awareness, exploring foundational concepts, and beginning to understand how sustainability fits into their business. 
• Learn: partners have started to structure their sustainability strategy. They are developing goals, building internal capability, and integrating sustainability into their operations and customer conversations. 
• Lead: partners have advanced sustainability strategies and are recognized as role models. They demonstrate strong governance, transparent reporting, and a commitment to driving progress across the wider ecosystem. 

Together, these stages create a pathway that supports partners at every point in their journey. 

What is ClimateChoice Benchmarking and Why It Matters 

ClimateChoice is an independent climate intelligence organisation that helps businesses assess and improve their sustainability performance. Its benchmarking framework evaluates companies across areas such as decarbonization, governance, strategy, emissions performance, and transparency. 

The insights help partners understand their current maturity and identify the actions that will have the greatest impact. For Lenovo 360 Circle members, the benchmark provides a structured view of climate performance and a clear roadmap for improvement. 

2026 Benchmark Results: A Community Moving Forward Together 

For the third year, ClimateChoice benchmarked the climate performance of the Lenovo 360 Circle community, Lenovo’s sustainability ecosystem of international channel partners. The 2026 benchmark shows measurable progress: the overall ClimateChoice Score increased by 12 points, reaching an average of 54 out of 100.  

The strongest improvements were achieved in Decarbonization Measures with +14 points, Strategy & Control with +13 points, and Emissions Performance with +13 points.  

These gains reflect a community that is moving from planning to execution, strengthening sustainability capabilities across the Lenovo partner ecosystem.. Partners are strengthening governance, improving emissions measurement, and embedding sustainability into their operations. 

The benchmark helps participating companies understand where they stand, where gaps remain, and which next steps matter most. It also creates a shared view of climate maturity and progress across Lenovo 360 Circle. 

From Data to Action: Expanding the Lenovo and ClimateChoice Collaboration 

Building on these insights, Lenovo and ClimateChoice are extending their collaboration from data-driven climate assessment to practical partner enablement, helping members build expertise through benchmarking, structured learning, and practical guidance. A dedicated masterclass series, delivered by ClimateChoice together with learning partner Five Glaciers, helps members strengthen their foundations in carbon accounting, decarbonization roadmapping and governance for successful climate management, with a focus on practical next steps in a world of regulatory complexity and fast-changing market needs.  

This makes the Lenovo 360 Circle community a best practice for partner engagement: benchmarking climate maturity across the ecosystem year-over-year, identifying gaps and improvement areas, building capabilities and tracking progress towards shared targets.  

“The results of this year’s ClimateChoice Benchmark are very encouraging. Seeing our Lenovo 360 Circle community improve its overall score by 12 points demonstrates the power of collaboration in accelerating climate action. The ClimateChoice Benchmark provides partners with valuable insights into their climate maturity, while our expanded enablement programme helps turn those insights into meaningful action. Together, we are building the capability, confidence, and momentum needed to drive measurable progress across the partner ecosystem. 

Virginie Kristell Mari Le Barbu Executive Director, Global Sustainability, International Markets Lenovo. 

“The Lenovo 360 Circle community shows what effective ecosystem engagement can look like: benchmark climate maturity, identify improvement areas, build capabilities and track progress over time. This is how climate data moves from a reporting requirement into successful business action.” 

Yasha Tarani, Co Founder and CEO, ClimateChoice 

Looking Ahead 

As climate ambition grows across the industry, the focus is shifting toward execution. The next leap forward will come from partners who embed sustainability into their operations and long term strategies. 

Lenovo 360 Circle is demonstrating the value of ecosystem collaboration in accelerating sustainable business transformation. By bringing together partners, industry experts, and Lenovo leaders, the community is helping organisations build sustainability capabilities, benchmark progress, share best practices, and create greater value for customers. As sustainability continues to shape the future of business, Lenovo 360 Circle provides a pathway for partners to strengthen their capabilities, differentiate their business, and unlock long-term growth. 

Interested in learning more? Visit the Lenovo 360 Circle community page on the Lenovo Partner Hub to explore our available resources and learn how Lenovo 360 Circle can help your organisation build sustainability capabilities and accelerate sustainable business transformation. 

Cascale staff recently attended Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi, India.

The event drew more than 124,000 attendees and 1,600+ exhibitors, along with knowledge sessions featuring C-suite decision-makers from leading textile organizations across India.

Key Takeaways:

• Cascale members, staff showcased a strong turnout at Bharat Tex.
• Actionable decarbonization projects, emerging textile legislation, and India’s unique craft history were focal points in the programming.
• Many attendees made note of Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) as a solution amid ongoing audit fatigue.

The event’s theme “Sustainable, Circular, and Competitive Bharat” prioritized actionable roadmaps over high-level commitments. Dedicated hubs showcased technical advancements in circular design, resource optimization, and ethical sourcing, positioning sustainability as a core driver of global competitiveness.

Many Cascale members exhibited at the event: among them were Arvind Limited, Shahi Exports, Cotton Connect, Solidaridad, and PDS. Attending Cascale staff included Canelia Mbida, manager of manufacturer member activation; Deepak Kashyap, senior manager, Higg Facility Tools; Isha Agnihotri, manager, Higg facility tools; Prasanth Nandakumar, manager, stakeholder engagement, APAC; and Yasotharan Manivel, manager, decarbonization program.

Audit fatigue remains a top concern for Indian manufacturers, according to one session titled “Decarbonizing Textile Clusters in India: From Commitment to Action.” Workshop facilitators included Cascale members Solidaridad and Fashion For Good, among others, where the discussion centered on how mid-to-medium-sized enterprises increasingly seek greater alignment around standards to ease administrative burdens. In other conversations, member representatives repeatedly cited Higg FEM, stewarded by Cascale and exclusively available on Worldly, as a critical component of the audit solution, showcasing the Higg Index as a trusted industry standard.

Policy conversations were also featured prominently. India’s government-led Mission on Cotton Productivity shared how it aims to boost cotton yields through seed research, modernized farming techniques, and upgrades to 2,000 ginning mills — part of India’s broader “5F” vision (“Farm to Fiber, Fiber to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign” initiative). The new India-UK Free Trade Agreement generated optimism among attendees about expanded market access.

Still, India’s supply chain is at an inflection point like the wider industry. Artificial intelligence, research and development, and smart manufacturing practices were cited as priorities by executives for providing newfound resilience. Meanwhile, India’s history of craft and reuse – an estimated $350-billion circular industry – supports ongoing strides for durable design and extended producer responsibility (EPR).

Panels also touched on the importance of financial incentives in nurturing India’s textile sector while preparing it for the future.

Cascale staff recently attended Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi, India.

The event drew more than 124,000 attendees and 1,600+ exhibitors, along with knowledge sessions featuring C-suite decision-makers from leading textile organizations across India.

Key Takeaways:

• Cascale members, staff showcased a strong turnout at Bharat Tex.
• Actionable decarbonization projects, emerging textile legislation, and India’s unique craft history were focal points in the programming.
• Many attendees made note of Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) as a solution amid ongoing audit fatigue.

The event’s theme “Sustainable, Circular, and Competitive Bharat” prioritized actionable roadmaps over high-level commitments. Dedicated hubs showcased technical advancements in circular design, resource optimization, and ethical sourcing, positioning sustainability as a core driver of global competitiveness.

Many Cascale members exhibited at the event: among them were Arvind Limited, Shahi Exports, Cotton Connect, Solidaridad, and PDS. Attending Cascale staff included Canelia Mbida, manager of manufacturer member activation; Deepak Kashyap, senior manager, Higg Facility Tools; Isha Agnihotri, manager, Higg facility tools; Prasanth Nandakumar, manager, stakeholder engagement, APAC; and Yasotharan Manivel, manager, decarbonization program.

Audit fatigue remains a top concern for Indian manufacturers, according to one session titled “Decarbonizing Textile Clusters in India: From Commitment to Action.” Workshop facilitators included Cascale members Solidaridad and Fashion For Good, among others, where the discussion centered on how mid-to-medium-sized enterprises increasingly seek greater alignment around standards to ease administrative burdens. In other conversations, member representatives repeatedly cited Higg FEM, stewarded by Cascale and exclusively available on Worldly, as a critical component of the audit solution, showcasing the Higg Index as a trusted industry standard.

Policy conversations were also featured prominently. India’s government-led Mission on Cotton Productivity shared how it aims to boost cotton yields through seed research, modernized farming techniques, and upgrades to 2,000 ginning mills — part of India’s broader “5F” vision (“Farm to Fiber, Fiber to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign” initiative). The new India-UK Free Trade Agreement generated optimism among attendees about expanded market access.

Still, India’s supply chain is at an inflection point like the wider industry. Artificial intelligence, research and development, and smart manufacturing practices were cited as priorities by executives for providing newfound resilience. Meanwhile, India’s history of craft and reuse – an estimated $350-billion circular industry – supports ongoing strides for durable design and extended producer responsibility (EPR).

Panels also touched on the importance of financial incentives in nurturing India’s textile sector while preparing it for the future.

NEW YORK, August 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Sustainability consulting and research firm Governance & Accountability Institute (G&A) has released a new issue brief describing the OECD’s Guidance for Responsible AI Due Diligence and how it can be used to inform each company’s enterprise-wise strategy. The brief also explains how the Guidance maps to existing global legislation on AI use.

The brief, titled “New Guidance from OECD on Responsible AI: What Companies Need to Know,” presents a world map highlighting major evolutions in AI governance frameworks in recent years, so companies can identify where the OECD guidance is interoperable with guidance or legislation in their jurisdictions. The brief also provides a detailed breakdown of the OECD Guidance, outlining: stakeholders of concern, enterprise applicability, and value chain implications.

As enterprise AI use continues to skyrocket, potential negative impacts on the environment, human rights, and governance standards become more important to identify, assess, and mitigate.

The new brief from G&A’s expert analysts covers:

• Overview of current landscape of AI use by companies
• Recent capital investments in enterprise-scale AI systems
• Types of AI-related risk that can arise throughout the value chain
• Developments in global AI regulations
• A breakdown of the OECD Guidance, including:
  • Which enterprises and stakeholders are in scope?
  • What are the main requirements of due diligence for responsible AI?
  • How can companies implement practical strategies across their enterprises?

The report is available through G&A’s research hub.

About G&A Institute, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Governance & Accountability Institute (G&A) is a New York–based sustainability consulting and research firm with deep advisory experience supporting corporate leaders and investors in integrating sustainability into governance, risk, enterprise performance, and evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations.

Backed by rigorous disclosure research and one of the industry’s most comprehensive benchmarking databases, we deliver insight that strengthens transparency, enhances competitiveness, and drives measurable return on investment.

G&A has published numerous research papers, issue briefs, and quick reference guides covering global sustainability reporting regulations and frameworks, including the CSRD, ISSB standards, and other emerging mandates.

For more information, visit G&A Institute.

Media Contact:
Louis D. Coppola
Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
Tel 646.430.8230 ext 14
Email: lcoppola@ga-institute.com

At Covia, we believe that thriving communities lead to a brighter, more prosperous future for all. With the help of our team members, we invest our time, talent, and financial resources to give back to our communities. We collaborate with hundreds of local organizations to strengthen our communities through in-kind contributions, charitable donations, and volunteerism.

We periodically recognize employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to giving back and making a difference in their communities. This month, we are proud to recognize Joe Forristal, a Specialty Operator at Covia’s Black Lab Chardon plant. For more than 20 years, his dedication and commitment to volunteerism has positively impacted the Village of Rock Creek.

According to Kurt Krebs, Senior Plant Manager at Black Lab, “Joe has been a great member of the Black Lab crew from day one. He works extremely hard and sets the bar high for the younger generation working alongside him.”

That same work ethic extends far beyond the workplace. Joe has volunteered for the Village of Rock Creek for over 20 years. Situated in the northeastern part of Ohio’s Ashtabula County, Rock Creek is a close-knit rural community renowned for its covered bridges, wineries, and a strong sense of community pride.

Just this year alone, Joe has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to helping the village. His contributions include painting the community pavilion, replacing boards on the handicap ramp at the village hall, trimming roadside bushes to ensure school buses can safely pick up children, replacing smoke detectors for community members, helping maintain the village maintenance garage, planting flowers throughout the community, and creating holiday decorations from recycled pallets.

“I’ve always believed that if you have the time and ability to help, you should. It’s rewarding to see the difference even small projects can make in the community.” said Joe.

Joe has tackled countless projects over the years, but he is especially proud of a project from several years ago when he helped the community during a sewer line break. Before joining Covia, he worked in the oil fields, where he gained experience working with piping systems. When the sewer line failed, he put his knowledge to good use by helping to dig up and repair the damaged pipe. When asked what it was like to work on a live sewer line, Joe laughed and said, “It wasn’t that bad!”

Joe’s commitment to serving others continues today. Currently, he is refurbishing candy cane decorations made from scrap materials that would otherwise be discarded. He is helping to give them new life for the community to enjoy during the holiday season.

We are proud of Joe and the many employees who dedicate their time and talents to supporting the communities where they live and work. Joe’s commitment to volunteerism is a great example of how our employees make a meaningful difference through service. To learn more about our volunteer efforts, visit https://www.coviacorp.com/corporate-responsibility/positive-social-impact/the-covia-foundation/.

Originally published by Branches

This past Monday, families at Branches Florida City celebrated the start of a new school year with an evening of community, fun, and support during Branches’ annual Back to School Night, made possible through the generosity of CVS Health and Aetna, a CVS Health company.

At this event, CVS Health presented Branches with a donation of $100,000 to support its work with children and families. The organization also sponsored the evening’s family celebration, which featured dinner, an ice cream bar, bounce houses, face painting, and activities for students and their families. Many company volunteers were also on site helping serve meals, scoop ice cream, distribute donated supplies, and set up for the festivities.

During the event, Branches’ Grow and Climb students at the Florida City site received new backpacks filled with essential school supplies to help them begin the school year prepared for success. Families also received hygiene kits, helping ease some of the costs associated with the back-to-school season.

“The start of a new school year is an important milestone for students, families and communities, and every child deserves to feel prepared, supported and ready to succeed,” said Jenny McColloch, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Community Impact, CVS Health. “Across the country, we’re investing in back-to-school efforts that connect students and families to essential resources. Through this collaboration with Branches, we’re helping to ensure children in Florida City are prepared for the school year ahead, while supporting the organization’s ongoing work to strengthen families and create healthier, more resilient communities.”

“Back-to-school season can be one of the most expensive times of the year for families,” said Brent McLaughlin, President & CEO of Branches. “We’re grateful to CVS Health and Aetna for investing in Branches’ families and helping create an evening that not only provided essential school supplies but also gave families the opportunity to celebrate the start of a new school year together.”

Please click here to check out the photos from Back to School Night.

Branches’ Back to School Night provides students and families with the resources they need to begin the school year with confidence while strengthening the sense of community that helps children thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

For more information, please visit branchesfl.org or contact Isabelle Pike at 305-206-5689 or ipike@branchesfl.org

About Branches
For more than 50 years, Branches has partnered with families in Miami-Dade County to build educational and financial assets, community, and hope. Through its Grow, Climb, and Achieve programs, Branches provides a continuum of support that helps children thrive and families achieve financial wellness. By connecting families with educational opportunities, financial wellness services, and meaningful community relationships, Branches is building brighter futures across South Florida. Learn more at www.branchesfl.org. 

Originally published on Kenvue.com

Stayfree® and Carefree® are helping expand puberty and menstrual health education in Argentina through a hybrid program that combines classroom resources, educator tools, product access, and interactive learning experiences. As part of Kenvue’s Healthy Lives Mission, this work is helping create a world where conversations about menstrual health are open, informed, and free from stigma.

How the Crecer Libre program works

In Argentina, Crecer Libre (Growing Free) is bringing menstrual education to classrooms across the country. Crecer Libre is a school-based puberty education program in Argentina designed to help young people learn about menstrual health, body changes, and self-confidence in an engaging, age-appropriate way.

By making puberty education interactive, the program helps create environments where these important conversations are more accessible and approachable across communities. It also increases product access through the distribution of Siempre Libre® menstrual health products.

Since Crecer Libre launched in 2023, the program has reached 1,000 public and private schools and expanded across provinces including Catamarca, San Juan, Mendoza, Santa Fe, Corrientes, and Misiones. Along with classroom resources, the program works with Youth, Social Development, and Education departments to bring “Escape Room” experiences to young people across the country.

How Stayfree® expanded the program in 2025

In 2025, the program shifted to a hybrid educational model that combined Siempre Libre® product distribution with an educational board game, a classroom video, and teacher guides with interactive activities on puberty and menstrual health. The reimagined program was informed by key learnings from Stayfree®’s partnership in India with Menstrupedia, a leading menstrual education startup.

From June to September, Stayfree® and Carefree® helped reach 50,000 students with puberty education, a 138% increase compared with 2024. That represents about 4% of Argentina’s total target-age student population, significantly expanding access to critical health information for young people nationwide.

Among teachers surveyed, 90% awarded the program the highest possible rating, reflecting its effectiveness in helping facilitate conversations about puberty, menstruation, and self-confidence in the classroom.

Why this work matters for future generations

By expanding access to education, products, and trusted resources, Stayfree® and Carefree® are bringing our Healthy Lives Mission to the next generation, breaking down barriers around menstrual health and equipping them with the knowledge they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

Learn more about our public health efforts in our 2025 Healthy Lives Mission report.

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games transformed competition into something much bigger than medals when Veterans gathered in Detroit, Michigan, July 9-14, 2026, to compete in events ranging from archery and powerlifting to rugby, table tennis, and track and field. They celebrated victories, laughed through setbacks and, perhaps most importantly, reunited with a community that understands both the visible and invisible journeys that come with military service and life after injury. For many competitors, the Games are not simply an annual sporting event; they’re a homecoming.

Co-presented each year by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the Games give Veterans with disabilities a path into adaptive sports, one that often starts with an introduction at a local VA Medical Center or PVA chapter. Leidos sponsored this year’s Games, and ten Leidos QTC Health Services staff members traveled to Detroit to volunteer throughout the week.

Leidos QTC had the opportunity to hear firsthand from a few Veteran athletes who shared what keeps bringing them back year after year. Their stories reveal that while the medals are meaningful, the relationships, resilience, and renewed confidence are what leave the greatest impact.

More Than Competition—A Family Reunion

For U.S. Army Veteran William “Wheelchair Willie” Hendrickson, this year’s Games marked his 20th year competing. After a motorcycle accident in 2005 left him using a wheelchair, Hendrickson was introduced to the Games the following year. What began as an unfamiliar territory, quickly became something far more meaningful. He explained, “The first couple years, it was a learning experience. And then I finally grasped and understood what the Games were really about. And it’s become a family to me. This is my family.”

Every summer, Hendrickson says he returns not only to compete but to reconnect. “I come here every single year to see my family, get my batteries recharged so that I can go home and spread the joy and experiences that I’ve had with everybody that wants to listen,” he said.

That sense of belonging echoed throughout Detroit. Veterans greeted longtime teammates with hugs, welcomed first-time competitors and cheered one another on regardless of who crossed the finish line first. For U.S. Navy Veteran Davis Celestine from Tampa, Florida, who was injured during training before deploying to Afghanistan in 2001, the Games have become an annual return; he has participated for more than a decade. He described the event as “almost like a family reunion.”

Watching newcomers arrive unsure of themselves and leave with renewed confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. Celestine shared, “You see someone struggling for the first time when they come here, and to see the excitement once they’re leaving gives you that relief of, ‘I have made it,’ and now it’s for me to pass it on so I can benefit other individuals who feel like their life is lost.”

Discovering What’s Possible

The Games are designed to challenge athletes physically, but many competitors say the greatest transformation happens mentally. Christopher Dominick, a U.S. Navy Veteran from Charlotte, North Carolina, reflected on how participating has changed the way he views himself. Now attending his sixth Games, he said, “This has taught me that I can do more than just sit in a chair. I can be much more. Be the best man that I can be.”

That message is repeated across nearly every venue at the Games. Whether someone is trying a new adaptive sport for the first time or competing at an elite level, every event becomes an opportunity to discover new strengths. Celestine shared a similar perspective. He noted, “It impacted me when I first came to the Games…what these men and women are capable of doing, not having any pity or self-doubt. I just wanted to get out to showcase to the world what they have, what their abilities are. It’s a great opportunity for you to advance yourself off the couch.”

Gold Medals, New Sports, and Plenty of Laughs

There was no shortage of memorable performances in Detroit. Hendrickson entered archery for the very first time this year and promptly won a gold medal. Even after two decades of competition, he continues to surprise himself by embracing new challenges. He also earned a bronze medal in the rally event and returned to one of his signature competitions: the Slalom, an event held on an exhibition hall floor or smooth surface that tests agility, strength, skill, and speed. When asked about his success in the event, Hendrickson shared an astonishing statistic. “I won the Slalom, 19 out of 20 years.” His only loss came to a close friend who later passed away, a memory Hendrickson still carries with him today.

Dominick also enjoyed a full week of competition, participating in powerlifting, CrossFit, softball, field events, and deadlifting. Two of his proudest accomplishments this year were benching 275 pounds and winning the bronze medal in softball.

Celestine embraced many available opportunities, competing in table tennis, rugby, weightlifting, javelin and shot put. He balanced serious competition with good humor. After facing a Paralympian in table tennis, he said, “I got spanked a little bit by a Paralympian. But it’s all about fun competition, you know? Because you always go back home and train.”  

By week’s end, he had earned multiple medals, including gold medals in weightlifting and javelin and a silver medal in shot put. 

Taking the Spirit Home

As the Games came to a close, athletes packed more than medals into their bags. They carried home renewed confidence, lifelong friendships and fresh motivation to continue growing long after the closing ceremonies.

For some, that means mentoring new competitors. For others, it means training for next year’s Games. For many, it simply means returning home reminded that they are part of something larger than themselves. And judging by the smiles, cheers and unwavering encouragement found throughout the week.

Cisco
This is the first in a three-part series exploring how Cisco Crisis Response is partnering with nonprofit organizations that are harnessing the power of responsible AI in humanitarian settings. From assessing needs on the ground to connecting affected people with information and services, each installment examines a different stage of the humanitarian response lifecycle — and the responsible AI principles that must guide the work at every step.

In the initial hours and days of a humanitarian response, accurate information is critical and potentially lifesaving. Relief organizations must move fast to get assistance to people in need, but before they can act, they need to understand. Who has been affected? What do they need? Where are the gaps?

AI has the potential to expedite and transform the way relief organizations approach needs assessments in the aftermath of an emergency. It can accelerate data collection, surface insights faster, and help overstretched teams do more with less, ultimately facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people who need it. But in contexts where people and communities are at their most vulnerable, the need to leverage AI responsibly is paramount.

Cisco’s approach to responsible AI

That tension between the enormous promise of AI and the need to deploy it responsibly is something we take seriously at Cisco. Our approach to responsible AI is grounded in six core principles that are embedded in how we work, how we innovate, and who we choose to partner with. When we support organizations working at the frontier of AI-enabled crisis response, we look for partners who hold themselves to the same standards we do — and whose responsible AI commitments, in turn, help inform and refine our own.

One such partner is Kobo, the organization behind KoboToolbox: an open-source platform that more than 35,000 organizations across 220 countries and territories rely on to design surveys, collect data, and generate insights to inform programs and interventions in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Cisco has partnered with Kobo since 2014, supporting the development of KoboToolbox into the versatile software it is today — including, most recently, its early integration of qualitative analysis features supported by large language models. Now, with the KoboToolbox AI Formbuilder, the team is taking that one step further: using generative AI features to help humanitarian organizations build better survey forms faster. By focusing both on potential gains and risk reduction, these features enable humanitarian workers to expedite high-quality, high-volume data collection without compromising on the safeguards needed to protect both the data and the people it represents.

Operational challenges, ethical questions: Why responsible AI matters

Humanitarian needs assessments form the backbone of an effective response. Field teams are often working in dangerous or remote conditions, with limited time and resources, gathering data to understand the full scale and scope of what crisis-affected communities urgently need. Traditional data collection methods like text-based surveys and paper forms can be slow, inconsistent, and prone to gaps or errors. And when the communities most affected by a crisis speak languages or dialects that aren’t well represented in those standard tools, their voices risk being lost entirely.

AI-assisted tools have the potential to address many of these challenges but, in doing so, they introduce new ones. The data collected in emergency settings — information about displaced children and families, their locations, their identities, their vulnerabilities — is extraordinarily sensitive. How do you balance the real impacts that can be achieved with the increased speed and efficiency of AI with the obligation to handle that data safely and ethically?

Building better humanitarian data tools with responsible AI at the core

Kobo’s approach addresses these challenges by prioritizing the integration of responsible AI capabilities directly into the data collection workflow and the tool itself. Features like automated speech-to-text transcription and AI-assisted translation allow field teams to capture detailed observations in real time, in the languages spoken by affected communities. AI-powered form building helps even non-expert users design high-quality, contextually appropriate surveys in minutes rather than hours, meaning relief workers can gather more actionable data faster than ever.

“At Kobo, our approach to responsible AI begins long before the end user — from early architectural decisions and community co-design, down to selecting models that meet the highest ethical and privacy standards,” says Tino Kreutzer, Kobo’s Chief Operating & Innovation Officer. “Before writing a single line of code, we assess potential risks and test model reliability using only synthetic data. By hosting the best available open-weight models in our own environment, we ensure user data is never shared or used for commercial training while maintaining highly reliable performance.”

“Humanitarian data needs strong safeguards. That’s why we prioritize ethical principles such as accuracy, privacy, and reliability in all our work.”
– Tino Kreutzer, Chief Operating & Innovation Officer, Kobo

Critically, the tool is built with human oversight at its core. By design, the “human-in-the-loop” model requires users to review, edit, and verify AI-generated transcripts and translations directly within the platform before any data is acted upon — a deliberate design choice that reflects the transparency and accountability required for the responsible use of AI. Furthermore, all AI processing happens within KoboToolbox’s own infrastructure, maintaining full data sovereignty.

KoboToolbox’s AI features in action

The evidence for what this tool can help humanitarian organizations accomplish is already taking shape. In a pilot with UN Women across 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, AI-powered transcription and translation features were used to process data from more than 14,000 people. The tool significantly reduced the time required to transcribe and translate responses, and because all processing happens within KoboToolbox’s infrastructure rather than being exported to external tools, sensitive data stayed secure and within the control of the organizations responsible for it. For the relief workers conducting interviews, that meant more time being present in the conversations rather than managing data workflows — and the people being interviewed reported feeling genuinely heard as a result.

The tools were put to the test in a sudden-onset emergency for the first time in early 2026, when flooding in Mozambique displaced nearly 700,000 people. Kobo deployed staff on the ground to support frontline responders, where a small team of enumerators used AI-assisted voice capture to record detailed observations about infrastructure conditions and service availability at accommodation centers for displaced families, producing richer, more nuanced data than traditional text-based methods would have allowed. The full impact of that data on the response is still being assessed, but the pilot validated that these tools can be deployed responsibly under real emergency conditions.

The potential — and the obligations — of scaling responsible AI in humanitarian settings

The early results suggest that AI can be responsibly deployed to improve how relief organizations understand and respond to crises. Kobo is committed to keeping the tool, including these AI-assisted features, free or affordable for the 35,000+ organizations already relying on the platform. With that reach comes the potential to transform how humanitarian organizations conduct needs assessments at a global scale.

“As we integrate AI more deeply into our work, we want to ensure we’re doing it in partnership with local organizations we work with, in ways that help meet the needs of the humanitarian sector without causing additional harm,” says Kreutzer. “Ethics and transparency should always be prioritized over single-minded efficiency gains — that’s our guiding principle.”

At Cisco, we believe that the potential to leverage AI as a force for good is vast, but it’s only as strong as the principles guiding its use. We’re proud to partner with organizations like Kobo that both inform and share in our commitment to mitigating the risks while maximizing the opportunities that these emerging AI technologies present in humanitarian settings, without jeopardizing the mission — or the people — they’re built to serve.

Next in the series: When affected communities need reliable information on how and where to access assistance in the aftermath of a crisis, how can relief organizations leverage AI-powered tools to help provide it — safely, accurately, and at scale?

View original content here.

Originally published on 3M News Center

From Filtrete™ Filters and Command™ Strips to 3M™ Acoustic Thinsulate™ and 3M™ Glass Bubbles, 3M’s Clinton, Tennessee, plant plays an important role in making products that reach homes, vehicles and industries across the country.

As part of 3M’s broader U.S. manufacturing footprint, the Clinton site brings together more than 400 skilled employees and strong capabilities across multiple core technologies. The plant manufactures products that serve automotive, consumer and industrial markets, reflecting the breadth of 3M science and the importance of advanced manufacturing to the company’s ability to serve customers.

This summer, that manufacturing presence was connected to another priority: helping prepare the next generation of makers, problem-solvers and technical talent.

3M joined educators and community leaders in Clinton to spotlight efforts that expand student access to hands-on learning and career pathways in advanced manufacturing. The programs include investments at Anderson County Career & Technical Center and Clinton High School, where students are gaining exposure to technical skills, modern equipment and real-world manufacturing opportunities.

The work reflects how 3M’s manufacturing sites can support local workforce development by partnering with schools and helping strengthen learning environments. Through these programs, students can better understand technical career options and build skills connected to the future of manufacturing.

A strong manufacturing presence in Clinton

The 3M Clinton plant is an important manufacturing site within 3M’s U.S. operations. Employees at the site help make a range of products that reflect the variety of ways 3M science shows up in everyday life and across industries. From helping improve vehicle comfort and indoor air quality to supporting consumer convenience and industrial performance, the Clinton plant contributes to solutions used by customers and consumers in multiple markets.

“At 3M Clinton, we’re proud to be part of 3M’s strong U.S. manufacturing footprint and to make products that people rely on every day,” said plant director Jason Orr. “Our employees bring worldclass skill, dedication and innovation to this work. By connecting our manufacturing presence with investments in local education, we’re helping students see the opportunities that exist in advanced manufacturing and the important role they can play in its future.”

Following the school-based events, community leaders participated in a tour of 3M Clinton, offering a firsthand look at the people, processes and technologies behind local manufacturing careers. By connecting classroom investments with real-world operations, the visit helped show how technical education can prepare students for opportunities in advanced manufacturing.

Investing in technical education

3M’s national Manufacturing & Academic Partnerships program (MAP) is designed to support academic partners and strengthen pathways into advanced manufacturing careers. The MAP program includes community partnerships with GPS Ed, FESTO, and NC3. At Anderson County Career & Technical College, MAP is expanding access to hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom instruction with the types of technical skills used in modern manufacturing environments.

“Investing in our hometown communities is one of the most meaningful ways 3M can help create lasting impact,” said Michael Stroik, Vice President, 3M Community Impact. “By supporting technical education in Clinton, we’re helping expand access to hands-on learning experiences that connect students to real-world skills and future career pathways. These investments reflect our belief that strong schools, strong communities and strong manufacturing go hand in hand.”

By supporting technical education spaces, 3M is helping students build awareness of career opportunities in manufacturing while gaining exposure to the tools, technologies and problem-solving skills used in today’s workforce.

Creating a space for future makers

In collaboration with Heart of America, a non-profit organization that transforms learning spaces, 3M transformed a classroom at Clinton High School into the Future Makers Lab by 3M. The transformation is designed to give students a modern learning environment focused on applied skills and hands-on exploration.

Through multiple new Future Makers Labs across the country, 3M is helping to make technical education more visible and accessible for students, supporting opportunities to explore manufacturing-related skills, collaboration and innovation.

“Career readiness is essential to a student’s education, and the right learning environment makes it possible,” said Jill Hardy Heath, President and CEO of Heart of America. “Through our work with 3M, we’re designing and building mechatronics labs that give students hands-on access to engineering, robotics, and technical skill development. When industry leaders invest alongside schools, it expands opportunity and helps students envision strong, sustainable futures.”

Building the workforce of tomorrow

Manufacturing continues to rely on skilled people who can solve problems, work with technology and adapt to changing customer needs. In Clinton, 3M’s investments in local education are closely tied to the company’s manufacturing presence and long-term commitment to the community.

These local events demonstrated how industry and education can work together to create stronger pathways for students — from classrooms and labs to potential careers in advanced manufacturing.

FAQ

What does the 3M Clinton plant make?

The 3M Clinton plant manufactures a range of products that serve automotive, consumer and industrial markets, including 3M™ Acoustic Thinsulate™, Filtrete™ Filters, Command™ Strips and 3M™ Glass Bubbles.

How many people work at the 3M Clinton plant?

The 3M Clinton plant has a skilled workforce of more than 400 employees.

Why is 3M investing in technical education in Clinton?

3M’s investments are focused on expanding student access to hands-on learning and career pathways in advanced manufacturing. These efforts help connect classroom learning with technical skills used in modern manufacturing environments and support workforce readiness in a community where 3M has a significant manufacturing presence.