The United States has made tangible progress connecting homes to high-speed internet, yet there are still gaps to be filled. BEAD, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, was created to make sure every American has reliable broadband, especially in underserved or unserved communities. Thanks to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which oversees the $42.5 billion BEAD program, and strong state execution, momentum is real.

And as more homes gain connectivity, BEAD has a chance to finish the job by closing the last gap: In too many rural communities, service drops the moment people walk out their door. These mobile dead zones are not just inconvenient. They hold back local economies, create real safety risks and maintain the digital divide, even as BEAD makes historic strides on in-home access.

BEAD offers the opportunity to permanently close both mobile and remaining in-home service inequities. The state of Louisiana, for instance, through ConnectLA, is using this program to deliver high-speed broadband to every resident — while saving taxpayers more than $850 million through BEAD funding.

As part of the Louisiana Local Fiber Consortium, T-Mobile will help bring America’s Best Mobile Network to more than 66,000 locations, cutting the state’s mobile coverage gaps in half. Louisiana has shown what’s possible, and it offers a strong, practical model.

A Tipping Point

In December 2025, NTIA shared that its Benefit of the Bargain state application process saved taxpayers $21 billion. That’s a big win and a strong sign the program is being managed effectively. Now, Administrator Arielle Roth and NTIA are asking, “How will we use these savings?”

Original BEAD funding = $42.5 billion
After Benefit of the Bargain process = $21 billion savings for American Taxpayers

Smart Decision-Making

Once home internet needs are met, NTIA can empower states to leverage remaining BEAD dollars to close rural mobile dead zones, extending BEAD’s impact for the communities it was designed to serve. That fits directly within BEAD’s mission to support scalable, next-generation infrastructure, and it aligns with NTIA’s focus on long-term value including today’s 5G, tomorrow’s 6G and AI adoption. And as the nationwide leader in 5G, T-Mobile is using AI-powered 5G Advanced to set the path toward 6G with AI-RAN.

Mobile connectivity is critical to how people live and work today. It keeps businesses running, students learning, farms productive, commercial drivers connected and first responders reachable. In rural America, reliable mobile service is not a bonus. It is a basic need. And yet, there are still coverage gaps where over 3 million Americans still lack even 4G connectivity. To get ahead, we can’t leave people behind.

map of 4G mobile coverage in the US

With the momentum NTIA has built through BEAD, we can get there. Our analysis shows that about 6,000 more mobile macro sites could extend 5G coverage to roughly 99% of Americans, including key rural roads.

About 6,000 new mobile macro sites and roughly $8 billion could deliver 5G
coverage to about 99% of the U.S. population for the next decade.

That is why we propose a disciplined approach: allow targeted mobile funding under BEAD, capped at around $8 billion. Upwards of $13 billion in funding will remain once these defined coverage benchmarks are achieved. Build what is needed, deliver the coverage and then step back. That is what responsible stewardship looks like.

BEAD has already transformed fixed wireless access nationwide, thanks to strong leadership from the Department of Commerce and NTIA. With the same disciplined approach to mobile infrastructure, it can finish the job on connecting underserved areas. This isn’t about expanding the program. It’s about finishing it.

Closing remote mobile gaps delivers real benefits, from jobs and stronger public safety to more resilient communities in times of crisis. Most importantly, it gives Americans in rural areas the reliable service they need.

T-Mobile’s mission is to be the best in the world at connecting our customers to their world. Let’s keep working to get rural America fully connected, at home and on the move.

Previously published by Trellis

By Jim Giles

Key Takeaways:

  • Impact accounting uses “valuation factors” to convert enviornmental metrics into dollar numbers.
  • Proponents say it provides common ground in discussions between different business functions.
  • Everpure is rolling out an impact accounting dashboard.

Around three years ago, Charles Giancarlo, CEO of data platform Pure Storage, came back from Davos and asked his sustainability team to look into an idea he’d encountered at the meeting: Impact accounting, a method for integrating emissions and other externalities into company balance sheets.

The idea had been slowly picking up adherents in Europe for around a decade, but Pure Storage, which rebranded this month to Everpure, would go on to become the first U.S. company to join the Value Balancing Alliance (VBA), a group of 30 or so companies developing the approach. Trellis checked in last week with Everpure and the VBA for an update.

How does impact accounting work?

At the heart of the approach are a set of “valuation factors,” developed by third-party experts, that are used to convert activity data for emissions, water use, air pollution and other externalities into dollar figures that can be integrated into balance sheets. In the case of emissions, for example, the VBA uses $220 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, a figure based on the estimated social impact of rising greenhouse gases levels.

At Everpure, one long-term goal is to have cost centers be aware of the dollar impact of relevant externalities. After an initial focus on identifying and collecting the most material data, the team is now rolling out a dashboard containing several years of impact accounting numbers.

“It’s catered to different personas,” explained Adrienne Uphoff, Everpure’s ESG regulations and impact accounting manager. Finance was an initial use case, with product managers also on the roadmap. “You can compare it to financial numbers to really understand the impact intensity.”

What value does the approach bring?

“The essence of impact accounting is that you’re translating all these different metrics in the sustainability space into the language the decision makers understand,” said Christian Heller, the VBA’s CEO. “Everyone understands what you’re talking about, and you get a sense of the magnitude of your impact and the risks and opportunities.”

This has allowed Everpure to calculate what Uphoff called the “environmental costs of goods sold” and to estimate the impact of circular strategies, such as refurbishing hardware. The analysis reveals “impact savings across the full value chain across five different environmental topics all in a single dollar unit,” she said.

Analyses like that can then be shared with customers and used to distinguish Everpure from competitors. “The long-term winners in this space are going to be those that can perform against sustainability goals,” said Kathy Mulvany, Everpure’s global head of sustainability. “Impact accounting gives us a way to bring comparability, so companies can understand how they’re truly stacking up.”

What does it take to implement impact accounting?

A great deal of technical work goes into creating valuation factors, but the system is designed so that outside experts create the numbers and hand them to sustainability professionals for use. Still, not every company will have the in-house environmental data that is also needed. Many companies have been collecting emissions data for five years or more, for example, but detailed datasets for water use are less common.

Internal teams also need to be familiar with the concepts. “One of the key learnings from our impact accounting implementation is that the socialization curve is longer than you expect,” said Uphoff. “Attaching monetary values on externalities introduces new metrics and mental models, and that can naturally make people a little nervous at first. It takes time and dialogue for teams to build confidence in how to interpret this new lens on performance.”

What’s next?

In the early days of impact accounting, companies and consultancies worked independently on different methodologies. Now that work is coalescing, said Heller. The International Standards Organization is expected to start work on a standard this summer, he added, and the VBA, working with the Capitals Coalition, another nonprofit, is having conversations with the IFRS Foundation, which creates international financial reporting standards.

The approach may also be integrated into mandatory disclosure standards. Heller noted that the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive mentions the potential benefits of companies putting a dollar figure on some environmental impacts. “It’s the next evolutionary step of any kind of sustainability disclosure regulations,” he said.

Continue reading here.

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CTEC warns against the most common ways scammers steal taxpayer refunds.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tax season isn’t just about gathering paperwork—it is also a time when scammers are especially active, targeting unsuspecting taxpayers.

“A lot of people don’t know that tax preparers aren’t allowed to charge a fee based on the size of your refund,” said Fernando Angell, chair of the California Tax Education Council (CTEC), the state-mandated nonprofit that oversees approximately 40,000 tax preparers. “It’s also important to stay away from advertisements that guarantee tax refunds—no legitimate preparer can promise a refund before reviewing your information.”

Angell emphasizes that the best way to maximize your refund and avoid IRS issues is to work with a tax preparer who is properly educated and current on tax laws. In California, anyone who prepares tax returns for a fee must be either an attorney, a certified public accountant (CPA), a CTEC-registered tax preparer (CRTP), or an enrolled agent (EA).

Despite these requirements, some “ghost” preparers continue to operate illegally, often taking clients’ money and disappearing.

“These scammers are tough to track down because they vanish after getting paid,” said Lester Crawford, CRTP and CTEC board member. “Every year, we hear from people who never see their refund or the preparer again.”

Three Key Facts to Protect Your Refund:

  • Your refund should always go directly to you. Never allow a preparer to deposit your refund into their own bank account.
  • Fees should be based on the complexity of your return—not the size of your refund. Avoid anyone who charges a percentage of your refund as their fee.
  • Be cautious of ‘guaranteed’ refunds. No reputable preparer will promise a refund before reviewing your information; they will only ensure you receive what you’re entitled to under the law.

CTEC protects taxpayers from fraud and unqualified preparers. To learn more or report unregistered tax preparers, visit ctec.org. Listen to helpful podcasts at taxpayerbeware.org and in Spanish at contribuyentecuidese.org.

SOURCE California Tax Education Council (CTEC)

Pacira’s Stock is Down 56% Over the Last Decade and Down 68% Over the Last 5 Yearsi; Under the Leadership of CEO and Board Member Frank Lee, the Stock Has Fallen 30%ii; The Company’s Underperformance is Reflected in Consistently Missed Earnings, Continuous Lowering of Guidance, Which is Then Missed, and a Complete Lack of Combined Profitability in the Last Two Yearsiii; We believe the Stock Price Reflects the Market’s Lack of Trust in Management and the Board of Director’s Utter Failure of Oversight

DOMA Asserts Frank Lee Should be Replaced Immediately; the Board Should Name an Interim CEO and Conduct a Formal Sale Process of the Business

DOMA’s Three Highly Qualified Nominees Possess Vast Experience in Strategic Capital Allocation, Risk Management, Healthcare, Internal Investigations, Litigation, and Due Diligence

MIAMI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC (“DOMA Perpetual”) is a fundamentals-based, value-oriented investor that, together with its affiliates (collectively “DOMA” or “we”), beneficially owns approximately 7.1% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Pacira BioSciences (NASDAQ: PCRX) (“Pacira” or the “Company”).iv

DOMA today announced its nomination of three highly skilled director candidates to Pacira’s Board of Directors (the “Board”): Christopher Dennis, Oliver Benton Curtis and Eric de Armas. DOMA believes electing these nominees is critical to address the Board’s lack of financial controls, sophistication and legal expertise, and to develop proper management oversight at the Board level. These candidates possess significant, relevant experience and are prepared to ensure that all shareholders’ interests are fully represented on the Board.

DOMA’s aim is to generate profit for the Company’s shareholders, who have been forced to weather consistent year-over-year declines in the stock price while Company expenses and Management compensation have soared. DOMA believes the Board must avoid taking any further risk with IP battles and has previously privately notified members of the Board of its concern that the Board’s actions may potentially constitute gross negligence.

The Board has spent years generating zero value for shareholders while lavishly compensating its executives and members. DOMA believes that the Company’s shareholders should not continue to tolerate a Board that has overseen years of stock price decline while expenses and management compensation have increased.v Moreover, since the Company’s Management has proven incapable of meeting performance-based goals that would benefit all shareholders, the Board’s Compensation Committee signed off on a change from options-based compensation to RSUsvi. In the last two years, this change in compensation has paid more to CEO Frank Lee than what was distributed in earnings per share to all shareholders combinedvii. This compensation was not a reward for value creation or a job well done; it follows two years of dismal performance, in which the stock price has fallen over 30% and expenses have swelled across the firm.viii Management executive compensation is unsustainable, currently approaching 7% of the Firm’s entire market capitalization.ix

The Board has continued to approve wasteful and unjustified expenditures, including allowing management to spend shareholder cash relocating the Company’s headquarters to San Francisco despite the significant cost to shareholders and without providing a clear strategic justification for the move.x DOMA believes EXPAREL is a valuable asset whose potential has been undermined by management’s strategic and operational execution. DOMA believes that shareholders must elect directors that understand that the Board must undertake a comprehensive review of the decisions and strategy that have contributed to the Company’s sustained underperformance.

The interests of Pacira’s shareholders must finally be put first. The Board should immediately engage bankers to proceed with a sale of the Company, discontinuing future acquisitions of pipeline drugs and maximizing returns and returning capital to its rightful owners, the Company’s shareholders. EXPAREL is the only non-opioid pain medication for use in the surgical setting in the United States, a country still suffering from a horrible opioid epidemic. The drug lowers costs for providers and patients and has the potential to save countless lives by offering an effective alternative to opioid pain management. Pacira is too small to market this drug with scale and efficiency. By selling Pacira to a larger firm, the Company can ensure that shareholders finally receive the return they deserve and a larger, savvier company will be able to accelerate the distribution and application of this incredible drug. DOMA remains open to engaging constructively with the Board to achieve a solution that maximizes value for all shareholders.

Director Nominees:

  • Christopher Dennis, MD, MBA, FAPA – Mr. Dennis is a visionary physician executive and board-certified psychiatrist with 25+ years of leadership across behavioral health, substance use disorders, and digital health, who brings deep experience in health care and opioid addition.
  • Oliver Benton Curtis III – Mr. Curtis is a former federal prosecutor and accomplished trial lawyer who currently advises on regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and due diligence regarding third-party and business transactions.
  • Eric de Armas – Mr. de Armas, CFO and CCO of DOMA Perpetual, has over two decades of experience in the financial industry. He possesses substantial knowledge of corporate finance, risk management and strategic capital allocation.

About DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC:
DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC is an asset management firm based in Miami, Florida. DOMA Perpetual strives to achieve great investment results by identifying attractive, uncorrelated companies with sustainable competitive advantages, while limiting exposure to downside risks. It employs an opportunistic, fundamentals-based strategy that invests in companies across a variety of sectors and market caps throughout the globe.

Contact:
DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC
ir@domaperpetual.com

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DOMA”), together with the other participants named herein, have filed a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of director nominees at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders of Pacira BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

DOMA STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS’ PROXY SOLICITOR.

The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be DOMA, DOMA1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DOMA1”), DOMA Perpetual LO Equity Master Fund LP, an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“DOMA LO Master”), DOMA Perpetual Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DOMA GP”), DOMA2 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DOMA2”), Reliability LLC, an investment holding company wholly-owned by the John Templeton Foundation (“JTF”), Pedro Escudero, Christopher Dennis, Oliver Benton Curtis and Eric de Armas.

As of the date hereof, DOMA LO Master directly beneficially owns 1,965,775 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). As of the date hereof, JTF directly beneficially owns 812,019 shares of Common Stockxi. As of the date hereof, Pedro Escudero directly beneficially owns 159,000 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. de Armas directly beneficially owns 1,389 shares of Common Stock. As Investment Manager of DOMA LO Master and JTF, DOMA may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,777,794 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DOMA LO Master. As the managing member of DOMA, DOMA1 may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,777,794 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DOMA. As general partner of DOMA LO Master, DOMA GP may be deemed to beneficially own the 1,965,775 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DOMA LO Master. As the managing member of DOMA GP, DOMA2 may be deemed to beneficially own the 1,965,775 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DOMA GP. As Founder and Chief Investment Officer of DOMA and Managing Member of DOMA GP, DOMA1 and DOMA2 Mr. Escudero may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,777,794 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by DOMA and DOMA GP in addition to the 159,000 shares of Common Stock directly beneficially owned by Mr. Escudero. As of the date hereof, neither Messrs. Dennis nor Curtis beneficially own any shares of Common Stock.

Disclaimer

This letter has been prepared by DOMA. The views expressed herein reflect the opinions of DOMA and are based on publicly available information with respect to Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (“Pacira” or the “Company”). DOMA recognizes that there may be confidential information in the possession of the Company that could lead it or others to disagree with DOMA’s conclusions. DOMA reserves the right to change or modify any of such views or opinions at any time and for any reason and expressly disclaims any obligation to correct, update, or revise the information contained herein or to otherwise provide any additional materials.

For the avoidance of doubt, this press release was not produced by any person that is affiliated with Pacira, nor was its content endorsed by Pacira. This press release is provided merely as information and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security nor as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security. One or more funds managed by DOMA currently beneficially owns shares of the Company.

Some of the materials in this press release contain forward-looking statements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “could,” “opportunity,” “estimate,” “plan,” “once again,” “achieve,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements contained herein that are not historical facts are based on DOMA’s current expectations, speak only as of the date of these materials and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such projected results and statements. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of DOMA.

i Bloomberg Database as of March 10th 2026
ii Bloomberg Database as of March 10th 2026
iii Bloomberg Database, Pacira Company Filings, JPM Equity Research February 2026, Barclays Equity Research February 2026
iv Pacira Company Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
v Pacira Company Filings
vi Pacira Proxy Filings 
vii Pacira Company Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
viii Bloomberg Database, Pacira Company Filings
ix Pacira Company Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
x Pacira Q1 2025 8-K
xi DOMA is acting as investment manager with respect to the shares beneficially owned by JTF which DOMA exercises discretionary investment and voting authority. JTF is not making or sponsoring the director nominations.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/doma-perpetual-nominates-three-highly-qualified-candidates-for-the-board-of-pacira-biosciences-inc-302711303.html

SOURCE DOMA Perpetual

The MMK Award of Excellence recognizes groundbreaking innovation in sustainable automotive material development

ZURICH, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Novelis Inc., a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider and the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, has been honored with the Münchner Management Kolloquium (MMK) Award of Excellence 2026 for its aluminium sheet made with 100% end-of-life vehicle scrap, specifically developed for use in exterior car body applications. The award recognizes individuals, companies, and projects that drive meaningful and sustainable progress in business and society through innovation, responsibility, and foresight.

“This award affirms our commitment to shaping the future of the aluminum and automotive industries,” says Michael Hahne, Vice President of Commercial for Novelis in Europe. “The MMK Award of Excellence highlights the importance of innovation, responsibility and collaboration – values that guide our daily work.”

The MMK is one of the leading management conferences in the German-speaking region, attracting over 1,500 decision-makers from industry, academia, and politics each year.

Recycled aluminium as a catalyst for sustainable mobility

Novelis received the award for its highly innovative automotive aluminium sheet, which features exceptionally high recycled content and sets new standards in sustainable vehicle production. Aluminium is lightweight, strong, and endlessly recyclable. Novelis leverages these advantages consistently. In fiscal year 2025, the company achieved an average global recycled content of 63% across all products, with specific automotive alloys reaching up to 85%. Additionally, the aluminium recycling process uses approximately 95% less energy than is required to produce primary aluminium.

The award-winning solution showcases the true potential of a circular economy. By producing aluminum sheet made from 100% end-of-life vehicle scrap, Novelis has demonstrated that car-to-car recycling for high-quality outer-body aluminium applications is technically feasible. We believe this is a significant step toward decarbonizing the automotive sector.

Novelis’ path toward a fully circular future

Through Novelis 3×30, the company is driving the transition toward a fully circular economy. This includes expanding access to high-quality end-of-life scrap, investing in advanced recycling processes, and collaborating across the automotive value chain. We believe these efforts contribute significantly to more climate-friendly product solutions that help Novelis’ customers achieve their sustainability targets.

About Novelis

Novelis Inc. is driven by its purpose of shaping a sustainable world together. We are a global leader in the production of innovative aluminum products and solutions and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of low-carbon, sustainable aluminum solutions and to achieve a fully circular economy by partnering with our suppliers, as well as our customers in the aerospace, automotive, beverage can and specialties industries throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Novelis had net sales of $17.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminum and copper, and the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai. For more information, visit novelis.com.   

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novelis-wins-award-for-100-recycled-end-of-life-vehicle-scrap-product-302711277.html

SOURCE Novelis Inc.

Cascale recently engaged the next generation of sustainability leaders through a guest lecture at Columbia University in New York City.

The session was delivered as part of the university’s “Consumerism and Sustainability” course and brought together 37 graduate students from across Columbia’s sustainability management, international relations, human rights, and business programs.

Invited by lecturer Michelle Gabriel, Cascale’s editorial director Kaley Roshitsh explored how effective communication plays a critical role in advancing systems change across the sustainability landscape. The lecture highlighted how clear, credible messaging supports collaboration and progress not only within Cascale but across the broader industry ecosystem.

During the presentation, students received an introduction to the Higg Index, exclusively available on Worldly, which is the leading framework for measuring environmental and social performance across the consumer goods value chain. The interactive presentation covered the breadth of Cascale’s work, including decarbonization efforts, public affairs engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and initiatives such as Better Buying that support responsible purchasing practices.

The lecture also connected these industry topics with practical career insights. Drawing on experience in sustainable fashion journalism and communications, Roshitsh addressed how emerging professionals can pursue purpose-driven careers while avoiding common challenges in sustainability storytelling and reporting. Using her past experiences covering sustainability at WWD, she highlighted common greenwashing risks including a lack of public-facing commitments, fleeting supplier relations, and flagrant claims on materials and performance, among others.

Students showed strong interest in accessing Cascale resources and learning how the Higg Index tools can support academic work, particularly in lifecycle assessment (LCA) coursework. Several questions focused on industry challenges such as overproduction, the role of artificial intelligence, and how students and early-career professionals can engage more directly with sustainability tools and data.

Following the lecture, Cascale representatives also discussed opportunities for deeper collaboration with academic institutions. Conversations included the potential for integrating the Higg Index and related sustainability frameworks into university curricula, as well as helping equip students with practical knowledge and tools relevant to industry needs.

As with recent Cascale speaking engagements at Parsons (part of the New School), the University of Oregon, Berkeley College, ASU FIDM, and Ohio State University, this latest engagement reflects a growing demand from universities and young professionals for standardized tools, data, and collaboration. By connecting academia with practical industry frameworks, Cascale continues to support the development of future leaders.

Sofidel 60th anniversary logo

Porcari (Lucca), March 11, 2026 /3BL/ – Sofidel, one of the world’s leading paper manufacturers producing tissue for hygienic and household use, known in Italy and across Europe for its Regina brand, has finalized the details of the expansion plan announced last October to further strengthen its production capacity in the United States.

The expansion will take place at the company’s integrated facility in Inola, Oklahoma.

The plan includes the construction of a new building to house the previously announced 75,000 tonnes per year Valmet Through-Air-Drying (TAD) tissue machine, along with the installation of converting lines with matching capacity for the production of finished goods. The project also includes the expansion of the pulp and parent reel warehouse, and the construction of a fully automated finished goods warehouse – developed using E80 technology – with 100,000 pallet positions. The new buildings will cover a total area of approximately 1,000,000 square feet (90,000 square meters).

The total investment amounts to $775 million, and the machine start up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.

“The new TAD machine we will install at our Inola, Oklahoma facility will further strengthen our production footprint and expand the availability of premium tissue products in the United States, enhancing our ability to meet growing customer demand, particularly in the South,” said Luigi Lazzareschi, Sofidel Group CEO. “Once again in Inola, thanks to the collaboration of our stakeholders, we have found the right conditions to invest and continue to grow. This is a significant investment, an important way to ‘open’ the year of our 60th anniversary with a determined industrial outlook toward the future”.

The new facility will also feature state of the art internal logistics. An automatic system using LGVs (Laser Guided Vehicles) will transport parent reels from the paper machine to the warehouse, and an automated loading system will be connected directly to the finished goods automated warehouse. The choice of TAD technology directly addresses the growing demand in a dynamic North American market that is increasingly oriented – also in the Private Label segment – toward premium products.

This operation adds to Sofidel’s recent major investments in the United States, including the acquisition of the tissue division of Clearwater Paper Corporation (four facilities in North Carolina, Idaho, Nevada, and Illinois), the acquisition of four Royal Paper facilities in Arizona and South Carolina, and the expansion of the Duluth, Minnesota facility. It also mirrors the recent project in Circleville, Ohio, where a new building was constructed to house a 70,000 tonnes per year Valmet DCT 200 tissue machine, which started up in September 2025.

Today, Sofidel Group operates 14 production sites across 11 states  Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Illinois, Mississippi, Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, and North Carolina – and maintains a corporate office in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

In just over ten years, Sofidel Group has become the fourth largest tissue producer in the North American market, which today accounts for 50% of Sofidel’s total revenue, and where it holds a leadership position in the Private Label segment.

Sofidel Group 

The Sofidel Group, headquartered in Porcari (Lucca, Italy), is one of the leading manufacturers of paper for hygienic and household use worldwide. Established in 1966, the Group is active in 13 countries, 12 in Europe and the United States (12 States), with over 9,500 employees and a production capacity of 1,983,000 metric tons per year. In 2024, the Group had Net Sales of 3.225 billion Euros. “Regina”, its most well-known brand, is present on almost all the reference markets. Other brands include: Sopalin, Le Trèfle, Hakle, Softis, Nalys, Cosynel, KittenSoft, Nicky and Papernet. 

www.sofidel.com

Lightweight Poured PU Technology Reclaims its Place in Elite Running and Court Sports

PORTLAND, Ore., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For years, industry-standard poured polyurethane (PU) insoles were prized for comfort and durability—however, its weight and density profile have limited its use in premium performance categories. Since DREAMCELL® VELO’s launch, DSC® has changed the industry narrative with its breakthrough lightweight poured PU insole technology, engineered to meet the rigorous demands of performance sports, including running, basketball, and tennis. Today, DSC® released new technical data that supports DREAMCELL® VELO as a clear leader in the performance category for a poured PU insole.

DREAMCELL® VELO will be available to view at The Materials Show in Boston and Portland (March 11-12, 2026).

“Never before was poured PU a solution in the performance conversation, but now, DREAMCELL® VELO defines it for the elite athlete,” said Mei-Fen Wei, Chief Operating Officer of DSC®. “DREAMCELL® VELO is industry-changing and not only delivers a premium lightweight experience with newfound speed-focused advantages, but our direct-pour process creates almost zero material waste.”

In running especially—where every gram counts—traditional poured PU couldn’t compete with lighter foam platforms. DSC® teams set out to challenge that assumption, creating a breakthrough in the performance category. The DREAMCELL® VELO innovation stems from applying cross-industry material learnings to meet the footwear performance standards for the elite athlete today.

The new formulation is 60% lighter than traditional poured PU, and delivers excellent resiliency with a low compression set, helping preserve energy transfer over repeated runs, cuts, and jumps. The result is one of the lightest poured PU insole technologies DSC® has ever created, delivering energy return and long-term performance without the weight. DREAMCELL® VELO is tuned for performance with its optimized polymer network and cell structure that delivers a faster rebound at a lower density. The lower density mass with high rebound supports faster turnover and reduced fatigue that particularly supports runners, while the resiliency plus low compression set supports a consistent feel through cuts and jumps, and added durability over repeated impacts fine-tuned for sports like basketball and tennis.

DREAMCELL® VELO vs traditional poured PU*

  • Low density profile is .23g/cm3 less (.12 g/cm3 vs. .35g/cm3)
  • Approximately 50% rebound performance (vs. 30%)
  • Up to 60% lighter material weight for enhanced comfort and efficiency
  • Precision molding of intricate design details
  • Near zero waste|
    *Performance based on internal ASTM D3574 testing

Performance and lifestyle footwear development teams have responded strongly to DREAMCELL® VELO’s combination of low weight and robust physical properties. From basketball to running to tennis, brands are recognizing DREAMCELL® VELO as a versatile solution that bridges comfort and elite performance—while also meeting attractive cost targets.

DSC is committed to creating sustainable solutions for a greener future, including creating eco-innovations like DREAMCELL® VELO that achieves nearly zero waste. DSC’s direct-pour production reduces trimming and scrap typical of traditional PU methods. DREAMCELL® VELO is a step in the right direction toward Run the Relay, DSC’s ambitious plan to achieve a zero-carbon, zero-waste future.

DREAMCELL® VELO will be available to view at The Materials Show in Boston and Portland (March 11-12, 2026).

Since 1945, Dahsheng Company (DSC®) has been a leader in foam innovation in the sports industry. Known for its premium comfort and performance foam DREAMCELL® and DURAPONTEX®, DSC® partners with top brands and footwear manufacturers worldwide. By advancing innovation and pushing the limits of foam manufacturing, DSC® is dedicated to creating eco-friendly and advanced foam solutions that set new standards in the industry.

Visit www.dahsheng.com to learn more about DSC® and its commitment to sustainability and eco-innovation.

Media Contact:
Erin Patterson
t: +1-323-422-0274
e: erin.patterson@writetheskycomms.com

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SOURCE Dahsheng Company

March 11, 2026 /3BL/ – “The volatility in cocoa prices must end. Market prices are rapidly plunging towards levels that are known by all market actors to be unsustainable for cocoa farmers and their families.

“With many families reliant on cocoa as their primary source of income, the real-life impacts of declining cocoa prices could lead to less food on the table and poorer access to education, healthcare, and decent housing. Past progress on household income could also be eroded.

“Traders, chocolate, and retail businesses should work with governments and commit to long-term contracts with cooperatives and their members. Commitments and sustainability programs must recognize the human right to a living income and commit to supporting prices that contribute to a living income regardless of declines in market price.

“There is a fairer way of doing business that does not solely rely on price being established by supply and demand. Businesses and governments must choose to work together, some businesses already do, but many more must.

“Furthermore, Fairtrade encourages commercial partners ensure cocoa farmers receive, as a minimum, the Fairtrade Minimum Price that acts a safety net during market downturns allowing farmers to cover the cost of production, and the Fairtrade Premium that can be used to support social, economic, or environmental projects of their choice.

“We welcome the growing number of commercial partnerships with cooperatives in our Fairtrade Living Income Program.”

  • Genesis Inspiration Foundation donates $50,000 to Young Musicians Unite in support of music education
  • Genesis hosts Child Creativity Lab STEAM workshop with Breakthrough Miami for nearly 40 students at Palmer Trinity School

MIAMI, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Genesis and Genesis Inspiration Foundation advanced science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education in Florida by connecting students to hands-on learning and artistic exploration. Genesis Inspiration Foundation donated $50,000 to Young Musicians Unite, a nonprofit committed to expanding access to music education for all students regardless of socio-economic background. Genesis Gives, the corporate social responsibility initiative from Genesis Motor America, also organized a STEAM workshop with Breakthrough Miami for nearly 40 students.

“Creative expression plays an important role in how students learn and grow,” said Brandon Ramirez, director, corporate social responsibility, Genesis Motor America, and board member, Genesis Inspiration Foundation. “Through these community-rooted partnerships in Florida, we’re supporting young people’s academic and personal development by creating opportunities for them to explore music and STEAM education.”

Young Musicians Unite (YMU) was awarded a $50,000 grant from Genesis Inspiration Foundation. Currently serving more than 12,000 students across 75 Miami-Dade schools, YMU is the only in-school music education program for grades 5 through 12 in the county. YMU strengthens music education in Title I schools by providing high-quality instruction and opportunities. This grant will support YMU’s free in-school and after-school music programs that inspire personal development, foster a sense of community, and prepare future leaders.

At Palmer Trinity School, Genesis collaborated with Breakthrough Miami to deliver hands-on STEAM learning that encouraged students to explore creativity, design thinking, and sustainability. Breakthrough Miami is a nonprofit that provides an academic enrichment program using a student‑teaching‑students model to expand educational opportunities for under‑resourced students in grades 5 through 12. Following a demonstration of the all-electric Genesis GV60, students participated in a Child Creativity Lab workshop where they imagined and built future mobility concepts with upcycled materials.

Genesis Gives

Genesis Gives is a corporate social responsibility initiative from Genesis Motor America. Expanding on the brand’s commitment to the highest standards of performance and its athletic elegance design identity, Genesis Gives supports nonprofit organizations with the goal of improving access to, and performance in, youth sports and STEAM education in under-resourced communities. Since 2022, Genesis has donated over $2 million to support communities across the country. For more information, visit www.genesisgives.com.

Genesis Inspiration Foundation

Genesis Inspiration Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to connecting youth to the transformative power of the arts. Our mission is to improve educational outcomes by providing access to arts programs that engage and inspire children in under-resourced communities. Founded in 2018, the Genesis Inspiration Foundation has awarded over $13 million in grants to expand youth arts at museums, schools, and community organizations nationwide. With the support of Genesis and its retailers, we are introducing children to a new world of the possible. To learn more, visit us online at www.genesisinspirationfoundation.org.

Genesis Motor North America

Genesis is a new global automotive brand that delivers the highest standards of design, safety, refined performance, and innovation while looking towards a more sustainable future. Drawing from its cultural heritage and distinctly Korean hospitality, Genesis crafts experiences focused on customers as “son-nim”, or honored guests.

Genesis Motor North America offers a growing range of award-winning SUV, sedan, and electric models through its network of more than 200 independent U.S. retailers, in addition to its more than 30 Canadian agency distributors. Genesis now counts more than 90 standalone retail facilities across the North American region, with dozens more in development. Consumers can discover the brand through its many retail points, at Genesis House, the brand’s flagship space in New York City, or online at www.genesis.com.

Please visit our media site for the latest news at www.genesisnewsusa.com (United States) and www.genesisnews.ca (Canada).

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SOURCE Genesis Motor America

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