Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Sustainability goals are at the heart of every organisation’s business targets, particularly as we move swiftly toward 2030 and the deadline for the EUs sustainability targets, including emission reduction and increasing renewable energy.

Understanding how individual businesses can contribute towards these lofty goals can be difficult, and very rarely can such targets be achieved in isolation. Partnerships are required to fully understand how and where companies can have an impact on their environmental footprint, and ultimately meet their own sustainability goals to the benefit of the greater good.

One example of such a partner company is Lenovo, whose solutions help customers at every level of their sustainability journey. A 360-degree approach to sustainability services includes everything from comprehensive analysis of a customer’s requirements to packaging, sustainability workshops and carbon offset services, to ethical and responsible asset recovery. Lenovo’s TruScale Everything-as-a-Service can also help, delivering a no-risk, no-surprise, pay-as-you-go model that can help to eliminate over-provisioning, optimise consumption, and mange carbon footprint of technology.

Shaking up the data centre industry

Responsible Compute, one of Lenovo’s customers, is looking to revolutionise the data centre industry. Data centre computing currently generates around 2% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, putting it on par with the airline industry. Ever-growing demand for computing by data-intensive, power-hungry applications is only accelerating this trend, and could easily propel carbon emissions far beyond the current levels if left unchecked.

By utilising Iceland’s plentiful hydro and geothermal energy sources to power its infrastructure, Responsible Compute offers cost-effective, carbon-neutral hosting that enables clients to run data-intensive workloads in a sustainable and responsible way. This is sustainable HPC (High Performance Computing) without compromise, and at Responsible Computing, it runs on Lenovo infrastructure.

“We saw that there was a growing problem with the way the HPC market operates. The tide of data, power consumption, and emissions only continues to rise, at a time of unprecedented energy crisis and environmental damage. With Responsible Compute, we aim to offer a better way to deliver on the demand for HPC, without detrimental environmental impact,” says Kristján Hafsteinsson Managing Director at Responsible Compute.

High-density Lenovo ThinkSystem servers sit at the heart of Responsible Compute’s sustainable HPC hosting infrastructure, specified to customer needs depending on their workloads. The flexibility of being able to specify according to customer needs enables Responsible Compute to pair the hardware supplied by Lenovo with software in an optimal way.

It all adds up to an extremely compelling value proposition: Responsible Compute’s customers can power world-class HPC while cutting their costs and carbon footprint, helping lead their businesses into a successful, sustainable future.

“We aim to provide a truly sustainable solution, one that allows our customers to reduce their carbon footprint, evaluate their emissions evolution, and take appropriate steps to further their journey towards carbon neutrality,” Hafsteinsson concludes.

Striving for more climate-friendly operations

Bertelsmann is a global media, services and education giant with 145,000 employees, and the company turned to Lenovo to help meet its ambitious environmental goal of hitting climate neutrality by 2030.

Having chosen Lenovo’s innovative CO2 Offset Service for all new ThinkCentre and ThinkPad devices, Bertelsmann also extended the service to its large installed base of Lenovo endpoints.

As a result of the partnership, Bertelsmann has already successfully offset around 38,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, with more to come. The company has also participated in a Lenovo Sustainability Solutions Workshop, and the two companies will continue to work on initiatives to further manage Bertelsmann’s carbon footprint.

“We see Lenovo as a trustworthy partner to accompany us on our journey to becoming climate neutral by 2030. It was definitely the right decision to work with Lenovo on this initiative,” concludes Dirk Kunz, Senior VP, Head of Group IT Sourcing at Bertelsmann.

Slashing environmental impact through ARS, Support Services and bulk packaging

Debeka Group is another company who benefitted from its choice of technology partner, not only when it comes to the technology itself, but also with regards to sustainability. The group is a leading financial services company in Germany and one of the top-five players in the insurance sector.

As part of its wider workplace modernisation strategy, Debeka aimed to reduce the weight of the equipment that staff carry around, while ensuring its people have everything they needed to facilitate productive conversations with customers and prospects. The company also wanted to reduce the need to print paperwork and contracts by expanding and simplifying its use of digital signatures.

This led to Debeka rolling out Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga laptops across the business, working with Lenovo and partner Radiodata AG to equip its employees with lightweight, high quality and affordable devices.

With an eye on sustainability, Debeka worked closely with Lenovo and Radiodata to cut the environmental impact of its packaging by 87%. It did so by switching to a single cardboard box for eight devices, cutting down on the packaging materials needed. By delivering the laptops by train rather than airfreight, Lenovo helped the company reduce the CO2 emissions of the shipping process by 94%.

As part of the partnership, Debeka opted for Lenovo’s Accidental Damage Protection (ADP), helping to extend the usable life of devices through easy repairs and fixed costs. The proactive implementation of Lenovo’s Asset Recovery Services (ARS) further supports Debeka’s sustainability goals, providing an effective end of life IT strategy for devices that are no longer viable.

“Working with Lenovo and Radiodata, we enjoy 360-degree customer service throughout the entire laptop lifecycle, Marcel Wirth, Team Lead Lifecycle Management for Client Devices at Debeka explains. “On top of that, we are very proud that we have implemented a customised and very sustainable technology solution that reduces waste and helps to reduce our environmental impact.”

These are just three examples of how partnerships can make a big difference when it comes to meeting your sustainability targets. Companies like Lenovo can support your business whatever the industry, wherever you are on your sustainability journey, providing the track record, expertise and a broad portfolio of solutions that can drive the best possible sustainability outcomes. Not only will this help your business, it will help society at large as we head towards 2030.

When employees at Gilead’s recently opened New Jersey office need a place to meet, the “Cara” conference room is one such place they gather. Given the room’s namesake, it’s especially fitting when the topic at hand is the company’s oncology work.

A Pennsylvania mother of two young children, Cara was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2018. She learned the following year that it had metastasized to her brain. But Cara says she isn’t just surviving with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer – she’s thriving and using her diagnosis as a way to help others.

After developing a passion for patient advocacy, Cara became president of 412Thrive, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides care packages for breast cancer patients as they navigate challenges like chemotherapy and radiation.

“The best thing from this whole diagnosis is that I’m able to volunteer my time to help others,” says Cara.

The room in the Parsippany, New Jersey office was named after Cara to honor her perseverance and commitment to helping others. Each conference room on the two floors was named after a patient or advocate – serving as a visual reminder for Gilead employees of the communities they serve.

“It’s such an honor because I feel like I’ve done some great advocacy work,” says Cara. “It makes this journey so much more to know that I’m making a difference.”

Watch the video above to see Cara’s full story.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

Originally published on Built From Scratch

The paint department at The Home Depot is a dynamic place. It’s always changing and always busy. From improved paint formulations to evolving color palettes and even the cans themselves, a lot has happened in the last decade.

No one knows this better than Chris Waits, Vice President of Merchandising for Paint. A 32-year veteran of The Home Depot, Chris first worked in the Paint Department in the 1990s, and now he’s back to ensure the department has a sound strategy for the future. Chris shares the strategy and roles that innovation and sustainability play in the world of paint.

What are shoppers looking for when they come into Paint? What are their big concerns?

The biggest concern our customers have is picking the right color. The average shopper spends around 90 to 100 days to choose a color. It’s a very DIY-friendly project, but it’s a commitment. Color is subjective and personal. Plus, there are so many choices. Shoppers want to choose a color that’s on-trend. They want the right finish, and they want their project to go well. Most of the time, they will live with that color until the next time they paint.

We’ve really tried to take a lot of the guesswork out for the customer. For starters, we update our color palette every year with the most popular trending colors. Our 2023 color palette, for example, was handpicked by our trend design team who travel around the world to ensure our colors reflect current trends.

There are so many different variables that influence trends. We’ll see color trends start in fashion and textiles. Then they infiltrate the hospitality industry with high-end hotel and restaurant designs. Then they carry over into residential designs. When we introduce our color palettes for the year, we are doing the work for our customers so they can feel confident and inspired with the color and paint they buy.

Does the paint team engage in forecasting to make DIY painting projects easier, better and more sustainable?

Absolutely we do. One thing is for certain: paint is constantly changing. If you haven’t been in the paint department for a year or so, you’ll be surprised at the new technologies and products that are available. The merchant team is constantly working with suppliers to keep a pipeline of innovation going from year to year.

Every year, we examine all of our products closely in cooperation with our suppliers. It’s our job and that of our suppliers to be true paint experts. We look to our supplier partners, companies like BEHR Paint, during that process to tell us what they are working on, whether it’s a new technology, a newly identified chemical of concern or a sustainability enhancement.

We know that customers expect us to be the paint experts, so it’s our job to take concerns off the table before they become concerns for shoppers. For example, all of our indoor paints are low- or no-VOC.

Most customers don’t come in asking about VOCs. But we know that they can impact indoor air quality, and our suppliers know. So, we’ve worked together to remove them. We didn’t make that change because shoppers asked for it. We did it because it was the right thing to do, and because our shoppers count on The Home Depot to be the experts they can trust.

Now we are focusing attention on making the experience of painting better. The advancements in paint technology over the last five or so years are just unbelievable. We have one-coat coverage now. That’s a game-changer!

There’s also super-high scuff resistance and durability in paints. Remember how old flat paint would shine if you tried to clean a spot on your wall? Well, now we have BEHR Scuff Defense. You can scrub it with a Brillo pad, and it won’t impact the finish.

Are there any other product innovations that shoppers should be on the lookout for?

BEHR is an amazing partner overall. It’s no surprise to see that they are an Eco Actions Partner. They’ve recently converted all their cans to recyclable plastic, made from recycled material. All their products are water-based and high-performance. Also, we’ve been able to remove a lot of oil-based paints, interior stains and polyurethanes because BEHR has developed water-based formulas.

Every year, The Home Depot recognizes innovation among suppliers with our annual Innovation Awards, and last year’s overall winner was Glidden Max Flex Spray Paint. It was a big advancement for paint because Max Flex allows users to complete exterior spray paint projects faster, with an ultra-durable finish and on a wide range of surfaces, including exterior fabrics like vinyl, leather, rugs and more.

There is always something new to see in the paint aisle at The Home Depot.

*Editor’s Note: This interview was originally published on Eco Actions website. Click here to read the full story, and visit here to learn more about The Home Depot’s commitment to sustainability.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Discovery Education, with support from Discover Financial Services, released a new whitepaper – It’s Time to Prioritize Financial Literacy in K-12 – highlighting the urgent need for financial literacy for school-aged children in the United States. The paper is the latest content from the Pathway to Financial Success in School program created by Discovery Education and Discover more than a decade ago to empower students, educators, and families with a variety of resources to foster understanding of financial concepts.

The It’s Time to Prioritize Financial Literacy in K-12 whitepaper provides educators with the latest research landscape of financial literacy in the United States. Insights address student, educator, and family perceptions of the topic, the impact of financial literacy education, and the need for local and national support to prepare students for life. Right now, 41 states have financial literacy bills pending and six states added a graduation requirement. This movement to better integrated financial literacy supports the findings that 90% of adults believe personal finance education should be required in high school. According to the research, 80% of educators rate personal finance education as extremely important, and 75% of parents feel personal finance and money management is the best education. Read the report here.

This research informed the creation of new resources for high school students, including self-paced modules, classroom activities, family connections, educator guides, and student interactive activity sheets. The content empowers students to move through financial concepts sequentially or through self-directed learning. For example, the Growing and Protecting Your Finances unit provides students with the tools to understand how to invest responsibly to grow and protect their finances. Accompanying interactive student activities allows each student to capture knowledge and drive a deeper understanding of financial topics. Additional educator resources, including on-demand professional development masterclasses, ensure that educators have what they need to incorporate financial literacy concepts into any lesson plan or learning environment.

“The collaboration between Discovery Education and Discover on Pathway to Financial Success in Schools offers schools and teachers a program and materials that can help overcome that barrier,” said Abbe Kalina, Community Affairs Director at Discover. “The program offers new resources for high school students, including self-paced modules, classroom activities, family connections, educator guides, and interactive student activity sheets.”

Pathway to Financial Success in Schools offers free, standard-aligned, digital resources for middle and high school students to use inside and outside of the classroom to build their knowledge of personal finances. Learn more about Pathways to Financial Success in School at pathwayinschools.com or within Discovery Education Experience, the award-winning K-12 learning platform.

“Financial literacy is one of the most important life skills for students to learn before graduating high school. Financial education is proven to help students make better financial decisions throughout their lifetimes and is tied to indicators of overall well-being,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “With these engaging resources in hand, all students in the United States now can maximize their financial literacy.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

###

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and social impact programs, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

HORSHAM, Pa., January 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, today announced that it has been named a winner in the 2024 BIG Innovation Awards presented by the Business Intelligence Group for its Papernet powered by HyTech Seas dispensers.

The dispensers for restrooms enable users to dispense paper products while simultaneously helping build a better future for our planet. Manufactured with recovered ocean plastic waste, these innovative dispensers are a sustainable, long-term solution for facility restrooms.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the Business Intelligence Group for our HyTech Seas dispensers,” said Fabio Vitali, Vice President of Marketing, Sofidel America. “One of Sofidel’s core values is innovation, which is why our research and development team is constantly striving to provide customers with the most innovative products for sustainable hygiene in the restroom.”

The dispensers help to remove plastic waste from the ocean as this waste greatly harms fish and mammals that rely on marine habitats. Sofidel has recently set challenging targets for minimizing plastic waste in its operations and products as well. By 2030 Sofidel is aspiring to reduce by 50% the use of plastic in its packaging compared to 2013 levels and Hytech Seas aligns with this goal.

“Innovation is driving our society,” said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer of the Business Intelligence Group. “We are thrilled to be honoring Sofidel as they are leading by example and improving the lives of so many.”

Organizations from across the globe submitted their recent innovations for consideration in the BIG Innovation Awards. Nominations were then judged by a select group of business leaders and executives who volunteer their time and expertise to score submissions.

For more information about Sofidel, visit www.sofidel.com.

About The Sofidel Group

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,800 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development. For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.

Media Contact:
Brianna Fitzpatrick
Mulberry Marketing Communications
bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com 

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

###

54% consider the future of the planet when making food choices.70% say that healthy products shouldn’t harm the environment.

Consumers are now actively considering the environment alongside their individual health when buying food, according to the latest Tetra Pak Index. These environmentally conscious consumers labelled ‘Climatarians’ are willing to alter their eating habits to protect the planet.

The market for healthy foods is already well established, as consumers actively seek products that will have a positive impact on their physical wellbeing. But a significant majority now take a more holistic view: 70% say that healthy products should not harm the environment, while another 54% are willing to take responsibility for the planet and change their diet to contribute to a better world.

This dual focus is reflected in the rising number of consumers consciously reducing the amount of meat they eat, known as “flexitarians”, with nearly half of all consumers saying they are reducing meat intake or excluding meat altogether. The Tetra Pak Index, based on a survey conducted in ten countries around the world by global market research firm IPSOS, found that this trend towards meat reduction is a global phenomenon. 56% of respondents cite health reasons for adopting a flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian or vegan diet, but over a third (36%) specifically cite the environment as their primary motivator.

The research also reveals that convenience is no longer king. In a marked shift in long-prevailing attitudes, 70% would sacrifice convenience for healthier products. The drive for health is also unaffected by the cost-of-living crisis, with only 17% willing to sacrifice food and drinks with health benefits in the current economic climate.

A rising trend

The climatarian trend is expected to grow, as the effects of climate change are felt more widely; with consumers expecting food manufacturers to deliver products that are both healthy and sustainable.

Adolfo Orive, President and CEO at Tetra Pak, comments: “The findings of this year’s Index are reflective of the direction we have taken in the last few years, to decarbonise the food industry and make food systems more resilient and sustainable. In many parts of the world, people rely on products such as milk and juices for their daily nutrition, so it is critical to optimise their value chain with innovations in sourcing, packaging, processing and distribution, which is where we have been playing an active role together with our customers and suppliers.

In addition, considering that the world will need 60% more food by 2050, we are complementing these efforts through technologies that can help explore new sources of nutrition – ranging from new plant-based sources to alternative proteins produced with biomass and precision fermentation. Both these areas are critical to contribute towards food system sustainability.”

The potential of new food

Breakthrough new food innovations can play a strong supporting role in delivering products that are not only tasty, but also resource efficient. The good news is that consumers are ready to embrace innovations that improve how we live and eat, with 62% believing that technology has a role to play in a more sustainable future. At the same time, some consumers are concerned that such innovations may not be as natural as fresh, unprocessed food – so finding the right balance will be key.

“This area is developing quite rapidly, and it is difficult to predict when and to what extent it will succeed; but it is only through continued efforts and leveraging collaboration to explore every potential opportunity, that we will find solutions to the current food system challenges” says Adolfo.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Henry Stout
Tetra Pak

Read More

With COP28 now in our rearview mirror, it’s clear that insufficient attention has been paid to what is perhaps the most complex climate issue of all: How to reduce the environmental footprint of producing food and address the impact of climate change on future food production. To address these issues, we should consider what I call the “1% Solution,” which would add a 1% environmental service payment to the price of food exports.

Current market prices do not cover the actual costs of food production in many, if not most, parts of the world. Those costs include what are often referred to as social and environmental externalities—unacceptable impacts like deforestation and conversion, soil erosion and degradation, poor livelihoods for farmers and farm workers, malnutrition and insufficient food.

Most governments can’t afford the fundamental changes to their food systems necessary for more sustainable food production, even as global population and food consumption continue to increase. Global trade, meanwhile, has doubled every 20 years, from 6% of global production in 1980 to 30% in 2020. What if we tapped into that explosive growth in trade to cover the cost of sustainability?

So long as consumers continue to pay less than the actual costs of producing what they eat, those costs will go on being subsidized by producers, countries, the planet or a combination of all three. For consumers, a 1% increase in raw material prices would have an insignificant effect on the price of finished goods. And 100% of the funds generated should be dedicated to addressing key environmental impacts like deforestation and conversion, soil health, rehabilitation of degraded land, traceability and clear and legal title. In this scenario, the 1% environmental service payment would be added to all food exports, regardless of destination or supply chain, providing the funds needed for producers to make food production more sustainable and resilient.

The amount generated by the 1% Solution would vary each year. For 2022, the 1% Solution funding generated by the export of five commodities alone (beef, hides, corn, cotton and soy) would have been $780 million for the US and $550 million for Brazil. Obviously, the total would be far greater for the entire world than for just two countries and a few commodities. But this level of funding, year in and year out, is far more significant than any one-time funding that was discussed or put on the table at COP28. Even as a pilot program in one or two countries, the 1% Solution could provide ongoing funds to reduce the environmental footprint of food production.

Here’s how it would work: Funds gathered under the 1% Solution would go into a common fund. It would be managed by the exporting country as well as those countries whose consumers ultimately contribute to the fund. The money would not go to the best producers. Rather, it would go to those less-efficient producers to cover the costs of reducing critical impacts, which increasingly affect market access for all producers.

The funds also could go to reforest lands, rehabilitate degraded land, obtain legal permits or land titles, comply with traceability and transparency and the like. In addition, producers could sell their products to whomever they please, unlike in many current commodity finance schemes. The funds would be collected by the government on all exports and would likely be based on the free on board (FOB) price, which includes all costs and fees to get the product loaded on transport for export.

The 1% Solution could help producers reduce their impacts and receive land titles for long-established farms. It would also help producers be more sustainable and resilient and access global markets. It would level the playing field on the demand side by ensuring that all downstream buyers pay the same 1% Solution environmental funding to improve commodity production.

The 1% Solution funds could also be used to leverage or complement additional funding from governments, multilateral development banks or the private sector.

Perhaps most important, the 1% Solution is a market mechanism that uses market transactions to generate the funding for producers to become more sustainable and resilient. All products would be treated equally, and all exports would incur the same 1% fee. And by using existing transactions, governments wouldn’t need to appropriate additional funding to make production more sustainable or adapt to future conditions.

There are precedents for the idea of a 1% Solution, namely in fees collected on food sales. The US has a domestic check-off program for commodity sales. Some countries, like Brazil, have included fees on international food exports like coffee and sugar, while other nations and sectors have similar mechanisms for seafood, like swimming crab or lobster. The funds are dedicated and used for a single commodity — to cover the costs of marketing, research, advertising, holding stocks, and more. In many cases, the funds come out of what the producers are paid, not the consumer.

Food exports, in principle, should not undermine the natural resource base of exporting countries or producers. With climate change, we will all depend on food exports to fill food gaps. Future generations will depend on global food exports even more than today.

The science is clear: to simultaneously address climate change, environmental degradation, and growing food demand, we need to fundamentally transform our global food system. One of the most practical and effective ways to do this is to use markets to change markets — by providing global food producers with the financial resources they need today to build a more stable and resilient tomorrow.

****

Jason Clay is a Senior Vice President at World Wildlife Fund and Executive Director of the Markets Institute at WWF

Originally published by TriplePundit

Puppies for Parole recognizes the importance in second chances for all. The program offers incarcerated people in Missouri an opportunity to train and socialize shelter dogs, making them more adoptable. In turn, the program offers participants the therapeutic effects of working with animals, as well as vocational training and the chance to give back to their communities.

The initiative began in 2010 as a partnership between the Missouri Department of Corrections and a network of animal shelters and rescue organizations across the state. Royal Canin, a leader in science-based cat and dog health nutrition and a division of the Mars family of brands, started donating food when packaging manager Michael Newkirk heard about the program and saw a perfect fit for Royal Canin.

Royal Canin, whose U.S. headquarters is located in St. Charles, Missouri, began providing Puppies for Parole with diets from its manufacturing facility in Rolla, Missouri. Newkirk started driving the food to local correctional facilities himself, beginning a more than 13-years-and-counting relationship between Royal Canin and Puppies for Parole.

Making a difference in the lives of people and animals

Around 3.1 million dogs come into U.S. shelters every year, according to the ASPCA. Puppies for Parole offers a helping hand, both to shelter pets and the people who train them.

Puppies for Parole runs in 16 of the 20 state correctional facilities in Missouri, making it one of the largest prison dog programs in the country. The 10-week program, which operates solely through donations and volunteers, has achieved over 95 percent adoption rates. This past summer, Puppies for Parole and Royal Canin celebrated their 7,000th dog to be adopted out of a shelter into a forever home.

The dogs are adopted out of their original shelter after graduating from the 10 weeks of obedience training and socialization. Some dogs are additionally trained to be service animals for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or people living with disabilities.

From 2011 to 2023, Royal Canin donated an average 25,000 pounds of Royal Canin and Eukanuba products annually to Puppies for Parole, totaling about 300,000 pounds of food and over 600,000 meals donated.

“We thought, wouldn’t it be great if we were [not only] the nutrition, [but also] the education and fun provider?” said Racquel White, vice president of corporate affairs at Royal Canin North America. The company also provides educational materials around pet nutrition and training best practices, as well as toys for the dogs.

Requirements for potential trainers include two years of good behavior, after which they can join a waiting list. Selected participants will join the 10-week program under an apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor. Upon completing the program — which offers formal, on-the-job, and individualized training — participants earn a certificate in animal handling, recognized in all 50 states. Approximately 5,000 individuals in Missouri prisons have participated in the program since its inception in 2010.

“Participants in the program have shared with us that these dogs have made such a huge difference in their lives [by] giving them something to live for,” White said. “We all know the impact of pets. The impact on this particular group of people, however, seems to be exponentially more positive.”

Creating positive pathways for re-entry

Programs like Puppies for Parole can offer incarcerated people pathways to work upon release, which is often difficult to find due to stigmas about people who have served time.

Trey Dawson, a former participant in Puppies for Parole, is among those who continued training dogs after his release from prison. He went on to found the dog training business Backyard K9, which the Columbia, Missouri, community awarded a Gold medal in Pet Training. Backyard K9 is also a nominee for the Missourian Progress Awards for Entrepreneurship, and Dawson has visited multiple Missouri correctional centers to share his story.

“The program also creates a chance for participants to give back to the community,” White said. One trainer told her that “he is able to give these dogs a chance that he may very well never have, which is to go into a home with a family living on the outside, so to speak.”

Learn more about Puppies for Parole here, or click here to see dogs available for adoption through the program. 

This article series is sponsored by Mars and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image courtesy of Puppies for Parole 

Schneider Electric

Call for global energy leaders to prioritize smart electricity gridsUrgent upgrades needed to meet net zero goalsNew innovations launched at Enlit Europe 2023

BOSTON, January 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, called on energy decision makers to prioritize digital upgrades to realize the potential of sustainable, resilient, efficient and flexible Grids of the Future.

The urgent call comes as world leaders gather at COP28 in Dubai to accelerate climate action while at the same time, key players in the electric power industry meet at Enlit Europe 2023 in Paris, France, to discuss transformative solutions for Europe’s electricity systems.

Schneider Electric’s experts attending Enlit Europe 2023 argue the outdated grid infrastructure is holding back the energy transition and propose that increased network automation on smart grids run by smart electric utility companies can shape the future of a low-carbon energy sector.

“The real challenge of the energy transition is increasing network output and efficiency, doing that in the right way by connecting more renewables to the grid, and ensuring emissions don’t rise in parallel,” said Frederic Godemel, executive vice president of the Power Systems and Services division at Schneider Electric. “We simply aren’t moving fast enough toward the flexible, digitalized electricity grids to enable this, despite already having the connected equipment and software technologies to do so. Government and industry leaders should respond to this call to action: upgrade or risk failing to meet our net zero goals.”

At Enlit 2023, Schneider Electric is unveiling new innovations that enable electric utility companies to deploy agile grid digitalization and offer better collaboration between all actors in the electricity value chain. They include:

RM AirSeT – new pure air solution for France’s national electrical distribution network: AirSeT’s pure air technology eliminates the use of the potent SF6 greenhouse gas from medium-voltage (MV) electrical equipment. RM AirSeT is the first of a new generation of gas-insulated switchgear piloted on France’s MV distribution network. As part of its certification process, Enedis, Europe’s largest distribution network operator, has selected Schneider Electric as one supplier of SF6-free equipment for substations on the French network.EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex: An industry first that standardizes and simplifies microgrid configuration for faster implementation, drastically reducing project timelines. After an initial launch earlier this year, Microgrid Flex is set to expand to additional select markets in Europe.EcoStruxure Transformer Expert: An easy-to-deploy IoT sensors and software analytics subscription for oil transformers that helps monitor transformer health and optimize maintenance through condition-based monitoring.EcoStruxure Power Automation System: The PowerLogic P7 protection relay, its digital twin, and the latest EcoStruxure Power Automation System Engineering and EcoStruxure System Management tools help create a virtual representation of a substation that spans its lifecycle for more reliable electrical grids, reduced maintenance costs, and optimized power management.New cloud-based EcoStruxure Distributed Energy Resource (DERMS): Now available on Microsoft Azure, EcoStruxure DERMS manages distributed energy resources (electric vehicles, energy storage and rooftop solar) to meet rapidly increasing capacity demand and enable rapid deployments with flexible customer journeys.New era of Digital Grid platform: With the latest releases of EcoStruxure Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) due out in January 2024 and EcoStruxure ArcFM, the digital grid platform is one step closer to a converged, data-centric architecture using a single network model to boost efficiency, reduce costs, improve reliability and grid efficiency.

Visit Schneider Electric at Enlit Europe 2023 (Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, booth #7.2.C70) from November 28-30, 2023, to learn more about the Grids of the Future, Electricity 4.0, network automation, and energy management solutions and services for the electric power industry.

STAMFORD, Conn., January 10, 2023 /3BL/ – Webster Bank, together with Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, recently celebrated the opening of the Webster/Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Finance Lab, a program created to provide students the skills needed for financial empowerment and future financial well-being. The program is funded by a $100,000 grant from Webster and the Wakeman site is Webster’s first Finance Lab in Connecticut.

The Webster/Wakeman Finance Lab is part of a signature initiative designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment and improve financial literacy for youth. The grant funds will pay for programming with a dedicated instructor at Wakeman BGC’s newest Club. Located on Bridgeport’s Madison Avenue, the clubhouse is close to nine area schools, including Central High School, and will have the capacity to serve 2,000 youth ages 3 to 18.

Webster announced three additional Finance Lab locations earlier this year – two in Connecticut and one in southeastern Massachusetts – and expects to expand the initiative further in 2024.

“Webster is committed to investing in programs that broaden financial empowerment opportunities and help build our future workforce,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank. “We are thrilled to partner with Wakeman to provide Bridgeport youth the tools and resources to learn more about finance and prepare for a healthy financial future.”

“Wakeman Boys & Girls Club and the members we serve are grateful for the commitment from Webster Bank to invest in Bridgeport youth. With the guidance from Webster financial professionals, WBGC staff can continue to offer our members tools for a successful future” said Sabrina Smeltz, CEO of Wakeman Boys & Girls Club.

Local and state dignitaries joined Webster leaders to officially open the program space housed on the first floor of the Club, which celebrated its Grand Opening in September. There is dedicated space for the Finance Lab that hundreds of students will have the opportunity to participate in financial literacy during after school and summer hours. The members will engage in hands-on learning opportunities including job shadowing, internships, and sessions with mentors from Webster Bank.

“The Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse opened on October 2, 2023 and having Webster’s financial empowerment programs for children, teens and families allows Wakeman to support the Bridgeport community in the most meaningful way” said Carlos Collazo, Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse Unit Executive Director.

Connecticut is one of 23 states that have mandated the completion of personal finance curriculum to graduate from high school. Of these states, six introduced these requirements in 2023. According to Webster’s recently Financial Empowerment Study, an in-depth, independent report that examined financial challenges and literacy of consumers, just 27% of U.S. consumers report receiving any type of financial education in middle or high school. Those who received financial education in their middle and high school years are more likely to feel fully in control of their finances (49%) compared to those who did not receive any financial literacy courses (25%). The impact of these courses is clear and validates Webster’s commitment to support financial education by engaging in community partnerships.

About Wakeman Boys & Girls Club

Since 1913, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club has provided a safe place for youth and teens after school, evenings, and weekends. Focused on Academics, Character & Leadership Development, and Healthy Lifestyles with nationally acclaimed programming, the Club continues its mission “to guide and inspire young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible people.” The organization serves 3,300 youth annually through its Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse and Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse in Bridgeport and its three locations in Fairfield: the Southport Clubhouse and McKinley and Holland Hill School-Based Sites. For more information about Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, visit www.wakemanclub.org.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and its HSA Bank division, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits solutions. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster is a values-driven organization with more than $70 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including our latest annual report, please visit our About page. To find our latest press releases, visit the Webster Newsroom.

View original content here.