Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published on The Straits Times

Access to capital is critical. But without a digital identity or proven credit history, many MSMEs struggle to secure loans, with up to 60 per cent of those in South-east Asia reporting difficulty in obtaining financing.

To meet this need, the Mastercard Impact Fund pledged US$5 million last year to unlock up to $1 billion in Asian Development Bank financing for MSMEs. This shows how relatively small commitments from the private sector can de-risk lending and spur a cycle of credit-building.

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Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

Originally published on Essity Newsroom

Hygiene and health company Essity has once again been awarded the prestigious Platinum medal by EcoVadis, the world’s leading provider of business sustainability ratings. This recognition places Essity among the top 1% of all companies assessed worldwide for their sustainability performance. With an overall score of 88 out of 100, an increase from previous years, this achievement highlights Essity’s continuous progress and unwavering commitment to responsible business practices.

The EcoVadis assessment, which covers over 150,000 companies in 185 countries and 250 industries, is a comprehensive evaluation of companies’ performances across four key themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. In 2025, Essity achieved “Outstanding” or “Advanced” ratings in all major categories, with particular strengths in environmental stewardship, ethical business conduct, and transparent reporting.

EcoVadis’ rigorous methodology rewards not only strong policies but also measurable actions and results. For Essity’s key focus areas affecting its business, the sustainability rating reflects comprehensive policies on all key areas, including disclosure on progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Sustainability is at the heart of Essity’s strategy and daily operations. This Platinum rating from EcoVadis is a testament to the dedication of our teams worldwide and our ongoing efforts to create long-term value for people, society, and the environment. We are proud to be recognized among the global leaders in sustainable business and remain committed to raising the bar for positive impact throughout our organization as well as our value chain,” says Sahil Tesfu, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Essity.

EcoVadis is a highly trusted and leading independent provider of sustainability ratings for global value chains. Its evidence-based assessments follow international standards and are reviewed by sustainability experts. Companies receive a 0–100 score, medal levels by percentile (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), and a scorecard showing key strengths and improvement areas.

Essity regularly shares these results and insights with customers and partners globally.

For further information, please contact:
Marc Specque, Public Relations Director, +33 614 316 792, Marc.Specque@essity.com

Essity awarded EcoVadis Platinum medal for outstanding sustainability leadership in

In this video conversation with Trellis, Sarah Mouriño, Senior Director of Sustainability for DP World in the Americas, highlights how the company’s community-first approach is creating both environmental and economic resilience across its global network. 

Mouriño explains that sustainability at DP World is “where trade meets purpose” – linking global logistics with the wellbeing of local communities and natural ecosystems. 

Restoring Nature Through Local Partnerships 

Across several Latin American countries, DP World is working with local communities to restore damaged mangrove forests and coral ecosystems. What began as a small, community-led effort has grown into a collaborative restoration project that strengthens coastal resilience, protects livelihoods, and enhances long-term port stability. 

Empowering Youth to Shape Their Futures 

DP World’s community work extends beyond conservation. From technical training and education programs to youth mentorship initiatives, the company is expanding opportunities for young people in port communities across the Americas. As Mouriño notes, seeing these programs firsthand reveals “how much it changes what young people believe is possible.” 

Scaling Global Solutions Locally 

Through partnerships such as Teach For All and WaterAid, DP World shares global insights across regions while tailoring solutions to local needs – from Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects in water-stressed areas to education programs designed for the green and digital economy. 

A Career Built on Purpose and Possibility 

Mouriño also reflects on her own path in sustainability, emphasizing the role of curiosity, risk-taking, and being “in the right place at the right time” in building a career that bridges community impact and global trade. 

Watch the full video to hear Sarah’s perspective on how people-focused sustainability is shaping DP World’s work across the Americas – and why community partnership remains essential to building resilient, nature-positive supply chains. 

Learn more about DP World’s sustainability work here.  

SHANGHAI, November 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW) has announced the official opening of its first Cooling Science Studio, located at the Shanghai Dow Center. As Dow’s first collaborative R&D environment dedicated to thermal management, the launch of the Cooling Science Studio marks a pivotal step in helping the Company align its R&D capabilities with localized expertise to drive global breakthroughs in cooling technology.

Managing the heat with materials science
Advanced electronics, from Artificial Intelligence to robotics, are redefining the way people live, work, move and communicate. While these technologies create unprecedented opportunities for innovation, they also pose critical challenges in the form of power and heat management, which can impact performance, reliability, energy efficiency and sustainability. Dow’s Cooling Science Studio is designed to address these growing thermal demands head-on, delivering future-ready materials that help stabilize systems, extend device lifespans, and enable long-term innovation across critical electronics applications.

“This is the start of an exciting chapter for Dow in China. Our new Cooling Science Studio in the Shanghai Dow Center reinforces our ongoing investment in, and dedication to, advancing thermal management solutions for our customers both in China and across the electronics industry – an area where we offer support as a total solutions provider of thermal interface materials, immersion cooling fluids and heat transfer fluids,” says Cathy Chu, Global Strategic Marketing Director, Consumer & Electronics, Dow Consumer Solutions. “Not only does this Studio enhance our existing application and testing capabilities in these areas, but it also expands our opportunities to collaborate directly with our local customers to address their end-to-end cooling needs.”

Key features of the Cooling Science Studio
The Cooling Science Studio in Shanghai is focused around three core modules to accelerate the development of advanced thermal management solutions from early-stage concepts to commercialization:

• Comprehensive evaluation & testing: The Studio will initially provide thermal testing and experimentation for key components across data centers, consumer electronics and telecommunications.
• Application capabilities and cross-industry demonstrations: In addition to showcasing Dow’s material application processes, such as dispensing and screen printing, the Studio also features cross-industry application demonstrations. These demos will allow customers to evaluate the performance of Dow’s cooling technologies across a wide range of electronics applications, helping them identify the best solutions for their needs.
• Seamless technical support: Working with the team in the Cooling Science Studio provides customers with direct access to Dow’s full range of thermally conductive samples. Additionally, customers can also connect with Dow’s experts and laboratory resources, allowing for more efficient collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Innovating for a cooler, more sustainable future
As a global leader in silicone-based technology, Dow is committed to turning today’s cooling challenges into tomorrow’s cooling breakthroughs. With the new Cooling Science Studio in Shanghai, close customer collaboration can help power a more efficient, more sustainable future for electronics.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 30 countries and employ approximately 36,000 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2024. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

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View original content here.

For further information, please contact:

Eileen Zeng
Dow
eyzeng@dow.com 

May Lan
Meet.KY
may.lan@meetky.cn

_{Please note: The information contained herein is provided for illustrative purposes only and shall not be construed as product specifications. Customers are advised to verify results through their own testing.}

_{Disclaimer: This information is provided in good faith for your consideration but without any warranties or guarantees, express or implied. Analytical conditions and methods of using the information and materials described herein may vary and are beyond Dow’s control. While this information is based on data Dow believes to be reliable and accurate, we do not intend for you to rely on the contents of this document, and you should not interpret it as business, technical, or any other form of advice. We recommend that you determine the suitability of the information and materials described herein before adopting or using them on a commercial scale. Dow assumes no liability for the use of this information.}
 

Converting offices to apartments may create opportunities for real estate investors and revitalize cities.

Municipal authorities in US cities where home prices have soared are increasingly seeking to convert outdated and unwanted offices into apartments. That can be a welcome development for a commercial real estate market that is still licking its wounds from the pandemic, changing commuter patterns and persistently high interest rates.

Today, municipal incentives and property value resets have aligned sufficiently to justify the cost of conversion. For commercial property investors and lenders alike, it may add up to attractive opportunities to capitalize adaptive-reuse projects—the repurposing of old or obsolete buildings for new uses.

Reuse offers a potential solution to two major challenges facing many American cities: soaring office vacancy rates, which have nearly doubled since the pandemic, and an acute housing shortage—aggravated by high interest rates—that has put homeownership out of reach for many.

The low valuations of older office buildings and the expected savings on demolition and other development costs can increase the attractiveness of conversion. But in most cases, it often comes down to this: the cheaper the purchase price of the obsolete office building, the more realistic the adaptive reuse opportunity.

We’re starting to see a clustering of opportunities in dense gateway cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, where much of the office stock is 60 years or older and no longer fit for purpose. Incentives for conversion, including tax abatements and zoning changes, can speed the process.

Overcoming Challenges with Conversions

Adaptive reuse isn’t without complications. Conversions can be notoriously difficult, especially with older buildings. Many come with environmental issues, such as asbestos or lead, that require remediation and have deep floor plates that necessitate “light wells” to let in natural light. Another complication: most offices have poured concrete floors strengthened by rebar grids with structural integrity that can be put at risk by too many penetrations or poorly thought-out drainage layouts.

In many cases, it is easier to simply demolish an unused office and build a modern, fit-for-purpose multifamily residential tower in its place.

But with rising prices and interest costs, the cost-benefit analysis is starting to change. Investors who can buy a sufficiently devalued office tower are increasingly finding that it may be more cost-effective to convert than to build from scratch. This may allow developers to save time and money on demolition costs, while also improving a property’s environmental profile.  A sale of an empty office building also provides sellers another way to move a potentially obsolete asset off their balance sheets.

In most cases, profit potential in conversions for developers and investors is likely to be greatest when functionally obsolete properties can be acquired at a deep discount.

Cities increasingly embrace these conversions, too. They can help address housing supply shortages, reinstate lost tax revenue, and bring life back to neighborhoods that have become less vibrant. For the right projects, municipalities will often promote conversion with expedited zoning and tax incentives.

The Evolution of Office: A Case Study

When done well, we believe conversions can benefit multiple stakeholders and provide attractive return potential for real estate equity and debt investors.

Consider a 50-year-old office building that lacks the amenities today’s office tenants require but is in a prime location in a major East Coast city. In this case, a private equity sponsor might want to revamp the existing space and reposition the building as a top-quality Class A office tower. But in recent years, the shift to remote work, followed by rising interest rates, have challenged that vision, leaving the lender with a pressing question: What next?

As the building enters foreclosure, several bidders step forward, each eager to pick up the asset at a discount to the sponsor’s original purchase price. Their proposals share a common theme: they want to transform the existing office building into a highly amenitized multifamily asset that better matches local market demand. But then another bidder, with a Class-A tenant in tow, steps in with a plan to raze the building and put up a brand new “trophy office,” complete with high ceilings and state-of-the-art features to attract discerning top-tier tenants.

Does this mean the market for office space in US cities is roaring back to life? Not quite. But when it comes to well-located properties, opportunities for real estate investors willing to invest in transformation are more plentiful than ever. Vacancy rates in the top buildings are typically below 10%, creating a viable market for office in the right location. At the same time, demand for multi-family units in urban centers remains strong.

Dollars and “Sense” in Conversions

As long as a building can be bought cheaply enough to repurpose—something that was rarely possible a few years ago—there’s an attractive opportunity for seasoned developers to undertake imaginative conversions that add value to the community while also delivering for investors.

It’s unclear whether this environment marks the start of a new cycle in commercial real estate activity. But an increasing number of clever conversions tomulti-family and top-tier office are bringing energy to pandemic-strained communities—and may be evidence of the green shoots of the next cycle.

We think that’s good news for investors who know their way around complex business plans and conversions.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to revision over time.

Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here.

By Webster Bank

DIX HILLS, N.Y., November 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Webster Bank, together with SCO Family of Services, a leading provider of essential human services, has opened the newest Webster Bank Finance Lab, a program created to provide local youth and families the skills needed for financial empowerment and future financial well-being. Funded by a $100,000 initial grant from Webster, SCO piloted financial literacy programming for young mothers who reside on their Madonna Heights campus. Finance Lab programming is in development to reach youth served by SCO across the organization.

The Webster Finance Lab program is a signature initiative designed to help nonprofit partners expand financial empowerment programming for youth in their communities. Through financial education tools, learning experiences, and interactive workshops the program helps youth and families avoid common financial pitfalls and strengthen their financial confidence, an essential part of improving socioeconomic mobility. To date, Webster has invested nearly $2.5 million in nine Finance Labs throughout its footprint.

“Collaborating with SCO Family of Services to introduce Long Island’s first Finance Lab reflects our shared dedication to uplifting local communities and advancing missions that align with our own,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank. “At Webster, we continue to prioritize financial education and inclusion as key drivers of economic opportunity in the communities where we live and work.”

The Webster Bank Finance Lab will play a crucial role in empowering youth, including young mothers who reside on SCO’s Madonna Heights campus. Madonna Heights provides a supportive and transformative environment for young woman who are overcoming a variety of challenges, such as trauma, mental health issues, intellectual disabilities, and substance use. In response to their unique needs, the Finance Lab offers specialized financial literacy education tailored to meet their specific needs, helping participants build essential skills to achieve financial independence and stability.

“We are deeply grateful to Webster Bank for their continued partnership and commitment to strengthening financial literacy among the youth and young mothers we serve,” said Suzette Gordon, President & CEO of SCO Family of Services. “At SCO, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to build a secure and independent future. When our young people are equipped with the right resources and guidance, they are empowered to overcome challenges and step confidently into adulthood. This groundbreaking program will give our participants the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape their own futures.”

Local and state dignitaries including NYS Assembly Member Kwani O’Pharrow, NYS Assembly Member Steve Stern and Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg joined Webster and SCO Family of Services leaders to officially open the program at SCO’s Madonna Heights location in Dix Hills, N.Y.

In July 2025, Webster celebrated the opening of a Finance Lab in Providence, Rhode Island. Other Finance Lab partners are in Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury, Connecticut; Taunton and Dorchester, Massachusetts; NYC Metro, Long Island, and Yonkers, New York.

About SCO Family of Services

SCO Family of Services is one of the largest human services agencies in the metropolitan area, serving 45,000 New Yorkers each year. We help New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future. We get young children off to a good start, launch youth into adulthood, stabilize and strengthen families and unlock potential for children and adults with special needs. We envision a world where all New Yorkers thrive. SCO has played a vital role delivering human services in communities throughout New York City and Long Island for 130 years. For more information, please visit www.sco.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 Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Webster is a values-driven organization headquartered in Stamford, CT, with $80 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 past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Media Contact:
Alice Ferreira
acferreira@websterbank.com
203-578-2610

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon
eharmon@websterbank.com
212-309-7646