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Originally published in Sysco’s 2024 Sustainability Report

As we collaborate with suppliers and customers, we have a unique opportunity to build shared value while setting the table for a more sustainable future.

In FY24, Sysco:

Launched our One Planet One Table assortment of 3.5K+ items in Sysco Shop, our e-commerce platform, with growth outpacing that of items outside that assortment.Exceeded our 2025 coffee commitment by sourcing 36.7% of Sysco Brand whole bean and ground coffee from certified sources and 45.8% from verified responsible sourcing programs.Continued our participation in the Southern Plains Grassland Program, in which we’ve partnered with other members to award a total of $7.4M in grants in FY2024 to support sustainable best practices for beef production. • Surpassed $1B in spending with certified diverse Tier 1 suppliers.[1]Established packaging guidelines for our suppliers and saved nearly 83K total pounds of corrugate by transitioning Sysco Brand exterior packaging from traditional white to kraft corrugate cases. Additionally, avoided ~2.3M pounds of plastic by shifting away from single-use bottles at Gilchrist & Soames, a division of the Sysco company Guest Worldwide.

[1] Tier 1 spend represents the total procurement dollars that Sysco spends directly with a certified diverse supplier.

To learn more about Sysco’s commitment to sustainability, visit our webpage.

For full details about Sysco’s 2024 Sustainability Report, visit here.

Originally published on EdWeek Market Brief

By Emma Kate Fittes

2. Upskilling Teachers For AI

By 2030, IBM predicts that around 80 percent of tasks in major employment sectors, including education, will be influenced by AI, said Justina Nixon-Saintil, chief innovation officer for the tech company.

As with any new technology, companies will encounter about a third of teachers who grasp AI very quickly and see the benefit of it, she said. Another third will be cautiously curious. And the final third will require more guidance to show them the value and bring them along.

“Just like you need to be upskilled in the workforce… teachers have to upskill themselves,” Nixon-Saintil said. “For them to understand how to use it responsibly — and also how we can make a difference for students — they need to skill themselves and understand fundamentals of AI and AI ethics.”

When asked in recent EdWeek Market Brief surveys what specific features they want in AI products, support for teachers to become adept in using the tech was a top priority for U.S. K-12 officials.

Advancements in technology are not slowing, Nixon-Saintil said during a presentation at Bett. Advanced forms of cyber technology are also evolving, and rapid gains in quantum computing are “right around the corner,” she said.

“Before you know it, we have to learn and understand what quantum is,” Nixon-Saintil said. “That’s why lifelong learning is so imperative.”

Read more

The Global Electronics Council® (GEC) invites leading organizations to apply for the 2025 EPEAT® Purchaser Awards. The award recognizes excellence in procurement practices and celebrates organizations that have optimized their purchasing strategies with EPEAT registered products, unlocking measurable savings and efficiency gains.

In 2024, previous award recipients achieved:

$103 million in cost savings, demonstrating how purchasing EPEAT registered IT products reduce lifetime product costs, from energy consumption to waste disposal.Energy savings of 2,141 GWh, equivalent to powering 176,269 U.S. households in a year.567,188 metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions, comparable to taking 121,453 cars off the road annually.

Why should you apply for the EPEAT Purchaser Awards?
EPEAT registered products offer more than environmental benefits—they’re engineered for efficiency, durability, and reduced operational costs by companies that prioritize responsible practices, including in their supply chain. By choosing the EPEAT registered products, organizations save on energy bills, extend product lifecycles, and minimize overall product expenses. Whether it’s electronics for office use or larger investments like photovoltaic modules and inverters, the EPEAT ecolabel helps purchasers achieve more with less.

How to Qualify for the 2025 Awards
To participate, organizations must:

Purchase EPEAT registered products that meet performance and sustainability criteria.Include EPEAT preferences in procurement policies and contracts.Report on the volume of EPEAT registered purchases.

GEC provides resources to simplify the process, including templates for procurement policies, vendor engagement tips, and additional resources to help your organization expand EPEAT adoption across all product categories.

Apply Today and Stand Out
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but to qualify for the 2025 celebration, submissions must be received by April 4, 2025. Visit globalelectronicscouncil.org/epeat-purchaser-awards to start your application and discover how your organization can gain recognition for its smart procurement strategies.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your leadership in efficient and impactful electronics purchasing.

NEW YORK, February 5, 2025 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced today the appointment of several new members to its Governance Council, a coalition of global thought leaders, doctors, public health professionals and business executives who uphold the integrity of the WELL Standard development process, and accelerate market transformation through expert input.

The WELL Standard is a library of over 500 evidence-based, design, policy and operational strategies that can improve the health and well-being of people. To date, WELL is being utilized across nearly 6 billion square feet of real estate globally at over 74,000 commercial and residential locations in 136 countries.

“Since 2020, IWBI’s Governance Council has served to both safeguard and accelerate the WELL movement,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “Its members have shaped public health and policy outcomes and informed our cutting-edge work in social sustainability, while upholding the rigor and relevance of WELL and reinforcing IWBI’s global leadership. Our exceptional new members strengthen this legacy of transformative impact. We are honored to have such esteemed professionals join us in advancing people-first places.”

New Council Members include:

Jane Burns, Enterprise Professor, The University of MelbourneRick Fedrizzi, Executive Chairman, IWBI | Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building CouncilAli Khan, CEO, SHAPE GlobalDr. Tauni Lanier, Director, Sustainability and Economic Growth/International Projects Group, BDO LLPAna Karen Mora, Sustainability Director, ESG Lead, Fibra UnoBrendan Owens, Principal, Black Vest Strategy | Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment + Department of Defense Chief Sustainability OfficerChrissa Pagitsas, CEO, Pagitsas AdvisorsSigrid Zialcita, CEO, APREA

“The connection between mental health, well-being and the environments where we live and work has never been clearer,” said Enterprise Professor Jane Burns, The University of Melbourne. “IWBI’s mission to integrate health and well-being strategies into the fabric of organizations and communities resonates deeply with my lifelong commitment to the inclusion of lived experiences and fostering resilience. I am thrilled to join the IWBI Governance Council.”

“Throughout my career, I have been committed to solutions that equally benefit people and the planet,” said Rick Fedrizzi, Executive Chairman, IWBI, and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “We are in a time when the health of our buildings and communities has never been more critical to the well-being of the people who occupy them. Serving on IWBI’s Governance Council gives me an additional opportunity to expand this work and continue driving meaningful change.”

“For 15 years, I’ve been dedicated to helping organizations unlock the full potential of their greatest asset—their people,” said Ali Khan, CEO, SHAPE Global. “Driving measurable flourishing by creating the conditions where people and businesses can excel paves the way for innovation and explores the art and science of the possible. I’m excited to bring this perspective to IWBI’s Governance Council.”

“As an expert in sustainable finance and environmental economics, I’ve seen how integrating sustainability into business strategies creates long-term value,” said Dr. Tauni Lanier, Director, Sustainability and Economic Growth/International Projects Group, BDO LLP. “With a focus on ensuring that sustainability indicators bring measurable value to organizations, I am pleased to serve on IWBI’s Governance Council and contribute to the organization’s expanding work in this area.”

“We know that environmental, social and governance factors can transform organizations and drive lasting impact,” said Ana Karen Mora, Sustainability Director, ESG Lead, Fibra Uno. “With experience in stewarding financing behind the first sustainability-linked bond in Latin America, it’s becoming more commonplace that sustainability and financial performance go hand in hand. I’m honored to join IWBI’s Governance Council as we work to advance the organization’s efforts in integrating ESG principles into the built environment.”

“I’ve dedicated my career to advancing sustainability, security, resilience and well-being across the built environment. Our buildings and communities should empower people to thrive, and I’ve worked to shape global green building practices and policy at the highest levels of government to achieve this goal,” Brendan Owens, Principal, Black Vest Strategy. “As a member of the IWBI Governance Council, I’m eager to contribute to furthering the organization’s mission, ensuring buildings and communities worldwide support both ecological and human health.”

“The built environment is one of the most complex and impactful sectors when it comes to driving sustainability and business growth,” said Chrissa Pagitsas, CEO, Pagitsas Advisors. “Through my work, I’ve seen how innovative social strategies can unlock new opportunities, while ensuring sustainability is at the core of long-term success. I’m excited to join IWBI’s Governance Council to help shape the future of the built environment, creating value that transcends industries and empowers communities.”

“As the real assets sector evolves, so does the opportunity to integrate well-being and performance into every facet of the built environment,” said Sigrid Zialcita, CEO of APREA. “With a focus on real estate and infrastructure, I’ve seen firsthand how innovative strategy can drive long-term value and resilience. I am honored to join IWBI’s Governance Council and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable development across Asia Pacific and beyond.”

These leaders join a distinguished group to total 18 members hailing from nearly 10 countries in every region of the world, including:

Dr. Richard Carmona, M.D., MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States; Chair, IWBI Governance CouncilCheryl Durst, Executive Vice President and CEO, International Interior Design Association (IIDA)Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBIStephen Huddart, Adjunct Professor, Gustavson School of Business, University of VictoriaYasushi Kinoshita, Representative Member, Eminence Partners G.K.; Co-chairperson, Green Building Japan (GBJ)Alessandro Miani, President of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Professor of Environmental Prevention, University of MilanAlison Omens, President, JUST CapitalAvi Rajagopal, Editor-in-Chief, Metropolis MagazineDavina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of AustraliaKhoi Vo, Chief Executive Officer, American Society of Interior Designers

Formally constituted in February 2020, the Governance Council recently ratified the WELL Coworking Rating in spring 2024. Members serve a two-year term on a volunteer basis.

About the International WELL Building Institute 
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. IWBI is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative, and helps companies advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the use of WELL. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

Contact:

media@wellcertified.com

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