Tag: 3BL

Originally published on World Economic Forum.

I’ll start with a big statement:

Strategic corporate giving, with a relentless focus on return on investment (ROI), can dramatically transform the economic landscape for women globally.

Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? No.

But first, we must address and close a massive gap. Nearly one billion people worldwide live on less than $2.15 per day. Each year, only $200 billion in aid is available. Yet, it is estimated that over $4 trillion in additional capital is needed in low- and middle-income countries to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That’s 20 times more than the world’s $200 billion annual aid budget.

This resource gap isn’t a problem if every $1 in philanthropy catalyzes $20 in community wealth. Unfortunately, most interventions typically only deliver twice ROI. This resource gap isn’t a problem if every $1 in philanthropy catalyzes $20 in community wealth, as a standard ROI.

But there’s good news: the potential to create substantial wealth for women through strategic donations remains largely untapped. We believe 20 times ROI is possible, which is ten times better than today’s average two times ROI. We’ve seen programmes using market-based approaches that deliver four times, ten times and even 29 times multipliers for each donor dollar received.

Continue reading at World Economic Forum.

June 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres applauds the executive order issued today by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, establishing a whole-of-government approach to climate change.

“Maryland has proven itself as a national climate leader in recent years, with some of the most ambitious goals in the country. These efforts have come with significant support from major businesses, who recognize that climate action brings additional investment into the state while protecting the economy from the damages of the climate crisis,” said Jeff Mauk, director of eastern state policy, Ceres. “Ceres and the businesses we work with applaud Gov. Moore’s governmentwide approach to the climate crisis. This is a smart strategy for Maryland to achieve the many benefits of the clean energy economy by ensuring all policymakers are acting together to meet the state’s goals.”

Gov. Moore’s executive order includes widespread coordination across government agencies to implement the state’s climate plan, ensure all communities and residents benefit from it, and establish new reporting measures to track progress toward the climate goals that passed with strong business support in recent years.

Ceres has helped build business support for Maryland’s ambitious climate policies in recent years, including through a 2022 letter to top policymakers in support of groundbreaking legislation that requires the state to effectively eliminate climate pollution by 2045. That letter, signed by major businesses including Nestlé, Siemens USA, and Walmart, called on lawmakers to pass the legislation so that “Maryland will continue to develop as a hub of innovation and attract forward-thinking companies ready to invest in the clean energy future.”

Ceres also organized corporate support for clean vehicle policies in Maryland and recent legislation that better aligns the state’s EmPOWER energy efficiency program with its climate laws.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org.

June 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Furthering its commitment to sustainability, AEG has expanded its partnership with r.World, the nation’s No. 1 reuse platform, to bring the reusable r.Cup program to Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater in Los Angeles full time. Teaming up with hospitality partner Levy, both venues will replace all single-use cups at all food and beverage destinations with r.Cup.

Advancing the progressive journey toward long-term sustainability, Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater will announce during the 2024 Green Sports Alliance Summit, held on the L.A. LIVE campus on June 11-13, that the r.Cup program will debut during select events starting on Aug. 15, 2024 with the Los Angeles Sparks vs. New York Liberty WNBA game at Crypto.com Arena and rising Latin star Young Miko’s highly-anticipated performance at Peacock Theater.

The program will launch full time as the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA and Los Angeles Kings’ NHL seasons ramp up starting on Oct. 1, 2024.

“We are thrilled to partner with an industry leader like r.World and utilize their reuse program full time as we continue to expand our sustainability pledge at both Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater,” said Lee Zeidman, President, Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater and L.A. LIVE. “We are excited to be the first arena in Southern California to introduce a full-time reusable cup program as it came to us via our AEG Sustainability team, along with a pilot program at two sold out Depeche Mode concerts in December 2023 at the request of the artist. We were sold on their incredible program, and we look forward to continuing to grow our relationship with r.World.”

The r.Cup program enables significant waste reduction within beverage operations and has been implemented in 10 AEG venues and at several larger-scale Goldenvoice music festivals across the U.S. While r.Cup is operating in 84 permanent venues and serving roughly 275 stand-alone events and festivals within the U.S. annually, Crypto.com Arena is the first arena in Southern California to have a full-time reuse program. As the arena hosts hundreds of events per year, the implementation of r.World’s reuse program will substantially decrease the volume of waste generated at the arena and across the L.A. LIVE campus.

“Moving to a reusable system is among the most important ways large-scale food and beverage operations can make meaningful short-term impact on the environment,” said Mary McCarthy, Vice President of Sustainability at Levy. “Success takes everyone pulling in the same direction, from the venue operations and food and beverage team members to fans and guests. We continue to champion these programs because each one unlocks learnings to take reusable ecosystems to a new scale.”

In December 2023, Crypto.com Arena launched its reusable pilot program with r.World during a pair of sold-out Depeche Mode concerts on Dec. 15 and 17. At those two events alone, 23,418 single-use cups were avoided, which equated to eliminating 355 pounds of carbon dioxide. This was just the first step in the Los Angeles arena’s collaboration with r.World.

“After our successful pilot in December, we’re thrilled to launch reuse permanently at Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater,” said Michael Martin, Founder & CEO of r.World. “Not only are they one of the world’s busiest and influential venues, but they are also a sustainability pioneer, the entire team is a class act, and they have been tremendous to work with. Their commitment to sustainability innovations like reuse is a gamechanger and will play an important role in accelerating the impact and awareness of the reuse movement.”

As the exclusive beverage partner for AEG and partner of r.World, The Coca-Cola Company was instrumental in bringing this initiative to life. As part of this program, Coca-Cola products will be served in r.Cup’s reusable vessels.

“As a proud partner of AEG, we’re pleased to be part of their pioneering circularity efforts at their locations,” said Kurt Ritter, Vice President & General Manager, Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company North America. “This initiative is a testament to their leadership in sustainability and aligns with our global reuse ambitions within our World Without Waste packaging strategy. The significance of partnerships like this cannot be overstated — they are fundamental in making progress towards a better shared future.”

Since the inception of its partnership with r.World in November 2021, AEG has avoided more than 3.5 million single-use cups.

“Waste minimization and ultimately waste avoidance is core to AEG’s sustainability program,” noted Erik Distler, AEG’s Vice President of Sustainability. “Through our partnership with r.World in the U.S. and reuse initiatives in-place in the UK and Germany, AEG is demonstrating its commitment to supporting and advancing the reuse economy. This announcement at L.A. LIVE catapults these efforts and sets a leading example of environmental responsibility in the industry.”

This expanded collaboration with r.World is just yet another step in AEG’s ever-evolving commitment to sustainability as it now provides reusable cups at venues across the U.S. including Bluebird Theater (550-capacity), El Rey Theater (771), Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre (18,000), Gothic Theatre (1,100), Mission Ballroom (3,950), Odgen Theatre (1,919), The Novo (2,300), The Showbox (1,100), The Showbox Sodo (1,800), The Warfield Theatre (2,450), Crypto.com Arena (19,000) and Peacock Theater (7,100), as well as six of its Goldenvoice festivals, in addition to encouraging fans to bring reusable water bottles to its music festivals that can be filled at water stations throughout the events.

About Crypto.com Arena 

Crypto.com Arena has undoubtedly developed an unrivaled reputation for excellence, having established itself as one of the world’s busiest and most successful venues in the world. As the home of three professional sports franchises – the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s LA Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks – Crypto.com Arena has proven to be a home court advantage for the local teams. The AEG owned and operated arena continues to distinguish itself as the host of major, high-profile events of national and international distinction including the 2004, 2011 & 2018 NBA All-Star Games, 2002 & 2017 NHL All-Star Games, 2000 Democratic National Convention, 2009 World Figure Skating Championships and 21 GRAMMY Awards shows.

For a quarter of a century, Crypto.com Arena has been marked with performances and special events that brought international stature to the downtown Los Angeles venue including concerts headlined by Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Drake, Beyoncé, Prince, U2, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Usher, Jay-Z, Keith Urban, Roger Waters, Tool, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Bublé, Carrie Underwood and Justin Timberlake, as well as world championship boxing, family shows and other live events.

Hosting hundreds of events each year, the arena has earned a reputation for world-class amenities, features, and honored its commitment to quality of service and provides a guest experience that is second to none. That includes comfortable seating, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, concession stands offering a variety of food and beverage options, and merchandise stores where fans can purchase team-branded clothing, accessories and memorabilia. Crypto.com Arena is not only a great venue for sports and entertainment, but it also holds a special place in the hearts of the local community. The arena has witnessed many historic moments, unforgettable performances, and become an iconic landmark in the region for the most popular and important events.

Peacock Theater

L.A. LIVE’s Peacock Theater hosts more than 120 music, family, dance and comedy acts, award shows, televised productions, conventions and product launches with more than 500,000 guests passing through the doors annually. The 7,100-seat theater offers guests mid-sized intimacy and excellent sightlines, with no seat further than 220 feet from the stage. Peacock Theater includes 12,000 square feet of VIP & hospitality areas, 10 dressing rooms and state of the art technology making it a favorite indoor venue for performers and fans alike.

Since opening in October 2007 with six sold out shows featuring the Eagles and The Chicks, Peacock Theater has hosted concerts starring the most popular artists including Alan Jackson, Katy Perry, Charlie Wilson, Juan Gabriel, Aretha Franklin, Ed Sheeran, John Fogerty, Gabriel Iglesias, Kanye West, Marc Anthony, John Legend, The Avett Brothers, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Trey Songz, Kelly Clarkson, Rush, Yanni, Nicki Minaj, Juanes, Cat Stevens, as well as the “American Idol” Finale shows, Michael Jackson’s This is It, Straight Outta Compton, The Hunger Games and Twilight movie premieres and more.

Peacock Theater is home to the Primetime Emmy Awards and BET Awards, and has previously hosted the American Music Awards, ESPYs, Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Radio Disney Music Awards, the 2010, 2011 & 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, the 2014 & 2015 MTV Movie Awards, and the 2013 & 2022 Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies.

About r.World 

Initially targeting the more than 4 billion single-use cups used at live events in North America each year, r.World began its reusable r.Cup services in 2017 on U2’s Joshua Tree Tour. The company works with world leading artists including U2, Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Maggie Rogers, Jack Johnson, and many more, as well as leading brands including AEG and Coca-Cola. r.World is powered by r.Turn, the company’s platform that tracks inventory and environmental impact. r.World is globally recognized as a sustainability innovator, with awards including being named as a Fast Company “Most Innovative Company” (2020), Fast Company “World Changing Idea” (2021), and The Reusies 2022 “Most Innovative Reuse Company” (Food & Beverage). For more information, visit rworldreuse.com.

Viatris’ Global Device Development team is responsible for end-to-end development and commercialization for device and combination products, including pens and auto-injectors, inhalers, as well as complex and branded generic drugs.

Silicon Republic spoke with three colleagues to discuss their career path and critical roles that focus on addressing healthcare needs for patients globally.

“The ability to observe first-hand the challenges patients face and the opportunity to develop a product that can positively impact their lives is by far the highlight of my role,” says Rory West, senior human factors engineer.

Viatris has a history of career advancement opportunities, taking pride in the development of our people, internal talent, recent graduates and newer employees from outside the industry.

Read the full feature article on Silicon Republic here.

To explore R&D career opportunities with Viatris, click here.

CASE, a brand of CNH, presented 11 products at the M&T Expo 2024 including an eco-friendly compact (850M) crawler tractor and a new version of the W20G wheel loader.

The event held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in April, also included a new line with four mini-excavators, including an electric machine.

“We have been following the evolution of the industry and are committed to offering our customers and partners the most advanced and efficient solutions on the market. The new additions to our portfolio reaffirm our commitment to making our customers’ businesses even more profitable and sustainable,” says Carlos França, leader of CASE Construction Equipment for Latin America.

One of the launches is the new compact crawler tractor, the 850M. After the investments made by CNH, announced last year, the global production of this line of compact crawler tractors began to be concentrated at the company’s plant in Contagem, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. With the local production of the model, CASE becomes the only brand producing this line in Brazil. The machine will be marketed in the country and exported to markets in the United States and Asia-Pacific.

With different types of tracks that allow it to adapt to a variety of terrains, CASE’s compact crawler tractor comes with new features in terms of comfort, safety and environmental performance. Its pollutant emission control goes beyond legislative requirements, ensuring an eco-efficient operation. In addition, the treadmill locomotion provides superior grip on the ground and an optimized weight distribution, allowing use on unstable terrain without compacting the soil.

One of CASE’s launches celebrated the milestone of 50 years of production in Brazil this year. Since its arrival, the W20 has established itself as a benchmark for power and reliability. With a renewed focus on comfort, the new version of the machine promises a lighter and more intuitive operation. The cab on the front frame provides the operator with better visibility, allowing them to work accurately and efficiently in a variety of challenging environments. In addition, the W20G, because it has the cab on the front chassis, has a shorter chassis, combined with one of the largest engines in the category.

Another CASE launch at M&T Expo 2024 was the brand’s first line of mini excavators in Brazil. Composed of the CX22D, CX35D and CX42D models, this new line, produced in Italy, arrives in Brazil with proven credibility in the international market and another business option for customers. The brand also presents the CX15EV, a 100% electric concept machine. Dynamic, it is easy to carry and fits in almost any work environment, whether outdoor or indoor.

CASE offers its entire portfolio produced in Brazil with telemetry capabilities. With 100% connected machines, it is possible to perform predictive maintenance, identification of problems or imminent failures, optimization of fuel use, performance analysis, in addition to efficient scheduling of tasks, increasing productivity and reducing downtime, among other possibilities.

And to bring all this information together in one place, the brand launched a new platform, myCASE Construction. The tool is accessible from any device with an internet connection and the customer can monitor their entire fleet in real time, in addition to having direct contact with the dealer network and the factory.

Launched last year at the Contagem plant, the brand has a support center, the CASE SiteConnect Center, which has a team of specialists to provide all the necessary support, ensuring quick responses and efficient delivery in operations.

Read the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here

By John Engel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Office, Wesco International.

I am pleased to present Wesco’s 2024 Sustainability Report, in which we detail how we are making a positive impact for our customers, our partners and our communities.

As a leading provider of business-to-business (B2B) supply chain solutions, our team continues to navigate through a mixed economic environment, while managing changing customer buying patterns. Following two years of double-digit sales growth, we set a new company record again in 2023 with 5% growth to over $22 billion in sales. I am incredibly proud of our team and our company culture.

2023 also marked the successful completion of our three-year integration of Anixter. The acquisition of Anixter literally transformed Wesco. This combination not only established Wesco as the clear leader in several of our businesses, but it also mix-shifted our company to higher growth and higher margin end-markets, reducing our cyclicality and increasing our resilience across all phases of the economic cycle. Looking at our performance metrics since the acquisition underscores the extraordinary performance and commitment of the entire Wesco team:

Met or exceeded our 2022 sustainability goals and set new targets for 2030.Synergy capture – far exceeded all our initial operational and synergy targets set at the time of the Anixter acquisition.Above-market sales and profit growth – sales increased 30% and adjusted EBITDA increased 89% versus the 2019 performance of the standalone companies, and EBITDA margin expanded 240 basis points.Strengthened balance sheet – rapidly de-levered our balance sheet by three turns, one year ahead of schedule.Superior shareholder returns – since closing the Anixter acquisition in June 2020 through the end of 2023, total shareholder return was 353% compared to 62% for the S&P 500.

Today, Wesco is much more than a traditional distributor. We are a critical partner to both our supplier partners and to our global set of customers. The combination of Wesco and Anixter, along with our digital transformation, is empowering us to capitalize on the long-term secular trends from which we are well positioned to benefit. We also understand the urgency to develop solutions for the complex problems in a changing world. To do our part we have continued our journey to meet our sustainability goals and again made very good progress in 2023:

Environmental Stewardship: We are making good progress on our 2030 goals which aim to reduce our absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and our landfill waste intensity by 15%. We are implementing initiatives that curb energy use and minimize waste generation. These efforts reduce our environmental impact, reduce costs, and contribute to our operational efficiency and long-term success. 

Investing in Our People: We believe in our employees and their potential to drive positive change. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their talents. This year Wesco launched a campaign called “Ignite Change,” that targeted 3,200 leaders across our enterprise to build leadership capability and to provide tools and resources to help lead their teams through ongoing transformation. We also reshaped our Learning and Development program to adapt to our evolving needs, with a focus on incorporating technology and industry professionals to offer our employees the best resources available. In 2023, Wesco employees spent over 168,000 hours in training, a worthwhile investment in their future and ours.

Ethics and Compliance: At Wesco, we are unwavering in our commitment to ethical business practices. Our robust global ethics and compliance program ensures we operate with integrity and uphold the highest standards in all aspects of our business. This year, we saw a significant increase in employee engagement with our program, demonstrating their trust and commitment to ethical conduct. We are continuously improving to address emerging risks and ensure we remain at the forefront of ethical business practices. For example, our internal audit, quality and security teams performed over 200 audits in 2023, ensuring our operations are running in alignment with the standards we set. This commitment is not only vital to our continued success, but is also essential to building trust with our stakeholders and creating a positive impact on the communities we serve. Through company-wide training, we reinforce corporate governance principles and empower our team members with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex ethical dilemmas. This investment in education has contributed to a notable increase in the number of reports to our internal hotline, indicating a growing awareness and willingness among our employees to speak up against misconduct.

Innovation for a Greener Tomorrow: We offer a wide range of sustainable products and services that help our customers reach their own sustainability goals. From energy-efficiency and energy-management solutions to renewable energy, we are dedicated to pushing boundaries and setting new standards for environmental responsibility.

Wesco was again recognized for our corporate responsibility programs. Likewise, our supplier partners appreciated the value in our collaboration, outstanding demand creation and leading service capabilities. We were named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, and this year ranked #2 in the Diversified Wholesalers category. Our company strategy, performance and management were recognized as well. For the second year in a row, we were named the Best Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy, (United States) by Capital Finance International and to The Drucker Institute’s list of the Best Managed Companies in the World.

Wesco was also named Most Innovative B2B Supply Chain Solutions, North America by Pan Finance magazine for the first time this year.

Our journey toward sustainability is ongoing, and we remain committed to continuous improvement. We recognize that collaboration is key to success, and we are actively engaging with our stakeholders to learn, share best practices, and drive collective action.

Thank you for your continued support as we build a more sustainable future for all. Together, we can create a world where progress thrives in harmony with the environment, where communities flourish, and where responsible governance paves the way for a brighter tomorrow.

John Engel 
Chairman, President 
and Chief Executive Officer

To learn more, download the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here.

About This Report

Unless otherwise stated, this report covers activities, data and initiatives from our fiscal year 2023.

ESG Disclosure and Framework Alignment

The topics covered in this report include those that we have determined to be material for our business and stakeholders as noted on page 12. Wesco aligns with several ESG frameworks and disclosures in support of our commitment to transparency and our fulfillment of stakeholder needs and expectations. We leverage the following frameworks and standards to provide robust ESG information disclosure:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI offers a list of global standards and guidelines around sustainability reporting.Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB): SASB provides a comprehensive set of industry-specific disclosure topics and guidelines.Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): TCFD provides disclosure recommendations on thematic ESG topics such as governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets to provide stakeholders with fuller information surrounding climate risks.CDP: Formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is an international organization that helps companies and cities measure and disclose important environmental impact information through an annual questionnaire and rating system.United Nations Global Compact (UNGC): UNGC is an initiative that aims to help businesses align their strategies and work toward the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (U.N. SDGs): U.N. SDGs provide a shared set of 17 toward peace and prosperity for people and planet goals and create a call to action by all countries in a global partnership.

We also regularly engage with our investors, employees, customers, regulators, ratings agencies and others on ESG and business issues. Additional information about Wesco can be found in our public financial filings—including our annual report and proxy filings—as well as on the Security and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Investors page of our website at Wesco.com.

Wesco plans to continue to report annually as we monitor, measure, and deepen our ESG initiatives and disclosures.

Wesco endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

More information about our SDG aligned initiatives is included throughout this report.

Assurance 
We did not seek third-party assurance for this report; however, we will consider doing so for future reporting. The information and data contained in this report was vetted by internal subject matter experts on the various ESG topics included in this report.

Contact Us 
We appreciate and welcome feedback on our ESG initiatives and reporting and invite you to contact us directly via email at Sustainability@Wesco.com.

Read the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here

By John Engel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Office, Wesco International.

I am pleased to present Wesco’s 2024 Sustainability Report, in which we detail how we are making a positive impact for our customers, our partners and our communities.

As a leading provider of business-to-business (B2B) supply chain solutions, our team continues to navigate through a mixed economic environment, while managing changing customer buying patterns. Following two years of double-digit sales growth, we set a new company record again in 2023 with 5% growth to over $22 billion in sales. I am incredibly proud of our team and our company culture.

2023 also marked the successful completion of our three-year integration of Anixter. The acquisition of Anixter literally transformed Wesco. This combination not only established Wesco as the clear leader in several of our businesses, but it also mix-shifted our company to higher growth and higher margin end-markets, reducing our cyclicality and increasing our resilience across all phases of the economic cycle. Looking at our performance metrics since the acquisition underscores the extraordinary performance and commitment of the entire Wesco team:

Met or exceeded our 2022 sustainability goals and set new targets for 2030.Synergy capture – far exceeded all our initial operational and synergy targets set at the time of the Anixter acquisition.Above-market sales and profit growth – sales increased 30% and adjusted EBITDA increased 89% versus the 2019 performance of the standalone companies, and EBITDA margin expanded 240 basis points.Strengthened balance sheet – rapidly de-levered our balance sheet by three turns, one year ahead of schedule.Superior shareholder returns – since closing the Anixter acquisition in June 2020 through the end of 2023, total shareholder return was 353% compared to 62% for the S&P 500.

Today, Wesco is much more than a traditional distributor. We are a critical partner to both our supplier partners and to our global set of customers. The combination of Wesco and Anixter, along with our digital transformation, is empowering us to capitalize on the long-term secular trends from which we are well positioned to benefit. We also understand the urgency to develop solutions for the complex problems in a changing world. To do our part we have continued our journey to meet our sustainability goals and again made very good progress in 2023:

Environmental Stewardship: We are making good progress on our 2030 goals which aim to reduce our absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and our landfill waste intensity by 15%. We are implementing initiatives that curb energy use and minimize waste generation. These efforts reduce our environmental impact, reduce costs, and contribute to our operational efficiency and long-term success. 

Investing in Our People: We believe in our employees and their potential to drive positive change. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their talents. This year Wesco launched a campaign called “Ignite Change,” that targeted 3,200 leaders across our enterprise to build leadership capability and to provide tools and resources to help lead their teams through ongoing transformation. We also reshaped our Learning and Development program to adapt to our evolving needs, with a focus on incorporating technology and industry professionals to offer our employees the best resources available. In 2023, Wesco employees spent over 168,000 hours in training, a worthwhile investment in their future and ours.

Ethics and Compliance: At Wesco, we are unwavering in our commitment to ethical business practices. Our robust global ethics and compliance program ensures we operate with integrity and uphold the highest standards in all aspects of our business. This year, we saw a significant increase in employee engagement with our program, demonstrating their trust and commitment to ethical conduct. We are continuously improving to address emerging risks and ensure we remain at the forefront of ethical business practices. For example, our internal audit, quality and security teams performed over 200 audits in 2023, ensuring our operations are running in alignment with the standards we set. This commitment is not only vital to our continued success, but is also essential to building trust with our stakeholders and creating a positive impact on the communities we serve. Through company-wide training, we reinforce corporate governance principles and empower our team members with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex ethical dilemmas. This investment in education has contributed to a notable increase in the number of reports to our internal hotline, indicating a growing awareness and willingness among our employees to speak up against misconduct.

Innovation for a Greener Tomorrow: We offer a wide range of sustainable products and services that help our customers reach their own sustainability goals. From energy-efficiency and energy-management solutions to renewable energy, we are dedicated to pushing boundaries and setting new standards for environmental responsibility.

Wesco was again recognized for our corporate responsibility programs. Likewise, our supplier partners appreciated the value in our collaboration, outstanding demand creation and leading service capabilities. We were named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, and this year ranked #2 in the Diversified Wholesalers category. Our company strategy, performance and management were recognized as well. For the second year in a row, we were named the Best Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy, (United States) by Capital Finance International and to The Drucker Institute’s list of the Best Managed Companies in the World.

Wesco was also named Most Innovative B2B Supply Chain Solutions, North America by Pan Finance magazine for the first time this year.

Our journey toward sustainability is ongoing, and we remain committed to continuous improvement. We recognize that collaboration is key to success, and we are actively engaging with our stakeholders to learn, share best practices, and drive collective action.

Thank you for your continued support as we build a more sustainable future for all. Together, we can create a world where progress thrives in harmony with the environment, where communities flourish, and where responsible governance paves the way for a brighter tomorrow.

John Engel 
Chairman, President 
and Chief Executive Officer

To learn more, download the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here.

About This Report

Unless otherwise stated, this report covers activities, data and initiatives from our fiscal year 2023.

ESG Disclosure and Framework Alignment

The topics covered in this report include those that we have determined to be material for our business and stakeholders as noted on page 12. Wesco aligns with several ESG frameworks and disclosures in support of our commitment to transparency and our fulfillment of stakeholder needs and expectations. We leverage the following frameworks and standards to provide robust ESG information disclosure:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI offers a list of global standards and guidelines around sustainability reporting.Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB): SASB provides a comprehensive set of industry-specific disclosure topics and guidelines.Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): TCFD provides disclosure recommendations on thematic ESG topics such as governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets to provide stakeholders with fuller information surrounding climate risks.CDP: Formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is an international organization that helps companies and cities measure and disclose important environmental impact information through an annual questionnaire and rating system.United Nations Global Compact (UNGC): UNGC is an initiative that aims to help businesses align their strategies and work toward the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (U.N. SDGs): U.N. SDGs provide a shared set of 17 toward peace and prosperity for people and planet goals and create a call to action by all countries in a global partnership.

We also regularly engage with our investors, employees, customers, regulators, ratings agencies and others on ESG and business issues. Additional information about Wesco can be found in our public financial filings—including our annual report and proxy filings—as well as on the Security and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Investors page of our website at Wesco.com.

Wesco plans to continue to report annually as we monitor, measure, and deepen our ESG initiatives and disclosures.

Wesco endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

More information about our SDG aligned initiatives is included throughout this report.

Assurance 
We did not seek third-party assurance for this report; however, we will consider doing so for future reporting. The information and data contained in this report was vetted by internal subject matter experts on the various ESG topics included in this report.

Contact Us 
We appreciate and welcome feedback on our ESG initiatives and reporting and invite you to contact us directly via email at Sustainability@Wesco.com.

The remarkable growth T-Mobile experienced in 2023 was driven by our mission to be the best in the world at connecting customers to their world.

This mission stems from the understanding that our actions directly impact people’s lives. As a leading wireless and broadband provider, we have the network, resources and scale to make a real difference as a force for good. And the success we achieve in our business gives us the momentum to influence positive change for our customers, employees, communities and the planet.

Our work to deliver reliable and accessible connectivity in our increasingly digital world is critical. We currently reach more than 330 million people, or 98% of the U.S. population, with T-Mobile’s 5G network, yet a digital divide persists. Millions of people are being left behind — particularly school-aged children who don’t have the resources they need to learn and thrive. Our flagship Project 10Million program is tackling this “homework gap,” investing over $6.4 billion in products and services to date and connecting nearly 6 million student households with free or highly reduced connectivity. And that work continues as the need continues.

We were reminded once again of the crucial role connectivity plays in people’s lives when disastrous wildfires struck Maui in August 2023. T-Mobile quickly showed up to the island with the services needed to connect people with their loved ones, along with resources to help the community rebuild and recover. This was just one example of many throughout the year where our dedicated engineering and consumer teams responded to disasters across the country.

Our amazing employees are the heart of our efforts. They love our customers and constantly challenge us to dream big and deliver the best network, best value and best experiences for them. As an extension of our community-building work, they actively give back to and support organizations that are meaningful to them. They are generous with their time, resources and spirit.

This commitment to community extends beyond individual contributions. In 2023 alone, our company, Foundation and employees were proud to offer more than $1.5 billion in funding and in-kind products and services to support numerous initiatives, relief efforts, and volunteer and matching gift programs. We’re also thankful for the contributions of many others who we consider partners in these efforts: our vendors, government officials, community organizations and, of course, our customers, to name a few. The theme of this report is “Forward Together” because we know that we cannot go about this work alone, but also because we can achieve so much more when we tackle these issues together.

We find purpose in working with our employees and partners to provide critical connectivity, but we’re also glad to be doing it in a sustainable way. Thanks to renewable energy certificates, the T-Mobile network is powered by 100% renewable electricity, and serves as the cornerstone for our industry-leading environmental commitment to reach net-zero emissions for our entire carbon footprint by 2040. We were the first in U.S. wireless to set this ambitious goal and are making notable progress.

T-Mobile had an unforgettable 2023. Our relentless determination to do things the right way, connect people who need it most, and create opportunity fueled our success — and will continue to do so. In this exciting era of the Un-carrier’s journey, we will keep showing up for our customers, employees, communities and the planet.

Learn more about our ESG approach and our progress at www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/reporting.

The remarkable growth T-Mobile experienced in 2023 was driven by our mission to be the best in the world at connecting customers to their world.

This mission stems from the understanding that our actions directly impact people’s lives. As a leading wireless and broadband provider, we have the network, resources and scale to make a real difference as a force for good. And the success we achieve in our business gives us the momentum to influence positive change for our customers, employees, communities and the planet.

Our work to deliver reliable and accessible connectivity in our increasingly digital world is critical. We currently reach more than 330 million people, or 98% of the U.S. population, with T-Mobile’s 5G network, yet a digital divide persists. Millions of people are being left behind — particularly school-aged children who don’t have the resources they need to learn and thrive. Our flagship Project 10Million program is tackling this “homework gap,” investing over $6.4 billion in products and services to date and connecting nearly 6 million student households with free or highly reduced connectivity. And that work continues as the need continues.

We were reminded once again of the crucial role connectivity plays in people’s lives when disastrous wildfires struck Maui in August 2023. T-Mobile quickly showed up to the island with the services needed to connect people with their loved ones, along with resources to help the community rebuild and recover. This was just one example of many throughout the year where our dedicated engineering and consumer teams responded to disasters across the country.

Our amazing employees are the heart of our efforts. They love our customers and constantly challenge us to dream big and deliver the best network, best value and best experiences for them. As an extension of our community-building work, they actively give back to and support organizations that are meaningful to them. They are generous with their time, resources and spirit.

This commitment to community extends beyond individual contributions. In 2023 alone, our company, Foundation and employees were proud to offer more than $1.5 billion in funding and in-kind products and services to support numerous initiatives, relief efforts, and volunteer and matching gift programs. We’re also thankful for the contributions of many others who we consider partners in these efforts: our vendors, government officials, community organizations and, of course, our customers, to name a few. The theme of this report is “Forward Together” because we know that we cannot go about this work alone, but also because we can achieve so much more when we tackle these issues together.

We find purpose in working with our employees and partners to provide critical connectivity, but we’re also glad to be doing it in a sustainable way. Thanks to renewable energy certificates, the T-Mobile network is powered by 100% renewable electricity, and serves as the cornerstone for our industry-leading environmental commitment to reach net-zero emissions for our entire carbon footprint by 2040. We were the first in U.S. wireless to set this ambitious goal and are making notable progress.

T-Mobile had an unforgettable 2023. Our relentless determination to do things the right way, connect people who need it most, and create opportunity fueled our success — and will continue to do so. In this exciting era of the Un-carrier’s journey, we will keep showing up for our customers, employees, communities and the planet.

Learn more about our ESG approach and our progress at www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/reporting.

The blue economy presents the opportunity for new business models that enhance marine biodiversity and climate resilience, with jurisdictions around the world looking to apply ‘green’ thinking to our seas and oceans.

Papua New Guinea is no different.

To help make a significant impact in this space, KPMG is taking on a world-first project to help devise and launch a blue economy business incubator in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project brings together KPMG professionals from Papua New Guinea, Canada and Australia and subject matter experts from across the globe.

The project’s aim is to support local business growth and preserve the health of ocean ecosystems, starting with an 18-month long pilot that will get underway in Kimbe Bay, a picturesque hotspot for ocean biodiversity in West New Britain Province. With the blue economy being a new focus globally, a big piece of this work will center around capacity building.

The focus will remain on accelerating sustainable livelihood, opportunities linked to marine environment, empowering women-led enterprises and supporting Papua New Guinea’s incredible coral reef ecosystems.

Starting by identifying potential businesses in the blue economy, KPMG professionals will then work with five chosen businesses to help develop investment prospectuses and build their reach, whether it be ecotourism, sustainable fishing or seaweed harvesting.

The South Pacific practice is working closely together across different geographies to deliver this exciting assignment for one of our largest clients in the development aid space. This growing sector is making a significant impact on the economies of all pacific nations, and we expect several opportunities arising over the next 12 months.

Zanie Theron
South Pacific Service Group Partner
KPMG in Papua New Guinea

Over the course of this project, KPMG will be operating in and learning from local communities to better understand the challenges and opportunities in the blue economy space, as all Pacific Nations come with a unique set of conditions.

Kimbe Bay is an area of outstanding ocean biodiversity and it is a privilege to be working on a project that supports the preservation of the ocean ecosystems. You can’t take a once size fits all approach, and it is fascinating getting to work with local businesses and communities.

Rachel Armstrong
Director
KPMG in Papua New Guinea

This blue economy sector is making a significant impact on the economies across Pacific nations and KPMG firms are working closely together to deliver this exciting engagement for one of our largest clients in the development aid sector.

To view this article on kpmg.com, please click here.