Tag: 3BL

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M recently participated in a White House-sponsored event with an aim to help advance educational excellence, equity, and economic opportunity for Black Americans. The event, part of the Power Up Series, was hosted by Malcolm X College in Chicago along with co-collaborator Discovery Education. The Power Up Series consists of a collection of national, local, and virtual engagements in the Black community that will serve as critical touchpoints as well as highlight best practices and resources.

3M engineer Deboarh Isabelle was a panelist at the event. She had the opportunity to connect with students and share her passion for STEM, offer career advice, detail the importance of mentorship and more.

Q: Talk about feeling connected to the event’s mission. 
A: The conference was filled with excitement and energy. It was invigorating to celebrate Black excellence as a counternarrative to the negative news stories. There was a call to build out systems of care to support the whole learner. The educators and community members in attendance were focused on tangible suggestions for building system to improve and sustain the success of Black students through the education system and ensure that they are prepared for all opportunities in the workforce.

As we look to prepare students for success, there was great information shared about how schools providing well-rounded students, create higher performing students regardless of the urban or rural demographic. Arts, music, and other areas that tend to be considered luxuries in times of fiscal challenges, are critical to producing the next generation with the skills that we need.

I was fortunate to have parents and people around me who made sure I saw possibilities and role models. I feel compelled to offer myself as a role model of a Black/African American female engineer who is entirely the product of public education. I am the product of positive investment by my community and of positive investment in the public school system.

Q: Were there any unexpected connections or meaningful moments? 
A: In addition to the great energy and information shared, it was great to make connections in some different circles than I normally do in my day job as a product engineer. The cross disciplinary interactions are important for our collective success.

In my conversation with the high school students, I shared examples of roles at 3M across the spectrum from finance to business to research to manufacturing. When asked about transferable skills, I offered three that I consider important – being a good/effective team player, being able to communicate effectively, and attention to detail.

On the Exploring Career Pathways and Workforce Development panel, I shared the importance of each of us to making a positive difference in the world. It was a belief that my parents lived out and one that I strive to emulate.

Q: What was a highlight for you? 
A: One of the best parts of the conference was being able to connect again in person with my mentee, the 2023 3M Top Young Scientist, Heman Bekele. Heman is bright, passionate, and charismatic. Spending time with him is always inspiring.

“Whether it’s blue sky system maintenance or emergency storm response, our lineworkers safely and efficiently respond to ensure the integrity of the Delmarva Power electrical system,” Neil Baker, director of electrical operations.

On July 10th, National Lineworker Appreciation Day, we celebrate the men and women who help keep our customers’ lights on, homes cool, and businesses running smoothly.

Our lineworkers work tirelessly to maintain the local energy grid and respond to storms and emergencies 24/7, including weekends and holidays. They are essential to our success in powering a cleaner and brighter future for our customers and communities.

Watch the video above to hear from our own team on what the day means to them.

“Whether it’s blue sky system maintenance or emergency storm response, our lineworkers safely and efficiently respond to ensure the integrity of the Delmarva Power electrical system,” Neil Baker, director of electrical operations.

On July 10th, National Lineworker Appreciation Day, we celebrate the men and women who help keep our customers’ lights on, homes cool, and businesses running smoothly.

Our lineworkers work tirelessly to maintain the local energy grid and respond to storms and emergencies 24/7, including weekends and holidays. They are essential to our success in powering a cleaner and brighter future for our customers and communities.

Watch the video above to hear from our own team on what the day means to them.

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 15, 2024 /3BL/ – American Airlines released its 2023 Sustainability Report, documenting its work to advance the company’s strategy to address climate change and accelerate the broader solutions needed to decarbonize aviation, and sharing progress on other issues important to the company and its stakeholders — including safety, human capital and customer experience.

Key progress in 2023 includes American’s collaboration with Breakthrough Energy and Google Research on groundbreaking contrail avoidance research, which will inform how the industry might address its impact on climate change. The report also includes a discussion of how American is extending its commitment to sustainability to its sourcing and procurement practices.

“Thanks to the hard work of our more than 140,000 team members, American continues to deliver for our customers while making strides toward our sustainability goals,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “There is far more work to be done and many areas where we will continue to rely on policymakers and partnerships to make progress. But I’m proud of our record — from advancing the development of lower-carbon technologies, to our work to better develop and recruit a diverse and talented group of leaders with unmatched expertise throughout the company.”

Through ongoing engagement across the company and with a broad range of external stakeholders, American has identified four priority sustainability issues discussed in detail in the report: safety; support for team members; customer satisfaction and operational performance; and climate change and fuel efficiency. American has maintained its commitment to its long-term sustainability goals, while recognizing the challenges and interdependencies in reaching them.

“American’s goal to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is the right one, but it won’t be easy,” said American’s Chief Sustainability Officer Jill Blickstein. “Our report describes the concrete steps we have taken and sets the stage for the hard work in the years ahead. American is committed to working with our partners inside and beyond the aviation industry to get us and our industry on a path to meet these global challenges.”

In line with American’s commitment to transparency and strong industry standards, the report also substantially aligns with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and the standard for the airline industry developed by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board.

Read the full Sustainability Report.

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 15, 2024 /3BL/ – American Airlines released its 2023 Sustainability Report, documenting its work to advance the company’s strategy to address climate change and accelerate the broader solutions needed to decarbonize aviation, and sharing progress on other issues important to the company and its stakeholders — including safety, human capital and customer experience.

Key progress in 2023 includes American’s collaboration with Breakthrough Energy and Google Research on groundbreaking contrail avoidance research, which will inform how the industry might address its impact on climate change. The report also includes a discussion of how American is extending its commitment to sustainability to its sourcing and procurement practices.

“Thanks to the hard work of our more than 140,000 team members, American continues to deliver for our customers while making strides toward our sustainability goals,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “There is far more work to be done and many areas where we will continue to rely on policymakers and partnerships to make progress. But I’m proud of our record — from advancing the development of lower-carbon technologies, to our work to better develop and recruit a diverse and talented group of leaders with unmatched expertise throughout the company.”

Through ongoing engagement across the company and with a broad range of external stakeholders, American has identified four priority sustainability issues discussed in detail in the report: safety; support for team members; customer satisfaction and operational performance; and climate change and fuel efficiency. American has maintained its commitment to its long-term sustainability goals, while recognizing the challenges and interdependencies in reaching them.

“American’s goal to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is the right one, but it won’t be easy,” said American’s Chief Sustainability Officer Jill Blickstein. “Our report describes the concrete steps we have taken and sets the stage for the hard work in the years ahead. American is committed to working with our partners inside and beyond the aviation industry to get us and our industry on a path to meet these global challenges.”

In line with American’s commitment to transparency and strong industry standards, the report also substantially aligns with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and the standard for the airline industry developed by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board.

Read the full Sustainability Report.

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

To succeed at sustainability, bold initiatives must be well-planned and supremely executed. With a focus on helping customers measure performance, embed sustainability in their IT environments, and choose the right solutions to turn ambitions into actions, Lenovo’s Sustainability Solutions portfolio has been recognized by the 2024 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards – an environmental program that honors organizations that demonstrate strong leadership, innovation, and commitment to sustainable business practices.

The SEAL awards feature four categories—initiative, innovation, product, service—and Lenovo’s product, services, and supply chain efforts received honors across all four.

Lenovo’s International Supply Chain Organization (ISCC) won the SEAL Environmental Initiative Award for Transform Trash to Treasure, its innovative parts-harvesting program. This award recognizes specific initiatives that move the needle on environmental progress and demonstrate leadership and commitment to a sustainable future. An evolution of Lenovo’s reverse & repair business, parts harvesting enables Lenovo to recover useable parts from defective devices, thereby extending the lifecycle of each component. This initiative promotes the transition to a circular economy.

Recognizing innovations that represent game-changing ideas that lead to a more sustainable future, the SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award was presented to the newly launched Lenovo Intelligent Sustainability Solutions Advisor (LISSA). This AI-powered sustainability engine informs IT sustainability strategies through data intelligence. Knowing that certain efficiencies can help reduce carbon footprint, Lenovo’s solution architects and sales professionals, through LISSA, help businesses understand the estimated emissions impact of IT purchases from Lenovo, unlocking potential emission reduction opportunities across the lifecycle. Through this innovative platform, Lenovo helps customers proactively plan and embed sustainability solutions with measurable outcomes.

The Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology won the SEAL Sustainable Product Award category. Developed to drive energy efficiency without compromising performance, Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology helps extract heat from high-performance computing (HPC) systems to reduce power consumption while increasing performance to accelerate computing capabilities. As a result, Lenovo Neptune™ helps:

Recycle loops of warm water to cool data center systemsReduce power consumption by up to 40%Deliver up to a 3.5x improvement in thermal efficiencies compared to traditional air-cooled systems

And Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service, a distinct offering that gives enterprise customers low-carbon airfreight options, won the SEAL Sustainable Service Award reserved for services that are setting a new standard for sustainability. By using SAF credits to deliver their IT purchases, customers can reduce the associated CO2 emissions by a minimum of 70%.1 Reduced Carbon Transport Service combines speed of delivery and sustainability in one service. Innovations like Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service benefit customers by helping to clear a pathway toward more sustainable IT decision-making.

In sweeping the prestigious 2024 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards categories, Lenovo adds award-winning portfolio of solutions bragging rights to its already strong sustainability leadership position. From reimagining the lifecycle of supply chain parts to developing innovative and purpose-built solutions such as Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology, Reduced Carbon Transport Service, and LISSA, Lenovo is setting new sustainability standards for a smarter and more sustainable future.

“At Lenovo, we continue to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our business – from designing our products or services, to partnering with suppliers to develop new applications for recovered materials,” said Claudia Contreras, Executive Director of Global Sustainability Services for Lenovo. “These award-winning products and services exemplify our vision of embedding sustainability deeper into the technology value chain so that customers have a pathway to a more sustainable future.”

Learn more about Lenovo’s Sustainability Solutions.

1Approximate percentage LCA GHG reduction versus fossil jet based on feedstock used in SAF such as waste and residue lipids, oilseed bearing trees on low-ILUC degraded land or as a rotational oil cover crop. Indirect CO2 emissions reduction benefit is obtained through the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits.

To succeed at sustainability, bold initiatives must be well-planned and supremely executed. With a focus on helping customers measure performance, embed sustainability in their IT environments, and choose the right solutions to turn ambitions into actions, Lenovo’s Sustainability Solutions portfolio has been recognized by the 2024 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards – an environmental program that honors organizations that demonstrate strong leadership, innovation, and commitment to sustainable business practices.

The SEAL awards feature four categories—initiative, innovation, product, service—and Lenovo’s product, services, and supply chain efforts received honors across all four.

Lenovo’s International Supply Chain Organization (ISCC) won the SEAL Environmental Initiative Award for Transform Trash to Treasure, its innovative parts-harvesting program. This award recognizes specific initiatives that move the needle on environmental progress and demonstrate leadership and commitment to a sustainable future. An evolution of Lenovo’s reverse & repair business, parts harvesting enables Lenovo to recover useable parts from defective devices, thereby extending the lifecycle of each component. This initiative promotes the transition to a circular economy.

Recognizing innovations that represent game-changing ideas that lead to a more sustainable future, the SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award was presented to the newly launched Lenovo Intelligent Sustainability Solutions Advisor (LISSA). This AI-powered sustainability engine informs IT sustainability strategies through data intelligence. Knowing that certain efficiencies can help reduce carbon footprint, Lenovo’s solution architects and sales professionals, through LISSA, help businesses understand the estimated emissions impact of IT purchases from Lenovo, unlocking potential emission reduction opportunities across the lifecycle. Through this innovative platform, Lenovo helps customers proactively plan and embed sustainability solutions with measurable outcomes.

The Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology won the SEAL Sustainable Product Award category. Developed to drive energy efficiency without compromising performance, Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology helps extract heat from high-performance computing (HPC) systems to reduce power consumption while increasing performance to accelerate computing capabilities. As a result, Lenovo Neptune™ helps:

Recycle loops of warm water to cool data center systemsReduce power consumption by up to 40%Deliver up to a 3.5x improvement in thermal efficiencies compared to traditional air-cooled systems

And Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service, a distinct offering that gives enterprise customers low-carbon airfreight options, won the SEAL Sustainable Service Award reserved for services that are setting a new standard for sustainability. By using SAF credits to deliver their IT purchases, customers can reduce the associated CO2 emissions by a minimum of 70%.1 Reduced Carbon Transport Service combines speed of delivery and sustainability in one service. Innovations like Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service benefit customers by helping to clear a pathway toward more sustainable IT decision-making.

In sweeping the prestigious 2024 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards categories, Lenovo adds award-winning portfolio of solutions bragging rights to its already strong sustainability leadership position. From reimagining the lifecycle of supply chain parts to developing innovative and purpose-built solutions such as Lenovo Neptune™ liquid cooling technology, Reduced Carbon Transport Service, and LISSA, Lenovo is setting new sustainability standards for a smarter and more sustainable future.

“At Lenovo, we continue to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our business – from designing our products or services, to partnering with suppliers to develop new applications for recovered materials,” said Claudia Contreras, Executive Director of Global Sustainability Services for Lenovo. “These award-winning products and services exemplify our vision of embedding sustainability deeper into the technology value chain so that customers have a pathway to a more sustainable future.”

Learn more about Lenovo’s Sustainability Solutions.

1Approximate percentage LCA GHG reduction versus fossil jet based on feedstock used in SAF such as waste and residue lipids, oilseed bearing trees on low-ILUC degraded land or as a rotational oil cover crop. Indirect CO2 emissions reduction benefit is obtained through the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits.

In April, Hiring Our Heroes announced 5 grant recipients for the Small Business Award for Veterans & Military Spouses, an initiative that provides a one-time $10,000 grant for selected military-connected entrepreneurs, thanks to the generosity of the FedEx Founder’s Fund. Selected grant recipients displayed both business acumen as well as two key characteristics – a dedication to overcoming economic hardships and a commitment to giving back to their communities.

In our 5-part blog series, we’ll be meeting these grant recipients and learning more about the inspirational businesses that they have built and the passion that fuels them daily.

The second grant recipient is Easy Day Sports, hailing from Coronado, Calif.

After being laid off at his job in endurance sports production eleven years ago, Jamie Monroe- U.S. Navy veteran, took a leap of faith and started his own business, Easy Day Sports. Easy Day Sports is a dynamic event production agency that focuses on premier, professionally managed endurance sports events. Today, Easy Day Sports has a team of six people–producing running, cycling, triathlon type events all over the country. The Easy Day Sports’ business model is based on his experience as a Navy SEAL. One motto that rings true within Easy Day Sports is “we work harder, are more professional, and our attention to detail is bar none.”

The COVID-19 pandemic quickly changed the landscape for in-person meetings and events, forcing Monroe to pivot. Taking the challenge head on, Easy Day Sports shifted by hosting virtual running events-forcing the team to lean into this new space so that the virtual experience remained almost the same as in-person ones. Monroe hired software developers who wrote codes to create leaderboards and time verifications so that athletes could still feel a sense of competition. While many companies had to shut down during the pandemic, Monroe made it a priority to keep his team employed, ensuring they were well compensated and did not experience any additional hardships during those uncertain times.

When asked how the business has evolved over the years, Monroe shared that the growth of his team- expanding from one employee to six – may not seem huge, but those extra brains allow Easy Day Sports to work at its fullest potential and focus on even more growth in the future.

Monroe plans to use the money awarded via the FedEx Small Business Grant Fund on his employees. Before finding out about being selected as a recipient for the Small Business Grant Program, Monroe hired a Navy sailor and single mom who was discharged after a childbirth emergency. He notes that even without the grant money he would have hired her, but now he can use the money to subsidize her training and her salary. “I am trying to grow my business and make it more efficient, so it [was] pretty serendipitous that this money came through at the same time,” Monroe said.

Having encountered many obstacles throughout the process, Monroe credits his long-term success to commitment and devotion to his initial vision when starting the company. “For me, it’s about creating athletic event experiences that our participants remember for a lifetime,” he said.

Visit FedExCares.com for additional feature stories about the other 2024 Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Award winners in the coming weeks.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and Worldly, the planet’s most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform, have published a deep dive paper analyzing the European Union’s (EU) Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). This comprehensive analysis provides a detailed overview of the directive’s implications for businesses, especially within the textile, apparel, footwear, and wider consumer goods sectors.

The CS3D, adopted by the Council of the EU on May 24, 2024, and published in the EU Official Journal on June 13, marks a significant milestone in the EU’s efforts to enhance human rights and environmental due diligence. The directive requires large companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts associated with their operations, which would set a new international benchmark for responsible business conduct.

Key highlights from the paper:

Dynamics of National Transposition: The deep dive provides an overview of how major EU markets, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, are progressing with the transposition of the CS3D into their national laws. The analysis covers the unique challenges each country faces and potential obstacles that could impact the timely and effective implementation of the directive.Implications for the Industry: The paper outlines the specific requirements and obligations for brands and retailers in the consumer goods sector, emphasizing the importance of developing robust due diligence programs and data collection on environmental and social performance.Tools for Compliance: To support businesses in meeting the CS3D requirements, Cascale and Worldly highlight the use of the Higg Index tools. These tools, continually updated through the organizations’ deep collaboration, are designed to help companies measure and track their sustainability performance. With recent tool updates, the Higg Index tools are evolving to further align with global frameworks and enhance data accuracy for regulatory reporting.

Businesses, stakeholders, and industry professionals can explore Cascale and Worldly’s deep dive paper to better understand the implications of CS3D on their businesses and how to prepare for its implementation. The paper provides valuable insights to help companies transition towards more responsible and sustainable business practices.

Read the full deep dive paper here.

The adoption of the CS3D is a significant step towards enhancing corporate sustainability and accountability within the EU. With detailed analysis and practical guidance, Cascale and Worldly aim to support Cascale members and Higg Index users in navigating this regulatory change and driving positive social and environmental impacts.

LONDON, July 15, 2024 /3BL/ – Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR), a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) are excited to announce a new collaboration to sustainably deliver great-tasting, high-quality drinking water while reducing the need for single-use plastic water bottles for the millions of travelers that visit and fly through the MSP international hub each year. MSP, owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), is the 19th busiest airport in North America by passenger traffic.

Pentair is the first partner in MSP’s new strategic partnership program which aims to collaborate with businesses and community organizations to enhance the passenger experience and drive innovation. As the Official Water Sponsor of MSP, Pentair is working to help the airport promote sustainability through the installation of 10 HOPE Hydration HydroStations. The cutting-edge HydroStations are the first water refill stations of their kind at any airport worldwide, dispensing free, chilled, and filtered water while providing an interactive experience to users. Through the HydroStations, Pentair and MSP will be educating travelers about water-related issues and the positive environmental impact they can make by bringing and filling a reusable water bottle while traveling.

Each of the HydroStations feature filtration technology by Everpure from Pentair Water Solutions, providing MSP employees and travelers with a free, great-tasting and more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic water bottles.

“Pentair aims to create a better world for people and the planet through smart, sustainable water solutions,” said Adrian Chiu, EVP and President, Pentair Water Solutions. “Our Everpure filtration technology is a leader in the foodservice industry, and we are excited to bring our filtration expertise to MSP in support of their efforts to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable practices by providing travelers with free, filtered water at the HydroStations.”

It is estimated that the current network of 80 water bottle refill stations at MSP reduce the need for approximately 600 pounds* of single-use plastic bottles every day. Using integrated IoT technology, the HydroStations at MSP track real-time impact data associated with the elimination of single-use plastics including plastic and carbon emissions savings, which will be displayed on each HydroStation.

“Our goal is to make it easy for passengers and our airport community to choose reusable options over single-use options,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. “We’re excited about this strategic partnership because it shines a brighter spotlight on ways to reduce waste and support sustainable practices that go well beyond the airport.”

“Our mission is to encourage people to Refill, not Landfill; we are excited to showcase the HOPE HydroStation at MSP, one of the world’s leading sustainable airports, powered by Pentair’s advanced Everpure filtration technology. This is a major step for us together towards building a more sustainable future everywhere,” said Jorge Richardson, HOPE Hydration CEO and Founder. “As frequent travelers, we understand the need for great hydration solutions in airports, and we are thrilled to help travelers make a positive environmental impact.”

For more information, visit Pentair.com/mspairport.

*Assuming 20 oz plastic bottle with a weight of 14.7 oz.

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ABOUT PENTAIR PLC

At Pentair, we help the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions, to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

Pentair had revenue in 2023 of approximately $4.1 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 10,500 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com.

About The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) 

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe who arrive or depart through MAC airports each year. Though a public corporation of the state of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit www.metroairports.org.

About HOPE Hydration

HOPE Hydration (“HOPE”) is a B-Corp certified water-technology start-up dedicated to increasing sustainable water access and reducing plastic waste through free, ad-powered, water refill stations, called “HydroStations”. The HydroStation is a unique water solution that combines smart-city technology, advertising opportunities, and premium water quality.

HOPE’s team is making access to free, clean water both sustainable and scalable. Co-Founder Dave Tigue brings deep engineering and manufacturing experience, having previously overseen multi-million dollar hardware product lines. Co-Founder Cristina Gnecco has spent her career building collaborations and impactful partnerships with global Fortune 500 companies around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. HOPE Founder & CEO Jorge Richardson, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Nominee, previously led the development and roll-out of water-technology onto over a billion iPhones globally.

https://www.hopehydration.com