Tag: 3BL

Originally published by TriplePundit

Did you know that every handful of M&M’s or package of Ben’s Original you eat not only tastes good, but does good too? Social responsibility is not only good for business, but it’s increasingly expected by the American public. More than half (55 percent) of U.S. consumers say companies should be involved with social, environmental and political issues, according to a recent study from Harvard Business School. Additionally, 75 percent of respondents consider it somewhat or very important for companies to improve the world. When it comes to bottom lines, reputation with external and community stakeholders has a significant influence on corporate earnings.

With this commitment in mind, leadership across Mars and its family of brands are working to identify opportunities to leverage their influence in support of underserved communities. Through several initiatives across its portfolio, Mars is focusing its resources to bolster diversity, equity and inclusion for both employees and consumers.

In doing so, the company launched programming to support women entrepreneurs, artists, and Black college students among others, to help lift them toward their goals.

“This is all happening across Mars, driving a societal positive impact,” said Marissa Viola, senior director of brand and content at Mars Wrigley.

For example, the iconic Mars brand M&M’S launched the M&M’S FUNDd last year in an effort to help increase the sense of belonging for 10 million people internationally by 2025. “We’re showing up to support fans across the world,” Viola said. That support includes resources, mentorship, opportunities and financial support in the arts and entertainment spaceBut that’s not all.

To celebrate and uplift women globally, this year M&M’S launched Flipping the Status Quo, honoring women who are positively impacting their communities. In March, 20 women were selected, and each was awarded $10,000 to support their work. Mars and M&M’S later offered a similar program to its vast network of more than 140,000 associates from around the world, and invited them to nominate co-workers who are flipping the status quo by building a more inclusive world and helping women reach their full potential.

“We’re looking for women who are doing something new in their industries — whether it’s STEM or fashion,” the company wrote in its call for external applicants. “We want to help them further uplift their missions to help everyone feel like they belong.”

The Dove brand also celebrates women entrepreneurs with the two-year-old Dove InstaGrants program, awarding three female entrepreneurs each year with a $10,000 grant to help support their business ventures. 

“Ultimately, we feel that fostering an inclusive brand can help shine a light on women and the issues they stand for,” Viola said. “We’re not just using ads, but actually acting to lift women to the next level.”

Mars is also working to create opportunities for underserved groups across its portfolio — from snacks and food, to pet nutrition and veterinary health.

The Ben’s Original brand, for example, runs its Seat at the Table Fund, a $2 million scholarship program to help African American college students eager to work in the food industry. Co-sponsored by UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) and National Urban League, successful candidates receive funding for educational expenses for associate, bachelor’s or certificate programs in culinary arts or food science.

“African American students often face more financial obstacles and lack access to networking opportunities and mentorships that are critical to career success,” said Kristen Campos, vice president of corporate affairs for Mars Food and Nutrition in North America. “It’s inspiring that Mars recognizes the need for change and is taking action toward it.”

Investing in young people with aspirations in the food space also helps to bolster the future of businesses like Mars. “Supporting and empowering young professionals from a diverse range of disciplines and backgrounds will help bring the brightest minds to our business and set us up for continued growth and future success,” Campos said. “The Seat at the Table Scholarship Fund will have a lasting impact on scholarship recipients by helping to provide them with support for higher education and opportunities they deserve.” 

In March 2021, eight U.S. students were each awarded the first $25,000 annual grants. Since then, the program has been expanded to include students in the United Kingdom and Canada. The grants can be renewed each year.

“Mars and Ben’s Original Seat at the Table Scholarship provided me with the financial support and community I need to fully engage in my academics and push myself further in my studies,” said Chai Comrie, a student in Florida A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences and a Seat at the Table scholarship recipient. “I am grateful to be able to solely focus on my education as a result of this scholarship.”

Every year, Mars strives to introduce resources to consumers and employees that help them achieve their personal ambitions and make their mark on greater society, Campos said. “I’m proud to work for a company like Mars that invests in underrepresented individuals and communities by providing access to — and creating opportunities for —new and diverse talent and empowering them to pursue their dreams.”

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

(Image credit: New Africa/Adobe Stock and Mars)

Originally published on Essity.com

Essity’s Commitment to Sustainability

Essity improves the well-being of people and societies, through leading hygiene and health solutions. Sustainability is integrated into our strategy and is a priority for long-term profitable growth.

As one of the world’s leading hygiene and health companies, we have the reach, and the obligation to contribute to society, and integrating sustainability into business processes. Our offering increasingly becomes a pre-requisite of doing business. As Essity is impacting the environment along the full supply chain, we aim to minimize that impact by decarbonizing our business and maintaining healthy eco-systems, while contributing to a more inclusive society.

Essity is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and has set ambitious Science Based Targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3, covering both our own operations and our suppliers’ value chains. We are working intensively to reach our targets with clear KPIs and various initiatives in all parts of our business. Through innovation, we solve challenges in the value chain and for our products and solutions. Building on our near-term target for 2030, we are scaling up our actions using our expertise and dedication.

Still, no single company can take on the climate crisis or societal barriers alone. Therefore, we cooperate with suppliers, customers, consumers, governments, NGOs, experts, and industry peers to drive the change we urgently need.

This is our commitment and contribution.

Magnus Groth,
President and CEO, Essity

The name Essity stems from the words “essentials” and “necessities”. Hygiene and health are the essence of well-being. As a global, leading hygiene and health company, we offer products and services that are essential to people’s everyday lives. That is why we are called Essity.

Read more about Essity’s strategic priorities, earnings and leading sustainability work in the Annual and Sustainability Report 2023, which can be downloaded at www.essity.com.

Originally published on about.bnef.com

Financial institutions are inadequately prepared to assess and manage nature-related risk, with just 1% discussing the potential threats and opportunities in company filings. This is despite growing awareness of how ecosystems underpin economic value generation and the environmental harm caused by many business operations, with some G-20 countries rolling out voluntary guidance on nature or imposing mandatory regulation. As policymakers incorporate broader environmental considerations into legislation, banks and investors will be compelled to better understand how to manage nature-related risks in their portfolios and processes.

With global biodiversity declining faster than at any point in human history, both physical and transition nature-related risks have become more material to financial institutions’ investing strategies.An April 2024 survey by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) found that the majority of financial institutions lack sophistication in their approach to managing nature-related risk, far behind the equivalent strategic engagement with climate. The same report notes that only 17% of banks and asset managers are using metrics, targets or limits to assess drivers of nature-related risks, while 75% of the same entities are yet to identify nature-related risks or opportunities.

BNEF clients can access the full report here.

About BloombergNEF

BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our expert coverage assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition. We help commodity trading, corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals navigate change and generate opportunities.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

For many people, life’s most helpful knowledge comes from learning on the job. Through its support of the California Restaurant Foundation’s “Experience Hospitality” initiative, U.S. Bank is supporting job training for high-school students pursuing a career in the restaurant industry. 

The innovative initiative recently provided 500 students from throughout the state with an opportunity to tour the headquarters of a California-based hospitality company. Each student is enrolled in the ProStart program – a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students. The tours included everything from iconic brands like Wienerschnitzel to the California beach hotel brand Pacifica Hotels. 

In addition to the tours, students were treated to lunch and an opportunity to hear from company founders, head chefs, presidents and other executives in finance, marketing, human resources and other areas of operation.  

In Ventura, California, students toured the offices of Urbane Café, a growing fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in hearty salads and sandwiches crafted from a hearth oven. They met with founder and CEO Tom Holt, along with a team of executives and employees. Holt discussed the origins of the company and the founding principles that keep it grounded in service.

“We strive for every customer that walks through our doors to leave with a fulfilling experience,” said Holt. “That includes not only a healthy meal made with quality ingredients, but an experience that makes them feel at home and wanting to come back and see us again.”

Holt stressed the importance of training his employees to pay attention to the little details that make every customer’s experience a memorable one. The sentiment was repeated by nearly all of the employees who spoke, a testament to the company’s customer-centric focus. 

During the tours, students also met with a team of small business specialists from U.S. Bank to learn more about what it takes to start a business, including components of a business plan and different ways to access capital to fund a business. U.S. Bank has proudly supported the California Restaurant Foundation since 2017 and was encouraged by the level of engagement in its inaugural Experience Hospitality event. 

“U.S Bank is proud to support the Experience Hospitality program as part of our efforts to encourage workforce development in California,” said Rockette Ewell, vice president and U.S. Bank community affairs manager for California. “Our team is passionate about sharing financial literacy insights with students and delighted to join them on the immersive and enriching behind the scenes tours that are sure to open new doors and broaden career horizons.”

To learn more about how U.S Bank is making Community Possible through partnering with nonprofits, visit usbank.com/communitypossible. 

May 30, 2024 /3BL/ – VolunteerMatch, the leading platform for volunteer engagement, today announced its partnership with Rayze, a positive social media app founded by former Buccaneers outside linebacker and captain, Carl Nassib.

Designed to celebrate positivity and community, Rayze is on a mission to create a new kind of social media app, and has partnered with VolunteerMatch to help grow volunteer service in local communities nationwide. VolunteerMatch’s API is integrated directly into Rayze, putting thousands of nonprofit opportunities in the hands of Rayze users – inspiring acts of service with a wide array of vetted nonprofit opportunities that can be filtered based on location, causes, skills, and more.

“We are striving to be a catalyst that changes the face of social media and we see VolunteerMatch as a critical partner in this effort,” said Nassib.”I will never forget volunteering with the Buccaneers at a juvenile delinquent center back in 2018 — it was such a powerful experience, it benefited the kids, the community and it changed the trajectory of my life. I have since made it my mission to connect people and communities, leveraging positive social media as a force for good and positive change – particularly among young people. We want to get them off their phones and out into the world.”

Rayze’s partnership with VolunteerMatch comes at a pivotal time. According to the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in his report on the healing effects of social connection and community, there is ample evidence that social media can pose a risk of harm to children and adolescents – and up to 95% of 13-17 year olds report using at least one social media platform. But a growing body of research shows that the act of volunteering can help address an epidemic of personal isolation and disconnection that is perpetuated by social media. Put simply, volunteering helps people of all ages engage with their communities and foster meaningful relationships – improving personal well-being and life satisfaction while reducing depression, which benefits the communities where they live and work.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join Carl and the Rayze team in their quest to improve the lives of people through positive connection and community service,” said VolunteerMatch Chief Growth Officer Erika Blaney. “For more than a quarter of a century, VolunteerMatch has served as a bridge to connect millions of people to countless nonprofits – but the pandemic, social media and socio-political forces have created a firestorm of isolation and disconnection. We need to get back out into a world that needs each one of us – our participation in volunteer acts will foster a ripple effect of increased human connection, kindness, and empathy that enriches all aspects of our lives and our communities. Our mission is more critical and urgent than ever before.”

As a VolunteerMatch partner, Rayze joins some of the nation’s most notable organizations promoting impact and change in communities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Notable partners that leverage the VolunteerMatch API include corporate social responsibility platforms Benevity, Bonterra, BlackBaud, Fidelity Charitable, Bright Funds, Percent Pledge, along with numerous digital leaders, including LinkedIn and The Weather Channel. Prospective partners can learn more an get in touch with VolunteerMatch at https://solutions.volunteermatch.org/product/partners 

VolunteerMatch 

Founded in 1998, VolunteerMatch puts the power of technology to good use by enabling the social sector, and has successfully unlocked more than $14 billion worth of volunteer time since its inception. With more than 80,000 volunteer opportunities available at www.volunteermatch.org and delivered via its API, VolunteerMatch connects nonprofits with an average of 105 volunteers per hour. With more than 18 million volunteers to date, the award-winning nonprofit service has become the largest and most popular volunteer recruiting platform at volunteermatch.org.

About Rayze 

Rayze is a mobile platform designed to transform how people and companies give, engage and volunteer with nonprofits. Rayze connects nonprofits with the individuals eager to fund their work, volunteer for their programs and champion their causes. Founded by Carl Nassib, Rayze was created out of a real-life volunteering experience he had during his time in Tampa Bay and promotes only positive engagement. Rayze features nonprofits such as Trevor Project and United Way and can be found on the App Store. New organizations can sign up on Rayze for free at rayzeapp.com!

Originally published in the SEE Impact Report 2022

SEE Automated Tire Wrap Solution

Reducing plastic waste while improving labor efficiency and product velocity

To meet the growing challenge of manual sortation processes and plastic waste in tire packaging operations, SEE created the world’s first automated tire wrapping solution designed to eliminate special handling fees for their customers and prevent rolling of tires to ensure safety and equipment integrity during the sorting and delivery process. Custom engineered using SteathWrap™ shrink wrapping technology, the application combines PE recyclable film with a corrugate tray and ultrasonic welded bond. The finished pack reduces plastic material weight by 65% compared to the PVC nonrecyclable film solution, easily conveys through UPS sortation facilities with no additional handling required, and eliminates safety concerns from rolling tires. This solution reduces labor requirements by 60%, saves warehouse space, and can increase fulfillment velocity up to 7X.

BUBBLE WRAP® Brand High-Recycled Content Cushioning With Circular Resin

Partnering to deliver scalable circular solutions across the retail value chain

SEE is partnering with a national retail customer and large recycler to create the first BUBBLE WRAP® brand high-recycled content cushioning with circular resins. The cushioning has a minimum of 60% post-industrial recycled content and 30% circular post-consumer recycled material—adding up to 90% recycled content.

This collaboration transforms plastic waste into highperforming, cost-effective, sustainable packaging. It diverts the customer’s distribution waste, including BUBBLE WRAP® brand cushioning and other polyethylene films, and then recycles and reuses it in the packaging SEE supplies to them.

Incorporating circular resin into BUBBLE WRAP® brand cushioning helps this customer meet its sustainability goals and increases its brand reputation without sacrificing product protection and performance. This partnership increases the use of recycled content and reduces the virgin material needed in shipping materials. It also validates the viability of a circular system based on mechanical recycling and mass balance attribution.

Our circular business model creates costefficiencies and new sources of recycled content, as well as boosts the marketable value of plastic packaging. By closing the loop, we create benefits for partners across the value chain.

Fortem® Biopharmaceutical Film

Scalable solutions for biopharmaceuticals

Developed specifically for bioprocessing applications and exclusively licensed to Cytiva, a technology and services provider for biotherapeutics, Fortem® biopharmaceutical film is engineered and patented by SEE as an inert film platform suitable for upstream bioprocessing. The 10-layer architecture provides structural integrity for control of extractables and leachables. The film was developed to maintain critical performance attributes, such as container integrity and gas barrier properties, under forces associated with rocking bioreactors and liquid transport. It’s produced in SEE’s ISO 7 cleanroom and maintained to class 100 particulate levels.

CRYOVAC® Brand Darfresh® Mono-PET Rollstock

Reducing waste across the supply chain and extending product shelf life

Developed for JBS Foods Australia to keep its Swift brand lamb cutlets secure for optimum presentation and protection, CRYOVAC® brand Darfresh® mono-PET rollstock leverages specially formulated high-barrier top and bottom webs to create a vacuum skin that fits around the product, leading to less waste across the supply chain. By reducing the thickness of the tray, 5,000 kilograms (kg) of plastic is eliminated each year.

The tamper-evident clear pack, which allows consumers to see both sides of the product, is designed to prevent physical and microbial spoilage and deliver an extended fresh-chilled shelf life of 18 days. Collectively, the program has enabled the recovery of more than 60,000kg of packaging through council curbside collection programs. The solution earned gold in the food packaging category and silver in the sustainable packaging category at the 2023 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards.

Read the full SEE Impact Report 2022

Anyone can be a manufacturer! Whether you are just starting out or transitioning your career path, the manufacturing industry presents opportunities for success. Hear the stories of Saint-Gobain team members who built their careers in manufacturing and thrived!

Watch the Saint-Gobain video series Success in the Making here

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group’s commitment is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€47.9 billion in sales in 2023 
160,000 employees, locations in 76 countries 
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

In today’s world, the intersection of global commerce and pressing environmental challenges demands that companies and the broader logistics industry escalate their sustainability efforts, writes Morten Johansen, COO of DP World Americas, in a recent article for Forbes.

“The importance of environmental sustainability within supply chains is no longer just about compliance; it has become an important strategy for corporate responsibility and a way to distinguish competitive edges in a crowded marketplace,” Johansen states in A Roadmap to Sustainability: Integrating Practices into Global Supply Chains.

On March 6, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission introduced climate disclosure rules, requiring publicly listed companies to disclose their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, covering emissions from their operations and energy use. “Notably absent, however, was the inclusion of Scope 3 emissions, which encompass the indirect emissions from a company’s supply chain and product use,” Johansen states.

For many companies, these Scope 3 emissions represent a significant portion of their carbon footprint. This regulatory gap underscores the critical need for businesses to voluntarily address their complete environmental impact. Despite the absence of Scope 3 reporting requirements, forward-looking companies must recognize the importance of a unified approach to managing supply chains. The article lays out several strategies for sustainability:

Improve Carbon Accounting Practices: Companies must develop solid methodologies for measuring and reporting emissions to ensure these practices encompass all significant emission sources within the supply chain.Collect High-Quality Data: Obtaining accurate data can be challenging due to the complex nature of supply chains. Companies should define precise data requirements and engage with suppliers to ensure consistent and accurate data collection and reporting.Enhance Supplier Engagement: Involving suppliers in sustainability goals cultivates deeper, collaborative relationships and leads to stable supply chains and mutual innovations. Encouraging suppliers to establish their own science-based targets promotes cooperation and shared investment in sustainable technologies.Elevate Sustainability in Procurement: Integrating sustainability into procurement influences the entire supply chain toward adopting sustainable practices. This approach encourages innovative thinking around sourcing and vendor selection, mitigating risks related to resource scarcity and environmental regulations.Find a Collaborative Path Forward: Achieving a sustainable supply chain requires cooperation across all levels. Industry-wide partnerships and initiatives promote transparency and collective responsibility, advancing the reduction of global emissions.

The journey toward sustainable supply chain management is a necessity and an opportunity for today’s businesses. By embedding sustainability deeply within their operations, companies can mitigate their environmental impact, enhance operational efficiency, foster innovation, and build trust with stakeholders. Read more in A Roadmap to Sustainability: Integrating Practices into Global Supply Chains on Forbes.

Hands-on programs at Eaton training centers in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas demonstrate novel approaches to accelerate fleet electrification

PITTSBURGH, May 30, 2024 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management Eaton expanded its education and testing centers to demonstrate breakthrough solutions accelerating sustainable fleets in Pittsburgh, Houston and Marshall, Michigan. As electrification and the energy transition have a cascading impact on infrastructure, Eaton provides real-world application environments to help fleet owners and vehicle OEMs understand the latest innovations and best practices, establishing scalable, affordable and reliable power for fleet electrification.

With more than half of fleets planning to decarbonize by 2027, industry education plays an important role to help avoid the hidden costs of fleet electrification. Recently, Eaton showcased how it’s accelerating vehicle electrification from the vehicle to infrastructure at ACT Expo 2024.

“To successfully electrify fleets, it’s critical to implement flexible charging infrastructure that addresses future needs and industry education is vital to make that happen,” said Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton. “We’re simplifying fleet electrification by providing the entire infrastructure solution and hands-on training our customers need to implement safe, reliable and sustainable charging.”

Eaton Experience Centers in Pittsburgh and Houston provide a controlled environment for visitors to engage with real-world fleet charging applications to understand and enable the application of smart, scalable infrastructure. At the Experience Centers, visitors can interact with Eaton’s end-to-end electrical distribution solutions for fleet charging applications including safety switches, transformers and panelboards that establish a reliable electrical backbone for fleet charging. Plus, the Eaton Proving Grounds campus in Marshall, Michigan, is undergoing sizable vehicle electrification expansions, providing customers with a lab-validated environment to perform testing and training on critical EV and charging infrastructure systems and components.

Each year, approximately 15,000 customers, industry partners, students, and media visit Eaton campuses to experience the company’s innovative and end-to-end solutions for fleet electrification, including:

Industry-first EV Charging Busway that enables fleets to expand and reconfigure infrastructure with no concrete work required, which is often the biggest cost when deploying EV charging for fleetsPanelboards and switchboards integrating EV charging into foundational electrical system equipment, saving installation time and materialEaton Green Motion Fleet chargers supporting real-time insights and remote management to control energy consumption and impact on local grid infrastructureCharging Network Manager software helps streamline installation and enables fleets to remotely oversee charging, manage access control and support EV load managementEngineering services and ongoing EV charging consultation to help energize and accelerate the expansion of growing zero-emission vehicle fleets

Learn more about fleet electrification, tune in to an upcoming webinar featuring Eaton.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit Eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kristin Somers 
+1.919.345.3714 
Kristincsomers@eaton.com

Regina Parundik 
Cobblestone Communications 
+1.412.559.1614 
Regina@cobblecreative.com

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Jennifer Chen, production manager at our gypsum facility in Tacoma, Washington shares how a teacher once suggested she reconsider her major. Jennifer didn’t let that get to her and she pressed on. Jennifer now supervises over 60 employees and describes her leadership style as “King Arthur’s round table” meaning everyone has a voice. Watch More #GeorgiaPacific #SeeHer Stories: http://bit.ly/2klwGIq

Georgia-Pacific

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. Our familiar consumer brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us . For news, visit: gp.com/news

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