Tag: 3BL

STAMFORD, Conn., May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, Webster Bank and YWCA Hartford Region recently celebrated the opening of the Webster/YWCA Hartford Region Finance Lab in Hartford, Connecticut.

The program was created to provide women and girls in YW programs such as YW Career Women and the Young Women’s Leadership Corps (YWLC) with the financial skills and literacy to plan for a future of economic security and long-term self-sufficiency. A $100,000 grant was provided by Webster to fund the programs.

Webster Bank’s partnership with YWCA Hartford Region underscores its commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to making a positive difference in the communities it serves. Webster Bank is actively building a stronger and more resilient community by investing in programs that empower individuals and promote economic vitality.

The Webster/YWCA Hartford Region Finance Lab is part of a signature initiative designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment and improve financial literacy for youth and young women.

“Having an understanding of financial skills creates new opportunities for the next generation of youth and families in our community,” said Marissa Weidner, Webster’s Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer. “Our newest Finance Lab collaboration with the YWCA Hartford Region will provide the resources and tools necessary to enable young people and women to make financially sound decisions and drive economic vitality in the region.”

“We thank Webster Bank for believing in and investing in YWCA Hartford Region’s programs and services with this grant to empower women and girls from the Hartford Region,” said Adrienne W. Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Hartford Region. “The financial resources from this grant will lay the foundation and provide essential tools for a solid financial education. These programs will teach participants the value of money and how to save, budget, spend and invest money. They will learn and understand how to create generational wealth.”

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, State Senator Douglas McCrory, and state elected dignitaries and Commissioners Andrea Barton Reeve, CT Department of Social Services and Board Chair for YWCA Hartford Region joined Webster leaders and YWCA leadership to officially open the programming during an event held at YWCA’s office.

“As Mayor of our capital city, I am proud to see this partnership between Webster Bank and YWCA Hartford Region,” said Mayor Arulampalam. “This grant will directly benefit families in our community by providing education on the core tenets of financial responsibility—debt, budgeting, saving, and investing. We thank YWCA Hartford and Webster Bank for believing in Hartford with a program like this that will uplift women, girls, and their families.”

The YWCA’s Finance Lab location is one of two Webster Finance Labs in Connecticut that will open this year and the fourth to open across the bank’s footprint since the initiative’s inception in 2022. Webster expects to announce plans for additional Finance Lab partnerships with nonprofit partners in Long Island, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Webster is a values-driven organization headquartered in Stamford, CT, with $76 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Contact Information

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

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

YWCA Hartford Region Contact: 
Yvonne Renee Davis 
yvonne@davisworldtraining.com 
860-796-2842

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About YWCA Hartford Region 
YWCA Hartford Region puts our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women into action daily to promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We offer programs that address the needs of community members at every stage of life and transform the lives of nearly 2000 women, children, and families annually. www.ywcahartford.org.

View original content here.

The Sustainable Fashion Forum 2024 took place April 17 to 19 in Austin, Texas, convening a number of sustainable fashion professionals.

Topics spanned everything from labor rights to regulatory changes. The event began with workshops on policy and circularity, including an immersive upcycling activity featuring Cascale members Everlane and Eastman, as well as two full days of programming. Networking opportunities were plentiful, hosted at venues throughout the city.

Cascale’s editorial director Kaley Roshitsh and Melissa Ortuño de León, senior manager, Higg Product Tools, both participated in the event and moderated conversations.

In one conversation, “Achieving Profitability as a Small Brand,” Jan Lo, co-founder and chief executive officer at Lo&Sons spoke of the trade-offs of owning a small business. He detailed the aims of his growing business which includes strategic decision-making across his value chain, be it recycled materials or flat-packing products.

The co-founder also treated the audience to samples of Lo&Sons’ “Catalina Deluxe” tote made of recycled polyester, with utility uniquely inspired by his former New York City DJ career.

Lo is also on the board of Yale University’s Center for Business and the Environment, offering support to entrepreneurs. His advice to early-career professionals is to be willing to pursue the “not-so-glamorous job title,” often found in supply chain or operations roles.

In another panel conversation titled “Who’s at the Table: Embracing Global Voices in Fashion’s Circular Future,” experts Charles Oyamo, co-founder and CEO, Rethread Africa; Yayra Agbofah, founder at The Revival and consultancy AfroDistrict; and Sandra Gonza, senior sustainability strategist, Quantis International; traced the arc of circularity.

The panelists discussed the urgency to fundamentally transform the existing fashion system and embrace circularity while calling for major funding inroads to support their work. A former clothing market trader in Ghana’s Kantamanto Market, Agbofah shared how his community-led initiative The Revival is turning consumer textile waste exported into West Africa – into art. Meanwhile, Oyamo spoke of the reality of scaling his agrowaste fiber. Throughout the conversation, Gonza offered her strategic perspective including how she is working with brands to develop transformational sustainability programs.

In another panel conversation, Sanchita Saxena, senior advisor of supply chain at Article One, and Sheela Ahluwalia, director of policy and advocacy at Transparentem, spoke of the audit-dodging practices that persist in the apparel and textile industry.

“Many suppliers are saying, ‘I don’t think it’s ever possible there’s a true partnerships… We have to think of beyond just doing the minimum,” said Saxena, calling for the reframing of “rightsholders over stakeholders.”

In a separate policy presentation, Michelle Gabriel, graduate program director of sustainable fashion at Glasgow Caledonian College New York City said being a consumer is a “disempowered identity,” arguing for a citizen-first approach. She championed regulatory changes adding, “Businesses today face a competitive disadvantage for engaging in sustainability.”

MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Sterilis Solutions, and Pure Strategies have collaborated to address the life science industry’s approach to single-use plastic waste. Developed by Sterilis, the Remediator is a device that transforms bio-hazardous waste into non-hazardous plastic shred, paving the way for potential lab recycling and reducing the adverse impacts of traditional disposal methods.

MilliporeSigma partnered with Pure Strategies, a third-party sustainability consulting firm, to complete a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and evaluate the environmental benefits and impacts of waste processed via the Remediator versus typical bio-hazardous waste treatment and disposal. The LCA revealed a 95% reduction in carbon emissions and 90% reduction in energy demand while using the Remediator compared to a traditional autoclave.

This strategic collaboration works towards finding circular solutions that reduce the overall volume of petro-virgin plastic and minimizing the environmental impact of plastic waste disposal.

Click here to view the full article on Pure Strategies’ website.

CLEVELAND, May 2, 2024 /3BL/ — Often the first to feel the effects of inflation and economic volatility, small business owners are optimistic about their businesses, even as economic challenges remain. KeyBank’s 2024 Small Business Survey found that 65% of small business owners feel confident they could fund their operating expenses for one month with their cash reserves, if an unexpected need arose.

Still, 37% of business owners anticipate that inflation will slightly increase their operating costs and 27% expect a significant increase in operating costs in the next 12 months. The top challenges small business owners anticipate this year are fluctuating sales/revenue (35%), delayed payments from clients/customers (29%) and high overhead costs (28%).

Despite these concerns, small business owners are well-adjusted and taking precautionary measures to protect their businesses—and the employees and communities they serve. They are already implementing cost-cutting measures (32%), increasing cash reserves (30%) and exploring alternative financing options (22%). As one of the top indicators of financial resilience in the US, their actions could be the first signal of an improving economic environment.

“Running a business is not an easy task, and when coupled with uncertain economic conditions, rampant inflation and high interest rates, small business owners are faced with ambiguity,” said Mike Walters, President of Business Banking at KeyBank. “Their resilience is a testament to years of weathering financial uncertainty, and with their confidence remaining strong they’re able to power through the last leg of inflation and keep themselves on track for economic growth.”

Leaders Leverage Bank Relationships for Education and Resources

Banks are at a pivotal moment to help their small business clients navigate cash flow and business operation concerns—and small business owners are turning to them for advice. The top three pieces of advice owners have received are: cut costs by reducing discretionary spending (34%), establish an emergency fund (22%) and diversify revenue streams by introducing new products or services (20%).

While more than half (52%) of small business owners are confident that their banks understand their cash flow concerns, almost 20% are unsure if their banks do so – pointing to an opportunity for banks and business owners to expand their relationships.

“In times of uncertainty, trusted advice from qualified professionals can be a lifeline for business owners, but many may not be aware of the advice and solutions their relationships with their bankers can provide,” said Walters. “Bank services extend beyond just traditional checking and savings accounts to cash flow and credit solutions. Maintaining a strong relationship with your bank can lead to uniquely tailored strategies.”

KeyBank, a top SBA lender1, has provided more than $4.5 billion in small business loans and lines of credit. Learn more about KeyBank’s opportunities and programs for your small business by visiting key.com/small-business. KeyBank offers a range of tools, including the KeyBank Small Business Check-In, KeyBank Small Business Financial Review and the Business Cash Flow Calculator.

Fraud Becomes a Watchpoint

As business operations have become mainly digital, fraud has become a pain point among small business owners who are most concerned about payment fraud, such as unauthorized transactions or unauthorized electronic fund transfers (44%), followed by identify theft (37%), malware and ransomware attacks (28%) and phishing and email scams (27%). Fraud prevention has become a focus for small business owners who continue to be vigilant of evolving fraud tactics and implement preventative measures to stop potential future attacks. Learn more about advice KeyBank provides to business owners about business security and risk management.

Navigating the U.S. Presidential Election 

An election season creates a period of unease amongst Americans, and for business owners, political noise is magnified as potential policy changes could affect their business directly. While preparing for uncertainties, the top policy changes most owners are paying attention to are taxation (38%), employment and labor laws (25%) and healthcare policies (25%). Small businesses are the key to the country’s economic health, and while they currently feel confident, owners are keeping a close eye on potential policy changes.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by Survey Monkey. 1,983 respondents, ages 18-99, located in the United States, who own or operate a small-to-medium size business with an annual gross revenue of less than $10 million, completed the survey in March 2024.

ABOUT KEYBANK

KeyBank’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at March 31, 2024.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

CFMA #240415-2550581

This material is presented for informational purposes only and should not be construed as individual tax or financial advice. KeyBank does not provide legal advice. Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2024 KeyCorp

1Source: Statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in October 2023 for total approved loans through the SBA’s 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending October 2023.

BOSTON, May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – Sappi North America Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, today announces a notable win from the Hermes Creative Awards for its Power of Trees campaign, receiving a Gold Award in the Video TV Ad category.

Trees benefit us in every part of the day, from a morning box of cereal to the shoes we wear, to our bed sheets. In “The Power of Trees,” we demonstrate woodfiber’s potential as a material of the future because of its renewable, regenerative and recyclable capabilities. It also highlights Sappi’s responsible forestry management. Our practices not only ensure the health of the forest and enhance the biodiversity of its habitat, but they also contribute to the circular economy by introducing sustainable and recyclable woodfiber into the production stream.

“This campaign speaks directly to our core mission of harnessing the power of trees to make life more sustainable and brings awareness to the many sustainable and renewable products that can replace those made with fossil fuel-based materials,” said Patti Groh, Director of Communications. “In addition to creating awareness around the power of trees, this campaign serves to bolster employee’s pride and showcase to the next generation of employee just how innovative, sustainable, and forward-thinking the paper and packaging industry is.”

The Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

To learn more about Sappi’s award-winning initiatives, please visit: https://www.sappi.com/.

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About Sappi North America, Inc.

Sappi North America, Inc., headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. Our four diversified businesses – high-quality Graphic Papers, Dissolving Pulp, Packaging, and Specialty Papers deliver premium products and services with consistent quality and reliability. Our high-quality Coated Printing Papers are used for premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Dissolving Pulp, which is used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods. We deliver sustainable Packaging and Specialty Papers for luxury packaging and folding carton applications with our single-ply packaging brands and for the food and label industries with our specialty papers. We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of Casting and Release Papers with lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries.

Contact

Rajira Hernandez 
Account Manager 
Matter Communications 
(978) 499-9250 
sappi@matternow.com

As the Un-carrier celebrates hitting its cumulative goal of hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses over the past five years, leaders at partner organizations Hiring Our Heroes and Blue Star Families share why it’s critical for companies to double down on creating inclusive work environments and career opportunities, and what they see as most important for the success of military families.

In 2018, T-Mobile unveiled an expansive, companywide initiative to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses over a five-year time period. By the end of 2023, the goal was achieved. “This hiring goal was five years in the making and throughout that journey we’re proud to have supported thousands of veterans and their families in creating meaningful and flexible career opportunities, while also helping them build new skills and grow their professional resumes,” said Holli Martinez, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at T-Mobile. “We’re honored to welcome veterans and military spouses into Team Magenta, and we’re also just as proud to have supported others who have taken their T-Mobile experience into other arenas to further advance their careers. We’ll always consider them part of our T-Mobile family and we won’t stop looking for best military talent.”

Working with organizations like Hiring Our Heroes and Blue Star Families was critical in helping T-Mobile reach its hiring commitment and is a cornerstone for how the company will continue prioritizing and evolving programs and support for military families now and in the years to come.

Here we speak with Eric Eversole, President of Hiring Our Heroes, an arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that connects veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses with employers, and Penny Bolden, Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Blue Star Families, a nonprofit that helps connect and support military families at the community level. The two share what they believe to be most important today for veterans and military spouses, and why partnerships with companies like T-Mobile are bringing about the kind of meaningful change that impacts lives.

What are some of the things you look for when partnering with a company? 

Eric Eversole, Hiring Our Heroes: We love partnerships like the one we have with T-Mobile because they’re hiring a lot of veterans and military spouses. They’ve shown up and they’re not only just waving the flag. We try to understand if they are trying to find talent or better reach out to the military community because it’s a community that they care about and want to help create opportunities.

Meet Alex Asuncion

Penny Bolden, Blue Star Families: Through an annual military family lifestyle survey we identify the current challenges this group is facing. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that we saw military spouse unemployment and underemployment rise to the top. Organizations like T-Mobile started including military spouses in their military recruitment retention programs, which when I became a military spouse back in 1998 wasn’t a thing! I was still hiding the fact that I was a military spouse on my resume. T-Mobile took time to understand that data.

What do you see as being most impactful for veterans and military spouses in 2024 in terms of their employment?

Eric: I am proud of the progress we’ve made over the last 12-plus years at Hiring Our Heroes with great companies like T-Mobile, but I’m even more excited about the future. We are facing one of the most significant evolutions of our workforce in our nation’s history. As the workforce changes and the types of work change, companies need to evolve to stay successful — and they are looking at military talent, military spouses and veterans, as an example of what “great” looks like. It’s the adaptability, it’s the resiliency, it’s the problem-solving capabilities, it’s the trainability of these populations that companies are wanting to hire because they know that they can train someone relatively quick on certain skill sets. The big challenge in front of us is skills-based hiring, and veterans and military spouses are leading the way.

Penny: What we are trying to do is shout from the rooftops to our military spouse community that there are some organizations who have taken the time to really understand the specific and unique challenges that the military spouse community faces. From a military spouse hiring perspective, we highlight companies like T-Mobile that can provide stability and a sense of belonging for a demographic that has unique challenges. They move every two to three years and have trouble retaining their employment and trouble progressing in their career because they’re always changing jobs. Also, because of their constant moving, they often don’t have local experience or have gaps in their resumes. A lot of companies are not aware of what’s needed and haven’t done the research to understand and adjust. For us to be able to hold up T-Mobile as one of our original signatories on understanding this, it’s a way to show others how they can do their part too.

Meet Logan McIntosh

Do you have any stories or memorable moments from partnering with T-Mobile you can share? 

Eric: T-Mobile hosted an event with us with the Washington Nationals baseball team last fall. It was the first event that I know of where a Major League Baseball team focused solely on military spouses as an audience that needs employment opportunities. We brought in some great leaders that day to talk about the opportunities and the challenges that military spouses face. From there, we really worked aggressively to help those military spouses find jobs. T-Mobile supported that event and put a spotlight on the military spouse community. It was incredibly impactful that they were there to hire people. Story after story about veterans and military spouses being hired by T-Mobile have been really powerful.

Penny: I had the chance to meet a lot of people from T-Mobile when we did a home makeover event. [T-Mobile sponsored an episode of Moving with the Military, which aired throughout November 2023 on various streaming services, and was featured in USA Today and Humankind.] Forty volunteers turned up for three straight days! T-Mobile’s culture is undeniable. When a company presents itself authentically and takes the time to do this in the hiring practices, then it shows it’s also part of its culture. We’re working with the T-Mobile Military & Diversity Recruiting team on talent acquisition right now, and we have three moments coming up this year to show gratitude. It’s about really giving back and making people feel see that this brand really does care.

Meet Laura Linderman Barker

Though some of the unemployment numbers out there can be disheartening, especially for military spouses who hold the top unemployment percentage of any other demographic, what does it mean to hear that companies like T-Mobile have committed to hiring veterans and military spouses?

Eric: How do we create a culture of inclusion in our companies that makes everybody feel welcome and part of a team? T-Mobile does it incredibly well because they have great training and career opportunities, so people are able to have more than a job. They can build a lasting career, and also feel committed to the company’s mission. They’re committed to its leaders and their teammates. That’s all incredibly important for our military community. They want to feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. Companies like T-Mobile are really creating that culture and making people feel welcome.

Penny: I think the intention in the past has been perceived as checking a box to say, “We support our troops, we hire veterans.” But now when companies like T-Mobile step up and say, “We know what’s really needed and we’re going to provide it,” it’s received much differently from our community.

Meet Jamie Weare

T-Mobile is nationally recognized as a military friendly employer, received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Military Spouse Employer and Mentorship Award and is an original signatory of the 4+1 commitment, a nationwide effort to tackle the unemployment rate among military spouses.

As we recognize Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Island (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we celebrate the richness and dynamism of the Asian and Pacific Island community. With backgrounds hailing from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the diasporic communities of these regions, this large and diverse global population represents 50 ethnic groups and speaks more than 100 languages. 

This year’s AANHPI Heritage Month theme recognizes members of this community who have shaped our history and continue to influence our collective future. AANHPI leaders use their ingenuity and creativity to make lasting contributions to global economic prosperity, technological advancements, and social and political change—while also often navigating cultural and systemic hurdles.

Here, a few of our associates share the importance of advancing leaders through innovation:

Mavis Fernandes, Senior Offer Manage, Individual Investor Advice Solutions and MOSAIC @ T. Rowe Price’s Asian Heritage Community Chair

At T. Rowe Price, Asian Americans strive to be more than technical experts in their fields. Across the firm, we demonstrate innovation in small and large increments, leading efforts to grow, scale, and serve our clients. As chair of the MOSAIC’s associate-led Asian Heritage Community, we have used novel approaches to reach our associates, including online learning platforms, chat groups, and virtual mentoring circles, continuing to create a sense of inclusion and belonging. Advancing leaders will require that we continue to spend time listening to the needs of associates and clients and find ways to identify and elevate great ideas across all levels of the organization.

Lee Sun, Analyst, Vice President, Fixed Income

From boardrooms to beyond, innovation helps us advance, shaping a future where every voice matters. Unlocking the power of innovation relies on embracing diverse perspectives, promoting forward-thinking strategies, and harnessing cultural and technological insights. As innovators and pioneers, AANHPI ancestors have made outsized contribution for what’s possible today. Looking ahead, AANHPI leaders can leverage their unique heritage to inspire change, disrupt norms, and pave the way for a more inclusive and dynamic future in leadership. Join the movement and dare to innovate, because together, we are limitless.

Stephy Wong, Senior Project Manager, Global Distribution

As an individual of Asian descent, the theme of Advancing Leaders Through Innovation embodies the journey of the countless leaders who have carved out their place in history by harnessing their creativity and ingenuity. For us, innovation isn’t just a means to an end; it is a vehicle for overcoming barriers, driving positive change, and leaving a lasting impact on society. This year’s theme celebrates our ability to navigate complex landscapes while reshaping narratives, and it inspires me to continue pushing boundaries and fostering progress in my own endeavors.

Harold Wu, Head of Procurement

Intentionality is key to enjoying the career journey and finding purpose. In the realm of procurement, embracing intentionality has the power to transform our business and the communities we serve.

Our goal is not merely to provide a service, but to create opportunities and ensure fairness and equity in the process. This transformative potential should inspire us all. Supply chain inclusion is an intentional effort driven by leadership to include one or more historically underrepresented businesses in our procurement process, and to support their growth as suppliers. These programs can build strong business relationships and create meaningful change that impacts the newest entrepreneurs to the most seasoned small business owners. They can uncover new approaches, diverse ideas, and innovations for the future. By institutionalizing a procurement-driven initiative with meaningful intention, we can break down obstacles and provide opportunities for all.

As we recognize AANHPI Heritage Month and other celebrations of diversity, we invite you to learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how our differences bring us together and multiply our impact at troweprice.com/diversity.

042024-3543320

Originally published in the SEE Impact Report 2022

By prioritizing environmental responsibility across the value chain, we design; develop; and deploy integrated automated, digital, and sustainable solutions that have positive impacts on our customers, their customers, and society.

These scalable solutions help customers meet their sustainability goals by leveraging advanced recycling technologies, renewable energy investments, material innovations, circularity initiatives, and more.

AUTOBAG® Brand 850S Paper High-Speed Bagging and Printing System 

Leveraging automation, digital printing, and sustainable materials to meet customer needs

The AUTOBAG® brand 850S paper high-speed bagging and printing system is the first solution in the AUTOBAG® brand portfolio to use curbside-recyclable paper mailers, making it a more sustainable solution to enhance packaging productivity for mail-order fulfillment and e-commerce applications. The 850S paper system includes technology that pre-opens each bag for the operator, and one-step printing ensures accuracy and efficiency, prevents product queuing, and eliminates the need for additional labeling equipment. The mailers are curbside recyclable and are approved for the How2Recycle® label. The paper is responsibly sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® Chain of Custody, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, and ISO 22000. It is produced in a carbon-neutral manufacturing process using biomass and hydro-generated power.

prismiq™ Digital Printing Services 

Digital printing services that reduce waste and drive efficiency

SEE’s prismiq™ digital printing services maximize the value of branded packaging through custom and personalized printing. By eliminating tooling, setups, and production changeovers, prismiq™ services enable bespoke, small-batch production at the efficiency level of mass production. Printing digitally on packaging results in less process waste by removing solvents and the waste derived from plates, ink flushes, and substrates. It also gives companies the freedom to create short runs, leading to less inventory waste.

CRYOVAC® Brand AutoShrink, AutoChill, and AutoDry Tunnels 

Leveraging automation, digital technology, and packaging materials to drive sustainability

CRYOVAC® brand TS200 AutoShrink, TC200 AutoChill, and TD200 AutoDry tunnels are our latest innovations in shrink process automation systems. They are designed to improve efficiency, save energy, and enhance performance in food packaging operations. When integrated with the latest generation of CRYOVAC® brand vacuum rotaries, the tunnels use intelligent automation to automatically adjust conveyor speed based on volume to optimize energy consumption. The AutoShrink electric shrink tunnel is twice as energy-efficient as legacy steam-powered shrink tunnels. With variable speed control, the AutoDry tunnel reduces energy consumption by 30% compared to legacy drying tunnels.

CRYOVAC® Brand Vertical Form-Fill-Seal Bag-in-Box 

Lowering the carbon footprint and safeguarding the product

As part of its burgeoning fluids and liquids portfolio, SEE developed a bag-inbox solution that better guards against the common enemy of wine: air. With the CRYOVAC® brand vertical form-fill-seal bag-in-box solution, the combination of a low headspace package and hermetically sealed bag means less oxygen ingress than with traditional bag-in-box wine formats. The solution’s automated dispensing system is engineered to double the throughput of traditional bag-in-box offerings by producing finished packages from 1.5 liters to 4 liters at packaging speeds up to 35 packages per minute (ppm). Through increased shipping efficiencies, the solution produces a lower carbon footprint as compared to resource-intensive glass wine bottles.

Automated Carbon Footprint Solutions 

Holistic approach to life-cycle assessments

SEE is continuing its journey started in 2012 with the SmartLife™ initiative by introducing a new, automated carbon footprint estimation system that will enable customers to achieve their sustainability targets through informed decision-making. This advanced system meticulously evaluates the comprehensive cradle-to-gate environmental impact of our portfolio of solutions. 

SEE’s automated system is not just a numerical calculator; it’s a transformative tool that equips our customers with the insight they need to make eco-conscious packaging choices. Through rigorous calculations that encompass raw material extraction, processing, energy consumption, transportation, manufacturing, and the end-of-life phase, we provide a holistic assessment of each material’s carbon footprint. This robust methodology ensures that our customers can take meaningful steps toward decarbonizing their packaging choices.

To facilitate the seamless integration of these insights into our customers’ operations, we offer two distinct avenues. Our carbon footprint short reports succinctly encapsulate the data associated with specific purchased materials, allowing for quick and focused decision-making. For those seeking a more immersive experience, our interactive Dashboard provides an all-encompassing view of their purchases and their cumulative environmental impact.

By choosing SEE, our customers gain access to a transformative partnership that extends beyond the products we sell by collaborating to reduce our environmental impact.

Read the full SEE Impact Report 2022

In March, Tapestry joined the celebration of the launch of the New York Fashion Tech Lab’s 2024 Cohort, featuring six women-led B2B retail tech start-ups. The New York Fashion Tech Lab (the Lab), a community-driven, relationship-building, collaboration, and business development platform, is a leading program designed to support women-led companies that have developed innovations at the intersection of fashion, retail, and technology.

Tapestry is pleased to return as a partner for the 2024 Lab along with J.Crew Group, LVMH, Selfridges & Co, The TJX Companies, joined by first-year partners lululemon, MCM Worldwide, and Neiman Marcus Group. Through partnerships like the New York Fashion Tech Lab, Tapestry is embracing its responsibility in the marketplace as a global fashion company. We believe that difference sparks brilliance and are committed to building a more diverse fashion industry. For Tapestry, participating in the NYFTLab offers an opportunity to stay at the leading edge of tech in the fashion industry with some of the most forward-thinking tech founders.

The 12-week program includes ongoing access to mentorship and collaboration with participating fashion retailers, venture capitalists, and the Lab’s Expert Network. Founders also receive product feedback from senior leaders at fashion retailers and potential deployment of proofs of concept.

Of the companies that applied to the program, six start-ups were selected. This year’s cohort includes Curated for You, Flock, Fairly Made, Nectar AI, Raspberry AI and Yofi. Over the next 12 weeks, these start-ups will participate in workshops and panel discussions on issues relevant to fashion technology companies.

The program concludes on June 18 with each founder presenting to fashion and retail executives, investors, and media representatives at our Demo Day Experiential Event. Stay tuned for updates as Tapestry meets with these founders!

HONG KONG, May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation announced the appointment of Farrukh Shad as Head of Sustainability Business for the Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region.

In his new role based in Hong Kong, Shad will spearhead Schneider Electric’s sustainability business division across one of the company’s most important growth regions. With over 25 years of experience across multiple sectors, Shad brings a wealth of knowledge that will be instrumental as he leads Schneider Electric’s climate mitigation efforts and helps large enterprises in APMEA reduce carbon emissions.

“We are pleased to welcome Farrukh Shad to lead our sustainability endeavors across APMEA,” said Steve Wilhite, Senior Vice President, Sustainability Business at Schneider Electric. “With his innovative thinking, passion for sustainability and impressive track record of driving strategic transformation, we are confident he will take our business to new heights and advance our mission of building a more sustainable future.”

Over the past decade at Schneider Electric, Shad has led business transformation initiatives and advocated for active energy management and sustainability. He will now focus on transitioning Schneider Electric’s clients from passive to active energy management and supporting their renewable energy and carbon neutrality goals, while leveraging technology to maximize sustainability impact.

Prior to joining Schneider Electric, Shad held leadership roles in sales, marketing, strategy and more at global companies including L’Oreal, British Petroleum and Philips.

With its integrated efficiency solutions for energy, automation and software, Schneider Electric is at the forefront of digital transformation for energy management. Shad’s appointment represents the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and purpose-driven business.

To learn more about Schneider Electric’s sustainability initiatives, visit perspectives.se.com.

About Schneider Electric 

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

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