Tag: 3BL

At a glance:

Quest worked with St. James Health in Newark to provide no-cost Blueprint for Wellness® screenings during a Choose Healthy Life event to celebrate expansion of Newark, NJ-based Metropolitan Baptist Church’s The Willing Heart Community Care CenterWilling Heart is a Choose Healthy Life HUB partner supported through a grant from the Quest Diagnostics Foundation as part of the Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) initiativeQ4HE team also arranged a special guest appearance from Elmo thanks to a collaboration with Sesame Workshop

The full story:

Quest Diagnostics provided no-cost Blueprint for Wellness® comprehensive health screenings in collaboration with St. James Health, a community health center focused on providing comprehensive primary health and preventive services in the East, West, and South Wards of Newark, NJ, at a Choose Healthy Life (CHL) event at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark. The effort was part of an ongoing collaboration between Choose Healthy Life and the Quest Diagnostics Foundation as part of its Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) initiative.

The event celebrated the expansion of the church’s Willing Heart Community Care Center, which is focused on addressing social inequities in healthcare, employment, housing, food disparity, and poverty in Newark and surrounding communities, and the center’s transformation to Willing Heart Family Empowerment Center.

“I’m truly grateful to celebrate such a groundbreaking initiative at Metropolitan Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Pastor, Rev. Dr. David Jefferson Sr. and with the support of our HUB partner, Willing Heart Community Care Center (WHCCC), we are setting a new standard for holistic community care with the new family empowerment center. This center serves as a testament to the power of faith and community collaboration. Metropolitan is the first in the state of New Jersey and the second among Choose Healthy Life churches to have such a center,” said Rev. Kimberly L. Williams, Executive Director, Choose Healthy Life. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in making this vision a reality. Special gratitude goes to the Quest Diagnostics Foundation for their continued support and donated testing services to address health equity in the communities we serve like Newark through the Quest for Health Equity initiative. Together, we are not just dreaming of a healthier future; we are building it.”

As a founding sponsor, the Quest Diagnostics Foundation provided financial support to establish CHL’s church-based community health workforce. This includes support of CHL HUB partners like The Willing Heart.

Quest Diagnostics and the Quest Foundation, through the Q4HE initiative, are building on our initial commitment to CHL through its support of CHL’s Community Wellness Program by offering Blueprint for Wellness®, which provides a clinical set of laboratory tests and measurements completed to highlight personal health strengths and risks that will support underserved communities in taking control of their health.

In total, Quest provided no-cost Blueprint for Wellness® to 51 attendees during a recent celebration of Metropolitan Baptist Church’s expansion in the community, with St. James clinic staff performing specimen collection and taking biometric measurements. The Q4HE team, several Quest regional employees—including phlebotomists Karen Powell and Lisa Lawson, Jill Fannin, key account manager, and Q4HE intern Lizete Negrete volunteered their time to support this important event. Volunteers were also joined by East Region President Ruth Clements. 

“This event embodied our Quest Purpose—working together to create a healthier world, one life at a time—on all fronts,” said Clements. “With Quest as the founding sponsor of the Choose Healthy Life initiative, Pastor Jefferson is realizing his vison to impact the local community of Newark by working together with RJW Barnabas, St. James FQHC, AETNA/CVS, and Quest to realize a new health clinic, daycare and job training center adjacent to his church.”

A special visit from Sesame Workshop

To continue the excitement for the families, the Q4HE team arranged for a special guest appearance—Elmo—thanks to a collaboration with Sesame Workshop. The global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop is one of the organizations that Q4HE collaborates with across many sectors to drive change and empower better health in underserved communities.

Kids were also treated to “Staying Healthy” children’s books, part of a series developed through Q4HE in collaboration with the Sesame Workshop. The series provides bilingual resources, available in English and Spanish, designed to connect and support parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers as partners in children’s healthcare.

Feedback from Quest volunteers

“The event was a great opportunity to see firsthand how Quest is making a difference—one life at a time,” said Quest volunteer Jill Fannin, Quest Key Account Manager for health care providers. “The collaboration with Sesame Street was the perfect way to engage people of all ages to Choose Healthy Life. The children were excited to receive books, the adults were excited for the opportunity for Blueprint, and everyone wanted a picture, or two, with Elmo.”

“I was proud to see our Quest employees volunteer their time on the weekend to allow the community to get their Blueprint for Wellness and be connected to care,” said Clements. “And Elmo’s appearance through our collaboration with Sesame Workshop was a hit!”

To learn more:

For more about Choose Healthy life, visit www.choosehealthylife.org

Entergy’s performance report integrates a comprehensive overview of our 2023 achievements, including financial results with economic, environmental, governance, and social performance and impacts. Learn how we power life for all our stakeholders at performancereport.entergy.com.

Our talent and culture 
Our approximately 12,000 employees reflect the rich diversity of our communities and are ready to deliver energy for a better future. 

Diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace 
We foster a workforce that values a diversity of ideas, backgrounds, perspectives and skills in an inclusive culture. We are working to increase the diversity of our workforce and management through long-term effective strategies to attract, develop and retain females and racially/ethnically underrepresented employees while maintaining our commitment to hiring the most qualified candidates. We regularly monitor our progress toward this aspirational goal.

In recent years, we have increased female and diverse racially/ethnically representation in the workforce and in management.

Workforce development 
We believe that developing a diverse pool of local talent that reflects the communities we serve and is equipped with the skills we need, today and in the future, will give us a long-term competitive advantage. Our workforce development initiatives are focused on forming mutually beneficial partnerships with high schools, technical and community colleges and universities as well as industry trade associations. These programs range from general promotion of energy and science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers to technical training programs that produce graduates aligned with our future staffing needs.

Learn more about how we pursue those goals through workforce development partnerships, internships and educational support programs, and a sustained organizational health process within our company.

Read the full report here.

SKILLMAN, N.J., May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) (“Kenvue” or the “Company”), the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue, today announced that its near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

SBTi has validated Kenvue’s near-term targets as in-line with the urgent actions needed to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C:

Kenvue commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions1,2,3 42% by 20304 from a 2020 base yearKenvue also commits that 75% of its suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services and upstream transportation and distribution will have science-based targets by 2028.4

“We recognize the increasingly detrimental impact climate change is having on people and ecosystems around the world. As a company dedicated to a healthy future, we are setting ambitious science-based emissions reduction targets and action plans to decarbonize our products, operations, and value chain,” said Pamela Gill-Alabaster*, Global Head of ESG & Sustainability at Kenvue. “We are proud that the SBTi has validated our climate targets so early in our new company’s journey, and this important milestone signals our intent to create a positive change and make meaningful progress in support of our Healthy Lives Mission.”

These validated near-term targets and the Kenvue commitment to set long-term net zero emissions targets informed by the SBTi Net Zero Standard support Kenvue’s Healthy Lives Mission, the Company’s environmental, social and governance strategy. With the understanding that human health is inseparably linked to environmental health, the Company’s Healthy Lives Mission aims to advance the well-being of both people and planet and sets goals and commitments to help drive impact.

About Kenvue 
Kenvue is the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. Built on more than a century of heritage, our iconic brands, including Aveeno®, BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages, Johnson’s®, Listerine®, Neutrogena® and Tylenol®, are science-backed and recommended by healthcare professionals around the world. At Kenvue, we believe in the extraordinary power of everyday care and our teams work every day to put that power in consumers’ hands and earn a place in their hearts and homes. Learn more at www.kenvue.com.

Investor Relations: 
Tina Romani 
Kenvue_IR@kenvue.com

Media Relations: 
Melissa Witt 
media@kenvue.com

* Pamela Gill-Alabaster is an employee of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., a subsidiary of Kenvue.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the Company’s climate goals and its Healthy Lives Mission. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “commits,” “will,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and other words of similar meaning. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Kenvue and its affiliates.

A list and descriptions of risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Kenvue’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, available at www.kenvue.com or on request from Kenvue. Kenvue and its affiliates undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise.

1 Applies to all Kenvue-owned facilities where Kenvue has operational control, regardless of building type; all leased facilities used for manufacturing and/or research & development; and leased, non-manufacturing and/or non-research & development facilities where the facility is greater than 50,000 square feet and where Kenvue has operational control. The 2020 baseline includes all facilities aligned to Kenvue’s structure upon separation from Johnson & Johnson in 2023 and does not include any operational or organizational exclusions. Scope 1 are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that Kenvue directly generates – e.g., running boilers and vehicles using fossil fuels. Scope 2 are GHG emissions that Kenvue indirectly generates – from electricity or energy purchased for heating and cooling buildings.

2The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks. 

3 The inventory was compiled in accordance with the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol – A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition 2013) including the amendment to this protocol, GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance (2015).

4 We aim to meet the goal by end of fiscal year and publish the year after.

JAMAICA, May 1, 2024 /3BL/ – Direct Relief this week announced a US$3 million grant to Jamaica as part of its ongoing commitment to bolstering resilience in the Caribbean region. This contribution, which will support the installation of a large solar energy system at a central primary pharmaceutical distribution facility, comes as part of the organization’s renewal of its ongoing partnership with the island nation, aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and infrastructure in the face of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Direct Relief staff met with members of Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness to tour the National Health Fund Pharmaceutical Distribution Facility and visit local health centers. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed to continue the flow of medical aid and support to the nation’s health system.

“Past assistance given, as well as forthcoming aid, are testaments to the benefits good partnership can bring to an organization and to a country. Not only have we been greatly helped, but we are also thoroughly impressed by Direct Relief’s humanitarian efforts worldwide,” said Everton Anderson, CEO of the National Health Foundation.

Jamaica, like many other nations in the Caribbean, faces unique challenges in maintaining healthcare access, particularly in the wake of natural disasters such as hurricanes. Direct Relief’s grant seeks to address these challenges by supporting initiatives that enhance emergency preparedness, expand access to essential medical supplies and equipment, and fortify healthcare infrastructure.

Direct Relief has a long history of providing humanitarian assistance in Jamaica and across the Caribbean region. From responding to the devastating effects of natural disasters to supporting ongoing healthcare needs, Direct Relief has worked closely with local partners to deliver vital medical aid where it is needed most.

“Direct Relief is deeply privileged to support the country of Jamaica and local health providers, who are incredibly committed to high-quality care for their patients and their communities,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Chief Operating Officer of Direct Relief. “With the start of hurricane season weeks away, Direct Relief is committed to strengthening the health system and health services, including power resiliency as part of disaster preparedness.”

Over the two-day visit to Jamaica, Direct Relief staff met with the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Honorable Dr. Christopher Tufton, the Most Honorable Juliet Holness, who has led previous Jamaican delegations to overseas conferences with Direct Relief, and NHF Chief Executive Officer Everton Anderson, along with other NHF representatives. The group toured the NHF’s newly refurbished Warehouse, Drug Serv Greater Portmore, and visited local community centers.

The grant to Jamaica is part of Direct Relief’s broader efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and enhance emergency preparedness in vulnerable communities worldwide. Through strategic partnerships and targeted investments, Direct Relief continues to make a meaningful impact in improving health outcomes and saving lives.

For more information about Direct Relief and its initiatives, visit https://www.directrelief.org/.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need, without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.

PITTSBURGH and LONDON, May 1, 2024 /3BL/ – Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS), a global healthcare company, recently launched Unmind as part of its global wellbeing program, Elevate. Unmind is a leading provider of workplace mental health solutions designed by psychologists to help individuals understand and be proactive with their mental health and lead healthier, happier lives.

“The mental wellbeing of our colleagues is extremely important and just one of the many reasons why Viatris introduced Elevate, our wellbeing program, in 2023 with the principles of health, purpose and growth,” said Viatris’ Chief People Officer Andrew Enrietti. “Providing access to benefits, resources and wellbeing tools like Unmind, which encourages colleagues to live life fully, is an essential part of our mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life.”

Viatris’ Elevate program has been built on three principles that help colleagues support their wellbeing:

Health – Nourishing mental and physical self. This includes prioritizing good nutrition, engaging in movement activities, supporting rest and sleep as well as completing health screenings and check-ups.Purpose – Connecting and finding meaning with colleagues and community. This includes prioritizing time with loved ones and participating in meaningful community activities.Growth – Finding the path forward to the best version of “self”. This includes personal and professional development, engaging in hobbies and activities that spark fulfillment and more.

A scientific brief released by the World Health Organization in 2022 reports rates of already-common conditions such as depression and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, adding to the nearly one billion people who were already living with a mental disorder.1

These findings emphasize the importance of organizations simultaneously addressing employee engagement and wellbeing in the current and future workforce. That is why Viatris is focused on the goal of providing all colleagues with wellbeing resources, including access to mental health tools and support. Viatris is pleased to share that in 2024, all colleagues globally have access to mental health resources.

Sheila Muhl, Viatris’ Head of Total Rewards and Talent, said, “At Viatris, we have a unique opportunity, because of our mission, to be a company that truly supports our colleagues focus on their health and wellbeing. Our partnership with Unmind expands the Elevate program by offering an important tool that recognizes and proactively supports their mental wellbeing, reduces the impact and stigma surrounding mental health and encourages each one of us to live life fully.”

Tailored for Personal Focus 
Unmind’s free and confidential resources are available to Viatris colleagues and up to five family members or friends to help them proactively manage their mental health. Developed with experts and clinicians using the latest research, Unmind’s approach is robustly science-led. The personalized program supports individuals to achieve their personal goal, whether that be managing stress, sleeping better or increasing happiness.

Dr. Nick Taylor, Co-founder & CEO, of Unmind said: “We are delighted to partner with Viatris to bring our data-based mental health support to their global team. It’s refreshing to see a healthcare organization not only advocate for the wellbeing of others, but also actively invest in the health of their own people. Our partnership reflects our shared vision of a world where mental health is not an afterthought but a priority, and is a significant step towards destigmatizing conversations about mental health in the workplace.”

Viatris has approximately 300 colleagues around the world who have volunteered to participate in the Elevate champions network. Champions are supporting the roll out of Unmind, engaging employees locally and ensuring this essential topic of mental wellbeing is discussed year-round.

To learn more about Viatris’ culture, visit the Company’s 2022 Sustainability Report or careers page. To learn more about Unmind, visit https://unmind.com/.

1World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all (who.int)

About Viatris 
Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS) is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to more holistically address healthcare needs globally. With a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, we provide access at scale, currently supplying high-quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world annually and touching all of life’s moments, from birth to the end of life, acute conditions to chronic diseases. With our exceptionally extensive and diverse portfolio of medicines, a one-of-a-kind global supply chain designed to reach more people when and where they need them, and the scientific expertise to address some of the world’s most enduring health challenges, access takes on deep meaning at Viatris. We are headquartered in the U.S., with global centers in Pittsburgh, Shanghai and Hyderabad, India. Learn more at viatris.com and investor.viatris.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).

About Unmind 
Unmind is the leading provider of workplace wellbeing solutions for global enterprises. Unmind’s workplace mental health platform combines the latest wellbeing science with cutting-edge AI to build measurable and sustainable performance cultures. Unmind powers the wellbeing strategies of some of the world’s biggest brands, including Uber, Major League Baseball, Disney, Standard Chartered, Diageo, and British Airways. Its services support the whole organization with data and ROI insights for execs, state-of-the-art training for leaders, full-spectrum wellbeing tools for employees, and company-wide access to a global network of coaches and therapists.

SOURCE Viatris Inc.

For further information: VIATRIS: MEDIA: +1.724.514.1968, Communications@viatris.com; Jennifer Mauer, Jennifer.Mauer@viatris.com; Matt Klein, Matthew.Klein@viatris.com; INVESTORS: Bill Szablewski, +1.412.707.2866, InvestorRelations@viatris.com, William.Szablewski@viatris.com; UNMIND: MEDIA: Unmind@mhpgroup.com

May 1, 2024 /3BL/ – The regional expansion of the Gaza conflict is devastating Lebanon, where thousands of families, especially in the south of the country, have left their homes to flee the violence, amid more than USD $1 billion in damage to infrastructure, including vital agricultural lands.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), regional violence has displaced more than 92,600 people in Lebanon as of mid-April. Most of the internally displaced people (IDPs) remain in villages badly affected by a conflict that has already claimed 340 victims on Lebanese soil, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Among them were at least 70 civilians, eight health workers and three journalists.

Attacks in border areas have significantly damaged key civilian infrastructure such as farmland, transport, telecommunications and water supplies, limiting civilian access to basic services. According to the FAO, at least 340,000 farm animals, 47,000 olive trees and nearly 2,000 acres of agricultural land were destroyed during the harvest season. White phosphorus munitions, prohibited by international law, is threatening the fertility of agricultural land, a serious risk since much of the population relies on agriculture for subsistence. These challenges have increased commodity prices, making food unaffordable for many in the south of the country, where some 185,000 people are experiencing food insecurity and risk malnutrition.

“Although the escalation of hostilities has limited basic services in the area, our teams are aiding the displaced, distributing food and more than 90,000 hot meals, over 5.8 million gallons of safe drinking water, and thousands of basic items such as mattresses, blankets, pillows, portable cooking appliances or solar lamps,” explained Natalia Anguera, Head of Action Against Hunger’s Middle East programs. “We’re also engaging in nutrition activities focused on the health of young children.”

Lebanon has been facing an economic crisis since 2019, which was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion in 2020. At the same time, it hosts a high level of refugees per capita. Despite these challenges, humanitarian funding dedicated to Lebanon has been falling steadily, with a 50% gap between hunger-related appeals and hunger-related funding.

“In these difficult times, our joint efforts with the local NGO Ajdadouna has enabled us to provide two hot meals each day for displaced people in conflict-affected areas. We are also providing children with high-energy biscuits, diapers and kits,” said Celine Haddad, one of Action Against Hunger’s staff in southern Lebanon.

Action Against Hunger teams in Lebanon, Gaza, and the wider region strive to provide much-needed humanitarian aid, despite all the challenges. However, without a permanent ceasefire it will not be possible to scale up these activities to meet the needs of the population. Action Against Hunger calls on all parties for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and for the international community to increase its support and funding for this crisis to ensure the protection of both civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to enable a massive increase in the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid.

About Action Against Hunger’s Work in Lebanon

Action Against Hunger has been working in Lebanon since 2006. Last year, staff reached nearly 160,000 people with interventions focused on clean water and safe sanitation. Nearly 1.5 million Syrian refugees have taken shelter in Lebanon and now live in informal settlements and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Action Against Hunger works on the ground in these communities, providing essential nutrition services and ensuring that the most vulnerable families have access to healthcare and livelihood support.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

**

Photo by Carmen Moreno

Authored by Laurie Horvath 

A key responsibility of the board of directors is fiduciary oversight, including overseeing financial performance, accounting functions and the engagement and retention of independent auditors. Like other board responsibilities, these obligations are often delegated to a committee.

Traditionally, a board appoints a finance committee to oversee financial results, cash management, performance against budget and financial risk assessment. These are critical roles and require robust involvement of the organization’s financial and accounting staff members.

But what about an audit committee?

Separately, the board is responsible for engaging independent auditors and overseeing the audit process and filing of related tax returns. An audit committee is accountable for the organization’s independent audit. As the audit committee is separate from the finance committee and is not involved in accounting oversight or performance, it is independent and better equipped to distinctively supervise the hiring and evaluation of independent auditors, review and respond to the audited financial statements and evaluate and ensure tax returns and related documents are filed on time. An additional common function of the audit committee is to help the board execute responsibilities around board independence and conflict of interest (COI).

Oftentimes, the independent audit communication will involve the reporting of accounting weaknesses or control issues to the audit committee. An audit committee is positioned to ensure the board responds to these recommendations in an effective and timely manner. Keeping this responsibility separate from the committee entrenched in daily accounting tasks is a great way to avoid conflicting objectives.

Another audit committee function is to oversee any financial mismanagement allegations communicated through a whistleblower or other communication chain. Identifying an audit committee or audit committee chairperson as part of the organization’s whistleblower policy can be a positive addition to ensure proper disposition of any complaints around fiscal irregularities or mismanagement.

It is important to note that the audit committee is often a smaller group of the board. To avert any potential conflicts, volunteers should not serve on both the audit and finance committees. Traditionally, not-for-profit audit committees only meet two or three times per year, in a cadence that follows the fiscal year.

For more information, or to learn more about how Baker Tilly’s not-for-profit team can help your organization with board and audit committee governance, contact our team.

The seventh annual Global Recycling Day took place on March 18th. First held in 2018, the day was created to help recognise and celebrate the importance that recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It’s a campaign that resonates deeply with our commitment to sustainability here at Lenovo, helping to encourage people to reuse, recycle and reduce waste.

According to Global Recycling Day[1], the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions each year, and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030. There is no doubt that recycling is on the front line in the fight to save the future of our planet and humanity.

Waste is a huge issue for the environment, and the need to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns is recognised in the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developments[2]. In keeping with Global Recycling Day’s ambitions, the Agenda for Sustainable Developments includes the target to substantially reduce waste generation by 2030 through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

It’s a cause that strikes a chord at the heart of Lenovo. We are already at the forefront of innovation when it comes to sustainable solutions, and we’re passionate to show how our initiatives align seamlessly with the objectives of Global Recycling Day.

Alternative recycling options for businesses to consider

There are plenty of recycling options that manufacturers can consider when it comes to making IT hardware and devices. These include post-industrial recycled content (PIC), post-consumer recycled content (PCC), closed-loop post-consumer recycled content (CL PCC), ocean bound plastics (OBP) and recycled metals.

PCC comes from products that would have otherwise ended up in landfills, such as food containers or plastic bottles. Notebooks, tablets, smartphones and other IT solutions have very specific structural, performance and cosmetic requirements, and this results in numerous challenges when it comes to the use of PCC. As such, manufacturers need to work closely with suppliers to develop and qualify new grades of plastic resins previously unavailable to the IT industry.

CL PCC is constructed from PCC sourced from end-of-life IT and electronics equipment. Once again it’s critical that manufacturers work closely with material suppliers and third-party certification authorities to develop suitable material processes. Certification authorities include the ‘Approved Recycling Standard’, the ‘Quality Assurance Operation Requirements’, and the ‘Recovery Ratio’, which help to validate sources of waste and control processes using a hierarchical waste product traceability scheme.

Using such engineered materials saves natural resources and energy that would have gone into manufacturing new plastics, and it diverts these materials from landfills as well, helping to sustain the demand for plastic materials from IT products.

OBP is also making a big impact when it comes to recycling. OBP is derived from abandoned plastic waste, such as milk jugs, shopping bags, and laundry detergent bottles, actively mitigating the alarming flow of plastics into our oceans and helping to protect our planet’s delicate ecosystem.

Lenovo has embraced all of the recycled solutions above as part of its portfolio, and since early 2005, Lenovo’s cumulative total use of recycled plastics[3] in products has reached over 130 million kilograms (gross) containing PIC, PCC, and/or CL PCC, with net PCC of approximately 54 million kilograms and net CL PCC of more than 18 million kilograms.

Plastics aren’t the only materials that can be recycled, and recycled metal can also help to reduce mining and consumption of natural resources, providing potential to reduce energy and emissions alongside. In FY 2022/2023, Lenovo expanded the use of recycled aluminium and magnesium to more of its notebook products[4], including up to 50% recycled aluminium in the cover of the Yoga 6 Gen 7, and up to 90% recycled magnesium for the A/C/D covers of the ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 4.

Embracing the circular economy and creating a lasting legacy

Along with recycling materials, it’s important that we look for additional ways to give devices themselves a second lease of life. Lenovo’s asset recovery service (ARS) is a great example, designed to maximise the reuse, recycling, and/or environmental disposal of replaced and end-of-life products, parts, and waste.

Asset recovery services can help customers minimize the data security risks of managing the disposal of unwanted IT equipment, and in some situations older computers can be resold or reused. Through Certified Refurbished PCs, Lenovo helps extend device lifecycles, giving these devices a new purposeful life. Not only does this reduce environmental impact but it can also help customers to offset some costs of an IT refresh.

As we continue to pave the way towards a more sustainable future, we need to embrace the circular economy in everything we do, helping to reduce waste and emissions. Together, we can shape a future where sustainability is not just an aspiration but a guiding principle, that creates a legacy for generations to come.

[1] https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/about/

[2] https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

[3] https://investor.lenovo.com/en/sustainability/reports/FY2023-lenovo-sustainability-report.pdf

[4] https://investor.lenovo.com/en/sustainability/reports/FY2023-lenovo-sustainability-report.pdf

Otis Worldwide Corporation recently awarded scholarships to 160 outstanding female students at top Chinese universities in collaboration with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), a non-governmental organization with a 40-year history of supporting women and youth.

Each scholarship recipient demonstrated exceptional academic performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, and a passion for community impact. They represent eight universities across China, including Tianjin University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Wuhan’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Otis has now helped more than 400 top-performing female university STEM students in China gain access to opportunities in innovation and technology through scholarships since 2021. These initiatives aim to inspire broader and more diverse talent to pursue STEM fields and join our industry, and are in line with our overarching Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts.

Sally Loh, President of Otis China, said: “Otis is committed to supporting STEM education to help build a diverse talent pipeline that we see as essential to driving execution of our business strategy. We are proud to partner with CSCLF to nurture the next generation of STEM innovators.”

Otis’ ESG goals include allocating 50% of its global donations to STEM programs by 2025 and impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM-focused learning by 2030. The partnership with CSCLF supports these commitments through its scholarship program, the Soong Ching Ling Children’s Invention Award Project and other initiatives that impact students at different points in the learning continuum.

Earlier this year, Otis provided educational robots to 10 primary and middle schools that excelled in the 18th CSCLF’s Invention Award. Through this initiative, Otis helps schools to further their science and technology education programs, deepening youths’ experience with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, providing hands-on learning experiences to enhance scientific literacy and practical skills, and inspiring outstanding young talent. 

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.3 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.3 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 71,000 people strong, including 42,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 1, 2024 /3BL/ – TECHNOMELT® SUPRA 100 LE and TECHNOMELT® SUPRA 106M LE formulas designed with biobased alternatives reduce the adhesives’ cradle-to-gate carbon footprint by 25%1 compared to the legacy products. This reduced footprint is enabled by a proprietary formulation of Kraton’s SYLVALITE™ 2200 biobased tackifiers developed with REvolution™ rosin ester technology and Dow’s AFFINITY™ GA polyolefin elastomers. The lower emission formulations maintain equivalent performance and food safe properties customers expect from the legacy designs.

“At Kraton, we understand the importance of sustainability in today’s adhesive and packaging markets,” said Minco van Breevoort, Kraton Pine Chemicals President. “Supplying Henkel with our REvolution™ technology and biobased tackifiers reflects our long-standing dedication to innovating solutions that satisfy customer needs and reduce environmental impact. We take pride in driving the transition towards sustainable adhesive and packaging solutions.”

Sustainable products often carry a premium price due to higher manufacturing costs and increased regulatory pressure for Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions reporting. By investing in lower carbon emission formulations, Henkel, Kraton and Dow are meeting consumer demand for sustainable packaging and making these solutions more attainable for consumer goods manufacturers. As a result of the combined investment, TECHNOMELT® SUPRA 100 LE and TECHNOMELT® SUPRA 106M LE will be available to existing customers at no additional cost2.

“Henkel has been leading the efforts on sustainable solutions which promote emission reduction, circularity and safety. Sustainability is not just our responsibility to future generations but integral to our long-term success as a company,” explains Ulla Hüppe, Head of Sustainability for Adhesive Technologies at Henkel. “By working with Kraton and Dow, we are able to offer lower emission solutions and establish new industry precedence.“

„We believe in the power of collaboration with like-minded companies who share Dow’s values and ambition. With Henkel and Kraton, we’re not just forging collaborations, we’re creating a sustainable ecosystem. We’re proud to be setting a precedent of working together with other industry leaders to drive change and bring value to customers,” said Haley Lowry, Global Director Sustainability, Dow.

Kraton’s REvolution™ is an innovative technology platform designed to deliver enhanced color performance and oxidative stability in biobased tackifiers such as Kraton’s SYLVALITE™ 2200. The technology provides a sustainable alternative to fossil-based products, enabling formulators to achieve a high biobased content and a low carbon footprint. Dow’s AFFINITY™ GA offers advanced performance for extreme temperatures in packaging. The TECHNOMELT® product portfolio includes other biobased formulations, as well as innovative low temperature hot melt adhesive formulations.

1 – Note: Carbon footprint calculation estimated cradle-to-gate from Henkel’s internal LCA assessment, excluding emissions in the use phase and end of life. Due to accounting for biogenic CO2 uptake and other net biogenic emissions in constituents of our adhesive, shown CO2 impact can be used only on product level, not on corporate level. Further details are required to derive resp. claims for customer-specific reporting.
2- NOTE: Cost fluctuations may arise as an effect of prevailing market conditions and the interplay of supply and demand factors to which may change the price.

About Kraton
Kraton Corporation is a leading global producer of specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from renewable resources. Kraton’s polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants, and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving and roofing products. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company’s pine-based specialty products are sold into adhesive, road and construction and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of performance chemicals into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks, and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in over 70 countries worldwide. More information at www.kraton.com
* Kraton, REvolution, and SYLVALITE the Kraton logo and design are all trademarks of Kraton Corporation, or its subsidiaries or affiliates, in one or more, but not all countries.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.