Tag: 3BL

Stuart Weitzman, part of Tapestry’s iconic house of brands, is proud to partner with Mercado Global, a women’s empowerment and ethical fashion non-profit, for their Spring 2024 Collection. The collaboration was born from the idea of pairing traditional, artisanal handcrafted fabrics with modern footwear design. Stuart Weitzman’s designers created a limited-edition ikat print jacquard textile crafted by the non-profit’s partner Indigenous artisanal communities in Latin America, specifically women artisans in Guatemala. 

To craft the fabric, the artisans first dye specific areas of the yarn using the resist-dyeing technique to create the distinctive ikat pattern. Then, drawing upon centuries-old craftsmanship of Latin American textiles, they loom weave the dyed yarn into fabric. The fabric is shipped to the Stuart Weitzman shoemaking factories in Spain, where their team of expert artisans craft them into our newest sandal silhouettes for spring. 

The partnership is more than a design venture: Incorporating textiles made by Indigenous artisanal communities in Latin America into luxury pieces represents a powerful step towards a future where ethical production methods and elevated design seamlessly intertwine in the fashion industry. 

“This partnership with Stuart Weitzman not only provides work opportunities to women artisans in Guatemala, but it also brings the cultural significance of traditional Latin American handmade textiles to the forefront,” says Mercado Global Founder & Executive Director, Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia. “It celebrates and helps further preserve a centuries-old tradition, and we are thrilled to be able to bring this history of craftsmanship to Stuart Weitzman’s own storied history of craftsmanship in luxury footwear.” 

This collaboration stays true to the brand’s social impact purpose of empowering strength in communities, and, as the first time partnering with Indigenous artisans in Latin America, it also resonates with the brand’s ethos of creating beautiful, artisan-crafted accessories designed to inspire confidence. 

“As a global brand that stands for uplifting women around the world, Stuart Weitzman is proud to partner with Mercado Global and support the empowerment of Indigenous women artisans in Guatemala to make meaningful change in their communities,” says Stuart Weitzman CEO & Brand President, Giorgio Sarné. 

The styles are available to shop on stuartweitzman.com, in select Stuart Weitzman boutiques around the globe and in select Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom locations.

Mastercard

Yesterday marked a monumental milestone as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Girls4Tech at the NYSE. With over 7 million girls empowered across 65 countries to date, Girls4Tech continues to redefine the landscape of STEM education.

Witnessing Susan Warner, Michael Miebach, Zainab Ibrahim, and our inspiring young participants ring the closing bell reaffirmed the transformative power of empowering girls worldwide with knowledge and opportunities.

About Mastercard

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Originally published by Waste 360

As Vanguard Renewables marks its tenth year in the anaerobic digestion business, it has grown from a few sites in New England to 32 digesters operating across eight states, with plenty more in the pipeline for the near future.

Vanguard’s birth was spurred by the convergence of two policies in Massachusetts: a ban on the landfilling of food waste and a net metering law that incentivized biogas projects. The company landed a few deals to build, own, and operate anaerobic digesters in that state to make electricity from food waste, with a little manure mixed in to enhance the biological process.

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By Megan Clark

When Senior Training Specialist Jason Skolnick married his wife Mellisa, he vowed to build her anything she could imagine. Little did he know that his promise would have an incredible impact on his family and his local school district — winning him Exelon’s highest achievement for volunteerism and community involvement, the Powering Communities Employee Volunteer Award.

Jason became involved in the Linwood Parent Teacher Organization through his wife, a teacher in the district, and his children. “I’m passionate about this nonprofit because it helps my kids and other kids in the community, and it has given them all a chance to do something outside of the norm,” Jason said.

Mellisa regularly dreams up exciting backdrops for school dances, events like outdoor family movie nights, and ways to improve the school’s book fair, then Jason takes her ideas and brings them to life.

With Jason’s recognition, the Linwood PTO also received a $5,000 grant from Exelon to support its future endeavors within the Atlantic County, New Jersey school district.

The grant will help the PTO with upcoming field trips and events, as well as a permanent storage location for its equipment. “This is a great company,” Jason said. “I thank Exelon for giving us the opportunity to give back to our communities where we live and serve and just make it better.”

In 2022, Jason joined his fellow Atlantic City Electric employees in dedicating more than 10,000 hours (that’s more than 1,250 workdays of volunteerism!) to support 125 events throughout South Jersey. This volunteerism is on top of the approximately $1.2 million Atlantic City Electric contributed to local nonprofits.

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Employees exceed previous year’s volunteer hours

At the top of 2023, Entergy Mississippi set a big goal for itself. With April marking 100 years since the utility began serving the state, ‘the power of 100’ became the backdrop for its volunteerism and community-centered efforts. The company kicked off the centennial celebration by partnering with local organizations to provide nutritional meals to families in need, and energy efficiency kits to help customers lower their power usage and bills.

A year later, employees proudly exceeded their goal of providing 100,000 meals to families across its service area, in partnership with Extra Table. Volunteers eagerly bagged red beans and rice meals at two significant events for both Entergy Mississippi and the non-profit organization; collected non-perishable items and supplies for customers who were impacted by the devastating March tornadoes in the Mississippi Delta; and gathered nearly 500 jars of peanut butter to stock food pantries across the state.

‘The power of 100’ also touched communities across Mississippi with the help of Boss Lady Workforce Development Inc. New Horizon Ministries, Southwest Mississippi Opportunity, Mississippi Food Network, Gateway Rescue Mission, Stewpot Community Services, and We Will Go. Employees worked alongside these community action agencies to serve more than 3,150 meals.

“We believe in taking care of our customers and the communities we serve – where our employees also live and work. We must give back to our neighbors, in order to power Mississippi for generations to come,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi.

In 2023, Entergy Mississippi employees dedicated 18,792 hours at 120 volunteer events within communities across the service area – surpassing the previous year’s record by more than 800 hours. The amount of time serving in the communities equates to $597,596 of hours on the clock.

With 2023 being the hottest year recorded, the company was able to provide customers who would be using more power to keep cool, tools to help lower their energy bills. Entergy Mississippi distributed more than 25,000 energy efficiency throughout the centennial. These free kits include easy-to-install money-saving products; and combined with online savings tools, can save up to $300 annually on energy bills.

“I can’t thank our employees enough for the enthusiasm they have for volunteering,” said Valarie Mabry, public affairs analyst. Mabry manages Entergy Mississippi’s volunteerism efforts. “Our 100th anniversary will be remembered as a remarkable year for the company because of the collaborative spirit our employees brought to the organizations in which we partnered. That attitude is what made all of this possible!”

April 30, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres Roadmap 360º equips companies with what they need to embed sustainability across their operations and future-proof their business 

Ceres launched a new sustainability assessment tool designed to help small to medium-sized companies assess and improve their sustainability performance.

Developed by Ceres in-house experts, the Ceres Roadmap 360º equips businesses with user-friendly, self-guided learning modules covering a range of topics – from clean energy to risk management to community engagement – that are most important to their sustainability journey. The tool produces customized reports that include a scorecard, best practice recommendations, and useful resources to help companies integrate sustainability across their operations.

Inspired by the foundation laid by the Ceres Roadmap 2030 – a 10-year action plan for sustainable business leadership that outlines the actions large companies must take by 2030 to stabilize the climate, protect water and natural resources, and build a just and inclusive economy – the new Ceres Roadmap 360º provides expert insights to guide smaller companies and those lacking the resources of their larger, public company counterparts.

“In a world where sustainability is non-negotiable in business strategy, Ceres Roadmap 360º is a valuable resource for small to medium-sized companies, offering the guidance they need to thrive in the transition to a cleaner, more just and sustainable economy,” said Mindy Lubber, Ceres CEO and president. “Integrating sustainability in decision-making to address material financial risks will ensure long-term value and competitiveness in the ever-changing market.”

The Ceres Roadmap 360º comes at a critical time for business action. The regulatory landscape for corporate transparency has shifted, characterized by important developments like the new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule, requiring all U.S. public companies to disclose climate-related financial risks. California’s new robust disclosure laws require companies that do business in that state to report this information. While risks grow more urgent, unprecedented investment in clean energy projects, incentivized by the Inflation Reduction Act, provides timely economic opportunities for businesses across the U.S. Over time, the impacts of these requirements and incentives are expected to cascade down through the supply chains of large companies. Smaller companies risk reputational damage and loss of market share if they fail to scale their sustainability progress.

“At this pivotal moment, U.S. companies must act decisively to prepare for the future, mitigate financial risks, and maintain relevance in evolving economic, social, and regulatory landscapes,” said Dan Saccardi, program director of the Ceres Company Network at Ceres. “Becoming better prepared to meet the increasingly rigorous disclosure and performance expectations that larger companies already face will not only position these companies for success but enable them to meet mounting demands from their large corporate customers who will require this information to both achieve their sustainability goals and fulfill new regulatory requirements.”

In addition to Ceres in-house experts, the Ceres Roadmap 360 was informed by feedback from dozens of other practicing corporate sustainability professionals and external consultants. This input strengthened alignment with industry standards and practicality for businesses aiming for sustainability excellence.

“For small to medium-sized businesses looking to set up a long-term strategy for sustainability, the Ceres Roadmap 360º is invaluable,” said Michelle Benavides, executive director, International Society for Sustainability Professionals (ISSP). “The tool provides feedback on where companies are meeting their sustainability targets, and I hope to see it used not just for measurement, but also as a way to reflect on where companies can actively reduce their negative impacts.”

The Ceres Roadmap 360º empowers companies with essential insights, resources, and recommendations to future-proof their business. The tool will continue to evolve with new modules and enhanced content to support the unique needs of small to medium-sized businesses in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Explore the Ceres Roadmap 360º at roadmap360.ceres.org. 

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Vivian Melody, vmelody@ceres.org

April 29, 2024 /3BL/ – Leading businesses today called on California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to fully fund the implementation of the state’s landmark corporate climate disclosure legislation.

Passed in 2023 with significant company and investor support, SB 253 and SB 261 – collectively referred to as the Climate Accountability Package – are historic risk management and corporate transparency measures. Once they are implemented, large public and private companies that do business in California will begin reporting their impacts on climate change throughout their supply and value chains, as well as the steps they are taking to prepare their businesses for the risks of climate change.

However, the implementation of the two laws has not yet been funded. In a letter to the governor and legislative leaders, 35 businesses called for full funding to be included in the final 2024-2025 state budget.

“We respectfully urge you to secure full funding for the on-time implementation of SB 253 and SB 261, as enacted into law, in the final 2024-2025 state budget. Not only do investors, consumers, and other stakeholders deserve better information about companies’ climate-related financial risks, but businesses themselves will benefit from the standardized and consistent disclosure guidance that these policies promise,” the letter said.

Signatories to the letter include Akamai Technologies, Avocado Green Brands, Dignity Health, DSM, Everlane, Patagonia, REI Co-op, among others. It was organized by the sustainability nonprofit Ceres, a long-time supporter of corporate climate disclosure that strongly advocated for the California policies throughout 2023.

“Patagonia has been voluntarily measuring our carbon emissions, including our Scope 3, since 2015,” said Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert. “By measuring this—because we understand the damage we inflict on nature—we are taking responsibility and radically cutting our pollution by transforming how we make products and work with our supply chain partners. All companies should be held accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis, and this legislation will help because finding solutions requires transparency and consistent, reliable data.”

“At Everlane, we are committed to leaving the fashion industry cleaner than we found it in 2011 when we launched our first product. We understand that this is not something we can do alone, so we’re dedicated to measuring and disclosing our impacts, goals, and progress, and supporting key legislation that will help move our industry (and others) forward. We recently released our 2023 Impact Report, and are proud to announce that we have achieved a 38% absolute reduction across Scope 1-3 emissions compared to our 2019 baseline, which equates to a 24% decrease in Scope 3 per-product emissions,” said Katina Boutis, director of sustainability, Everlane. “While we are proud of our accomplishments, we need all companies to take bold action and accountability on climate change mitigation efforts—we believe that transparent disclosure is a necessary step to hold companies accountable to achieve necessary greenhouse gas reductions. We fully support the timely implementation of and budget allocation for SB253 and SB261, and urge our legislators to prioritize interoperability across leading disclosure frameworks.”

As investors, consumers, and others seek more information about corporate climate risk, the implementation of the California legislation is especially urgent because the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s climate disclosure rule is delayed by litigation.

“California last year proved its leadership by passing the nation’s first-ever climate disclosure policy, which will reduce risks to the state and national economy by providing unprecedented insight into how companies are managing the vast financial threats posed by the climate crisis,” said Steven Rothstein, managing director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. “Today, the call from leading businesses is clear: California must not delay in delivering these needed insights for investors, consumers, businesses, and other stakeholders. Now is the time to fully fund the implementation of SB 253 and SB 261.”

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

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org

Employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery planted dozens of new trees at its Texas City facility.In partnership with Trees for Houston and students from a local high school, nearly 100 volunteers planted 83 trees in the refinery’s greenbelt.Eight different species of trees, all native to the area, were planted during the one-day event in March.

Dozens of employees from Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City, Texas, recently teamed up with students from Texas City Independent School District (TCISD) to plant over 80 trees in the facility’s greenbelt across the street.

The refinery’s Wildlife Habitat Team, a group that volunteers to enhance local wildlife habitats and promotes environmental awareness, education and community outreach efforts, organized the event in partnership with Trees for Houston, a local nonprofit dedicated to planting, protecting and promoting trees across the Greater Houston area.

“Trees are critical infrastructure to grow and sustain healthy communities that will create long-lasting benefits for generations to come,” said Barry Ward, Executive Director with Trees for Houston. “Having willing and supportive partners like Marathon Petroleum is essential to growing a stronger and healthier Houston for all.”

The trees, funded through an $18,000 donation from Marathon Petroleum, were transported to their new location by Trees for Houston staff. Once there, the Trees for Houston team positioned the trees in their designated spots and worked with employee and student volunteers to plant the trees, which included eight different species from the Shumard Oak to the Red Maple—all native to the area. Trees for Houston will use a portion of the donation to water the trees for the next two years to ensure the best start possible.

“We’re proud of the work our team members continue to do with important community partners like Trees for Houston,” said Honor Sheard, Health, Environmental, Safety and Security Manager at the Galveston Bay refinery. “It’s never difficult to find ready and willing volunteers to better our community. It was a great experience to be able to volunteer side-by-side with local high schoolers, who are the future of our community.”

Trees for Houston was founded in 1983 and has planted over a half-million trees across the Houston area since.

Recognition cites quality tree care, including proper pruning and training in accordance with industry standardsProgram promotes safe, reliable electric service and abundant, healthy treesSince 2017, the company has given away more than 13,000 trees to help customers conserve energy and maximize environmental benefits through strategic tree planting

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 29, 2024 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Duke Energy Florida for its tree care practices by naming the company a “Tree Line USA” utility for the 18th year in a row.

Duke Energy achieved Tree Line USA status by meeting certain criteria such as following industry standards for quality tree care, including proper pruning, annually training employees and contractors in best practices, sponsoring tree plantings and public education programs, and participating in annual Arbor Day events.

One such event is Duke Energy’s annual tree giveaway in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. Each January, Duke Energy customers can order a free tree in honor of Florida Arbor Day. Since 2017, the company has given away more than 13,000 trees to customers throughout the state. The program helps customers conserve energy and reduce energy bills through strategic tree planting. The trees are shipped in 1-gallon buckets directly to customers’ homes with planting and care instructions in time for National Arbor Day.

“Trees are a vital part of Florida’s natural landscape, but they are also one of the leading causes of power outages, especially here in Florida, where high winds and hurricanes are common,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Our crews and contractors work hard to balance aesthetics with our responsibility to protect the lines that deliver power to homes, businesses and critical services like hospitals, grocery stores and public safety facilities across the state.”

Throughout the year, Duke Energy schedules periodic vegetation maintenance along power lines to minimize outages caused by trees in or near transmission and distribution rights of way. The company also performs additional maintenance ahead of hurricane season.

Tree maintenance practices vary based on the voltage and type of line, as well as the type of tree and its proximity to the line. In some cases, the tree may need to be cut down to provide safe and reliable operation of the line. Trees located within the rights of way of high-voltage transmission lines are generally removed instead of pruned.

“We recognize that customers have concerns when trees are trimmed or removed in their neighborhoods,” Seixas said. “Know that we are following industry standards and federal requirements to ensure the health of the trees while also ensuring the integrity of power lines to continue providing the safe, reliable service we all depend on.”

It is important to remember that customers, property owners and untrained contractors should not prune or cut trees and plants near power lines. In addition, when planting trees near power lines, be sure to select a low-growing variety to minimize impact to the lines. Also, contact Sunshine 811 before digging to locate any underground utilities, which are often located in utility easements.

For more information about planning and planting vegetation around electrical facilities, please visit Duke Energy’s Right Tree Right Place website.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Media contact: Audrey Stasko 
Media line: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS

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In an effort to overcome the climate crisis, organizations across the U.S. are taking a multifaceted approach to environmental sustainability and building a clean energy economy. The current federal administration has published the following goals: 

By 2030, reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels.By 2035, reach 100% carbon pollution-free electricity.By 2050, achieve a net-zero emissions economy.

To help reach these goals, our federal agencies and military are taking steps to grow more energy resilient. Both state and local levels of government have also launched initiatives to encourage more sustainable practices and operations. Organizations of all sizes are looking for ways to operate sustainably and to better protect our future. At Leidos, we not only pursue internal sustainability efforts but also help our customers achieve theirs.

How we help our customers reach their sustainability goals

“The greatest contribution Leidos makes to sustainability is through the work we do for our customers,” Chris Goodman, climate portfolio manager at Leidos, says. “Our teams develop innovative strategies and technologies to help our customers mitigate and adapt to climate change.” Just a few examples include:

Using our Climate Data Analytics Framework (CDAF) to help customers improve sustainability outcomes. This framework provides an end-to-end solution for government and commercial customers to manage, store, and analyze climate-related data. When they can more easily access critical data and understand their climate-related risk, they can better ensure transparency and quickly develop actionable insights.Providing program management for Ameren Illinois, an electric and gas utilities provider, toward reducing energy usage and implementing community-based sustainability initiatives. After our public school carbon-free assessment for the East St. Louis School District, for instance, area schools implemented more than $171,000 worth of incentives and saved power upwards of 129,000 kWh.Helping various branches of our military move to zero-emission vehicles and renewable energy by upgrading their power infrastructure, which includes installing EV chargers and designing solar photovoltaic generation and energy storage systems.

“Climate and energy risks and opportunities impact every Leidos customer. By helping our customers develop strategies to reduce emissions and mitigate climate risk, we together protect current and future operations from environmental hazards,” Chris says.

Environmental sustainability at Leidos: Our 2030 goals and current progress

To guide our collective sustainability efforts, we’ve defined three high-level goals: cultivate inclusion, advance environmental sustainability, and promote healthier lives. Of course, without dedicated focus and related action, those are just words. That’s why we take time every year to track our progress and recommit to our sustainability goals.

In honor of Earth Month, here’s a check-in on our progress toward advancing environmental sustainability. Our internal environmental objectives focus on three main channels: reducing carbon output, reducing our waste, and shifting increasingly toward renewable energy. Here’s how we did in 2022*:

Carbon reduction — We are on track to reach our goal of reducing GHG emissions 25% by 2030, relative to a 2021 baseline. In 2022 alone, we achieved a 7.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions.Waste reduction — Our roadmap is in place, and we’ve started initiatives to reduce waste by 50% in Leidos facilities by 2030. Working with our partners, we diverted 194.7 tons of workplace furniture, fixtures, and equipment as well as 283,104 pounds of electronics waste from landfills.Carbon reduction — We are on track to increase our renewable energy to 25% of total electricity use by 2030. By 2022 we increased our renewable electricity utilization to more than 8% (up from 5% in 2021).

*2023 data is still being compiled and checked.

And this is just the start. We look forward to sharing more progress toward achieving our own goals and helping our customers build a more sustainable, cleaner future.