Tag: 3BL

As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2024, the theme “Planet vs. Plastics” highlights one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, with harmful consequences for ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

Plastic has undoubtedly revolutionized industries and transformed modern life with its versatility, durability, and convenience. However, this convenience comes at a cost. Single-use plastics, in particular, have inundated our oceans, rivers, and landscapes, choking wildlife, contaminating ecosystems, and leaching harmful chemicals into the environment.

Earth Day 2024 calls for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040 and a phase out of all single-use plastics by 2030. This call to action presents an opportunity to confront the plastic crisis head-on and shift towards a more sustainable, plastic-free future. The theme “Planet vs. Plastics” underscores the urgency of the situation and calls for decisive action at all levels of society.

Reduce and Refuse: The first line of defense against plastic pollution is to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and avoid products with excessive packaging. By committing to reusable alternatives, such as water bottles, shopping bags, and containers we can significantly reduce our plastic footprint and decrease the demand for new plastic production.Recycle Responsibly: Proper waste management and recycling are essential components of tackling plastic pollution. Individuals, businesses, and governments must prioritize recycling initiatives, invest in infrastructure, and promote closed-loop systems to ensure that plastic waste is diverted from landfills and efficiently recycled.Innovation and Educate: Innovation plays a crucial role in finding sustainable alternatives to plastic and developing technologies for plastic recycling and pollution prevention. Earth Day 2024 encourages collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to drive innovation in materials science, waste management, and circular economy solutions. Furthermore, education and awareness-raising efforts are vital for fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and empowering individuals to make informed choices about plastic consumption.

At Keysight, we focus on continuous improvements to maintain incremental forward progress in creating greater sustainability across the globe. We approach waste management by looking at our processes and determining where we can reduce any potential waste. Our aim is to constantly analyze our processes and look at ways to improve. With this approach, our successes range from diverting batteries from landfills, expanding our composting program, and increasing our employee environmental awareness, to subscribing to a circular economy model for our product lifecycle. After an inspiring initiative at our Penang, Malaysia site, Keysight facilities eliminated single-use plastic straws globally. In addition, we have eliminated, or are phasing out single-use plastics in our onsite cafeterias, break rooms, and coffee stations, and recycled old instrument parts instead of being sent out for disposal.

Keysight strives to limit the environmental impact of our product stream through design efforts, materials sourcing, product lifecycle, take-back and trade-in programs, refurbished equipment, and vast service offerings. Keysight’s main contribution to a Circular Economy is by designing and producing solutions that support an extensive use phase. We design our products to support up to 40 years of active service through calibration, repair, and remarketing services to divert waste. Supporting our circular economy, our equipment is maintained, repaired, refurbished, and recycled.

Considering our busy lifestyles where grabbing a quick meal on the go is common, I have decided to add reusable eating utensils and food storage containers to my essentials, alongside my reusable tote bags and water bottle. So, my checklist before leaving the house might be getting longer: phone, keys, wallet, water bottle, tote bags, utensils, food containers. But if everyone contributes to reducing or eliminating single-use plastics, we can collectively work towards a healthier future for everyone.

As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2024, the theme “Planet vs. Plastics” highlights one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, with harmful consequences for ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

Plastic has undoubtedly revolutionized industries and transformed modern life with its versatility, durability, and convenience. However, this convenience comes at a cost. Single-use plastics, in particular, have inundated our oceans, rivers, and landscapes, choking wildlife, contaminating ecosystems, and leaching harmful chemicals into the environment.

Earth Day 2024 calls for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040 and a phase out of all single-use plastics by 2030. This call to action presents an opportunity to confront the plastic crisis head-on and shift towards a more sustainable, plastic-free future. The theme “Planet vs. Plastics” underscores the urgency of the situation and calls for decisive action at all levels of society.

Reduce and Refuse: The first line of defense against plastic pollution is to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and avoid products with excessive packaging. By committing to reusable alternatives, such as water bottles, shopping bags, and containers we can significantly reduce our plastic footprint and decrease the demand for new plastic production.Recycle Responsibly: Proper waste management and recycling are essential components of tackling plastic pollution. Individuals, businesses, and governments must prioritize recycling initiatives, invest in infrastructure, and promote closed-loop systems to ensure that plastic waste is diverted from landfills and efficiently recycled.Innovation and Educate: Innovation plays a crucial role in finding sustainable alternatives to plastic and developing technologies for plastic recycling and pollution prevention. Earth Day 2024 encourages collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to drive innovation in materials science, waste management, and circular economy solutions. Furthermore, education and awareness-raising efforts are vital for fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and empowering individuals to make informed choices about plastic consumption.

At Keysight, we focus on continuous improvements to maintain incremental forward progress in creating greater sustainability across the globe. We approach waste management by looking at our processes and determining where we can reduce any potential waste. Our aim is to constantly analyze our processes and look at ways to improve. With this approach, our successes range from diverting batteries from landfills, expanding our composting program, and increasing our employee environmental awareness, to subscribing to a circular economy model for our product lifecycle. After an inspiring initiative at our Penang, Malaysia site, Keysight facilities eliminated single-use plastic straws globally. In addition, we have eliminated, or are phasing out single-use plastics in our onsite cafeterias, break rooms, and coffee stations, and recycled old instrument parts instead of being sent out for disposal.

Keysight strives to limit the environmental impact of our product stream through design efforts, materials sourcing, product lifecycle, take-back and trade-in programs, refurbished equipment, and vast service offerings. Keysight’s main contribution to a Circular Economy is by designing and producing solutions that support an extensive use phase. We design our products to support up to 40 years of active service through calibration, repair, and remarketing services to divert waste. Supporting our circular economy, our equipment is maintained, repaired, refurbished, and recycled.

Considering our busy lifestyles where grabbing a quick meal on the go is common, I have decided to add reusable eating utensils and food storage containers to my essentials, alongside my reusable tote bags and water bottle. So, my checklist before leaving the house might be getting longer: phone, keys, wallet, water bottle, tote bags, utensils, food containers. But if everyone contributes to reducing or eliminating single-use plastics, we can collectively work towards a healthier future for everyone.

In Nebraska, one out of every three jobs is agriculture-based.

Focused on developing leaders and innovators for the future, the state association of the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) promotes agricultural education by offering skills training and education in local FFA chapters across Nebraska. Currently, more than 12,000 high school students are members of the FFA in Nebraska.

“It’s important that young people continue to seek agricultural jobs in both rural and urban Nebraska,” says Stacey Agnew, executive director of Nebraska FFA Foundation. “There is a high demand for students to work in the industry, whether they have a high school or post-secondary education.”

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is the fundraising arm for Nebraska FFA, helping to support programs throughout the state that offer educational programming. To be a member, students must be enrolled in an agricultural course at their school. Interest is evident, as the Nebraska FFA has grown from about 150 chapters in the early 2010s to 214 today.

From animal systems to crop production to harvesting and merchandising, many career paths exist in agricultural careers. Students are exposed to such roles through a model of classroom and laboratory instruction, leadership training and experiential learning-based opportunities.

“Over 300,000 jobs exist within agriculture in Nebraska—it’s more than just your ranchers and farmers.”

Contrary to popular belief, Agnew clarifies that students living on a ranch or farm comprise “a very small percentage” of Nebraska FFA membership. In fact, most students in agricultural education in Nebraska are part of the food and natural resource system.

For the past three years, Enbridge has awarded Fueling Futures grants to the Nebraska FFA Foundation as part of our commitment to building vibrant communities near our operations. The funding has supported the annual statewide convention held every April, and helped to put on workshops for members at either a free or reduced cost.

In 2023, Enbridge’s own Michael Howe, a stakeholder engagement specialist based in neighboring Wyoming, participated in the state convention as a judge for a speaking competition.

“It’s incredibly important for us to get industry volunteers every year,” says Agnew.

Enbridge is an enthusiastic supporter of the FFA across the Great Plains and the Midwest, with Fueling Futures grants targeted for the following activities by respective state chapters in 2023:

Safety, diversity and inclusion training and conference support in North Dakota and Iowa.Diversity and inclusion capacity building in Minnesota.Leadership training in Wyoming and Missouri.Environmental education in Montana.

At the heart of it all, the main goal for the Nebraska FFA Foundation is to drive awareness among teachers and students about the career paths available and companies to work for within the agricultural sector.

And the earlier the exposure to the industry, the better. Students who are enrolled in agricultural courses develop greater curiosity around innovation and new technologies relevant to the industry.

“These are the eventual leaders who will be responsible for ensuring a safe and stable food and fiber supply, so it’s extremely important we start them early. High school students often don’t have a point of reference about what sort of jobs are out there until you introduce it to them,” says Agnew.

“It would be quite devastating to our economy and communities if people were not prepared to raise the food to feed the world.”

In Nebraska, one out of every three jobs is agriculture-based.

Focused on developing leaders and innovators for the future, the state association of the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) promotes agricultural education by offering skills training and education in local FFA chapters across Nebraska. Currently, more than 12,000 high school students are members of the FFA in Nebraska.

“It’s important that young people continue to seek agricultural jobs in both rural and urban Nebraska,” says Stacey Agnew, executive director of Nebraska FFA Foundation. “There is a high demand for students to work in the industry, whether they have a high school or post-secondary education.”

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is the fundraising arm for Nebraska FFA, helping to support programs throughout the state that offer educational programming. To be a member, students must be enrolled in an agricultural course at their school. Interest is evident, as the Nebraska FFA has grown from about 150 chapters in the early 2010s to 214 today.

From animal systems to crop production to harvesting and merchandising, many career paths exist in agricultural careers. Students are exposed to such roles through a model of classroom and laboratory instruction, leadership training and experiential learning-based opportunities.

“Over 300,000 jobs exist within agriculture in Nebraska—it’s more than just your ranchers and farmers.”

Contrary to popular belief, Agnew clarifies that students living on a ranch or farm comprise “a very small percentage” of Nebraska FFA membership. In fact, most students in agricultural education in Nebraska are part of the food and natural resource system.

For the past three years, Enbridge has awarded Fueling Futures grants to the Nebraska FFA Foundation as part of our commitment to building vibrant communities near our operations. The funding has supported the annual statewide convention held every April, and helped to put on workshops for members at either a free or reduced cost.

In 2023, Enbridge’s own Michael Howe, a stakeholder engagement specialist based in neighboring Wyoming, participated in the state convention as a judge for a speaking competition.

“It’s incredibly important for us to get industry volunteers every year,” says Agnew.

Enbridge is an enthusiastic supporter of the FFA across the Great Plains and the Midwest, with Fueling Futures grants targeted for the following activities by respective state chapters in 2023:

Safety, diversity and inclusion training and conference support in North Dakota and Iowa.Diversity and inclusion capacity building in Minnesota.Leadership training in Wyoming and Missouri.Environmental education in Montana.

At the heart of it all, the main goal for the Nebraska FFA Foundation is to drive awareness among teachers and students about the career paths available and companies to work for within the agricultural sector.

And the earlier the exposure to the industry, the better. Students who are enrolled in agricultural courses develop greater curiosity around innovation and new technologies relevant to the industry.

“These are the eventual leaders who will be responsible for ensuring a safe and stable food and fiber supply, so it’s extremely important we start them early. High school students often don’t have a point of reference about what sort of jobs are out there until you introduce it to them,” says Agnew.

“It would be quite devastating to our economy and communities if people were not prepared to raise the food to feed the world.”

Cindy Elliser, PhD, founded Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) in 2014, focusing on studying harbor porpoises and harbor seals to support their conservation in the Salish Sea.PacMam conducts long-term research, including photo-identification and behavioral surveys, to understand the life history, behavior, and ecology of these marine mammals.Marathon Petroleum’s grants totaling $40,000 from 2022 to 2023 have been instrumental in supporting PacMam’s efforts, allowing them to continue their vital work in the field.

A young girl with a dream to work with dolphins grew up and is now leading research to support conservation efforts of harbor porpoises and harbor seals in the Salish Sea of the Pacific Northwest.

“I have loved marine mammals since I was little,” said Cindy Elliser, PhD, Research Director for Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam). “I have always been drawn to them since before I can remember and have been conducting research now for almost 25 years.”

Dr. Elliser founded PacMam in 2014. Since then, the nonprofit organization in Anacortes, Washington, has focused on studying harbor porpoises and harbor seals to contribute to greater conservation measures of the marine mammals.

“Good conservation requires knowledge of the species, including understanding their behavior, ecology, distribution, and movement patterns,” said Dr. Elliser. “This knowledge comes from monitoring the populations over a long period of time. If we don’t understand the species, then we can’t make the conservation decisions that will help them the most.”

Dr. Elliser says that marine mammals like dolphins, humpback whales and killer whales have been intensely monitored for decades, but other species like the harbor porpoise do not have long-term data.

“When changes occur, like a decline in population, we may not recognize them if we weren’t monitoring them prior to the change,” said Dr. Elliser. “We all depend on a healthy ecosystem, and a healthy ecosystem requires healthy populations of the many animals, plants and algae that call the Salish Sea home. It is important for people to know who their non-human neighbors are, what their needs are, and how we can all live together.”

Katrina MacIver, MRes (Master of Research), is the Assistant Research Director of PacMam. MacIver is part of the team that conducts long-term photo-identification and behavioral surveys to learn more about the life history, behavior and ecology of harbor porpoises and harbor seals.

“We learn about the populations by understanding the individuals that comprise them,” said MacIver. “We also educate the public through presentations, engage the community in our research with our volunteer and community science programs, and provide invaluable experience to young scientists through our internships.”

Marathon Petroleum’s Anacortes refinery awarded the organization $40,000 total in grants from 2022 to 2023 to support the growth of the programs. As PacMam approaches its 10th anniversary, Dr. Elliser credits Marathon Petroleum’s support for helping them continue their work.

“The work we do hinges on our staff and the ability to get out into the field, which we do year-round,” said Elliser. “Without these funds it would have been near impossible to continue the work we are doing at the same level we are now, or even at all. We so appreciate that Marathon sees the value in local community nonprofits like us and gives us the chance to continue our work.”

Cindy Elliser, PhD, founded Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) in 2014, focusing on studying harbor porpoises and harbor seals to support their conservation in the Salish Sea.PacMam conducts long-term research, including photo-identification and behavioral surveys, to understand the life history, behavior, and ecology of these marine mammals.Marathon Petroleum’s grants totaling $40,000 from 2022 to 2023 have been instrumental in supporting PacMam’s efforts, allowing them to continue their vital work in the field.

A young girl with a dream to work with dolphins grew up and is now leading research to support conservation efforts of harbor porpoises and harbor seals in the Salish Sea of the Pacific Northwest.

“I have loved marine mammals since I was little,” said Cindy Elliser, PhD, Research Director for Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam). “I have always been drawn to them since before I can remember and have been conducting research now for almost 25 years.”

Dr. Elliser founded PacMam in 2014. Since then, the nonprofit organization in Anacortes, Washington, has focused on studying harbor porpoises and harbor seals to contribute to greater conservation measures of the marine mammals.

“Good conservation requires knowledge of the species, including understanding their behavior, ecology, distribution, and movement patterns,” said Dr. Elliser. “This knowledge comes from monitoring the populations over a long period of time. If we don’t understand the species, then we can’t make the conservation decisions that will help them the most.”

Dr. Elliser says that marine mammals like dolphins, humpback whales and killer whales have been intensely monitored for decades, but other species like the harbor porpoise do not have long-term data.

“When changes occur, like a decline in population, we may not recognize them if we weren’t monitoring them prior to the change,” said Dr. Elliser. “We all depend on a healthy ecosystem, and a healthy ecosystem requires healthy populations of the many animals, plants and algae that call the Salish Sea home. It is important for people to know who their non-human neighbors are, what their needs are, and how we can all live together.”

Katrina MacIver, MRes (Master of Research), is the Assistant Research Director of PacMam. MacIver is part of the team that conducts long-term photo-identification and behavioral surveys to learn more about the life history, behavior and ecology of harbor porpoises and harbor seals.

“We learn about the populations by understanding the individuals that comprise them,” said MacIver. “We also educate the public through presentations, engage the community in our research with our volunteer and community science programs, and provide invaluable experience to young scientists through our internships.”

Marathon Petroleum’s Anacortes refinery awarded the organization $40,000 total in grants from 2022 to 2023 to support the growth of the programs. As PacMam approaches its 10th anniversary, Dr. Elliser credits Marathon Petroleum’s support for helping them continue their work.

“The work we do hinges on our staff and the ability to get out into the field, which we do year-round,” said Elliser. “Without these funds it would have been near impossible to continue the work we are doing at the same level we are now, or even at all. We so appreciate that Marathon sees the value in local community nonprofits like us and gives us the chance to continue our work.”

GEORGIA, April 22, 2024 – Environment+Energy Leader is pleased to announce the 2024 E+E Leader Award Winners as part of our Earth Day celebrations. This year, we experienced unprecedented global participation, with submissions pouring in from over 20 countries, culminating in the recognition of 63 top-scoring innovations in sustainability and energy efficiency.

A Global Celebration of Sustainability Innovation

The 2024 Environment+Energy Leader Awards represent the pinnacle of environmental stewardship and energy management achievement. Spanning a wide array of industries, this year’s winners have established new benchmarks for excellence, introducing groundbreaking products and pioneering projects that significantly advance sustainability goals.

Judges’ Choice Awards – Highlighting Exceptional Achievements

Our rigorous selection process, led by esteemed volunteer industry judges, has identified standout entries that exemplify superior innovation and impactful solutions. We are thrilled to highlight the Judges’ Choice Awards, acknowledging remarkable initiatives shaping the future of environmental and energy management. The Judges’ Choice winners are:

Projects:Energy Innovation: NERVA Energy Group Inc., for North America’s largest multi-residential smart building conversion.Environmental Impact: MilliporeSigma, for greener products and solutions that transform the life science industry.Software Implementation: Cority Software Inc., for its Environmental & Waste Implementation Project with Shell.Products:Business & Infrastructure: Allonnia, for the revolutionary Allonnia 1,4 D-Stroy.Consumer & Residential: FLOR, for their Carbon Negative Area Rugs.Software & Cloud: Building Transparency for the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3).

Virtual Solutions Summit: A Platform for Continuous Learning

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Environment+Energy Leader Virtual Solutions Summit, June 4-5, 2024. This event will allow attendees to engage with award winners and thought leaders through keynote speeches and solution-driven sessions. Registration opens on May 1, 2024.

Participate in the Readers’ Choice Selection

We encourage you to participate in selecting the Readers’ Choice Favorites by sharing and tagging your favorite Product and Project Award winners on LinkedIn using the hashtag #EEAWARDSIN24. One Product and Project will be announced as our Readers’ Choice Winners during the opening session at the Virtual Solutions Summit.

Stay Engaged

To stay informed about the Awards, the Summit, and other updates, download the Awards eBook, subscribe to our newsletter, and register for the Virtual Summit when registrations open on May 1.

About Environment+Energy Leader

Environment+Energy Leader’s mission is to empower business leaders from various sectors with the critical knowledge, actionable insights, and practical tools needed to advance progress and make a positive impact worldwide. We aim to inspire, inform, and engage leaders in conversations that catalyze substantial environmental and corporate changes.

Contact:

Andrew Crawford 
Communications 
Environment+Energy Leader 
andrew.crawford@environmentenergyleader.com 
www.environmentenergyleader.com

End of Release

GEORGIA, April 22, 2024 – Environment+Energy Leader is pleased to announce the 2024 E+E Leader Award Winners as part of our Earth Day celebrations. This year, we experienced unprecedented global participation, with submissions pouring in from over 20 countries, culminating in the recognition of 63 top-scoring innovations in sustainability and energy efficiency.

A Global Celebration of Sustainability Innovation

The 2024 Environment+Energy Leader Awards represent the pinnacle of environmental stewardship and energy management achievement. Spanning a wide array of industries, this year’s winners have established new benchmarks for excellence, introducing groundbreaking products and pioneering projects that significantly advance sustainability goals.

Judges’ Choice Awards – Highlighting Exceptional Achievements

Our rigorous selection process, led by esteemed volunteer industry judges, has identified standout entries that exemplify superior innovation and impactful solutions. We are thrilled to highlight the Judges’ Choice Awards, acknowledging remarkable initiatives shaping the future of environmental and energy management. The Judges’ Choice winners are:

Projects:Energy Innovation: NERVA Energy Group Inc., for North America’s largest multi-residential smart building conversion.Environmental Impact: MilliporeSigma, for greener products and solutions that transform the life science industry.Software Implementation: Cority Software Inc., for its Environmental & Waste Implementation Project with Shell.Products:Business & Infrastructure: Allonnia, for the revolutionary Allonnia 1,4 D-Stroy.Consumer & Residential: FLOR, for their Carbon Negative Area Rugs.Software & Cloud: Building Transparency for the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3).

Virtual Solutions Summit: A Platform for Continuous Learning

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Environment+Energy Leader Virtual Solutions Summit, June 4-5, 2024. This event will allow attendees to engage with award winners and thought leaders through keynote speeches and solution-driven sessions. Registration opens on May 1, 2024.

Participate in the Readers’ Choice Selection

We encourage you to participate in selecting the Readers’ Choice Favorites by sharing and tagging your favorite Product and Project Award winners on LinkedIn using the hashtag #EEAWARDSIN24. One Product and Project will be announced as our Readers’ Choice Winners during the opening session at the Virtual Solutions Summit.

Stay Engaged

To stay informed about the Awards, the Summit, and other updates, download the Awards eBook, subscribe to our newsletter, and register for the Virtual Summit when registrations open on May 1.

About Environment+Energy Leader

Environment+Energy Leader’s mission is to empower business leaders from various sectors with the critical knowledge, actionable insights, and practical tools needed to advance progress and make a positive impact worldwide. We aim to inspire, inform, and engage leaders in conversations that catalyze substantial environmental and corporate changes.

Contact:

Andrew Crawford 
Communications 
Environment+Energy Leader 
andrew.crawford@environmentenergyleader.com 
www.environmentenergyleader.com

End of Release

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 22, 2024 /3BL/ – The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers—announced that Sarah Dale, plant general manager at International Paper (NYSE: IP) has been recognized as a 2024 Women MAKE Awards honoree.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9262851-international-paper-women-make-awards-sarah-dale/

This annual national awards program honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite.

“I was delighted to be selected for the Women MAKE Award,” Sarah said. “For the organization to take time, which is in short supply, to consider me for this notable award, was a treasure, but then, for an external group to review my nomination alongside impressive leaders and recognize my work — I am honored.”

Learn more about Sarah’s story here.

The Women MAKE Awards are part of the MI’s Women MAKE America initiative, which is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. Women MAKE America aims to build the 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the industry.

“With more than 600,000 open jobs in manufacturing today and the continued need to fill millions more jobs by the end of the decade, it’s critical for manufacturers to engage the largest underrepresented pool of talent: women,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

As part of its Vision 2030 goals, IP aims to have 30% overall representation of women in all positions and 50% of women in salaried positions. Additionally, the company’s Women in IP Employee Networking Circle (ENC) is committed to actively contributing to the growth and development of women in IP’s workforce, providing career guidance, professional development and fostering connections.

About The Manufacturing Institute 
The Manufacturing Institute builds, diversifies and strengthens the modern manufacturing workforce, with the goal of furthering individual opportunity, community prosperity and a more competitive manufacturing industry. The MI engages underrepresented communities and shifts perceptions about careers in modern manufacturing, leads skilled training and career development programs, provides thought leadership and research on the changing state of the workforce and builds partnerships to scale up its impact on manufacturing in the United States. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions for the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

About International Paper 
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

Logitech Blog

Kicking off with Earth Day, this first article in a three-part series invites readers to learn how Logitech’s design innovation culture is pushing next-level solutions with Design for Sustainability.

Designing for sustainability in consumer electronics

Setting the stage for breakthrough innovation takes more than a commitment to delivering next-level ideas. It lives deep within the company culture and starts with fostering a workplace environment that both encourages the unreasonable and nourishes employee confidence to iterate and learn through failures.

This innovation story began with an idea to keep Logitech’s youngest user safe and engaged. Safe for kids and safe from kids. The concept was to introduce a product made with materials to be proud of, be loud about, and love. One with the potential for materials to be circular, renewable, biodegradable, or possibly even a carbon sink.

Cork

More than a trendy material, cork has the potential to be an alternative to plastic in everyday life. It’s a natural material well known for being very lightweight, naturally heat resistant, and impermeable to liquids and gasses. It’s a favorite material for manufacturers and designers to explore. It’s no wonder Logitech’s design, engineering, and materials innovation teams jumped at the opportunity to think unconventionally about it.

Logitech’s focus is to design smarter with less environmental impact. It embeds Design for Sustainability (DfS) capabilities throughout all aspects of its design-led manufacturing process, including prototyping with materials that reduce environmental impact. Its goal is to transcend current solutions that not only redefine new aesthetics for consumer desirability but also create a vision for the future without the use of hidden impacts.

Every project at Logitech entails research, experimenting, and physical prototyping to evaluate the benefits for People, Planet, and Brand. The idea to prototype a cork headset was chosen to learn about manufacturing challenges and scalability, less about trying to deliver a cork-based product.

Not only is cork naturally durable, but in its natural form it has a lower carbon impact per gram of material than many other rubber and plastic material options currently used in electronic devices. However, cork cannot be manufactured using a typical process of injection molding, so the team looked at two possible routes.

First, it could be pressed into shapes using compressed cork to replace large plastic parts. Second, the team experimented with mixing cork and plastic together to create a cork composite that could be injection molded.

Based on preliminary DfS insights, compressed cork provided an excellent opportunity to add to its growing list of lower-carbon impact materials. However, cork composites (cork mixed with plastic) were trickier to establish insights. Interestingly, compressed cork and cork composite boasted a comparable low carbon footprint to the recycled plastic currently used in Logitech products – but cork composites are not widely recycled at the end of their life. Combining a natural material such as cork with conventional plastics poses challenges for recyclers, hindering the reuse of these materials. An effective approach to this challenge could involve setting up a closed-loop recycling system under Logitech’s direct management. Picture the possibilities of a future where we utilize lower-impact materials and contribute to achieving our Circularity goals.

Proof of concepts emerged for a headset, a mouse, a tablet case, and a stylus. The cork headset prototype allowed the collaborative design, engineering, and materials teams to envision, learn, and vet materials beyond the traditional foam, plastic, and rubber. “The headset was a catalyst to inspire and create conversations around radical thinking,” said Jasper Phua, Head of Global CMF at Logitech. “Projects like this challenge Logitech to leapfrog on sustainability innovation because not only are they exciting to work on, but they inspire us to act on differentiating ourselves in the marketplace.” The teams are enthusiastic to see what the future holds for the adoption of compressed cork.

Alternatives to virgin plastic

Setting cork aside, what is sitting at the heart of materials innovation? Plastic. Almost 400 million metric tons of plastic was produced globally in 2021, doubling since the beginning of the century. Although the average lifespan of a plastic product is around 10 years, its composition and disposal can take up to 500 years to decompose. That means your grandchildren’s grandchildren would be able to drink from the plastic cup that was thrown into the trash today. It’s time to change how we produce, consume, and dispose of plastic. Alternative materials hold the key to creating this shift.

Post-consumer recycled plastic is material made from items that people recycle every day. It’s still plastic, but it’s one of the critical pathways to reducing the environmental impact of plastic products and the pollution it generates. More importantly, recycled plastic is a proven, scalable solution to reducing carbon impact in products made with plastic. The trick is getting the plastic back into the system. In the US, only 5-6% of plastics are recycled each year. That’s barely above doing nothing.

Logitech calls post-consumer recycled plastic Next Life plastic because it has been given a second life. Nearly 2 in 3 Logitech products use Next Life plastic across the portfolio. Not only does Next Life plastic have a lower carbon footprint compared to virgin plastic because it requires less water, fossil fuels, and energy to produce, but it is also an essential component of the circular economy. Leveraging and expanding the use of Next Life plastic across a variety of products is only the beginning. Because of Logitech’s persistence in innovating with Next Life plastic, there is an array of mice, keyboards, and webcam options in over 40 exciting colors. Having the option to choose from vibrant colors beyond grey or black mice and keyboards allows everyone to express their personality.

Eliminating single-use plastic

Several years ago, Logitech formalized a commitment to reducing and eliminating as much single-use plastic as possible and began to transition packaging to paper-based alternatives, expanding its FSC-certified packaging program. When the Aurora Collection launched, packaging for the G735 headset used a molded paper pulp tray, a wood fiber tissue wrap, and a paper pulp hang-tab eliminating the need to use plastic labels, plastic hang-tabs, and single-use plastic bags. More than 99% of the packaging, by weight, is paper. The combined outcome of eliminating these elements across 50+ product lines amounted to removing 500 tons of plastic packaging at Logitech in 2022. There is more work ahead, but this marks a positive stride towards completely removing single-use plastic.

We all have a role to play

Next time you’re considering a purchase, shop sustainably. Choose products made with recycled plastic when you have the option or choose not to purchase plastic entirely. Let’s take broader steps to turn off the tap on plastic pollution. It’s time for everyone (including businesses) to know our impact and take action. We all hold the power to drive change. Here are simple steps you can take to tackle excess plastic.

Choose reusable options. Carry your own water bottle.Recycle your plastic in curbside bins and bring end-of-life electronic devices to proper recycling centers.Be an advocate for change and ask local suppliers or restaurants to ditch the plastic.Join a beach clean-up or pick up plastic trash in your neighborhood.Look for products made with alternative or renewable materials like paper and cork.