Tag: 3BL

By Candace Higginbotham 

The good news: 35 states now require high school students to pass a personal finance course to graduate.The challenge: Local school systems and teachers aren’t always equipped with robust curriculum and other resources to provide engaging financial education instruction to students.More good news: The Regions Foundation® and a community partner are helping to fill that gap.

The Regions Foundation is a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank. The Foundation’s grants and investments create positive change in communities across the South, Midwest and Texas. The Regions Foundation, along with Regions Bank, focus on initiatives that enhance economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness.

All three of those focus areas are critical to the Foundation’s work throughout the year, but Financial Literacy Month in April is the perfect opportunity to highlight some exciting special financial wellness initiatives.

The Foundation has collaborated with the Council for Economic Education for many years, most recently in the form of grants of $25,000 to each of three state affiliates in the Regions Bank footprint: Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama.

The CEE’s mission is to equip K-12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities. It does this by providing programs for teachers, students and families through a network of 200 affiliates across the country.

According to the CEE, 40 percent of Americans have less than $300 in savings, and only 24 percent of millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) demonstrate basic financial literacy.

The organization estimates that 50 percent of America’s youth will earn less than their parents.

With those metrics as motivation, the CEE has developed more than 1,000 lessons, guides and activities for 500,000 teachers that have so far reached more than 2 million students.

“During Financial Literacy Month – and throughout the year – the Regions Foundation works to ensure that people in our communities have access to financial education resources to make life better,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “We’re pleased to support the CEE’s professional development programs and provide curriculum resources to help students throughout the country, especially those in areas historically underserved by the traditional financial system. When young people have tools to make informed financial decisions and create a better life for themselves and their families, the entire community benefits.”

In Mississippi: Developing Teachers and Careers

The Mississippi Council on Economic Education was on hand three years ago when the state Board of Education declared that personal finance would be required content for students before graduating from high school. According to Selena Swartzfager, president of the Mississippi Council on Economic Education, the MCEE jumped in to help any way they could – including writing the personal finance unit of the College and Career Ready Course and providing teacher training.

“With support from the Regions Foundation, the MCEE developed the Master Teacher of College & Career Readiness program, which provides learning materials as well as creative ways to present personal finance education content in an engaging manner for students,” Swartzfager said. The program also helps students plan for and apply for college and help them make choices about entering the workforce.

“The content, which includes 75 hours of instruction, is presented via Canvas instruction presented by MCEE faculty,” Swartzfager said. “We’ve found this format expands reach, makes the material accessible, gives teachers flexibility, and – most importantly – it removes barriers.”

Their methods are clearly working. Mississippi received national recognition for their financial literacy in high schools program just a few years after the requirement was in place.

In Georgia: Preparing for Graduation and Beyond

A similar Georgia law was enacted in 2022 that requires 11th and 12th grade students to pass a half-credit personal finance program to graduate.

“Everyone is pleased about the new requirements and understands how beneficial these mandatory financial literacy programs are to our students, families and communities,” said Mike Raymer, executive director of the Georgia Council on Economic Education. “We just needed to make sure our teachers were ready for the transition.”

Raymer reports that thanks to the Regions Foundation grant, the GCEE has held six workshops for 70 high school teachers and nine sessions for 178 elementary school teachers focused on financial literacy since January.

The funding also supports fun, real-life learning activities for the students. One example is the Stock Market Game, a competition in which students are given $100,000 worth of simulated funds to invest.

“So far, the winning team has earned $166,000 in six weeks – and they’re elementary school students!” Raymer said. The winning teams will be honored at a celebration at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

The GCEE has several events planned for Financial Literacy Month, including a personal finance challenge for high school students and informative teacher webinars led by financial experts. Regions Chief Economist Richard Moody was a past guest speaker.

Mary Beth Coke, Regions Commercial Bank leader, serves as board chair for the GCEE and is proud to support this vital resource for Georgia teachers and students.

“The workshops, lesson plans and hands-on experience to K-12 teachers that GCEE provides across nearly every county in the state ensures our young citizens are financially literate,” Coke said. “The Regions Foundation grant will help maintain economic and financial education at the highest levels to our students.”

In Alabama: Reaching Younger Students

Alabama, too, has garnered national attention for effectively meeting its financial literacy graduation requirement, which went into effect in 2014.

But according to Wanda McAbee, who leads the Alabama Council on Economic Education, this affiliate is using their Regions Foundation grant dollars a little differently – to fund the council’s Never Too Early program.

“This is our second year to focus on the elementary school population,” McAbee said.

Our goal is to reach younger students and help them develop life-long habits. Knowledge is power and early learning ensures they’re better equipped for a successful financial future.

Wanda McAbee, leader of the Alabama Council on Economic Education 
 

The ACEE provides webinars for teachers and a variety of classroom tools, including Adventures in Math, a free online program to help K-8 kids learn math skills and financial responsibility that is part of Regions Next Step® financial wellness program. These younger students learn to count money, differentiate between wants and needs, making good decisions about earning, spending and saving.

So far this year, the Never Too Early program has provided financial education curriculum to 158 teachers and 17,698 students.

Don Korn, director of Portfolio Management for Regions Wealth Management, is a board member and praises the ACEE’s efforts in providing financial education programs for Alabama K-12 students.

“I enjoy serving as a board member of the ACEE because I have a passion for financial literacy and children’s education, which intersect with the council’s mission” Korn said. “And that ties in perfectly with the key areas of focus for the Regions Foundation.”

McAbee agreed, saying, “With its support of this program, the Regions Foundation is allowing us to build knowledge to last a lifetime.”

During Financial Literacy Month, Regions Bank associates are helping students across the bank’s footprint build financial confidence through the Share the Good® volunteer program. Join us, in a classroom near you!

CINCINNATI, April 22, 2024 /3BL/ – As part of its commitment to combat climate change and in celebration of Earth Day 2024, Fifth Third Bank today announced it has joined Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition, an effort to restore 100 million trees across the globe by 2025. By signing onto the coalition, Fifth Third will do its part and help to restore 10,000 trees.

The Priceless Planet Coalition is a valuable international program that helps promote tree restoration across six continents with 18 reforestation projects to create maximum impact. The lone project in the United States is located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, one of Fifth Third’s footprint states. Addressing climate change is one of Fifth Third’s five key corporate sustainability priorities.

“Reforestation is a key cog in the wheel of addressing climate change,” said Jeremy Faust, director of environmental sustainability, Fifth Third Bank. “We are proud to partner with Mastercard on their innovative and unique initiative to help make a measurable difference. The efforts are helping to create jobs as well as have positive, measurable effects on our natural environment.”

In Kentucky, a degraded mine site in Appalachia is being reforested by planting shortleaf pine and oak trees to improve air and water quality, enhance forest resiliency, and mitigate climate change through increased carbon accumulation. The reforestation project also will provide pollen and nectar sources for pollinators and attract more wildlife. Partners with Mastercard on the Kentucky forest project are Conservation International and Green Forests Work (GFW).

Fifth Third’s Purpose is to improve lives and the well-being of its communities. The Bank’s five sustainability priorities are keeping the customer at the center, building strong communities, delivering on commitments to employees, promoting inclusion and diversity, and addressing climate change to create a more inclusive and sustainable world. To learn more about Fifth Third’s Sustainability initiatives, click here. Our report on Community Impact is available here.

About Fifth Third 
Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com.

###

CONTACTS 
Adrienne Gutbier (Media Relations) 
adrienne.gutbier@53.com | 513-534-8038 
Matt Curoe (Investor Relations) 
matt.curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345

by Marc Yaggi, Waterkeeper Alliance 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a decision to make. Right now the agency is considering new water pollution standards for slaughterhouses and rendering facilities in response to lawsuits from environmental organizations. These standards are urgently needed to correct a long-standing regulatory failure to control one of the nation’s largest industrial sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Despite its stated mission to safeguard human health and the environment, EPA’s current regulations do not address phosphorus discharges, and the agency has neglected to update water pollution standards for other harmful pollutants from this industry for nearly twenty years, as required by the Clean Water Act.

This is no accident. Large industrial animal agriculture companies have invested millions of dollars in lobbying to ensure the status quo, which in turn, protects their growing profits. This includes U.S. domestic sales, which were estimated at $267 billion in 2021, and a projected goldmine of global industrial meat production associated with expansions of beef, pork, and chicken exports since 2010. It is reported that the four largest meat processing conglomerates operating in the U.S., which control approximately 55 percent to 85 percent of the market for pork, beef, and poultry, have collectively increased their gross profits by 120 percent and net income by 500 percent since 2019.

As global meat production continues to rise to meet a projected doubling of meat-based protein consumption by 2050, corporate owners of these large facilities are not incentivized to modernize their systems, treat their waste, and control their discharges that typically contains nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as blood, fat, oil and grease, fecal bacteria, disease-causing pathogens, detergents, and heavy metals. Without regulatory scrutiny and guardrails, “Big Agriculture” will persist in operating without consequences, reaping all the profits while communities drown in its toxic brew of pollution.

Read Marc’s complete article here – https://greenmoney.com/the-economic-and-water-impacts-of-the-epas-slaughterhouse-rule

=====

Innovation at Clorox is all about building trusted brands people love that meet their ever-evolving needs. We mainly do this by developing products that use less packaging overall and/or more sustainable packaging materials and leave less waste behind after they’re used. Here are a few of our latest product launches created with the planet in mind:

Brita recently introduced a Refillable Filter, which reduces plastic waste by 80% compared to the standard filter over the course of three years. Compatible with nearly all existing Brita systems, this refillable filter comes with a reusable plastic shell so only the refills — which are made of coconut husks and can be recycled through Terracycle — get discarded.Burt’s Bees unveiled a new Lip Sleeping Mask, which contains responsibly sourced beeswax and comes in 96% post-consumer recycled plastic packaging. Additionally, the business rolled out a mango edition of its popular shea collection, including Body Oil and Hand & Body Butter, which uses shea butter responsibly sourced from women-led communities in West Africa.Pine-Sol just launched a new 2x concentrated formula for both its retail and professional multisurface cleaners. Because it now offers twice the cleaning power in a smaller bottle — 40% smaller for retail and 50% smaller for professional — that means less plastic is used per drop of cleaning solution.  Additionally, these new Pine-Sol bottles are made with a minimum of 50% post-consumer recycled plastic.To accompany the new Clorox Scentiva Disinfecting Mist, there’s a bottle refill option to help keep additional plastic waste from the trigger out of landfills. Plus, when the shrink sleeve is removed from these bottles, they’re recyclable in many municipalities (per the instructions on the bottle).

Read more about Clorox’s recent sustainability progress and impact here.

Originally published on Built From Scratch

In a circular economy, nothing is wasted. Materials that would be typically thrown away can be reimagined or reinvented into something useful. Everyday items like plastic pots can enjoy a second life as hanging baskets, while plastic wrap can be transformed into deck boards, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam can be revived as insulation.

The benefits of product circularity touch on every part of a product’s lifespan. Recycled materials in product design lower the amount of natural resources used in manufacturing. Durable, reusable products lower the amount of waste sent to landfills. In addition, product circularity appeals to customers who want to do their part to help the planet.

Discover our recycling suite: We’re generating value from these hard-to-recycle materials:

METALSHARD PLASTICSSHRINK WRAPSTYROFOAM PACKAGINGCFC’S* FROM RECLAIMED APPLIANCES

What is expanded polystyrene (EPS)? An effective packaging material with a drawback: it takes more than a century to biodegrade.

First, the EPS foam is removed from the packaging.Next it’s compressed into blocks using a special machine.Finally, it’s sold to companies that use it for insulation and other purposes.

Between our market delivery operations and reverse logistic centers, we now recycle not only metal, hard plastics and shrink wrap, but also EPS packaging and the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from reclaimed appliances. Learn more about product circularity in the latest ESG Report.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

*Chlorofluorocarbons

Originally published on about.bnef.com

BloombergNEF (BNEF) announced the winners of its 2024 Pioneers award, recognizing 11 early-stage companies working to introduce technologies and products that will accelerate global decarbonization and halt climate change. This year, the winners include companies developing software to accelerate renewables buildout, expand heat pump deployment, create new biofuel feedstocks and standardize biodiversity monitoring – among many others.

Since its inception over a decade ago, the BNEF Pioneers program has witnessed significant advancements in the development and implementation of technologies and solutions aimed at decarbonizing the global economy. Greenhouse gas emissions, however, are also still rising, and there are many urgent obstacles to overcome for the world to reach net-zero emissions.

The BNEF Pioneers award aims to highlight companies that are making significant strides in sectors or areas that still face challenges in meeting net-zero goals. This year, BNEF invited nominations from ventures specifically targeting three climate-tech innovation areas:

Relieving bottlenecks in the deployment of clean powerDecarbonizing the construction and operation of buildingsCreating the next generation of net-zero fuels

The competition received nearly 250 applications from 40 countries. The BNEF analyst team evaluated candidates against three criteria: the potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions and the planet, the degree of technology innovation and originality, and the likelihood of adoption and potential scalability.

The winners of the 2024 BNEF Pioneers are:

Challenge 1: Relieving bottlenecks in the deployment of clean power

Envelio’s Intelligent Grid Platform uses a digital twin of distribution power grids to automate connection studies, enabling connection requests to be processed up to 20 times more quickly than they have been in the past.PVcase is a software company aiding in site selection, design, development and permitting of solar projects.TS Conductor has developed a power cable with a carbon-fiber core with current-carrying capacity three times higher and line losses 50% lower than traditional cables.

While renewables are already being installed at record levels globally, annual solar and wind installations will need to increase threefold by 2031 and sixfold by 2050 to reach net-zero emissions. Today, deployment is less hindered by costs than by slow grid build-out, grid connection backlogs, permitting challenges and supply-chain constraints.

Two of the winners in this category have developed software to help streamline the design, permitting and grid connection bottlenecks associated with deploying clean power. Envelio’s software automates processes in grid connection studies, allowing renewables to come online faster, while PVcase’s software tools enable solar project developers to automate site selection and reduce design and yield-estimation times. By contrast, TS conductor is seeking to update the cable hardware used to move renewable electricity through the grid. Once deployed, its high-capacity conductor could maximize the use of existing transmission infrastructure to increase grid capacity and thus circumvent several permitting bottlenecks.

Challenge 2: Decarbonizing the construction and operation of buildings

Aeroseal uses a proprietary system to seal air vents and building envelopes, boosting energy efficiency and thermal comfort.Celsius Energy plans, designs and installs ground-source heat pumps for commercial buildings using an innovative titled-angle borehole drilling process, and sells a digital control platform for those heat pumps.Kelvin sells and installs heat pumps, thermal-storage systems and radiator enclosures for decarbonizing heating and cooling in apartments.

These BNEF Pioneers are working effectively to combat carbon emissions from the operation of buildings – a sector accounting for a third of global final energy consumption. Scaling low-energy technologies for heating and cooling is paramount. Cooling demand for residential buildings is set to increase by 115% by 2050 under BNEF’s Net Zero Scenario, and heating demand is set to be twice that.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for decarbonizing this sector: different building types demand different services, and the Pioneers are tackling the problem from an array of angles. Aeroseal deploys aerosolized sealants to reduce air leakage in air vents and building envelopes, thereby reducing energy consumption. The other two Pioneers are redesigning the structure and operation of heating systems themselves. Celsius Energy’s heat pump system uses a closed, pyramid-shaped heat exchanger and digital platform to minimize the amount of space needed at ground level for installing the heat pump system. Kelvin’s radiator enclosures, heat pumps and thermal storage systems enable residential apartments, considered tough to decarbonize, to reduce heating-related emissions by 80%.

Challenge 3: Creating the next generation of net-zero fuels

CoverCress Inc. has developed a winter oilseed crop called CoverCress that can be harvested and used as a feedstock to produce biofuels.XFuel processes convert waste feedstocks, such as waste oils and lignocellulosic waste, into marine gas oil and other sustainable fuels.

Next-generation fuels need to offer sufficient performance, scalability, economics and sustainability – while limiting land use. The two winners in this category have developed new technologies for alleviating feedstock constraints, one by bioengineering a pennycress cover crop and the other by pioneering new methods for converting waste streams into fuels.

CoverCress Inc.’s crop produces a low-carbon-intensity feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production that can be grown between a corn-soybean rotation on land that would otherwise lay fallow. XFuel’s two core technologies produce sustainable fuels (recycled carbon fuels and biofuels) from lignocellulosic biomass and waste oils.

Wildcards:

Element Zero uses an electrolysis process that is compatible with intermittent renewable power to convert low-quality iron ore fines into high-quality iron for steelmaking.Li-Metal produces lithium-metal anodes from lithium carbonate, which can be used in solid-state batteries to further improve energy density.NatureMetrics offers a standardized way to use environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis to measure biodiversity health at scale.

The Wildcard winners are organizations working outside of this year’s three core subject areas. Two of these have developed innovations for reducing the pollution associated with industrial processes. Element Zero’s process does not contain any membranes, and the high heat capacity of the solvent used means the process can maintain its temperature without power for hours. Li-Metal produces lithium metal, and lithium-metal anodes for automakers and battery developers, using 40% less energy than conventional production. Lithium-metal anodes will be a complementary technology to solid-state batteries.

The final Wildcard Pioneer is a leader in monitoring the health of the natural environment. NatureMetric’s kits use environmental DNA to measure biodiversity health, enabling clients – predominantly large corporates – to calculate and monitor the impact of their activities more comprehensively.

About BloombergNEF

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

Sign up for our free monthly newsletter

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Small businesses in Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Richmond, VA and southern Colorado, are now eligible to apply for a comprehensive package that includes business coaching sessions, education resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedules, and technology makeovers.Now in its fourth year, Comcast RISE has awarded 13,500 small businesses with over $125 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants.

PHILADELPHIA, April 22, 2024 /3BL/ – Comcast announced a new round of businesses in five regions will receive grants through Comcast RISE, providing 500 more small businesses with comprehensive packages that include business coaching sessions, education resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedules, and technology makeovers.

Comcast RISE is committed to supporting the growth of all small businesses, while advancing the objectives of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as community investment. The program was created to help businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth.

Beginning on May 1, and through May 31, eligible businesses in Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Richmond, VA and southern Colorado can apply for a grant package at www.ComcastRISE.com. A total of 100 grants per region, or 500 grants overall, will be announced in August 2024, bringing the total number of recipients to date to 14,000.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are essential to building strong and thriving local communities,” said Loren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer at Comcast. “Comcast RISE is proud to help strengthen and empower these small businesses and entrepreneurs to expand and grow.”

Comcast RISE was created in November 2020 to help small businesses hardest hit by COVID-19, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, by providing the grants needed to survive and recover.

The program has evolved from helping businesses survive the pandemic, to helping businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth.

Grant packages will include:

Coaching Sessions – Business assessment and coaching that provide business owners with recommendations on how to help grow their businesses.Education Resources – 12-month access to online entrepreneurship courses, learning modules and resources for small business owners.Monetary Grant – $5,000 monetary grant.Creative Production & Media – Professionally produced 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and a 180-day linear media schedule. (Taxes and other fees may apply for production and media services.)Technology Makeover – Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for 12 months. (Taxes and other fees may apply for tech makeover services.)

In addition, any small business owner can visit the Comcast RISE destination on X1 featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. X1 customers can say “Comcast RISE” into the voice remote.

Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.

More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.

Originally published in the IBM 2023 Impact Report

Wael El Chouwani, IBM Sustainability Software Market leader, believes that leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to support sustainable building operations is of utmost importance. This not only aligns with our commitment to sustainability but also showcases the transformative potential of technology in creating smarter cities, including objectives in sustainability. In 2023, IBM put this into practice with clients such as The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).

Created with sustainability in mind, IBM and KAFD worked together on one of the world’s largest real estate projects to achieve LEED Platinum certification for green neighborhood development, the highest accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. And Wael was part of this project.

Through our collaboration with KAFD, using AI capabilities, IBMers helped achieve sustainable building operations by enabling advanced data analysis and leveraging machine learning algorithms to identify patterns, anomalies, and potential energy-saving opportunities. Thanks to the integration of AI tools, the KADF can optimize energy usage, reduce environmental impact, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

The seamless integration of AI capabilities empowers the KAFD to achieve its sustainability goals, making it a leading example of how technology can power sustainable buildings.

Learn more about how IBM is using AI to power sustainable buildings in the 2023 Impact Report

Cummins

Dive into India’s path to reducing emissions and it’s journey to the energy transition.

Explore more videos from ‘The Future of Energy [simplified]’ – a video series that provides answers to your most frequently asked questions about the energy transition.

Our technical and business leaders share their insights in response to your questions in their own words, making the future of energy accessible and understandable for everyone.

About Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, is comprised of five business segments – Components, Engine, Distribution, Power Systems and Accelera by Cummins – supported by our global manufacturing and extensive service and support network, skilled workforce and vast technological expertise. Cummins is committed to its Destination Zero strategy, which is grounded in the company’s commitment to sustainability and helping its customers successfully navigate the energy transition with its broad portfolio of products. The products range from advanced diesel, natural gas, electric and hybrid powertrains and powertrain-related components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, valvetrain technologies, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, axles, drivelines, brakes, suspension systems, electric power generation systems, batteries, electrified power systems, hydrogen production technologies and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 75,500 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality of opportunity. Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $735 million on sales of $34.1 billion in 2023. See how Cummins is powering a world that’s always on by accessing news releases and more information at https://www.cummins.com/.

© 2024 Cummins Inc. All rights reserved.

Earth Day is a good time to reevaluate your cleaning practices and consider how they impact the environment. When it comes to facility maintenance, one area that often goes overlooked is sustainable restroom upkeep. However, with a few simple changes, facility managers can transform their restroom maintenance program into a greener, more environmentally friendly endeavor. Now is the time to consider how to minimize the environmental impact of facility restroom maintenance.

Best Practices for Sustainable Restroom Maintenance

Consider taking a wholistic approach to maintaining restrooms responsibly. From employee training to product selection to restroom fixtures, there are numerous ways you can reduce your restrooms’ impact on the environment. It is important to establish a culture of sustainability with your team and building guests to have the greatest impact. Provide the tools, products and training necessary to ensure the greatest success in implementing a sustainable restroom cleaning program.

Consider a variety of areas your facility can invest in to reduce its carbon footprint and provide visitors with a clean and green restroom, including:

Switch to Sustainable Certified Cleaning Products – Traditional cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to both human health and the environment. Make the switch to sustainable alternatives that are biodegradable, non-toxic, and derived from renewable resources. Look for products certified by reputable eco-labels such as Green Seal® or ECOLOGO®.

When choosing paper products, choose paper certified by an accredited third party, like the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), to ensure the manufacturer is doing its part to protect forests. FSC® is an international non-profit organization that offers environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management of the world’s forests.
 Watch Out for Greenwashing – Greenwashing conveys misleading information about the environmental impact of a manufacturer’s products and operations. Companies that engage in greenwashing often provide details about the product’s lifecycle and ingredients that are vague and not verifiable. Choose third-party certified products to avoid using products with false or unverified claims that are harmful for the environment.
 Reduce Water Consumption – Water usage in restrooms can be a significant contributor to environmental impact. Install low-flow toilets, urinals, and faucets to minimize water consumption without sacrificing performance. Consider retrofitting existing fixtures with aerators and flow restrictors to further conserve water. Automated faucets can also help reduce water consumption, especially in high-traffic facilities.
 Go Touch-Free – Switching to touch-free appliances such as automatic toilets, faucets and soap and paper towel dispensers provides a sustainable alternative as many manufacturers supply soap and paper towels for touchless appliances in bulk. Switching to touch-free appliances eliminates the need for plastic soap pumps which reduces the amount of single-use plastic as well as the carbon footprint of frequent product shipment and delivery.
 Conduct Regular Inspections and Encourage Water-Saving Habits – Perform routine inspections of restroom fixtures and plumbing systems to identify and address leaks, drips, and other issues promptly. Fixing leaks not only conserves water but also prevents water damage and mold growth, improving indoor air quality and occupant comfort.

Educate restroom users about water-saving habits such as turning off faucets while lathering hands, reporting leaks promptly, and using water-efficient fixtures responsibly. Post signage and educational materials to reinforce these behaviors and promote a culture of sustainability.
 Foster a Culture of Sustainability – Engage restroom users and facility staff in sustainability initiatives by soliciting feedback, hosting educational workshops, and recognizing and rewarding environmentally friendly behaviors. By fostering a culture of sustainability, you can inspire positive change and make a meaningful impact on the environment.

By incorporating these sustainable practices into restroom maintenance routines, facility managers can reduce their environmental footprint while creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable restrooms. This Earth Day, commit to greener restroom maintenance practices and work together to preserve our planet for future generations.

Giorgia Giove is the Marketing Manager for Sofidel, a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. For more information about Sofidel, visit www.sofidel.com.

About The Sofidel Group    

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development.  For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.         

Media Contact:    

Brianna Fitzpatrick 
Mulberry Marketing Communications