Tag: 3BL

Originally published on Principal.com

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 15, – Principal Financial Group® has met or exceeded its multi-year sustainability goals according to findings in the 2023 Sustainability Report released today.

The 2023 Sustainability Report from Principal details progress made on corporate responsibility commitments focused on employee empowerment, financial inclusion, climate impact, and sustainable investing. These commitments, established in 2021, support the company’s focus on growing a resilient, inclusive, and more financially secure society.

Notable progress outlined in the report includes:

Principal doubles the number of diverse small and midsized businesses (SMBs) served. In 2021, together with Principal® Foundation, Principal made this commitment with a goal of supporting more than 14,600 diverse SMBs and entrepreneurs by 2025. This goal was exceeded in 2023 with 14,745 of these companies served. Principal has set a new goal to triple the number of diverse SMBs it supports totaling 30,000 SMBs by 2025. 
 Principal® Foundation invested $18 million in 2023. Over the past three years, Principal Foundation has invested $51 million to help ensure access to essential needs, develop pathways toward economic mobility and support financial enablement and development, with a focus on entrepreneurs, small businesses, and diverse populations. 
 Principal achieves annual Global People Inclusion Index1 (GPII) goal with a score of 82%. This proprietary Inclusion Index measures sentiments of its nearly 20,000 global employees related to culture and empowerment. In 2023, the goal was 80% and the company is increasing this goal to 82% in 2024 based on past performance and a desire for continuous improvement. 
 Principal continues to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emission goals, averaging a 11.5% reduction each year since 2019.2 The company is on track to reach its long-term goal of achieving a 65% reduction in global scope 1 and scope 2 market-based GHG emissions by 2034. The glide path goal averages to a 4.3% reduction per year, which Principal achieved in 2023 through meaningful decreases in emissions in the U.S. and globally. 
 Continued growth in the firm’s assets under management representing sustainable investing options. Principal investment teams increased assets under management internally classified as sustainable investment products from 55% in 2022 to approximately 61% in 2023 and introduced four new sustainable investment options.3

“Customers want to do business with companies whose values align with their own. Our customers tell us these actions matter to them. They also matter to us.” said Dan Houston, chairman, president, and chief executive officer at Principal. “Principal is committed to expanding the population of those living in financial security through long-term, responsible actions like advocating for financial inclusion and creating new opportunities for generations to come.”

Progress on all Principal sustainability commitments can be found in the 2023 Sustainability Report.

About Principal Financial Group®

Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG) is a global financial company with nearly 20,000 employees4 passionate about improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses. In business for more than 140 years, we’re helping approximately 62 million customers4 plan, protect, invest, and retire, while working to support the communities where we do business, and build a diverse, inclusive workforce. Principal® is proud to be recognized as one of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere5 , a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and a “Best Places to Work in Money Management6 .” Learn more about Principal and our commitment to building a better future at principal.com.  

News Release Contact

Corporate information and community

Sara Bonney, 515-878-0835

Megan Grandgeorge, 515-878-1146

1The Global People Inclusion Index is a proprietary survey tool measuring employee inclusion at Principal.

22023 GHG emissions and energy consumption values will be verified in Q2 2024 and final figures will be disclosed in the 2024 CDP Climate Change Questionnaire.

3Assets under management (AUM) representative of Principal Global Investors investment teams as of December 31, 2023. AUM includes the asset management operations of the following: Principal Global Investors, LLC; Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC; Principal Real Estate Europe Limited and its affiliates; Spectrum Asset Management, Inc.; Post Advisory Group, LLC; Origin Asset Management, LLP; Claritas Investimentos; Principal Global Investors (Europe) Limited; Principal Global Investors (Singapore) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Australia) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Japan) Ltd.; Principal Asset Management Company (Asia) Ltd., and include assets where we provide model portfolios. AUM that are sustainable investment products are internally classified by Principal Asset ManagementSM and not by any third party or regulatory body. Principal Asset ManagementSM is the trade name of Principal Global Investors, LLC. Products representative of Principal Global Investors and Principal International investment teams as of December 31, 2023.

4As of December 31, 2023.

5Ethisphere, 2024.

6Pensions & Investments, 2023.

Originally Published by TriplePundit

Seaports in the United States are economic powerhouses: They employ 31 million people, account for 26-percent of the nation’s overall economy and generate $5.4 trillion in economic activity. For every billion dollars in exports shipped through U.S. seaports, 15,000 jobs are created.

But they are also part of communities, and they have an opportunity to play a major role in helping improve air quality through emissions reduction, especially at the largest ports in the U.S.

Understanding the environmental impact of seaports

When compared to aviation and trucking, ocean shipping remains the most environmentally efficient means of cargo transportation. However, on-shore environmental impacts remain a challenge, due to particulate and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both vessels and related road traffic congestion. The local public health impacts from pollutants generated at seaports and other industrial areas disproportionately affect the typically lower-income communities which neighbor them. These communities suffer from elevated levels of cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, increased rates of asthma, and too frequently, developmental disorders in children.

Efforts are underway by companies and governments to lessen the environmental impact of seaports, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Ports Initiative stated goal for U.S ports to be global leaders in clean, efficient freight and passenger transportation.

A vision for the “port of the future”

Port operators also have a vested interest in modernizing ports for a cleaner future. Crowley, a U.S. maritime, logistics and energy solutions company, is innovating in this space, envisioning a “port of the future” with a focus on decarbonizing its port operations.

Crowley has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across all areas of its business and operations by 2050, playing a leadership role as stewards of the environment as well as serving customers and communities.

“The reduction of both global greenhouse gas emissions and local community environmental impacts is at the core of our 2050 initiative,” said Matt Jackson, vice president of Crowley’s Advanced Energy division. “To achieve this requires the collaborative working efforts of many stakeholders such as ports, local community, regulators and our customers.”

So, what is Crowley’s vision for ports? Jackson described the broad outline like this:

The port of the future is an ecosystem of different net-zero solutions that provides and supports all the activities in the port — and works together with all port stakeholders. 
To this end, Crowley is forging important industry partnerships at ports across the U.S. to find new ways to reduce carbon emissions.

In 2022, Senesco Marine — a major builder of barges, tugboats and other marine vessels in the U.S. Northeast — selected Crowley to undertake design verification and production packaging for a new hybrid-electric passenger ferry. Due to go into service this year, the new ferry will carry passengers and vehicles to the islands of Casco Bay from Portland, Maine. It will replace an existing diesel-powered ferry and is projected to avoid 800 tons of carbon emissions annually.

And later this year, Crowley will begin testing Class 8 long-haul trucks for Terraline, an autonomous-ready electric truck company. With an expected 500-plus mile range, the zero-emissions trucks are slated to service Crowley’s Florida facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Miami.

Within their port operations, Crowley is making strides to reduce air pollution at the development phase of the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal, which will service offshore wind operations across New England. Through the process of cold ironing, which allows vessels to plug directly into port electricity, rather than idling on diesel while in port, Crowley will enable certain vessels pulling up to the terminal to significantly reduce air pollution and particulate emissions within the port and neighboring areas.

In addition, Crowley recently broke ground on a microgrid-based shoreside charging station at the Port of San Diego which will fast-charge the company’s forthcoming eWolf electric tugboat, the first vessel of its kind in the U.S. The charger’s design allows it to draw energy from solar and the traditional grid via the microgrid, reducing loads on the local energy grid at peak times.

These are just a few of the sustainable enhancements Crowley is making to their shoreside operations. “We are constantly evaluating technology by creating our own research and development team to evaluate and test [hybrid and alternative energy vessels],” Jackson said.

With net-zero goals top-of- mind, “we have established Crowley Advanced Energy to support the development of renewable energy solutions to bring ample power to the grid edge in support of maritime electrification efforts.”

Looking toward existing technology to work toward the port of the future, today

As Crowley works toward the port of the future, it’s already taking steps with tried and tested technology that is already available in its existing ports.

The company’s work at the Port of Jacksonville, Florida (JAXPORT) offers a real-world proving ground. “Our initiatives to modernize JAXPORT are a part of the broader transition to low-emission ports — using the infrastructure we have to get where we need to go, and identifying gaps to meet the challenges of this technology transition,” Jackson said.

Among those efforts is an initiative dubbed JAXPORT EXPRESS (Exemplifying Potential to Reduce Emissions with Sustainable Solutions). “[The] project will enable us to procure zero-emission cargo handling equipment and install high-power DC fast-charging infrastructure to enable further adoption and utilization of that zero-emission handling equipment,” Jackson explained. And though it’s a stepping stone in the journey to net-zero, “it is a giant leap forward for our own operations and for ports in the South,” he said.

From microgrids to carbon sequestration

Crowley sees microgrids as an important component of its port operations. They can be utilized during peak grid demand hours and help balance the distribution of power between the microgrid and local grid — in effect dovetailing with grid demand-response efforts. Although some energy sources for the microgrid might be fossil fuel-based (such as LNG), for cost effectiveness and reliability reasons, they can also incorporate renewables such as solar, as well as wind and hydrogen. Fuels such as LNG can be transitionary sources while infrastructure, technology and supply chains mature, so later, renewable natural gas (RNG) can be used, such as in Crowley’s JAXPORT terminal.

The microgrids and charging stations can then power electrified port vessels, trucks, yard equipment, and cars while acting as local resilience hubs and even putting energy back into the grid.

Given that fossil fuels remain a necessary part of the vehicle fuel mix in the near term, Crowley is also actively working to capture emissions from vessels at the source.

“We are participating with our partner Carbon Ridge, a leading developer of maritime decarbonization technologies and solutions, in a pilot to test and validate the effectiveness of carbon capture on vessels,” Jackson said. “We hope to pilot carbon capture in 2024 and then determine how to roll it out to our fleet.”

Government support is needed to help port modernization scale up

Important to all these initiatives are not just Crowley’s efforts, but also partnerships, funding and in, large part, government support.

For example, JAXPORT EXPRESS received a grant from the Port Infrastructure Development Program, administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration. This program was established by Congress and former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2010, more recently received funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2022.

Efforts supported by the grant include the deployment of 160 refrigerated cargo charging stations (so-called reefer plugs), allowing temperature-controlled container cooling to be achieved without the use of diesel power.

Funding for specific projects like this “is incredibly important to continue to grow and scale sustainably,” Jackson said. “Not only will the funding allow Crowley to add zero-emissions equipment, but it also supports America’s zero-emissions manufacturing capabilities generally.”

And while regulations are often blamed for inhibiting industry objectives, in this case, Crowley identified where regulations would help the maritime sector compete with other modes of transportation, such as improving and expanding utilization of the nation’s 25,000-plus miles of inland waterways.

All hands-on deck

As Crowley continues to invest in new technology and updates vessels and operations to reduce emissions, Jackson stressed that “Crowley and our fellow port and maritime stakeholders cannot bear the entirety of the risk in advancing low- and zero-emission technologies. We will continue to look to our government partners to support these efforts and ensure the United States technological, environmental and innovation leadership.”

This article series is sponsored by Crowley and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image courtesy of Crowley

Eastman

KINGSPORT, Tenn., April 15, 2024 /3BL/ – Eastman, a global leader in specialty materials and producer of sustainable Naia™ cellulosic fiber, worked with sustainable fashion brand Reformation for the launch of its January bridal collection. As part of the collection, Reformation created three dresses featuring Naia™ Renew ES, Eastman’s enhanced sustainability yarn made from 60% certified recycled content,* which the brand describes as “like silk but better.”

Naia™ Renew ES helps combat waste pollution, reduces reliance on virgin materials and enables a lower carbon footprint. Reformation chose this sustainable yarn as a silk alternative due to its inherent properties — elegant drape, silky soft hand and luxurious luster — with all the benefits of sustainability.

“We’re proud to offer a 60% recycled content fiber at scale to the fashion market,” said Carolina Sister Cohn, global marketing leader for Eastman’s textiles division. “With Naia™ Renew ES, we offer a sustainable solution that meets the demands of both fashion and environmental responsibility. Together with brands like Reformation, we’re making significant strides in transforming the fashion industry and inspiring others to embrace sustainability as a design decision.”

Unlike other cellulose-based yarns and fibers, Naia™ Renew ES requires fewer virgin materials to make an environmentally friendly product. It is made from 40% certified recycled waste material, 20% certified recycled cellulose and 40% sustainably sourced wood pulp.

Through their work, Eastman and Reformation are showing the fashion industry what’s possible by delivering beautiful apparel and prioritizing environmental sustainability.

“Reducing our reliance on virgin silk is an important part of achieving our ambitious commitments to become climate positive by 2025,” said Carrie Freiman Parry, senior director of sustainability at Reformation. “Innovative materials like Naia™ Renew ES help us drive sustainable fashion forward while continuing to deliver the high-quality, on-trend product customers love and expect from Reformation.”

Bridal gowns featuring Naia™ Renew ES will be available for purchase on TheReformation.com and in select Reformation stores beginning January 22.

*Naia™ Renew ES recycled content is achieved by allocation of recycled waste material using a GRS-certified mass balance process.

About Eastman

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,500 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2022 revenue of approximately $10.6 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.

About Reformation

Founded in 2009, Reformation is a revolutionary lifestyle brand that proves fashion and sustainability can coexist. The brand combines stylish, vintage-inspired designs with sustainable practices, releasing limited-edition collections for individuals who want to look beautiful and live sustainably. Reformation infuses green measures into every aspect of the business. Setting an example for the industry, Reformation remains at the forefront of innovation in sustainable fashion—running the first sustainable factory in Los Angeles, using deadstock and eco fabrics, tracking and sharing the environmental impact of every product, and investing in the people who make this revolution possible.

Reformation is Climate Neutral certified and its products have been carbon neutral since 2015, with a commitment to become Climate Positive by 2025 and Circular by 2030. The brand has also established itself as a pioneer in retail innovation, developing an in-store tech concept that brings the best of its online experience to its physical doors.

Media contact

Elyse Batista
Eastman Chemical Company
Marketing Communications, U.S.
elysem.batista@eastman.com

Originally published on Women in Retail

In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Shannon Hennessy, CEO of The Habit Burger Grill, quality made-to-order food and a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. Listen in as Hennessy provides an overview of The Habit Burger Grill business (1:00), her career journey (2:30), and the importance of having financial strategy experience to prepare for a chief executive role (5:30). She shares her vision for company growth (7:10) and the leadership lessons she’s learned during her career (9:25).

Click here to continue reading on Women in Retail

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M’s 2024 Global Impact report shows the great strides we’ve made toward our sustainability commitments in 2023. The company hit major milestones, strengthened collaborations, and engaged with the public on our goals.

3M pursued ambitious targets with urgency, making progress on our carbon, water, and waste footprints.

“From our substantial carbon emissions reductions to hosting our first environmental justice summit, we took significant steps toward our sustainability commitments,” said Gayle Schueller, 3M senior vice president and chief sustainability officer. “I’m proud of the work 3Mers have done to create a brighter future.”

Key accomplishments include:

Achieving 56.2% renewable electricity across global operations – ahead of schedule – and a substantial 43.2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2019.Reduced virgin fossil-based plastic use by 69.8 million pounds.Increased water efficiency by 19.1% and continued engagement with the Water Resilience Coalition on net positive water impact initiatives.Invested $39.4 million to address racial opportunity gaps in the U.S. and donated 108,000 skills-based work hours globally.In 2023, the total number of health and safety training instances was over 8.4 million, putting us well past our 2025 goal of 5 million instances since 2015.

3M is committed to contributing to a better and brighter future through our people, products, and operations. The strength of our commitment is reflected in our sustainability goals and our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics.

3M uses a science-based approach to reimagine what’s possible as we rise to the most critical challenges facing our planet and its people — focusing our efforts where we can make the greatest impact. As these challenges evolve, we’re accelerating our exploration of emerging areas like climate technology, industrial automation, the next generation of electronics, and sustainable packaging.

“This is really silly, but I keep this box with a stack of cards from people who have reported to me over the years just thanking me,” Social Media Manager Dianne Henderson said as she explained how she’s paid forward the mentorship she’s received over the years. “You know, I can’t get through this without crying.”

For Henderson, whose strategic vision defines Maximus’ social media presence, mentoring colleagues takes a less structured form, something she learned from her first boss.

“I’ve always looked up to her as a mentor even though she couldn’t necessarily teach me things about social media,” she said. “She taught me to take a chance on people and to read if someone was a good person or a smart person—or teachable. She helped me establish a rhythm of working for things that I want.”

What she wanted when she started at Maximus in 2022 was to launch an employee advocacy program. Henderson envisioned providing tools for employees to elevate good news about Maximus and make connections meaningful to their work through their social media accounts. She put in the work, so when her team launched the effort in April 2023, it took on a life of its own.

The Social Media Employee Advocacy Program gained the company visibility on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram as employees engaged with and promoted Maximus content. The program’s positive impact earned Henderson a 2023 Values Icon Award for innovation.

In Henderson’s nomination for the award, Corporate Communication Senior Director Jared Curtis noted that the program was responsible for increasing social media reach nearly threefold on corporate channels.

“The success of this program also showcased the company as forward-thinking and innovative, appealing to both current and prospective employees and customers who value modern and digitally savvy brands,” Curtis said. “Employees sharing content often carries more authenticity and can positively influence how the broader public perceives the brand.”

Henderson recognizes the program’s impact but is quick to say it was a team effort.

“I’m very proud, but not because of me personally,” she said. “I feel like the award is for the program because I’ve just moved it forward. I got it started, and I’m kind of behind the wheel, but [Communications Specialist] Jessie Moyer and the participants are so important to the program’s success.”

Henderson also credits Maximus leadership for taking a chance on a new concept and giving her the resources to move it forward quickly.

“It was an innovative program and something we had never done before, but [CHRO] Michelle Link was very receptive to it,” she said. “It took six months to do here what took seven years at my last job. I think what makes it work are the innovative people we have in the company.”

While the project earned her the award for the value of innovation, Henderson said the full suite of Maximus values resonates.

“For me, all of these values are very much aligned to my personal values,” she said. “These are all things I look for in a work environment, but I also see them in my spouse, my friends, and my children.”

KeyBank offers several Special Purpose Credit Programs1 to improve accessibility and affordability in homebuying, particularly in historically underserved and economically disadvantaged communities

For many Americans, homeownership is not just an aspiration, but a major step toward establishing long-term financial stability. Amid fluctuating economic conditions and a competitive housing market, a number of resources and programs exist to help consumers achieve the goal of owning a home. But while 88% of recent or prospective homebuyers have a mortgage loan officer, less than a quarter (19%) have discussed affordable homebuying programs, grants, and credits with them, according to KeyBank’s 2024 Financial Mobility Survey2.

KeyBank offers several Special Purpose Credit Programs3 to improve accessibility and affordability in homebuying, particularly in historically underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. Through April 9, 2024, these Special Purpose Credit Programs have funded $10.2 million in home equity loans and $2.3 million in $5,000 credits to help 712 clients on their journey of homeownership in qualifying areas where the programs are available, including:

The KeyBank Home Buyer Credit4: KeyBank funded approximately $1.7 million in Home Buyer Credits, helping 386 clients achieve their dream of homeownership in the qualifying areas where the program is available. Also, as of April 9, 2024, KeyBank has $324.3 million in mortgage loan applications for approximately $2.8 million in Home Buyer Credits to assist 652 clients (inclusive of the funded credits shared above) on their path to homeownership in these locations.The Key Opportunities Home Equity Loan5: Since the program launched in March 2023, KeyBank has surpassed the milestone of $10 million in loan funding, helping 204 clients secure loans for their primary home in designated communities.The KeyBank Neighbors First Credit6: From the launch of the program in July 2023, through April 9, 2024, KeyBank funded approximately $610,000 in Neighbors First credits, helping 122 clients achieve their dream of homeownership in the qualifying areas where the program is available. Also, as of April 9, 2024, KeyBank has $37.5 million in mortgage loan applications for approximately $1.1 million in Neighbors First Credits to assist 229 clients (inclusive of the funded credits shared above) on their path to homeownership in these locations.

Across all three Special Purpose Credit Programs, Key has purchase credits available in more than 9,500 census tracts, covering areas where more than 10% of the U.S. population lives.

“At KeyBank, we believe in turning aspirations into achievable milestones,” said Rachael Sampson, Head of Community Banking, KeyBank. “Our continued investments in homebuying resources and education for clients in minority and low- and moderate-income communities reflect our dedication to fostering financial empowerment and making homeownership attainable for all.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s home lending opportunities and programs, determine whether a property qualifies for Special Purpose Credit Programs, or get started on the journey to homeownership by visiting key.com/communitylending.

NMLS# 399797. KeyBank Member FDIC. Mortgage and Home Equity Lending products offered by KeyBank are not FDIC insured or guaranteed.

NOTICE: This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. Conditions and restrictions may apply. All home lending products, including mortgage, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, are subject to credit and collateral approval. Not all home lending products are available in all states. Hazard insurance and, if applicable, flood insurance are required on collateral property. Actual rates, fees, and terms are based on those offered as of the date of application and are subject to change without notice. CFMA #240405-2536034

1Special Purpose Credit Programs are, generally, programs that are established to meet special social needs or the needs of economically disadvantaged persons by extending credit to persons who would probably be denied credit or would receive it on less favorable terms, under certain conditions. See 15 U.S.C. § 1691(c)(1)-(3); 12 C.F.R. § 1002.8(a).

2The KeyBank 2024 Financial Mobility Survey was conducted online by Schmidt Market Research. 1,000 Americans, ages 18-70, with sole or shared responsibility for household financial decisions, who own a checking or savings account, completed the survey in September 2023. The survey asked respondents about their financial attitudes, understanding, awareness and actions over the prior year.

3Special Purpose Credit Programs are, generally, programs that are established to meet special social needs or the needs of economically disadvantaged persons by extending credit to persons who would probably be denied credit or would receive it on less favorable terms, under certain conditions. See 15 U.S.C. § 1691(c)(1)-(3); 12 C.F.R. § 1002.8(a).

4Available on primary residence first lien purchases only. Property must be located in an eligible community as determined by KeyBank. Eligible Communities are subject to change without notice. Additional terms or restrictions may apply. Ask us for details.

5Loan features reduced interest rate and no origination fees. Available on existing primary residence and loans up to $100,000. First or second lien only. Loan must close in a branch. Property must be located in an eligible community in KeyBank’s retail footprint. Additional terms or restrictions may apply. Ask us for details.

6Available on primary residence first lien purchases only. Property must be located in an eligible community in KeyBank’s retail footprint or Florida. Eligible communities are determined by KeyBank and subject to change without notice. Additional terms or restrictions may apply. Ask us for details.

Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) was recently honored by the Y in Central Maryland for its grant funding of health equity coalition efforts at the Y in Druid Hill.

Bob Kocher, Laboratory Manager at Quest’s Baltimore rapid response lab, accepted the Healthy Living award at the organization’s MLK Memorial Breakfast on behalf of Q4HE. The award is given in appreciation each year to a collaborator who is focused on reducing the degree of health disparities experienced by underserved populations in Baltimore City.

“We are thrilled to announce this collaboration and deeply appreciative of Quest for Health Equity’s leadership. This joint effort goes right to the heart of our mission and strategy focusing on building healthy, inclusive, and connected communities for all, not just for a fortunate few,” said John Hoey, President & CEO of the Y in Central Maryland. “Given this incredible commitment and investment, the Y was pleased to present Quest for Health Equity with the Healthy Living Award at our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast at the Y in Druid Hill.”

Through a grant from the Quest Diagnostics Foundation as part of the Q4HE initiative, the Y in Druid Hill will strengthen its healthy equity coalition by expanding capacity building for community agencies, and providing no-cost services and programs that address social determinants of health to help improve outcomes for community residents. The coalition will focus its efforts on 4 key areas: care coordination, mental and behavioral health, chronic disease prevention and management, and regranting to community-based partners with missions aligned to addressing these areas.

“We made a commitment to help address the systemic inequity fueling health disparities, and we value the contributions and expertise of our grantees, who have deep roots in their communities and can help us make a difference through the power of collective impact,” said Michael Floyd, Executive Director of Q4HE. “By collaborating with the team at the Y in Druid Hill, we are confident we can work together to improve health outcomes in the Central Maryland area, one life at a time.”

As part of the joint effort, Quest Diagnostics will also provide no-cost Blueprint for Wellness® testing at select community health events identified by Y in Druid Hill throughout the year. Through Blueprint for Wellness, local community members can gain access to a comprehensive health screening designed to empower people with the knowledge they need to take more control of their health. Blueprint for Wellness provides a set of clinical laboratory tests and measurements that highlight personal health strengths and risks.

A case-study of Pompeian by SCS Global Services

Executive Summary

One of the world’s leading suppliers of olive oil, Pompeian is a farmer-owned collective of more than 75,000 farmers in Spain and California and is partnered with thousands more farmers around the world, including Italy, Greece, Portugal, Morocco, Chile, Argentina, and Tunisia. Pompeian recognized that to maintain its leadership in the market and distinguish its brand, it would need to work hand in hand with the families who have tended the land for centuries and embark on a mission to bring traditional olive oil production into the 21st century. At the same time, Pompeian set out to elevate the olive oil industry to achieve new standards of accountability, transparency, and sustainability that avoid any hint of greenwashing.

The Problem

Moving toward a more sustainable future for olive oil presented a broad set of challenges. Most farms within the Pompeian collective are grower-owned, including Pompeian’s Sunrise Olive Ranch* located in California, the first of Pompeian’s farms to be certified. Some are co-ops that contain hundreds of individually-owned, traditional farms. Without the efficiencies of scale that large, industrial farms can leverage, family farms needed extra support from Pompeian to remain competitive in the global market. Many growers also face unique regional and financial challenges that can make change difficult to achieve. Some Pompeian collective farmers, for example, in South America and the Mediterranean basin, have found it difficult to maintain traditional growing methodologies, to manage rapidly changing climates and competing government regulations, and in some areas, to operate without the support of sufficient public services such as waste management and recycling services, all while focusing on the goal of increasing crop yields. As a corporate entity, Pompeian recognized these and other farm-specific challenges and committed not only to addressing them, but also to considering advances in science and business practices that could improve yields, soil quality, worker conditions, community benefits, and overall farm health.

* Sunrise Olive Ranch, Pompeian’s U.S. farm, served as a pilot program for all farm certifications, which helped additional farms gain certification.

Solutions Provided

After a comprehensive review of the many food and agriculture sustainability standards on the market — and realizing that the olive oil industry didn’t have its own set of sustainability standards — Pompeian selected SCS Global Services and its Certified Sustainably Grown program to help revitalize Pompeian’s growing culture and farm-level sustainability practices. Led by an all-women team, Pompeian supported farmers at every turn to ensure that they understood and could meet the requirements of the Sustainably Grown Standard by providing farmers with pre-audits, training and record keeping support, as well as addressing the specific needs of their respective growing regions. This support enabled growers to embrace an array of sustainability improvements ranging from soil conservation and water management to cover crop planting — changes designed and implemented under the Sustainably Grown® standard. Before too long, farmers celebrated substantial increases in grove productivity, increased biodiversity, more efficient operations, improved use of resources, and, in some cases, workers experienced financial bonuses for the first time based on farm success. Pompeian then financed the third-party certification audits by SCS to have these achievements independently evaluated and verified.

“Led by an all-women team, Sunrise Olive Ranch is proud to be the first Pompeian farm to be Certified Sustainably Grown. We’re proud our certification will pave the way for other farms, and hopefully, other olive oil companies, to achieve this prestigious certification.”

– Lorena Antoun, Quality and Sustainability Manager at Sunrise Olive Ranch

Key Outcomes

Pompeian’s relationships with farmers, including trust and morale, grew stronger.Growers benefitted in myriad ways from their efforts to enact sustainable agriculture practices.Growers learned and implemented soil conservation and water management practices as well as cover crop planting to create improved growing conditions.Implementing the Sustainably Grown standard helped improve the health of olive trees.More efficient use of resources: targeted deployment resulted in reduced usage of and requirement for fertilizers.Flourishing biodiversity: the holistic, nature-based focus of the Sustainably Grown standard encouraged farmers to build owl houses, attract wild pollinators, and prune trees to create habitat for wildlife.Demonstrable commitment to Sustainably Grown excellence helped Pompeian advance its reputation as a global leader in olive oil production.Pompeian is working toward having 100% of its extra virgin oil suppliers certified as Sustainably Grown by 2028, with olive growing sites in Portugal, Turkey, and Tunisia next in line.Pompeian also plans to have additional product lines certified to the Sustainably Grown standard.

“When we tell other olive growers that we are certified with Sustainably Grown, they are always so impressed because the standard is so rigorous. It’s prestigious. So each time one of our farms achieves this certification we consider it to be the best way for us to demonstrate our excellence and commitment.”

-Paula Lopes, Vice President of Quality, R&D and Environment, Pompeian

“We wish to see SCS Sustainably Grown become the standard for the entire olive oil industry. It has brought our farmers and our farms so much goodness. Sustainably Grown offers a level of satisfaction and sustainability that is unmatched — it’s the best for the groves, the olives, and the people. Especially for the farmers and their families.”

– Teresa Garcia López, Director of Sustainability and Environment, Pompeian

Download Pompeian’s case-study here.

For more information about Sustainably Grown Certification please contact: 
Kevin Warner 
Director of ESG Certifications and Strategy 
+1.510.407.0091 
kwarner@scsglobalservices.com

Cummins

Cummins Inc. is honored to announce recent accolades recognizing its ongoing efforts to foster caring and inclusive environments in which all employees thrive: Financial Times Diversity Leaders 2024, Top Hispanic Employer by DiversityComm, Best Places to Work in 2024 Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards and World 50 Groups’ Shortlist for the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Impact Awards.

Diversity and inclusion are core company values at Cummins. The company’s leadership has long believed a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) powers innovation and success among employees and guides the company’s actions and contributions in communities around the world.

“We are very proud of these recognitions,” says Marvin Boakye, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “At Cummins we strive to attract, develop, and retain a truly global workforce with the intent of bringing the right combination of perspectives, insights, and skills to solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. It is how we win with the power of difference.”

RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESSES

For the third consecutive year, Cummins was named to the Financial Times Diversity Leaders 2024 list. Each year since 2019, the publication seeks the views of more than 100,000 employees, across sectors, in 16 European countries. Participants evaluate their own employer’s diversity and inclusion practices and can share their perspective of those adopted by other prominent employers in their respective industries. This year Cummins ranked 145 out of the 850 companies that made the list.

Awarding Cummins as a Top Hispanic Employers 2024, DiversityComm magazine’s “Best of the Best” annual list recognizes organizations that have gone above and beyond to create more inclusive, equitable workspaces where diverse talent can be recruited, developed and retained: companies, like Cummins, that put DEI initiatives at the forefront of their business models. The goal of the annual evaluation is to bring the latest information and guidance to readers, while also encouraging active outreach and diversity policies among corporations and government agencies, with the intent of ultimately creating a more diverse workforce.

Cummins was also named a winner of Glassdoor’s 16th annual Employee’s Choice Awards, honoring the Best Places to Work in 2024. Unlike other workplace awards, this one is based on the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback to Glassdoor by completing a company review about their job, work environment and employer over the past year.

World 50 Group, the global community of business leaders, shortlisted Cummins for the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Impact Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in fostering inclusivity, equity and diversity across corporate landscapes and around the globe. Winners will be announced on March 27th. Within the nine award categories, Cummins awards include: Community Impact Award – a company that has had an impact on communities by supporting education or development programs, health care, infrastructure or other areas of need; Gender Equality Award – a global team, function or company that has made exceptional contributions to advancing gender equality in their organizations and beyond; and, I&D Impact Award – an organization that has showcased true excellence in making DEI progress, providing a benchmark for others to aspire to, and offering clear evidence of improvement.

POWERING FUTURE ENDEAVORS

Cummins makes great efforts to inspire a workforce that is representative at every level of the communities in which the company operates around the world. This is reflected by its more than 150 Employee Resource Groups, Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE)- the company’s organizational commitment to seek to drive sustainable impacts in the work to dismantle systemic discrimination- and memorable employee involvement initiatives like Hispanic Heritage Month.

“These honors pay tribute to our current achievements in DEI, which is critical to a company’s success, and also serve to further inspire our future endeavors,” Boakye continues. “There is more work to do, and we are relentless in our desire to see a world and a workplace where all people are embraced for who they are, what they contribute, and what they aspire to achieve.”

Learn more about Careers at Cummins!