Tag: 3BL

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

The ongoing U.S. Bank Black History Month celebration included a block party and ribbon cutting event at the newly renovated Slauson and Crenshaw branch, the first-ever U.S. Bank Black Heritage Community branch, featuring design upgrades that reflect the vibrant cultural heritage of Los Angeles’s Crenshaw community.

At the event, U.S. Bank welcomed guest speaker Maxine Waters, the U.S. representative for California’s 43rd congressional district since 1991, who currently serves as the ranking member of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

Additionally, U.S. Bank provided $100,000 to two local organizations supporting the bank’s years long efforts to make a meaningful impact in revitalizing the Crenshaw District.

Destination Crenshaw received a $50,000 grant to support Build Back Crenshaw Workplace Apprentice Program and Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC) of Los Angeles received a $50,000 grant to support the Black Women Vend – Crenshaw Micro-Enterprise Program.

U.S. Bank has been a support of Destination Crenshaw since 2022, when the bank’s Impact Finance community development division invested $8.9 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocations in support of the reparative development project that is poised to become the largest public Black art project in the country.

Ultimately, the Destination Crenshaw project plans to commission more than 100 temporary and permanent works by Black artists who have strong ties to Los Angeles, with a piece slated to be installed behind the U.S. Bank Slauson and Crenshaw Branch and the branch itself being home to a mural created by, for and featuring local community members.

The branch mural The Heart of Hyde Park was created by lead artist Moses Ball and commissioned by L.A. Commons, an organization based in Leimert Park that engages communities in artistic and cultural expressions that tell their unique stories.

Joining Destination Crenshaw and LISC LA at the block party festivities were local artists and food trucks, including longtime U.S. Bank client Crenshaw Coffee.

Event attendees received complimentary branded tote bags featuring airbrush art designs created by local artist Tamika Quillard. Block partiers could use the tote bags as they visited the Food Access Los Angeles Farmer’s Market next to the branch.

The Black Heritage Community branch is designed to deliver a hyperlocal, culturally relevant experience for diverse customers and create a deeper connection with customers, employees and the community. The branch was designed with space to host free community events, financial health workshops and skills training events, and to provide a storefront for small business pop ups. Customers are offered free financial health resources, expert advice and products. The branch works locally with community leaders.

Watch the video above to learn more about the Crenshaw community and the continued commitment of U.S. Bank to power human potential in Los Angeles.

Originally published on Rayonier.com

WILDLIGHT, Fla., February 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Rayonier recently held its second U.S. employee planting day where more than 30 support employees had an opportunity to hand-plant 4,500 seedlings under the guidance of company foresters.

The team-building event, dubbed More Than Planting Day, was a great opportunity for field employees to educate coworkers about how our most important resource gets its start.

Employees who normally work in finance, investor relations, HR, communications, IT, and other key support roles that enable the company to be a responsible steward of more than 2.7 million acres across the globe, spent about three hours planting the 8-acre site in West Nassau County.

Before the planting began, Rayonier foresters explained to the team that the seedlings are the result of years of planning. Breeders on our research team control-pollinated pinecones in 2019 and waited for their seeds to ripen. When the pinecones were mature in 2020, they were harvested for seed extraction. In May 2023, the seeds were planted in our Elberta, Alabama, nursery, which grew them until they were mature enough to be replanted in the forest.

As a sustainable forestry company, Rayonier plants more than 30 million seedlings every year across the U.S. and New Zealand.

About Rayonier

Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) is a leading timberland real estate investment trust with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. We own or lease under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands. We are More than trees because we recognize that our 90+ years of success in the timberland industry comes from our people, an empowering culture and the courage to constantly challenge “the way it’s always been done.” Get to know us at www.rayonier.com.

Authored by Jennifer Schwalm, Edward A. Klik Jr., Beverly Asper, Michael Edwin

Pathways for your organization to reach success

As senior living leaders begin to set and achieve growth goals for their organizations in 2024, they must demonstrate perseverance within a rapidly changing environment. 

Watch Baker Tilly’s informative on-demand webinar where our team explores trends and challenges for senior services leaders to be on the lookout for in 2024 and the pathways for reaching success. In addition, the webinar covers how industry leaders can prepare for affiliations, identify growth opportunities and expand service offerings, explore strategic opportunities of middle market housing and services and more. 

Watch now Baker Tilly’s informative on-demand webinar.

For more insights, visit Baker Tilly’s senior services page.

Originally published on 3M News Center

Post-it® 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes was recently named the winner of the Good Housekeeping 2024 Sustainability Innovation awards in the ‘Best of Household’ category. Every year, engineers, scientists, analysts and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute rigorously test thousands of consumer products making innovative strides toward building a more sustainable economy. Post-it® 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes and packaging are made with 100% recycled paper. Post-it® Notes are made in a zero-waste-to-landfill facility providing consumers with an environmentally and socially responsible choice for the brand they use and love.

“3M is committed to building a more sustainable future,” said Adrienne Hovland, Post-it® Brand global portfolio director. “Our efforts to increase recycled content and improve recyclability are key components of our commitment to creating new, innovative products that do more, with less materials. We are honored to receive this recognition from Good Housekeeping.”

As consumers show a greater awareness of their purchasing habits and the impact they have on the environment, they are increasingly seeking more sustainable products. A majority of U.S. consumers, 78%, say living a sustainable lifestyle is important to them. Sustainable practices are also something consumers think about when it comes to purchases for their families. According to a recent brand study of consumer behaviors and purchasing preferences, over two-thirds of parents (68%) believe purchasing eco-friendly school supplies for their children is important.* Post-it® Brand is committed to investing time and resources in reimagining its products, building on its deep history of innovation to bring sustainable solutions to consumers that help them deliver on the things they care about most.

Since launching in 2023, Post-it® 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes also received GreenCircle certification. This recognition is independently verified, by a credible, robust process, to provide consumers with verification that a brand’s sustainability claims are valid.

For more information and to get organized, follow @postit on Instagram and visit Post-it.com.

The rising trend of mindful consumerism has captured the attention of business leaders. In response to mounting societal and environmental concerns, brands are under increasing pressure to prioritize sustainability in their operations. Despite this, a fundamental question remains: How much of an impact does sustainability actually have on business? 

In collaboration with 3BL, TriplePundit and panel partner Cint, the latest research from the research technology platform Glow is the first to put a dollar figure to the impact. The highly anticipated report, The $44 Billion Sustainability Opportunity for Brands, is out today.

Surveying over 3,000 U.S. adults, this report unveils insights including:

How sustainability impacts consumer perception of brands across 12 industries — food and grocery, telecommunications, banks, pension funds, airlines, and fashion and retail brands, just to name a few.The impact of sustainability-related brand switching, as consumers gravitate toward industry players they consider more sustainable. Where consumer views align and diverge across demographics such as age and political stance.Combatting the anti-ESG backlash and averting greenwashing accusations. How to craft a winning communication strategy to seize this billion-dollar opportunity, and more!

Check out the full report for insights into taking advantage of the $44 billion sustainability prize. 

Las Vegas Sands

Over the past year, Sands has made significant contributions to increasing skills and promoting careers in a variety of disciplines related to travel and tourism by supporting developmental opportunities that can help people working in its local communities’ hospitality industry create long-term career paths and obtain higher-paying jobs.

Ensuring a pipeline of hospitality industry talent through skills development and career advancement is a core focus under the company’s priority on workforce development, along with advancing opportunities for Team Members and the local labor pool as a whole. Sands aims to invest $200 million in workforce development programs by 2025, as one of its three primary corporate responsibility ambitions.

Initiatives to advancing hospitality industry workers span a variety of programs, based on each region’s landscape and needs.

Singapore

In late 2023, Sands and Marina Bay Sands awarded funding to the first 49 recipients in the $1 million Sands Hospitality Scholarship Program, established to help cultivate a pipeline of talent and capitalize on the tremendous tourism growth projected in Singapore over the coming years. Aimed at encouraging the region’s brightest talent to consider hospitality careers, the program will ultimately support more than 100 students in pursuing hospitality or tourism-related courses at six institutes of higher learning.

Since 2018, Marina Bay Sands has worked closely with the Singapore Institute of Technology to nurture promising talents who are keen to develop their careers in the hospitality industry. The integrated resort has donated more than $447,000 toward the Marina Bay Sands Bursary, which has provided financial assistance for 120 undergraduates pursuing bachelor of hospitality business degrees to help them hone their interest and skills toward a hospitality profession.

Marina Bay Sands also offers ongoing programs to host hospitality students onsite, provide trainings and offer mentoring. One initiative is the In Conversation With series, which hosts leaders in a variety of fields related to hospitality and tourism for learning sessions with students and aspiring professionals. Guest speakers have included acclaimed director Steven Caple Jr. and producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, known for their work on the blockbuster film “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, and environmental and sustainability experts from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Last year, Sands China introduced the Sands Hospitality Academy to drive skills in the local hospitality industry. The academy formally launched in November 2023, with the purpose of advancing hospitality skills and vocational knowledge among Team Members, cultivating talent among youth looking to join the industry, and setting the highest international standards for the region’s hospitality industry by extending Sands China’s vast hospitality experience to the Greater Bay Area. The academy offers property tours, career-sharing sessions, masterclasses and lectures by company senior executives and industry experts.

Sands China also launched the Sands MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) Academy in March 2023 to incubate much-needed talent for large-scale meetings and conferences in Macao. The academy provides internships, educational exchanges and training courses with Sands China’s senior management team serving as guest lecturers, as well as numerous tours of Sands China’s properties for high school and university students and faculty members, focusing particularly on people studying in the MICE field.

In addition, Sands China collaborates with local educational institutions to develop hospitality talent. Programs have included collaboration with The Macao Institute for Tourism on the 8th Tourism Education Summit, a full-day event that enabled students to explore tourism and hospitality trends in the Greater Bay Area.

For people interested in pursuing careers on the entertainment side of the industry, Sands China has established the three-year Stage Technology and Event Production Course in collaboration with the Sino-Portuguese Vocational and Technical School. This unique program provides secondary school students with an unparalleled opportunity to learn about entertainment-related jobs, develop specific skill sets and create entertainment career pathways.

Other educational collaborations focus on cultivating talent in professional services areas related to the hospitality industry. These programs include the Art Talent Showcase, a partnership with Macao Polytechnic University that enables participants to work on the company’s internal promotional and graphic design projects, and programs with the Macau Institute of Management and Wuyi University that have enabled facilities management students to gain hands-on experience through resort visits and meetings with executives.

Finally, other student initiatives include the award-winning City of Gourmet – Youth Development and Integration Program, which features industry experts and Sands China’s world-class chocolate and tea masters as tutors to inspire and equip trainees with valuable skills.  The Ready, Get Set, Go! internship program and Go! Explore the Infinity of Sands China provide secondary and tertiary students in Macao with valuable opportunities to discover career paths in the hospitality and tourism industry.

United States

At the corporate level, Sands is focused on ensuring a diverse workforce and cultivating a pipeline of skilled talent in the hospitality industry. For example, the Sands Hospitality Immersion Program, held in conjunction with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, provides students from historically Black colleges and universities with an intensive Las Vegas experience designed to encourage interest in travel, tourism and leisure by exposing them to the inner workings of the Las Vegas hospitality industry. The Sands Hospitality Immersion Program welcomed 12 students in the summer of 2023 for a week of seminars, tours, events and unique experiences curated by the Sands Center for Professional Development, at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In Greater New York, where Sands hopes to build its next world-class integrated resort, the company has already begun steps to train a pipeline of hospitality talent by establishing collaborative relationships with local educational institutions. Sands, Long Island University (LIU) and Nassau Community College (NCC) have agreed in principle if the company is successful in obtaining a Downstate New York gaming license to create a comprehensive hospitality program for Long Island college students to prepare for jobs and create career paths in tourism-related disciplines.

The partnership will establish a bridge between LIU and NCC, empowering NCC graduates to advance their two-year associate’s degrees to four-year bachelor’s degrees at LIU’s nearby campus. Additionally, NCC will partner with Sands to develop a workforce development training hub with planned programs in hotel and casino management, security and surveillance, meetings and banquets, entertainment, and food and beverage services. Learning models will include internships and other experiential components for NCC students.

“Building skillsets and exposing a greater number of students and young professionals to the vast array of career opportunities the hospitality industry offers is one of our top priorities,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives at Sands. “We are investing not only in the future talent that will sustain our company, but in the major economic impact that a thriving hospitality industry brings to our local communities.”

To learn more about Sands’ workforce development initiatives, read the 2022 ESG Report here: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

This year’s theme for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is “Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Communities.” We spoke with C. Virginia Fields, President and CEO of National Black Leadership Commission on Health (Black Health), a Gilead grantee, about how together, we can take action toward meaningful change.

We commend Virginia and our many community partners for continuing to honor and advance the decades of progress that Black communities have made in HIV.

Learn more: https://gilead.inc/487PjBu

Inclusion & Diversity is key to our success as a company.

Building an inclusive and diverse workforce is critical to enabling Gilead’s mission – and, ultimately, will help us create a better, healthier world. We are highly committed to creating an inclusive culture, one that enables all people to do their best work and that is reflective of the diversity of our patients. At the same time, we recognize that we need to do more to accelerate our progress – for our people, for our business and for the world.

Gilead’s overall Inclusion & Diversity aspirations are:

Be the employer of choice for diverse talentFoster an inclusive culture where differences are leveraged to innovate and enable our missionBe respected for equitable and socially responsible practices

Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

Schneider Electric

Buildings play a critical role in the race to meet science-based climate targets

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges to human and planetary well-being. With 37% of global CO2 emissions coming from buildings, it is crucial that buildings are decarbonized in the race to meet science-based climate targets. And, 50% of today’s buildings will still be in use in 2050. The most significant opportunity to accelerate carbon reduction in the building sector is to retrofit existing buildings. It’s the fastest path decarbonizing buildings. Science also shows that sustainable renovations not only deliver sizable energy savings, but they can also deliver significant ROI in less than a decade – as well as attract tenants, preserve asset value, and mitigate financial risk.

Tackling the climate challenge through retrofits

First, it’s important to realize that we are at a crossroads, with a short-term global energy crisis intersecting a longer-term global climate crisis. Energy prices are becoming more volatile while energy supplies are becoming less certain. Meanwhile, maintaining our current pace in tackling climate change means that we will fail to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

While statistics reveal some progress, the pace of carbon reduction is not proceeding rapidly enough.

To stay on track and limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C, we must halve emissions by the end of this decade and reach net zero by 2050. This means we must move 3 times faster to achieve this global target. A pivotal piece to this puzzle is reducing operational emissions caused by building energy consumption by 5% annually between now and 2050.

The path to decarbonizing buildings

Accelerating climate action begins with a stronger focus on retrofitting existing buildings. If we break this down, we find that:

30% of carbon emissions are attributed to “embodied carbon” (carbon that is a result of the design and build phase)70% of carbon emissions are attributed to “operational carbon” (carbon that is a result of the operations of a building)

Retrofitting is essential to preserve the value and lease-ability of existing buildings and can meet sustainability standards, attract tenants, and maintain their value in a greener economy. As the large corporations inhabiting these areas strive for net-zero status, they will inevitably demand that the buildings they lease align with their net-zero objectives and demonstrate a tangible progression toward achieving them.

Keep in mind, 90% of existing buildings that fail to decarbonize will become a financial risk and face an asset value discount. This discount could reduce the value of these assets by as much as 30%, making them less attractive to potential investors and tenants.

Although every building is unique, retrofitting an existing building versus building a new design can cut lifetime carbon emissions in half. While a new building may be able to achieve slightly better operational carbon performance than a retrofit, the embodied carbon is typically much higher than a retrofit building where the core and shell are retained.

So, where do you begin?

To meet emissions targets, we must focus on measures with a low carbon footprint, a quick return on upfront emissions, and a low operational profile. These solutions must be adaptable to various building types and climates and rapidly deployed in existing buildings.

Technology-first retrofits. This is where Schneider Electric leads the industry in the path to net-zero building solutions. A digital technology-first approach that relies on modern digital and power management solutions is fastest to implement, lowest in upfront carbon, and most effective from both an ROI and lifecycle carbon perspective.

Our research shows that deploying digital building and power management solutions[i] in existing office buildings could reduce their operational carbon emissions by up to 42% with a payback period of less than 3 years.

Now, let’s look deeper into how we arrived at these numbers.

Science-based study to quantify emissions impact

Schneider Electric partnered with WSP, a global design and engineering firm. Together, we quantified the impact of various efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy building decarbonization retrofit options. We also determined which approaches attain the fastest emissions reduction outcomes.

Our analysis involved the building performance modeling of a baseline office building built to ASHRAE 90.1-2004 standards across various climate zones and with varying grid emissions intensities. The baseline model in New York City, for instance, emits 18.7 kg of CO2 per square meter per year of operational carbon emissions, as the baseline building prototype analyzed (like most existing buildings) relies on fossil fuels for heating and exhibits low rates of electrification and inefficient operations.

Our methodology combined public data sets, Schneider Electric proprietary research, and a parametric modeling approach. This enabled us to understand the trade-offs, benefits, and interactions between a range of office decarbonization strategies, focusing on the solutions from the table below.

To quantify the carbon emissions associated with each measure, we adopted the EN 15978 framework for whole lifecycle impact assessment, and the GWP100 EF6 emissions measure.

This process enabled the comparison of 4,096 variants of the energy model, adding a range of energy conservation measures (ECMs) in different combinations to recreate every possible permutation.

Define your retrofit decarbonization strategy 

Schneider Electric has the technologies available today to help you on your path to decarbonization and net-zero buildings.

A critical success factor in achieving rapid building decarbonization involves assessing and prioritizing retrofitting efforts. In our research, three clear categories of opportunity emerged. We refer to these three categories as light, medium, and deep renovations. In defining the right retrofit strategy, it is crucial to consider the entire building and portfolio ownership period, as well as the potential risks associated with asset stranding due to local market conditions, and other factors beyond ROI and carbon footprint.

Let’s take a closer look:

LIGHT INTERVENTIONS: COMPLIANCE & EFFICIENCY

Light renovations are inclusive of 100% digital solutions. They are characterized by high ROI with low up-front investment and low disruption to building occupants. Building owners should start by monitoring and measuring building energy consumption. Establishing a baseline is essential before reducing carbon emissions. These initial steps can result in a 45% reduction in operational carbon emissions. 

The primary gains come from automated building controls, particularly involving HVAC system controls optimization and sensors that help to regulate HVAC equipment settings (39.6%). The remaining savings from light interventions come from monitoring and measuring energy consumption, making usage more visible to identify waste (5.3%). Light interventions help meet reporting and compliance needs and reduce energy and carbon emissions. The cost for implementing such renovations will range between 20€ and 35€ per square meter (m2), with an ROI between 1 and 3 years.

MEDIUM RETROFITS: COMPETE IN THE MARKET

Medium retrofits are more intensive, cause more disruption to operations, and have higher embodied carbon, but deliver greater operational carbon reductions. These include onsite renewable energy solutions, battery energy storage, and microgrids, with electrical distribution solutions that deliver additional efficiency gains and improve power quality. Coupled with light intervention solutions, medium retrofits can reduce operational carbon emissions by up to 85%. 

Medium renovations involve the implementation of onsite renewables like rooftop solar panels (PV) and managing energy generation and storage with a microgrid, which can generate 10.2% in annual operational carbon reduction. Where onsite renewable potential is constrained to the rooftop, additional emissions reductions can be achieved through offsite renewables solutions like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) or carbon offsets, if needed. The model used these solutions to address residual emissions and contributed 21.4% potential annual operational CO2 emissions reduction. With more electrified loads and dynamically changing loads, power factor correction and harmonic filtering may be required and can contribute an additional 7.5% in operational carbon emissions reduction. The cost for implementing such medium retrofit solutions will range from 115–175 €/m2, with an ROI between 6–10 years.

DEEP RENOVATIONS: LEAD THE MARKET

At some point, achieving net zero carbon emissions will also require deep renovations. At this stage, full electrification and building envelope improvements are implemented. These changes will be even more disruptive, take longer to implement, and typically involve temporarily relocating tenants. Such renovations include upgrading roof and wall insulation, converting windows from single to triple-paned glazing, modernizing elevators, and electrifying the building’s heating system, reducing emissions the rest of the way to reach net zero after medium retrofits. The cost for implementing such renovations will range from 500–1.300 €/m2, with an ROI of 25+ years.

A discussion with Forbes

During the 2023 Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit, I had the honor of sitting with Diane Brady, Assisting Managing Editor at Forbes to give my perspective and share our science-based knowledge and digital technology-first methodology.

I invite you to listen to these brief excerpts from our interview:

Part I: Working toward a more sustainable futurePart II: The importance of a technology-first approach

Let’s get started

The results of our science-based research, backed by the collaboration with WSP, provide a fundamental and data-proven foundation for building owners to act and reap the benefits – all while contributing to a more sustainable future.

To learn more about our science-based research and data, download the following white papers:

A structured methodology for planning commercial real estate portfolio decarbonizationDecarbonize the office: Unleash the power of digital solutions for building renovationsDecarbonize the office: Accelerate with electrification

Contact Mike Kazmierczak, VP of Schneider’s Decarbonization Office, or Schneider’s Sustainability Consulting Team to engage in a more in-depth discussion.

[i] Schneider Electric solutions include EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Building Advisor, Connected Room Solutions, Accusine power factor correction and harmonic filtering, PowerLogic submetering

February 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Webinars, podcasts, and on-demand events with Environment+Energy Leader are designed to equip environmental professionals, business leaders, EHS managers, and sustainability directors with the latest insights and tools in sustainability and energy management.

Upcoming Webinars

We are thrilled to invite you to our next webinar scheduled for March 6. This session promises to deliver cutting-edge discussions facilitated by industry experts, focusing on practical solutions for developing and using measurement-informed emission inventories. Webinar Registration – March 6

Sustainability Unveiled Podcast

Discover the future of sustainable supply chains, sustainable business practices, and federal funding through our dynamic podcast series. Podcast Website

On-Demand Webinars

Missed a live event? Our on-demand webinars offer the flexibility to engage with our content at your convenience. Explore a wealth of knowledge designed to enhance your strategies and operations. On-Demand Webinar Hub

Call for Speakers – Podcast

We are continuously in search of visionaries willing to share their expertise and insights on our podcast platform. If you have a compelling topic or case study in the realms of sustainability and energy, we encourage you to reach out. Call for Speakers

Event Sponsorship Options

Join us as a thought leader or a sponsor in our series of events that span webinars focused on industry innovation, product showcases, engaging live Q&A sessions, and more. Together, we can create a platform for knowledge exchange and thought leadership in the field. Partnership Opportunities

Environment+Energy Leader is dedicated to fostering a community of forward-thinking professionals committed to advancing sustainable practices and renewable energy solutions. We invite you to participate in our upcoming events, share your insights, and help shape the future of our industry.

Stay informed. Stay ahead. Stay engaged with Environment+Energy Leader.

Contact Information

For more information on event registration, speaking opportunities, and sponsorship, please reach out to sarah.washington@environmentenergyleader.com.

Together, we can drive change towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.

About Environment+Energy Leader

At Environment+Energy Leader, we deliver analytical, authoritative, and optimistic insights on renewable energy and sustainability practices. Our focus on factual information, delivered in a professional and accessible manner, underscores our commitment to transparency and expert perspective.

Media Contact:

Sarah Washington

sarah.washington@environmentenergyleader.com

www.environmentenergyleader.com 

“A new era of impact for global apparel and consumer goods” 
The global nonprofit alliance, empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry, retains its mission and expands its reach; co-founder Rick Ridgeway to speak at celebratory event in London

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., February 26, 2024 /3BL/ – The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) enters a new phase of positive impact, rebranding as Cascale, a global nonprofit alliance that empowers collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Spanning over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, industry associations, and NGOs/nonprofits around the globe, Cascale’s members are united by a singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than they take to the planet and its people. With members and “founding father” Rick Ridgeway, the organization will celebrate the change at a networking event in London on February 27.

“Cascale’s vision reflects my mission to inspire responsible businesses that commit to transparency and benefit people and the planet,” said Rick Ridgeway, author, adventurer, former vice president of sustainability and public engagement at Patagonia, and Cascale’s co-founder. “Its enduring collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to sustainability has delivered tremendous impact – but we still have work to do, together. As Cascale evolves to address the needs of a broader scope of consumer goods beyond apparel and footwear, I’m proud to celebrate this new vision of an organization that is close to my heart.”

The “Cas” in Cascale is “SAC” reversed, while “CA” refers to “collective action,” and “scale” references scaled ambitions. The “C” in Cascale evokes a new “phase” similar to lunar cycles in nature, as well as moonlight or a mirrored reflection. The logo’s elements symbolize the organization’s three member categories, and external stakeholders, all critical players in advancing the unified strategy announced in September 2023. Cascale is pronounced “kæsk eɪl.”

“Over the years, this organization has consistently demonstrated commitment to living out its values and embracing change for collective good,” said Tamar Hoek, Cascale board chair and senior policy director at Solidaridad. “I am excited to continue my involvement as board chair at Cascale, alongside executives and staff, and work with members and partners in this exciting new chapter. This is the next evolution towards impact.”

“Collaboration is at the heart of creating positive change in the industry,” said Krishna Manda, Cascale vice chair and vice president, corporate sustainability at Lenzing Group. “Just as we’ve emphasized before, no single player can drive this alone. Cascale’s impactful work has set the stage for a transformative journey. We are thrilled to continue supporting the organization in its next phase of development, building on the revised strategic plan. This is not just a transition; it’s a shared evolution towards a healthier and greener future for everyone.”

HISTORY & HIGG INDEX

In 2009, Walmart and Patagonia founded the SAC to convene apparel industry stakeholders on a pre-competitive basis and develop a common approach to measuring sustainability. In 2010, the SAC launched the Higg Index suite of tools, which are used by businesses and organizations to measure, evaluate, and improve social and environmental impact in the textile, apparel, and footwear industry. Each year, over 24,000 users rely on the Higg Index for improved benchmarking, reduced auditing, and proactive action. As home furnishings, sporting and outdoor goods, and bags and luggage companies began joining the SAC and using the Higg Index tools alongside existing corporate and non-corporate SAC members, the organization identified the need for a more expansive name: Cascale reflects its goal of scaling collective action. As of January 2024, 10 percent of Cascale’s members serve or operate in product categories adjacent to apparel and footwear.

“At Dunelm, we remain as ambitious as ever about being a company that focuses on growing sustainably,” said Christina Downend, head of climate change at Dunelm, a home furnishings retailer and Cascale candidate member. “This has meant combining long-term thinking with shorter-term, achievable, and measurable goals. The Cascale global community and Higg Index tools have helped us on that journey, not least as we develop initiatives such as our Better Manufacturing programme, where we are supporting and engaging our suppliers on their own transitions to net zero. Our goals cannot be met without collaboration and we are excited to be part of this community, to share knowledge and ideas so that we all make progress to fulfill our ambitions.”

PROGRAMS 

Cascale drives impact at scale through three foundational pillars — Combat Climate Change, Decent Work for All, and Nature Positive Future — forming a unified strategy for industry transformation through collective action programs that guide members from action to impact. The Decarbonization Program, launched in 2022, is one leading example of these programs in action: It aims for members to achieve a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. As of 2023, Cascale’s corporate members are required to set science-based targets (SBTs) for reducing GHG emissions; by the end of that year, when the organization launched the Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP), over 50 percent of these members had set or committed to set SBTs.

Cascale is now building and expanding impact programs focused on responsible corporate practices, circular product design, and responsible manufacturing, while advocating for effective policy that aims to leverage collective action, making systemic change not just possible but inevitable.

“We know that synergies exist across industries and regions. Building on our experience and success in bringing together different actors across global apparel and footwear value chains to create shared tools and solutions, now is the time to expand our reach and engage a wider membership base to drive collective action at scale,” said Andrew Martin, executive vice president at Cascale. “Together, we are seeking to shape a consumer goods industry that gives back more than it takes to the planet and its people.”

PARTNERSHIPS

Cascale continues to act on the belief that partnership is the new leadership. Traditional business models exacerbate rather than mitigate social and environmental problems; accepting the status quo is antithetical to the organization’s mission. Cascale works collaboratively to shift the industry from silos to collective action: With the Apparel Alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Textile Exchange, ZDHC Foundation, and Cascale), Social & Labor Convergence Program, Policy Hub, Fair Wear Foundation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH programs, and many others, Cascale continuously develops and supports initiatives that aim to catalyze impact at scale. Following its spin-off from the SAC in 2019, Worldly, the exclusive platform for the Higg Index tools, has become the leader in environmental and social impact data for the apparel and footwear industry.

“Stakeholders across the value chain prioritize sustainability performance aimed at industry-wide harmonization, reduction of duplicative efforts, and radical collaboration for tool, program, and policy adoption,” said Carolina van Loenen, director of stakeholder engagement at Cascale. “Our new name and branding reflect our expanded ability to increase our community’s collective impact. Cascale remains committed to embracing the diverse perspectives of our members, partners, and external stakeholders to align on meaningful action.”

Cascale’s rebrand announcement video is viewable here.

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale [www.cascale.org] is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Spanning over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe, we are united by a singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index and a unified strategy for industry transformation.