Tag: 3BL

Food Emissions 50 Company Benchmark found 37 companies have disclosed supply chain emissions and 32 have set emission reduction targets that include scope 3The first benchmarked company engaged in Food Emissions 50 reported a quantified climate transition plan on how it will achieve its emission reductions goals

February 22, 2024 /3BL/ – A new Ceres analysis of major North American food companies found that the sector, which accounts for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, is making measured progress toward aligning with and accelerating the transition to a net zero emissions economy.

Ceres’ Food Emissions 50 Company Benchmark revealed that 37 out of the 50 companies engaged through its Food Emissions 50 initiative have reported their supply chain greenhouse gas emissions and 32 of them have set targets to reduce those emissions – two critical actions that should be the basis of an effective climate transition plan. Many of the companies are also reporting more key elements of effective strategies for reducing emissions in the food sector, including one company that has quantified how it will achieve its emissions reductions goals.

In 2021, when the Food Emissions 50 initiative was launched, only a few companies disclosed scope 3 emissions from their supply chain and corresponding 1.5°C-aligned science-based targets.

“It is encouraging to see that the food sector is making progress, but more urgent and ambitious action is needed, and investors will be looking for companies to address the large gaps that remain,” said Meryl Richards, program director of food and forests at Ceres. “As more companies set targets to reduce their emissions, it is critical that they also disclose how they will transition their businesses to align with a net zero future. Without climate transition plans that chart the actions companies will take to reduce their emissions, it is likely that companies will fall short of their goals.”

New benchmark highlights sector trends in climate transition plans

The benchmark also revealed notable trends of where food companies are making progress on transition planning and where opportunities for more action remain. When Ceres did an initial analysis of climate transition plans in May 2023, no Food Emissions 50 company had disclosed how its business-wide emissions reduction efforts will allow it to reach its climate goals. This year, Ceres found Yum! Brands has followed other major food companies, such as Nestlé and Mars, in publishing a quantified plan that identifies the percentage of their emissions targets they expect to achieve by implementing various actions across their operations and supply chain.

Business momentum to publish climate transition plans has been spurred by an increased awareness of escalating climate and nature risks, new disclosure regulations being adopted in countries across the globe, and consumer demand for climate-friendly products, along with pressure from investors seeking more information. After a shareholder resolution received significant support, Darden Restaurants, for instance, disclosed its full scope 3 emissions for the first time in October 2023.

“Even if not perfect, food companies must quantify a climate strategy because doing so helps external stakeholders hold companies accountable for reducing emissions in line with their estimates and allows the company to assess and adjust progress toward meeting its larger emissions targets,” added Nako Kobayashi, Food Emissions 50 manager, food and forests, at Ceres. “As we near 2030, companies must demonstrate actions they are taking to rapidly reduce their emissions to stay on track, or in some cases get back on track, to achieving their goals.”

Another finding from the benchmark is that more companies are disclosing the main drivers of their scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services and how they plan to address them – a crucial step since the supply chain is responsible for 70-80% of food sector emissions. For example, Kraft Heinz is more clearly identifying that a major driver of its GHG emissions are methane emissions from dairy and meat products, which the company plans to address through efforts like joining General Mills and other global companies as co-founding members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance.

Ceres’ latest benchmark also sheds insight into a crucial area of opportunity for food companies – their forward-looking business growth and innovation strategy. As Ceres outlined in a recent report, food companies will have to leverage both existing agricultural practices and accelerate emerging technologies to reduce on-farm emissions enough to reach climate goals. While more Food Emissions 50 companies are now conducting analyses to assess the risks and opportunities in a transition to a 1.5°C scenario, they are largely not making progress on taking actions to mitigate impacts and capitalize on those business opportunities.

In addition, the benchmark found food retailers continue to lag the sector in acting on their emissions, with only four of 12 retailers disclosing supply chain emissions and setting targets to reduce them. However, a few major retailers reported certain climate transition plan elements for the first time, including Costco’s disclosure of its scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services.

See the full results of Ceres’ latest Food Emissions 50 Company Benchmark here.

Food Emissions 50 is an investor-led initiative to accelerate progress towards a 1.5-degree future in the food sector and is a part of Ceres’ Ambition 2030, an initiative that works to decarbonize six of the highest-emitting sectors and help build a stable, just, and climate-resilient economy.

About Ceres 

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

Media Contact: Bridget Vis, vis@ceres.org

In 2021, Paramount Insights surveyed 15,000 consumers across the world to understand their perceptions of the state of on-screen representation and diversity. The resulting study, Reflecting Me, revealed that audiences craved better representation both on- and off-screen.

In 2023, as part of our Content for Change initiative, Paramount Insights set out to refresh their understanding and build upon those findings from two years earlier. In addition to a new global survey of consumers ages 13 to 49 in 15 countries, Paramount Insights spoke to a variety of leading figures shaping the global conversation around media and culture.

Here’s some of what was learned from this research about the current state of inclusion:

People value diversity and believe their societies are becoming more diverse. Most adults globally (88%) agree their country is diverse, and 90% agree that the diversity of society has either stayed the same or increased over the last 2 years. Today, 62% of adults identify with at least one marginalized identity, up from 51% in 2021. Alongside these changes is a widespread sentiment that acceptance is something to work towards. Most adults (85%) agree that it’s important for people to become more open minded and accepting.At the same time, people around the world see their societies dividing rather than uniting, with the rights of marginalized groups under attack. People are more likely to believe the “togetherness of society” in their country is decreasing (35%) rather than increasing (25%), with 40% thinking it’s stayed the same. Close to 7 in 10 (68%) believe discrimination toward minority groups is a problem. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and those with non-conforming body types are perceived as facing the least societal acceptance.The increasing societal division is in part a backlash to the progress of the last few years. Young males are driving some of this change. More than other demographics, males 13 to 24 differed from the overall global sample in their disagreement with several statements — that all people should have the right to live as whatever gender feels right to them (28% vs. 22%), that transgender people should have the same rights as everyone else (29% vs. 23%), in supporting same sex marriage (40% vs. 33%), and that there’s too much violence against women in their country (34% vs. 23%).People value diversity and believe their societies are becoming more diverse. Most adults globally (88%) agree their country is diverse, and 90% agree that the diversity of society has either stayed the same or increased over the last 2 years. Today, 62% of adults identify with at least one marginalized identity, up from 51% in 2021. Alongside these changes is a widespread sentiment that acceptance is something to work towards. Most adults (85%) agree that it’s important for people to become more open minded and accepting.At the same time, people around the world see their societies dividing rather than uniting, with the rights of marginalized groups under attack. People are more likely to believe the “togetherness of society” in their country is decreasing (35%) rather than increasing (25%), with 40% thinking it’s stayed the same. Close to 7 in 10 (68%) believe discrimination toward minority groups is a problem. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and those with non-conforming body types are perceived as facing the least societal acceptance.The increasing societal division is in part a backlash to the progress of the last few years. Young males are driving some of this change. More than other demographics, males 13 to 24 differed from the overall global sample in their disagreement with several statements — that all people should have the right to live as whatever gender feels right to them (28% vs. 22%), that transgender people should have the same rights as everyone else (29% vs. 23%), in supporting same sex marriage (40% vs. 33%), and that there’s too much violence against women in their country (34% vs. 23%).However, people aren’t letting go of their optimism for the future. They believe that society can move beyond these struggles and come together. Three-quarters of adults globally believe that changes are being made to increase acceptance of different cultures and perspectives. And they are twice as likely to believe people’s openness toward different cultures will increase rather than decrease.

In 2021, Paramount Insights surveyed 15,000 consumers across the world to understand their perceptions of the state of on-screen representation and diversity. The resulting study, Reflecting Me, revealed that audiences craved better representation both on- and off-screen.

In 2023, as part of our Content for Change initiative, Paramount Insights set out to refresh their understanding and build upon those findings from two years earlier. In addition to a new global survey of consumers ages 13 to 49 in 15 countries, Paramount Insights spoke to a variety of leading figures shaping the global conversation around media and culture.

Here’s some of what was learned from this research about the current state of inclusion:

People value diversity and believe their societies are becoming more diverse. Most adults globally (88%) agree their country is diverse, and 90% agree that the diversity of society has either stayed the same or increased over the last 2 years. Today, 62% of adults identify with at least one marginalized identity, up from 51% in 2021. Alongside these changes is a widespread sentiment that acceptance is something to work towards. Most adults (85%) agree that it’s important for people to become more open minded and accepting.At the same time, people around the world see their societies dividing rather than uniting, with the rights of marginalized groups under attack. People are more likely to believe the “togetherness of society” in their country is decreasing (35%) rather than increasing (25%), with 40% thinking it’s stayed the same. Close to 7 in 10 (68%) believe discrimination toward minority groups is a problem. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and those with non-conforming body types are perceived as facing the least societal acceptance.The increasing societal division is in part a backlash to the progress of the last few years. Young males are driving some of this change. More than other demographics, males 13 to 24 differed from the overall global sample in their disagreement with several statements — that all people should have the right to live as whatever gender feels right to them (28% vs. 22%), that transgender people should have the same rights as everyone else (29% vs. 23%), in supporting same sex marriage (40% vs. 33%), and that there’s too much violence against women in their country (34% vs. 23%).People value diversity and believe their societies are becoming more diverse. Most adults globally (88%) agree their country is diverse, and 90% agree that the diversity of society has either stayed the same or increased over the last 2 years. Today, 62% of adults identify with at least one marginalized identity, up from 51% in 2021. Alongside these changes is a widespread sentiment that acceptance is something to work towards. Most adults (85%) agree that it’s important for people to become more open minded and accepting.At the same time, people around the world see their societies dividing rather than uniting, with the rights of marginalized groups under attack. People are more likely to believe the “togetherness of society” in their country is decreasing (35%) rather than increasing (25%), with 40% thinking it’s stayed the same. Close to 7 in 10 (68%) believe discrimination toward minority groups is a problem. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and those with non-conforming body types are perceived as facing the least societal acceptance.The increasing societal division is in part a backlash to the progress of the last few years. Young males are driving some of this change. More than other demographics, males 13 to 24 differed from the overall global sample in their disagreement with several statements — that all people should have the right to live as whatever gender feels right to them (28% vs. 22%), that transgender people should have the same rights as everyone else (29% vs. 23%), in supporting same sex marriage (40% vs. 33%), and that there’s too much violence against women in their country (34% vs. 23%).However, people aren’t letting go of their optimism for the future. They believe that society can move beyond these struggles and come together. Three-quarters of adults globally believe that changes are being made to increase acceptance of different cultures and perspectives. And they are twice as likely to believe people’s openness toward different cultures will increase rather than decrease.

FORT SMITH, Ark., February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Trane® – by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator -celebrated a significant safety milestone at its Commercial HVAC manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Trane Fort Smith employees achieved 5,000,000 work hours, approximately twelve years, without a lost day away from work due to a work-related injury or illness on October 31, 2023.

The facility is on track to reach 6 million hours without a lost time incident by October 2025. There are approximately 200 employees at the site, where Trane has operated for 29 years.

“Ensuring the safety of our people at work is our highest priority,” said Carter Roth, plant manager. “This milestone recognizes and celebrates our associates’ unwavering commitment to creating and nurturing a culture of safety that has spanned more than 12 years! Putting safety first is just one of the things that makes Trane Fort Smith a place people want to work.”

Congressman Steve Womack of Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District, Representative Cindy Crawford of Arkansas’ 51st District, Fort Smith Mayor George McGill, Arkansas Department of Labor Chief of Staff Steve Guntharp, as well as other local and statewide public officials, and esteemed members of the community joined Trane business leaders and employees to recognize the milestone.

“Congratulations to the Trane Fort Smith team on twelve consecutive years without a loss time injury,” said Congressman Womack. “This remarkable accomplishment shows how employee safety and care are integral to the company’s success. Business is booming, and the Trane Fort Smith team is part of making that happen.”

The plant has a long track record of providing a safe and uplifting work environment for its employees; sustainable, high-performing products for customers; and leading by example in support of Trane Technologies’ purpose to achieve a more sustainable world.

Trane Fort Smith has upgraded its HVAC, lighting and water systems to drastically reduce energy and water usage, while creating a more comfortable, efficient environment, and eliminated wood waste to landfill in 2021.

The Trane Fort Smith plant manufactures custom HVAC units, custom air-handling systems, and components for commercial applications.The ultra high efficiency and precise space heating and cooling capabilities of these products are ideal for a variety of commercial building applications, including schools, office buildings, health care, multi-family residential, hotels and more. 
 

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About Trane 
Trane – by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator – creates comfortable, energy efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications. For more information, please visit www.trane.com or www.tranetechnologies.com.

About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

Through creative collaborations with like-minded companies such as WM, we can help advance the well-being of people and the planet. Together, we’re developing a blueprint for sustainability in communities and in sports, helping events like the Grant Thornton Invitational address its environmental footprint.

Given golf’s intrinsic connection to nature, the significance of advancing sustainability in the sport cannot be overstated. And there’s a growing responsibility to ensure its impact on the environment aligns with modern values for futureproofing. Doing so not only minimizes the ecological footprint of golf tournaments, course management, and other golf-related activities, but also sets a powerful example for fans, athletes, sponsors and brands alike. In alignment with such values, the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational golf tournament sought the expertise of two companies known for their expertise in sustainability: Dow and WM.

Two Brands, One Sustainability Mission

WM’s broad reach as a comprehensive environmental solutions provider and our leadership in materials science are bringing enhanced levels of sustainability and innovation to a variety of spheres – one of which is golf. For example, leveraging insights learned respectively from the acclaimed WM Phoenix Open and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, WM advises the PGA TOUR on sustainability, while Dow serves as the Official Sustainability Resource for the LPGA and Ladies European Tour.

Both WM and Dow collaborate closely with the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf (GEO), an organization dedicated to championing sustainability in golf worldwide. Through this work, the 2019 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational became the first-ever GEO-Certified LPGA event, while the 2017 WM Phoenix Open became the first GEO-Certified PGA TOUR event. The GEO Certification acknowledges adherence to the highest sustainability standards in golf.

Just as the LPGA and PGA TOUR’s best teamed up on the golf course at the Grant Thornton Invitational, WM united their strengths with ours to elevate the sustainability program of the tournament, further demonstrating their shared dedication to advancing environmental responsibility in and beyond the sport.

A Closer Look at Dow & WM’s Sustainability Initiatives

With the potential to reach millions, professional golf events like the Grant Thornton Invitational provide unparalleled opportunities to educate and raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainable solutions. Our companies came together to advance the shared goal of driving sustainability through carefully planned and executed initiatives at the tournament, including:

Careful analysis of the tournament’s footprint, such as tracking water and other natural resource usage, to support the development of a phased emissions reduction plan.A commitment to recycling, exemplified by using recycling and trash bins crafted from recycled cardboard.Active engagement with event attendees to foster a culture of environmental sustainability through educational efforts, such as clarifying the distinction between recyclable and non-recyclable materials.On-site sorting efforts to separate recyclable materials effectively, paired with pre-event guidance distributed to vendors outlining preferred items for on-site use.Collaboration with caterers to facilitate food donations.

Our partnership with WM extends beyond the realms of the Grant Thornton Invitational – and golf. In November 2022, we co-launched a residential collection program in North America, specifically designed for hard-to-recycle plastic, including items like grocery bags and shrink wrap. In select markets, consumers now have the convenience of placing these materials directly in their curbside recycling, with WM handling the processing at their nearest state-of-the-art recycling facility. Once at full capacity, the program is anticipated to divert a notable 120,000 metric tons of plastic film away from landfills each year. Looking ahead, we are excited to expand our collaboration with WM in the future, through the sponsorship of the 2024 WM Phoenix Open. During the Grant Thornton Invitational, our teams participated, together with WM, in great discussions around best practices in the worlds of DEI, sustainability and purpose-driven sports marketing, that will help guide future collaborations – stay tuned!

Driving ahead

By embracing innovative, environmentally conscious practices, it is possible to future-proof professional golf while inspiring a broader audience to champion sustainability. For us and for WM, golf isn’t the final destination, but rather just one of the platforms being leveraged to amplify the use of environmentally responsible practices, and to develop game-changing, sustainable innovations and collaborations.

Learn more about Dow’s Partnerships in Golf

Learn more about Dow and WM’s Recycling Program

Carlos Padilla II, Head of Global Sports Partnerships at Dow 
 

Authored by Julia Smith and Brianna Hardy

In November 2022, the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) proposed an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), known as the Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Proposed Rule, to increase the transparency of climate-related information related to government contracting.

The proposed regulation would require applicable federal contractors to:

disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for scopes 1, 2 and 3,conduct a climate risk assessment to identify risks in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD),complete the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) climate change questionnaire, andcommit to developing a science-based target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Who does it affect? 
The proposed rule divides the federal contractor supplier base registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) into two categories:

Significant contractors are defined as contractors that received between $7.5 million and $50 million in federal contract obligations in the prior federal fiscal year.Major contractors are defined as contractors that received more than $50 million in federal contract obligations in the prior federal fiscal year.

In FY2021 alone, there were more than 5,500 qualifying contractors. This proposed rule is expected to cover 86% of annual federal spending and about 86% of the federal supply chain’s GHG and climate impacts [1].

See the requirements for each contractor category:

Type of contractorScope 1 and 2 GHG emissionsScope 3 GHG emissionsDescription of climate risk assessment process and risks identifiedCDP climate change questionnaire sections that align with TCFDScience-based targets with validation by SBTiSignificant contractor 
($7.5M – $50M)✓    Major contractor 
(>$50M)✓✓✓✓✓

 

Regulatory timeline 
While there isn’t a clear timeline for approval, the proposed rule states that after one year of publication of the final rule, all federal contractors must have completed their GHG inventory and disclosed scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. The additional requirements for major contractors would begin two years after publication of the final rule. These additional requirements include reporting on scope 3 GHG emissions, conducting a climate risk assessment to identify risks in alignment with the TCFD, completing the CDP climate change questionnaire and committing to developing a science-based target validated by the SBTi.

Comparison to the SEC climate-related disclosures 
In March 2021, the SEC announced plans for a greater focus on climate-related risks. The proposed disclosure ties to the TCFD and the newly formed International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), a part of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation. The TCFD focuses on governance, strategy, risk management and metrics and targets of climate change disclosures. The details of the disclosure requirements are extensive, and registrants will be required to disclose both qualitative and quantitative climate information, such as disclosures of climate-related risks, GHG emissions, events and plans. The proposed SEC rule demonstrates a great reporting burden for public companies.

The reporting burden for federal contractors due to the proposed amendment to the FAR will vary depending on the value of contracts received. See the chart above for specific requirements. In comparison, the SEC climate-related disclosures will require a greater level of reporting but that shouldn’t diminish the reporting requirements for FAR.

Of note, under the proposed rule, major contractors would be subject to setting and validating a SBTi, a much higher threshold than the SEC rule that does not require any goalsetting. This can be a challenging goal to meet and often requires several years of reporting and analysis to determine business-appropriate pathways to net zero as required by the methodology of SBTi.

Key takeaways

The FAR rule is likely to increase the reporting requirements for most federal contractors.The reporting burden is far greater for major contractors (>$50MM).Science-based target setting and CDP submissions are third party reporting and verification entities that have stringent guidelines to perform well. Organizations often need several years to align processes with the methodologies used by these groups.When the final rule is issued, it will come into effect over 12 to 24 months, depending on the significant or major contractor segment.Being unprepared for this reporting poses a material profit and loss (P&L) risk to the organization. This includes challenges to meet reporting obligations held within current contracts, which can affect scoring for future competitive bids that include environmental, social and governance (ESG) components.

Take action 
The proposed climate-related disclosure and reporting requirements will soon be a reality for contractors of the U.S. federal government. Now is the time to start thinking about how the changing regulatory landscape could affect your organization. Companies can prepare by executing the below steps:

Gain an understanding of your reporting landscape and the associated requirementsDevelop a consistent approach to reporting by leveraging other successful reporting processesDevelop an ESG governance structure and risk management processes and procedure document to address climate-related risksPerform a climate-related risk assessment and identify climate-related risksEvaluate the impact of the identified risks on the company’s operations, products or services and develop risk responses and mitigation activitiesAlign risk management processesEvaluate targets, goals and progress

Navigating the proposed regulation and its potential impact to your organization can be daunting. Lean on us to help you understand and respond to the rapidly changing ESG reporting landscape.

For more insights visit, Baker Tilly’s government contractors page.

[1] Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk, Federal Register

Seven Canadian students from the Greater Toronto Area have advanced from the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) goIT North American Innovator of the Year competition to the next major event in the series. All are vying to become the TCS goIT Global Innovator of the Year this spring.

The 2023-2024 goIT Global Innovator of the Year competition is the second annual culmination of TCS’ year-round efforts to advance innovation and global problem solving as priorities for young minds. The competition is an integral part of the TCS goIT (Go Innovate Together) program, which provides K-12 students with the confidence to develop the skills and mindset to enable their pursuit of 21st-century careers. Through design workshops, innovation contests, custom mentorship experiences, and more, goIT benefits students around the world. The program inspires them to pursue careers in STEM by experiencing first-hand how technology can help improve quality of life and make the planet more sustainable.

“The goIT Global Innovator of the Year competition helps us teach students new skills, boost their confidence, and prepare them for careers of the future,” said Lina Klebanov, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, North America, TCS.

About 12,400 North American students between the ages of 8 and 17 submitted 4,096 innovations that addressed one or more of the U.N.’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals before the December 31, 2023, competition deadline. A large team employed a formal scoring process to narrow the entries down to six finalists, who then pitched their concepts to judges during the February 8 event. Each finalist was judged on the quality of understanding and research, the concepts or solutions developed, overall presentation , and more.

After the presentations, judges from TCS identified the three award-winning digital innovations to advance to the next level, driven by their high total scores. They were:

Winner and the North American goIT Innovator of the Year:Aarushi B., age 17, a grade 12 student from Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaConcept: RECA, an environment- and climate-focused app that promotes recycling and carbon emissions reduction through incentive programs for both individuals and businesses.Global competition finalists and North American contest runners up:Casey S., age 13, a grade 8 student from Toronto, Ontario, CanadaConcept: “Waste Not, Want Not,” an app which uses the power of artificial intelligence to make food collection, distribution, and donation fast, efficient, and beneficial to all stakeholders.The Check Up Team, six 15-year-old grade 9 students from Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Eman F., Kiera M., Edeoyenmwen N., Alisha A., Kayna D., and Ibrahim H.Concept: Check Up, an app that brings a variety of personal health information together in one convenient place to make healthcare management easy, efficient, and effective.

All will present their innovations again, along with finalists from Latin America, on March 5, as scores are tallied for entries in all TCS geographies across the globe. Next, judges will identify the student or team who will be named the “goIT Global Innovator of the Year.”

“While only three apps from North America are moving on in the competition, all six proposals presented to judges on February 8 were admired for their ingenuity, research, and presentation quality,” said Adam Hartley, TCS North American goIT Innovator of the Year team lead. “Just getting to that point was a significant accomplishment and each idea had the potential to either transform someone’s life or advance related sustainable development goals.”

In selecting the North American winner, judges appreciated Aarushi B.’s deep research and the creativity of RECA’s reward-and-incentive system for increasing recycling and reducing carbon emissions. One judge also gave Aarushi credit for the many meaningful connections she made for users with local government and even industry.

“Congratulations to all participants and especially to our finalists,” said Klebanov. “We’ll be cheering you on as you compete with others around the world in the coming weeks. Whether you win or not, we’re looking forward to your future leadership.”

For more information about goIT, visit https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/amer/goIT.

ABOUT TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 55 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 608,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $27.9 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, and is listed on the BSE and the NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com.

About goIT

TCS’ Go Innovate Together program (goIT) is TCS’ flagship STEM education program. Focusing on digital innovation and career readiness, goIT engages students from diverse backgrounds with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects and computer science, design thinking and digital innovation. The program offers an industry-developed, customizable curriculum that teaches students the 21st century skills necessary for a career in technology. Lessons cover topics including design thinking, rapid prototyping, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more. Visit https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/amer/goIT for more information.

PHILADELPHIA, February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – To celebrate Lunar New Year, Xfinity is launching a new, curated collection of Asian and Asian American entertainment across all its devices, including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and Xumo Stream Box.

As part of this year’s collection, from February 5 – 11, Xfinity will unlock access to popular Asian and Asian American streaming services, including Kocowa, Anime Network and Hi-YAH! through the company’s “Free this Week” program.

Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for millions around the world who return home to spend time with family and friends, eat an abundance of traditional foods, and share gifts with lots of red – a symbol of good luck and fortune for many Asian cultures. The Year of the Dragon symbolizes good luck, strength, and health.

For the fourth year in a row, Comcast is teaming up with Gold House, the non-profit collective of Asian and Pacific Islander cultural leaders, to bring content recommendations from notable voices in the community into the experience. Key highlights of this year’s experience includes:

Free movies & TV shows on demand from Kocowa, Anime Network and Hi-YAH!Featured Asian and Asian American programming from networks like Xumo Play, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Tubi, GMA Pinoy, Filipino On Demand, tvKpop, Spotify, among othersSupplementing the Gold House recommendations will be additional recommendations from Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Common Sense Media, and celebrity guest editors including Vicky Nguyen (NBC News), Brian Tee (Expats on Prime Video) and Molly Yeh (Food Network and cookbook author).A new feature on X1 called Themes enables customers to customize the look of their device with their Lunar New Year zodiac animalA unique digital wallpaper of swimming Koi Fish, which symbolize good luck, abundance, and perseverance.

To access the destination, Xfinity customers can say “Asian American” or “Lunar New Year” into their voice remote.

Year round, Xfinity customers can visit the “Asian American Film & TV” destination on their devices,, a one of a kind showcasing hundreds of curated titles, integrating culturally relevant content from all major network and streaming partners and celebrating significant cultural observances.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Amazon and Discovery Education today announced a new partnership bringing Amazon Career Tours to classrooms nationwide. Amazon Career Tours offers free and interactive resources aligned to learning standards exploring the cutting-edge careers of the future by showcasing the innovative people and technology behind Amazon’s innovations.

Designed for students in grades K-12, Amazon Career Tours features comprehensive educator resources and ready-to-use (RTU) activities. Current RTUs include:

Space Innovation Tour: Students explore NASA’s Orion spacecraft used in the Artemis I test flight and learn about the many careers necessary to advance the space program. In this RTU, students meet with professionals from Amazon Future Engineer, Lockheed Martin, and Cisco as they develop the next phase in human space exploration.Robotics Fulfillment Center Tour: Educators take students on a virtual tour of the Amazon Fulfillment Center and discover how humans and robots are working together to ensure that the products purchased online reach their final destinations efficiently and without damage. The interactive tour offers a standards-aligned look at the careers available in robotics and fulfillment.AWS Data Center Tour – Uncovering Cloud Computing: Students tour an AWS data center to learn from the ground up how the cloud is built, maintained, and connected to billions of devices and people every single day.AWS Data Center Tour – Keeping Data Safe: Students learn from cybersecurity experts, engineers, and other STEM experts to discover how big data keeps people and the planet safe.

Amazon Career Tours features additional resources to ensure lasting learning, including a key student learning guide that aids educators in navigating the career tours and explains key terms and ideas, and a student note catcher that captures the essential learnings of each activity. Accompanying educator guides feature materials such as background information, activities, and check-ins to make it simple for educators to incorporate the content into any lesson plan or learning environment.

“This current generation of K-12 students will soon enter a fast-changing workforce in need of innovative thinkers. Now is the time to help young people explore and prepare for how next-gen technologies will create new and enhance existing roles in the workplace of tomorrow,” said Victor Reinoso, Global Director of Education Philanthropy at Amazon.

Amazon Career Tours are available through, Amazon Future Engineer, a global childhood-to-career STEM education program that provides all young people the opportunity to explore their potential. Learn more about Amazon Future Engineer at amazoncareertours.discoveryeducation.com or within Discovery Education Experience, the award-winning K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators with an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction.

“We’re proud to partner with Amazon to provide transformative resources that support lifelong success. By taking students behind-the-scenes of technology, they can see their future role in it,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Corporate Education Partnerships at Discovery Education.

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Amazon Future Engineer 
Amazon Future Engineer is a childhood-to-career computer science education program intended to inspire and educate millions of students from historically underrepresented communities globally, including millions of students in the U.S. each year. Students explore computer science through school curriculum and project-based learning, using code to make music, program robots, and solve problems. Additionally, each year Amazon Future Engineer awards hundreds of students with four-year, up to $40,000 scholarships and paid industry internships to promote diversity and inclusion in the field. The program is currently available in Canada, France, Germany, India, the UK and U.S. For more information, visit amazonfutureengineer.com.

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Amazon 
Email: amazon-pr@amazon.com

Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

Originally published by Fortune on brand-studio.fortune.com

As part of its longstanding commitment to education, especially STEM and science literacy, Henkel launched Henkel Researchers’ World in partnership with a local university at its headquarters in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2011. To date, the curriculum has reached more than 100,000 children worldwide and was designed to expose elementary school children to hands-on, interactive experiments and places them in the role of a researcher. In 2021, Henkel expanded its signature Henkel Researchers’ World program significantly in North America.

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