Tag: 3BL

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is pleased to announce Mikel Hancock, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives for Walmart has been elected as the new Retailer Co-Chair of the Forest Positive Coalition of Action joining fellow Co-Chair Emily Kunen, Senior Director, Sustainable Agriculture at PepsiCo.

The Coalition welcomes Mikel’s leadership. At Walmart, he is responsible for partnering with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable strategy within food. Walmart’s sustainability strategy is aligned with their commitment to becoming a more regenerative company with emphasis on driving positive outcomes in Climate, Nature, Waste, and People.

With more than 20 years of experience, Mikel has served in various positions across merchandising and sourcing within Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. His previous positions included buyer, senior buyer, and direct for Sam’s Club, U.S. global food sourcing as well as serving as a Divisional Merchandise Manager in the produce and floral department for Walmart U.S. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration at the University of Arkansas. Mikel has served as a board member for the Center for Growing Talent by the Produce Marketing Association and Cobblestone Farm Project. He resides in Bentonville, AR with his with his two boys, Dunning and Breck.

Commenting on his election, Mikel said: “At Walmart, we aspire to become a regenerative company, one dedicated to placing nature and humanity at the center of our business practices. We recognize that forests provide vital benefits to people and the planet. We’re excited to continue working with the Consumer Goods Forum Forest Positive Coalition as we continue our journey to contribute to more sustainable agriculture management practices as well as the protection and restoration of forests and other important natural ecosystems.”

The Coalition thanks Mikel for this support and looks forward to continued collaboration moving forward.

For more information about the Forest Positive Coalition, visit its website here.

The call to safeguard our planet is becoming louder than ever. Thankfully, we’re living in an era where sustainability tops the priority list not just for individuals, but for many organisations as well. And the technology they choose can make a huge difference when it comes to hitting sustainability targets.

Businesses already know that. In fact, in a recent survey, 100% of respondents stated that technology is a critical component1. With this in mind, you may be surprised to read that only 7% of companies have fully integrated their technology and sustainability strategies1.

Why are the statistics so low? What’s stopping businesses from embracing the latest technologies to help meet their sustainability goals? According to a report from Capgemini, 53% of organisations claim to lack the required expertise, while 49% are concerned about the difficulty of evaluating IT’s carbon footprint. And according to Accenture, one third (33%) of organisations are also put off by the complexity of solutions.

Despite that, it’s clear that companies are interested in combining technology and sustainability, with 53% of respondents1 in a survey from Accenture highlighting the ability to meet ESG targets as a benefit of implementing sustainable technology, with 49% highlighting talent recruitment1, and 48% highlighting increased revenues1.

So how can organisations implement initiatives to unify technology and sustainability strategies?

Consider Sustainability When Upgrading Your Tech Stack

For starters, it’s important to look for technology solutions with sustainability built in. That includes everything from manufacturing materials and processes to packaging and shipping. Working with a sustainable technology partner can help you to find such solutions, while also demonstrating your commitment to sustainability.

Not only does this help towards sustainability ambitions, it also helps to position your organisation as an environmentally conscious company that employees, customers and investors want to work with.

There are several things you should look for when picking a technology partner, including:

A sustainable technology leader that walks the talkAn IT innovator that solves both business and environmental challengesA trusted partner throughout the solution lifecycleAn end-to-end solution provider that delivers hardware, software, and services

Lenovo is a great example of a technology provider that walks the talk, and our responsible use of materials and sustainable shipping options provide a solid foundation when it comes to aligning technology and sustainability goals.

For example, we use closed-loop PCC sourced from recycled end-of-life IT and electronics equipment in nearly 300 of our products*. Our products feature plastic-free packaging in select models, with 90% recycled and/or sustainable content and bio-based packaging**. We provide minimised material use and packaging waste with bulk packaging, and we also offer lower carbon emission modes of transport for IT equipment.

Think About Your Technology Usage

It’s vital to ask how you’re using technology, and where you can take steps to making your organisation more efficient. Sustainability actions encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from grand initiatives to the subtle, daily choices we make. Embracing technology solutions inherently designed with sustainability in mind reinforces your environmental dedication, offering a substantial impact on your IT carbon footprint.

Look for ENERGY STAR® rated devices and accessories to reduce your power consumption, and if you want to make a tangible, additional contribution, consider carbon offsetting your IT fleet to mitigate unavoidable emissions.

As-a-service models can also make a big difference, helping to avoid overprovisioning while optimising end-user device lifecycles and data centre consumption. Benefits for companies that embrace as-a-service solutions include the ability to pay only for what’s required, to conserve resources, and to gain the agility to scale up or down as necessary.

Your data centre is another area where you can cut emissions through smarter technology, with liquid cooling technology meeting the challenges of traditional data centre cooling head on, striking a better balance between performance and energy efficiency.

Lenovo’s Neptune direct water-cooling can boost server performance with 95% heat removal efficiency and up to 40% lower power consumption***. Lenovo TruScale Infrastructure-as-a-Service can manage power consumption and usage in the data centre, while our ThinkPad notebooks and ThinkCentre desktops feature ENERGY STAR® certification.

Embrace the Circular Economy

To truly maximise the value of goods and minimise their environmental impact, it’s critical that we embrace the circular economy. Businesses have a responsibility to society to reduce waste, and technology providers that embrace the circular economy can help organisations to meet these responsibilities.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to the circular economy, from environmentally conscious manufacturing and energy-efficient consumption, to extended lifespans and responsible disposal. One thing remains constant, however, and that’s the focus on reducing the need for new raw materials and decreasing the volume of e-waste that ends up in landfill.

Flexible warranties can help when it comes to prolonging product lifespans, with fast, high-quality repair services helping businesses to keep costly downtime to a minimum, while benefiting from devices that perform better for longer.

Lenovo can help you to achieve full-lifecycle circularity, thanks to solutions such as TruScale Device as a Service (TruScale DaaS), which make it easy to better manage your fleet of end-user devices. Other solutions include Premier Support Plus, providing predictive alerts, quick onsite repairs, accidental damage protection, and extended battery warranty, while Asset Recovery Services (ARS) offer secure and responsible IT recycling, with refurbishment and recertification services that help your devices to last for longer.

Benefit from a more unified approach

By embracing a more unified approach when it comes to technology and sustainability, your organisation can make inroads into achieving business and environmental targets without compromise.

* Lenovo ESG Report FY 2022/23
** Lenovo Sustainability Solutions Checklist
*** Lenovo Internal Source, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and SAN FRANCISCO, February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Pack Health, a Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) company specializing in patient engagement, and Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced a collaboration aimed at improving both food access and healthy eating habits for underserved communities across the United States.

By integrating Instacart into Pack Health’s programs, the companies will deliver a complementary suite of services aimed at increasing access to the food, nutrition education and coaching support individuals need to build healthier habits. The collaboration combines the strengths of both companies to provide health plans with a comprehensive nutrition offering for their members. With this addition, Pack Health’s programs now offer not only education and behavioral coaching to inspire the adoption of healthier habits, but also directly address the pressing issue of access to nutritious food for those in underserved communities.

Through this relationship with Instacart, food insecure members enrolled in a Pack Health engagement program may receive same-day delivery of nutritious food designed to suit a member’s condition from local grocers through their health plan. Pack Health will also provide weekly one-to-one coaching services, shopping lists and recipes, and dedicated support to help members mitigate the impacts of social determinants of health (SDOH). All members enrolled in a Pack Health program are matched with one of the company’s in-house Health Advisors to guide them through condition-specific modules over a 12-week period. Members engage with Pack Health through a weekly phone call, two-way texts, and emails.

“We believe combining grocery delivery with nutrition coaching services can uniquely drive the adoption of healthy habits while teaching long term, sustainable behaviors to our members,” said Robert Ginter, Vice President and General Manager of Pack Health, a Quest Diagnostics company. “This relationship with Instacart will help food insecure individuals who are already managing their health through our coaching services change their lives for the better. We know that combining coaching services and access to fresh grocery delivery can be effective, and are excited by this opportunity to reach more people across the country who remain in need of this service.”

“Nutrition and health are deeply intertwined, and we believe there is an enormous opportunity to integrate food into healthcare to improve outcomes,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President and General Manager of Instacart Health. “Our mission is to give people access to nutritious food, and through Instacart Health, we’re dedicated to ensuring families not only have access, but also the resources and support needed to lead healthier lives. Through our collaborations, we’re offering user-friendly solutions that leverage Instacart’s reach, scale, selection and technology to address social determinants of health and make nutrition guidance from experts like Pack Health actionable.”

Instacart Health leverages the power of Instacart’s platform, products and partnerships to expand access to nutritious food, inspire sustainable healthy habits, and scale food as medicine programs across the country. Using Instacart Health’s suite of digital tools, health organizations can scale nutrition access and education programs that offer actionable medically tailored nutrition advice to members as well as the convenience of same-day delivery. For members who also are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Instacart today offers online SNAP acceptance from more than 170 retail banners and 14,000 stores across all 50 states and Washington D.C., meaning 96% of SNAP households can access delivery of fresh and nutritious foods from local grocers via Instacart.

Pack Health is a patient-engagement company specializing in comprehensively addressing chronic conditions and comorbidities influenced by mental health, lifestyle behaviors, access to care and SDOH. The company employs certified Health Advisors trained across over 20 chronic conditions who engage, motivate, monitor and support individuals through a digital engagement platform, providing personalized content. To support its programs, Pack Health will leverage Instacart Health Fresh Funds, category-specific grocery stipends, combined with tools that help members act on Pack Health Advisors’ nutrition advice, including Lists for Nutrition, which can be tailored to a member’s unique dietary preferences and needs, as well as Shoppable Recipes to support meal planning.

Food insecurity is categorized by the lack of access to affordable, nutritious food. In 2022, almost 13% of households across the United States were considered food insecure.1 The inability to access enough food to support active, healthy lifestyles is often associated with increased risk for multiple diet-related health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, mental health disorders and other chronic diseases.

Pack Health first piloted a similar program to a group of over 500 participants in the Southeast, to favorable results, in 2023. In addition to improving the participating members’ physical and mental health, the combination of fresh grocery delivery with coaching services reduced food insecurity by more than half, from 42% to 19%.2 Research shows food and health are increasingly intertwined, with some chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes particularly impacted by a patient’s nutrition. For certain patient populations, meal home delivery has shown a 39% reduction in hospitalizations.3

For more information, visit www.PackHealth.com/Food-Insecurity.

About Quest Diagnostics 
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world’s largest database of clinical lab results, Quest’s diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve health care management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

About Instacart 
Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 1,500 national, regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across North America on the Instacart Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of people to get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for approximately 600,000 Instacart shoppers to earn by picking, packing and delivering orders on their own flexible schedule. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of CPG brands – from category leaders to emerging brands – partner with the company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. With Instacart Health, the company is providing tools to increase nutrition security, make healthy choices easier for consumers, and expand the role that food can play in improving health outcomes. For more information, visit www.Instacart.com/company, and to start shopping, visit www.Instacart.com.

1 Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 (usda.gov) 
2 Pack Health Internal Data, 2023. 
3 Brown University’s Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research. “The Impact of Home-Delivered Meals on Overall Health and Associated Use of Healthcare Services.” 2017.

LANSING, Mich., February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Cinnaire has announced the closing of the $55 million Ubuntu Fund, an equitable access fund developed to support affordable housing development with underinvested developers in the Midwest region. The creation of this fund was made possible through the investments of leading financial institutions – PNC Bank, KeyBank, Fifth Third Bank and JP Morgan Chase.

With the need for affordable housing throughout the nation at an all-time high, the Ubuntu Fund is an opportunity for leaders in the tax credit industry to address the prevailing disparities in the affordable housing sector for emerging developers.

The $55 million fund was designed to provide access to equity for developers that have faced systemic barriers to securing traditional funding sources. The investors in Ubuntu were united by the shared goal of expanding access to capital to emerging developers of color working in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) industry.

Across the United States, affordable housing is often located in communities of color, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, yet the opportunity for local underrepresented developers to spearhead these projects has been limited. Studies show that just 2 percent of development companies are led by individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Funding through Ubuntu will provide support and structure that enables these minority-led companies to thrive.

The fund’s objective aligns with the principles of its namesake Ubuntu, a philosophy emphasizing that individuals are shaped by relationships with others. Ubuntu originates from the Nguni language and translates as “humanity towards others.” The word’s fundamental elements include respect, communalism, conciliation and inclusiveness—values at the core of Cinnaire’s mission and the purpose of the fund.

“We are pleased to invest in the Ubuntu Fund,” said Celia Smoot, head of fund investments at KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment. “KeyBank is invested in the expansion of its community impact, and our investment helps to remove the barriers of entry for minority led affordable housing developers.”

The Ubuntu fund specifically addresses two critical challenges faced by emerging underrepresented developers—lack of access to an important capital resource and the opportunity to take the lead in real estate initiatives. By doing so, Ubuntu seeks to break down barriers and facilitate accelerated development capacity, leading to long term success for underrepresented developers.

“Ubuntu stands as the inaugural fund developed as part of Cinnaire’s commitment to drive capital and technical assistance to advance racial and socio-economic equity,” said Mark McDaniel, president and CEO of Cinnaire. “This fund will remove roadblocks and set a path forward for these developers to help change the trajectory of the current affordable housing crisis.”

The projects in the Ubuntu fund are being developed by real estate companies that have demonstrated a commitment to improving communities through innovation and value creation. Ubuntu will support six transformative projects across Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. Several of the projects are located in rapidly changing areas, blocks from catalytic development that could lead to economic displacement. The need to preserve affordable housing is amplified as these areas gentrify.

“Fifth Third Community Development Company and Fifth Third Bank are proud that our investment in the Ubuntu Fund will contribute to deepening the bench of LIHTC developers of color. We have seen that supporting diverse developers leads to greater community engagement and positive impact for residents.” Amber David, investment director, Fifth Third Community Development Company.

The inclusion of these deals in the Ubuntu Fund provides them with access to capital that would otherwise be lacking. This fund gives the new development company the opportunity to hit the ground and break into the market, with the goal of becoming a substantial player in the Midwest LIHTC market.

About Cinnaire 
Cinnaire is a nonprofit financial partner that supports affordable housing developments along with community and economic revitalization initiatives through creative investments, loans and real estate development services. Since 1993, Cinnaire has invested $5.7 billion to support the development of 811 housing communities in 10 states, providing 63,000 affordable apartment homes for more than 137,000 individuals and families and has provided community development loans to support the creation/retention of more than 187,000 square feet of commercial, mixed-use, and community space. In its mission to change lives and transform neighborhoods into thriving communities, Cinnaire has helped to create or retain over 92,000 jobs and spur $10.1 billion in economic impact. https://cinnaire.com

Originally published by The Clean Fight.

By Semira Rose.

With a new year upon us, The Clean Fight team has hit the ground running with the fourth edition of our Accelerator Program, focused on decarbonizing the food service industry in New York State. Today, we are delighted to announce Albertsons Companies as a stellar addition to our group of Customer Collaborators. Albertsons Cos. joins our anchor collaborators Walmart, Carrier, and Con Edison, and pilot partner NYC/EDC, announced late last year.

Albertsons Cos. is a leading food and drug retailer with over 2,200 stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and ACME. In New York state, shoppers will find Safeway, ACME, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market.

Albertsons Cos. is committed to sustainability across their operations and has implemented an ambitious goal of reaching a 47 percent carbon reduction in its own operations by 2030. We are delighted to be working with their sustainability team to identify and deploy cleantech solutions in New York State that will help to achieve this goal.

“Reducing our carbon footprint and nurturing the environment is a key priority for Albertsons Cos., and we’ve made significant progress in reaching our 2030 goal of reducing carbon emissions from our operations by 47 percent,” said Suzanne Long, Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer for Albertsons Cos. “We are thrilled to partner with The Clean Fight team to develop long-term solutions and strategies to decarbonize the food supply chain in New York State.”

About The Program

The fourth edition of our flagship accelerator program is focused on tackling the issue of decarbonizing the food service supply chain in New York State: the storage, distribution, and retail of food, a segment of the market that remains in critical need of innovations that provide lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, better cost efficiency, and a path to scalability in a tight-margined industry. 

Although attention is paid to the significant environmental impacts of the agricultural system, the GHG emissions of the post-farm food supply chain are often overlooked. However, according to the EPA, the typical grocery store releases a total of 1,383 metric tonnes of CO2 annually through energy consumption, in addition to another 1,556 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions resulting from refrigerant leaks. That’s roughly equivalent to the emissions from 635 passenger cars. 

This Program will bring together our Customer Collaborators with cutting edge cleantech companies from around the world in order to scale decarbonization technologies in this critical industry in New York State. 

We are excited to have the support of Albertsons Companies, as well as Walmart, Carrier, Con Edison, and the NYC/EDC for this Program.

See original post by The Clean Fight and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

RESTON,Va., February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today that Fortune magazine has recognized it as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies in 2024, commemorating its seventh consecutive year on the list and its 13th appearance since the list’s inception.

CACI received notable results in Fortune’s survey criteria for the quality of its expertise and technology, long-term investment strategy, financial soundness, and social responsibility. CACI was chosen from among approximately 1,500 global companies considered by Fortune.

“We are grateful to be acknowledged once again with this prestigious distinction, which denotes that all aspects of our business — from talent to operations to financial execution — are performing with excellence,” said John Mengucci, CACI President and Chief Executive Officer. “With steadfast commitment and ingenuity, CACI’s highly-skilled workforce delivers the winning combination of deep expertise and exceptional technology to support the critical missions of our customers and our nation. Our employees, who drive our culture of character and innovation, continue to position us for growth and make a positive impact each and every day. I am extremely proud to be the leader of such a phenomenal team.”

Fortune, in partnership with the global management consulting firm Korn Ferry, surveyed 3,750 executives, directors, and securities analysts to compile the Most Admired rankings. A company must score in the top half of its industry group to be named Most Admired.

As a leading national security company, CACI continues to expand its footprint in the federal government with impactful career opportunities that allow employees to provide ground-breaking solutions for customers around the globe.

ABOUT CACI 
At CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI), our 23,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers’ greatest challenges in national security and government modernization. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at caci.com.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media: 
Lorraine Corcoran 
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com

In 2018, seven motivated employees in a 7,500-square-foot warehouse began valve modification work for the oil and gas industry.

Fast forward to 2023, and Alexander Valve and Supply is Canada’s first Indigenous community-owned valve and supply company—with $45 million in inventory, a strong track record of Indigenous employment, and hard-won expertise in the oil-and-gas, mining, refining, pulp-and-paper, and petrochemical markets.

A fantastic success story, to be sure . . .with plenty more training opportunities on the way.

In recent weeks, Enbridge officials made a joint announcement with leadership from Alexander First Nation, which holds a significant ownership stake in Alexander Valve and Supply, during the Nation’s Treaty Week gathering and celebrations near Morinville, AB.

At the Aug. 21 event, Enbridge announced a donation of 120 surplus valves to Alexander Valve and Supply. The donated valves will be used to train new or future employees, including members of the Alexander First Nation, in valve servicing and refurbishment.

“As CEO of ABC and also a member of the Nation, I want to thank Enbridge for their generous donation to our Valve company and ultimately to our Nation’s continued growth,” says Ian Arcand, President and CEO of the Alexander Business Corporation, the economic arm of Alexander First Nation.

“We started ABC in 2018, and with the support and guidance from Chief George Arcand Jr. and his council, we certainly are reaching our goals of creating long-term sustainable businesses on the Nation that meet our four main TIER business pillars—Training members, Investing back into our community, Employment. and generating own-source Revenue,” adds Ian Arcand.

“I look forward to working with Enbridge into the future based on a true business relationship that benefits both parties.”

Alexander Valve and Supply is an approved vendor for the likes of Enbridge and international manufacturer Valvitalia, and in 2022 produced the first Indigenous-made ball valve in Canada on First Nations land.

Enbridge’s donated valves range in diameter from ¾ inch to 42 inches, and create an opportunity for Alexander First Nation members and Alexander Valve and Supply employees to learn basic skills such as working with hand tools, cleaning, machining and painting.

“With every valve that Alexander refurbishes and sells, 100% of the profit goes to supporting community initiatives or putting community members through post-secondary school,” said Matt McPherson, manager of Enbridge’s Edmonton Terminal facility, during the Aug. 21 event.

“So, as (Alexander Valve and Supply President and CEO) Ken Braget has said, what might look like scrap to some people can actually be a way of helping to change an entire community forever,” he added.

“We at Enbridge commend Ken and the team at Alexander Valve for their vision in approaching us with the idea and making this donation a reality. It’s a real win-win for all involved, and we are happy to support such a great cause.”

A $10,000 Fueling Futures grant from Enbridge helped to support Alexander First Nation during its Treaty Week celebrations.

Taco Bell blog

February in the U.S. is dedicated to acknowledging and honoring the history of Black Americans and celebrating their contributions to the economy, culture, arts and society. At Yum!, we are committed to making room for all people and voices at our tables, because we are most relevant when our people – at all levels – represent the customers and communities we serve.

Black History Month started off as a one-week celebration founded by Carter G. Woodson in February 1926. Fifty years later, the week was extended into a month dedicated to honoring Black American history.

This year’s nationwide Black History Month’s focus is African Americans and the Arts, detailing African American artistic and cultural movements.

To celebrate our Black team members and these communities, we will share some of their stories. Get ready to be inspired, get involved and continue learning and celebrating the culture and achievements of the Black community.

John H. (He/Him) – Designer, International Development

John H., Designer, International Development, found his way to Southern California from Louisville, Kentucky, with his partner and two pups in 2021 after accepting a position with Taco Bell.

Before moving to Los Angeles, John grew up in Kentucky for the most part. While obtaining his B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Louisville and simultaneously creating artistic window displays for a local furniture store on the side, John discovered a passion for branded buildings.

“Creating window displays was the most fun and challenging work I did. Since I had to come up with the concept and have it viewed by the public, it taught me to endure through tough installations and self-critical thinking, while building my confidence for more demanding design tasks.”

It’s no doubt that designing restaurants for Taco Bell’s global markets is fitting for John. In his role, John works with franchise partners to achieve the best Taco Bell asset for their market, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also on digital accommodations, customer’s dining experience and operations’ efficiency.

“I find developing a physical reality representative of the brand’s created self-perception to be some of the most exciting parts of my work. When doing this, I’m transferring customers into a Taco Bell reality, to which I hope can be more uplifting and colorful.”

John uses this same approach in his role as communications officer for Taco Bell’s Business Employee Resource Group, Live Más T.A.A.C.O.S (Thriving African American Communities, Opportunities and Sponsorship) through the visual tools and newsletters he creates. Since joining Live Más T.A.A.C.O.S, John has furthered his connection with the Black community.

“Being a transplant to the area, Live Más T.A.A.C.O.S has provided me with the opportunity to build a sense of community with some of my colleagues. It has also helped me feel impactful in the office by influencing the group’s programming and outreach in the area. Being embraced and heard by those in this group has made my move to California easier.”

When it comes to Black History Month, John believes that this is a time to showcase the diverseness of the Black and African American culture within the nation, while also addressing generational trauma together.

“Black History month is an opportunity to reassure myself, my community, and our common identity of our appreciated existence. Being a Black man, who is bi-racial, in America can be a tiring and an exhausting experience. This includes anything from noticing how I enter a building, to how I walk behind someone, or to how I present myself. Having a dedicated month recognizing the community for what it offers to the nation provides a momentary sigh of relief.”

If he had to choose one person in Black history that inspires him, it would be Paul Revere Williams.

“During college, I had to research a historical figure on the same career path as I was pursuing. Although I’m not an architect, I had chosen Paul Revere Williams. His ability to focus on his life’s mission, to create beautiful and outlasting buildings, while facing so many adversities, including not being able to enjoy some of the buildings he had designed due to his race, showed me that through determination and adaption anything could outlive racism.”

Be open-hearted and receptive to our perspectives.Be genuine and drop biases at the door.Stay present with us and be willing to learn and to have fun with life!

Remaining informed about new trends and innovations in environment, health, safety, (EHS) and sustainability is crucial for industry professionals dedicated to continuously enhancing their company’s processes and initiatives.

There are a multitude of upcoming EHS and Sustainability events across the globe that can serve as invaluable resources for gaining fresh insights, identifying new trends, and ultimately contributing to a safer and more environmentally friendly workplace and planet. From interactive sessions to inspirational presentations and networking opportunities, here is a brief compilation of global EHS and sustainability conferences and events that should be on your radar for 2024.

Asia

Sustainability Week Asia

Date: 11-13 March

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Event Details: In its third year, Sustainability Week Asia will connect sustainability changemakers, purpose-driven consumers and business leaders to gain the tools needed to transition to net-zero, faster. Join us in Bangkok for case studies, in-depth panels, private roundtable discussions and networking opportunities, that support your journey to rapid business transformation.

Website: https://events.economist.com/sustainability-week-asia/

2024 Shanghai Climate Week

Date: week of April 22

Location: Shanghai, China

Event Details: SHCW‘s mission is to respond to climate change and implement the SDGs. Shanghai Climate Week aims at “China Action, Asia Voice, Global Standard”, pushing social forces of engagement in China’s Commitment of Carbon Peaking & Carbon Neutering Goals, telling the Chinese story with action plan for climate change, delivering Asia voice for green transformation, enhancing international communication & collaboration on climate change, and participating in layout & implementation of international rules.

https://www.climateweekshanghai.org/

EREE 2024 – 2024 6th International Conference on Environment, Resources and Energy Engineering

Date: 7-9 November

Location: Bali Indonesia

Event Details: With increasingly serious environmental pollution, developing an economic, simple and efficient technology of Resources, Environmental & Energy Engineering has now become a hot topic. EREE 2024 is an optimal platform for academic communications, exchange of ideas and inspirations between specialists and scholars in the fields of Environment, Resources and Energy Engineering, including hot issues such as solar energy, natural environment and renewable resources. The event will encourage the exploration of the potential synergies that may arise from pooling the different perspectives.

Website: https://www.eree.org/

Africa

14th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development Forum

Date: 28 Feb to 2 Mar

Location: Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

Event Details: The three-days forum will cover the three factors of ESG separately. The first day will focus on “Environmental Governance” through tackling a number of relevant topics, topped by establishing a link between the long-term national strategies and the executive strategies of the business community to protect the environment. It will also thrash out risk management files and disclosure related to climate and biodiversity issues as well as Sustainable Finance. The second day concentrates on “Social Governance”, through tackling the most general concepts, companies’ citizenship practices and means of highlighting the social dimension while preparing sustainability reports and linking it to the other two dimensions. It also focuses on the characteristics and importance of social investment as well as methods and tools for preparing social impact reports, and assessing the social impact and the social return on investment (SROI). The third day discusses “Governance and its role in ensuring sustainable growth” alongside the regulatory frameworks governing disclosure, divulging data transparently, effective internal control (COSO Framework) and integrating sustainability communication into business strategy. The gathering will also review the most important “ESG Framework” reports.

Website: https://www.egyptcsrforum.com/

Inogen Alliance Associates HPC Germany and Integral Egypt will be presenting at this conference, find us there!

Accelerating Nature-Based Solutions Conference

Date: 11-15 March

Location: Zambia

Event Details: The Global EverGreening Alliance, the Government of Zambia, AFR100, African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), FSD Africa, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, is hosting the world’s largest land restoration programming conference, bringing together NGOs, governments, the private sector, technical and scientific experts, and community representatives

Website: https://www.acceleratingnbsconference.org/

2024 Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

Date: 23-25 April

Location: TBA

Event Details: Organized by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Forum will provide the space for an in-depth review of the Goals to be reviewed by the HLPF in 2024: SDG 1 (no poverty); SDG 2 (zero hunger); SDG 13 (climate action); SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions); and SDG 17 (partnership for the Goals). The Forum will also support presentation of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) at the 2024 HLPF.

Website: https://sdg.iisd.org/events/2024-africa-regional-forum-on-sustainable-development/

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Africa Conference

Date: 1-2 October

Location: South Africa, Sandton Convention Centre

Event Details: The conference’s core theme, “Sustainable Future Through Leadership,” underscores the essential role that leaders play in ensuring their organizations align with ESG principles and integrate them into their overall strategy. The founders of the event have done extensive research and developed a programme which is both unique and relevant for an African audience. The conference looks at answering a number of question – How do you make ESG both relevant and applicable in an African context? How do you drive a sustainability mindset within organisations to help embed ESG principles? How do you ensure that people have the adequate knowledge and training as to what ESG is, why it is important and how to make sure organisations drive the change needed to create a more sustainable future?

Website: ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Africa Conference

Europe

ESG Europe

Date: February 28-29

Location: London, England

Event Details: CeFPro is excited to announce the launch of the 3rd Annual ESG Summit in London on February 28-29, 2024. Over the past year, new challenges have arisen within ESG for banks in Europe and globally. This highly anticipated Summit aims to address these challenges through an impressive speaker faculty of a diverse range of global large and medium-sized institutions. Join senior experts as they discuss their experiences and insight on a range of key topics impacting the industry. If you want to learn how current ESG and climate risk challenges impact firms and wider stakeholders, this event may be a must-attend for you and your colleagues.

Website: https://www.cefpro.com/forthcoming-events/esg-europe/

EHS Congress

Date: May 22-23

Location: Berlin, Germany

Event Details: Flagship health & safety conference in Berlin since 2017 with the latest thinking on safety culture and leadership.

Website: https://ehscongress.com/

Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Global Water Stewardship Forum

Date: 5-6 June

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Event Details: The AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum is one of the key events in which our community of members, implementers and stakeholders share knowledge and learning on the evolution of water stewardship practice and forge new directions through dialogue and partnerships. Held annually since 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland, it has become the must-attend event for the international water stewardship community.

Website: https://a4ws.org/aws-global-water-stewardship-forum-2024/

Inogen Alliance is an official sponsor and will be attending this event, we hope to see you there!

World Biodiversity Forum

Date: 16-21 June

Location: Davos Congress Centre, Switzerland

Event Details: Under the theme From Science to Action, the third World Biodiversity Forum brings together researchers across all disciplines of biodiversity science with practitioners and societal actors to explore how to move from science to actions and solutions to conserve biodiversity and set us on a path towards transformation for sustainability. The third World Biodiversity Forum will be held as an in-person event, once again at the Congress Centre in Davos, Switzerland. The WBF will start with a day of workshops, training sessions and networking meetings on 16 June 2024 and end with excursions in the beautiful surroundings of Davos and its mountains on Friday, 21 June 2024. They will organise satellite events in the lead up to the forum, to broaden the reach and to capture regional perspectives, views and visions.

Website: https://worldbiodiversityforum2024.org/

COP29

Date: 11-22 November

Location: Baku, Azerbaijan

Event Details: The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements. A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention. The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995. The COP meets in Bonn, the seat of the secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the session. Just as the COP Presidency rotates among the five recognized UN regions – that is, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others – there is a tendency for the venue of the COP to also shift among these groups. Inogen Alliance will have a presence again at COP, check out the article on COP28 here with our key insights.

Website: (will update with an official website)

North America

Reuters Responsible Business USA 2024

Date: March 26-27

Location: New York, USA

Event Details: Sustainable business is now the imperative. Rising pressures for immediate sustainable action and leadership, increasing legal risks, and complex financial realities are making the effective integration of sustainability across all functions fundamental to long-term business success. This event brings together CEOs, senior sustainability, legal, communications and finance executives to share their actionable ideas and insights on how to collaborate, communicate, and comply to ensure your organization leads on sustainable action. Join to gain the tools to successfully integrate sustainability across core functions, master reporting efficiently and effectively, and engage with key stakeholders for maximum impact.

Website: https://events.reutersevents.com/sustainable-business/responsible-business-usa

Climate Week NYC

Date: 17-24 September

Location: New York, USA

Event Details: Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 500 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening. Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector. 29

Website: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/

Forum24: NAEM EHS & Sustainability Management Forum

Date: October 28-30

Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Event Details: NAEM’s EHS & Sustainability Management Forum is the largest annual gathering for environment, health and safety, and sustainability (EHS&S) decision-makers. Join your peers from leading companies, get exposed to new ideas, and come away energized and ready to implement what you’ve learned.

Website: https://www.naem.org/events/read/2024/10/28/conferences-events/forum24-ehs-sustainability-management-forum

Latin America

2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference

Date: 21 October–1 November 2024

Location: Colombia

Event Details: Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development. Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, the Convention recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants, animals and micro organisms and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live.

Website: https://www.cbd.int/article/colombia-host-cop16

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NEWARK, Del., February 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Delmarva Power customers can now request a free tree to plant at their home as part of the company’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. Residential customers can reserve a complimentary tree on a first-come, first-served basis and reap the energy-saving benefits that trees provide.

Delmarva Power will make 600 free trees available to customers throughout its Delaware and Maryland service areas. Customers can choose their tree from several types of species native to the northeast region, such as Baldcypress, River Birch, Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood and Red Maple. Trees will be delivered by mail by the end of May. Visit arborday.org/delmarva to reserve a tree while supplies last. Delmarva Power reminds customers to know what’s below and call 811 to have utility underground lines marked before they begin planting.

“The trees planted under this program enhance our communities while providing numerous energy-saving and environmental benefits to our customers,” said Doug Mokoid, Delmarva Power region president. “In our 12th consecutive year of partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, we feel incredibly grateful for their collaboration to foster a program that aligns with our dedication to addressing environmental challenges faced by our community members. Together, we’ll create a path toward a cleaner energy future for all.”

When planted properly, trees provided through the program have the potential to reduce energy bills by 15 to 30 percent as they grow. Trees also play a critical role in protecting homes from the summer sun and breaking up winter winds for better energy efficiency, in addition to improving the air we breathe. Customers can find interactive tools online through the Arbor Day Foundation to help them determine where to plant their tree for energy savings.

“We are proud to continue an over decade-long partnership with Delmarva Power, whose dedication to the Energy-Saving Trees program only echoes the company’s larger commitment to improving their communities,” said Kristen Bousquet, program manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provided through our program can help reduce carbon emissions and filter storm water while also providing critical energy savings, benefiting both the environment and Delmarva Power valued customers.”

The trees distributed by Delmarva Power since beginning its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation are expected to absorb more than 195,072 pounds of air pollutants, save nearly 26.34 million kWh of energy and provides nearly $10 million in combined energy and community benefits.

Delmarva Power is committed to powering a more sustainable future for our service area by engaging in several programs that better our communities. The Sustainable Communities Grant Program provides funding to open space projects, community resiliency programs, environmental conservation efforts and improvements to parks and recreation resources. Furthermore, our Climate Commitment and Path to Clean goals align our operations, grid investments and customer product offerings to enable the company to meet the climate change and clean energy goals of the communities in which we operate.

Delmarva Power has also been a Tree Line USA member for more than 20 years. Tree Line USA is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters that recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing best practices that protect and cultivate America’s urban tree canopy. Learn more about urban planting work done by the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org.

To learn more about Delmarva Power, visit The Source, Delmarva Power’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting delmarva.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/DelmarvaPower and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/DelmarvaConnect. Delmarva Power’s mobile app is available at delmarva.com/MobileApp.

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