Tag: 3BL

Originally published by VentureWell

Empathy can lead to inspiration.

Antony Fuleihan was visiting hospitals as part of his Master’s Degree studies in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University when he first considered becoming an entrepreneur. There, he observed patients who were experiencing extreme back pain, the causes of which were often complex and difficult to diagnose. “It became very obvious that there was an overwhelming unmet clinical need: Spine patients need care that is personalized to their specific problems,” said Fuleihan. “From that moment, I couldn’t stay away. I wanted to make sure that our invention would reach patients and physicians, and that we were actually improving lives.”

A report by The Washington Post detailed the widespread issue of doctors dismissing or misdiagnosing their patients’ symptoms. “There’s a major misdiagnosis opportunity for the spine—every year, over a quarter of a million patients get unnecessary spine surgery,” noted fellow Johns Hopkins graduate student and co-founder Evan Haas. “That’s terrifying.”

To solve this challenge, Fuleihan and Haas partnered to launch their startup CurveAssure, developing an at-home, wearable monitoring device that provides physicians with posture analysis data, allowing for faster data-driven patient care and surgical decision-making.

“What we do is we simplify the pathway,” Fuleihan explained. “Once patients see their spine surgeon, they’re sent home with a number of wearable sensors that provide more personalized and dynamic data. This allows us to help surgeons figure out what treatment is best for that patient.”

Since 2022, CurveAssure has progressed through the VentureWell Accelerator, completing the Pioneer and Propel stages of the E-Team Program, the 2023 Ascend Medtech Accelerator, and, most recently, Aspire Medtech 2023. The team spoke on our E-Team Founding Stories panel with other student entrepreneurs and was featured in the OPENminds Innovator Showcase at OPEN 2023, VentureWell’s annual conference.

“It has been awesome to be able to step through our journey of entrepreneurship with VentureWell,” Haas told us. “All of the programs [in the VentureWell Accelerator] are seeded in such a way so that we’re able to learn more about business as we continue to grow and expand. And the network has been tremendous—we’ve been finding great mentors and investors.”

Qualcomm became the inflection point in the team’s entrepreneurial journey.

Fuleihan was awarded a 2023 Qualcomm Innovator Stipend, which provided an additional $2,500 in funding to help offset the cost of advancing their innovation—a key moment for the venture. “The stipend was really helpful in allowing us to file our first provisional patent,” Haas explained. “With medical devices, it’s critical—especially in the early stages of the company—to secure intellectual property (IP). We want to make sure that everything is locked down so that our invention is secure for us to continue.”

The stipend helped CurveAssure reach a critical milestone of filing for IP, which then helped unlock additional funding opportunities through Johns Hopkins like the 2023 President’s Venture Fellowship. They also won first place at the International 2023 Stu Clark Pitch Competition for the Graduate Business Plan and Graduate Elevator Pitch. “Over the last two years, our team has honed in on a critical unmet need and a device that has the potential to revolutionize the spine space,” Haas said.

Tip from a founder: Start early when exploring how to secure the rights to your invention.

Patenting has always been top of mind for CurveAssure. “We learned that IP is critical at every step of a company’s development,” Haas explained. “All of the investors we talk to want to see our initial dive into the landscape through patenting. They want to make sure that they can trust the investment that they place in us, and that we’re able to execute and actually capture the market share that we’re aiming for.”

During Pioneer, the first stage of our E-Team Program, CurveAssure received mentorship specifically on the importance of IP. “VentureWell put together a couple of different workshops where [law firm] Cooley came in and talked about all the different ways to tackle IP challenges. They gave some wonderful advice that really helped us out early on.”

Looking ahead, CurveAssure is working to expand the value of the company. “We filed our provisional patents, and we’re looking to convert our patents to a full patent in the next couple of months,” Haas told us. “We’re looking for ways to expand and secure the other aspects of IP, trademark—all of the pieces that we have within the company.”

He offered a key piece of advice for early-stage innovators: “Don’t be scared of IP. You should dive into it. Be willing to read a bunch of patents, be incredibly confused, ask a lot of questions, then have mentors help you through this process.”

Hear more from Fuleihan and Haas about their journey as entrepreneurs and how participating in our E-Team Program accelerated the growth of their startup:

Expanding Participation Through the Qualcomm Innovator Stipend Program

In partnership with Qualcomm, we offered the Innovator Stipend Program in 2022 and again in 2023 to reduce financial challenges for student entrepreneurs, giving them the breathing room they need to develop their products while simultaneously juggling the fiscal responsibilities of school and life—with the aim of further narrowing the patent diversity gap. Recipients were awarded stipends ranging from $1,500 to $4,000 to offset the cost of participation in our E-Team Program as well as for living expenses, materials and physical prototyping, equipment, or expenses associated with patent filing, incorporation, or attorney fees.

About the E-Team Program

Through the E-Team Program, VentureWell has trained over 540 student teams and more than 1,300 student innovators. The teams have raised over $600 million in follow-on funding and have launched more than 240 ventures since taking part in our program.

Learn more about VentureWell’s , which supports student-led science- and engineering-based teams from across the nation in bringing their high-impact innovations out of the lab and into the market. !

We are thrilled to announce that Cadence has secured the #74 spot on the 2023 Wall Street Journal List of Best Managed Companies. This notable ranking places us at the forefront of our industry, alongside renowned tech giants such as Microsoft and Apple. This recognition is a testament to Cadence’s unwavering commitment to excellence in management practices, innovation, and strategic leadership.

Drucker Management Principles

The Wall Street Journal Best Managed Companies list, influenced by the principles of management pioneer Peter Drucker, stands as a tribute to his enduring legacy in shaping modern management philosophy. Drucker, often hailed as the father of modern management, emphasized the importance of effective leadership, innovation, and adaptability—principles that are intrinsic to the criteria used for selecting companies on this prestigious list.

A Noteworthy Achievement

Earning a spot on this prestigious list is a significant achievement that reflects Cadence’s dedication to navigating the complexities of the business landscape with finesse. It places Cadence among an elite group of companies celebrated for their exceptional management, financial performance, and overall operational excellence.

Employee Engagement Excellence

In addition to our overall ranking, Cadence has also emerged as a standout performer in the Employee Engagement subcategory, securing a position in the top 10 alongside industry giants like NVIDIA, Cisco, Adobe, and Mastercard. This recognition highlights Cadence’s commitment to fostering a workplace culture that values and engages its employees.

Being named alongside industry leaders in the Employee Engagement subcategory is a proud moment for Cadence. It showcases our dedication to creating an environment where our talented workforce can thrive, innovate, and contribute to the company’s success. Employee engagement is a cornerstone of our corporate philosophy, and this acknowledgment reinforces the positive impact it has on our organization.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, Cadence remains focused on the future. The recognition from the Wall Street Journal motivates us to continue pushing boundaries, fostering innovation, and maintaining the high standards of management that have brought us to this point.

Learn more about Cadence and our One Cadence—One Team culture.

Children have natural tendencies to explore, create, and innovate. By encouraging STEM education early on in their lives — before high school, and even before middle school — we can nurture the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technology leaders. In this article, we’ll share the benefits of early STEM education as well as Keysight’s efforts to encourage future STEM leaders.

What are the benefits of early STEM education?

Encouraging STEM learning from an early age unleashes children’s innate curiosity and gives them the confidence to evolve into life-long problem-solvers in their future academic and professional pursuits. Exposure to the STEM fields at a young age helps to:

Foster innate curiosity: STEM education helps children learn to ask questions, explore possibilities, and develop a natural interest in the world around them.Improve collaboration: Many STEM activities involve group projects that require teamwork and collaboration — important skills in both professional and social settings.Develop problem-solving skills: STEM programs give children the tools they need to be analytical, think critically, and come up with creative solutions to solve problems.Spark interest and motivation: Early exposure makes STEM concepts feel more familiar to kids later on, which can help motivate them to continue pursuing these interests.Prepare for future endeavors: Early childhood STEM education lays the foundation for more advanced learning in these fields, which better prepares children for future academic challenges.

How Keysight Encourages Future STEM Leaders

Keysight employees know me as their Chief Marketing Officer, but I started my career in STEM as an electrical engineer. My dad was a doctor, and he helped spark my interest in the science behind his work. But after a few biology classes, I discovered I didn’t like “the dissection stuff,” as I called it at the time. So, I explored other science-related fields, and since math was always a strong subject for me, I landed on engineering.

As an engineer and now as a CMO, it’s exciting for me to be a leader of an organization like Keysight, which has several initiatives to improve STEM education and help spark interest at a young age.

At the university level, I’m proud to be a part of the Keysight Innovation Challenge, a worldwide, women-led student competition to design innovations with real-world applications to address climate change. Keysight also has a partnership with the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) association to pair Keysight mentors with students for the organization’s statewide leadership conference competition — and works with many universities around the world to provide scholarships, internship opportunities, corporate advisory engagements with company executives, and engineering lab equipment grants.

But effectively nurturing STEM careers means engaging students from the start — during their high school years and even before. A Girl Scouts report found that middle school is a critical juncture where STEM aspirations are abandoned by many students, but especially women and underrepresented groups. Programs that pay special attention to these pivotal moments will help provide the necessary exposure, support, and motivation for students to remain committed to careers in STEM.

To strengthen middle schoolers’ STEM interests, Keysight is a corporate sponsor of the Mike Hauser Academy for STEM, a summer school program for incoming ninth-graders in Santa Rosa, CA. We also participate in Expanding Your Horizons to introduce middle school girls to careers in STEM and provide hands-on activities for students at the North Bay Science Discovery Day. Across the globe, our Penang, Malaysia site hosted an Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and partners with other technology companies in the area in the Girls in Engineering & Technology (GET) program.

And our beloved Keysight After School Program, facilitated by employee volunteers, delivers hands-on electronics, physics, and earth-science experiments to schools, with all the materials needed for students to explore various STEM concepts.

These are just a few of Keysight’s many STEM education initiatives, which aim to not only promote educational opportunities, but inspire and empower students as they pursue their ideal careers.

Investing in Early STEM Education to Solve Tomorrow’s Challenges

Even though I’m no longer a practicing engineer, I’m grateful for my STEM education — and still apply the critical thinking and collaboration skills I learned as an engineer every day.

By focusing on early exposure to STEM, we can help children develop an interest that paves the way for future career opportunities and innovations to solve the world’s biggest challenges.

ST PAUL, Minn. and CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 16, 2024 /3BL/ – 3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) today announced that the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist) is now open to entries. As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” Competition entries are accepted at YoungScientistLab.com until the deadline on May 2, 2024.

Each year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge recognizes the grand prize winner, 10 finalists, four honorable mentions, and up to 51 state merit winners – nationwide and in Washington D.C – who have demonstrated a passion for using science to solve everyday problems and improve the world around them.

To enter, students in grades 5-8 submit a one-to-two-minute video explaining an original idea using science to help solve an everyday problem. All entries are reviewed by a diverse group of judges and evaluated on their creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication skills. Videos can be recorded using a cell phone or digital camera and will not be judged on production skills. This year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge offers innovative ways for students to engage in science through new entry topics, including robotics, home improvement, automotive, safety, AR/VR, and climate technology. To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, including entry details and to find supporting resources, visit youngscientistlab.com.

Previous challenge finalists have collaborated with 3M scientists to create solutions to a wide variety of real-world problems, including cybersecurity, machine learning, water conservation, food waste, alternative energy sources, energy consumption, air pollution, and transportation efficiency. The 2023 winner – 14-year-old Heman Bekele from Annandale, Virginia – created a compound-based Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS). Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with an average annual treatment cost of $8.1 billion. Inspired by this costly and widespread health issue, Heman developed an affordable soap solution that could positively impact skin cancer outcomes. Over the next five years, he hopes to refine this novel innovation and create a nonprofit organization that will distribute this low-cost solution to communities in need.

In June 2024, 10 finalists will be chosen to participate in an exclusive summer mentorship program during which they will work closely with and learn from a 3M scientist. Each finalist then has the opportunity to compete in the final event at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota during an interactive competition comprised of hands-on challenges, presentations, live judging, and more. During the final event, October 14-15, 2024, the grand prize winner will be announced.

“The 3M Young Scientist Challenge encourages young people to solve everyday problems using science and innovation–and we can’t wait to see what you dream up!” said Torie Clark, Chief Public Affairs Officer at 3M.

In the seventeenth year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America’s Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine’s first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and more. In addition, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network was formed in fall 2022 and welcomed more than 100 former challenge finalists and winners for networking opportunities.

“For seventeen years, the best and brightest students have been connecting their passion for science with world-changing innovations,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “The Challenge inspires students to use their creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills to make the world a better place.”

The award-winning competition supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program Young Scientist Lab, which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. All the resources are also available on Discovery Education Experience, the company’s award-winning K-12 learning platform.

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About 3M 
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news

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 social impact programs, 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 
Tim Post 
3M 
Email: tpost3@mmm.com

Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@discoveryed.com

COP is a pivotal moment for United Nations members, politicians, and business leaders to gauge progress in tackling climate change and chart a course for action. At COP 28 this past December, a new group came to the forefront. Youth from around the world finally secured a seat at the decision-making table and were embraced more prominently than ever before.

This generation sets itself apart through a commitment to causes that matter, as well as its emergence as leaders that look beyond the needs of just their organizations or cause, focusing on impact for the world as a whole.

Four remarkable One Young World Ambassadors are part of this transformative group of young leaders. In the second half of this two-part series, host Carol Cone welcomes Kehkashan Basu of Green Hope Foundation and Mavis Durowaa Mainu of OAK Foundation, who both deliver a clear message: that the youth of today are not waiting for change, they are propelling it.

Listen to this and other episodes of Purpose 360 Podcast here.

Purpose 360 Podcast is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Hosted by Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, Purpose 360 illuminates the impact of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE (CCOP) is a pioneering social impact consultancy helping companies, brands, and nonprofits harness the power of purpose to advance their business and societal impact. CCOP’s proven approach, developed over decades and hundreds of purpose assignments, meets clients at any point on their purpose journey to unlock opportunities to build reputation, inspire and engage employees, ignite organizational culture for innovation and growth, while supporting the greater good.

Following the racially motivated shooting that took place at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY on May 14, 2022, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Chiwuike “Chi-Chi” Owunwanne worked with community partners to bring a farmers’ market to the Delavan-Grider community. The supermarket, which was closed for months after the shooting, was the only source of fresh food and groceries for many in East Buffalo.

“The east side of Buffalo, one of the things that is a challenge within this community is food insecurity,” said Owunwanne. “There should be more access to fresh produce.”

KeyBank, Buffalo GoGreen and The Delavan-Grider Community Center partnered to start the market on a bi-weekly schedule in the summer of 2022. In 2023, the market expanded to a weekly schedule.

This effort and the difference the market has made in the community is highlighted in a video that can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/ElN5G4rFbw8

Each patron at the market is eligible to receive a $10 voucher, thanks to KeyBank. “If you’re stressing about finances or where you’re going to get your next meal, all that stuff is going to be detrimental to your health,” said KeyBank East Delavan Branch Manager Damian Woodall. “To say hey, we are invested in this neighborhood and we are going to invest in this neighborhood says a lot about KeyBank and what they are looking to do.”

“It’s an amazing thing, but it’s just a small start. There’s so much more to do,” said KeyBank Buffalo Market President Michael McMahon. “I think if we just do our part and encourage other private businesses to do their part, we’ll just continue to see progress there.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) today published its 2023 Sustainability Report detailing the company’s sustainability progress and outcomes, and how Rockwell is partnering across the manufacturing industry and communities worldwide to create sustainable impact and change.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions to manufacturers in more than 100 countries.

“We’ve been improving the efficiency of industrial processes for more than 120 years, which includes making the most of scarce resources,” said Rockwell Automation Chairman & CEO Blake Moret. “Today, our technology and expertise help manufacturers in diverse industries address the complex challenge of making high-quality products at scale while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.”

Smart manufacturing technologies play a critical role in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability success. Survey results from the company’s 8th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report indicate the driving factor for manufacturers to pursue sustainability and ESG policies and programs is to improve efficiencies, confirming that sustainability is critical for operational improvement and profitability.

Rockwell’s 2023 progress on its ESG journey

In addition to showcasing how Rockwell supports customers’ sustainability efforts with its innovative, sustainable products and solutions, the report also highlights the company’s ESG initiatives and programs that are making Rockwell more sustainable while at the same time fostering a culture that empowers employees to operate safely, sustainably, and responsibly.

In 2020, Rockwell announced its goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2 emissions). The report discusses the company’s work toward this goal, and includes information about Rockwell’s Scope 3 emissions baseline, explaining that indirect emissions from its value chain represent 99% of its Scope 3 carbon footprint.

The report highlights new 2023 ESG initiatives, including:

UN Global Compact: The company joined the UN Global Compact and the report discusses the eight UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on which Rockwell believes it can have the greatest impact.The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Rockwell joined this partnership between the United Nations Global Compact, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which is designed to address corporate climate action.Product Design for Sustainability: The creation of a new team responsible for the integration of sustainability design principles, measurement criteria, and requirements into common product development processes.

Partnering to build sustainable communities

Advanced manufacturing is creating demand for people who have the knowledge and skills to optimize technology, yet workforce and skill shortages continue to impact companies across every industry. The 2023 Sustainability Report underscores the work the company is doing to help create a skilled, engaged workforce that is comfortable using these tools, and the importance of partnering across government, educational institutions, and industry to develop needed workforce skills, now and in the future.

“In a time when workforce and skill shortages impact manufacturers in every industry, enabling people to become comfortable with the newest technology and giving them opportunities to upskill along the way can be the difference between success and failure,” said Moret.

He added, “When a human-centric approach is applied to technology implementation, we see improvement in nearly every aspect of the manufacturing operation—from efficiency to worker safety—delivering results that have a positive impact on both the bottom line and sustainability.”

Learn more in Rockwell Automation’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

TAMPA, Fla., January 16, 2024 /3BL/ – Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com) has announced the latest winners of its annual Chairman’s Sustainability Awards, which honor individual manufacturing facilities within the Company’s global network for exemplary contributions across three categories – Environmental, Safety and Social. This year’s awards cycle marks the 10th anniversary of the program and celebrates the collective effort of its widespread team throughout the last decade.

Winners of the 2023 awards are as follows:

Crown’s LaCrosse, Wisconsin beverage can plant won the Environmental Sustainability Award, which recognizes excellence in environmental protection by minimizing the impact of the Company’s operations, reducing material consumption or improving recycling or reuse of resources. The facility received this award for optimizing overflow processes to reduce washer water usage, not only saving 8.4 million gallons of water in 2022 but also avoiding a projected 170,000 pounds of landfill waste generated by water consumption. The effort directly supports the Company’s Twentyby30™ goals to reduce water usage by 20% by 2025 and to send zero waste from our operations to landfill.

Two plants received this year’s Sustainability Award for Safety for their efforts to prioritize employee health, improve accident prevention and ensure a safe working environment: Crown’s Ponta Grossa, Brazil beverage can plant and the Bengaluru, India (Prime Bulk) facility in the Company’s Transit Packaging Division. The Ponta Grossa team made several new changes: the addition of gates, guardrails, lifelines and anchor points to increase work safety at various heights; and the implementation of an automated tilting system for employees emptying large containers of coatings or other chemicals, lowering the risk of injury and of chemical spillage during the process. The facility also added a new device to replace the need for using a sledgehammer during maintenance activities, reducing the risk of hand injuries and improving process safety. As a result of these changes, the plant has achieved a 49% decrease in recordable incidents from 2021 performance. Similarly, the Prime Bulk facility enacted several production changes to improve employee conditions, including installing a safe ladder and water level sensors to minimize falling hazards, applying new safety features to forklifts and adding new sensors and safety barricades for sealing and cutting machines. As of December 31, 2022, the plant maintained a total recordable incident rate (TRIR) of 0 and 1,871 consecutive accident-free days.

Receiving special honor this year is Crown’s Osmaniye, Turkey beverage can plant, which earned the Social Sustainability Award for activities that significantly impact the well-being of the workforce and the local community. The team demonstrated tremendous compassion and resilience following the unprecedented devastation of the Maraş-Turkey earthquakes in early 2023. In the aftermath of the disaster, the team sheltered 168 people in the facility to provide a safe refuge for displaced employees and their families, providing hygiene and nutritional support along with temporary housing.

“From making critical process improvements that boost workplace safety and reduce our environmental footprint to going above and beyond in the face of tragedy to protect their colleagues in need, our employees continue to astound us with their determination—even after 10 years of this awards program,” said Timothy Donahue, President, CEO & Chairman of the Board at Crown Holdings. “We are grateful for our regional teams’ continued commitment to our Twentyby30™ program and the even more impressive impact we see across our global organization as a unified group. Congratulations to the winners of our 2023 Chairman’s Sustainability Awards and to all the teams working diligently to help us continue to become the best steward possible.”

To learn more about Crown’s sustainability progress, read its 2022 Sustainability Report or visit https://www.crowncork.com/sustainability.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

For more information, contact sustainability@crowncork.com.

For editorial inquiries: Emily Hogan, Senior Account Executive, FINN Partners; Tel: (630) 248-5232; Email: emily.hogan@finnpartners.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities law. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ are discussed under the caption “Forward Looking Statements” in the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.

View original content here.

TAMPA, Fla., January 16, 2024 /3BL/ – Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com) has announced the latest winners of its annual Chairman’s Sustainability Awards, which honor individual manufacturing facilities within the Company’s global network for exemplary contributions across three categories – Environmental, Safety and Social. This year’s awards cycle marks the 10th anniversary of the program and celebrates the collective effort of its widespread team throughout the last decade.

Winners of the 2023 awards are as follows:

Crown’s LaCrosse, Wisconsin beverage can plant won the Environmental Sustainability Award, which recognizes excellence in environmental protection by minimizing the impact of the Company’s operations, reducing material consumption or improving recycling or reuse of resources. The facility received this award for optimizing overflow processes to reduce washer water usage, not only saving 8.4 million gallons of water in 2022 but also avoiding a projected 170,000 pounds of landfill waste generated by water consumption. The effort directly supports the Company’s Twentyby30™ goals to reduce water usage by 20% by 2025 and to send zero waste from our operations to landfill.

Two plants received this year’s Sustainability Award for Safety for their efforts to prioritize employee health, improve accident prevention and ensure a safe working environment: Crown’s Ponta Grossa, Brazil beverage can plant and the Bengaluru, India (Prime Bulk) facility in the Company’s Transit Packaging Division. The Ponta Grossa team made several new changes: the addition of gates, guardrails, lifelines and anchor points to increase work safety at various heights; and the implementation of an automated tilting system for employees emptying large containers of coatings or other chemicals, lowering the risk of injury and of chemical spillage during the process. The facility also added a new device to replace the need for using a sledgehammer during maintenance activities, reducing the risk of hand injuries and improving process safety. As a result of these changes, the plant has achieved a 49% decrease in recordable incidents from 2021 performance. Similarly, the Prime Bulk facility enacted several production changes to improve employee conditions, including installing a safe ladder and water level sensors to minimize falling hazards, applying new safety features to forklifts and adding new sensors and safety barricades for sealing and cutting machines. As of December 31, 2022, the plant maintained a total recordable incident rate (TRIR) of 0 and 1,871 consecutive accident-free days.

Receiving special honor this year is Crown’s Osmaniye, Turkey beverage can plant, which earned the Social Sustainability Award for activities that significantly impact the well-being of the workforce and the local community. The team demonstrated tremendous compassion and resilience following the unprecedented devastation of the Maraş-Turkey earthquakes in early 2023. In the aftermath of the disaster, the team sheltered 168 people in the facility to provide a safe refuge for displaced employees and their families, providing hygiene and nutritional support along with temporary housing.

“From making critical process improvements that boost workplace safety and reduce our environmental footprint to going above and beyond in the face of tragedy to protect their colleagues in need, our employees continue to astound us with their determination—even after 10 years of this awards program,” said Timothy Donahue, President, CEO & Chairman of the Board at Crown Holdings. “We are grateful for our regional teams’ continued commitment to our Twentyby30™ program and the even more impressive impact we see across our global organization as a unified group. Congratulations to the winners of our 2023 Chairman’s Sustainability Awards and to all the teams working diligently to help us continue to become the best steward possible.”

To learn more about Crown’s sustainability progress, read its 2022 Sustainability Report or visit https://www.crowncork.com/sustainability.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

For more information, contact sustainability@crowncork.com.

For editorial inquiries: Emily Hogan, Senior Account Executive, FINN Partners; Tel: (630) 248-5232; Email: emily.hogan@finnpartners.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities law. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ are discussed under the caption “Forward Looking Statements” in the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.

View original content here.

Schneider Electric

BOSTON /3BL/ – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced a $1,000,000 pledge to the NAED Education & Research Foundation (NERF) to support their Next Level Now campaign. Schneider Electric is the first manufacturer to join the industry-wide effort to develop insights, tools, and services that support the digital transformation and modernization of the distribution channel. 

Schneider Electric is a long-time member of NAED and the program’s first at the Visionary Circle level pledging $1,000,000 over the next five years. This investment will improve the impact and sustainability of the channel, as well as its modernization by developing strategies and tools to optimize business practices. Schneider Electric shares the vision of a modern, digital channel to benefit all stakeholders involved by engaging a new and larger customer base, increasing sales, and providing a better overall customer experience.

“We provide a shared experience to our customers, and the industry wins on the quality of that shared experience,” Mike Montanari, Vice-President of Channel Development, said. “The Next Level Now Campaign is an opportunity for us to align together so we can continually deliver the best possible experience for the customers we collectively serve. Schneider Electric is honored to support this vital initiative.”

With its five-year commitment to the program, Schneider Electric demonstrates the strength of its relationships with distribution partners and its leadership position in the industry as distributors explore and develop new capabilities to optimize their businesses and keep pace with customer expectations and needs.

For more information on Schneider Electric, please visit www.se.com/us.