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NEW YORK, December 19, 2023 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority for driving market transformation toward healthy buildings, organizations and communities, and GRESB, the global ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure, announced today a strategic partnership to accelerate social sustainability by improving reporting and disclosure capabilities across key social factors, including health, equity and well-being.

With heightened societal expectations and an evolving regulatory landscape, companies and their investors are increasingly motivated to address social sustainability, the “S” in ESG. To help investors, fund managers and companies prioritize social sustainability, the IWBI-GRESB partnership will seek to:

Develop resources to help investors, companies and asset operators incorporate social performance into the investment engagement processCo-create a social sustainability dashboard with performance indicators utilizing data from the GRESB Real Estate Assessment.Convene stakeholders to explore best practices and reporting structures that support social components and interventions that address social sustainability.Provide other supporting materials to help investors use information from the GRESB and IWBI social sustainability reports and tools.

“Through the rapid global adoption of the WELL Building Standard, the world’s leading standard focused on advancing people’s health and well-being, IWBI is at the vanguard of helping organizations around the world deliver on strategies to strengthen social sustainability,” said Chris Pyke, Chief Innovation Officer, GRESB. “Our new partnership will allow us to create new tools to help investors understand and advance the social sustainability of real asset companies and funds around the world.”

As defined by the UN Global Compact, social sustainability is the process of identifying and managing business impacts, both positive and negative, on people. Social sustainability is the core of the “S” component of ESG. These aspects of ESG have been shown to correlate with commercial opportunities and risks facing real asset investors and managers.

“With unprecedented speed, GRESB has positioned its pioneering ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure as the premier go-to framework, gaining universal recognition by investors and extending its influence to nearly all corners of the globe,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “Through this strategic partnership with GRESB, we are seizing the moment to accelerate progress in social sustainability, creating new tools to help investors and managers deliver positive impacts for people and communities.”

Integrating a stronger emphasis on health, well-being and social equity within sustainability strategies and reporting will also help close the gaps in existing ESG frameworks around social sustainability.

“Our collaboration with GRESB is poised to help shape the future of prioritizing people and social performance,” said Kelly Worden, Vice President of ESG, IWBI. “By working together, we can serve as a pivotal force in promoting this shared mission, helping guide investors and organizations in navigating the complexities of social sustainability.”

The WELL Standard is the leading global framework for scaling health across buildings, organizations and communities. Developed over a decade and backed by more than 7,000 studies and other evidence demonstrating the latest scientific research, the WELL Standard outlines key building-level interventions and organizational strategies across 10 categories: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community. Today, WELL is being used in more than 125 countries, by more than 25% of the Fortune 500 companies and across 4.9 billion square feet of real estate.

About International WELL Building Institute:
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world’s leading organization focused on deploying people first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and its WELL ratings, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources, and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, , Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

Media contact: media@wellcertified.com

View original content here.

Covia has been an innovator in the industrial and energy markets for over 80 years – providing a wide array of high-quality minerals and mineral solutions. Our years of experience, technical expertise, and product range provide us with the unique opportunity to support our customers and create value through product development and innovation.

One of our Covia Values is to “Deliver on Promise.” We’ve taken steps to deliver on promise by expanding the capabilities and availability of our Technical Team to help develop solutions that anticipate the production needs of our customers.

The Technical Team at Covia has evolved over the last few years, with a greater focus on future growth and opportunities. To get a better understanding of where Covia is headed, let’s take a closer look at the evolution of our industrial product strategy.

Laying the Foundation

To promote innovation and meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers, Covia has made recent investments in our infrastructure, equipment, and workforce. Of those investments, one of the most notable has been the structuring and implementation of the Technical Team to handle product development in a meaningful way. This change presented us with the opportunity to expand our development efforts in new and exciting ways.

The Evolution of Covia’s Technical Team and Industrial Product Strategy

The spark that helped shift our focus to updating our industrial product strategy was the development of our LUMINEX®product, a silica-based, ultra-white filler that is used in engineered stone products. This innovation completely changed our outlook on product development and the way we deliver value to the markets we serve. We updated our industrial product strategy with one goal in mind: to drastically increase the value we can deliver to our customers.

Our Technical Team, guided by the insights uncovered from product and market research, took this opportunity to enhance our current product line in hopes of creating the right product that solves the right problems for the right customer. These changes, however, take time and careful planning. Much of this growth has come as we enhanced the capabilities of our Technical Team by hiring skilled new Team Members to drive innovation and growth.

In addition to the growth in our Technical Team, we have also expanded our machine capabilities. At our Fort Smith plant, we recently installed new ultra-fine grinding equipment to alter the particle size of the minerals we produce. Covia’s micronization services reduce minerals to the proper particle size to work best for a particular application. This capability was key to the creation of our CRISTOBALEX™ product, a specialty silica blend composed primarily of cristobalite, which is transformed from high quality spherical quartz grains, then micronized to enhance the whiteness and performance of coatings that contain the CRISTOBALEX™ product.

Our investment in our machining capabilities has provided us with the potential to create a significant impact across several key industries and opens avenues to serve new markets and customers. We have recently enhanced our capabilities by implementing a state-of-the-art rotary kiln for thermal processing. This advanced thermal kiln enables us to modify the crystalline structure of the minerals we mine, allowing us to tailor solutions to our customers’ specific needs. This is significant in the development of materials such as our CERASIL® product, a high-purity ceramic silica that is produced from high purity crystalline silica feedstock for the formulation and manufacture of ceramic whitewares, enamels, and glazes.

The resources we have invested in recent years to improve our product development strategy have given us a unique opportunity to greatly increase our value-add capabilities. With a wide array of new products and services on the horizon, we look forward to sharing our newest innovations with you as they are developed and become available to the public.

Investing Resources Toward Future Growth

Our technical team is readily available to discuss your unique needs and develop an innovative solution to meet your production demands and environmental obligations. Thanks to these recent investments in our Team Members and facilities, we have laid a foundation to better serve you and your organization’s unique needs for years to come.

Covia is your reliable, long-term partner who can keep up with your demand and deliver top-quality solutions. At Covia, we take pride in Delivering on Promise to provide innovative solutions to customers across the globe. To learn more about Covia’s process and the industries we serve, contact us today.

By Jeremy King

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., December 19, 2023 /3BL/ – Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation on Wednesday announced a tornado response plan aimed at supporting communities that were impacted by a series of tornadoes Saturday, Dec. 9.

The plan is built around two key elements:

Funding from the Regions Foundation to support community-based recovery effortsDisaster-recovery financial services from Regions Bank to help people and businesses in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky

Regions Foundation Funding:

The Regions Foundation is providing a total of $100,000 to be divided among tornado relief funds operated by United Way of Greater Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, as well as the food distribution program operated by Manna Café Ministries in Clarksville.

United Way of Greater Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee quickly launched a coordinated storm response after Saturday’s tornadoes. Together, the organizations are working with nonprofits and faith-based community partners to address a wide range of urgent needs for storm survivors in several counties. From the Foundation’s $100,000 in grant funding, $90,000 will be allocated toward these relief efforts serving people across Middle Tennessee.

Manna Café Ministries operates hunger relief programs and delivers other vital services for people across Montgomery and Stewart counties. Manna Café will receive the additional $10,000 from the Regions Foundation’s grant funding to help address community needs amid the recovery.

“These organizations are on the ground doing what they do best – meeting important needs, while providing care and compassion, and we are proud to support their work,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “We recognize this will be a long and difficult recovery. But we are encouraged by the spirit of unity and determination that’s evident in every community as neighbors help neighbors. Our goal with this funding is to provide resources to help keep the recovery moving forward in the days, weeks, and months to come.”

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and United Way of Greater Nashville urge additional organizations, businesses, and individuals to support relief work. More information is available in this link. Likewise, additional information and donation opportunities for Manna Café can be found here.

Based in Alabama, the Regions Foundation is a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank. The Regions Foundation issues grants supporting several key initiatives, including disaster relief, across communities in the South, Midwest, and Texas.

We recognize this will be a long and difficult recovery. But we are encouraged by the spirit of unity and determination that’s evident in every community as neighbors help neighbors.

Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation

Disaster-Recovery Financial Services from Regions Bank:

Separately, Regions Bank has designed financial services to help people and businesses impacted by the tornadoes. The following options are available for a limited time in affected communities1 in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. Services include:

Regions Mortgage Disaster Relief Purchase and Renovation loan programs are available.Non-Regions ATM fees will be waived when Regions customers use other banks’ ATMs in the impacted areas1 for at least seven days beginning Dec. 13, 2023. (Note: Fees charged by other banks or ATM owners may still apply.)Regions will waive ATM surcharges for non-Regions customers using Regions ATMs in the impacted areas for seven days beginning Dec. 13, 2023.No check-cashing fees will be charged for FEMA-issued checks when cashed in a Regions branch.2Personal and business loan payment assistance is available.3Payment deferrals are available for current credit card holders.3Business loan payment deferrals of up to 90 days are available, expiring March 12, 2024.3One penalty-free CD withdrawal is available upon request (unless within seven days of issuance or renewal) for up to 90 days, expiring March 12, 2024.An interest rate discount of up to 0.50% on new personal unsecured loans when customers in impacted areas apply in a branch or by phone4. The offer is available for up to 90 days, expiring March 12, 2024.An interest rate discount of up to 0.50% on auto loans when customers in impacted areas apply in-branch or by phone4. The offer is available for up to 90 days, expiring March 12, 2024.

Regions Bank also has dedicated teams available to help customers with questions or needs related to the following services:

Mortgages, home equity loans, and lines of credit: Call 1-800-748-9498.Credit cards, consumer loans, and lines of credit: Call 1-866-298-1113.Any other banking needs: Call 1-800-411-9393.

“Our teams have many years of experience providing financial advice and guidance in these communities, and we are here to leverage our local insights to help people and businesses recover and rebuild,” said Lee Blank, market executive for Regions Bank in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. “We are committed to meeting short-term and long-term needs, and we invite our customers to share their individual circumstances with us so we can identify specific ways to serve. Whether it is through your local branch, or by calling our Contact Centers, or through regions.com, we are here to connect you with what you need.”

Customers are also encouraged to visit Regions Bank’s online Disaster Relief Center at www.regions.com/DisasterRelief for timely information on financial recovery programs, loan assistance resources, and more.

About Regions Foundation 
Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

About Regions Financial Corporation 
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $154 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

1Offers are available for a limited time and only to individuals and businesses affected by the Dec. 9 series of tornadoes in the following ZIP codes. Other ZIP codes may be added to this list based on updated storm surveys and damage reports: 37040, 37042, 37066, 37075, 37077, 37115, 42204, 42234, 42265.

Offers may be subject to other exclusions and restrictions and are subject to change without notice. All loans and lines, deferrals, extensions, or forbearances may be subject to required documentation and credit approval. Residency restrictions may apply. Special loan interest rates may be determined by applicant’s credit profile and may not extend to products offered by third parties, such as Avant.

2The FEMA no-check-cashing fee offer is available only to Regions customers; if you are not a Regions customer, you must enroll in Now Banking. No checking account is required to enroll in Now Banking. Regions reserves the right to refuse to cash any check.

3May be subject to credit approval. Interest will continue to accrue during the period that the payment is skipped or deferred. For installment loans, deferring or skipping payment may extend the maturity of your loan but will not automatically extend any optional insurance. Forbearances, skipped payments and deferrals (a) may vary by customer, (b) postpone – rather than forgive – certain payment obligations and (c) may require payment in full of the postponed payments at the end of the forbearance or deferral period, in addition to any other amounts that come due, unless you make other arrangements with Regions to resolve the delinquency.

4New personal unsecured loan and new auto loan rate discounts may not be combined with other special offers or discounts. The rate discount of up to 0.50% includes 0.25% disaster relief rate discount with an additional 0.25% rate discount when you enroll in auto debit loan payments from an existing Regions checking account.

CINCINNATI, December 19, 2023 /3BL/ – Fifth Third Bancorp received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Fifth Third joins the ranks of 545 U.S. companies that earned a 100 score and designated a 2023 “Equality 100: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion” award recipient.

“We’re committed to championing workplace equality because we recognize that individual talents create our collective success,” said Nancy Pinckney, chief human resources officer. “We focus intently on helping our employees thrive in a workplace where every voice matters so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of our customers, communities and co-workers.”

“Fifth Third is committed to being a leader in diversity and inclusion, one of our six bold goals through 2025,” said Stephanie A. Smith, senior vice president and chief inclusion officer. “For eight consecutive years now, Fifth Third has received a score of 100 on the CEI. We’re continually striving to evolve our workplace practices to ensure we have an equitable and inclusive environment at Fifth Third where everyone can be their authentic self.”

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;Supporting an inclusive culture; and,Corporate social responsibility.

“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion,” said RaShawn Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Senior Director of Workplace Equality. “While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion.”

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About Fifth Third 
Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

About HRC 
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work. 

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CONTACTS 
Tiffaney Hardy (Media Relations) 
tiffaney.hardy@53.com | 513-534-8039

Matt Curoe (Investor Relations) 
Matt.Curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345

Originally published in Northern Trust’s 2022 Sustainability Report

The Women’s Leadership Development Forum is focused on the development of women at the middle management levels. This program addresses Northern Trust’s corporate need to grow and develop strategic thinkers and leaders.

In India, the program is run in two cohorts of high-potential female talent each year.

In 2022, the U.S. program experienced a few firsts: it was executed in a fully virtual environment with participants across North America, and was revamped to pair both male and female senior vice presidents as co-leaders of facilitated discussions for their assigned cohorts. Racial and ethnically diverse women comprised 46 percent of the total women participants.

In India, the program is run in two cohorts of high-potential female talent each year. The junior cohort, comprised of entry-level managers, goes through a program called Stand Tall, focusing on self-exploration of personal power, assertive influencing and building and leveraging a powerful network for success. After the program, each partner is assigned a mentor for six months.

The second cohort, which consists of mid-to-senior level female employees, goes through a ninemonth program called Women Leading from Within, grounded in the principles of mindful leadership.

The leadership learning journey consists of 12 modules, self-reflection exercises and assignments, a mentor network and one-on-one coaching sessions with a certified external coach. More than 2,100 women have participated in this program across the globe.

Lean In Circles Lean In Circles were created for junior female talent, based on the non-profit founded by Sheryl Sandberg, former chief operations officer at Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly known as Facebook) and author of Lean In. These mentoring circles provide an opportunity for our employees to share experiences, build their network, strengthen confidence and learn from others. The circles are led by mid-to-senior-level female talent who are keen to support the next generation of female leaders and develop their own leadership skills.

Read the full report here 

SAP touches 87% of global commerce. This vast reach means our solutions organize much of the world’s supply chain, transportation, financial data, and more. It also means we have the potential to do so in ways that advance a low carbon, circular, and socially responsible economy.

Reflecting on the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the scale of SAP’s transformative potential – helping companies record, report, and act on net-zero targets and beyond – has never been clearer.

I observed two key trends that will advance climate action in meaningful ways – a shift towards simplifying data sharing and a transition to sustainable energy – where SAP is poised to help.

A Shift Towards Simplifying Data Sharing

In recent years, more and more companies have made net-zero commitments – often before knowing how to execute these lofty goals. At COP28, I saw business leaders wrestling with how to deliver on these commitments and publicly report on progress amid growing public pressure. They face two significant data challenges: the need for cooperation across the value chain and collaboration around a common language for data exchange.

While many companies successfully measure their own emissions, reaching net zero requires an understanding of Scope 3 emissions, indirect emissions that occur in the value chain, where approximately 80% of carbon emissions fall. This means that to get to net zero, businesses need to share emissions data across the value chain. This requires a high level of collaboration and information sharing among businesses and their suppliers. SAP Sustainability Data Exchange can simplify this process by tracking actual Scope 3 carbon emissions data, not averages and estimates, and facilitating cross-company data sharing.

With solutions like SAP Sustainability Data Exchange, more companies can measure their carbon emissions data and share it across the value chain. However, this proves futile if companies cannot exchange data in a common format. They need to exchange information and understand what it means. Today, many emissions and accounting technology solutions fail to speak the same language with one another. To overcome this obstacle, SAP works closely with the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), to create a harmonized data exchange system. Together, we are establishing the methodology and technical infrastructure for product-level greenhouse gas emissions data exchange and measurement so businesses can share real carbon footprints across the supply chain with increased interoperability.

No entity can conquer the decarbonization challenge alone. But, with cooperation across the value chain around Scope 3 emissions and collaboration around standardized carbon emissions data, we can move close to net zero together.

A Transition to Sustainable Energy

Given the focus on how to deliver on net-zero commitments and decarbonize operations, businesses look to energy as one crucial path to accelerate progress. Beyond aiming for net zero, geopolitical tensions underscore the urgency of bolstering energy security and diminishing reliance on overseas providers. As governments pursue energy independence and implement emissions regulations, corporations are compelled to adhere and transparently track their progress.

As companies face growing pressure from all sides, the pace of the sustainable energy transition intensifies, realizing unanticipated benefits along the way. For example, firms experience enhanced reputations and boosts to market value. And, in the search for cost-effective and efficient energy mixes, many companies find improved operations. A surge in production efficiency often accompanies reduced emissions. These changes inspire more diverse business models, identify new revenue streams, attract new clients, and yield a broader customer base.

As businesses move toward alternative energy sources, fostering transparency and trust through accurate data tracking and measurement proves challenging. Take green hydrogen as an example. Generated by the electrolysis of water using renewable sources like solar or wind energy, it offers a carbon-emission-free energy solution. However, fostering demand for green hydrogen requires a high level of transparency to ensure authenticity, build trust among consumers, businesses, and governments, and measure its environmental impact.

SAP works closely with governments, the CEO Alliance for Europe, H2Global, and Hydrogen Europe to address the critical need for transparency across the entire lifecycle of green hydrogen – from production to distribution. Establishing a digital layer for green hydrogen guarantees its authenticity and differentiation from other grades of hydrogen aiding certification and proof of origin. This creates a clear market for green hydrogen, helping consumers understand its intrinsic value and positive environmental impact. SAP Green Token utilizes an energy-efficient blockchain method that helps provide this visibility into the hydrogen journey and can enable auditable volume movements among various partners.

While digital technologies actively drive the transition to renewable energy, we recognize the indispensable role of collaborative, action-oriented partnerships in propelling these efforts forward. Ahead of COP28, SAP joined global efforts led by the Global Renewables Alliance to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, accelerate the clean energy transition, and scale up investments in renewables. SAP also supports the We Mean Business Coalition Fossil to Clean campaign, a business initiative urging governments to phase out fossil fuels. The future requires collaboration with all stakeholders – value chain partners, NGOs, industry groups, and more.

As the conference concludes, the real work begins. Reflecting on last week and the resounding call for global climate action, SAP remains committed to helping our customers simplify data sharing and transition to sustainable energy. The technology and the data exist. Now, we need to deploy these tools effectively and harness them to drive meaningful impact across a vast ecosystem of organizations. A sustainable future starts today, and the responsibility lies with each one of us doing our part.

Learn more about SAP Sustainability at sap.com/sustainability.

Sophia Mendelsohn is chief sustainability and commercial officer and co-GM for SAP Sustainability.

Long before technologies like ChatGPT and Midjourney exploded onto the scene, artificial intelligence (AI) was already an integral part of our daily work. From predictive analytics to process automation, AI’s capabilities have reshaped the business world, taking on a host of labor-intensive, repetitive tasks and freeing up workers for higher-level innovation.

As much as both workers and industry benefit from AI’s expanding reach, it’s essential to consider its wider implications, particularly its environmental impact on water resources.  

The Water-Intensive Reality of AI 

While the benefits of AI are undeniable, there’s a significant downside that demands attention – its water consumption.  

New research has highlighted the extensive water usage associated with training and deploying AI models within data centers. A study conducted by the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Texas, Arlington revealed astonishing figures: Training GPT-3 in a state-of-the-art US data center could directly consume 700,000 liters of clean freshwater – an amount equivalent to that used for the manufacture of 370 BMW cars or 320 Tesla electric vehicles. Even seemingly minor AI interactions, such as a simple ChatGPT conversation, come with a water footprint, and with millions of users worldwide, this adds up. 

The trickle-down effect of AI water usage 

Environmental concerns extend beyond AI’s immediate users. In 2021 alone, Google’s US data centers were projected to consume billions of liters of fresh water for cooling purposes. This exponential growth in AI coincides with a looming global water crisis, with over half of the world’s population predicted to face severe water stress by 2030. The urgency to address AI’s role in water shortages is evident, especially as these tech giants strive to achieve “water positive” status by 2030, committing to replenishing more water than they consume. 

Assessing AI Sustainability 

A proactive approach that aligns AI initiatives with environmental stewardship can reinforce your organization’s sustainability commitments and safeguard your ESG rating. Achieving this alignment requires an ethical and functional assessment of your water practices. 

Key questions to consider 

AI can be leveraged in many ways within the workplace from automating tasks to processing data to running chatbots and more, it’s your responsibility as a business leader to understand the environmental implications of using AI. The following questions are a good starting point for gaining clarity about your implementation of AI and its impact on water. 

Are there alternatives to water cooling that we may want to explore? How does the integration of AI align with our organization’s broader sustainability and environmental goals? Are our AI initiatives consistent with our commitment to responsible resource management and reduced ecological impact? Are we accounting for both direct and indirect water consumption across the AI lifecycle, including training, inference, and data center operations? Have we explored and considered AI technologies that exhibit lower water consumption without compromising performance? Have we evaluated the risk of exacerbating water scarcity issues in regions where our AI technologies will be deployed? How can we strike a balance between optimizing carbon efficiency and minimizing water consumption? 

Download our Water Risk Assessment Methodology to learn more. 

Indirect water impact 

Water is a shared resource and the impacts of using AI extend beyond the four walls of your business operations. To account for your organization’s AI use, a comprehensive assessment should be conducted. This assessment involves a multifaceted evaluation of how AI implementation interacts with existing water systems and availability. Here are key steps to consider. 

Water footprint analysis: Conduct a comprehensive analysis to quantify the water footprint associated with various AI processes and technologies. This analysis should encompass the entire lifecycle of AI deployment, from data center operations to energy consumption. Scenario modeling: Create models that simulate the potential effects of increased AI implementation on water usage and availability in different scenarios. This involves considering factors such as the scale of AI deployment, geographical location, and the status of the local water supply. Regional water assessment: Collaborate with local water management authorities and experts to understand the existing water challenges in the regions where AI technologies are being deployed. This partnership can provide valuable insights into potential conflicts or synergies between AI deployment and water availability. Life cycle analysis: Consider the entire life cycle of AI technologies, from raw material extraction for hardware production to end-of-life disposal. Analyze how each phase of the life cycle contributes to indirect water consumption. Risk evaluation: Identify potential risks associated with increased AI implementation, such as the exacerbation of water scarcity issues or conflicts with other water-intensive industries. Evaluate the likelihood and severity of these risks to inform decision-making.

Committing to Sustainable AI  

AI clearly isn’t going anywhere, and it can be a valuable tool that will change the way we work. As a responsible business leader, it’s up to you to find the most sustainable approach to adding AI to your suite of business technology. To ensure that your AI investment promotes sustainable water use practices, consider the following steps. 

Evaluate AI solutions: Before implementing AI technologies, assess their water footprint. Choose solutions that demonstrate efficient water usage and prioritize vendors committed to sustainable practices. 

Water-aware AI features: Opt for AI models and technologies that offer features for optimizing water consumption. Look for options that allow scheduling AI tasks during water-efficient hours or locations. 

Data center considerations: If applicable, partner with data centers that prioritize water-efficient cooling methods and employ renewable energy sources to power AI processes. 

Read: Saving Water from the Digital Cloud: the Water-Energy Nexus in Data Centers 

Monitor and optimize: Implement real-time monitoring of AI processes’ water consumption. Use data-driven insights to identify areas for optimization and minimize water waste. 

Transparent reporting: Include water consumption data in your organization’s sustainability reports. Transparency demonstrates a commitment to responsible AI adoption and encourages accountability. 

Educational initiatives: Raise awareness within your organization about the importance of sustainable AI adoption. Provide training and resources that empower decision-makers to make environmentally conscious choices. 

Lobby for change: Advocate for industry-wide standards and regulations that promote water-conscious AI adoption. Participate in discussions with regulatory bodies to influence policies that incentivize sustainable practices. 

Legislative Action Encouraging Sustainable AI 

In recognition of AI’s potential contribution to water shortages, governments and regulatory bodies are taking steps to ensure that technological progress aligns with sustainable practices. 

Several jurisdictions have begun considering the water consumption of AI technologies as part of their legislative agendas. For instance, in regions where data centers are concentrated, legislators are recognizing the significant water usage associated with AI operations.  

Proposed legislation in areas such as Virginia requires thorough assessments of the environmental impact of data centers, including their water usage, carbon emissions, and impacts on agriculture. These initiatives highlight a growing awareness of the need to integrate environmental considerations into the development and deployment of AI solutions. 

Read: ESG Considerations for Data Centers: Leading the Way to a Sustainable Digital Future 

Sustainability consulting for ethical AI integration 

Organizations can play a pivotal role in mitigating AI’s impact on water resources by proactively seeking the guidance of experts and making a commitment to responsible technology integration.

For companies committed to corporate responsibility, sustainability consulting provides a clear path forward. Engaging with experts well-versed in the intricacies of AI’s environmental impact helps organizations integrate technology while upholding ethical and sustainable practices. 

Discover how Antea Group’s sustainability consulting services can help you align your AI initiatives with global water conservation efforts. 

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.  

Each year the Drucker Institute ranks America’s Top 250 Best Run Companies, with special coverage from The Wall Street Journal. CSRHub is proud to say that, for a seventh consecutive year, our ESG data is included in Drucker’s ratings methodology.

Drucker ranks America’s largest publicly traded companies by corporate effectiveness in the five key performance areas of: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, social responsibility, and financial strength. CSRHub’s ESG rating platform, which has now surpassed 900 sources with ratings on over 32,000 companies, has been leveraged as an expert third-party source to help inform Drucker’s ranking.

You can learn more about the 2023 rankings and results on Drucker Institute’s website.

To learn more about CSRHub, your entity’s ESG score, and how to improve it, contact us here.

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers one of the world’s broadest and most consistent set of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, covering 50,000 companies. Its Big Data algorithm combines millions of data points on ESG performance from hundreds of sources, including leading ESG analyst raters, to produce consensus scores on all aspects of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. CSRHub ratings help drive corporate, investor and consumer ESG decisions. For more information, visit www.CSRHub.com. CSRHub is a B Corporation.

Tom Raymond has more than 25 years of experience in environmental management. He is responsible for managing the company’s environmental compliance and sustainability efforts, and under his guidance, Hormel Foods has made significant progress toward achieving its environmental sustainability goals. He started his career with the company in 2005 as a senior staff engineer at the corporate headquarters in Austin, Minn. He was promoted to principal environmental engineer in 2007, to manager of environmental engineering in 2008 and to his current position in 2010. He has a law degree from Seattle University School of Law, a master’s in environmental management from Samford University and a BES from Saint Cloud State University.

Can you describe your role at Hormel Foods and how it supports the Originate initiative and our overall innovation efforts?

My role at Hormel Foods involves primarily two functional areas: energy and environmental management systems. By environmental management systems, we’re talking about air, wastewater, the things that we interact with in our communities and manufacturing organizations. On the energy side, we focus on how we obtain energy and how we use it efficiently. There are complexities in both programs, which brings innovation into the scene. We’re not just innovating products as a company, we’re innovating our processes. And that’s how we approach our environmental and energy management systems.

What is the 20 By 30 Challenge, and what is the role of innovation in meeting these ambitious targets?

The 20 By 30 Challenge is an extension of our long-standing tradition of corporate responsibility. It’s 20 goals that we intend to meet by 2030 covering the spectrum of our products, our people, our environment and our society. Innovation will be necessary to achieve these goals because they are aggressive, and aggressive targets require new ways of thinking and doing things, which means innovating the processes that we have in place now.

Hormel Foods committed to setting a Science Based Target in 2023. Can you talk about the work behind this commitment and its impact on the company?

Science-based targets are an aggressive set of goals to achieve worldwide climate targets to offset what we believe to be the worst elements of climate change. We’ll do this by reducing our energy use, making our energy cleaner and working with our partners to reduce emissions throughout our supply chain. Our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are extremely aggressive and our timeframe is short. We’re looking at 2030 to meet all targets, but have interim goals as early as 2025. This effort will require us to review our systems and processes and think differently about how we’re going to tackle the challenges before us.

Hormel Foods has made significant investments in renewable energy over the past few years. What were the driving factors that led the company to prioritize renewable energy solutions as a key aspect of its operations? What are some recent milestones?

Renewable energy is very important to the organization and it’s important to society. As a manufacturer of food, we know that we need power to operate and to get our products into transportation and into people’s hands. And to do that and meet climate goals, we want clean energy and we want to be very efficient on how we use it.

We’ve had some great milestones along the way, including securing enough renewable energy to offset the electricity that we consumed in the United States during Fiscal 2022. This was a big accomplishment, but we need to work hard to advance our renewable energy program. We have to be diligent about our power use and keeping green energy flowing to our facilities, including increasing the use of solar in our manufacturing plants and driving efficiency projects day in and day out.

As a veteran at Hormel Foods, you’ve witnessed many accomplishments in the company’s innovation journey. What innovations are you most proud of?

Watching the company grow since I joined the organization has been pretty inspirational, as well as seeing how innovation has touched our products, where we’ve introduced great new products that many consumers love. But it’s the innovation that touches people that is most impressive to me. We have all felt the positive effects of innovation in the way the company thinks about how we attract, retain and grow talent even in the most challenging of employment markets. The focus is still there to help our team members grow, no matter where they are on their personal and professional journey. And that’s really inspirational.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Hormel Foods as an organization has long been committed to innovation and its application, not only in our food products, but in our processes and in the way we develop our team members. That’s a very positive growth engine for the organization and will lead us into the future as a continued strong company with great products that consumers can rely on.

WSP, a leading engineering advisory and consulting firm, is paving the way to a sustainable and resilient future with its cutting-edge global innovation program, Future Ready. The program analyzes future trends through four lenses—Climate, Society, Technology, and Resources—to shape WSP’s approach to projects. From reviewing the evolving social and cultural norms influencing city design to rethinking resource utilization for a more efficient and sustainable economy, WSP is shaping a world that is not only functional, but sustainable and prosperous.

We invited Alastair (Aly) MacGregor, Senior Vice President and Executive Business Line Leader for Property and Buildings at WSP USA, to speak about his recently released book Future Ready: Your Organization’s Guide to Rethinking Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability. Aly shares insights on how other companies can redesign their sustainability plans to put climate and resiliency at the forefront of strategy and execution.

Listen for insights on:

Personalizing brand-specific sustainability initiatives to engage a broad audienceDeveloping and implementing climate resilience strategiesHelping stakeholders understand the importance of climate, resiliency, and sustainability