Tag: 3BL

Jeanne Sanders and volunteers from International Paper’s Dothan Sheet Plant in Dothan, Alabama, packed 500 period care kits to go to two local Dothan non-profit organizations: House of Ruth provides safe shelter for women and their children escaping domestic violence; and, the Girls, Inc., works to inspire one girl at a time to be strong, smart and bold. Trina Sieker of our Grande Prairie Mill was also part of a kit packing team that donated 500 kits to two local schools in Canada’s Grande Prairie Public School Division: Hillside Community School and Crystal Park School.

With localized impacts from a global program, IP has made a significant difference in the fight to end Period Poverty.

Period Poverty is the lack of access to period products and education – it affects at least 500 million women and girls globally, even in the most economically developed countries. IP partnered with Proctor & Gamble’s Always® brand for the Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities campaign to support local organizations where we live and work. In the U.S., 1 in 5 girls have missed school due to lack of access to period products – that is more than 3.5 million girls. It’s an issue that leads to problems like school truancy, reproductive issues, health risks and unnecessary shame.

This cause is a natural fit for IP. IP’s fluff pulp goes into more than 100 billion feminine care products each year. In 2023, IP advanced its period poverty campaign by hosting 60 kit packing events across 9 countries providing 30,000 Period Care kits comprised of more than 720,000 units of product given to directly the women and girls who need them most.

At IP, we are incredibly proud to be a force for good in the communities where we live and work. Sanders and Sieker are just two of so many IP employees who have taken a step to fight to #EndPeriodPoverty.

About International Paper 
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

UDX also announces the initial closing of its series B financing of approximately $70 million with investors, including Quest Diagnostics

Financing to support UDX’s pursuit of FDA premarket approval for its colorectal cancer screening blood test

CAMBRDIGE, Mass. and SECAUCUS, N.J., December 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Universal DX (“UDX”), a biotech company on a mission to transform cancer into a curable disease, recently announced a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics (“Quest”) (NYSE: DGX), the nation’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, designed to improve colorectal cancer screening in the United States – for which more than 110 million people may be eligible.i

Under the commercial agreement between UDX and Quest, Quest plans to perform and provide clinical laboratory services to providers and patients in the United States based on UDX’s Signal-C®, an advanced colorectal cancer screening blood test, assuming premarket approval of the test in the United States.

To support a submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for premarket approval, UDX will enroll patients in a 15,000-patient study involving more than 100 investigator sites to develop clinical evidence for the test. Quest’s oncology center of excellence in Lewisville, TX, will serve as the single site to support testing for the study. Assuming FDA approval, Quest will have exclusive rights to provide clinical laboratory services in the U.S.

UDX also announced the initial closing of its series B financing of approximately $70 million from investors, including Quest Diagnostics.

The collaboration aims to combine UDX’s innovative liquid biopsy screening technology with Quest’s expertise and national scale in the United States, which includes broad electronic health record connectivity and health plan relationships as well as approximately 2,100 patient service centers for blood draws. A leader in advanced oncology diagnostics, Quest specializes in testing for inherited genetic disorders and tumor sequencing for colorectal and other cancers.

Signal-C® uses next generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics to identify methylated DNA patterns and fragments shed by colorectal cancer tumors circulating in the blood stream. In a 1,000-patient study presented at Digestive Disease Week in May 2023, Signal-C® demonstrated 93% sensitivity for colorectal cancer detection, and 54% sensitivity for detection of precancerous lesions (called advanced adenomas) at 92% specificity overall. The ability to identify advanced adenomas in the precancerous stage may help reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality.

“Quest Diagnostics has the leading expertise in oncology and national scale to harness our Signal-C® technology to make it broadly accessible in the United States,” said Juan Martinez Barea, Chairman of UDX. “At UDX, we believe that early detection is the key to create a future where cancer is curable. This collaboration will make it more likely that patients in the United States will, over time, have a convenient, quality and accessible option to screen for colorectal cancer.”

“Quest is continually exploring opportunities to serve large unmet clinical needs with new innovations, developed both organically and with third parties,” said Kristie Dolan, Vice President and General Manager, Oncology, Quest Diagnostics. “UDX has created a promising method of screening for colorectal cancer with a simple blood test that includes the ability to detect advanced adenomas. We look forward to collaborating with UDX to bring this innovation to the large population of people in the U.S. who are eligible for colorectal cancer screening but currently fail to be screened given the inconvenience of conventional methods.”

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S. In 2023, an estimated 153,020 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S. and 52,550 people will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Screening can help detect the disease in early, treatable stages. However, according to a 2021 National Health Interview Survey, only 59% of individuals aged 45 years and older were up to date on colorectal cancer screening in 2021.

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, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest 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 Universal DX 
Universal DX is a biotech Company incorporated in Spain in 2012, with headquarters in Madrid (Spain), and main offices in Liubliana (Eslovenia), and Cambridge (Boston). Its mission is to transform Cancer into a curable disease by detecting it early.

With its multi-omics + computational biology + AI tools, it is cracking the code to “true” early Cancer detection, having identified the specific cfDNA sequence regions that capture Cancer’s earliest signal.

The company’s is currently focused on Colorectal-Cancer, but its technology and platform allow to identify the unique DNA sequence regions associated with other high-burden Cancers, such as Lung, Pancreatic, Liver or Esophagus, with high sensitivity and tissue-of-origin specificity.

For more information about the company, visit https://www.universaldx.com/.

i Based on U.S. Census population estimates and colorectal cancer screening eligibility as characterized by the USPSTF.

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

For further information: Jennifer Petrella, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800 or mediacontact@QuestDiagnostics.com; Shawn Bevec, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900; On behalf of UDX: Kristin Faulder (on behalf of Universal DX), kristin@heurisay.com

Pepco | The Source

At the close-knit, 250-student St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School in Upper Marlboro, Md., everyone seems to know everyone. That helps explain how a parent was able to set in motion a plan that brought the school thousands of dollars in new lighting incentives and subsequent energy savings.

The opportunity

Like many private schools in the area, the St. Mary building is older and not entirely modernized. On top of that, budgets can be tight, so principal Ashley Lewis can only pursue improvements that are either absolutely essential or fiscally responsible.

“We love our building,” said Ashley. “We work really hard to keep it bright and colorful, but the reality is the building was built in the 1960s. So, a lot of the grants we receive go toward maintaining the A/C, the heat, the water, and the things that are necessary for our students to thrive here.”

The school never considered lighting upgrades to be necessary until a parent brought the possibility of energy-saving LED bulbs—and the rebates that came with them—to the school’s attention.

“A parent reached out and said, ‘I work with this guy. He keeps talking about this incentive program. You should connect with him,’” said Ashley.

That individual was Jason Kim from CS Koida, an energy efficiency service provider that undertakes large-scale upgrade projects around the country. CS Koida suggested that St. Mary replace the older lights in its building with brighter, more energy-efficient alternatives and introduced the school’s administrators to Pepco’s cost-covering grant program for financial support.

The upgrades

The project completely replaced all the lighting in the school, and was able to be completed over spring break with very little disruption to the students and faculty.

“Honestly, there weren’t a lot of challenges,” Ashley recalls. “It was a pretty seamless program once we got in contact with the right people.”

Next it was time to apply for the Pepco rebate.

“It was definitely easier than we thought,” says Lewis. “When we work with different grants and rebate programs, some of them sound great on the surface, but there are catches and we end up paying more than what we anticipated. This was not the case with Pepco. We had no problems with this program.”

The benefits

Since the lighting upgrades were completed, St. Mary has seen energy savings of 31,315 kWh and cost savings of $32,914.

“Without this program, we would not have looked into upgrading our lights until they became a problem,” said Ashley. “The Pepco program definitely made this possible.”

Our Energy Savings for Business program provides financial incentives and technical assistance to help businesses maximize energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. Financial incentives can cover up to 70% of project costs. For more information, visit pepco.com/Business or call 866-353-5798.

Originally published by Smart Business

Medical Mutual and Smart Business welcome you to the Pillar Awards for Community Service. For more than two decades, the Pillar Awards have recognized organizations and individuals that are making positive impacts in their communities through volunteering, charitable giving, pro bono work and more.

Covia 
Andrew Eich, 
President and CEO

Covia’s leadership believes that when communities thrive, everyone benefits from a brighter, more prosperous future. Across the organization, and with the help of President and CEO Andrew Eich and its dedicated team members, Covia strives to give its best back to its communities by investing time, talent and financial resources.

The company, which provides a broad array of high-quality minerals and material solutions for the industrial and energy markets, values the relationships it has built with its communities. Meaningful interactions with neighbors, community members, customers and partners have helped shape the organization and will continue to inspire and guide Covia. Its comprehensive community engagement and philanthropic initiatives are overseen by The Covia Foundation, established to formalize the approach to operating as a responsible corporate citizen.

It is proud to work with organizations on initiatives that create growth and leave a lasting impact across four pillars: health and wellness, education, environment, and social equality. Each represents an area of significance to its communities, team members and other stakeholders. Covia is proud to foster meaningful partnerships and collaborate with more than 250 organizations in its local communities.

In addition, the company helps team members support organizations and initiatives they care about, providing 1:1 matching gifts up to $1,000 each year. Employees can earn grant money for a charity for every 20 hours of volunteer time and are allotted 24 hours of paid volunteer time off to invest in their passions.

Continue reading. 

O-I’s Reims, France, plant is delivering champagne bottles to nearby customers with trucks powered by grapeseed and fryer oil.

The grapeseed oil is harvested in the Marne and Aubre regions of France and the fryer oil comes from the Paris region.

Leveraging biofuels in the transportation of our bottles results in a 60% CO2 emissions savings compared to diesel fuel and 80% less fine particle emissions.

“To be effective, our commitment to sustainable development must be 360° and involve all segments of our business, from purchasing to production, including our support functions and our day-to-day practices,” said Walter Ferrer, O-I Managing Director, South West Europe. “While we are already well advanced in terms of the circular economy, with rates of recycled raw materials called cullet that can exceed 80%, we are working hard to increase the energy efficiency of our equipment, create more resilient supply chains, and improve the working conditions of our teams.”

This method represents 70% of the plant’s current champagne bottle deliveries. It is the Reims plant’s ambition to deliver all champagne bottles to customers via this system within the next three years.

This is an example of O-I’s sustainability journey to involve the entire value chain and transform our process, products and interconnected relationships to bring life to our vision for a sustainable future.

AUSTIN, Minn., December 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, received a perfect score of 100 on the 2023–24 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Hormel Foods joins the ranks of 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of the work we’ve done to ensure an inclusive culture that supports all of our valued team members,” said Katie Larson, senior vice president of human resources at Hormel Foods. “We’re committed to delivering benefits and programs that support our LGBTQ+ team members and their families.”

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.Corporate social responsibility.

The results of the 2023–2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad.

“Hormel Foods is committed to ensuring a safe and equitable work environment for all of our team members. That will always be the case,” said Antoine Destin, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Hormel Foods. “Our company is a great place to work, and we are honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign in this manner.”

The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants, further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI. A record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. The efforts of Hormel Foods in satisfying all CEI criteria earned a score of 100, making the company a recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

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

ST. PAUL, Minn., December 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Antea Group is proud to announce that through Inogen Alliance, we will be a sponsor of the ninth annual Global Water Stewardship Forum with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) for the second year in a row. The forum will take place June 5-6, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

As part of the Inogen Alliance and their water working group led by Beatrice Bizzaro, we will be attending with our Associates Anew Global Consulting, Antea Brasil, Chola MS Risk Services Limited (CMSRS) in India, HPC France, HPC Italy, Peter J. Ramsay & Associates in Australia, and Tonkin + Taylor in New Zealand.

The AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum, held annually since 2016, stands as a key gathering where AWS community members and industry leaders come together to exchange knowledge and insights regarding the development of water stewardship practices. Through meaningful dialogues and collaborative partnerships, this forum has emerged as an important and well-attended event for the global water stewardship community.

“At Inogen Alliance we have been supporting clients all over the world in developing and implementing water stewardship, with the aim of acting in alliance with the environmental and hydrogeological contexts in which companies and organizations are located,” shared Beatrice Bizzaro, HPC Italy, Inogen Alliance global Water Working Group leader. “In our global Water Working Group, we currently have 37 colleagues from 17 countries which are part of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Professional Credentialing System for any implementors of the AWS Standard, a globally applicable and acclaimed framework which formalizes the achievement of water stewardship practices.’’

Pre-registration is now open for AWS Members, followed by non-Member registration in mid-January 2024. If you are interested, get your tickets early as this event has a history of selling out. Inogen Alliance’s global water team would love to see you in person at the AWS Forum in June!

Learn more about the 2-day event and its programming here.

About Inogen Alliance

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 5,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.  

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. 

KENDRICK LAMAR, ZUCHU, BRUCE MELODIE AND MORE CHANGE THE GAME FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IN RWANDA

First ‘Move Afrika’ Event Employed More Than 1,000 Rwandans to Drive Economic

Investment in Rwandan Production and Entertainment Houses, Women-Owned Businesses and Young Entrepreneurs

Press Kit: Click here for photo and video assets

KIGALI, Rwanda, December 7, 2023 /3BL/ – The first ever Move Afrika event, held tonight in Kigali, was unlike any live show Rwanda has seen before. A light-filled, sold-out BK Arena hosted Move Afrika: Rwanda, a spectacular night of music, culture, and advocacy that took East African entertainment to new heights and will be remembered for years to come as the birth of the first pan-African touring circuit for international artists.

Created by international advocacy organisation Global Citizen and creative imprint, pgLang, alongside the Rwanda Development Board, the inaugural Move Afrika: Rwanda show was headlined by Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prize winning artist Kendrick Lamar, and showcased the best African artists, creators and entertainers to the world. With every facet of the event’s production driving local economic investment, skill training and youth entrepreneurship, the first Move Afrika concert signalled the launch of a five-year incremental tour schedule that will pioneer a world-class music touring circuit across the continent, changing the face of live entertainment in Africa.

Bruce Melodie opened the night with an energetic performance that included his smash hits ‘Katerina’, ‘When She’s Around’ and ‘Henzapu.’ Rwandan poet Fred Mfuranzima treated the audience to a spoken word performance of his moving poem, ‘The Unstoppable Sea’.

H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, took the stage, saying “There are many things we can address together. Working together, our continent stands strong and can address most of our challenges. We are looking forward to hosting global citizens every year, here in Kigali, through Move Afrika. I hope you feel at home, all of you, and I hope to see you again in the near future.”

Zuchu burst onto the stage with a high octane performance of her hits, including ‘Kwikwi,’ ‘Honey’ and ‘Utaniua.’ Sherrie Silver brought the arena to life with more than 40 young singers, dancers and breakdancers from the Sherrie Silver Foundation, taking the audience on an unforgettable journey through Rwandan dance culture. DJ TOXXYK and Ariel Wayz teamed up for a medley of hits, including ‘Tattoo’ and ‘You Should Know’, and Ariel Wayz surprised the crowd by bringing out Rwandan rappers Kivumbi King and Bruce The 1st to collaborate on ‘Demo.’

Kendrick Lamar brought the sold out crowd to their feet for an unforgettable headline performance, with a setlist that spanned his full catalogue, performing with local Rwandan dancers on ‘Blacker The Berry,’ ‘Count Me Out’ and ‘Savior.’

“Global Citizen and pgLang launched Move Afrika to pioneer a first-of-its-kind international music touring circuit throughout the continent of Africa. We are honored to be hosting the first event here in Kigali at the BK Arena,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. “This is just the beginning. The real work starts tomorrow. Thank you for being on this journey to Move Afrika.”

Move Afrika: Rwanda show highlights and performances will form part of a broadcast special, to be released worldwide in early 2024.

Move Afrika: Rwanda, in association with global production company Done and Dusted and the Rwanda Events Group, employed more than 1000 Rwandans, and engaged 75 percent local crew and production staff, with a specific focus on creating opportunities for skill development and international event training, including:

Set and Stage: The Move Afrika: Rwanda set and stage design was created by Stufish in close collaboration with local artist Dolph Banza. Together they created a set evoking traditional Kitenge fabric designs.Nyamirambo Women’s Center: Traditional Agaseke peace baskets, created by 20 artisans from the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, were repurposed to hang across the stage as dynamic lighting fixtures, creating the centrepiece feature of the Move Afrika: Rwanda stage and showcasing Rwandan creative excellence to the world.Broadcast production: Rwandan film crew Addictive Vibe shot the behind the scenes segments, and graphic design company Guez Show created the video packaging.Crew, rigging and security: Through an on-site skill-training partnership between Rwanda Events Group with globally leading riggers from Unusual Rigging, a new, larger capacity ceiling rig was installed in the BK Arena for maximised audience experience. Additionally, world-class security training was provided to 15 event supervisors and managers by Behavioural Detection Observation (BDO).Backing dancers and singers: Over 70 local singers and dancers participated on the Move Afrika: Rwanda stage, with additional dancers and choreographers contributing to the international broadcast program that will be released early next year. Dancers from the Sherrie Silver Foundation performed alongside Kendrick Lamar during his headline set. Many of them come from disadvantaged backgrounds and impoverished communities, and have used their talents and creativity to lift their families out of poverty.Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator: Move Afrika partnered with Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in Kigali to recruit, train and upskill 35 young people aged between 18-25, who received on site training and shadowed event teams through the project to gain work experience at a world-class live music event.Filmmakers masterclass: More than 15 filmmakers participated in a marketing and social media masterclass, in collaboration with the Rwanda Film Office and Rwanda Development Board, which provided critical tools to amplify local stories.

As part of its five-year commitment to Rwanda, Move Afrika is building upon these collaborations to generate long-term opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and foster long-term partnerships that pave the way for more international artists to perform in Rwanda.

“We see this event as just the start of a promising journey for our industry,” said Christian Gakwaya, CEO, Rwanda Events Group, a primary Move Afrika: Rwanda vendor. “With our talented crew and creative minds, coupled with increased international shows and further investments in equipment and skills, we can for sure take our rightful place as global leader in events.”

With a dedicated focus on investing in young Rwandans who are strengthening their country, Move Afrika: Rwanda provided over 4000 free tickets to young people, including:

Over 500 Rwandan youth, NGOs, civil society workers, who joined Umuganda efforts to plant more than 1000 trees on Mount Rebero last month;30 community healthcare workers attended to highlight the campaign’s focus on health equity and access across Rwanda;200 young people aged between 16-21 from four districts were provided an all-expenses paid trip for a front-of-stage Move Afrika experience, courtesy of pgLang;Local and regional fashion designers were featured as part of a three-day pop-up fashion market during Move Afrika: Rwanda show week, generating economic opportunities for local creatives, fostering job creation, and promoting cultural integration through the vibrant tapestry of African fashion and design.

“We know what it’s like to not have access, so we wanted to ensure that young people from across Rwanda had the opportunity to experience the first Move Afrika event in Kigali,” said pgLang.

Partners of Move Afrika include pgLang, the Rwanda Development Board and TimesLive. The event is supported by BK Arena.

Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience forms part of a new long-term, large-scale effort to pioneer a first-of-its-kind international music touring circuit throughout the continent of Africa, with pgLang serving as the tour’s curator. In partnership with the Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda will host Move Afrika every year for the next five years. Each year, additional countries will be added to the tour schedule, which aims to expand to five countries by 2025. Producing a world-class experience for fans and artists alike, Move Afrika will set a new gold-standard for entertainment touring events, increasing demand from international and regional artists to tour in the region and building local capacity within host cities across the continent.

Move Afrika builds on Global Citizen’s previous campaigns and events across the continent that include: Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which brought Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Eddie Vedder and Chris Martin of Coldplay to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018; Global Citizen Live: Lagos that featured Davido, Femi Kuti, and Tiwa Savage at Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2021; and Global Citizen Festival: Accra, which brought Usher, SZA, Stormzy, and TEMS to the iconic Black Star Square in 2022.

Move Afrika is supported by Aflimba, African Food Fellowship, Amahoro Builders, Blue Oceans, Chancen International, Dukataze SAYE Company Ltd., EcoRota Rwanda, Future First Kenya, Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology, Safi Life, SmallStepsEveryday, Solid’Africa, Rwanda Development Organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Inkomoko, Partners In Health, Restless Development, Rising Above the Storms (RAS), Rotary International, The Green Protector, YouthConnekt Africa Hub, Westerwelle Foundation, and Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Co-Founder of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition and 2023 Global Citizen Prize winner.

Global Citizen is grateful for the support of leading media companies including: AIM Group, Arena Holdings, Bella Naija, City Radio, Eagle Production, Ltd., EIB Network, Radio 1, Radio Flash, Royal FM, The New Times, UpScale Media, Vanguard Media and Zikoko.

For more information visit moveafrika.org.

– Ends –

About Global Citizen 
Global Citizen is the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. Powered by a worldwide community of everyday activists raising their voices and taking action, the movement is amplified by campaigns and events that convene leaders in music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy and the corporate sector. Over the past 10 years, $43.6 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting nearly 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen’s team operates from New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, Melbourne, Toronto, Johannesburg, Lagos and beyond. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

About the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) 
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a Government agency in Rwanda with a vision to transform Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation. Its mission is to fast-track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth. Learn more at www.rdb.rw. 

Press Kit: Click here for photo and video assets

Contact 
Global Citizen media inquiries: media@globalcitizen.org

Inogen Alliance recently concluded our second bi-annual Associate meeting for 2023 in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. This meeting brought together our global experts and client teams for multiple days of discussion on technical challenges and innovations; collaborative business opportunities; centers of excellence for our different services; and most of all to build cooperation across the Alliance. It was jointly hosted by our Associates Antea Brasil and Greenco in Argentina.

We had the opportunity to discuss and reflect on trends that we are seeing consistently across the globe. Energy transition, biodiversity and indigenous community engagement were among our hot topics. As we discussed our impressions from across the globe, one of the main takeaways we had was the depth of understanding the Alliance can bring to multinational organizations that are facing environment, health and safety (EHS) or sustainability challenges across the globe. We are not a single large corporation or management consulting firm, but our values, practices and Alliance infrastructure bring a holistic, consistent and diverse set of consultants that work together as a global team on behalf of our clients. That ‘Inogen Alliance difference’ makes us better at solving local problems with a global perspective.

We acknowledged during the meeting that we have room to expand, grow and continue to build relationships with our clients and each other to address underlying EHS and sustainability challenges at a local level. Our model ensures that we have boots on the ground, ready to instill global knowledge and best practices through our services all with a local flair and cultural understanding.

Resourcefulness in local + global solutions

What also stood out in our bi-annual meeting is our adaptiveness. Our Associate country hosts gave presentations on their culture, food, social etiquette and working styles (and in this case a lesson on football). In Brazil, we learned that there is a concept of “Gambiarra” meaning flexibility, which seemed to apply to the Alliance as well. The example that was given was the flipflop brand Havaianas. Havaianas have managed to cater to multiple price points. In the grocery store, you can buy a pair for $6 US, and in a Havaiana store, you can buy a pair for $20 US with a slightly different design. (I could not tell the difference). Brazilians fit the need to the local requirements. In this case, it is around cost. Everyone gets flip-flops, but at the price and style they can afford.

An interesting parallel to global EHS and sustainability services. These concepts are not just present in local cultures, but they permeate throughout the global Alliance. We use our global and local knowledge to devise solutions that tackle the local challenges of our clients. We work with our partner clients to maximize whatever tools or budget they have to take steps towards meeting their goals. If a client wants to make progress towards their net zero goals we will find a way – whether it’s starting with the grocery store Havaianas or the high-end version, our creative consultants can get on the right route to find the right solution for our clients. We take pride in creating custom solutions tailored to the local situation and cultural nuances.

This became apparent in the resourcefulness during one of our meeting days. We had a technical issue in the room and lost all power and lights. Instead of stopping or missing a beat, our Associates all turned on their mobile phone lights and made light out of a dark situation – which quickly resolved. At the end of the day, our teams bring light, energy and resourcefulness to everyday local challenges.

Why local expertise in Latin America matters

With our bi-annual meeting happening in Brazil in the Latin America region, we took the opportunity to have several panel discussions on local and regional topics and challenges related to our clients and our industry. Inogen Alliance has broad local coverage and understanding of local regulations, governmental impacts, biodiversity, and cultural implications in the LATAM region.

Brazil

Brazil is very complex in both the culture, physical landscape, and infrastructure. It is a diverse country which you can see in the large cities, as well as some smaller towns that are real proof of the diverse immigration you can see the influence of Germany, Portugal, Italy, France but also Japan, the Netherlands and other countless countries where the first generation of immigrants came from. With such a rich cultural heritage, it can be difficult to interpret and understand how things work in Brazil. Local regulations can be confusing since it can differ from one state to another. Brazil being a federative republic, companies must consider both federal and state legislation, as well as municipal in some cases. Portuguese is the main language of the country, with only 1% of the population that speaks English fluently. This can make it difficult for international companies to really understand the country since language can be an important barrier for foreigners to really understand the essence of Brazil. Our local consultants can help bridge these cultural nuances while doing business in Brazil.

Argentina

Argentina has just gone through a major election and the country has elected a new candidate to government with specific tendencies. Currently, it is unclear how this election will impact businesses and environmental topics. The economy and inflation in the country have been going through major turns in recent years.

This current situation may change in the future (short or medium term) due to the new government of the country that will be taking office on December 10. The new government, according to the general policies announced, intends to deregulate markets, and reduce taxes (Federico Bordelois – Greenco S.A.).

Colombia

In Colombia energy transition is one of the largest areas of focus with the government promoting environmental laws geared towards bringing opportunities for wind, solar, and hydrogen. Environmental law is evolving and will be more present by 2025, with areas of focus including biodiversity, forests, water availability and more.

Peru

The local understanding and lens is crucial to the success of businesses in Peru especially as it relates to local communities and indigenous cultures. For example they focus on understanding how transferring water impacts water availability for local populations.

Costa Rica

Two recent developments in Costa Rica will have large impacts on the business community. First, there are new financial reporting standards that includes sustainability reporting, which companies are required to incorporate into their business plans in order to obtain loans. Second the original water law from 1950 is being updated for the first time. Water management is an ever-pressing topic in Costa Rica, especially in the fast growing tourism sectors. It’s a critical component for the social aspect of these projects to avoid social conflict with communities. Our consultants are helping companies with planning process and design for forecast models for future generations.

Mexico

In Mexico, some of the main challenges stem from a lack of laws with specific regulations which present as suggestions without specific requirements. The local government is undergoing changes so making any environmental or sustainability progress is difficult currently very difficult. Everything is at a standstill until new officials come in and set their own priorities and outlook. For the last 15 years many of the regulations have not changed.

All in all, Latin America is a growing region for many industries including food production and energy, and they are growing as a global supplier. The work done here is important to make sure Latin America is sustainable for future generations with a focus on biodiversity and indigenous community engagement. Our local consultants bring this local and cultural knowledge to all of our work in the region, furthering its sustainable future.

If you are looking for local EHS expertise in the Latin America region, reach out to one of our consultants here!

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

Originally published in Kohler’s 2022 Believing in Better Impact Report

A career at Kohler is more than a job. To support this, we look holistically at what helps our associates show up at their best to do their best. It’s more than creating career opportunities where they can learn, grow, and achieve their full potential; it’s also about how we help our associates feel a greater sense of belonging and help them live a better, more fulfilled life—with the richness of an experience that connects to their own values, beliefs, and purpose.

As a global employer, we look to our guiding principles and beliefs to help us create a safe and welcoming environment that fosters creative collaboration between people of different cultures, races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, and religions. This starts with ownership and accountability at the highest levels, including the Kohler Leadership Team (KLT), all global people leaders, and the strong collaboration of our HR team in partnership with our BRGs and global associates.

In 2022 our HR team was led by Kohler’s Senior Vice President-HR, Stewardship, and Sustainability who oversaw talent acquisition; leadership development; benefits; diversity, equity, and inclusion; compensation; engagement; well-being; and associate learning programs. In late 2022 a new role was established, Chief Sustainability and DEI Officer, which now oversees environmental sustainability, diversity; equity, and inclusion; stewardship; Innovation for Good® ; ESG; and the Kohler WasteLAB® . The Senior Vice President–Human Resources continues to oversee talent acquisition, leadership development, benefits, compensation, engagement, well-being, and associate learning programs. We are a data-oriented company that closely tracks metrics around talent acquisition, retention, and diversity, with that data reported to our Chair & CEO and the KLT every month.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Our belief that each associate is a leader means we’re intrinsically focused on building learning and development opportunities that activate and empower our associates to boldly innovate across our organization. We’re fostering an environment where our associates can learn, thrive, and achieve their life and career goals.

Self-Driven Learning

We have invested in technology to expand access to learning opportunities. In 2022 our associates engaged in over 139,000 hours of learning.

More than 11,000 of these engagement hours occurred on LinkedIn Learning, an online platform offering video courses taught by industry experts in business, creative, and technology skills, along with more in-depth learning and certifications. This platform is offered to all associates worldwide where LinkedIn is available. In 2022 more than 250,000 videos were viewed. For Kohler associates in China, we provide access to the Zhiniao learning platform in the absence of LinkedIn.

In 2022 the Kohler Capability Accelerator, in partnership with the University of Virginia, supported 83 Kohler associates in completing data analytics or marketing training. We are continuing this partnership to extend specialized training to more Kohler associates.

Associate Learning 139K hours of learning were completed by our associates in 2022

Leadership Development

We want to develop leaders who are inclusive and able to attract and retain our associates. We believe that a respectful, inclusive workplace is nonnegotiable, sparks creativity, and enhances a sense of mutual trust— creating the foundation of a great workplace. Kohler’s custom leadership-development program, the Bold Leader Development Series, was created in 2022 and supported as a strategic initiative from the KLT. Designed for leaders from all Kohler operations around the world, this training is modeled after “Leading Boldly,” our simple, focused framework to define leadership at all levels of the organization. Starting in 2023 this leadership training will roll out to all 3,600+ Kohler people leaders across the globe. With our belief in and commitment to DEI, the Bold Leader Development Series training focuses on integrating DEI into all aspects, with a featured module on inclusive leadership, in addition to key content around:

Self-leadership,People leadership, andBusiness leadership.

Meaningful Career Growth

We look at career progression holistically, meaning we offer our associates the kind of personalized experiences they need to grow their career through formative career opportunities, peer learning, and formal training.

We provide tools to help our associates learn, grow, and achieve their full potential with Kohler.We actively identify associates with leadership potential.Our signature Bold Mentoring program offers opportunities for one-on-one connection and learning.

To help our associates maximize their performance and potential, we actively support and encourage ongoing career, performance, and development conversations. Associates start the year working with their leaders identifying and aligning goals which connect directly to business strategy. As time goes on and progress is made, leaders guide, coach, and support associates as needed. Beyond the day-to-day, we’re thinking long-term by identifying succession plans at all levels of the company and reviewing those against our associates’ interests to drive meaningful and purposeful career development.

96% of global administrative salaried associates completed year-end reviews as part of our Maximizing Performance and Potential process

EMPOWERING AND RECOGNIZING OUR ASSOCIATES

Kohler employs a listening strategy to track engagement, understand associate feedback, and take action to learn, improve, and grow stronger together. As part of this listening strategy, we periodically conduct surveys of our associates. In 2022 our global engagement score came in at 82 (+1 since 2021) and nearly all survey questions improved from the last time they were asked. All in, this puts associate engagement at Kohler above the average score for the top 25% of companies (per Glint benchmarks), which is a key result we remain focused on. We also hold listening sessions, as appropriate, based on events that occur around us, and we organize in-person gatherings to celebrate our associates.

In 2022 Kohler held the annual summer gathering in Wisconsin for the Quarter Century Club to celebrate our longest-tenured associates. Approximately 1,400 employees attended, each of whom has worked with Kohler for at least 25 years. Our annual associate picnic in 2022, which was attended by nearly 8,000 associates, was a weekend-long event with activities such as a zipline, kids’ yoga, rides, and games.

In 2022 the Kohler Quarter Century Club welcomed 213 associates from across the globe, raising the organization’s lifetime membership to 11,504 associates.

Bold Recognition

12K global peer-to-peer recognitions in 2022

Another way we recognize our associates is through our global peer-to-peer recognition platform Bold Recognition. In 2022 we had 12,000 recognitions that highlighted the great work of associates around the world. For our offline population, we also use printed Focused Recognition Cards.

CARING FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR ASSOCIATES

At Kohler we prioritize the health and well-being of our associates and foster a culture that values people and puts their safety first, all while upholding a respectful workplace environment. Our goal is to be an employer of choice that supports our associates not merely in their careers but in their whole lives.

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits packages are designed to provide protection for the health, financial security, and income of our associates, including mental health and well-being offerings that support a healthy lifestyle. We strive to offer support for all associates and are continually making our benefits more inclusive.

Our comprehensive benefits packages for all full-time and many part-time associates in the U.S. include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for associates and their dependents, and are made affordable for associates through low contribution requirements. We also provide life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, access to an employee assistance program (EAP), and a wellness incentive program to our fulltime and other benefits-eligible associates, along with tuition reimbursement for associates pursuing higher education in the U.S. and Canada.

We help provide for financial security through our 401(k) plan that includes a company match, the Kohler Pension Plan that is offered to the majority of associates in the U.S. in most business units, and retirement-planning support available at no cost to associates.

We recognize the importance of our work and family lives and provide paid parental leave in the U.S. and other countries. We also have a discount program for eligible childcare centers and offer flexible spending accounts for associates to pay for childcare expenses. Support for family planning is also available for U.S. associates.

In 2022 we increased our benefits in reproductive health care to reimburse U.S. associates for the costs of travel to obtain medical care they cannot legally seek in their state of residence. We also announced that Kohler will include gender-affirming medical care on our insurance coverage as well as coverage for associates’ domestic partners. These benefits are available to full-time and many part-time associates in the U.S.

Our benefits vary across our locations around the world. We may provide a range of health benefits, EAP services, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, retirement savings, and pension benefits to associates. Additionally, at many of our locations outside the U.S., we offer on-site food service, meal allowances, and food coupons for meals prepared at home.

Wellness and Mental Health

Kohler is committed to supporting the mental health and overall well-being of all associates while creating an environment where associates can bring their whole self to work.

Enhanced Global Benefits: In 2022 Kohler enhanced the global benefits available through our EAP to provide mental health support and work/life resources to Kohler associates globally. The enhancement expanded mental health support to 22,000 associates and their family members. #IWILLLISTEN Mental Health Walk/Run: In 2022 the Global Benefits team and the HeadsUp BRG collaborated to expand the annual #IWILLLISTEN Mental Health Walk/Run to all associates worldwide, which raised awareness of mental health challenges. Kohler associates participated at in-person events in the U.S. and U.K. or as part of a virtual global walk.Global Invitational Challenge: In 2022 our wellness program, Kohler Choose Well…Live Well, offered the Global Invitational Challenge to all associates around the world. Over the course of four weeks, Kohler associates participated in a steps challenge to encourage fitness and an active lifestyle.

Mental Health Support

22K associates around the world and their families benefit from Kohler’s expanded benefits

Relief Fund for Kohler Associates

Kohler associates share a long history of giving generously of their time and money to support fellow associates when they face the unexpected. The Kohler Associate Relief Fund helps associates who are facing a financial hardship. The program is administered by the Emergency Assistance Foundation. It is funded primarily by Kohler Co. with support from associates. Associates who wish to contribute can make a voluntary ongoing gift or a one-time gift. Associates facing personal hardship or the effects of a disaster can apply for a grant from the fund. Since launching in 2020, the fund has awarded 15 associates a total of $24,644.

Kohler Associate Relief Fund $24.6K awarded to 15 associates since 2020

Workplace Safety

Workplace safety is a key value for Kohler, with a focus on protecting associates from harm. We have been a charter member of the U.S. National Safety Council since 1914, and maintain robust health and safety standards through our Kohler Safety Management System (KSMS), which covers 100% of our associates, activities, and workplaces across all our businesses. The KSMS ensures that we follow all applicable government regulations in the U.S. as governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and adhere to all applicable local laws and regulations regarding workplace health and safety in the countries where we operate. Examples of other strategic safety initiatives include the development of effective safety leadership, proactive associate participation in the safety process, enabling safe behavior through comprehensive associate training, reduced workplace safety risk through periodic site inspections, and incident-reporting analysis to prevent reoccurrence.

Charter member of the U.S. National Safety Council since 1914

Kohler’s environmental, health, and safety (EHS) processes are overseen by our Senior Global Director of EHS & Security, who implements our global EHS strategy to establish safe, healthy, and collaborative workplaces that comply with regulatory standards and requirements. Site performance and compliance with our health and safety standards and policies are monitored through regular assessments and internal audits of EHS compliance.

The KSMS is based on current industry best practices for a fully integrated health and safety management system and was established to ensure sustained continuous improvement in safety performance, both by reducing risk of injury and ensuring regulatory compliance. We engage key stakeholders in conducting a comprehensive periodic review to continually improve the KSMS.

The KSMS also acts as a mechanism to obtain enterprise-wide feedback on our health and safety performance through assessments that are validated by our associates. The resulting feedback is used to inform evaluations and improvements, and best practices are leveraged across the company.

Identifying Risks and Hazards

To identify hazards and assess risks to our associates, we follow an auditing process and risk assessment analysis. Internal audits and third-party certification, where appropriate, ensure the high quality of our methods of hazard identification, evaluation, and control.

At each Kohler facility, whether it be a manufacturing or a hospitality site, Kohler’s enterprise EHS function is responsible for reviewing potential risks, taking into account:

occupational hygiene,work-related hazards, andillness-related risk.

These vary by location and are closely monitored, with processes in place to safely navigate each hazard.

To continually improve our EHS performance, we set annual performance metrics each year. Our annual injury prevention plans require associates to participate in safety by identifying hazards and hazardous situations. The plans also require corrective action to mitigate hazards that are identified. To prevent a safety incident from recurring, our incident management process includes:

prompt notification,quality root-cause analysis (RCA), andtimebound sharing of learnings.

Each Kohler site has a qualified RCA facilitator who is supported by a regional RCA expert on enterprise staff. Enterprise EHS reviews each RCA and its corrective and preventative action plan.

Communication and Training

We issue monthly and annual reports to ensure stakeholders’ understanding of Kohler’s EHS strategy, expectations, annual targets, and overall performance.

During the onboarding process for Kohler associates and contracted employees, they receive occupational health and safety training. Additional training is provided according to site-specific risks and in keeping with regulatory compliance. Refresher training may be more frequent in response to recent RCA findings and changes in applicable regulations.

Associate Participation

All Kohler sites maintain a safety committee that includes management and associate representatives, and all associates are represented by their on-site safety committee. Where appropriate, site safety committees allow for cross-functional and union representation.

If an associate believes a condition is unsafe, they are expected to report the potential hazard and have several options for doing so. In addition to an open-door policy, a written reporting process is also in place. All Kohler associates and contracted employees can raise concerns and provide other input through:

daily safety meeting input,their supervisor,their site manager or another manager,the EHS office,HR, andanonymous hotline. Associates are informed on a yearly basis about the expectation to report hazardous situations as well as our methods for protecting them from reprisal. As a matter of policy, associates have the right to refuse and remove themselves from work situations they believe to be unsafe.

Read the full 2022 Kohler Believing in Better Impact Report here.