Tag: 3BL

One-stop resource center showcases organizations that offer products and services to support people-first places, helps WELL users navigate products and services aligned with WELL; includes more than 600 featured listings with more added every month

NEW YORK, December 5, 2023 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced today the digital directory for its Works with WELL program is live to provide one-stop service for global users seeking products or solutions aligned with features in the WELL Building Standard (WELL). This public-facing directory (https://directory.wearewell.com/) showcases the health leadership of global brands whose products and services are already validated to support WELL features and licensed with the Works with WELL trademark.

The Works with WELL program, introduced by IWBI earlier this year in response to the increasing demand for healthier building products and solutions, allows product manufacturers and service providers to validate and demonstrate how their offerings align with requirements in the WELL Building Standard (WELL). Through a third-party documentation review process, the program awards organizations the right to license the Works with WELL trademark for designated products, services and solutions.

“The product directory is a significant milestone in our mission to accelerate market transformation toward healthier buildings, organizations and communities. By providing a centralized hub where designers, architects, engineers and other building professionals and practitioners can easily discover products that have been verified to align with WELL, making it easier for them to identify health-focused solutions that contribute to people-first places,” said Jessica Cooper, IWBI Chief Product Officer. “We are excited to be able to provide this directory to better support the market, creating an important link between WELL projects and those products and solutions that are aligned with WELL.”

In its first year, the program roll-out has been focused on manufacturers and evaluating how their products, services and solutions align with WELL features. Already, the program has gathered significant momentum with early-adopting companies enrolling over 1,000 products of various product types. To align with a feature part, a product must demonstrate how it supports a WELL feature requirement and contribute to a WELL project’s ability to achieve that feature part. Currently, 69 specific product types as defined by the Construction Specification Index (CSI) code are pre-mapped to one or more compatible feature requirements of WELL v2. Products that have already gone through the validation process now span 39 feature parts across nine WELL concepts. The number of eligible product types and compatible features will expand over time as the program evolves. Organizations can also submit their own alignments for approval.

With the introduction of the directory, the Works with WELL program becomes even more accessible and user-friendly to the broader WELL community. The directory provides a listing of products and solutions that have earned the coveted Works with WELL mark. Users can now easily search, browse, and identify products that are aligned with specific WELL requirements, making it a valuable tool for architects, designers, builders, facility managers, and anyone striving to earn WELL Certifications, WELL ratings and/or a WELL Score.

Key Features of the product directory:

Searchable database: The directory offers a powerful search engine, allowing users to find products by product type or by manufacturer name.Callout of aligned features: Each product listing exhibits specific WELL feature(s) it aligns with. The features are also linked to the WELL Standard, providing more context about the alignment.Manufacturer Information: Users can access profiles of product manufacturers and the product’s website to learn more about product features and the company’s commitment to health and well-being.User-friendly interface: The directory features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, enabling a seamless experience for users.Continuous addition and updates: IWBI will continuously update the directory to include new products and manufacturers as they earn the Works with WELL trademark.

In late September during the WELL Summit, IWBI debuted the Works with WELL program to the global WELL community in an effort to better support the soaring WELL adoption with access to products aligned with WELL. To date, WELL has been adopted by almost 44,000 projects spanning nearly 5 billion square feet of real estate across 128 countries. Thousands of organizations, including nearly 30 percent of the Fortune 500, have embraced WELL to guide their health leadership journey.

Organizations with products already verified to align with WELL features:
Air Aurora Air Purification Technology(Shanghai) Co., LTD
Airthings
Arwin Technology Limited
Babylon Micro Farms
Clear Inc.
ECOFLEX Technologies Co., Ltd
Excel Dryer
Guangdong Eagle Brand Industrial Co.,Ltd
Guangdong ODAS Home Technology Co., Ltd
Hollingsworth & Vose (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
Intelligence Air
Kaiterra
LogiSon Acoustic Network
Milliken
Motko
Natura
Numa Products LLC
Ostuni Lighting
Pathogen Reduction Solutions Ltd
ProCoat Products
Shanghai Matsu Furniture (Group) Co.,Ltd.
Shanghai PAALER Environment Protecting Technology Co.,Ltd
SHANGHAI PUEN LIGHTING ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD
Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
Sloan
TREND
Wellstat

Organizations in the process to align products with WELL features include:
Aluz
Atmotech
Biamp Systems, Ltd.
BIAXIS NEO CO.,LTD
Blade Air
Butterfly Air
eyrise B.V.
Global DWS
Huizhou CDN Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
Hygiene of Sweden
Jiangsu BBL Home Technology Co., Ltd
Jiangsu Insona Communication Technology Co., Ltd
Lighting Recipe Studio Limited
Shanghai DST Technology Co,Ltd
Shanghai Lamett SPC Technology Co., Ltd
Somfy
Sunon Technology Co., Ltd.
Taiga Concept
Yopye Holdings
Zauben

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.

December 5, 2023 /3BL/ – AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI), the charitable giving organization of the historic Stonewall Inn, announced today that Crypto.com Arena, one of the most iconic sports and music venues in the world, and Peacock Theater, the premiere concert and special events venue at L.A. LIVE, are the first arena and theater to be named as Safe Spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community as part of the SIGBI Safe Spaces Certification Program. The certifications follow AEG’s pledge in July 2022 to roll out the SIGBI Safe Spaces initiative to its venues and festivals.

Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater worked closely with SIGBI to provide the proper training, policies, and standards to ensure that both venues are advocating for equality and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ employees and customers.

In addition to completing the 10-step Safe Spaces Certification Program, employees of Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater also participated in a training component designed by Jennifer Brown Consulting to ensure that they are creating inclusive environments for employees, tenant teams, artists, guests, promoters, and partners.

“Safe Spaces are vital in order to uplift LGBTQ+ people and provide places to celebrate, educate, thrive, work, shop, relax and live freely,” said Stacy Lentz, CEO, SIGBI. “The Stonewall Inn is the original Safe Space, and we are thrilled to expand our reach and work with one of the most iconic sports and music venues in the world, and the premiere concert and special events venue at L.A. The certification ensure that the venues are advocating for equality and creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ employees, athletes, musicians, customers, fans, and all those who attend events.” 

AEG has had an ongoing partnership with SIGBI since June 2019 when the company first pledged to support the creation of an LGBTQ+ anti-bias training standard. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Uprising, AEG was one of several organizations who participated in a summit in New York City convened by SIGBI to discuss the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community and to engage in a dialogue with number of LGBTQ+ organizations.

“Our support for the SIGBI Safe Spaces Certification Program is a natural extension of AEG’s commitment to SIGBI and our commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces and guest experiences at both Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater,” said Lee Zeidman, President of Crypto.com Arena and L.A. LIVE. “We want our LGBTQ+ employees and the community to know that they are valued and supported. We strive to be change agents in our industry as we work toprovide welcoming and safe environments where people can feel a sense of trust and inclusion.”

SIGBI announced the launch of its Safe Spaces Certification Program during Pride Month in June 2022. The Certification Program was created in response to a survey SIGBI conducted that uncovered that 97% of the LGBTQ+ community believe they would benefit from more safe spaces.

“These certifications underscore AEG’s commitment to creating a sense of belonging where everyone working at our company and attending our events feels free to express their authentic selves,” said Jae Requiro, VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for AEG. “We are proud of our allyship with the LGBTQ+ community and our partnership with SIGBI as we work together to create a more equitable future for all.” 

SIGBI’s Safe Spaces Certification Program was developed in partnership with some of the brightest minds from marginalized communities nationwide and is being rolled out to entertainment venues, food and beverage locations, stores, businesses, and other public venues, so they can become certified as a Safe Space for LGBTQ+ members of the community.

SIGBI is inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ+ rights movement born from The Stonewall Inn riots of 1969. Through awareness campaigns, educational programming, fundraising, and candid public dialogue, SIGBI supports grassroots organizations and marginalized communities across the globe with a focus on those where progress toward equality has been slow and spreading The Stonewall Inn legacy to places where it is most needed.

Carbon is the new calorie — everyone should know what they are consuming. By being open and transparent about impact, Logitech is driving better design decisions among teams and supporting more informed purchase decisions among consumers. Logitech also wants to lead change in the industry by sharing know-how and empowering others to take the same steps toward transparency.

THE COMMITMENT TO CARBON CLARITY

Logitech is believed to have initiated an industry-first, Carbon Clarity commitment by pledging to provide a Carbon Impact Label on product packaging across its entire portfolio.

Similar to nutritional labels on food packaging, Carbon Impact Labels enable consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions by taking into account the carbon impact of their purchase. Labels also hold the company accountable for reducing the carbon impact of the product portfolio when designing for sustainability and delivering on commitments to climate action.

In 2021, pilot products from the Logitech G gaming portfolio debuted the product Carbon Impact Label and launched the Carbon Clarity webpage, to provide additional insight and information for consumers. By 2025, Logitech pledges to have Carbon Impact Labels on product packaging and web pages across the entire portfolio.

Logitech invites other companies to join in driving positive change by providing full transparency with respect to the carbon impact of consumer electronics. They will share (royalty-free) the best practice methodology that has been developed, to magnify the potential impact of research and innovation efforts to date. Opening up the learnings and expertise developed will encourage others to follow and build on consumer engagement efforts. Logitech encouraged others in their journeys to Carbon Clarity by hosting a webinar for 16 organizations, sharing the details of the approach.

By communicating our product carbon impact we are empowering and collaborating with our consumers to better the world. Carbon is the new calorie—we need to know what we’re consuming.

Prakash Arunkundrum 
Chief Operating Officer

PROGRESS IN THE LAST YEAR

To support the integrity of carbon calculations, Logitech worked with third-party, independent experts, iPoint Group, to develop a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) methodology that meets ISO 14067 and ISO 14044 best practice standards. The PCF study for each product also undergoes an independent critical review by DEKRA. They share an outline of the calculation methodology and further information on the Carbon Clarity webpage on logitech.com and call other brands to action to adopt this approach. By March 2023, 42 % of Logitech products had a Product Carbon Footprint.1

As they continue to roll out Carbon Impact Labels they will target high-volume (and consequential high-carbon using) product lines and product categories. Logitech is on track to achieve the 2025 target while recognizing that the approach will continue to evolve, especially as they transition to addressing an increasing number and diversity of lower-volume product lines.

BY MARCH 2023 42% OF LOGITECH PRODUCTS HAD A PRODUCT CARBON FOOTPRINT1

2025 GOAL CARBON IMPACT LABEL ON EVERY PRODUCT BY 2025

Carbon is the new calorie. The power to decide the future is in the hands of the consumer.

Robert O’Mahony 
Head of Sustainability

MEET THE LABELS

The company has begun placing product Carbon Impact Labels on packaging and throughout the website. Today, there are two types — both labels feature a ‘Certified Carbon Neutral’ statement because Logitech has offset the remaining emissions across the entire company and product portfolio. Products with a number have undergone a detailed analysis to determine the total amount of carbon emitted during manufacturing, transportation, use, and end-of-life. Eventually, all of products will feature a Carbon Impact Label.

1. THE CARBON NEUTRAL LABEL 
Highlights how Logitech has offset the carbon across the entire company and product portfolio.

2. THE CARBON IMPACT LABEL 
Shows the total amount of carbon emitted during manufacturing, transportation, use, and end-of-life.

LOGITECH’S COMMITMENT TO LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA)

A commitment to life-cycle assessment (LCA) predates and goes beyond calculating the carbon impact for the Carbon Clarity label. A truly sustainable design approach considers the environmental and social impacts from the moment raw materials are sourced through to the end-of-life of a product. These impact insights are necessary to inform the design for sustainability at a product — and supply chain-level, and catalyze sustainability commitments. The labeling is layered over this work and allows Logitech to engage consumers in this commitment.

View the full Impact Report.

Originally published on Tork News Center

GREEN BAY, Wis., December 5, 2023 /3BL/ – The Green Bay Packers and Tork®, the global leader in professional hygiene from Essity, wrapped up their “Tackle Hygiene with Every Catch” campaign by donating $29,000 worth of hygiene products to two local nonprofits.

The campaign ran through the first five home games of the Packers season, and for every Packers catch made during those games, Tork pledged to donate $250 worth of hygiene products.

The Packers had a total 116 catches, and the resulting $29,000 in products will be donated to two deserving local charities. The Packers and Tork, along with Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed, held a donation event on Tuesday to formally honor the nonprofit groups and kick off the delivery of the items. Recipients of the donations include:

• Pillars—provides shelter, support and solutions to address the housing needs in the Fox Cities

• Harbor House—provides safe shelter and support services to survivors of domestic abuse in Northeast Wisconsin

“Tork products play a huge role here at Lambeau Field in keeping our players, staff and fans alike healthy by fostering positive hygiene habits,” said Craig Benzel, vice president of sales and business development for the Packers. “Good hand hygiene plays an important role in preventing illness, and we’re glad to partner with Tork to promote hygiene through donations of sustainable Tork hygiene products in our local community.”

Also part of the campaign, helpful hygiene awareness messaging at Lambeau Field has served to remind fans of the effective, easy-to-use Tork hygiene products used throughout the stadium on gamedays and every day.

“Essity extends our gratitude to the Green Bay Packers for all the contributions they made to help create this opportunity for Pillars and Harbor House as increased hygiene standards are still as important as ever,” said Cindy Stilp, Marketing Communications Director, Essity. “We are grateful to be part of this community where we employ 900 people at our Service Excellence Center as well as our manufacturing and converting facilities in Appleton, Neenah and Menasha. We are the proud provider of Tork hygiene products to Lambeau Field and we’re proud to support this economy and, together, do some really good work for the health of the people who call the Fox Cities their home.”

About Tork 

The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit Torkusa.com.

About Essity

Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as Actimove, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 48,000 employees. Net sales in 2022 amounted to approximately SEK 156bn (EUR 15bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society. More information at www.essity.com.

About Pillars

From homelessness to coming home, Pillars provides shelter, support and solutions to address the housing needs in our community. Pillars Crisis Housing serves adults and children experiencing homelessness with more than 45,000 nights of shelter each year. Pillars Stable Housing helps make home a reality for more than 150 households annually.

About Harbor House 

Since 1984, Harbor House has been committed to understanding the breadth of domestic abuse in our community and addressing the needs of affected individuals and families. In 2022, they expanded services to include addressing the needs of sexual assault victims and getting to the root of violence. Harbor House serves all people impacted by domestic and sexual abuse, leads the shift in perception of violence and advocates for lasting social change. Through its community-wide partnerships, they work on the prevention of violence and offer safety and support to diverse families in crisis. The organization provides services to more than 1,600 children and adults in Outagamie and Calumet Counties each year.

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is not just a matter of environmental sustainability, it’s also a question of social and economic justice.

Take, for example, what happens when coal mines and coal-fired power plants are shut down?

The displaced workers face the immediate risk of unemployment, often in communities where coal-related jobs are the primary source of income. This creates not only an economic vacuum but also a range of social issues such as increased poverty rates and community disintegration.

In the United States, efforts are underway to facilitate a just energy transition that balances both environmental goals and social equity. Let’s take a brief look at what it means to enact a just transition, then explore what actions the United States is taking.

What Is a Just Energy Transition? 

The concept of a just energy transition gained prominence within international governance and policy discussions, particularly through its inclusion in the Paris Agreement. It is now embraced as an ethical imperative and a practical framework by various international bodies, governments, and non-governmental organizations.

The UN Global Compact defines Just Transition as “simultaneously and coherently addressing the three dimensions of sustainable development – environmental, social and economic – with a focus on the role of decent work in generating sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development”.

Building on this global momentum, the United States has also adopted the just energy transition as a cornerstone of its energy policy.

Federal Initiatives for Just Energy Transition in America 

Job creation and training programs 

The U.S. government has been proactive in investing in workforce development for the clean energy sector. This empowers communities and ensures that American workers are at the forefront of this rapidly advancing field.

Several federal training programs stand out as examples of this investment:

The Department of Energy’s Solar Ready Vets program, which provides career training for military veterans transitioning to civilian roles.The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy’s Good Jobs and Workforce Development program, aimed at training middle-skill workers to transition to career paths within the clean energy sector.Apprenticeship programs supported by the Department of Labor, targeting various sectors within clean energy, from wind turbine maintenance to energy-efficient construction techniques.

These programs offer hands-on experience, often in partnership with industry leaders, to provide workers with the practical knowledge they need to excel in their new roles.

Support for displaced workers 

The transition to cleaner energy solutions brings with it the challenge of aiding workers displaced from the fossil fuel industry. The U.S. government has initiated several programs aimed at mitigating the negative impacts.

For example, the POWER Initiative by the Department of Labor is designed specifically to assist communities affected by job losses in coal mining and coal-fired power plants. This program provides funding for workforce development, including retraining and job placement services.

Various forms of assistance are available, ranging from unemployment benefits to career counseling services and targeted skill development courses. These resources are designed to help displaced workers adapt to new roles in a shifting energy market.

Support for affected communities 

The Department of Energy’s Local Energy Action Program, commonly known as Communities LEAP, aims to accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in local communities. The program focuses on creating sustainable energy strategies tailored to community-specific needs. Financial resources are allocated for targeted communities, empowering them to build more resilient and efficient energy systems.

International cooperation and partnerships 

One noteworthy international effort is the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between the United States, Indonesia, and South Africa. The partnership aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy in these countries while ensuring social equity and economic sustainability.

Outcomes of these international collaborations include sharing best practices, facilitating technology transfer, and securing financial support for clean energy projects.

State-Level Actions: A Closer Look 

Philadelphia: Green projects and racial equity 

In Philadelphia, infrastructure funding is being strategically allocated to green projects that prioritize racial equity. The city is placing an emphasis on partnering with historically underutilized businesses to ensure that the benefits of these projects are widely shared.

Chicago: Residential decarbonization program 

Chicago is making strides in decarbonization through energy-efficient upgrades in residential buildings. A key component of this initiative is the involvement of local contractors from underrepresented communities, aiming to combine environmental goals with social justice objectives.

New Orleans: Collaborating for environmental justice 

New Orleans has entered into a partnership with the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. The collaboration includes the establishment of technical assistance centers and a focus on climate action equity, aiming to build resilience while ensuring fairness in environmental outcomes.

Colorado: Focused initiatives for coal workers 

The Colorado Office of Just Transition has been established to specifically assist coal workers affected by the transition to cleaner energy sources. Coal Transition Community Grants are available to help these communities adapt and develop sustainable economic models.

New Mexico: Energy Transition Act 

New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act aims to shift from coal to low-carbon energy sources. In addition to setting ambitious clean energy goals, the Act provides for workforce training and transition assistance to ensure that workers are not left behind during this crucial transformation.

The Path Forward for Just Energy Transition 

Federal and state-level initiatives have shown a concerted effort to make the energy transition both just and efficient. The significance of a collaborative approach cannot be overstated. Both domestically and internationally, cross-sector partnerships amplify the impact of individual initiatives and are essential for addressing the complex challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy while leaving no one behind.

As technology advances and policy evolves, the United States is well-positioned to foster a sustainable and equitable energy future. The key to success will be the continued alignment of economic, environmental, and social objectives, supported by inclusive and far-reaching policies.

Learn more about Energy Transition services from Antea Group, to better understand how your organization can deftly navigate the challenge of our time.

Originally published by Walgreens Boots Alliance

By Elyse Russo, Walgreens Stories

Despite being a bit small for his age, Alfredo Diaz looks like any other 11-year-old boy. He is friendly, outgoing and “always has a smile on his face,” says mom and Walgreens pharmacy technician Natalia Torres. 

What people don’t see is that Alfredo lives with IL-10 Receptor Deficiency, a genetic disorder so rare that there are fewer than 100 cases in the U.S. This disease causes Alfredo’s immune system to attack his own body, so he takes immunosuppressants which cause him to get frequent infections, often requiring hospitalization.

Alfredo has an ostomy bag that needs to be changed every day, and he receives nightly IV nutrition as well as G-tube feedings through his stomach. 

His health condition requires a nurse to be at his school every day he is in attendance. So if there’s no nurse at school, Torres must keep her son home. 

Torres knows a blood stem cell transplant would transform her son’s life, so she has worked with Be the Match, a nonprofit that connects patients with stem cell donors, to find him a match. Walgreens has long supported Be the Match as a recruitment partner. Since 1999, Walgreens has recruited thousands to join the Be the Match Registry, inclduing four matches for patients in need. 

“By sharing his story through Be the Match, Alfredo has saved so many lives,” Torres says. “But Alfredo hasn’t yet found a match of his own.”

Walgreens supports Alfredo with Be the Match registry drive

Just one year ago, Torres started working as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens store #9000, located in the Chicago neighborhood where she lives. 

Torres had filled her son’s prescriptions at that Walgreens for years, befriending Pharmacy Operations Manager Rosa Vega who eventually recruited her, empowering her to be more hands-on with Alfredo’s care through the pharmacy. Torres and her family remain close to Vega to this day. 

Torres calls her schedule at the pharmacy “a blessing.” She always starts her shift at 5 p.m., so she is available during the day to support Alfredo if he is sick or has appointments.

Just last month, the Chicago Walgreens where Torres works hosted a Be The Match registry drive in hopes of finding Alfredo a donor. Although Alfredo didn’t find a donor match that day, Torres remains determined in her search and in educating others about joining the Be the Match registry. For example, Alfredo is more likely to match with someone who shares his Mexican ancestry, but there simply aren’t enough Latino or Hispanic donors on the registry. 

“Many people in the Hispanic community aren’t aware that this is an issue,” Torres says. 

And so, the search for Alfredo’s match continues. 

“We will continue to tell his story and encourage people to join the registry,” she says. “I will do everything I can to help him.” 

To learn more about joining the Be the Match registry, go to bethematch.org/walgreens.

People eat fast food to fit in with their busy lives, often at a cost of quality. You might easily think that ‘slow food’ is the opposite! It actually refers to food produced or prepared following local culinary traditions, typically using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

Slow Food is also the name of a global, grassroots organization, founded in 1989 to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions. The aim is to counteract the rise of fast life and combat people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us.

What does this have to do with FedEx?

Beginning in early 2023, FedEx has helped fund the activation of two Earth Markets in an area close to the newly opened Novara Hub – at the renowned Ricetto di Candelo and in Borgomanero – and the establishment of 10 new Slow Food Presidia in Italy. This initiative supports local conservation by promoting the preservation of food biodiversity in Italy, a territory that hosts our facilities.

Barbara Nappini, President of Slow Food Italy, commented: “Our collaboration with FedEx began about a year ago and practically immediately, even in an unexpected way, our dialogue appeared not only possible, but preparatory to a win-win opportunity: FedEx showed a real determination to give back to the territory concrete projects that had concrete positive effects in terms of protecting biodiversity, supporting small farms, creating networks.”

What are Earth Markets and Slow Food Presidia?

Earth Markets are an international network of markets that work in accordance with Slow Food principles. Small producers and food artisans sell what they produce and transform and can personally guarantee and tell the story of the quality of their products. Earth Markets are places to buy high quality products, but also spaces to build communities, create exchanges, and educate. Worldwide there are 88 Earth Markets in 25 countries, 47 of which are active in Italy.

Slow Food Presidia are communities that work every day to save native breeds, varieties of vegetables and fruit, breads, cheeses, cured meats, and traditional desserts from extinction through their commitment to passing on production techniques and crafts. Over 600 Presidia involve farmers, artisans, shepherds, fishermen, and winegrowers from 70 countries. In Italy 2018 producers are involved in 369 Presidia in the 20 regions.

Since its beginnings in Italy, Slow Food has grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries, working to ensure everyone has access to good, clean, and fair food.

*This project is funded by CAF America thanks to the generosity of FedEx

By The Black & Veatch Insights Group

As if U.S. electric utilities didn’t already have enough to worry about, protecting their critical infrastructure from cyber or physical attacks increasingly are keeping operators up at night.

A December 2022 report by Politico sounded the latest alarm, noting that federal records showed that the number of physical and computerized assaults on electric infrastructure spiked in 2022 to their highest level in at least a decade.

Federal regulations require electric utilities to comply with certain cybersecurity standards for protecting their systems from keyboard predators. But cyber-attacks persist as advancing technology — notably digitalization that helps manage utility operations — expands the attack surface and creates new vulnerabilities. The grid’s aging infrastructure and legacy technology also significantly increases the risk of attacks that can lead to power outages, endangered public safety and financial loss.

So how are U.S. electric utilities responding? Based on expert analyses of a survey of more than 650 U.S. power sector stakeholders, Black & Veatch’s 2023 Electric Report finds that utilities understand the challenges and are working to bolster their cyber defenses.

New Technology: Risk and Reward

As technology advances, pressure mounts on utilities to maintain a competitive edge, meaning some may feel compelled to adopt new technology quickly without fully considering the impact it might have on their business or operations. As such, there’s been a fundamental shift within operational technology (OT) as survey respondents report — for a second consecutive year — a shorter vetting process for adopting new technologies, with half assessing a new technology for five years or fewer before their organization will adopt it, consistent with 2022.

While new technology has its benefits, it also can open the network to vulnerabilities that put the organization at risk of cyberattack. Nearly half of respondents (46 percent) say they don’t know where they are in the implementation phase of their security plans, perhaps illustrating that utilities’ security programs haven’t yet caught up with this rapid adoption of new technologies.

Utilities must adjust their cybersecurity plans to accommodate the rapid adoption of new technologies. Implementing a comprehensive risk management strategy that includes evaluating the new technology, identifying and implementing the necessary security controls, and ongoing monitoring and testing of the system will be paramount to the success — and security — of technology adoption.

Concerns around ransomware and phishing both have decreased among respondents since last year’s report, though both remain the top two cyber threats of concern to utilities, with 72 percent citing phishing and 56 percent pointing to ransomware as their top worries. Given that phishing is a major gateway to ransomware, this may indicate that utilities have more understanding of the nuances of ransomware and feel more confident in their ability to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, a recent report from the potential risks and threats associated with Egress, a cybersecurity company that provides intelligent email security, said phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, especially as cybercriminals continue to hone their skills by using AI-powered technologies.

New to the list — ranking third — was cyber-enabled sabotage, added as a survey response option this year because the U.S. Department of Homeland Security actively is working to prevent such activity through initiatives with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Those strategies include Cyber-informed Engineering (CIE) and Consequence-driven Cyber-informed Engineering (CCE). Black & Veatch is a licensed CCE partner with the INL.

It’s clear that utilities understand the importance of mitigating the risk of a ransomware attack and are taking the proper measures to protect their data and systems. In fact, nearly 70 percent of those surveyed report a high level of confidence — 48 percent are somewhat confident and 21 percent are extremely confident – in their ability to recover from a cybersecurity attack. This is true for both OT and IT teams.

While this appears optimistic on the surface, when viewed with other data, it may indicate over-confidence. For example, more than four in 10 (44 percent) respondents don’t know if they are using a risk-based framework, and nearly 10 percent say they are not using one. In addition, 81 percent are unsure about how much of their budget they are spending on cybersecurity. Without question, a false sense of confidence about the robustness of a utility’s security posture could be dangerous as it may lead those enterprises to overlook vulnerabilities exploitable by would-be cyber predators.

Cybersecurity in the U.S. power sector demands constant vigilance and attention. As technology rapidly evolves, so do the threats targeting utility vulnerabilities. But with increased awareness, education and investment in cybersecurity measures, utilities will be better positioned to safeguard their systems and customers from the potentially devastating consequences of a cyberattack.

Originally published on bloomberg.com

New Bloomberg for Education certification provides practical, interactive, digital modules for those seeking to understand the financial ecosystem for the first time.Throughout the two weeks of COP28, Bloomberg will make the full suite of e-learning models free to students around the globe.

Bloomberg for Education (BFE) launched the latest in its series of e-learning certifications, Bloomberg Finance Fundamentals (BFF).

The self-paced, interactive e-learning course provides an introduction to the key concepts involved in finance and investment. Throughout the course, students will explore real-life scenarios through the perspectives of four young adults, helping them to build an understanding of how financial markets work, and the different careers available.

Bloomberg’s e-learning courses offer an advantage by empowering students and early career finance professionals with the hands-on knowledge and real-world experience needed to compete and succeed.

Earlier this year, BFE launched its first ESG certification to better equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the growth in sustainable finance and impact investing.

The CPD-accredited courses feature financial case studies, real world data drawn from the Bloomberg Terminal, and hands-on learning exercises for students of all levels. Across three distinct certificates, participants can gain a fundamental understanding of the financial ecosystem, the different career paths available, learn how different markets develop and interact, and explore the principles of sustainable investing.

Through a Bloomberg for Education and Bloomberg Corporate Philanthropy partnership, students from across the globe will have free access – for the duration of COP28 – to the full suite of Bloomberg for Education certificates, including the new Bloomberg Finance Fundamentals course, and the recently developed ESG certificate which focuses on the growth of impact investing.

About Bloomberg for Education

Bloomberg for Education helps universities incorporate the Bloomberg Terminal into their academic programs to better prepare students for the global job market. Universities around the globe use Bloomberg to bring the real world of finance into the classroom, providing students with access to the same information platform used by leading decision makers in business, finance and government.

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration.

For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo.

Media contact:

Oisin O Malley: oomalley2@bloomberg.net

December 5, 2023 /3BL/ – Building on the success of the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment (PCFWC), nonprofit partners ReFED and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) today announced the formation of the U.S. Food Waste Pact – a national voluntary agreement enabling pre-competitive collaboration and data-driven action to reach national and international food waste reduction targets, including United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. The U.S. Food Waste Pact is designed to go beyond commitment setting to drive meaningful progress on food waste reduction, as well as serve as a connective fabric to support other national and regional food waste efforts across the country.

In the U.S., 38% of all food goes unsold or uneaten – a $444 billion opportunity for the nation, including $250 billion for food businesses alone. Food waste is contributing 6% to our national greenhouse gas emissions and consuming more than 20% of our nation’s freshwater supply, all while one in eight Americans face food insecurity. The U.S. Food Waste Pact will deliver on the urgent need for a national strategy and partnership to accelerate food waste reduction, which has been identified as a top solution to climate change.

The Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, which launched in 2019, has been a model for this pre-competitive collaborative approach to driving action in the U.S. From the outset, leaders of the PCFWC intended to build and prove a model that could scale. Five years later, formation of the U.S. Food Waste Pact is the fulfillment of that vision and currently includes participation by multiple PCFWC business signatories and other national players, including Ahold Delhaize USA, ALDI, Aramark, Bob’s Red Mill, Compass Group USA, Del Monte Fresh Produce Company, Lamb Weston, Inc., Raley’s, Sodexo USA, Walmart, Inc., and Whole Foods Market – with additional businesses encouraged to join.

The U.S. Food Waste Pact is designed around the global framework of “Target, Measure, Act,” and food businesses joining the U.S. Food Waste Pact (“Signatories”) will agree to work together alongside their industry peers toward a 50% reduction in food waste, measure and report food waste data to the U.S. Food Waste Pact annually, and participate in working groups and pilot projects to test, implement, and scale cost-effective and high-impact solutions.

“The U.S. Food Waste Pact is all about measuring and seeing action to reduce food loss and waste,” said Pete Pearson, Global Initiative Lead, Food Circularity at WWF. “Through our work with the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, we’ve seen how businesses respond when we help them identify the problems within their operations and also offer solutions and insights to fix them. This new initiative serves as a national platform for the private sector to show measured progress against their waste reduction goals.”

Leveraging best-in-class data methodologies, tools, and resources, the U.S. Food Waste Pact will provide Signatories with detailed custom waste analytics, industry benchmarking, and solution roadmaps, as well as human and financial resources to support pilot projects among Signatory participants. The U.S. Food Waste Pact will anonymize and aggregate the Signatories’ reported waste data before publicly sharing the results in an annual report, providing unique and valuable detailed insights into waste trends year upon year to benefit the entire industry.

“This level of industry collaboration to reduce food waste is unprecedented and exactly what is needed to successfully address such a systems-level problem.” said Dana Gunders, Executive Director of ReFED. “The data component of the Pact – from within their own operations and from across their sector – is critical to enabling our business partners to identify where to focus their resources, while also benchmarking their efforts against the rest of the industry. Those types of insights aren’t available to businesses right now.”

The U.S. Food Waste Pact provides a unique opportunity for food businesses to further their sustainability efforts by working collaboratively to drive food waste reduction. Working with ReFED and WWF – along with WRAP serving as an advisor – Signatories to the U.S. Food Waste Pact will receive a range of benefits, including:

Return on Investment – Food waste reduction programs around the world have shown proven significant return on investment for all types of food businesses;Data Insights – Aggregated anonymous reporting from all signatories enables businesses to measure their progress, identify priority areas of action, and benchmark against competitors; andIndustry Collaboration – Pre-competitive working groups open to all signatories offer opportunities for businesses to learn from each other’s successes; discuss solutions to challenges; and engage with government leaders through special policy roundtable discussions.

Beyond the U.S. Food Waste Pact’s commitment to accelerating action, it also intends to provide the missing connection between other national and regional programs for businesses to reduce food loss and waste, such as the Food Waste Reduction Alliance and U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions by the USDA and EPA, as well as global efforts like World Resources Institute’s 10x20x30 initiative. The U.S. Food Waste Pact will complement and support these existing efforts by providing direct support for businesses who have committed to take action. In addition to the PCFWC, the U.S. Food Waste Pact has also been inspired by similar global initiatives managed by WRAP, including the Courtauld Commitment in the U.K. and Pacto Por La Comida in Mexico, which have demonstrated the benefits of businesses working together to achieve sustainability goals.

“As a partner of the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, WRAP together with ReFED and WWF share an ambition to scale-up action addressing food loss and waste in the US, and contribute significantly to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. WRAP is delighted to continue this strong association as an advisor for the Food Waste Pact and contribute to the success of this initiative.” said David Rogers, International Director of WRAP. “Over the last twenty years, we have worked with partners from Mexico to Australia via South Africa and Indonesia to establish nation-specific programmes tackling food loss and waste, from farm to fork. The US Food Waste Pact is a crucial addition to this international network, enabling national delivery in the US to complement that of other nations and delivery globally on a key environmental issue facing every nation on Earth.”

For more information about the U.S. Food Waste Pact, visit http://usfoodwastepact.org/ 

Media Contacts:

Susan McCarthy, WWF

susan.mccarthy@wwfus.org

Jeff Costantino, ReFED

jeffrey.costantino@refed.org

QUOTES FROM FOOD BUSINESS SIGNATORIES AND OTHERS:

“Two years ago at COP26, Walmart joined several other retail grocers, suppliers and manufacturers to launch a new public-private partnership through the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment because we believe strongly in purposeful transparency. The PCFWC has been a strong driver in helping us evolve our data collection and reporting on food waste and better understand areas for action. Today, we are proud to be a part of the expanded U.S. Food Waste Pact as we continue our journey to reduce food waste across the value chain. Our commitment remains to galvanize action across the retail and consumer goods sector on demonstrably reducing food waste through advocacy, supplier engagement, philanthropy and innovation.”

Chris Franke, Senior Manager, Global Sustainability, Walmart, Inc.

“At Whole Foods Market, food waste reduction is integral to our purpose to nourish people and the planet. We’re committed to minimizing food waste in our stores, keeping waste that cannot be avoided out of landfills, and increasing access to food in our local and global communities through robust food donation programs at every one of our stores. We’re proud to join the U.S. Food Waste Pact alongside a tremendous group of retailers, building on our longstanding commitment to people, the environment and our communities.”

Caitlin Leibert, Vice President, Sustainability, Whole Foods Market

“The ability to work pre-competitively with our food service peers to take action through both collaborative conversation and pilot projects has been a powerful tool in identifying solutions that turn discussion into tangible progress on reducing food waste. We look forward to the opportunities the expanded scope of the U.S. Food Waste Pact will bring to our food waste reduction efforts.”

Marie Davis, Program Development and Engagement Director, Aramark

“As a global grower of fresh produce, Fresh Del Monte takes food waste and food scarcity seriously. Reducing food waste lowers greenhouse gas emissions and minimizes the waste of valuable resources. We are proud to be a part of the PCFWC — the alliance is a part of our approach to reducing food waste. The expanded U.S Food Waste Pact will allow us to further our own efforts to reduce food waste, and also encourage others to set their own goals, and contribute to the wider progress of the Pact.”

Hans Sauter, SVP, R&D and Agricultural Services, Chief Sustainability Officer, Fresh Del Monte

“Since its founding, Bob’s Red Mill has valued wholesome nutrition that serves the planet and its people. Our sustainability efforts are paramount to providing the best quality product in the healthiest and most environmentally friendly way, and reducing food waste has been a cornerstone of those efforts. After successfully participating in a number of Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment initiatives, we are proud to be among the first businesses to sign on with the U.S. Food Waste Pact. We know this national expansion will be instrumental to continuing our waste reduction efforts, and we are excited to work collaboratively with other signatories to reach the common goal of reducing food waste across the country.”

Meghan Keeley, VP of Supply Chain, Bob’s Red Mill

“FMI – the Food Industry Association and our members have a longstanding commitment to reducing food waste across the entire value chain. The newly established U.S. Food Waste Pact will empower food businesses with new tools and resources to take bold steps in addressing one of the most solvable challenges affecting our food system – reducing food waste.”

Andy Harig, Vice President – Tax, Trade, Sustainability, & Policy Development, FMI – The Food Industry Association; Retail Lead, Food Waste Reduction Alliance

“Food businesses are increasingly realizing the economic, environmental and social benefits of reducing food waste. The formation of the U.S. Food Waste Pact will provide new insights and strategies on the fight against food waste in the U.S. This collaboration will also help to accelerate existing efforts to cut food waste, both in the US and globally.”

Dr. Liz Goodwin, Senior Fellow and Director, Food Loss and Waste, World Resources Institute