Tag: 3BL

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

When Angy Lopez moved from Mexico to Southern California nearly a decade ago, little did she know that her journey would lead her to create an exceptional cleaning service. Faced with overwhelming challenges, she said, she fearlessly embarked on her mission to build a prosperous life for her four children.

Starting a new life in a foreign land was no easy feat, but Lopez refused to let adversity hold her back. Juggling jobs in food service and cleaning, while also attending English classes, she devoted countless hours to her responsibilities. With sheer determination fueling her every move, Lopez said she managed to survive on a mere three hours of sleep each night.

As her eldest son prepared for college, Lopez saw an opportunity to channel her determination into building her own cleaning business. What began as a humble venture quickly gained momentum, attracting one satisfied client after another, until her reputation soared. Soon, Angy’s Angels Cleaning Service became the go-to choice for many families, office buildings, restaurants and industrial spaces.

“I started out with just one employee – myself – and then added another for sales and one for cleaning,” Lopez said. “My son joined me, and together we set off on a remarkable journey. Today, we have a phenomenal team of 49 employees. It’s beyond anything I could have ever imagined.”

Angy’s Angels Cleaning Service has evolved into more than just a business; it has become a true family affair. Each of Lopez’s children contributes their talents, whether it’s in sales or the cleaning work. The business grew rapidly, and soon Lopez realized that working out of her home with a few vehicles was not sustainable. In what she called a stroke of brilliance, she turned to Ampac Business Capital for assistance in acquiring a building.

“Before, I didn’t have a building,” Lopez said. “Thanks to the unwavering support and capital provided by Ampac, I was able to secure a loan and make significant improvements to the building. This allowed us to hire more employees and take our business to new heights.”

In April 2023, Lopez proudly opened the doors to her brand-new building in Hesperia, about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The spacious facility now accommodates three employees, stores all the cleaning supplies and provides parking spaces for 14 vehicles.

“We had the incredible honor of financing Angy’s building when the city insisted she couldn’t operate from her home,” said Hilda Kennedy, president and founder of Ampac. “Seeing her find the perfect space for her trucks and her team of 30 employees, with the assistance of Downpayment Assistance/Liquidity Replacement funds, was truly inspiring. With this support, Angy has set her sights on adding 10 more talented individuals to her team within the next two years.”

Ampac is a member of the African American Alliance of CDFI (community development financial institution) CEOs and received funding through the U.S. Bank Access Fund, which provides financial support as well as capacity building, technical guidance and networking opportunities for women-of-color microbusiness owners.

Innovation and convenience are on the horizon for Angy’s Angels, Lopez said, as it prepares to launch its own app.

“An app will revolutionize the way we operate, ensuring that our talented employees are readily available and dispatched to the right locations,” Lopez said. “Customers will have the power to request services through the app, further enhancing our commitment to delivering exceptional results. We firmly believe that this app will make a tremendous difference in our business.”

Lopez expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support she has received over the past nine years. Many of her employees have been with her for six to seven years, forming a tight-knit team that fuels continuous growth.

“We are more than just a team; we are a family. That bond of trust and unity is what allows us to thrive,” Lopez said. “We are Latinos, and we work tirelessly to surpass expectations because that’s who we are.”

For more information visit https://www.angysangelscleaning.com/.

Originally published on Principal.com

Not even ten years out of high school, Perseverance Narcisse has already mastered the art of the pivot.

In the last months of her senior year in high school, she pivoted from college plans when she found out she was pregnant. Months into motherhood, she pivoted again when her father died unexpectedly. And now, five years into her tenure at Principal®, she’s thinking intentionally about her next pivot.

“There have been moments when I’ve felt behind, when I’ve really had to sit back and say ‘It’s not your time yet,’” Narcisse says. “Timing is everything, and I want to plan so I can give my all to work, my son, and school—to be successful at all three.”

Finding a path for growth

Narcisse comes from a family that always stood up for others. Her father, Jonathan Narcisse, was a community advocate, school board member, and two-time gubernatorial candidate. “He wanted to be a voice for those who didn’t have a voice,” she says.

In 2017, high school graduation loomed for Narcisse, and with it, big plans: Iowa State University, possibly to study human resources. And then one semester before graduation, she became pregnant. “It was this huge inflection point,” she says.

Her future suddenly uncertain, Narcisse began sitting in on iJag sessions held at her high school. iJag, or Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, connects business and education to support career paths, college and job applications, interviews, and other professional skills. There, she heard Principal employees talk about their work and company culture.

“It was a pivotal point for me,” Narcisse says. “iJag taught me things no class did. I realized it wasn’t the right time to go to school, that I had to figure out a way to be financially stable for my son.”

Narcisse’s participation in the iJag program led to a full-time specialty benefits internship at Principal, which eventually led to a full-time job. In her five years working here, Narcisse, now an EDI implementation specialist, has had a series of positions within her department that have enabled her to gain new responsibilities. “Each year I’ve been able to grow, to find mentors, to add to my resume,” she says.

The next pivot

When Narcisse started at Principal, she intentionally sought connections. Chief human resources officer Jon Couture, for example, helped her plot out a career path, and Narcisse took others up on offers of job shadowing, strategic conversations, and networking.

“I learned you have to assemble the skills and experience that makes you stand out, and I wanted to take advantage of opportunities that came my way,” Narcisse says.

She’s also leaned into the Principal support for volunteering; it was a volunteer program that brought her to Principal in the first place. Narcisse rejoined iJag—but this time in front of the classroom. “The first lesson for students is really talking about how to define success, and how to support them and figure out the whys—why they aren’t applying themselves or feel uncomfortable,” she says. “It’s like a family, and I still connect with the kids.”

Work, her son, volunteering—it’s a big load, but Narcisse isn’t content with a straight line. Her next pivot is an intentional start to earning a degree in order to eventually work in human resources and recruiting. “My leaders understand my career goals, and know I want to advance. They’re encouraging and offer opportunities,” she says. “Flexibility is one of the most important pieces of the culture here. Life gets busy, and Principal ensures you have the tools to be successful at home and at work.”

Narcisse often tells the story that it was her dad who named her “Perseverance.” “He always said, ‘You have a big name to live up to,’” she says. “I try to remember that he was a big voice for others, and I want to keep his legacy going and that drives me to want to be a leader. As a young Black woman, Principal has given me a platform to share my story and be a leader, and I know not every company does that.”

What’s next?

Find a career that fits your skills and passions at principal.com/careers.

Disclosures
3199906-112023

HAMILTON, Bermuda, November 16, 2023 /3BL/ – In response to the growing demand for trained bartenders and hospitality professionals in Bermuda, family-owned Bacardi, is excited to announce the commencement of applications for the second edition of Shake Your Future, its free, professional bartender training program for unemployed young adults. In partnership with the Bermuda Government’s Department of Workforce Development, Bacardi is welcoming aspiring bartenders to apply to the program for an opportunity to gain the skills and training necessary to embark on a career as a professional mixologist.

Shake Your Future is a global Bacardi program that was originally created in 2018 and has since expanded to Italy, France, India, South Africa, Spain and other markets. The overarching objective is to train 10,000 young adults worldwide by 2030. In Bermuda, the program launched in February 2023 and received an overwhelming response of 134 applicants, from which seven individuals were selected to undertake a transformative ten-week journey. The comprehensive program comprises four intensive weeks of training at the European Bartending School in London, offering students the opportunity to attain their international bartender certification. Upon their return to Bermuda, participants continue honing their skills, concentrating on personal branding, marketing, and undertaking a valuable four-week work placement in some of Bermuda’s premier bars and restaurants. Notably, six individuals from cohort one were offered full-time employment upon program completion. Building on this success, Bacardi is increasing the available spots from seven to ten individuals which will see those selected heading off to London in March 2024 as part of cohort two.

“Bartenders are the backbone of our industry and we’re thrilled to renew our partnership with the Department of Workforce Development to provide meaningful learning opportunities and internationally recognized certifications through our Shake Your Future program,” stated Douglas Mello, Bacardi Limited Managing Director. “All graduates from our inaugural Bermuda class are working full-time in the hospitality industry, and one of them, Kierra Lee, recently became the first female and youngest winner of the Taste of Bermuda Bartending Competition. These young individuals have been motivated and empowered to achieve success in their careers, serving as an inspiration to us all, further reinforcing our commitment to foster job opportunities within Bermuda’s hospitality industry.”

In today’s evolving job market, the hospitality sector in Bermuda is faced with the challenge of rebuilding its talent pipeline across the industry. The latest data from the 2022 Labour Force Survey Report underscores the persisting issue of unemployment in Bermuda, with a particular focus on the youth and the Black community. As residents actively seek pathways to enhance their skills and become competitive in the job market, Bacardi and the Department of Workforce Development are taking proactive measures to generate opportunities for individuals pursuing a fulfilling career in hospitality.

“Shake Your Future is a powerful program, providing comprehensive instruction in mixology theory, free pour techniques, flair bartending, and live bar management, empowering individuals with the tools they need to succeed as a professional mixologist. Our collaboration with Bacardi and the achievements of our initial group of participants underscore the strength of Government partnerships and our dedication to elevating Bermuda’s hospitality industry,” said the Minister of Economy and Labour, Jason Hayward, JP, MP.

Shake Your Future is running in select cities across the globe with an ever-growing number of bar and restaurant partners pledging their support and giving the trainees the all-important experience they need to change their lives. The application window for the Bermuda program runs from November 15th to December 15th.

For more information on how to apply, head to the Bermuda Job Board and type “Shake Your Future” into the search box.

Related stories: https://www.3blmedia.com/news/bacardi-shake-your-future-graduate-makes-history-first-female-winner-taste-bermuda-cocktail

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Nasdaq

ESG Advisory 

Launched as an organic growth initiative in 2019, Nasdaq’s ESG Advisory is a service solution that pairs companies with consultative ESG expertise to help analyze, assess and put into action best-practice ESG programs with the goals of attracting long-term capital and enhancing value. Nasdaq’s ESG Advisory practice is staffed by former ESG investors and ESG ratings agency analysts, sustainability consultants with decades of collective experience as well as individuals who ran sustainability programs in-house at Fortune 500 organizations. ESG Advisory services include ESG and climate strategy development, GHG footprinting support, Board engagement strategies, ESG investor engagement advice and ESG and climate report development support for companies.

2022 was a transformative year for Nasdaq’s ESG Advisory practice as we more than doubled our headcount to meet client demand for our consultative ESG services. Headcount growth was focused on individuals with key skill sets including: banking, ESG investing, in-house corporate ESG, ESG rating agencies and ESG standard setters. 2022 also marked the first year that ESG Advisory expanded headcount into the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. In 2023, ESG Advisory plans to continue prioritizing private and public customer needs with ESG and climate related disclosure, GHG footprinting, ESG capital attraction strategies and ESG goals and target setting. As the regulatory environment heightens its disclosure requirements within the U.S., Europe and the Asia Pacific region, we’re aligning our resources and competencies to help our clients navigate stakeholder demands.

Nasdaq OneReport 

Nasdaq OneReport is an ESG data management, reporting, audit trail and disclosure software that allows companies to simplify ESG reporting. It optimizes workflows, facilitates reporting to frameworks, research and ratings organizations and helps disclose ESG progress against a variety of metrics to multiple stakeholders. Nasdaq OneReport’s continued advancement and evolution is driven by our customers’ demands for a tool which is the industry leader in the number of frameworks and research & ratings organizations provided.

In 2022, Nasdaq OneReport became the first Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) software provider to receive GRI certification for the revised Universal and Topic Standards, released in Fall 2021, through GRI’s Certified Software and Tools Provider program. The platform also added new frameworks and ratings organizations such as the Just Capital and Bloomberg Gender Equality Index. In preparation for upcoming regulations, Nasdaq OneReport created an EU ESG Reporting Readiness Module to help support clients with EU Taxonomy, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) for organizations to easily access, share and document key organizational stakeholders. In 2023, Nasdaq OneReport plans to continue to update its platform with the latest regulatory frameworks, helping clients mitigate risks and accelerate their ESG efforts.

As of September 2023, Nasdaq OneReport is now part of Nasdaq Metrio, an improved, singular platform fueled by two powerful and time-tested engines (OneReport and Metrio). Learn more.

Metrio 

In 2022, Nasdaq acquired Metrio, expanding our suite of ESG Solutions. Metrio is an end-to-end sustainability reporting software that streamlines the way companies collect, analyze and share their ESG data. The platform is simultaneously a one source of all truth for all corporate sustainability data, with dashboards to track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measure progress towards set goals, while also enabling sustainability teams to run data collection campaigns across multiple sites, locations and departments with a review process that sends task reminders, flags variations and generates an audit trail. Metrio also has built-in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting capabilities that allows businesses to leverage their granular data and aggregate into both internal and external reports.

Metrio’s platform continued to evolve with regular updates to improve the user experience, including adding new features around dashboards, data collection and a home page for a role-based overview. In 2023, Metrio plans to continue releasing new features focused on improving metrics to connect multiple data sources. This will allow increased autonomy for clients to build their own CSR reports with their own branding, while leveraging data collected across their organizations. Metrio and Nasdaq OneReport will have increasing connectivity to help clients aggregate granular data from Metrio to populate reports and disclose to regulatory bodies like the CSRD and SEC and third-party raters and rankers within Nasdaq OneReport.

As of September 2023, Metrio is now part of Nasdaq Metrio, our singular ESG reporting platform. Learn more.

Governance Solutions 

A strong corporate governance framework is the cornerstone of a sound ESG program. Nasdaq Governance Solutions provides a suite of technology and advisory services for boards and leadership teams to work at peak performance, facilitate major decisions, advance strategic vision and drive stakeholder value. Our solutions drive governance excellence by bringing efficiency to governance and compliance programs and fostering trusted relationships with boards and leadership teams.

In 2022, we launched the Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence, an inclusive community of board members, executive leaders and educators, offering best practices and insight into latest governance topics. The Center’s ‘ESG and Sustainability’ advisory council regularly publishes research on the evolving role of boards around ESGrelated matters and how to drive action and accountability in the boardroom. In 2023, we will continue to grow an engaged community around the Center and bring governance workflow tools and services to customers to help enable effective in person or remote board meetings and discussions.

Puro.earth 

The addition of Puro.earth – the world’s first carbon crediting platform for engineered carbon removals – to Nasdaq’s ESG solutions brings suppliers of net-negative technologies together with companies with residual emissions. Puro.earth’s high integrity carbon removals, the CO2 Removal Certificate (CORC), are in line with the guidance of Oxford Principles for net zero, providing companies with a much-needed tool in their efforts to reach their net zero targets. Puro.earth is the first crediting program with a focus on durable carbon removal with a minimum of 100-year storage time to obtain endorsement by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA).

Puro.earth issued 213,932 CORCs on behalf of suppliers in 2022, which represents 213,932 tonnes of CO2 removed from the atmosphere. The issuance equals 2.4x growth from 2021. Twenty-eight new suppliers joined the platform during 2022, bringing the total number of suppliers to 80 from 18 countries. Puro.earth also launched two new removal methods during 2022: Enhanced Rock Weathering and Biomass Burial. The number of sales channel firms and traders who sell CORCs to their clients has grown during the year.

In 2022, Puro.earth also increased transparency in the carbon removal market through improvements in the Puro Registry and the Carbon Removal Reference Price Indexes. Integrity, trust and transparency around CORCs are key factors needed for building a global market for carbon removals. A well-functioning market will bring efficiency and necessary price signals to stakeholders.

Given the strong demand by corporate buyers for high quality carbon removals, Puro.earth plans to further expand the volume of issued and retired CORCs on the Puro.earth platform. Puro.earth aims to launch additional carbon removal methods, subject to scientific review and approval by the Advisory Board of Puro.earth.1

1 The Advisory Board is ensuring high credit-level integrity and robust principles for science-based carbon removal verification and is authorized by Puro.earth’s Board of Directors to manage the Puro.earth Standard and Crediting Rules. Puro.earth Standard and Crediting Rules include project eligibility rules, quantification of carbon removal, validation and verification rules, conditions for issuance and retirement of credits. The Advisory Board is chaired by Myles Allen, professor of Geosystem Science in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford and the director of Oxford Net Zero Initiative. The Advisory Board are independent and non-executive, meaning they are not Puro.earth employees.

Nasdaq Products and Services with Select ESG Features1

Nasdaq Risk Modeling for Catastrophes 

Nasdaq Risk Modelling for Catastrophes is the first independent, multi-vendor risk modelling solution for reinsurance firms. It brings multiple catastrophe risk model providers together on one independent platform, lowering the barriers to entry for model vendors while providing ease of access and increased choice to the market. The platform, powered by the opensource Oasis Loss Modelling Framework, makes it possible for clients to access and deploy a wide range of models without the need for multiple modelling platforms. With a broad range of catastrophe risk models across multiple geographies, for perils including flood, earthquake, hurricane, windstorm, bushfire and more, exposure management teams can quickly evaluate and apply the models that align with their business needs.

In 2022, Nasdaq Risk Modelling for Catastrophes’ client base increased by 60% from 2021, fueled by a desire by re/insurers to improve their view of risk around complex perils such as flooding. There is growing demand among the risk management community for tools that assess climaterelated physical risks. Catastrophe models that contain climate conditioned events will play a valuable role in this regard. Nasdaq Risk Modelling for Catastrophes provides access to models that combine science, engineering and probabilistic modelling to help clients quantify the financial impact of climate change in terms of the damage to property caused by natural catastrophe events.

IR Intelligence 

Investor Relations Intelligence (IR Intelligence) is a business within our Capital Access Platforms segment, which provides insights and analytics software and advisory services products to nearly 3,300 companies globally with the mission to help clients effectively navigate the capital markets. In 2022, IR Intelligence focused on providing transparency into sustainable and climate strategies through IR Insight and shareholder advisory services with ownership benchmarking, as well as advancing companies’ understanding of their shareholders ESG preferences through our Global Perception service. In 2022, IR Intelligence produced research on sustainable investing trends, as well as proprietary research on corporate climate disclosure trends. In 2023, we plan to expand upon this foundation to provide companies with insight and analytics tools to monitor ESG trends, assess competitive positioning through benchmarking of ESG disclosures and craft ESG disclosures as companies strive to meet increasing demands from investors and global regulators.

1 Not categorized as ESG products and services for financial reporting.

Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), a leading beverage alcohol company, today announced the release of its and expanded target to restore a total of 5 billion gallons of its water withdrawals back to local watersheds near the company’s production facilities between its fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2025.

Exceeded previous water stewardship target ahead of schedule, continues progress against all environmental targets.

Constellation achieved its original target to restore approximately 1.1 billion gallons of water withdrawals from local watersheds ahead of plan and is now targeting to restore an incremental 4 billion gallons. Seeking to build resilience for this finite natural resource, the company is partnering with local authorities, community leaders, and water-focused NGOs on ongoing water infrastructure and restoration projects.

Constellation also established two new environmental stewardship targets with a target date of fiscal year 2025:

Pursuing a TRUE Certification for Zero Waste in key operating facilities1Enhancing its use of circular packaging across its portfolio

“Water is one of our planet’s most precious natural resources, and a critical resource for our business. We continue to prioritize efforts to improve water availability and resilience for communities where we operate, while striving to ensure that we act in a manner that is both good for the world and good for the future of our business and stakeholders,” said Bill Newlands, Constellation Brands’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our approach is designed to create and protect value for our business and neighbors, reflect our company values, and directly address pressing environmental and societal needs.”

The company also continues its efforts to manage greenhouse gas emissions, specifically by decreasing its dependence on non-renewable energy sources through energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives.

Focus on social initiatives closely aligned with business objectives.
Constellation continues to advance its target to invest $200 million to support female- and minority-founded businesses within the beverage alcohol industry over a 10-year period. With more than $98 million invested in 12 female- and minority-founded small businesses through August 2023, Constellation seeks to help create the industry’s next generation of brands aligned with evolving consumer preferences.

Partnerships with organizations whose missions and values align with those of Constellation’s consumers and employees, such as Dress for Success, UnidosUS, and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, benefitted more than 18,000 individuals and families.

“Our work related to social impact, providing access to beneficial resources and meaningful opportunities for the underserved, helps to create greater social equity which is key to building strong, resilient, and thriving communities,” said Mike McGrew, Constellation Brands’ Executive Vice President and Chief Communications, CSR, and Diversity Officer. “When this happens, we all win, as strong and thriving communities are essential to supporting the long-term viability and success of our business, local employees, and business partners.”

Introduced significant governance enhancements.
After transitioning from a dual to a single class, one share, one vote common stock structure in November 2022, Constellation also initiated a comprehensive Board refreshment and governance enhancement process, including electing two new Board members with strong financial backgrounds, and engaging in a process to identify a new independent Board Chair.

Visit the full 2023 ESG Impact Report .

1 Key operating facilities, for the purposes of this target, consist of our major production facilities (i.e., our breweries in Mexico and our U.S. wineries generating the vast majority of waste).

ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS
Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe elevating human connections is Worth Reaching For. It’s worth our dedication, hard work, and calculated risks to anticipate market trends and deliver more for our consumers, shareholders, employees, and industry. This dedication is what has driven us to become one of the fastest-growing, large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what’s next.

Every day, people reach for our high-end, iconic imported beer brands such as those in the Corona brand family like the flagship Corona Extra, Modelo Especial and the flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas, Pacifico, and Victoria; our fine wine and craft spirits brands including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Casa Noble Tequila, and High West Whiskey; and our premium wine brands such as Kim Crawford and Meiomi.

As an agriculture-based company, we have a long history of operating sustainably and responsibly. Our ESG strategy is embedded into our business and our work focuses on serving as good stewards of the environment, enhancing social equity within our industry and communities, and promoting responsible beverage alcohol consumption. These commitments ground our aspirations beyond driving the bottom line as we work to create a future that is truly Worth Reaching For.

To learn more, visit www.cbrands.com and follow us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact Info:

Amy Martin, Amy.Martin@cbrands.com
Carissa Guzski, carissa.guzski@cbrands.com

The research, development and production of medicines is an energy intensive process. As part of our transition to net zero, we have announced a series of innovative partnerships which are decarbonising our operations, expanding access to renewable energy and contributing to the circular economy. In the UK and in the US, we will use renewable natural gas (RNG), or biomethane, to supply clean heat to our sites, providing a blueprint to accelerate emissions reductions in industrial sectors. In addition, through our power purchase agreement in Sweden, we are expanding the country’s wind energy capacity.

Expanding access to clean sources of heat and power is critical to meet our bold Ambition Zero Carbon targets and accelerate health sector decarbonisation.

Advancing clean heat and energy efficiencies in the UK

We have agreed a 15-year partnership in the UK with Future Biogas to establish the first unsubsidised industrial-scale supply of biomethane. This supply of green gas will power our sites in Macclesfield, Cambridge, Luton and Speke. The new biomethane plant will add renewable energy capacity to existing UK infrastructure and supply more than 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of biomethane, equivalent to the heat needs of more than 8,000 homes.

Using crops grown locally as part of diverse crop rotations, the plant will also contribute to the development of a circular economy, supporting UK farms with sustainable land management practices.

Learn more about how we are powering our sites with clean heat to decarbonise the manufacture of medicines

Watch Video

In leading from the front on the commercial adoption of clean heat, we are innovating to expand the usage of renewable energy, contributing to the circular economy and accelerating our progress towards net zero.

Juliette White – Vice President Global Sustainability & Safety, Health & Environment, AstraZeneca

Renewable heat and power in the US and beyond

In the US, we’re partnering with Vanguard Renewables to transform food and beverage waste and dairy manure into RNG. The first-of-its-kind collaboration will advance our sustainable science by providing clean heat to our US sites – delivering the equivalent of the energy required to heat over 17,800 homes – so reducing our environmental footprint.

Our partnership with Vanguard Renewables is using methane which would otherwise go into the atmosphere and will produce a low carbon fertiliser, helping to enhance the sustainability of the farming sector.

In addition, in Puerto Rico, iPR Pharmaceuticals, part of AstraZeneca, has begun using Renewable Liquified Natural Gas (RNLG) from landfill to fuel its cogeneration plant. The domestically produced RNLG helps to reduce landfill emissions by 90% and replaces fossil fuel energy sources.

Over in Europe, we are also transitioning to renewable energy for our electricity needs. In 2023, we entered into an agreement with Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy producer, to increase the supply of wind power in Sweden.

Here, we have committed to purchasing 200 GWh per year for ten years. Under the agreement, new wind farms will be commissioned, maximising the positive impact of our renewable energy procurement and focus on sustainable innovation.

Ambition Zero Carbon – our science-based climate strategy

The transition to 100% renewable energy is a key element of our flagship Ambition Zero Carbon programme, which is focused on delivering deep decarbonisation by halving the company’s entire value chain footprint (Scopes 1 to 3) by 2030 and becoming science-based net zero by 2045 at the latest. We are on track to reduce GHG emissions from our global operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 98% by 2026.

About Vanguard Renewables

Vanguard Renewables, based in Weston, Massachusetts, is a national leader in developing food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects.

The Company owns and operates on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and currently operates manure-only digesters in the south and west for Dominion Energy. Vanguard Renewables plans to expand nationwide to more than 150 anaerobic digestion facilities by 2026.

Vanguard Renewables is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste, generating renewable energy, and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms via Farm Powered® anaerobic digestion.

Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of BlackRock Real Assets.

Originally published by Yum! Brands

As the world’s largest restaurant company with more than 56,000 restaurants in over 155 countries and approximately 1,500 franchisees, Yum! Brands’ people are its biggest asset. The company’s culture and talent fuel brand performance and franchise success. The power of collaboration across the parent company’s brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill – is that the collective talent creates a competitive advantage.

So, when 20-plus employees attended the three-day RED (Rapid Engineering Design) Innovation Experience in Plano, Texas, partnerships immediately brewed creative solutions. Attendees not only learned how to define problems, ideate on solutions and build prototypes, but also experienced Yum! Brands’ people-first culture of collaboration.

“Yum! Brands is an industry leader in innovation, and bringing thought leaders and problem solvers from each of our brands together in our new RED Innovation Labs helps us move quickly to unlock disruptive technologies for our restaurants,” said Lawrence Kim, Yum! chief innovation officer. “The collaboration from these teams across brands truly turbocharges the innovation process.”

Opened earlier this year, the RED Innovation Labs are uniquely designed to harness the creativity and engineering talent from the brands. “The labs were built to provide a one-stop shop for innovation at Yum!, where you can ideate and prototype on site with 3D printers and other tools at our state-of-the-art facility,” said Matt Rosenthal, Innovation Labs director.

The labs served as the perfect setting for cross-brand collaboration. Here’s what some participants had to say about their experience:

“I’ve met a lot of new people from across the brands, and those connections are so valuable to continue cross-brand collaboration. From observing the process, some of their observations have given us a fresh direction because of their outside perspective.” – Aaron Hedi, KFC operations manager

“At the end of the day, we all work for Yum! Brands, and we all love the food industry. It was great learning about the other brands to get a sense of their opportunities and challenges and realizing that we have a lot of opportunities and challenges in common.” – Shelby Stanfield, Pizza Hut associate engineering manager

“Collaboration is key. Having dedicated time to come together with other teams across brands, it’s truly necessary for our continued success.” – Varsha Baheti, Taco Bell associate manager of Restaurant Excellence

Investing in the next generation

Helaine Cohen, a partner in our Los Angeles Tax team, grew up in a family that valued helping others. What drew her to New Directions for Youth (NDY) was their focus on helping children in Los Angeles County.

“I wanted to volunteer with a program where I could see the fruits of their labor in my community,” Helaine said.

NDY provides comprehensive social services to at-risk youth and has helped more than 200,000 children. Their services are provided free of charge, making them a critical resource for low-income families.

Most children in the program are in either elementary or middle school. In addition to after-school programming, NDY offers a 10-week summer camp experience which includes recreation, arts and crafts, and skill development training.

Helaine volunteers as NDY’s vice president of finance and helps at events throughout the year. During the holidays, she donates food, clothing and gifts to families in the program.

“I love that this organization does so much to make people’s roads a little easier, it’s such a feel-good environment,” Helaine said. “All it takes is one person to make a huge difference in a child’s life and the Baker Tilly Foundation’s donation will make a tremendous difference as well.”

A miraculous recovery from Lyme disease 

In 2005, Rachel Leland, daughter of Consultant Bob Leland, became seriously ill. At the age of 13, Rachel lost her mobility and experienced severe pain, and her doctors struggled to identify her condition. Bob and his wife, Dorothy, feared Rachel’s condition would never improve.

Desperate for help, they reached out to LymeDisease.org, then called the California Lyme Disease Association, who steered them to doctors who knew how to diagnose and treat their daughter. The organization also connected them with support groups to meet with other families who were battling the disease.

“Lyme disease is a debilitating bacterial infection, and we were thankful that we were able to find help for our daughter,” Bob said. “Though it took years, Rachel has since regained her mobility and now lives a healthy life as a speech therapist, which is a future none of us could imagine 15 years ago.”

LymeDisease.org also operates a program called MyLymeData, with more than 17,000 participants. Partnering with scientists at the University of Washington and the University of California, Los Angeles, the project documents the experiences of Lyme disease patients to help drive research.

Throughout the years, Dorothy continued to volunteer with the organization and has written articles, organized conferences and met with lawmakers. She was recently named LymeDisease.org’s president. Dorothy and Rachel co-authored the book Finding Resilience, a Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease, based on Rachel’s journal that she kept throughout her diagnosis and recovery.

“Rachel’s journey to where she is now was a long struggle, and while the disease is in remission, it could return at any time,” Bob said. “The funds given by the Baker Tilly Foundation will make a difference for everyone this organization touches and help find more answers for those afflicted.”

Learn more about life at Baker Tilly: https://www.bakertilly.com/page/life-at-baker-tilly

On Saturday, October 21st, KeyBank joined forces with Seasoned Gives, a nonprofit organization that supports women- and BIPOC-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs to present Bank Tank: Revolutionize Business Financing Pitch Competition at Dutchess Community College. The event was a collaborative effort between Seasoned Gives, KeyBank, and Dutchess Community College, with a strong focus on promoting diversity and inclusion within the local entrepreneurial world. A total of $11,500 in small business grants unwritten by KeyBank were awarded to contest winners.

Conceived by Seasoned Gives founders and small business owners Tamika and Martin Dunkley, Bank Tank aimed to bridge the gap between traditional banking and underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. It offered local entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for prize money and receive mentorship from small business experts. Approximately a dozen small business owners and entrepreneurs participated in the event, pitching their business ideas to a judging panel of local business leaders in a format similar to ABC-TV’s popular Shark Tank show. The judges based their decisions on overall presentation, product/plan, financials and economic impact.

The winners of 2023 Bank Tank competition were:

$10,000 Grand Prize Winner -Career InTouch, owner Calief Housen$1,000 First Runner UP – Play Pop, owner Kris Weiss$500 Second Runner UP- Benny’s Tropical Ice, owner Kamir Jackson

Additional finalists competing in Bank Tank were:

Nandie’s Cupcakes- Nandie ClarkLenahc Vetements-Chanel ClarkAs One Flight, LLC- Nikki Chung, M.S.Teadaytea, LLC- Nicole CarrollVidl Barbershop- Alex VivarSATZ Hair- Annazette Allen

Participating as judges were KeyBank Regional Retail Leader Louis Hoxha, KeyBank Business Banking Leader Wallace Lynch, Eleven3Seven5 Founder and CEO Anita Pierce, and Dutchess Community College Assistant Professor of Business Management Maureen Peters-Gittelman.

In preparation for Saturday’s pitch competition, Seasoned Gives paired competitors with ‘seasoned’ mentors who worked with the entrepreneurs over several weeks to strengthen and refine their business pitches, and offered deep insights into market trends, regulations, and technology integration. Mentors included Tim McQueen of McQueen Associates, Chelsea Miller of Curry & Miller, Martin and Tamika Dunkley Seasoned Gives mentors.

Tamika Dunkley sees Bank Tank as more than a just a competition for funding; she sees it as a way to make introductions to investors and sponsors who can provide mentorship that will help even the playing field for talented underserved entrepreneurs. “Grass roots initiatives like Bank Tank can have the power to reshape small business financing, nurturing growth and innovation, and positioning BIPOC businesses for promising futures,” said Dunkley. “We were able to introduce small business owners to bankers and mentors that they can now leverage for their businesses’ growth and future success.”

Seasoned Gives anticipates that Bank Tank will be an annual event. For more information and to sign up for next year’s event, visit https://www.seasonedgives.org/bank-tank

About Seasoned Gives 

Empowering People Through Education and Ownership 

Seasoned Gives, a 501(c)(3) organization located in the Hudson Valley, New York, has a mission to create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice through education, ownership, and self-sufficiency. Key programs include the following

Financial Literacy: Over the past 4 years, they’ve reached over 10,000 people through in-person and online financial literacy programs. These initiatives equip individuals with essential financial knowledge, providing them with tools for better financial decision-making.Business Support: They’ve assisted hundreds of businesses establish, securing funding, helped them grow and thrive. By strengthening local businesses, Seasoned Gives fosters economic stability and create employment opportunities in the Hudson Valley.Workforce Development: They provide personal development coaching, resume building, classes and tools to empower people to be the best version of themselves possible.

CAMDEN, N.J., November 16, 2023 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. today announced its newest national advertising campaign and increased donation goal of $29 million for the 2023 Subaru Share the Love® Event, the automaker’s largest annual charitable initiative. By the end of this year’s event, Subaru and its retailers are aiming to donate more than $285 million to national and hometown charities over 16 consecutive years.

This year, Subaru and its retailers nationwide are continuing to support four established national charity partner beneficiaries; The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), Make-A-Wish®, Meals on Wheels America, and the National Park Foundation, as well as more than 800 local charities. The advertising campaign will spotlight each partner organization’s cause, as well as the important connection to hometown charities that are hand-selected by Subaru retailers and benefit their local communities.

“Giving back in a significant way through the Subaru Share the Love Event is integral to fostering personal and community connections for our retailers and customers alike,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. “With conscious intention, we are working to support worthy causes across the country in actionable ways that demonstrate how Subaru is More Than a Car Company® and our retailers are More Than a Car Dealer.”

Beginning today, two advertising spots, created by Subaru of America in collaboration with agency partner Carmichael Lynch, will run on national television, digital video, and social media platforms in :30 and :15 second format. Set to the song “Love Is All Around,” the title campaign spot Love Is All Around highlights the impact made on each of the Subaru Share the Love Event national charity partners, while Hometown celebrates Subaru retailers’ dedication to supporting causes that matter most to its customers. Paid media partners include NBC, CBS, YouTube and more. Spanish-language translated versions of the :30 and :15 advertising spots will run on Univision, Telemundo, and UniMas.

On November 16, the automaker will kick off the 2023 Subaru Share the Love Event with its largest annual employee volunteer event held at Subaru of America headquarters in Camden, NJ, and additional locations across the country. Hundreds of employees will participate in volunteer projects supporting local nonprofits that benefit children facing food insecurity, people entering or re-entering the workforce, families in transition to new housing, and students learning STEM education.

For every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at any participating Subaru retailer from November 16, 2023, through January 2, 2024, Subaru will donate $250 to the purchaser’s choice of charities.* Retailers can select up to two hometown charities in their local communities to receive at least an additional $50 for each vehicle sold or leased. Furthermore, participating Subaru retailers will donate $5 to their registered hometown charities for every Subaru vehicle routine service visit during the campaign period.

Since the start of the Subaru Share the Love Event in 2008, Subaru and its participating retailers have donated more than $256 million to its national charity partners and over 2,100 hometown charities to help those in need.

To learn more, visit: subaru.com/shareJoin the conversation: #ShareTheLove

*Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased from November 16, 2023, through January 2, 2024, to four national charities designated by the purchaser or lessee. Pre-approved Hometown Charities may be selected for donation depending on retailer participation. For every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased during the campaign period, participating retailers will donate a minimum of $50 in total to their registered Hometown Charities. Subaru will donate a total of $5 to their registered Hometown Charities for every Subaru vehicle routine service visit during the campaign period. A routine visit includes customer payment of $5 or greater, or any service that includes a genuine Subaru oil filter. Purchasers/lessees must make their charity designations by January 12, 2024. The four national charities will receive a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 each. See your local Subaru retailer for details or visit subaru.com/share. All donations made by Subaru of America, Inc.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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Media Contacts
Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com