Tag: 3BL

Emeryville Calif., November 8, 2023 /3BL/ – SCS Global Services (SCS) announced that its founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Stanley Rhodes, passed away late last week. Jim Knutzon, long-time chair of the SCS Board of Directors, and former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company, was immediately appointed by the SCS Board of Directors to serve as President and CEO.

Dr. Rhodes was an accomplished chemist and sustainability champion who dedicated his career to protecting the environment and improving the lives of people around the globe. He is best known as a leader and innovator in the field of standards development and third-party certification for environmental and sustainability claims related to products, processes and services across the economy.

“Stan was one of the most creative thinkers I’ve ever known,” said Mr. Knutzon. “He constantly challenged all of us – staff, colleagues, clients, and the industries he served – to identify new ways to lighten our environmental footprint while helping workers and communities – all as a smarter way of doing business. He was dedicated to applying the best science and monitoring tools to motivate continuous improvement along these lines.”

Dr. Rhodes worked tirelessly over his career to support environmental and social responsibility in both the private and public spheres, based on a scientific, no-nonsense approach. He pioneered important technical advancements, including the use of mass spectrometry in the detection of pesticide residues, and improved methodologies for life cycle impact assessment, environmental disclosure, ecolabeling, certification, and climate accounting.

His greatest legacy is SCS, founded in 1984. Over the past four decades, Dr. Rhodes built SCS into one of the world’s most prestigious third-party certification and standards development bodies, operating more than 120 programs worldwide. Through these efforts, Dr. Rhodes helped industry after industry to demonstrate the enduring value of sustainability leadership and the triple bottom line.

“Stan remained true to his mission and principles throughout his career, and never shied away from taking difficult stances if it was the right thing to do,” said Linda Brown, SCS co-founder, Senior Vice President and Board member. “He was a mentor to so many people, with a passion that was contagious. Stan will be dearly missed, but we are honored to be able execute his vision to make people’s lives better and protect the earth.”

With the full support of the Board, Mr. Knutzon will lead the company on its current path of growth and success. The company’s seasoned management team and program administrators are well-positioned to collaborate with partners to serve clients to continue addressing the pressing issues of our day.

More information about Dr. Rhodes will be published soon on SCS’ website.

About SCS Global Services

Founded in 1984, SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in natural resource management, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, supply chains, climate mitigation and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information, download our corporate capabilities brochure or visit www.scsglobalservices.com.

In honor of National STEM Day, Mary Kay is highlighting Young Women in the United States and across the globe who are changing the face of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

As Mary Kay STEM grant recipients blaze trails globally to help solve some of humanity’s most complex problems through science and innovation, the company is committed to providing education grants and STEM-learning opportunities to build a more robust pipeline of female STEM talent in the future.

After joining her 7th grade math Olympiad team, Angela Busheska was inspired to pursue a career path in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The now 20-year-old young woman from Macedonia is a social entrepreneur and research innovator. Busheska developed an app designed to help users live a more sustainable lifestyle by utilizing machine learning algorithms. She is making her mark on the STEM field and received a Mary Kay Young Women in STEM grant. As a global leader in women’s empowerment and innovative science, Mary Kay launched the grant program and social campaign in 2020 to help shift the perception of “the face of science,” and encourage young women to pursue STEM-related fields of study and career paths.

According to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, women remain a minority in scientific fields and are under-represented in areas such as computing, digital information technology, engineering and mathematics. This year, Mary Kay will award six new grants to young women pursuing STEM related research or programs in their community.

In 2022, Mary Kay also provided its first Continuing Education STEM grant to 17-year-old Ivanna Hernandez who strives to become the first Latin American woman astronaut to go to Mars. The Colombian native is inspiring other young women to pursue higher education in aerospace, astronomy, astrophysics and physics. “There will always be someone who is willing to teach, guide or help you in whatever goal you set for yourself,” said Hernandez. “So, if you put your mind to it and don’t give up, you can achieve and be absolutely anything you want to be!”

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Mary Kay hosted a STEM Youth Summit at the Richard R. Rogers (R3) Manufacturing/R&D Center, the company’s global manufacturing facility. To inspire the next generation of female leaders in STEM, Mary Kay welcomed 25 girls in under resourced communities to learn more about professional STEM paths. “At Mary Kay, we celebrate young women who are embracing higher education and careers in STEM areas as we continue to help narrow the gender gap and bias in scientific and related fields,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Innovation Officer, Product and Science at Mary Kay Inc.

As Mary Kay STEM grant recipients blaze trails around the world to help solve some of humanity’s most complex problems through science and innovation, the company is committed to providing education grants and STEM-learning opportunities to build a more robust pipeline of female STEM talent in the future while also empowering more young women to pursue STEM-related careers.

 

A Special Report on Sustainability: 2023 At-A-Glance

In a world that is rapidly evolving, Mary Kay Inc. stands at the forefront of change, not only championing the cause of women but also recognizing the immense power they hold in shaping our global economy and driving meaningful change in sustainability efforts. In this year’s Special Report on Sustainability, we delve deep into our unwavering commitment to creating a harmonious balance between enriching women’s lives, who are pivotal in our global economic progress, and ensuring a sustainable future for all. Our sustainability program reflects our promise to make decisions that are good for our planet and its people while honoring Mary Kay’s four core values: Make Me Feel Important, the Golden Rule, our Go-Give Spirit and Balanced Priorities.

To learn more about Mary Kay’s global sustainability strategy, click here. 

Energized by Edison 
Originally published on August 30, 2023

By Jim Hanggi

Jordan Smith tests the future. As a consulting engineer at Southern California Edison’s Grid Technology Innovation Lab, he is part of an SCE team — with multiple industry stakeholders — currently testing emerging uses of electric vehicles.

“How the electrical grid connects to customers, not just with power but with technology, is evolving rapidly,” said Smith. “With that progress, we are preparing to more broadly offer innovative vehicle technologies that were once just a concept.”

Emerging Future EV Uses

Most EVs and chargers only send energy in one direction — to a vehicle’s battery. But more EVs are beginning to be able to reverse the power flow and feed electricity from the battery to a home, a business and even the electric grid. It’s called “bi-directional charging.”

Future grid coordination with vehicles could help balance power demand peaks and offer other advantages. However, there is more to connecting EVs with the grid than simply plugging them in. As this evolution continues, electrical industry standards, codes, regulations and interconnection practices will inform the change.

That’s where SCE’s technical team comes in.

Testing Two-Way Technology

SCE is exploring EV innovations, advancing engineering first in the lab and then in pilots, to introduce them to customers one day. The SCE team has led vehicle-to-grid integration (VGI) testing and standards development for years, working on several vehicle-to-grid pilots, EV charging and control systems demonstrations.

“We are really focused on establishing and evaluating ways our EV customers can benefit from this technology and how this will also help the grid for all customers,” Smith said.

Available to EV owners now is a starting point called V1G, also called smart charging. EVs on the road today can participate in forms of V1G (e.g., Time-of-Use (TOU), Business or Residential Demand Response).

With V1G, EV owners can save on energy costs during off-peak hours. It is an effective way to save money for customers looking to avoid peak pricing.

EV owners with bi-directional charging capabilities — currently permitted and interconnected with SCE — can participate in SCE’s Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP). ELRP provides customers financial incentives to use less or return energy during grid emergencies. 

Welcoming Future Innovations

“EVs can really be an asset to the grid and grid resiliency,” said Chanel Parson, SCE’s director of Electrification. “We welcome and encourage vehicle-to-grid integration and its future capabilities.

“There is an everyday use for bi-directional vehicles and equipment that, if leveraged well, can benefit our customers and the grid. We are at the forefront of enabling it, helping it become available at scale and set industry standards.”

ABCs of VGI

There are several parts along the way to vehicle-to-grid integration (VGI). Get to know a few of the terms:

V1G: V1G is smart “uni-directional” charging. It forms the footing for the rest of VGI technologies. V1G involves adjusting the time/rate an EV charges, using Time-of-Use rates to incentivize EVs to charge when there is an excess generation or, more importantly, not to charge when energy capacity is constrained.V2H (Vehicle to Home) and V2B (Vehicle to Building): This is where a vehicle’s battery can be used as backup power for a customer’s home or a building of multiple customers. Customers could charge a vehicle from the grid and then discharge the battery as needed to a home or building at another time with the proper standard-conforming equipment interconnected with SCE and permitted.V2G (Vehicle to Grid): This is the most complex, costly and uncertain for wide-scale use at this point. To be deployed on a large scale requires more customers to have permitted bi-directional charging equipment interconnected with SCE certified to industry standards. So, small pilots and programs are taking place to better understand the hardware’s safety, reliability and performance. V2G can enable a future where more EV owners can send energy back to the grid to help reduce the peaks in energy demand or meet customers’ needs.

SCE will continue prioritizing customer needs as VGI technologies mature through continued collaboration with vehicle manufacturers, charging station providers and VGI aggregators. The utility plans to implement solutions that let all customers benefit from VGI technology, whether they own an EV or not.

“I think it’s really exciting that this is one of the enabling pieces to achieve the vision of the future grid,” Smith said. “This really is the future.”

November 8, 2023 /3BL/ – We have all seen the seriousness and rapid growth of the nation’s methamphetamine epidemic in recent years. Impacts on individuals and their communities are increasingly becoming more frequent and severe. The significant human health risks associated with exposure to methamphetamine are well known, but as users and producers of the drug become more prevalent throughout communities, property damage and resulting claims from methamphetamine contamination are also on the rise.

Claims associated with smoking and/or producing the drug are increasing and affecting residential settings, public areas, and workplaces. These incidents are both disruptive and costly to property owners who must restrict access, decontaminate and, in some cases rebuild, in those areas affected by the residual methamphetamine contamination. Regulations are beginning to emerge to direct what is necessary to address methamphetamine contamination to be protective of human health and some states have specific certification requirements for who can remediate this type of contamination.

For an insurance claim manager, understanding what is reasonable and necessary can be a challenge when faced with significant costs to remediate and repair/rebuild the affected property.

Join us on November 28th at 2pm ET as our experts share their experiences and insights related to Navigating Methamphetamine Contamination and Remediation Challenges: Regulations, Costs, and Best Practices. We will address the existing regulatory landscape at both the EPA and state levels and present two separate case studies of methamphetamine contamination incidents and resulting clean-up activities and costs. Our experts will share the lessons learned from Antea Group’s review of these incidents and provide best practices as they relate to the appropriate level of remediation and the necessary costs associated with the response to these types of claims.

Register Here!

About Antea Group

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

Untreated hearing loss significantly and permanently impairs speech and language acquisition in children and can have lifelong impact on their quality of life.

And it affects 32 million children worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Sixty percent of pediatric hearing loss can be prevented through early detection and the implementation of public health measures, along with the timely provision of diagnosis and treatment services.

In Bhutan, it is estimated that 2.2% of the population has some form of hearing disorder.

“Although this figure might seem small on a global scale, with Bhutan’s population of about 700,000, it’s actually quite significant,” said Country Operations Manager, Arun Khanal. “The need is palpable.”

We have joined forces with the Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, ADA, The United Nations Technology Bank (UNTB), MED-EL, and others to revolutionize pediatric ear and hearing care in Bhutan through our Hear, Listen, and Speak program.

Since the start of 2022, Hear, Listen, and Speak has helped over 40,000 children and youth get screened for hearing loss – and its on track to reach roughly 74,000 children and youth.

Learn more about this unique program in this short documentary by the Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan.

Abbott

Study by Public Health Institute shows people with diabetes were able to lower A1C levels, better self-manage diabetes, and improve overall diet and food security at 12 monthsAbbott’s Healthy Food Rx program provides home-delivered healthy food boxes to help address diabetes; part of broader collaboration to address social barriers and expand access to health in Stockton, Calif.

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and OAKLAND, Calif., November 8, 2023 /3BL/ – A study of Abbott’s (NYSE: ABT) Healthy Food Rx, a food as medicine program that provides home-delivered medical prescriptions of healthy food to help address diabetes, showed clinically important benefits for people with diabetes. The real-world study, which was conducted by the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN) in an active community clinic over a 12-month period, found that Healthy Food Rx participants had lower A1C levels, improved diabetes self-management, and improved overall diet quality and food security.

In 2021, Abbott and its foundation the Abbott Fund launched the Healthy Food Rx program in Stockton, Calif., where 60% of the population has diabetes or prediabetes. The program, part of the company’s broader Future Well™Communities initiative, brings together Stockton-based organizations to help individuals living with diabetes by delivering free recipe-based food boxes to approximately 450 participants’ homes and providing hands-on education about managing their diabetes through nutrition. PHI CWN’s study showed the following results after 12 months:

Decreased A1C levels: A1C is a test that reflects average glucose levels for the past three months. Higher A1C levels, a sign of uncontrolled diabetes, lead to higher risk for diabetes-related complications including cardiovascular disease, blindness or limb amputation. During this study, participants with uncontrolled diabetes (baseline A1C values greater than 7.0%) saw their A1C levels decrease by 0.80%, on average (from 9.73% to 8.93%, p = 0.003). This average decrease for the group exceeds the widely accepted 0.5% benchmark that is considered a clinically significant change and is associated with improved health outcomes in people with diabetes.Improved diabetes self-management: The number of participants who rated their ability to self-manage their diabetes grew significantly through the program (p < 0.05): 88% of participants reported they follow their meal plan (compared to 58% before enrolling in Healthy Food Rx); 78% reported more physical activity (compared to 61%); and 43% now talk with mentors and friends about diabetes management and healthy living (compared to 12%), all consistent with empowerment of people living with diabetes.Improved diet quality: Participants’ average fruit and vegetable consumption increased significantly. Fruit intake increased by 0.28 times per day, which equals almost two more servings per week; and vegetable intake increased by 0.14 times per day, which equals one more serving per week (p = 0.001 and 0.028, respectively).Improved food security: At the start of the program, 34% of participants were food secure. During the program, food security increased significantly to 44% (p = 0.018).

Healthy Food Rx is one of the largest food as medicine programs for people with diabetes in the country, having reached more than 450 participants to date. Based on initial results, Abbott and the Abbott Fund are working with partners to expand the program, targeting an additional 1,000 people by the end of the year.

“The future of Stockton depends on the health and well-being of the people who live here, and that’s why it’s so exciting to see the Healthy Food Rx program improving the health of our residents with diabetes,” said Kevin Lincoln, Mayor of Stockton. “Change happens through genuine partnership. I’d like to congratulate and thank our local Stockton organizations, Community Medical Centers and the Emergency Food Bank, along with Abbott and PHI, for demonstrating the importance of listening, collaboration and building new solutions to tackle the challenges of diabetes.”

“Healthy Food Rx is a strong example of how working side-by-side with communities can break down barriers and help people live healthier,” said Melissa Brotz, president of the Abbott Fund and vice president of Global Marketing and External Affairs at Abbott. “We know that Healthy Food Rx is making a meaningful difference for people with diabetes, and we’re also reaching their families with nutritious meals and discussions on healthy eating. We look forward to sharing our learnings and growing our impact.”

“Chronic conditions like diabetes are growing, especially in low-income Black, Latino and Native American communities where it can be difficult to access foods that are affordable, healthy and culturally familiar,” said PHI President and CEO Dr. Mary Pittman, DrPH. “The positive results of Healthy Food Rx show that we can build systemic supports that help people eat well, live heathier lives and thrive.”

How Healthy Food Rx Works 
The Healthy Food Rx program is part of Abbott’s Future Well Communities, which is a multi-year initiative aimed to advance health access and equity by removing the barriers that prevent people with diabetes from living healthy lives.

Abbott partnered with PHI CWN to design and implement Healthy Food Rx with Stockton-based organizations, with funding support from Abbott’s foundation the Abbott Fund. Community Medical Centers (CMC), a local federally qualified health center in Stockton, identified potential Healthy Food Rx participants. Program participants received food boxes from the Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San Joaquin (EFB), delivered directly to their home every other week for one year. The boxes included ingredients for a family-sized healthy meal with vegetables and fruits, as well as pantry staples such as beans, rice and nuts. The box also contained a recipe card and link to an optional online cooking class with EFB, which provided additional guidance and diabetes education.

“Nutritious food is critical for managing diabetes and staying healthy,” said Dr. Leonard Hansen, Ph.D., CEO, Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin County. “Healthy Food Rx demonstrates how delivering healthy food and educational support can help improve health and build food security for the people who need it most.”

“This recent study shows the powerful impact Healthy Food Rx has had on community health and well-being,” said Christine Noguera, CEO, Community Medical Centers. “Community health centers like CMC have always worked with patients to manage chronic conditions like diabetes. Abbott’s initiative combining regular access to healthy food with primary care and health education has made all the difference for people living with diabetes. We were proud to participate in this important research.”

All participants were invited to participate in the research study coordinated by PHI CWN, which included surveys at enrollment and at six and 12 months, in addition to capturing lab-verified glycated hemoglobin A1C values from medical records.

Complete study results can be found on the PHI website.

About the Public Health Institute and the Center for Wellness and Nutrition 
The Public Health Institute, an independent nonprofit organization, advances wellbeing and health equity with communities around the world. PHI develops research, leadership and partnerships to build strong public health policy, programs, systems and practices. For more information, visit www.phi.org. The Center for Wellness and Nutrition (CWN), a program of the Public Health Institute, is a national leader in developing campaigns, programs and partnerships to promote wellness and equitable practices in the most vulnerable communities in California and across the country.

About Abbott and the Abbott Fund 
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

The Abbott Fund is a philanthropic foundation established by Abbott in 1951. The Abbott Fund’s mission is to create healthier global communities by investing in creative ideas that promote science, expand access to healthcare and strengthen communities worldwide. For more information on the Abbott Fund, visit www.abbottfund.org.

SOURCE Abbott

For further information: Abbott Media: Angela Duff, angela.duff@abbott.com, 847-224-0365; Public Health Institute Media: Brandie Campbell, bcampbell@phi.org, 510-285-5548

At the recent Coach Foundation’s “China Dream Week” event, students from five universities gathered in Shanghai for a series of diverse experiential activities and career training, exchanged ideas and learned from each other, embarking on a new journey of the future after the fruitful 5-day event.

Since 2020, Coach has partnered with the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) on the Coach Foundation’s Dream It Real initiative. By supporting college students through grants and scholarships, and helping young talents grow by encouraging them to be engaged in social activities. Guo Meijian, Chairman of CYDF, said “Courage to be real, dare to dream, try, and challenge, then create your own wonderful life – this is what Coach’s vision to encourage young people and it is also part of Project Hope’s vision to empower students.”

During the five-day “Dream Week” event, Coach and CYDF invited students to join a series of activities including career development training, public welfare practices, a fashion exhibition tour, and more designed to help students further explore their personal and professional interests and help them clarify career goals. Throughout the week, students explored their potential and gained new insights into teamwork, individual development, and career planning.

Founded in 2008, the Coach Foundation brings Coach’s philanthropic initiatives to life. To date, the Coach Foundation has granted more than $60 million to non-profit partners worldwide. Since its Dream it Real initiative launch in China, the initiative has expanded to a few universities in Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Haikou, and Wuhan across the country, generating more than RMB 24 million in donations and supporting about 4,000 Chinese university students. Coach believes in the power of dreams and is committed to empowering more young people’s development and building a platform for them to grow. To learn more about the Coach Foundation visit coach.com/coachfoundation.

The context is clear.

At this week’s 24th World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, Canada, “the future of the entire (energy) sector will be examined under the lens of the path to net zero,” promise forum organizers.

With more than 5,000 delegates from 100-plus countries, 50 ministerial delegations and 700 expert speakers congregating in Calgary, the WPC, which runs from Sept. 17 through 21, represents the world’s premier oil, gas and energy forum.

“Information presented at the congress, as well as discussions and debates around progressive program topics, will help to define realistic, workable paths forward for the global energy industry to achieve a net-zero future,” according to the WPC website.

Enbridge was among the first North American midstream energy companies to set a hard target of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our operations by 2050—and as a diversified energy company, we are uniquely positioned to help accelerate the global transition to a cleaner energy future.

We also know that the energy transition requires a practical approach. With energy security and energy affordability taking a global spotlight in recent years, Enbridge is committed to lowering emissions while meeting growing energy demand; supporting our customers today while anticipating their needs tomorrow; and developing new energy sources while keeping energy costs in check.

Leadership figures from Enbridge, a WPC sponsor, are actively involved this week in a number of panel sessions:

Today, Tom Schwartz, Enbridge Senior Vice President of strategic projects and partnerships in our Liquids Pipelines business, moderated a panel on Indigenous economic reconciliation and inclusive participation with the goal of net zero by 2050.Also today, Marc Weil, Enbridge Senior Vice President Commercial with our Liquids Pipelines business, took part in a strategic session on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the energy sector.Tuesday, Byron Neiles, Enbridge Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, will be involved in a panel exploring a new Canadian industrial innovation model that’s being exported to countries around the world.And Thursday, Max Chan, Enbridge Senior Vice President and Corporate Development Officer, will engage in a dialogue on raising finance during the energy transformation.

Mr. Schwartz noted Monday’s panel was a discussion about “building new energy infrastructure the right way from the start—with meaningful economic participation by Indigenous groups.

“That’s why Enbridge is actively pursuing new projects in the energy transition space, including renewable energy and carbon capture and storage, with Indigenous co-investment as part of the equation from the initial stages of development,” he added. “This is new for both us and our partners, but we are both learning and developing stronger relationships as a result.”

Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world, and stands fourth in oil and gas production. As WPC organizers note, Canada is also a leader in hydrogen development, nuclear technology and carbon capture and storage (CCS)—and, “along with a strong clean tech industry, Canada is positioned to lead the way in all facets of the energy transition.”

Calgary was the last Canadian city to host the WPC, in 2000.

This week’s global congress is a “once-in-a-25-year opportunity for Canada to tell its story to a global audience,” Denis Painchaud, president of the Canadian organizing committee for the 24th WPC, told the Calgary Herald in July.

​A futuristic port where large corporations collaborate with innovative hydrogen startups is set to become reality, for industrial decarbonization. 

The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, is poised to become a world-class industrial hub as the world shifts away from fossil fuels to focus on a cleaner economy. 

Demand for hydrogen as an energy carrier could triple by 2050 depending on how successful the uptake is and its scope is unbounded. 

While hydrogen can be used as a sustainable alternative to power machinery, from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and trains, to buses and boats, it has many other uses including electricity storage and within industrial processes as a raw material, with many startups latching on to showcase its vast potential. 

Green hydrogen, produced by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable energy, has the potential to become a major player in helping the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to McKinsey. 

The acclaimed port aims for a 55 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions and a completely CO2 neutral port in 2050, and will take centre stage in helping to achieve the global target. It will unleash hydrogen’s low-carbon ability to decarbonize heavy industry, long haul freight, shipping, and aviation. 

While the port has welcomed major corporations such as Shell and Rolls Royce who are innovating to evolve away from fossil fuel dependency, it also embraces smaller innovative businesses in an agile market who can disrupt with their sustainable ideas. 

There is huge potential for more firms to form part of the major hub as demand for green hydrogen soars and universities are playing a big part in innovating and driving solutions. 

Research from scientists at leading universities, such as TU Delft (Delft University of Technology), is proving invaluable to the acceleration of utilising green hydrogen. This is particularly evidential at the Department of Chemical Engineering at TU Delft, where professor Fokko Mulder invented the Battolyser technology. I mention this in more detail below, while highlighting a handful of forward-thinking startups establishing themselves in the port to steer the green economy transition. 

Battolyser® 
Battolyser is a combination of a battery and a hydrogen plant meaning it can store electricity from solar and wind energy and, when fully charged, use any surplus electricity to produce green hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be used immediately for industry and logistics or stored for later use. It enables cheap hydrogen to be produced when electricity prices are low and when prices increase, the electricity can be fed to the grid. Now the Battolyser is ready to be commercially scaled to help fight climate change, the port will house the world’s first large-scale Battolyser factory, estimated to cost around €100m and generate 700 jobs. The factory, scheduled to open during the second half of 2024, will also create hundreds of indirect jobs with supply chain partners. 

HyTrucks 
This consortium comprising Hyzon Motors, Air Liquide and DATS 24 unveiled an ambitious commitment to deploy 1,000 hydrogen trucks and 25 hydrogen refuelling stations by 2025, making it one of the largest European projects to deploy zero-emission, heavy duty fleets in Europe’s heaviest traffic areas. The refuelling stations aim to create a robust network between Antwerp, Rotterdam and Duisburg and the project will ensure zero-emission trucking between the Netherlands, Belgium and western Germany. 

Gunvor 
The company’s site within the port offers access to receive green ammonia (to be converted to hydrogen) from large-scale green hydrogen production locations operated by Air Products and global project partners. Gunvor, a petroleum company, has struck a partnership with Air Product for a hydrogen import terminal in Rotterdam, which is expected to provide green hydrogen to the Netherlands by 2026 to help diversify energy sources and meet climate targets. 

Wattlab 
Wattlab’s bright ambition is to put solar on every part of the supply chain to support companies in the maritime industry. This is achieved by using solar hatches – aluminium hatches with built-in solar modules – to produce solar energy for more sustainable boats, enabling less generator dependency and oil price fluctuations. The solar hatches mean 93 per cent less generator running time and 73 per cent reduced generator fuel consumption. 

QuinteQ Energy 
In December, QuinteQ joined forces with the Port of Rotterdam to help in its plight to be net-zero by 2050. The port called on the firm’s expertise to investigate opportunities to develop solutions to fossil fuels, using QuinteQ’s high-tech, containerized flywheel technology (developed by the Boeing Company in the US). QuinteQ claims its flywheel (a rotating mass storing kinetic energy) will deliver and absorb power peaks in locations where it is difficult to conduct grid expansion or install a permanent, large-scale solution. QuinteQ wants to empower the energy transition for ports, by allowing terminal operators to maximise the utilisation of existing electric infrastructure, without facing challenges from a congested power grid. 

Green hydrogen is rapidly progressing as an alternative energy solution and playing a key role in many innovations to help mitigate the climate emergency. Which solution, from the ecosystem of renewable energy firms based in the Port of Rotterdam, do you feel will have the biggest impact and how successful do you think it will be from a commercially scalable point of view? I look forward to hearing from you. 

Nancy is a Principal Consultant within Acre’s Sustainable Energy Team. She specialises in engineering, operations and business development recruitment within the Sustainable Energy Sector including Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems for the European Market. Prior to this, she was responsible for developing the Energy Sector within Germany and Europe in a German Recruitment firm for more than 4 years. 

Earlier Nancy was working in a reputable consulting firm with the focus on the Energy Market. There she was part of big transformation and change processes of a global European Energy company. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Berlin School of Economics. She is fluent in German and English and advanced in Dutch.

About Acre

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

Originally published on Schneider Electric

The health of the planet and human health are inextricably linked. In 2021, the World Health Organization stated that climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The healthcare industry is responsible for nearly 5% of global emissions. Transitioning to renewable electricity is a fast and impactful way for a company to reduce its emissions. Therefore, supporting renewable electricity procurement has become paramount. The Energize program, managed by Schneider Electric with support from PSCI, brings together 19 global pharmaceutical companies to collaborate on increasing access to renewable electricity for the industry supply chain.

This article is the second in a series of interviews with suppliers participating in the Energize program. We interviewed Rachel Kaufman, Head of Global Sustainability and ESG at Avantor, to learn more about sustainability at Avantor and how Schneider Electric’s Energize program aligns with the company’s emission reduction goals.

Science for Goodness | Sustainability at Avantor

When looking inside Science for Goodness, the sustainability program at Avantor, it was clear there was a strong commitment from leadership that helped establish the company’s strategy and drive its execution to where it is today, within just a few short years.

Q: The Science for Goodness program was introduced in 2020, and Avantor’s 2023 Sustainability report shows tremendous progress, but let’s start with a background on what the Science for Goodness Program is.

A: Avantor’s sustainability program is based on four pillars that provide the framework for driving positive impact while creating long-term value for stakeholders. These pillars align with the environmental, social, and governance expectations of our customers, investors, and employees: DEI, talent development, and associate well-being (People & Culture); our product innovation and operational environmental footprint (Innovation & Environment); philanthropy through our giving and volunteering programs (Community Engagement); and responsible business processes and compliance across the organization (Governance & Integrity).

Q: Talk about how you stood up Avantor’s sustainability program so quickly, and walk me through the strategy behind its implementation.

A: To begin with, we had strong leadership support and sponsorship. I cannot underscore the importance of gaining that commitment early in the process. Leadership support gave us the freedom to implement a thoughtful sustainability program instead of a box-checking exercise.

Once the Science for Goodness framework was established, Avantor identified and brought in the resources and subject matter experts needed to bring the strategy to fruition, which paid off quickly in terms of what we have accomplished in the last few years. Examples of subject matter experts whom we brought into Avantor include my position; a global sustainable sourcing director (who leads our Responsible Supplier Program); an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager who has responsibility for tracking our emissions, wastewater, and other elements of our operational environmental footprint; and a sustainable products expert.

Additionally, as part of our emissions reduction strategy, we created a cross-functional task force comprised of representatives from EHS, finance, and procurement teams, as well as team members in the three geographic regions where we have our most significant footprint. This task force is crucial in driving progress against our environmental sustainability goals throughout the business and across the globe.

Q: What are some major milestones Avantor has reached?

A. Our first benchmark report came out in 2020 and outlined our focus areas and key data points; in 2021, we added goals to our first Corporate Sustainability Report. This included our first climate goal – a 15% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025, based on a 2019 baseline. We quickly started implementing efficiency projects and delivered some impressive gains. For example, by the end of 2022, we had already achieved more than 80% of our targeted 2025 emissions reduction.

Since that first report, we have learned a lot, like how to work cross-functionally, how to form the right teams, and what wasn’t working. We also noticed how the mindset worldwide shifted as our customers, peers, investors, and associates increased expectations of climate action, including establishing science-based climate targets.

So, we brought in Schneider Electric’s sustainability consulting services to help us map our entire value chain emissions. The environmental task force I mentioned before was a vital part of this process, and one of our learnings was that we had a good handle on efficiency projects to reduce electricity demands and cut energy needs at our sites. Still, we didn’t have a dedicated focus on renewables.

Q: And how did the Energize program align with your climate goals?

A: Our initial approach of grabbing the “low-hanging fruit” of energy-efficiency projects – like installing LED lighting, replacing old and inefficient HVAC units and other equipment, and installing fans in our large warehouse facilities – helped us quickly reduce emissions by decreasing our electricity demand. In addition to these energy efficiency projects, we’ve initiated a series of on-site solar roof projects.

The missing piece of the puzzle was off-site renewables – the greening of our electricity supply. And that is where the Energize program came in. It contextualized what off-site and renewable procurement could look like. It provided tools and function-specific information sessions that educated the stakeholders at Avantor that were crucial to moving us forward on our renewables journey. As a result, our tax, accounting, and legal teams, for example, have a better understanding of renewable electricity procurement. That is where the Energize program has impacted our emissions reduction journey most.

Q: What is one challenge or common misconception you still see in the renewable electricity market?

A: For many companies and suppliers, the low-hanging fruit of energy efficiency projects is an easy ‘yes.’ It’s hard to say no to something that is better for the environment and better for your bottom line. You can see a return on investment of two years or less by upgrading to energy-efficient equipment or installing insulation to prevent heat or steam from escaping from facilities.

The more significant challenge is renewable electricity. The energy market is complicated, and many pathways to renewables are finance instruments, such as tax incentives that vary by country or state. These nuances play a role in the economic and financial viability of renewable electricity. The common misconception is that switching to renewable electricity is always expensive. The market is dynamic, and some incentives can make renewables affordable. Unfortunately, companies don’t always have this expertise in-house, so programs like Energize help navigate this space.

The Energize program allows suppliers like Avantor to participate in virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for renewable electricity development projects. Many Energize participants, like Avantor, don’t have enough electricity load to pursue a VPPA as a solo buyer, so approaching the electricity market as part of a group gives participants more flexibility to find the right VPPA and solution. It has been an eye-opening and helpful partnership for us.

Updates from Energize

Every year CPHI celebrates innovation at the heart of pharma with their pharma awards. The award categories highlight outstanding individuals and companies that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and impact in the pharmaceutical industry. The Energize program was among the 2023 CPHI Sustainability awards nominations along with 8 companies from around the world championing high impact sustainability initiatives.

We’re excited to announce that Schneider Electric received the winning nomination and accepted the 2023 CPHI Sustainability award on behalf of the Energize program on October 24, 2023. The Energize program helps pharmaceutical suppliers address their own operational scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions through renewable electricity procurement, which in turn reduces the participating sponsor companies’ scope 3 emissions. You can read the latest news on Energize and this award here.

To learn more about Energize and how companies can get involved with our network, visit https://hub.zeigo.com/energize.

Checkout the first article in this series: 
Part 1: Thermo Fisher sheds Light on Their Renewable Energy Transition 

Rachel Kaufman, Head of Global Sustainability and ESG, Avantor

Rachel Kaufman is the Head of Global Sustainability at Avantor, a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and technology industries. In this role, Rachel is responsible for establishing the company’s environmental sustainability strategies and targets related to operations and products. She also oversees Avantor’s broader Science for Goodness Sustainability Program and leads ESG reporting and customer and investor ESG engagement.

Rachel’s sustainability industry experience spans over 20 years. Before joining Avantor, she served as the Global Director of Environmental Sustainability for Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Health and Vision Care segments and managed communications and environmental policy for non-profit and government agencies in Washington, DC. Rachel holds a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.