Tag: 3BL

International Olympic Committee news

Launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September 2022, the Olympic Forest Network is adding an ambitious ecological restoration project in India’s eastern state of Odisha – an area with one of the largest populations of tribal communities and home to a wealth of biodiversity and endangered species.

Led by the Odisha Forest Department, the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust and The Habitats Trust, and driven by IOC Athletes’ Commission member and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, the Odisha Ridley Forest initiative aims to plant one million trees over an area covering 1,500 hectares.

Inspired by the IOC’s Olympic Forest project, the Olympic Forest Network is part of the Olympic Movement’s wider response to the global climate crisis. It aims to protect and restore existing forests, wildlife corridors and coastal watersheds, and to encourage regenerative agriculture. This latest addition means that the Olympic Forest Network now totals six initiatives, the others being in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

“We are delighted that the Olympic Forest Network has inspired National Olympic Committees around the world to create impactful projects to protect and restore nature,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “India’s ambitious Odisha Ridley Forest initiative demonstrates the wide-ranging social benefits that this can bring to local communities. Sport depends on a healthy environment and a stable climate, and it must be part of the solution to safeguard them. It gives it a special meaning that this project has been initiated by an Olympic champion who is also a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. I would like to congratulate Abhinav Bindra on his initiative to make this impressive project part of the Olympic Forest Network. I would also like to thank the state of Odisha for their great leadership.”

Supported by the Indian Olympic Association, the Odisha Ridley Forest initiative will support the ecological restoration of a variety of forest types, including grasslands and wetlands, and protect local plant and animal species. Community-based forest management is central to the project, which is aimed at improving the lives of the local tribes, many of whom rely heavily on forest resources for their livelihoods.

The project is located in the eastern state of Odisha, home to a diverse range of tribal groups, many of whom have a deep cultural and historical connection to the region’s forests. Some 37 per cent of the state’s population depend on non-timber forest products for food and medicine, and almost half the rural community rely on selling forest produce for their income.

“Sport and the environment share core values of discipline, respect, and perseverance,” said Abhinav Bindra, Olympic gold medallist, member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust. “My Olympic journey and the ‘Odisha Ridley Forest’ project both reflect these principles. The Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust is proud to support this effort, blending the spirit of sportsmanship with ecological commitment. Together, we aim for a future where nature and sport unite for our planet’s betterment.”

“As we embark on the Odisha Ridley Forest project, we not only commit ourselves to ecological restoration but also set the stage for a brighter future,” said the Honourable Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik. “Odisha envisions a world where sport inspires our youth, and our youth, in turn, become the champions of a sustainable tomorrow. This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to preserving our environment and nurturing the values of sportsmanship. Together, we shall lead the way in creating a harmonious blend of nature and human endeavour, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

Global green shoots of the Olympic Forest Network

Since the Network’s inception just over a year ago, five other projects have been included. Beyond tree planting, the Olympic Forest Network projects can include protection or restoration of existing forests, wildlife corridors, and coastal watersheds and ecosystems, together with regenerative agriculture.

Healthy forests, wetlands and other ecosystems not only capture carbon from the atmosphere. They also safeguard nature and help communities become more resilient and adapt to the effects of climate change, such as droughts, heatwaves, floods and landslides.

Brazil

The NOC will restore 10 hectares of degraded forest within the Tefé National Forest, located in the heart of the Amazon. The Tefé National Forest had been significantly deforested but was designated as a Protected Area some 20 years ago. It is an area which allows natural resources to be used by local traditional/ancient populations in accordance with sustainable management techniques. Working with a local community to plant native trees, the project aims to absorb about 1,400 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.

Papua New Guinea

The NOC has partnered with local communities, the National Fisheries Authority and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority to restore a 3km strip of endangered mangroves and support a vital ecosystem. The project will be extended in the coming years and is connected to the Love Your Coast programme, which involves athletes in advocacy and education.

Portugal

The NOC will contribute to the Natura 2000 network of legally protected areas. In March 2023, 811 trees were planted in partnership with Worldwide Olympic Partner Procter & Gamble (P&G), and with the technical support of the Plantar uma Árvore association. In the same month, a further 10,000 trees were planted in partnership with Worldwide Olympic Partner Toyota, with the technical support of the governmental institute ICNF (Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation) and the Abramud e Sentido Verde association. Looking ahead, the objective is to conduct reforesting actions between October and February each year, through to and including 2028.

Slovenia

The NOC has organised the planting of 16,000 trees by athletes and local communities, restoring woodland areas in four locations across the country.

Spain

The NOC is planting 5,000 trees at five locations across the country. Reforested areas incorporate educational and sports-related elements, such as bicycle tracks, exercise circuits and onsite educational programmes. Planting started in March 2023.

The Olympic Forest Network requires that NOCs submit formal annual reports about their projects. Under the principles set up by the IOC Executive Board, the projects are required to:

Contribute to enhancing climate and nature protection and resilience;Support and be delivered in partnership with local communities;Be developed and implemented in collaboration with the relevant experts and authorities; andHave a long-term maintenance plan in place.

The launch of the Olympic Forest Network was inspired by the IOC’s Olympic Forest project, which involves planting around 600,000 trees across 90 villages in Mali and Senegal, creating social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities.

###

The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team: 
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.ioc.org.

Broadcast quality footage

The IOC Newsroom: https://newsroom.olympics.com/

Videos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos

For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.

To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.

Social media

For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter and YouTube.

Many groups are pushing corporations and other large entities to gather and publish data on their carbon emissions. The stated purpose of these efforts is that this data will inform public policy decisions on carbon use and drive investment capital towards carbon reduction efforts.

A large number of carbon emission estimates are already available. Even a cursory review of this information shows little agreement between each estimation system. The charts below show comparisons of the carbon emission energy estimates for three (unnamed) major ESG data providers. As you can see, they disagree on how intense the emissions are on these entities, more than they agree! There is almost no correlation between the carbon intensity readings for these 500+ entities.

See Low Correlation Between Sources A and B

See Low Correlation Between Sources B and C

See Low Correlation Between Sources A and C

These data sets don’t disagree because the analysts who built them are lazy or sloppy. They disagree because carbon output is systematically difficult to measure. As you may have noted, we compared “intensity” measures rather than “absolute emission” measures. This is because total carbon emission is connected to the size of an entity (in general, large entities emit more). However, other factors create other large variations.

1. Certain industries emit more carbon than others. Some industries have bigger opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions than others. Some industries began reducing emissions long ago—other are just starting.

2. Business structure. Does an entity outsource production to independent suppliers (and shift emissions to them)? Does it own or lease its buildings? Is some carbon emitted by a subsidiary or joint venture who is not included in the business’ emissions report?

3. What method is the entity using to measure emissions? There are hundreds of software platforms and tracking systems. Even if an entity “assures” the number it reports, differences arise because each assurance system uses different measurement methods.

4. How recently was the data gathered? Many entities are only just now (in 2023) reporting their 2021 emissions.

5. How complete is the data for a country or industry? According to Bloomberg, only about 20% of the 15,000 entities they track have disclosed their Scope 3 carbon.

6. Does the reported data stand up under scrutiny? Many ESG data providers (including those we used for the illustration above), attempt to check the quality of an entity’s reporting against the values suggested by their own proprietary models. When the entity’s report is substantially different from what a model predicts, data providers ask questions to see if they can determine the source for the difference. In many cases, data sources consider their model’s estimate more reliable than what an entity reports.

Regulated disclosure of emission numbers may result in more data from more entities. Over time we need reliable information to drive good decision-making. Both data source modeled estimates of GHG emissions and internal company self reported metrics are useful for decision making at a global, societal level. And this data may increasingly drive better performance at the company level. Both modeled and company reported sources should show direction and adjustments to reflect activities that have been done and the speed of change. Of course, they may disagree on direction and speed of change over the short term. But, their signals should converge over the long term, since truth will eventually drive them towards each other.

About CSRHub

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

Critics have often called it “the Californication of America” when CA lawmakers move to address an important issue head-on. The good news is that across the land progressive thinkers celebrate many such developments in the “Golden State” – and quite often copy the California legislative or administrative approach for their own state. This is now what we can expect to see very soon in other jurisdictions with passage of the new CA law on climate change disclosure.

The action in CA, as highlighted in our Top Stories: Governor Gavin Newsom signed the first-in-the-nation law making corporate disclosure on carbon dioxide emissions mandatory for companies operating or headquartered in the state. California policymakers are often first movers and in this case did not wait for the Securities and Exchange Commission to move forward on its draft “Final Rule” for corporate GHG emissions disclosure (pending for well more than a year now).

California’s new “Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act” will affect about 5,000 companies that will now be required to publicly disclose the amount of GHG pollution directly caused by their operations – and the indirect emissions resulting from their waste disposal practices, employees’ travel, and their supply chain operations and partners.

Required: All enterprises with revenues of US$1 billion annually operating in California must disclose all GHG emissions beginning in 2026 with Scopes 1 and 2 and then in 2027 with Scope 3. Covered by the law: corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and others.

Some lawmakers in debating the bill noted that many companies have been announcing their GHG emissions reduction goals and this law will provide transparency in how firms are actually accomplishing reductions.

The foundation of this legislation dates back to creation of the powerful California Air Resource Board (CARB) in 1967. CARB will now create the rules-of-the-road for publicly-traded and privately-owned enterprises to report across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.

Think about the California companies that are affected: Wells Fargo, Chevron, Apple, HP, The Walt Disney Company, Gap, and Kaiser Permanente (these are among the 50+ Fortune 500® companies headquartered in CA) and companies doing business there (WalMart Stores, Amazon, ExxonMobil, and many more).

Companies with revenues of $500 million and more (under separate legislation) will be required to begin reporting all climate risks but not specific emissions.

The legislation has found support in the corporate community, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that companies endorsing the legislation included Ikea, Microsoft, Patagonia, and REI Co-Op.

The G&A Institute team will continue to monitor the rollout of new GHG and climate-related corporate disclosure requirements and share perspectives in this newsletter.

NOTE: If you are not familiar with CARB and its actions, here is more information: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

WHIPPANY, N.J., October 10, 2023 /3BL/ – Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., is excited to announce that it has provided a total of $7.4M in grant funding, spread across 1,800 extraordinary organizations during the first half of 2023. This latest round of grants raised Bayer Fund’s total giving to over $95 million since 2017 to nonprofit organizations across the U.S.

Each Bayer Fund grant awarded goes toward stellar programs that are tackling some of the country’s most pressing challenges – combatting malnutrition, enhancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education in schools and providing support services for patients and families managing cardiovascular disease and cancer.

With so many Americans facing challenges, Bayer Fund is proud to continue to support organizations to help strengthen communities across the U.S. Bayer Fund is committed to supporting organizations that have the greatest need to help make the largest impact to both individuals and the communities in which they live and work.

Al Mitchell, President of Bayer Fund

Three organizations that are being recognized for their philanthropic grant work from Bayer Fund are Alameda County Food Bank (Food & Nutrition), Sustainable New Jersey (STEM Education), and the America Cancer Society (Health & Wellness).

Food & Nutrition

Food insecurity and proper access to nutritious food continues to be at the center of Bayer Fund’s giving priorities. Funding for food and nutrition is given to organizations that use high impact programs/projects with comprehensive, sustainable approaches geared at improving access to food for children and families in under-served communities.

Alameda County Food Bank in California/CA received a grant of $125,000 in contribution to their commitment to alleviate hunger by creating a healthy, prosperous, and just community. For the past 35 years, the Alameda County Food Bank has been distributing millions of meals every year, including distributing enough food to serve 60,000 people a day.

“Bayer Fund understands the profound need where one in four people experience some level of food insecurity,” said Regi Young, Executive Director of Alameda County Community Food Bank. “Bayer Fund has been an important partner of ours for many years, helping grow our partner network and fueling critical programs. The funding from this new grant will help grow our distribution of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and shore up vital food pantry programs on local colleges campuses—both of which are cornerstones of our efforts to meet community need. We’re extremely grateful to Bayer Fund for their partnership and dedication to our mission.”

STEM Education

STEM Education is also at the center of Bayer Fund’s giving priorities. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are key drivers to future opportunity, and it is critical students have quality access to programs in these fields. Organizations awarded provide high quality in-school, technical and academic programs that empower students and teachers.

Sustainable Jersey, a New Jersey non-profit organization that provides best practice solutions and guidance to municipalities and schools to advance local sustainability projects, was awarded $50,000 towards its Sustainable Jersey for Schools program mission of empowering NJ communities to build a better world for future generations. New Jersey was the first state to include K-12 climate change education across content areas in its 2020 Student Learning Standards.

“Thanks to the generous support from Bayer Fund, Sustainable Jersey can continue to equip educators with the tools they need to incorporate climate change education across New Jersey’s K-12 learning standards and prepare their students to address the challenges that lie ahead,” said Randall Solomon, Executive Director of Sustainable Jersey. “Currently, 66% of New Jersey school districts and 1,135 schools are participating in our program. This grant will help further our mission to empower New Jersey communities to build a better world for future generations.”

Health & Wellness

Bayer Fund’s Health and Wellness giving priority focuses on directing funding to organizations dedicated to educating and providing support services to patients, caregivers, and at-risk populations. American Cancer Society was presented with a $175,000 grant which will be put towards their Hope Lodge Network program. Hope Lodge communities offer free places to stay for patients and their caregivers for when treatment takes them away from home. Creating a home-away-from-home environment where guests can unwind, connect with others, and learn more about their treatment.

“The American Cancer Society and Bayer Fund share a commitment to a relentless pursuit of a world without cancer by helping to remove barriers for cancer patients, through their generous gift of $175,000 for our Hope Lodge network,” said Elizabeth Brow Senior Executive Director, American Cancer Society. “For patients who need to travel far from home to receive treatments, Hope Lodge removes the financial burden of having to pay for lodging and allows patients to stay as long as needed, for free, and focus on what is most important- getting well. We remain grateful to Bayer Fund for their long-standing support of the American Cancer Society and helping to provide not only a home away from home but hope to those who need it most.”

About Bayer Fund 
Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education and health and wellness projects. For more information, visit www.fund.bayer.us.

Contact: 
Nicole Hayes 
Director, U.S. External Communications 
Nicole.Hayes@Bayer.com  
(201) 421-5268 

Bayer® and the Bayer Cross® are registered trademarks of Bayer.

View original content here.

Originally published on Illumina News Center

When Adee Newman started her summer as a research associate Intern at Illumina in June 2023, she had no prior industry experience. Originally from Palo Alto, California, she spent two years at De Anza College before transferring to University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Currently, she is a master’s student in biology with a research emphasis of epigenetics and genomics at UCSD.

Newman’s internship was based in San Diego, but she was able to work remotely. We caught up with her at the end of her internship last month to hear about her experience.

How did you first become aware of Illumina? Why did you apply for an internship? 
Adee Newman: We use Illumina sequencers in the lab that I do research in, which is how I first learned about Illumina. I saw a few ads for the internship on LinkedIn and Handshake and applied when I got a message from a recruiter. I was curious about experiencing industry so I can make an informed decision about my next career decision—so this felt like the perfect opportunity!

Has anything surprised you about working in industry? 
AN: I wasn’t sure what to expect the day-to-day to be like, but it has been wonderful. I appreciate the independent work, but it doesn’t get lonely either, as we collaborate a lot. I’ve learned about organizational structures and various other career paths. There is no “right way” to go about your career path and you should keep an open mind when you are starting out! In speaking with people within the company I’ve received a lot of advice and fresh perspectives, which is unbelievably valuable to me at this point in my career.

What kind of work are you doing? 
AN: I’m interning with the Clinical Affairs team and I’ve learned so much about clinical trials. My internship project was creating a process map of all the actions and activities that are required during a clinical trial, as well as reviewing the standard operating procedures and work instructions for the various activities. I also met with subject matter experts from various Clinical Affairs teams—protocol and clinical study report writing from Medical Writing, data handling from Clinical Data Management, and others—to better understand the process and better create a process map.

What did you learn about clinical trials? 
AN: My favorite thing I learned is that we’re able to have a direct impact on people and health outcomes much sooner just with how clinical trials work—it’s so complex and has so much cross-functional collaboration, it basically looks like a Chutes and Ladders game. You can take some steps that can move you through the board faster, but if someone wants to change something or if there’s an issue with a specific aspect, you might hit a chute and it could take you back almost to the start! Because of that, teamwork and collaboration are extremely important, and I love that about Clinical Affairs.

Are you interested in pursuing any specific area in biotech? 
AN: I’d love to work on and support various clinical trials that focus on improving aspects of human health on a large scale. I think it would be amazing to work on a project that would help or provide a solution for a problem that affects a large population. It would also be great to work on oncology and companion diagnostics.

Has your internship experience helped you determine the next steps in your career? 
AN: Yes! Hearing everyone’s experiences has helped me decide that I will likely work for a few years before deciding if I want to continue or go back to academia. If you want to pursue academia, you should be passionate about it—otherwise it may not be the right career choice for you.

What advice would you give students contemplating moving from academia to industry? 
AN: Give it a try! If you are curious about it, you should experience it for yourself so you know what you will be doing. It’s one thing to hear from people, but another thing to see it for yourself. Don’t be scared of stepping out of your comfort zone.

Illumina’s internship program introduces students to the corporate world while remaining centered around learning: learning about yourself, learning about the biotech and genomics industries, and learning from experienced professionals and leaders in your field. Each summer, our interns apply their knowledge to impactful projects and discover the various career paths available to them. The hands-on work, professional development workshops, and simple conversations with mentors and peers can influence one’s path forward. Interested in experiencing life at Illumina? For more information about our summer internship program, please visit our intern careers page.

The world of plastics packaging is at a critical juncture. While pressure from consumers has continued to accelerate, legislative levers are pushing toward action both regionally and internationally.

In June, 175 nations agreed to develop a legally binding document on plastic pollution by 2024. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, ASEAN governments are moving rapidly on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation, prompted by global media attention to the plastic pollution crisis in the region.

In this context, companies must adapt rapidly, working to measure plastic footprints, set ambitious but achievable targets, and implement changes to packaging supply chains. This blog post unpacks the challenges and opportunities presented by the recent wave in plastic packaging-focused regulation in Southeast Asia and brings you our insights into the best steps forward to achieve compliance and act on plastic effectively.

Plastic packaging crisis in Southeast Asia is met by a wave of new regulations and targets

The surge in plastic pollution in Southeast Asia has prompted governments across the region to implement a suite of policies that aim to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable packaging solutions. These are gathered under so-called National Action Plans which include bold targets to curb both upstream and downstream plastic pollution, measures to introduce plastic bans or plastic taxes, and the development of waste management infrastructure.

These countries are also adopting the so-called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, a transparent framework that ensures the comprehensive management of plastic products and packaging throughout their entire lifecycle, and puts the onus on companies to play their part in the fight against plastic pollution, take responsibility for their packaging usage, and promote the circular economy.

Under EPR, companies are required not only to report their annual packaging consumption but also to ensure waste is responsibly managed and the reported output re-circulated. The scheme thereby ensures reduction activities are effectively monitored: a reduction action plan must be put in place and progress towards stipulated EPR goals has to be externally certified. Companies non-compliant with EPR face fines and legal consequences, while those that do comply benefit from the opportunity to boost their reputation and gain a competitive advantage.

Such measures form part of a suite of solutions rolled out by governments across the region to drive action on plastic. This journey forces companies not just to take stock of their packaging footprint, but also to develop strategic interventions as part of a broader roadmap to reduce plastic waste (whose costs the new regulations have caused the companies to internalise) and phase out single-use packaging. We summarise the recent changes to plastic policy across the region below.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s ambitious presidential decree aims to reduce marine plastic litter by 70% by 2025. Through its Ministry of Environmental and Forestry, it has also set an ambitious target of reducing packaging waste by 30% by 2029, and its voluntary EPR scheme has been implemented since 2020. With several provinces placing bans on single-use plastic bags in supermarkets and department stores, Indonesian businesses will have to develop transition roadmaps to stay abreast of the bold legislation and redesign their operations accordingly.

Vietnam

Vietnam has introduced a National Action Plan that specifically targets marine plastic litter, with the goal of achieving a 50% reduction by 2025. Vietnam has also enacted a detailed rule for EPR through Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CD, demonstrating its commitment to responsible waste management. Under the EPR legislation, the food and beverage sector will need to develop robust implementation plans, with just two years to reduce 80% of the waste that ends up in landfills.

Philippines

Following suit, the Philippines has recently enforced EPR regulation, solidifying its dedication to tackling plastic pollution head-on. The EPR Act RA 11898, enforced in 2023, requires companies with an annual revenue or assets over PHP 100 million to start accounting for 20% of their output, with a year-on-year increase. With internal reductions as well as plastic credits accepted as compliance modalities, it is vital for companies to calculate detailed plastic footprints to achieve these reduction targets rapidly and strategically, balancing the demanding timeline for compliance with internal reductions and the viability of plastic credits for immediate compliance.

Thailand

Thailand has taken a significant step forward with its Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management, whose aim is to achieve 100% recycling of waste by 2027. It is also in the process of planning its own EPR framework.

Singapore

With plans to enforce EPR by 2025, Singapore has introduced Mandatory Packaging Reporting (MPR) for companies in the packaged goods sector, including brand owners, manufacturers, importers, retailers, and supermarkets. This will serve as the foundation for an EPR scheme for packaging waste management in Singapore.

Cracking the code: achieving plastic reduction targets without compromising on compliance

Complying with regional regulations can be challenging. The process is especially complex for regional conglomerates, given that regulations can differ significantly between regions, making it difficult for companies to standardise their approach, or when regulations include blanket clauses that are open to multiple interpretations.

The level of challenge also depends on which sector your business is in. Some, such as personal care products and household items, are less affected by regulation (so there is more room to modify packaging materials) whereas the requirements in the food sector are much stricter to achieve compliance with hygiene and health and safety regulations.

However, while the transition towards sustainable packaging may involve some challenges, the approach needn’t require major investment or significant change. We recommend following a two-pronged approach:

1. Aligning with the most strategic areas for reduction implementation

Begin by identifying opportunities for reductions across the entire value chain.Measure the impact of your plastic packaging use on your business. This exercise should cover the quantity and type of packaging material, as well as the end-of-life pathways of post-consumer packaging.Rigorous calculation of a company’s plastic footprint and hotspots results in compliance with the highest impact.

2. Understanding the timeline of incoming legislation

You should also align your reporting on these metrics with regional requirements, especially EPR regulation.This approach can help alleviate financial constraints faced by companies by directing limited budgets toward strategic and impactful actions, rather than scattering resources across ineffective programmes and initiatives.

Maximising the effectiveness of collection and recycling programmes also relies on having a comprehensive understanding of the fate of your packaging, post-consumer: is it being recycled, incinerated, landfilled, or left unprocessed? This knowledge becomes particularly vital in countries with high plastic leakage rates. In such cases, company investments in collection and recycling infrastructure can significantly bolster regional collection and recycling rates.

Additionally, companies can channel their investments towards plastic reduction projects that often face financial constraints, despite their significant contribution to mitigating plastic pollution in areas where collection and recycling facilities are inadequate or nonexistent. Often, companies are unaware of these opportunities and instead follow mainstream programmes that focus disproportionate resources on promoting collection and recycling without a transition plan. However, these programs may not lead to scaled impact over time, and may also fail to comply with changing legislation over time, failing to systematically address the underlying problem.

Dare to act: embrace the challenge of creating change

Waiting for legislation to dictate compliance may cost a company their competitive edge. Instead, transitioning your strategy to achieve alignment with likely legislation can allow you to transform regulatory risk into operational opportunity. The first crucial step is how to frame a business to develop a strategy that harnesses the impending change. By doing so, you not only ensure compliance with regional regulations but also enable yourself to set targets that align with the broader goals of waste management in your region.

But it doesn’t stop there. Armed with this newfound strategic knowledge, you have the opportunity to engage your suppliers and customers, forge strong new partnerships, and propel the world toward a future where packaging and sustainability go hand in hand.

Suncor’s Calgary headquarters, known as Mohkinstsis in Blackfoot, held a groundbreaking ceremony unveiling the first-of-its-kind smudge and ceremonial room within the Suncor Energy Centre (SEC) in September. The initiative was led by Suncor’s Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (IYAC) and supported by internal and external teams including Suncor’s Indigenous Relations and facilities; Brookfield Properties, the owners of the SEC building; and the Calgary Fire Department. The Sacred Space marks a significant step toward cultural inclusivity and respect within the corporate setting. Learn more about our work with Indigenous communities .

Smudging is a traditional Indigenous ritual that involves burning sacred medicines, such as sweetgrass, sage, and tobacco and cedar to cleanse and purify a space or person’s energy and for prayer. There are smudge-friendly spaces and reflection rooms across other Suncor sites, including at the Sarnia refinery and Fort Hills.

Kainai Elder, “Sorrel Horse”, Casey EagleSpeaker from the Kainai (Gaa-nah) First Nation in southern Alberta led the ceremony, which included a prayer, songs and a smudge. “This space is not only for Indigenous people, but for all people to use for prayer and smudge in their way to start their day off with peace and stability.”

It was during the ceremony that Elder Casey gifted the room with the name Kahnaatahpii Moyis, which means All Peoples’ Lodge in Blackfoot.

The idea of a sacred space in SEC came from an IYAC member Kahenientha Cross, while attending a meeting that started with a smudge at a smudge-friendly room at the Calgary Public Library. After the smudge, the member asked why Suncor didn’t have a smudge-friendly space in its Calgary office. Sylvie Tran, VP EH&S – Operational Risk Management, who meets with IYAC regularly as a Suncor Energy Foundation board member, wondered the same and she knew she had the right team to make it happen.

“One of the first things we needed to do to convert the space was a risk assessment for fire, odor or smoke,” says Sylvie. “My team came together and shared their areas of expertise to support the project.”

Working with IYAC and Indigenous Relations, the facilities team transformed a meeting room into an area for Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people to smudge, pray and reflect.

Dr. Michael Lickers, Specialist Relations Advisor, supported the operations of setting up this space.

“Within the Indigenous community smudging is a common practice,” explains Michael “When working in a corporate setting, if a person is going through a difficult and stressful time, smudging can help them heal and relieve that stress.”

The transformation of the meeting room to a sacred space was more than dimming lights, adding Indigenous artwork, traditional medicines, and other sacred artifacts. It also required an overhaul of the room’s HVAC system to adhere to building codes.

As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) and Orange Shirt Day, both on Sept. 30, approach, the opening of this space is a reminder of how important it is to learn about Indigenous culture and history as a step towards our Reconciliation journey. It’s important to reflect on the painful chapter of our history in Canada, which includes prohibiting Indigenous Peoples from practicing ceremony such as smudging, and to build bridges in support of understanding and healing.

Global green chemistry education nonprofit Beyond Benign has launched its Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) free online platform to help the green chemistry community around the world connect and learn together.

In partnership with sponsors and partners, including the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute, the GCTLC was designed for K-12 educators, higher-education faculty and the current and next generation of chemists. It will serve as a dynamic virtual space where green chemistry community members can develop connections, find mentors, share resources and enhance their knowledge through peer-led learning.

“We created the GCTLC alongside passionate educators, industry partners and stakeholders within the green chemistry education community to ensure it truly serves everybody,” said Dr. Jonathon Moir, GCTLC Senior Program Manager. “Because we cultivated this platform together, the GCTLC exists as a teaching and learning platform and also a living testament to the unity and collaboration underpinning our community.”

Green chemistry education provides chemists with a framework to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances. The GCTLC aims to advance the widespread incorporation of green chemistry principles within educational settings and, as a result, various industrial sectors.

The GCTLC platform features:

A robust community space where users can connect with other community members based on profession, institution and other key factors.An extensive library of valuable educational resources and curriculum materials from community members worldwide.Forums and groups to delve deeper into specific green chemistry topics and seek advice from their peers.Continued learning opportunities, including courses and special events.

“The green chemistry community is incredibly powerful when we unite to empower and inspire one another,” said Dr. Amy Cannon, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Beyond Benign. “The GCTLC acts as a catalyst for our movement, providing a place for ideas and knowledge to flow freely in real time. We’re excited to join educators and leaders throughout the world in this hub, where we’ll have the opportunity to accelerate our impact.”

MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, played a pivotal role in the launch of the GCTLC. As part of its expanded partnership with Beyond Benign, MilliporeSigma’s contribution helped enhance capacity for the GCTLC, aiming to expand global access to green chemistry resources and training for more than 4,000 faculty members worldwide. MilliporeSigma’s support of the GCTLC also helps advance Beyond Benign’s goal of providing 25% of the 22,000 graduating chemists annually in the U.S.1 with green chemistry knowledge by 2025.

Those interested in joining the GCTLC platform can register for an account on its website.

References

1. Chemistry | Data USA. (n.d.). Datausa.io. Retrieved from: https://datausa.io/profile/cip/chemistry

Recently, Yum China has been named to Fortune’s 2023 Change the World list, an annual list that recognizes a select group of companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. Yum China is one of 59 companies selected by Fortune’s reporters and editors for inclusion in the 2023 list – and is the only restaurant company to be included.

Fortune highlighted the impact of Yum China’s flagship One Yuan Donation program, noting that the campaign as a whole has channeled over $30 million to rural development initiatives since its inception. The program, currently in its 16th year of operation, was launched in 2008 in partnership with the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD). By enabling customers in China to conveniently make small donations when they place their orders, the program is contributing to poverty alleviation and rural revitalization by improving the diet and nutrition of children in remote areas and enhancing their access to digital education. Over the years, Yum China have continuously fine-tuned the program to increase its impact, including extending fundraising channels from its stores to its own online platforms. Since its establishment, more than 130 million customers have donated directly to the One Yuan Donation Program.

Fortune also recognized Yum China’s Grow Local Initiative, specifically its achievements in introducing local produce, from Yunnan truffles to Tartary buckwheat, to the Company’s e-commerce platforms and menu items. Fortune also noted that Yum China is striving to reduce its food waste and carbon emissions, in part by establishing food banks to distribute excess food to the local community.

Yum China’s sustainability strategy is an essential component of the Company’s long-term business growth strategy. With a focus on three strategic pillars – Food, Environment, and People, Yum China always strives to Create A Responsible Ecosystem by building sustainable restaurants, creating a sustainable supply chain, and contributing to sustainable communities in collaboration with all stakeholders. In recent years, the Company has continued to make significant progress towards its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals. This includes actively executing on its plan to decarbonize its business, continuously exploring ways to optimize its operations by reducing its reliance on natural resources and increasing waste recycling, keeping food safety as the Company’s top priority, and adhering firmly to the Company’s “People First” philosophy.

Fortune’s annual Change the World list identifies companies that have made an important social or environmental impact through their profit-making strategy and operations. The Change the World list recognizes companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. As Fortune assesses nominees, among the factors that matter most are measurable social impact, business results, and degree of innovation.

To view the full Fortune 2023 Change the World list visit here.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 10, 2023 /3BL/ – Discovery Literacy – an educational program from Discovery Education, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and the National Afterschool Association – presents a new five-part, no-cost professional learning video series to help educators develop the critical literacy skills of students in grades K-2. Discover Literacy provides teachers, parents, and caregivers with access to a powerful suite of in-school and after-school digital resources at no cost.

The new “Basics of Literacy” video series helps educators master literacy instruction that can help students strengthen reading confidence. Building upon a suite of learning modules and ready-to-use activities, the new five-part video series addresses the critical areas of effective reading instruction as determined by the National Reading Panel Report, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Learn more about the new “Basics of Literacy” video series and the Discover Literacy program here.

Discover Literacy provides educators, students, and afterschool professionals with standards-aligned resources that provide hands-on learning for an explicit, systematic approach to instruction, as well as opportunities to practice new skills. The program also helps up-skill teachers and after-school professionals with research-based support for professional learning.

“With research-based resources like these in hand, educators are empowered to put literacy front and center, no matter the lesson plan,” said Denine Torr, Executive Director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Learn more about Discover Literacy at DiscoverLiteracydg.com or within Discovery Education Experience, the company’s K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction.

“Literacy is the cornerstone of learning. This topic is so important, we want to help make sure educators have everything they need to effectively approach this topic with students,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “We are proud to partner with Dollar General and the National Afterschool Association to provide educators innovative resources that help support them in teaching the critical literacy skills students need for future success.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

###

About Discovery Education  
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and social impact programs, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts  
Grace Maliska  
Discovery Education  
gmaliska@discoveryed.com