Tag: 3BL

CAMDEN, N.J. October 5, 2023 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. and the Philadelphia Union have revealed a unique “zero landfill” sculpture at Subaru Park in Chester, PA to commemorate its status as the first zero landfill stadium in Major League Soccer. Since achieving the milestone in 2021, Subaru and the Union have diverted more than one million pounds of waste from landfills. Subaru has been dedicated to helping other businesses and organizations achieve the same zero waste status that the Subaru of Indiana Automotive manufacturing plant achieved in 2004 and has freely shared knowledge with over 900 companies worldwide to help make the world a better place.

“We’re proud of our sustainable legacy and all we’ve accomplished since becoming the first automaker with a zero landfill factory in the United States,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Subaru of America. “We’re also proud of the recycling milestones we’ve achieved throughout our partnership with the Philadelphia Union, and we hope this incredible new sculpture will show visitors to Subaru Park just how beautiful recycling can be.”

Made from 12,000 upcycled pieces of recyclable materials collected from Subaru Park, the larger-than-life soccer ball sculpture now occupies a prominent spot in front of the stadium. The installation was unveiled ahead of Wednesday night’s match, with added fanfare from the Philadelphia Union’s notable supporters group, Sons of Ben, who created a custom tifo out of upcycled materials in celebration of the event.

“Our Philadelphia Union community has been instrumental in helping us achieve and maintain zero landfill status,” said Tim McDermott, Philadelphia Union President. “Whenever fans come to Subaru Park, they’ll be greeted by a beautiful reminder of the work they put in to make this stadium zero landfill and know that they may have contributed a piece to the sculpture.”

The sculpture was commissioned by Subaru and created by TerraCycle’s in-house design team who specialize in creating custom upcycled works including pieces of art, sculptures, consumer products, fashion, and furnishings from hard-to-recycle materials. Working with recycled materials collected only from Subaru Park, the team repurposed more than 12,000 pieces of waste that were diverted from landfills, including aluminum cans and tabs, plastic soda bottles and caps, as well as one large billboard. The sculpture symbolizes Subaru and the Union’s shared commitments, including love of the game and the planet.

The Subaru Park sculpture is part of the Subaru Loves the Earth® initiative to help reduce waste, preserve wildlife, and safeguard resources for generations to come. To learn more about Subaru Loves the Earth, visit Subaru.com/earth.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

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

About Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union is an innovative, forward-thinking professional soccer club competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) and one of Philadelphia’s five major league sports teams. Driven by unprecedented fan support, MLS awarded the Philadelphia expansion franchise rights to Jay Sugarman in 2008 and the Union kicked off its inaugural season in 2010. The club has reached the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2018, and has appeared in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2020, the Union were awarded the club’s first Supporters’ Shield after finishing with the best regular season record in MLS. In 2022, the Union reached the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history.

The Philadelphia Union is part of parent company Union Sports and Entertainment LLC, which also operates Philadelphia Union II, the Philadelphia Union Academy, Philadelphia Union Foundation and Philadelphia Union Youth Programs. With a commitment to developing youth, the Union has signed 20 academy prospects to homegrown player contracts.

The Union play at Subaru Park in Chester, PA on the banks of the Delaware River. The custom-built stadium is part of the Union’s unique waterfront campus, featuring a historic power plant rebuilt into a 400,000 sq. ft. creative office building, a state-of-the-art Training Complex, over 7 acres of professional-grade practice pitches and multiple onsite parking fields. For more information about the Philadelphia Union, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com and follow @PhilaUnion on Twitter or Instagram.

About TerraCycle

TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to rethink waste and develop practical solutions for today’s complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community across a wide range of accessible programs, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and individuals. To learn more about TerraCycle and join them on their journey to move the world from a linear economy to a circular one, please visit www.terracycle.com.

Diane Anton                                                             
Subaru of America, Inc.                                              
(856) 488-5093                                                           
danton@subaru.com                                               

Adam Leiter
Subaru of America, Inc.
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

Amanda Young Curtis
Philadelphia Union
(484) 686-5718
ayoungcurtis@philadelphiaunion.com 

Case IH, a brand of CNH Industrial, recently hosted a pioneering technical training project through its importer SONAMA for farmers in Benin. The event was designed to boost agricultural and social development in the country through efficient use of agricultural machinery.

In Benin’s predominantly rural society, agriculture supports over 70 percent of the population, accounting for 35 percent of GDP and 80 percent of export income. While cotton is the principal cash crop, maize, cashews, shea nuts, coffee, palms, pineapples and cocoa also contribute to exports. Rising demand for food production and economic growth mean Benin needs to adopt advanced farming techniques and sustainability best practices to develop a modern and sustainable agriculture industry.

SONAMA (a French acronym for the National Society for Agricultural Mechanisation) is a public company established by Benin’s government to modernize the country’s agricultural sector by providing functional farming machinery and equipment. Nicolas Teysseyre, a CNH Industrial technical service specialist working in the Middle East and Africa markets, was commissioned as a trainer to provide expert guidance on the machinery.

“I was really impressed by the trainees’ hard work and dedication throughout the course,” says Nicolas.

“They were deservedly awarded training certificates at the end of the programme. I have no doubt that these trainees will make their country proud in advancing the ideal to make Benin one of Africa’s leading producers and exporters of agricultural products.”

This initiative affirms CNH Industrial’s commitment to unlocking the potential in farmers around the world by providing the right tools and familiarizing populations with sustainable practices.

Cummins Opens New High Horsepower Engine Rebuild Facility in Krakow | Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc. has opened a new European Master Rebuild Centre for high horsepower engines in Krakow, Poland – the first of its kind in Europe.

The facility will remanufacture some of the company’s largest engines, extending their useful life. In addition to cost advantages for customers, remanufacturing requires about 85% less energy than manufacturing a new engine, which reduces greenhouse gases (GHGs). Remanufacturing also reduces the use of raw materials, packaging and scrap metal.

Reducing GHGs and using resources sustainably are major components of PLANET 2050, Cummins’ environmental sustainability strategy. The new plant also aligns to the strategy in other ways. It features solar panels, charging points and a high-tech microbiological wash bay, which reuses 100% of the water on site.

The new facility will increase Cummins’ capacity to meet growing demand across several sectors for high horsepower engines, rebuilt and tested to the highest quality standards in a factory environment. This strategic move will enhance Cummins’ services in Europe, meeting the needs of new and existing customers across the region. Cummins engine rebuilds go through a six-stage remanufacturing process that sees the engine disassembled, cleaned, inspected, re-machined, reassembled with genuine Cummins parts and tested.

A Cummins rebuilt engine also has a much shorter lead time than a factory ordered engine and performs to the same specification as a new engine with a typical cycle time of 35 working days.

The company chose to locate the facility in Krakow for several reasons. It is close to an international airport and major highway, centrally located within Cummins’ European network, and near to several large-scale industrial operations, which are reliant on top-end Cummins power, as well as new customers. It also benefits from the highly skilled team that were based at Cummins’ already existing Krakow site.

“We’re thrilled that this state-of-the-art facility has officially opened,” said Ann-Kristin de Verdier, Executive Managing Director for Cummins’ Europe Distribution Business. “It is the result of a significant and strategic investment to deliver more choice to our customers across Europe, ultimately helping them to reduce costs and boost productivity.”

October 5, 2023 /3BL/ – The potential negative impacts of global warming have been known for ages. The heat-absorbing characteristics of CO2 in the atmosphere was first experimentally proven in 1856; the first calculations of how our climate could be affected by continued burning of coal/oil and gas were published in 1907. Famous and respected scientists have warned the World since the 1970s again and again of what is to come. 2023 has seen temperature and climate anomalies on all levels – heat waves, droughts, interrupted by torrential rain and floodings of biblical proportions, all around the globe. Net-Zero by 2050, the stated target of the Paris Agreement that was supposed to keep our planet below 1.5 C warming, is already out-dated – September 2023 locked in at 1.8 C warming. It is only a question of time before harvest of staple foods will be seriously affected.

Yet – on the policy level all there is are “calls”, “pledges”, and “targets” that should be achieved somehow sometime in the future.

There is still no plan, no roadmap, no concept for financing.

Global warming/climate change is a market failure – the true cost of the product is not included in the price. Changing climate change therefore seems best tackled through market instruments: taxes on CO2 and all other GHGs. The problem with this approach is that energy intensive products/services will become less affordable for the lower income segments: there needs to be some kind of a compensation: a cash-back.

The study, conducted by SolAbility, examines the impacts on energy usage, technology deployment, carbon emissions, and on the economy through a computed simulation under a scheme that would tax CO2 and GHGs, redistribute 50% of the tax revenues in cash to the people, and re-invest the other 50% in building a renewable energy infrastructure – Global Climate Tax’n’Cash

All GHGs are taxed at the same rate, in every country, at the point of final sale (like a VAT);The tax starts at U$ 100 per ton of CO2e, increasing by U$100 every year to give the economy time to adapt.

The global climate tax revenues are used as follows:

50% of the climate tax revenues are directly re-distributed to the people, equally per person (including children);40% of climate tax revenues invested in the renewable infrastructure – electricity generation, grids, storage, public transport, and the replacement of fossil-fuelled equipment;7% for reforestation, mitigation, and adaption;3% in a global fund in support of the lesser developed and most affected countries.

The simulation of a global climate tax shows that

There will be more than enough renewables installed to replace all fossil energy by 2035 – not Net-Zero, but Real-Zero;Global energy costs are reduced by 50% due to lower cost of renewable electricity and higher efficiency of electric appliances;Thanks to the cash-back, between 50% and 70% of the population will have more cash in their hands (even accounting for rising costs), boosting local businesses and the economyDue to the cash-back and the re-investment of the tax revenues, global climate tax’n’cashwould have net-positive impacts on the global economy right from the start, and save the global economy betweeen 2-3% of GDP in energy cost.

We already have the technology needed for an energy transition. The new technologies are more efficient, and cheaper. Unfortunately, there is no political vision and courage to start financing the transition. For reasons that are somewhat difficult to comprehend, a global climate tax seems as politically illusionary as it is economically viable.

For more information, please visit www.climatax.org

Making partners feel included and a part of our success has been embedded in Cintas’ company culture from the beginning. 

Although Cintas proudly recognizes the contributions of its partners with disabilities every day, October has a special designation as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The annual observance honors workers with disabilities past and present, and increases awareness of inclusion opportunities.

Cintas is committed to ensuring disability inclusion. It was recognized among the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” after receiving a qualifying score of 90 on the 2023 Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. 

“This year’s score marks a 10% improvement over 2022,” said Toby Atkinson, Cintas Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Management Programs.

“We’re trending in the right direction in addressing disability equality,” Atkinson said. 

Cintas has earned a “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” designation in each of the four years it has participated in DEI’s evaluation process. The honor demonstrates its ongoing commitment to building and developing a widely diverse workforce that represents North American communities. 

By replicating the diverse communities in which employee-partners live and serve, Cintas fosters innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving. 

“There is definitely a need to mirror our communities with who we have at Cintas,” said Jackie Joaquin, HR Director of the Northeast Region. “I think there is a heightened awareness to look out for not just people with disabilities, but for people of different cultures and different backgrounds as well. In the HR department, we make sure we’re getting the best candidates in the door and also making sure that we have a diverse population at Cintas.” 

While the hiring process is the same for all candidates, Cintas works with potential partners with disabilities to meet reasonable accommodations. That includes working with a candidate’s job coach, ensuring the interview process is consistent, and issuing timely communication that suits a disabled person’s needs. 

“No matter who you are and where you came from, what background you have, I think we do a good job pulling everyone together to meet the needs and goals that we have at Cintas,” Joaquin said.

She has seen many success stories of partners with disabilities during her Cintas tenure. A blind partner was so gifted that he won a Partner of the Quarter award. Multiple deaf partners have retired from Cintas after double-digit years of service, Joaquin shared.

By embracing the talents of all employee-partners, Cintas continues to diversify its perspectives and create an inclusive culture in which every person is appreciated.

Watch the full video here. 

Originally published in the 2022 FedEx Cares Report

Our team members help bring FedEx Global Citizenship to life. By volunteering their time and talents, employees across the globe enhance our impact beyond what dollars can do alone. We pack Purple Totes, deliver warm winter coats, drive trucks, fly planes, staff civil rights museum events, and advise on public transport routing in the world’s busiest cities. Service is a fundamental aspect of our culture and we are proud of the thousands of employees who took the time to lend a hand to their community in 2022.

Providing food security for vulnerable populations 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported over 33 million people in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households in 2021. We support nonprofits combating food insecurity across the country through charitable grants and FedEx team member volunteering. Here we highlight our work in three major markets.

Colorado Springs 

Project Angel Heart Colorado Springs provides medically tailored meals to individuals with severe illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, and HIV/AIDS. The organization aims to deliver comfort and support through high-quality nutrition services and advocates for the principles of “Food is Medicine.”

Atlanta 

The Jesse Hill Market in Atlanta partners with the Grady Health System and other community-based organizations to connect the community with fresh and affordable healthy food. FedEx team members volunteer to support the Food as Medicine Fresh Food Cart events held at Grady Health Systems’ neighborhood healthcare centers throughout the city.

South Florida 

Meals on Wheels South Florida provides hunger relief services, including home meal delivery of 1.2 million meals annually and grocery shopping assistance, to more than 10,000 seniors in South Florida experiencing food insecurity and isolation. Along with charitable grants, FedEx team members volunteer to prepare, serve, and deliver meals to homebound seniors.

Celebrating Giving Tuesday 

In 2022, more than 600 heartfelt nominations were submitted by FedEx team members across the U.S. for the Giving Tuesday Grant Contest. The top three winners, as voted on by team members, are making inspirational impacts in their communities.

1st Place: Puppies Behind Bars received $25,000 to continue training incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders, facility dogs for police departments, and explosive-detec – tion canines for law enforcement.

2nd Place: House of Bread, a nonprofit in Ohio, received $15,000 to support its work serving hot and nutritious lunchtime meals every day of the year. They also serve as a bridge to helpful community resources for families in need.

3rd Place: Foster Love Project was awarded $10,000 to further its mission of showing love in action to children impacted by foster and kinship care through the provision of goods, services, and support. Their largest program is a free Shopping Center for foster youth.

Volunteering inspires our next generation of talent

In 2022, we extended volunteer opportunities to the next generation of hopeful FedEx talent: our interns. In the Memphis area, interns worked on assembling 450 hygiene kits for International Medical Corps to be distributed during disaster or humanitarian relief efforts. Across the US, interns joined a virtual sign-language class and recorded messages of positivity for the deaf community. Whether participating in-person or virtually, 150 interns came together for one common goal: to serve our communities.

Sending holiday care packages to U.S. military service members

To support our troops overseas during the holidays, a team of over 220 FedEx volunteers worked with the USO to assemble 19,240 care packages in under two hours – a record-breaking effort for our team! FedEx has been supporting the USO for over 20 years, providing volunteer efforts, and financial and transportation contributions.

What we are doing back here today is to support them. We appreciate what they are doing. They are putting themselves in harm’s way so we can have the opportunity to do what we do every day. 

Brock Carlson 

FedEx Logistics Manager and former Marine

Delivering more than warm coats

To a child in need, a warm coat or new pair of sneakers can lead to better school attendance, higher confidence, and new hope. Since 2016, FedEx has supported Operation Warm to deliver new winter coats and athletic-style shoes to over 1.5 million children across North America. In 2022, we expanded to shoe deliveries to support children living in warm weather markets and added a coat delivery in Santiago, Chile. We held 60 events and shipped 18,000 and 6,300 shoes to schools across North America.

Team members volunteer in beach clean-ups across AMEA 

An estimated 81% of ocean plastics come from rivers in Asia. To slow the flow of these plastics to the ocean, FedEx teams in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) conduct beach clean-ups. These events are critical for protecting marine biodiversity and mitigating climate change.

More than 455 FedEx volunteers and their family members joined in a pan-AMEA beach cleaning initiative that ran for four months, across 21 beaches in Australia, India, Japan, and Singapore. The volunteers put in a total of 870 hours and removed a massive 142,987kg or 315,401 lbs of garbage and plastic waste from the environment.

Building a sustainable future doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a collective behaviour change. At FedEx, we are not only working hard to achieve our organizational goal of carbon neutral global operations by 2040 but are also actively building meaningful programs to get our employees involved in solving some of the most pressing environmental issues in our society. 

Kawal Preet 

president of AMEA region at FedEx Express

Read more

HAMILTON, Bermuda, October 5, 2023 /3BL/ – PATRÓN® Tequila, the world’s number one super-premium tequila,* is celebrating its (agave) roots by creating a new Additive Free seal that will be unveiled across the PATRÓN core portfolio, rolling out this fall. Honoring the brand’s continued Additive Free endorsement from the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT), this new seal will indicate to tequila drinkers that they can enjoy their PATRÓN with peace of mind, being fully confident that their tequila of choice is completely additive free. This endorsement bestowed by the tequila industry’s governing body is a testament to how PATRÓN has remained committed to using only the highest quality, all natural ingredients — agave, water and yeast — at the core, since its inception. It’s this mentality that’s embedded within the time-honored PATRÓN production process that goes to extraordinary lengths to handcraft the finest tequila with no corrections or additives needed.

While the demand for additive free products is surging, the increased popularity of tequila in recent years has put intense pressure on tequila makers to produce more tequila, faster. And, there isn’t a requirement for tequila brands to notify consumers when additives are used, should they remain less than 1% of the product’s total volume. As a result, many producers have met the increased demand by mechanizing their processes or taking shortcuts, of which must be corrected later by using commercial additives to enhance flavor and color. As the category leader, PATRÓN is one of the few brands that still makes tequila the hard way: by hand, with only three natural ingredients and nothing else added — no added sugars or chemical ingredients. As such, PATRÓN created this new seal for packaging providing tequila drinkers with the security and knowledge that their spirit of choice is 100% additive free.

The CRT sets the standard within the industry to safeguard the Designation of Origin of Tequila, both nationally and internationally, and to guarantee the authenticity of tequila for the consumer. To verify the endorsement, an analysis of the production methods conducted at Hacienda PATRÓN was executed by the CRT. As the governing body of tequila, the CRT evaluates each step of the PATRÓN production process and the resulting tequila for traces of additives, such as glycerin, caramel coloring, vanilla, oak extract, and jarabe or sugar-based syrup. Some brands use these additives to expedite production and mask imperfections, such as making a tequila color darker to appear more aged. This is something PATRÓN will never do because it’s remained unwaveringly committed to delivering perfection in every drop of tequila for you to enjoy, without the use of additives, a process that has never changed because PATRÓN gets it right the first time.

Recently, there’s been a noticeable, rising attraction toward additive free products. “More than before, individuals are conscious of what they’re consuming — they want natural ingredients and to be confident in the manner in which they were derived to deliver a high-quality product that satisfies their needs,” says PATRÓN Global Vice President, Innovation and Sustainability Samantha Newby. “PATRÓN has been additive free since its inception and it’s one of the many reasons why people gravitate toward it. As people continue to seek all natural, high-quality products, PATRÓN is proud to once again be the leader of the additive free movement with this new Additive Free seal on our packaging.”

“Since PATRÓN created the super-premium tequila category in 1989, the brand has been additive free because of its unwavering commitment to craft, authenticity and integrity,” says PATRÓN Master Distiller David Rodriguez. “Even as PATRÓN has grown in popularity and scale, the brand has never adopted methods — like the use of additives — to cut corners or compromise on quality. PATRÓN has always used exactly the same painstaking steps in its production process, from the agave field to cooking to bottling, to deliver an exceptionally smooth flavor profile that is born of nothing but true tequila.”

PATRÓN Tequila’s new Additive Free seal will be seen on the iconic PATRÓN packaging across all core offerings in the PATRÓN portfolio rolling out this fall, further highlighting how PATRÓN Tequila is made by hand and crafted by passion — using nothing more than agave, water and yeast. To learn more about how PATRÓN has remained a steadfast leader of the additive free and super-premium categories, head to patrontequila.com.

*IWSR 2022 Global Database

About PATRÓN Tequila

From hand-harvesting the highest-quality 100% Weber Blue Agave, to the traditional, time-honored distillation process and individual labeling, numbering, and inspection of each bottle, PATRÓN Tequila is crafted with meticulous precision and care. Though PATRÓN has grown to become one of the most recognized and respected luxury spirits brands in the world, it is still exclusively produced in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, in the same small batches and with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship. For more information about PATRÓN Tequilas, please visit www.patrontequila.com. The perfect way to enjoy PATRÓN is responsibly.

PATRÓN is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

THE PERFECT WAY TO ENJOY PATRÓN IS RESPONSIBLY.

Contact: patron@mbooth.com

There’s no substitute for studying hard. But when the subject is expansive, it also helps to know what you’ll be graded on. Issuers of municipal bonds intended to help their communities are often at this crossroad: raising their hands to lend support but less certain on which approach to take, given the many possibilities.

Engagement Helps Set a Course for Impact

Proceeds from such muni bonds are typically used for specific purposes, helping move the needle on community-based social and environmental initiatives. The bonds should have clearly stated goals, like replacing lead water pipes, broadening mental healthcare access or funding school breakfast programs.

Determining the muni bond’s focus is only half the work, however, since investors also expect results. And not all such bonds work as advertised. The more transparent issuers fill out their report cards, using key performance indicators (KPIs) to help track progress and measure actual impact.

The need for support across communities continues to grow, expanding the potential scope of muni bonds that can help. More prospective issuers are on board, too, and are often open to suggestions on how to get started. This is where active investor engagement* adds a lot of value—examining options, determining purpose, setting expectations. With a clearer understanding of these, issuers can derive not just where to focus but likely how well they’ll meet investors’ ESG expectations.

Schools Are an Open Book of Impact Potential

Local school districts are a good example of engagement’s important contribution to the bond issuance and investment process. Most districts are struggling with helping students make meaningful progress, and with fewer teachers and shrinking revenues.

In practically every major city, district children seek mentors, classrooms lack supplies, and facilities need repairs, but resources are beyond stretched. For instance, the average age of school buildings is 70 years, with some surpassing 100.

This leaves the door open to a lot of impact bond projects that can make a difference, whether by providing new computers, stronger math and science curriculum, ensuring safer drinking water and stronger support networks for educators. In fact, data shows that improving school facilities and their general surroundings leads directly to significantly better long-term outcomes for students.

As school districts weigh their options, we help them consider key ESG projects or goals and define KPIs that would enable them to gauge progress for each (Display). Many districts share common problems, so some metrics are universal, but we also propose KPIs that target specific local challenges.

An environmental-impact focus, for instance, could fund projects to improve classroom energy consumption, air quality or stormwater management. Impact KPIs in this instance would track reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, subdivided by source, or document the types and volume of waste avoided or recycled.

School district muni bonds can have a social tilt too. For example, a construction project to retrofit a school cafeteria into a LEED-certified facility could commit and document support for local workforce diversity initiatives. Social impact metrics here would be whether the issuer set and met inclusion targets for women- and minority-owned enterprises among their contractors.

Students, of course, are the whole point, and metrics should paint a holistic picture of how well the issuer is educating them. Better grades and attendance are only part of the learning experience today and are more often just an extension of how connected, cared for, and safe our children feel in their schools.

Impact Metrics Vary by Focus Area

School districts by themselves offer a diverse ecology of community- or service-focused muni bonds and how investors measure results. Other focus areas, such as healthcare, energy and mass transit, also present impact metrics distinct to them, and we research and advise issuers accordingly.

For example, the number of Medicaid- and charity-funded cases and readmission rates are relevant hospital KPIs, while the percentage of low-income ridership and avoided carbon emissions are telling data for transportation- and energy-related muni bonds, respectively.

Municipal bond investors have a spectrum of responsible investing strategies at their disposal, from ESG integration to sustainable investing. For many, impact investing is a clear path to making a difference close to home. It also offers exciting opportunities for engagement, helping issuers sharpen their focus and improving overall outcomes for both communities and investors. 

*AB engages companies where it believes the engagement is in the best interest of its clients.
The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to change over time.

Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here.

Lenovo believes ‘Smarter Technology for All’ means for everyone. If we truly want to innovate for society, we must design with the diversity of the world in mind.

In 2020, Lenovo began developing its Product Diversity Office (PDO) as the authority on embedding Diversity & Inclusion into its product design and development process. By 2025, 75% of Lenovo’s products will be vetted by inclusive design experts to ensure they work for everyone, regardless of physical attributes or abilities.​

CHICAGO, October 5, 2023 /3BL/ – Leading advisory CPA firm Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) announces the appointment of Principal and Chief of Staff Shanté George as chair of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) steering committee, succeeding Principal and General Counsel Theresa Meiners in this pivotal role.

Aligning with Baker Tilly’s dedication to the greater good, George will coordinate with the firm’s ESG subject matter experts to build upon the strong foundation established by the ESG steering committee, further enhance the overall ESG strategy and formalize the firm’s internal approach to sustainability.

“I am honored to take on this role and further our commitment to environmental, social and governance responsibilities,” George said. “We are at a critical juncture where we must assess and amplify the positive imprint we leave on the world and our planet. I aim to authentically represent Baker Tilly’s values and contribute to our collective impact.”

George’s extensive ESG experience includes governance work as a principal and practitioner in the restructuring and valuation advisory space. She has also been instrumental in establishing Baker Tilly’s Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Societal Impact (DIBS) committee and crafting its strategy.

“Shanté’s appointment reflects our commitment to an authentic and purpose-driven approach to ESG,” said Baker Tilly CEO Jeff Ferro. “Her leadership and dedication will undoubtedly elevate our ESG initiatives, furthering our positive impact on people, clients and communities.”

For more information about Baker Tilly’s commitment to ESG and its suite of solutions, visit bakertilly.com/services/environmental-social-governance.

About Baker Tilly US, LLP (bakertilly.com)

Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) is a leading advisory CPA firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 145 territories, with 41,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $4.7 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.