Tag: 3BL

Electric vehicle (EV) batteries come in different form factors: at the individual cell level, these may be cylindrical cells, or more powerful pouch and prismatic cells. These cells are then assembled into modules, which are in turn, connected to form battery packs, and then assembled into the vehicle chassis.

In this episode of the Auto Tech Talks podcast series, we examine the test parameters at different levels of the battery development process: from cell, to module, and pack testing.

Tune in now to the podcast for more insights.

Each year, Taco Bell has the privilege to celebrate its top 100+ Restaurant General Managers and Area Coaches across the globe at the Golden Bell celebration in Hawaii. Learn about one of the outstanding winners this year, Avelina, and how she’s nurturing a positive culture in her restaurants.

Earlier this year, we celebrated the top 100+, Best of the Best Restaurant General Managers and Area Coaches from around the world with a celebratory trip to Hawaii — we call it Golden Bell.

As many of our leaders gear up for the opportunity to attend next year’s event, we wanted to share some of the Golden Bell Winner experiences from this year. First up, GM Avelina… she shares about her restaurant culture and what it’s like to see all her hard work pay off.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., October 2, 2023 /3BL/ Chronically aging infrastructure. Lurking cybersecurity threats, budget tightropes and the quest for sustainability. Mounting external pressures for more resilience against the menace of climate change’s fallout. An evolving, shifting regulatory landscape stoking uncertainty. Workforce staffing headaches and broad public misperceptions about rates and the value of water.

Never has the U.S. water, wastewater and stormwater sectors confronted so much. Yet Black & Veatch’s 2023 Water Report also finds a wealth of opportunity, most clearly in digital technologies and innovations that help operators make better decisions and get the most of their assets.

Join Black & Veatch at the 96th annual Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), North America’s largest water quality event, taking place October 1-4, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. Black & Veatch thought leaders will be on site to discuss the latest trends and innovative technologies shaping the water industry today. Learn more about our activities at the conference here.

Integrated water solutions also provide a wealth of opportunities. With the providing of reliable, safe water at the core of every utility’s mandate and mission, these dynamic times are helping reshape the water sector that is increasingly — and promisingly — adopting integrated solutions that achieve sustainable development and system resilience. Contributing to that is a widening embrace of a “One Water” approach based on accepting that all forms of water are a singular resource to be managed sustainably.

Based on expert analyses of a survey of roughly 450 U.S. water sector stakeholders, the 2023 Water Report takes the pulse of the industry on these topics and more, dissecting the pain points, trends and opportunities facing water utilities today.

To no surprise, it’s a conversation that begins with the white elephant in the room: the critical infrastructure that gets older by the day — and the complexities involved in addressing aging infrastructure among many other competing interests.

Pipes and Peers: The Nagging Challenges of Age

Much as was the case a decade ago, respondents to Black & Veatch’s latest survey ranked aging water and sewer infrastructure as the industry’s foremost concern, with six in 10 putting the issue at the top of the list.

Not far behind — at 51 percent, again No. 2 for the second consecutive year — survey respondents cited the issue of aging workforce and the challenges of hiring qualified staff as the second most challenging issue. Although this response dropped 13 percent from 2022, this trend has led to the increasing adoption of automation and outsourcing to fill the gaps, given a shortage of qualified candidates who have more options and bargaining power in a competitive job market. Fewer people appear to be showing interest in water utility work, and recruitment has turned into a bidding war, putting a strain on utilities with limited financial resources, especially the smaller ones.

From there, the rankings of challenges underscore the competing priorities among water utilities, running the gamut of issues from availability of capital to regulation, managing capital costs, water conservation, decarbonization and integrated planning.

The Quest for Sustainability 

We define sustainability as the need to serve the current generation while safeguarding the needs of future generations. None of that is lost in this year’s sampling of the water industry, where two-thirds of respondents — nearly mirroring last year’s 65 percent — consider sustainability to be a critical strategic focus sector. Three-quarters of larger utilities — those serving a population of more than half a million — hold that view.

Drilling a bit deeper, roughly half of respondents report that their utility has sustainability goals and the means to measure them. These goals and metrics almost universally (91 percent) include energy efficiency efforts, followed by water reclamation (62 percent), water recycling (56 percent) and carbon mitigation (48 percent). Along the way, utilities asked to rank the climate mitigation or adaptation strategies they are pursuing or planning to pursue put water loss mitigation and water conservation — along with implementation of energy efficiencies — at the top of the list, followed by the biggest mover: conversion of their fleets to electric vehicles. Cited among 48 percent of respondents, that approach was up nearly 20 percent from 2022.

While most utilities and municipalities promisingly appear to have some sort of sustainability blueprint, the frequent lack of coordination between those two entities means cost-saving and process optimization opportunities are being missed.

Digital Water: Opportunity Knocks 

Leveraging the full potential of data — what we refer to as “digital water” — can be demonstrably powerful in an asset-intensive, rate-restricted industry that requires informed decision-making to effectively balance capital investment and rising operational expenses with resistance to rate increases. The payoff is getting the most out of aging assets through actionable, resilience-enhancing information that also can tip off operators to potentially looming failures, not to mention the upside of analytics in helping fill the void during staffing challenges.

Our survey shows promising evidence that the industry is continuing to undergo a digital transformation, with utilities having a digital water strategy in place and clear objectives defined. Two-thirds of respondents reported positive results when asked to what extent their company’s data or digital solutions strategy is achieving objectives.

That said, there remains a lot of remaining opportunity, given that precisely harnessing data — and broader artificial intelligence technologies — can provide a holistic view of the water system, enhancing efforts to track consumption, drive efficiencies, save energy and prioritize investment dollars. More than half of respondents stated that while they are collecting data, they are not leveraging it effectively, a slight increase from 49 percent last year.

Uncle Sam and the Fight for Funding

With outdated infrastructure entrenched year after year as the biggest issue that keeps the industry up at night, trying to mitigate that challenge is a matter of money. Roughly half of survey respondents believe funding for capital infrastructure projects for their organization will be sufficient or merely meet the requirement. Thirty-seven percent say funding simply will not be enough.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — was signed into law in late 2021 as the largest federal investment in water in U.S. history, committing tens of billions of dollars to the sector. The intended purposes are diverse, including funds for water infrastructure, resiliency, lead service line replacements and contaminant removal.

So, are U.S. water utilities seizing the moment? Perhaps not. Slightly more than one-quarter of respondents say their enterprise has applied for or will go after IIJA funding, while more than four in 10 haven’t explored it nor have plans to pursue it.

Our latest survey is a short list of well-placed priorities. As the industry evolves — steadying and in many cases better positioning itself against headwinds showing no signs of easing — U.S. water utilities either independently or with expert outside consulting advice can find the footing needed to take positive steps that these times demand.

The full Black & Veatch 2023 Water Report can be downloaded here.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

Media Contact: 
Susan Rivera | +1 781 565 5819 | RIVERAS1@BV.COM 
24-HOUR MEDIA EMAIL | media@bv.com

Originally published on Built From Scratch

Kidde, a leader in fire safety for more than 100 years and trusted partner of The Home Depot since 2006, recently kicked off its second annual Cause For AlarmTM campaign.

This fire safety awareness initiative addresses gaps in education and access to fire safety measures. It was designed to teach families and children about the importance of having working smoke alarms and practicing fire safety at home. Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties with no working smoke alarms, and these devices can double the chances of escaping from a home fire safely.

“We know that most home fire fatalities are preventable with the right fire safety education and home safety products,” said Isis Wu, VP & GM, Residential Fire, Carrier Fire & Security at Kidde. “We also know that by educating children on how to protect themselves from fires in the home, we can help prevent devastating fatalities. Our goal is to rally everyone behind the cause and help save more lives.” 

On average, students practice over 150 fire drills during their K-12 experience, making them well-prepared in the event of a fire at school. However, they are less knowledgeable about what to do if a smoke alarm goes off at home. To help children easily recall what to do in the event of a fire, Kidde created a Cause For Alarm jingle.

The company has also teamed up with The Home Depot and other retailers to donate fire safety products to National PTA, The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), and Vision 20/20. This will help ensure the life-saving devices get into the hands of those who need them most and will further close the protection gap by reaching parents and caregivers and communities in need. For every Kidde alarm purchased at participating businesses through November 2023, a $1 contribution will be made toward donated smoke alarms, up to a total retail value of $1 million.

Learn how to install a smoke detector and find smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for your home on homedepot.com.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Originally published on bloomberg.com

As a global company with offices in more than a hundred countries, Bloomberg recognizes and celebrates the many contributions, diverse cultures, and lived experiences that our employees bring to work with them. This diversity of thought and experience informs our decisions and makes the company an inclusive and exciting place to work.

Here, Hispanic and Latinx employees from offices across the firm and around the world provide insight on how their culture influences the way they show up at work and how Bloomberg supports them every step of the way.

Brian Moran
Data, Tokyo

Tell us a bit about your career journey at Bloomberg. 
This month marks my fifth year anniversary at Bloomberg. During my tenure I’ve worn different hats in Data and Bloomberg Intelligence. These are some of the teams I’ve been with during my tenure: Global Data Analytics (GDA), Supply chain Data (SPLC), Company Financial Industry Experts (CFIE), Bloomberg Intelligence Associate (Covering Semiconductor Sector) and most recently Sanctions Data. I’ve lived in Japan for 17 years and have been in the Tokyo office since I joined the company.

How do you embrace your Latinx/Hispanic heritage at work? 
There are not many Latinx/Hispanic colleagues in APAC, but whenever we meet any around the office, we like to speak in Spanish! It’s really nice to have someone to speak Spanish with as it reconnects us with our roots and we can say things that would otherwise get lost in translation if we said them in English or Japanese. 

How would you describe the sense of community in the Tokyo office? 
There are hundreds of people in the Tokyo office, but all teams I’ve worked with are typically small. The benefits of working in smaller groups is that you get to know the people that you work with very well. This strengthens the relationships between colleagues and goes a long way when working together. It’s also a great opportunity to learn about their cultural heritages, as well as the different committees they are passionate about at Bloomberg.

How do you educate others about your culture? 
For me, the easiest way to educate someone about my culture is the food. Tokyo is a cosmopolitan city and it’s not that hard to find great Latin restaurants that make me feel like I’m close to home. Whenever I introduce some of my Japanese friends to Latin food for the first time, I like to see how their faces light up after they take that first bite.

What do you think sets Bloomberg apart as a place to work? 
The people. Bloomberg employees come from all over the world, working in a place that really goes above and beyond celebrating the diversity of its people. Even though there are not a lot of Hispanic/Latin colleagues in Asia, I have never felt like a minority because the global reach of all communities makes me feel included and engaged.

Aurelie Herrero
Human Resources, London

Tell us a bit about your career journey at Bloomberg. 

I started my career at Bloomberg in 2015 as an intern on the Installations team. I was lucky enough to convert into a full time job right after the internship. In 2017, I made a move to recruitment as a Talent Coordinator covering Analytics & Sales recruitment. Over the last six years I’ve had the pleasure of growing and taking on different roles, including spending time as a recruiter and program manager. Then, in 2018 I received an opportunity to spend time in our Singapore office, which has been one of the many highlights of my career so far.

How do you embrace your Latinx/Hispanic heritage at work?

I am quite vocal about the fact that I am from Mexico. I love my country and my culture and I try to share some of the traditions we have. I also like connecting with some of the Latinos in the office and exchanging food recommendations.

How would you describe the sense of community in the London office?

We have the opportunity to network at so many events. Once you share a bit about yourself, people often connect you with others that share similar backgrounds or interests. So, although we have many employees in London, you can still feel a sense of community and even be part of several ones!

What do you think sets Bloomberg apart as a place to work?

The diversity of its people and the fact that every culture is embraced and celebrated. I love learning about other backgrounds and the traditions of other countries!

Lauren Barrera
Marketing, San Francisco

Tell us a bit about your career journey at Bloomberg. How long have you been with the firm? Which roles have you had? Have you relocated/worked in different offices?

I have been with Bloomberg for a little over five years. In that time I have always worked in the San Francisco office as a part of the Global Events Team. I began my career as an Event Coordinator, and am now Team Leader for the west coast

How do you embrace your Latinx/Hispanic heritage at work?

As a Team Leader I strive to demonstrate qualities of hard work, empathy, resilience, all of which are rooted in my upbringing and culture. I also embrace my heritage through community building and networking. It’s special to bond over good food, and great conversation.

What’s it like to work in a smaller Bloomberg office? What are the benefits? How would you describe the sense of community?

Working in a smaller Bloomberg office has provided me the opportunity to build a close-knit network and community. I enjoy getting to know our colleagues in the San Francisco offices. I have partnered with folks across different departments and teams, and gained a strong sense of community in San Francisco. We have a very friendly atmosphere at our office and collaborate closely. I’ve made lifelong friends, people who serve as my mentors and champions.

Luis E. Jiménez Landeros
On-site Support, Mexico City

How long have you been with the firm? 

I’ve been with Bloomberg for 26 years. I started in August 1997, and have always been based in Mexico. When I started at Bloomberg, there were only six employees here – we grew over time and now there are 38.

How do you embrace your Latinx/Hispanic heritage at work?

When I participate in meetings with employees from other countries, my greeting is almost always in Spanish.

What’s it like to work in a smaller Bloomberg office? What are the benefits? 

Working in a smaller office is great because you know most of your colleagues well. If there’s a topic to discuss, you can just walk to the other employee’s desk and talk face to face.

Ewerton Monteiro
On-Site Support, São Paulo

How long have you been with the firm? 

I’ve been working at Bloomberg for almost 2 years.

How do you embrace your Latinx/Hispanic heritage at work?

Being of Brazilian African descent is an important part of my personality and work ethic. I always make it a priority to be helpful and friendly with all colleagues, like my parents taught me and my siblings.

What’s it like to work in a smaller Bloomberg office? What are the benefits? How would you describe the sense of community?

Working in a smaller office is a nice experience – knowing everyone at the office by name, being able to go out for lunch with different teams, sometimes even hanging out outside of the workplace. These types of relationships are a game changer when it comes to daily work. You have access to all sorts of knowledge about the business, and everyone is available to help each other.

What do you think sets Bloomberg apart as a place to work?

Even though Bloomberg is a big company, I always feel visible and engaged, with a lot of opportunities to grow, learn and thrive.

Gabriel Cunha
Finance, São Paulo

Tell us a bit about your career journey at Bloomberg. 

I started my journey at Bloomberg in 2022 in the Contracts department covering the Americas region for English, Spanish and Portuguese speaking clients. I was recently promoted to a Specialist in the Contracts Department and will be relocating to New York, which is very exciting.

How do you embrace your Latinx/Hispanic heritage at work?

It’s gratifying to be able to help our clients in Portuguese and Spanish, and I stay connected to my heritage at work by taking part in activities and engaging with the Latinx community across Bloomberg.

What’s it like to work in a smaller Bloomberg office? What are the benefits? How would you describe the sense of community?

Working in a smaller office grants the opportunity to get to know almost everyone, and this is very helpful when working on cross-department tasks or projects. We know who to talk to about certain topics and that helps a lot.

FedEx sponsored Climate-KIC and EIT Digital’s Sustainable Cities Climate Impact Challenge in 2023. Four cities were selected, including Espoo, Finland, one of the 100+ Net Zero Cities with a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. The following story and video were created by the EIT Climate-KIC team.

With a population of over 305,000 residents, the city of Espoo, Finland touts the best of both worlds: a unique combination of urban and nature. Its stunning outdoor landscapes fused with a vibrant city centre makes it ideal for cycling. But not all residents have equal opportunity to this mode of transport. Those with an immigrant background (around one-fifth of the population) have faced barriers to accessible cycling due to cultural or other reasons.

“This is particularly true for women and girls who may have never had access to bicycles or the opportunity to learn how to ride one,” explains Veli-Pekka Korhonen, Sustainable Mobility Specialist at the City of Espoo.

Korhonen is leading an initiative that promotes social inclusion, gender equality and supports local bicycle repair businesses. This green mobility project was one of four selected for the Sustainable Cities Climate Impact Challenge, organised by EIT Climate-KIC and EIT Digital, and sponsored by FedEx.

“We understand the importance of empowering individuals with the skills and confidence to ride a bicycle, enabling them to enjoy the benefits of sustainable mobility. Therefore, we offer workshops where dedicated teachers guide the participants through the learning process,” he says.

In collaboration with the Helsinki Region Cyclists, the City of Espoo organised cycling courses in five different locations from June to August 2023. The project has received an overwhelming response from residents with 84 participants trained and counting.

But as Korhonen explains, “The impact goes beyond simply teaching people how to ride a bike. They have come to realise that biking provides a newfound sense of freedom and flexibility, allowing individuals to travel from A to B whenever they want to.”

To encourage cycling after the courses, the participants were offered a “graduation gift” of a complementary subscription to the city bikes in Espoo and Helsinki or a voucher covering bicycle maintenance.

The City of Espoo also acquired six workspaces and a mobile “repair café” during the month of August where residents could learn bike maintenance skills while boosting the local businesses that provide those services.

“This project has brought us great joy,” adds Korhonen. “To see the happiness and excitement of individuals as they learn to ride a bike has been truly rewarding. It highlights the positive impact such initiatives can have on peoples’ lives, fostering a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of our community.”

The project contributes to the city’s larger decarbonisation strategy known as the “Espoo Story,” which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Because one-third of its CO2 emissions originate from traffic, the city council has made addressing transportation-related emissions a high priority.

EIT Climate-KIC and FedEx recently announced the launch of the second edition of the Sustainable Cities Mobility Challenge (formerly called the Climate Impact Challenge) for European cities. Applicants are invited to request funding to implement solutions that accelerate the transition towards cleaner, sustainable, and inclusive mobility.

Challenge Website: Sustainable Cities Mobility Challenge – Climate-KIC

While all of us at Sappi are working relentlessly to unlock the power of trees for a low-carbon economy, leading the charge is a trio of change-making women with a fierce determination to succeed.

For over 30 years, Beth Cormier has been unlocking the power of trees at Sappi, rising to Vice President of Research, Development and Sustainability in North America. She is the first woman to hold this position in Sappi’s nearly 170-year history. “I believe that the solutions to some of our thorniest problems are discoverable in nature,” Beth says. “And that by unlocking the power of trees, we can create a more sustainable every day—our purpose at Sappi— for people and the planet we all share.”

Beth has overseen all sorts of portfolios for Sappi, but none excite her more than this latest generation of circular products. “We’re showing what’s possible with our diversified portfolio of commercial printing papers, packaging paper—even moving wood-based fibers into spinning operations that go into textiles.”

When Beth and Tracy Wessels talk trees, sparks fly. With a Ph.D in organic chemistry, Tracy explains the science involved in unlocking the power of trees with clarity and contagious energy. As Group Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations, she defines and explains our global mission from her base in South Africa.

“Trees are truly nature’s gift to the world,” Tracy says. “They contain the three most abundant natural polymers on Earth: cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose. Sappi has become a global leader in unlocking these polymers to create a whole new generation of renewable, biobased products that can speed the transition from fossil-fuel-derived products.”

As Director of Sustainability in Europe and a Yale-trained forester, Sarah Price is the third powerful voice in the trio. Whether she is advising mill directors in Germany on their carbon targets or discussing forest policy with decision-makers in Brussels, Sarah’s message is consistent: responsible companies like Sappi are essential to grow, manage and expand the forests we need to fight climate change. For her, unlocking the power of trees must start in forests with responsible, sustainable practices. Ensuring Sappi delivers on this promise with relentless ambition is her focus.

These three women have been an instrumental part of building the Sappi we see today and will continue to play a role in shaping our future. As we strengthen our global impact, these are the leaders we’ll look to for support in meeting our goals.

MEADVILLE, Pa., October 2, 2023 /3BL/ – The Learning Center K-8 School is celebrating this school year with a new timber-framed outdoor classroom, thanks to a $109,000 sustainability grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Project preparation and student programming for the Meadville school classroom started in fall 2021, and a community classroom raising event took place in May 2023.

The Learning Center, an independent school in Meadville, was founded 12 years ago by Dana and Scott Yeager with the mission of hands-on authentic education through the arts and sciences. The school focuses on students ‘learning by doing’ to expose them to real world problems and challenging them to use their agency to find potential solutions.

This one-of-a-kind classroom was distinctively designed to fit harmoniously into the wooded ravine adjacent to the school building. Timber craftsman, David Yasenchack, designed and built the classroom from sustainably harvested timber from the school site and surrounding area. The Learning Center’s educational programming, in partnership with the Foundation for Sustainable Forests, allows its students to learn about local forests in Western Pennsylvania and sustainable forestry. However, involvement with the outdoor classroom goes beyond student curriculum.

Students from the Learning Center and Meadville community members have played a vital role in the outdoor classroom project. Students were introduced early on with a puzzle to understand how the classroom would work, and they witnessed the transformation of a living tree becoming a beam in the classroom. Each student also carved individual pegs that now hold the classroom together. Community member involvement heightened at the classroom raising event on May 20 to help lift heavy timbers and assist with ropes to guide the classroom’s structural components into place.

For Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, the Learning Center’s outdoor classroom is the first outdoor, sustainably-sourced classroom the program has funded.

“Green Mountain Energy’s goal with Sun Club grants is to promote sustainability in the community and support important causes,” said Mark Parsons, Green Mountain Energy vice president. “We are honored to have been a part of this innovative project to connect sustainability and education, and we look forward to watching the Learning Center continue its expansion of nature-based learning initiatives in the Meadville community.”

Since 2002, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club has been empowering local communities by donating nearly $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club supports projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, education and awareness, clean transportation, and sustainable agriculture.

“Active, hands-on, authentic learning is a foundational principle of The Learning Center,” said Dana Yeager, Education Director, Learning Center K-8 School. “This entire project put that principle into action – from felling the first tree to driving the last peg, our students integrated math, science, art, and nature to experience the journey from idea to creation. Our beautiful outdoor classroom will host countless opportunities for students to learn to be thoughtful, reflective, and intentional in their interactions with our natural world. We’re so thankful for Sun Club’s partnership in making our vision of sustainability education a reality.”

A community dedication event took place at the school Friday, September 29, to commemorate the completion of the sustainably funded classroom.

####

About The Learning Center K8 School

The mission of the Learning Center K8 School is to create an intergenerational learning community which fosters natural curiosity, the individuality of the child, high academic achievement, and lifelong learners while engaging students in an exploration of the creative process to help individuals find their expressive voice. Founded in 2011, the Learning Center K8 School now services over 80 students. To learn more about our school and our unique approach to education, please visit our website at www.learningcenterk8.org.

ABOUT GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY SUN CLUB 

Green Mountain Energy is changing the way power is made and advancing sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club® has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub.

Media:

Green Mountain Energy

media@greenmountain.com

713-537-5735

Sofidel sponsored Costa Cleanups’ Third Annual Ocean Day Beach Cleanup, which took place on June 11 on South Padre Island, Texas. Costa Cleanups is a nonprofit organization based in Texas dedicated to protecting the untouched beauty of the beaches and waterways around South Padre Island.

This year, the Costa Cleanups event achieved several records including gathering the highest number of volunteers to date and most trash collected. Three hundred and fifty volunteers came together to collect 15,000 pounds of trash over 25 miles of beachfront in a single day. To date, the organization has cleaned 117,000 pounds of trash from South Padre Island.

Fabio Vitali, Sofidel America’s VP of Marketing, attended the event and on behalf of the company, donated funds, Sofidel baseball hats and 350 packages of Nicky brand toilet paper to the 350 volunteers who participated in the cleanup. Donating the Nicky brand toilet paper was symbolic, as it is the first toilet paper in the U.S. made without plastic packaging. It’s also FSC-certified for its strong performance and sustainable features.

“This event was a great way to bring the community together for a common cause,” shared Fabio. “After such a successful event, it has inspired us at Sofidel America to do more in our efforts of giving back and improving local communities for a healthy planet and sustainable future.”

Sofidel is proud to have had the opportunity to sponsor the cleanup event as it complements Sofidel’s fight against plastic waste and ties into its commitment to reduce the use of virgin plastic by 50% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels. The company continues to provide customers with innovative sustainable hygiene solutions, like the development of the HyTech Seas dispensers and more. Sofidel continues to work closely with the organization, Ocean Conservancy as well with the common goal of reducing plastic waste in the ocean for a healthier planet and better future.

While this was the first cleanup event Sofidel sponsored, the company plans to continue sponsoring cleanup events in areas close to plant locations. This is part of Sofidel’s wholistic approach to philanthropic endeavors in the communities in which it has a presence. Stay tuned for information on upcoming cleanup events!

About The Sofidel Group

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development.  For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.

Media Contact:

Brianna Fitzpatrick,  Mulberry Marketing Communications  bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com 

Sofidel sponsored Costa Cleanups’ Third Annual Ocean Day Beach Cleanup, which took place on June 11 on South Padre Island, Texas. Costa Cleanups is a nonprofit organization based in Texas dedicated to protecting the untouched beauty of the beaches and waterways around South Padre Island.

This year, the Costa Cleanups event achieved several records including gathering the highest number of volunteers to date and most trash collected. Three hundred and fifty volunteers came together to collect 15,000 pounds of trash over 25 miles of beachfront in a single day. To date, the organization has cleaned 117,000 pounds of trash from South Padre Island.

Fabio Vitali, Sofidel America’s VP of Marketing, attended the event and on behalf of the company, donated funds, Sofidel baseball hats and 350 packages of Nicky brand toilet paper to the 350 volunteers who participated in the cleanup. Donating the Nicky brand toilet paper was symbolic, as it is the first toilet paper in the U.S. made without plastic packaging. It’s also FSC-certified for its strong performance and sustainable features.

“This event was a great way to bring the community together for a common cause,” shared Fabio. “After such a successful event, it has inspired us at Sofidel America to do more in our efforts of giving back and improving local communities for a healthy planet and sustainable future.”

Sofidel is proud to have had the opportunity to sponsor the cleanup event as it complements Sofidel’s fight against plastic waste and ties into its commitment to reduce the use of virgin plastic by 50% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels. The company continues to provide customers with innovative sustainable hygiene solutions, like the development of the HyTech Seas dispensers and more. Sofidel continues to work closely with the organization, Ocean Conservancy as well with the common goal of reducing plastic waste in the ocean for a healthier planet and better future.

While this was the first cleanup event Sofidel sponsored, the company plans to continue sponsoring cleanup events in areas close to plant locations. This is part of Sofidel’s wholistic approach to philanthropic endeavors in the communities in which it has a presence. Stay tuned for information on upcoming cleanup events!

About The Sofidel Group

The Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development.  For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.

Media Contact:

Brianna Fitzpatrick,  Mulberry Marketing Communications  bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com