Tag: 3BL

Followed by wind energy (54%), hydropower (36%) and nuclear energy (22%)

Research data from the US highlights that Republican voters, including Donald Trump, Ron De Santis and Mike Pence supporters, strongly favour solar power over fossil fuel

NEW YORK, LONDON, and AMSTERDAM, September 15, 2023 /3BL/ – Today the largest global values based study ever conducted on renewable energy preferences, from Glocalities, a leading research agency, in collaboration with the world’s leading international advocacy organisation Global Citizen, and The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, a global effort fostering international cooperation for a fast and equitable phase out of fossil fuels, reveals that 68% of the world’s population across all demographics, are united on renewable energy, with solar power the world’s preferred energy source.

The study highlights that solar power, followed by energy sources wind energy (54%), hydropower (36%) and nuclear energy (22%) are the future of our clean energy transition. The report’s findings reinforce that when it comes to energy production the world’s population favours harvesting energy from the natural flow of light, wind and water instead of burning fossil fuels.

Conducted across 21 countries, with 21,290 respondents, the new global research comes at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. Across all countries featured in the study, citizens overwhelmingly supported the use of solar energy instead of fossil fuels. Solar power is five times more popular than fossil fuels. While currently 77% of the global energy consumption comes from fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas), only 14% of the international population favors energy from fossil fuels.

Key report findings include:

Most in depth global values study into clean energy, conducted across 21 countries, reveals the world is united on renewable energy with solar power being favoured by 68% of the world’s population.Harvesting power from the sun scores 5 times higher in preference compared to burning fossil fuels.Solar energy is followed by wind energy (54%), hydropower (36%) and nuclear energy (24%)Citizens favour solar power over every other energy source, regardless of party politics. Research data from the US further highlights that Republican voters, including Donald Trump, Ron De Santis and Mike Pence supporters, also strongly favour solar power over fossil fuel.Report findings reveal that global leaders need to listen to their electorate, upgrade their leadership styles, and deliver on the much needed clean energy transition.Change of leadership styles is required to push forward a clean energy transition. With respect to leadership styles, the Visionary (50%) is the most trusted and the least polarizing style. The Connector (47%), who brings people together to make decisions, is the second most trusted leadership style. The Boss (14%), however, is the least trusted and most polarizing leadership style. The pull of solar energy and the need for Visionary and Connecting leadership in the international population offer major opportunities for accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Although the report findings reveal that citizens are ahead of their leaders in transitioning to clean energy, too many fossil fuels remain in the system. Global leaders must act now in order to address these issues and respond to citizens who are using their voices and taking action.

Pursuing policies and framing that can harness this public support, along with an upgrade in leadership styles, is pivotal to facilitating and accelerating the transition to clean energy. International support for the transition to solar and other renewable sources of energy will continue to grow stronger in the future, with the potential to bring talents, countries and interests together.

Global leaders will need to acknowledge this public support for clean energy, and deliver actionable measures like restrictions on exploration and extraction, phasing out subsidies, and redirecting resources towards diversifying energy sources. International cooperation through innovative frameworks like the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty offer a blueprint for an organized and fair transition—one that ensures power reliability while also protecting workers and communities at risk of being left behind.

Martijn Lampert, Co-Founder and Research Director comments: “Citizens in all 21 countries from our survey abundantly gravitate towards energy from the sun. Harvesting solar power is five times more favored than burning fossil fuels. This study provides leaders with a powerful roadmap to bring people and countries together for a sustainable future.”

Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Affairs Officer of Global Citizen comments: “The overwhelming robust backing for solar power, as demonstrated by this report, is not merely a statistic; it’s a clear signal that there’s common ground where political agendas and citizen demands can meet. The encouraging news is that the public is significantly ahead of their governments, with the study underscoring the overwhelming support for clean, renewable energy over fossil fuels. The collective call for cleaner, sustainable energy has never been more urgent. It emphasizes the urgency of bridging the gap between emissions policies and fossil fuel production, while also helping leaders, advocates and campaigners connect with the hearts and minds of their citizens. We now have a clear path to follow; all that remains is the collective will to follow it.”

Alex Rafalowicz, Executive Director, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative: “The data speaks volumes, even coming from the heartland of conservative politics – fossil fuels are a moral, financial, and political dead-end. All politicians should be on alert now that a political tsunami on energy is coming due to the climate crisis. You can see this data on the streets: ahead of the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, millions of people around the globe are participating in more than 400 actions to end fossil fuels – fast, fair and forever. Fossil fuels are more expensive, more dangerous, and less popular everywhere, so we need a global plan to swiftly phase them out.”

Notes to Editors:

● The full report can be downloaded at https://glocalities.com/harnessingsolarpower

About the study

For the Glocalities research 21,290 respondents were interviewed online in 21 countries. The fieldwork took place between 27 January and 20 June 2023 in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye (Turkey), United Kingdom and the United States. These countries cover every continent, and collectively host more than 50% of the world population. The surveys were conducted through the online research panels of Dynata, an agency that is specialized in international fieldwork. In the Netherlands we used the panel of Glocalities’ sister company Motivaction. Quotas were set beforehand, and the datasets were weighed according to national census data with respect to age, gender, education and region. Each country has an equal weight in the total dataset when conducting international analyses.

For the full methodology we refer to the survey report.

About Glocalities

Glocalities is an Amsterdam-based international research agency that specializes in global insights based on values, culture and psychology. The Glocalities research program, that started in 2014, now covers more than 35 countries. NGOs, companies and the public sector use Glocalities insights to connect with audiences, based on a deep understanding of trends, people and cultures. In the international Glocalities surveys we have incorporated several research instruments that provide a deeper understanding of people, such as values segments, universal archetypes and trends. These instruments make it possible to obtain a holistic view of groups of citizens and gain deeper knowledge of their drivers, aspirations and behaviors. Free reports on a multitude of topics such as the transition to a more sustainable future are available on our website. For more information, visit www.glocalities.com

About Global Citizen

Global Citizen is the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. Powered by a worldwide community of everyday activists raising their voices and taking action, the movement is amplified by campaigns and events that convene leaders in music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy and the corporate sector. Over the past 10 years, $43.6 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting nearly 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen’s team operates from New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, Toronto, Johannesburg, Lagos and beyond. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

About the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is a global effort fostering international cooperation to end new development of fossil fuels, phase out existing production within the agreed climate limit of 1.5°C, and accelerate a just energy transition by developing plans to support workers, communities and fossil fuel dependent countries to create safe and healthy livelihoods. For more information, visit https://fossilfueltreaty.org/

More information about the study: 
Martijn Lampert, Research Director Glocalities: m.lampert@glocalities.com 
Media Inquiries: Caroline Head, EMEA PR Director, at media@globalcitizen.org

As published in Qualcomm’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

We provide employees with frequent opportunities to share their feedback on what it’s like for them to work at our Company. We hold company-wide and business unit “All Hands” meetings on a quarterly basis to give employees opportunities to ask questions of our executive leadership team.

We conduct full census engagement surveys, as well as pulse surveys. These surveys provide employees the opportunity to give feedback and enable management to assess employee engagement. We ensure that every employee gets the opportunity to participate in these surveys at least annually. We use the results to drive change and engage, retain and develop our people. Leaders receive a detailed report of the results for their organization within a few weeks after a survey closes to help them understand the strengths of their organization and to quickly begin acting on opportunities for improvement.

Each survey also includes a relevant focus area, such as inclusion, skill development or recognition. Based on 2022 survey results, programs are developed to address opportunities for improvement. Employee sentiment is continually tracked, and we are pleased to see high engagement scores as demonstrated by the high satisfaction in the following areas (average scores for fiscal 2022):

“I have confidence in the future of Qualcomm” — 91 percent favorable“My team has a climate in which diverse perspectives are valued” — 83 percent favorable“I would recommend Qualcomm as a great place to work” — 82 percent favorable

Learn more in Qualcomm’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

Can businesses embrace circularity without compromising profitability? Kurt Ritter, The Coca-Cola Company’s vice president and general manager of sustainability North America, joins Mandi McReynolds in the third episode of the ESG Talk Climate Week series. Mandi and Kurt explore collaboration within the supply chain and integrating sustainability strategies into business outcomes across a global organization.

Listen Now

Looking for more? Subscribe to the ESG Talk podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and YouTube.

Mary Kay Ash once said, “There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group.”

Mary Kay is celebrating its 60th anniversary. That’s 60 years of making the world a better place for women and their families; 60 years of environmental restoration and beautification to preserve the world’s most precious resources; 60 years of advocating, bringing awareness to, and supporting women-related cancers and ending domestic violence; and 60 years of giving from the heart to causes near and dear to our corporate mission and founder, Mary Kay Ash’s heart around the world.

Since 1996*, Mary Kay and its company-sponsored foundations have given more than $200 million in charitable contributions to support organizations fighting cancers affecting women, domestic violence, gender inequality, education for women and girls, environmental protection and restoration, and so much more across the globe. When it comes to our philanthropic efforts, we are intentional. Our support of local, national, and global organizations help ensure we are making an impact where it matters most. Through thoughtful collaboration with key partners, we can maximize our reach, stretch opportunities and outcomes to their full potential, and support essential services and innovative solutions.

Throughout 2022, the iconic global entrepreneurship company furthered its innovations in skin science, continued its sustainability and social impact efforts, and garnered prestigious awards for its business and leadership. It’s a thing of beauty and proof that some things really do get better with age. Here’s to 60 years for women around the world.

To learn more about our most recent initiatives and philanthropic efforts, check out our 2022 Year-End Highlights.

*Comprehensive philanthropic tracking began in 1996 upon the establishment of the Mary Kay Ash FoundationSM. 

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) has made a $20,000 donation to the Red Cross to support relief efforts following the recent earthquake in Morocco, the country’s deadliest earthquake in more than a century. The company will also match employee donations.

On Sept. 8, the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck just south of Marrakech, Morocco. The epicenter was within the Moroccan High Atlas Mountain range, roughly 75 kilometers (46 miles) from the popular tourist and economic hub of Marrakech. The death toll in Morocco has reached 2,900 with an additional 5,500 injured. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people across the region have been affected.

“The gravity of this crisis is being seen in the struggles of Moroccan communities who are stranded and awaiting aid,” said Rockwell’s Patricia Contreras, vice president, Community Impact. “We know recovery efforts will go on for some time, and we are proud to support the Red Cross and their frontline efforts to help so many who are in need.”

Rockwell funds will support the Red Cross network and their efforts to provide emergency shelter, relief supplies, and meals and to assist with search and rescue efforts. The American Red Cross is coordinating with its global Red Cross and Red Crescent partners to help get aid to areas where it is needed most.

This fall, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) and kate spade new york proudly announce the expansion of their joint program, the “She Care Wellness Pods”, which aims to reach over 25,000 Black women on HBCU campuses with frontline mental wellness care. After a successful inaugural launch at Alabama State University in April of this year, BLHF and kate spade are expanding the initiative to a second HBCU campus location, Hampton University in Virginia.

Through this groundbreaking program for HBCU students, BLHF and kate spade new york, in partnership with trusted Hampton University community resources, bring access to mental health facilities and resources directly to Black women on campus. The multifaceted program features the opening of “She Care Wellness Pods” – physical structures installed on campuses that offer a range of services, including:

Free mental health therapy sessions for female students experiencing an exacerbation of stress, anxiety and hopelessness.Hangout spaces that allow students to connect with peers or avoid isolation and grief during the school year and vacation periods.Unique programming including yoga, meditation, art and drama therapy, African dance, nutrition and more, all provided by certified practitioners.Workshops that offer resources and tools for those who suffer with anxiety, sleep deprivation and insomnia.Quiet spaces for silence, rest and respite to reset from daily stressors.

Founded in 2018, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s mission is to eradicate the stigma around mental health in the Black community. As a leading Black mental health advocacy group, BLHF provides competent therapy and integrated wellness resources. For kate spade new york, women’s empowerment has been at the forefront of the brand’s purpose for over a decade and remains a core pillar of the brand. This year, kate spade and the kate spade new york Foundation will invest $5 million in programming to further destigmatize the mental health conversation and continue to provide services to women and girls in need. By continuing to expand the “She Care Wellness Pods” initiative, the joint partnership aims to provide 25,000 Black women on HBCU college campuses with frontline mental healthcare.

“When we first had the idea to create the Boris L. Henson Foundation Self-Care Wellness Pods, I knew we had to start with women, and specifically women on HBCU campuses. I can remember through my own experiences with stress and anxiety, not having the adequate support to deal with my issues or the education to name what I was experiencing,” said BLHF Founder, Taraji P. Henson. “Black women, from a very young age, are taught to be strong and dismiss their own suffering, tending to the needs of family and community often at the expense of their own well-being. The She Care Wellness pods seek to change this narrative,” says BLHF Executive Director, Tracie Jade. “Our shared vision and partnership with kate spade new york has been vital in promoting conversations and offering support to students to take care of their mental health, starting with our successful launch of She Care Wellness pods at Alabama State University. We are proud to open our second installment at Hampton University this fall,” Henson stated.

“At kate spade new york, we believe that mental health is foundational to women’s empowerment, and recognize that it has long been under-acknowledged, underfunded, and stigmatized. We are committed to increasing accessibility of mental health resources to women and girls around the globe through our social impact work and trusted partners in this space,” said kate spade new york CEO and Brand President, Liz Fraser. “We are proud to expand our partnership with Taraji, Tracie and The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. By offering space and resources dedicated to mental health, together we can create a positive difference for young women on HBCU campuses and in their communities.”

“The health and wellbeing of our Hampton University community is of the utmost importance,” Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams expressed. “We take a holistic approach to education and, as such, we are honored to partner with the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and kate spade new york on the She Care Wellness Pods, positioning our students with additional resources for mental wellness, helping to prioritize the importance of mental health within our communities.

“Hampton University is proud to be a recipient of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s Wellness Pods,” said Kristie Norwood, Ph.D., director, HU Student Counseling Center. “One out of five adults are affected by mental health diagnoses and 39% of college students experience a significant mental health issue. It is our mission, at the HU Student Counseling Center, to help normalize therapy within the Black community, and to educate our students on the importance of self-care and mental health awareness. The Wellness Pods will be part of a multi-faceted approach to ensuring the health and wellness of our students.”

Each She Care Wellness Pod is designed to create an environment that stimulates joy, peace and serenity through intentional design and color selection. The mural is a reflection of each campuses’ unique identity, from the perspective of the student body. One student is selected by each campus leadership team to design the mural that is painted on the outside of the containers. The intention of the mural is to reflect the diversity of women and intersecting identities within the local study body.

“The piece I have created reflects the importance of watering yourself based upon what your body and mind need,” said Hampton University student and mural artist T’Kiyah Reeves. “As women, we must prioritize our wellness. We must treat our minds with the same love, care, compassion and grace we would give to a tangible seedling to support its growth into something beautiful.”

As a member of kate spade new york’s Social Impact Council, which was established in January 2022, Taraji P. Henson, has continued her work with the global lifestyle brand to increase mental health resources. Alongside other social impact members, including Sofia Wylie and Jazz Thorton and Latham Thomas and more, the cohort brings unique expertise and work hand-in-hand with kate spade to propel positive change, and encourage more conversation, education and research around the cause.

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and kate spade new york will launch their second “She Care Wellness Pod” at Hampton University, a historically Black university in Hampton, Virginia. The on-campus mental health destination will officially open to Hampton University students on November 2, allowing the community to take advantage of increased mental health resources and access.

About The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation:

Founded in 2018, BLHF has built its reputation on providing trusted referrals and demonstrating a deep understanding of the population health of communities of Color. Through timely and relevant programming and awareness campaigns, BLHF encourages mental wellness, raises awareness of the stigma and the use of stigmatizing language when referring to mental illness, and provides mental health resources to the Black community.

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is charting a new course that encourages Black individuals to own their history, heritage, and collective wounds in empowering, empathic, and transformative ways.

For more information, visit https://borislhensonfoundation.org/.

About kate spade new york:

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always stood for color, wit, optimism, and femininity. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand synonymous with joy, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, gifts, home décor and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view, and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles. Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry house of brands.

About Hampton University:

Rich in history, steeped in tradition, Hampton University is a dynamic, progressive institution of higher education, providing a broad range of technical, liberal arts, and graduate degree programs. In addition to being one of the top historically black universities in the world, Hampton University is a tightly-knit community of learners and educators, representing 49 states and 35 territories and nations.

For more information, visit https://home.hamptonu.edu/about/

Contacts
Media:
LaForce, katespade@laforce.nyc

IBM’s continued involvement in the U.N. effort builds on a long legacy of research and action on global challenges in collaboration with governments and civil societyIBM will demonstrate the power of AI and technology in driving progress on sustainability goals and improving business efficiency

ARMONK, N.Y. and United Arab Emirates, September 14, 2023 /3BL/ – IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced its role as an Associate Pathway Partner of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The conference, which will be hosted by the COP28 UAE Presidency in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, will be a pivotal moment for global leaders, policymakers, scientists, and businesses to collaborate on climate action and work together to shape a more sustainable future.

Throughout the conference, IBM will showcase how technology and consulting can enable business, society, and government to accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. By consolidating data and embedding AI into core functions, IBM can offer organizations tools to help them reduce costs, waste, and emissions; advance transitions to clean energy; improve productivity; and develop more sustainable supply chains and responsible computing. IBM can also help organizations measure their environmental impact, report against regulatory requirements and public expectations, and operationalize their data to help create more efficient and sustainable enterprises—without compromising profitability.

“Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime, and both technology and partnerships will be key to driving future progress,” said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, IBM. “AI innovations like IBM’s watsonx are already available to help organizations build AI to drive sustainability and efficiency. In Dubai, IBM will support the COP28 UAE Presidency’s agenda by working with attendees to continue collaborating on solutions that move us all toward a low-carbon future.”

“A wide range of stakeholders are key to ensuring COP28’s success, and we are proud of the high level of interest in sponsorships received from across the world. All organizations and sectors of society have an important role to play in climate action, and I am encouraged by the enthusiasm demonstrated by our sponsors who are committing to Unite, Act, and Deliver to keep 1.5C within reach,” said Ambassador Majid, Director-General and Special Representative of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

IBM’s role at COP28 builds on the company’s long history of action, research, and advocacy around the environment. The company issued its first environmental policy more than 50 years ago—in 1971—and published a formal position on climate change in 2007. IBM is also a founding member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment and the Climate Leadership Council, and supports communities vulnerable to climate change and other environmental issues through initiatives like the IBM Sustainability Accelerator.

The location of this year’s U.N. Climate Change Conference is also a backdrop to IBM’s presence in the Middle East region, where its sustainability offerings are helping businesses and governments improve efficiency and advance their sustainability goals. For instance, IBM and the Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) are collaborating through a joint AI Center of Excellence to improve the adoption of AI technology, inform the deployment of clean and renewable energy, and help drive sustainability with carbon neutral solutions.

For additional information on IBM’s sustainability solutions please visit: https://www.ibm.com/sustainability.

About IBM 
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information. 
 

Media Contact 
Michael Rettig 
mrettig@ibm.com

SOURCE IBM

Where it All Began

In 1966, Emi Stefani and Giuseppe Lazzareschi started Sofidel and quickly grew the company to become the market leader in the Italian tissue industry. Over the next few decades, Sofidel expanded by introducing the innovative Regina brand to Italian consumers. From there, the company expanded throughout Europe via acquisitions or developments of new Sofidel brands in countries such as Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, France, Greece and Turkey.

While expanding to other areas of Europe, Sofidel continued to invest and remodel its original plants with state-of-the-art technologies: this provided Sofidel a competitive edge also relative to its sustainability positioning.

It’s clear that Sofidel’s leaders have a knack for expanding into key markets. That is why in 2012, the company decided to expand into the U.S. market by launching Sofidel America. This was made possible by the acquisition of the Cellynne tissue company and its three existing plants in Green Bay, WI, Haines City, FL and Henderson, NV.

Since its first arrival to the U.S., Sofidel continued investing and growing substantially. In 2015 another acquisition happened, and more investments were made in Oklahoma, in 2018 the innovative Circleville plant was inaugurated and later another important plant was built in Inola, Oklahoma.

Why Circleville?

To show its dedication to innovation and sustainability, Sofidel America moved forward with a greenfield investment in Circleville, OH by constructing an integrated plant there in 2016. The plant officially opened in October of 2018 – a milestone in Sofidel America’s growth in the United States. At this time, it was considered Sofidel’s largest, most modern and sustainable plant, which still holds true today.

The location on a 280-acre parcel of land was selected for its access to an abundance of underground water along with reliable natural gas and electricity access. Furthermore, it is in a key location near distribution operators, intermodal systems, an airport and proximity to several towns and cities, like Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton.

Fun Facts About Circleville

The Circleville plant is an integrated facility. The plant’s roughly 500 employees work within the paper mill area of the plant to transform pulp into paper, and the converting area of the plant to produce final Sofidel America tissue products to be sold by distributors. At full production capacity, the plant can produce 140,000 tons of product each year.

Circleville: Inspired by Innovation

The facility is highly innovative with cutting-edge paper mill technology such as two Advantage New Tissue Technology (NTT) 200 paper mill machines from Valmet. These machines enabled the plant to produce a total capacity of 103,000 tons of product in 2021. Each of the machines is equipped with a 5.5-meter format and can operate at the speed of 2,000 meters (about twice the height of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world) per minute. Advantage NTT 200 technology enables the production of standard and textured tissue paper products.

It is also equipped with high-end converting technology, using three Constellation lines, created by Fabio Perini, along with 12 other production lines. The Constellation technology is equipped with innovative reeling technology to ensure the softness of Sofidel America’s products and to maintain consistent sheet separation of every roll of tissue product.

The Circleville plant also features an automatic system that moves paper reels from the paper mill to the 15 converting lines via laser guided vehicles (LGVs.) Sofidel America incorporated a Smart Store warehouse into the Circleville plant to manage over 50,000 pallets of completed tissue products which saves 40% of space.

Sustainability at the Center of Circleville

Of course, sustainability was at the forefront of Sofidel America’s leaders’ minds when developing the Circleville plant. One key aspect of this is the new system developed for recovering heat generated by turbines. The heat from nearby turbines runs through extractor hoods and is used to dry the rolls of paper and producing steam. This innovative system is highly sustainable as it supplies nearly all the energy the Circleville plant needs to dry the paper pulp.

Where to Next for Circleville?

Looking ahead, Sofidel America plans to increase converting capacity at the Circleville plant. When it comes to converting capabilities, the plant has the ability to produce roughly 100,000 tons per year of parent reels. The goal for converting is to keep expanding production rates and reach a converting capacity of over 100,000 tons by the end of 2022. 

Furthermore, Sofidel America anticipates increasing the workforce of the Circleville plant by 15% to keep up with this anticipated growth by adding two more manufacturing finished products lines, one of which is in installation at the moment. While it’s important to recognize the incredible achievements of the Circleville plant, there are many exciting things in the works for years to come.

Time to Celebrate

Sofidel America would not be as successful today if it were not for the hard work and dedication of its employees across each U.S. plant. This year, the company is hosting 10 Year Anniversary celebratory events at each plant where employees can bring their families for a day of fun activities. Sofidel’s leadership team, including CEO Luigi Lazzareschi, will be in attendance to celebrate with team members at each plant’s event.

A celebratory event was held at the Circleville plant on June 18. It included activities such as face painting, performances by various entertainers including a magician, DJ and a caricature artist, delicious barbecue food from a local restaurant and more. Over 600 guests, including Circleville employees and their families, took tours of the plant on golf carts, which happened to be one of the most popular attractions of the day. Employees who had shifts during the event were also able to take breaks to enjoy the festivities with their loved ones.

It was an excellent turnout and Sofidel looks forward to celebrating with more employees and their families at upcoming plant events this year!

Thank You, Circleville!

Sofidel America would like to thank the Circleville plant employees and their families who took time out of their day to celebrate Sofidel America’s 10 Year Anniversary with us! We look forward to years of continued success, innovation and growth in the tissue industry.

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 

Part of the DNA of the WELL Summit is bringing our community closer, and one way to do that is getting to know more about our speakers–and staff–and what personally drives their commitment to the movement. In putting people first, we want to highlight their perspectives on place and space, as well as the role of well-being in their everyday life.

Meet Nancy Roman, CEO of Roman Leadership and former President and CEO of Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA)

Nancy will join A Conversation with Dr. Mark Hyman: Food as Medicine to facilitate a fireside chat.

What is the one thing you do every day that helps protect your health and well-being?
I swim in the ocean every day – even in the coldest weather – perhaps especially in the coldest weather.

What’s your favorite place—to work, relax, stay or be—and why?
On the ocean shores of Carolina. The older I am, the more important I realize being outside is, and the ocean is my happy place – in it or beside it.

What is the most pressing issue regarding food and health today?
That we eat too much ultra-processed food – rather than whole foods and that ultra-processed foods are much more prevalent throughout every corner of the built environment.

In your work leading the Partnership for a Healthier America, what policies helped drive the most significant change in food access?
Realizing that if we wanted health and nutrition outcomes, we couldn’t keep using reached metrics. In other words, we had to shift from pounds of food delivered to nutritious pounds of food delivered.

What is your hope for the future of food and nourishment?
My greatest hope is a national leader – ideally the President of the United States – will set a goal of improving public health.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Food can be a powerful tool for health and well being, but for people to leverage that fact we need dramatic changes to our built environment – from grocery stores to offices.

More about Nancy
Nancy Roman, CEO of Roman Leadership and former President and CEO of Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), will lead Dr. Hyman in a fireside-chat conversation. As CEO of PHA, Nancy worked to create lasting, sustainable change and transform the culture of food and activity so that all children grow up healthy. Prior, Nancy was the President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. Nancy sat on the leadership team of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), chaired WFP’s Investment Committee with more than $1 billion under management and served on the Nutrition Advisory Committee of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Among several professional accomplishments and commitments, Nancy also serves as a member of IWBI’s Governance Council.

Learn more and register for the WELL Summit today.

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Covia’s Tunnel City Plant is located in Tomah, Wisconsin. While Tomah is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, including some impressive hiking trails and lakes, it is also home to nearly 70 dedicated Covia Team Members.

The plant has been in operation since 2013, mining high quality northern white sand. It produces a variety of products for Covia’s Energy Segment. In addition to being a productive and picturesque facility, the plant also has a strong focus on environmental stewardship and community involvement.

The plant continues to partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wisconsin Statewide Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB) Habitat Conservation Plan to create KBB habitats and help preserve this at-risk species. To date, 111 acres have been put into the Habitat Conservation Plan and planted with lupine seed. Team Members at the site regularly count the number of KBB sightings and report this information annually.

Over the past two years, the site has donated nearly $25,000 to organizations in the community. Recently, the plant donated funds to the Wisconsin Troopers Benevolent Foundation. The funds are used to support the families of fallen state troopers. This is especially meaningful because the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy is located just a few miles from the plant and is the training ground for the troopers who protect the citizens of Wisconsin. Extending their impact in the community, the Tunnel City team also contributed time, talent and financial support to Habitat for Humanity of La Crosse for a home build on Wednesday, September 13. Covia Team Members helped build an amazing home for a local veteran!