Tag: 3BL

“Baaa-a-a-a-a-a! Baaa-a-a-a-a-a!”

The familiar sound of bleating goats roaming in northern British Columbia is nothing new. But these goats, donning yellow Enbridge bandanas on their necks, are anything but ordinary.

These 30 stylish herbivores are not trespassers on this parcel of land, located along Pine Pass, north of the community of MacLeod Lake, about 240 km north of Prince George. In fact, this herd is actually esteemed guests of Enbridge, encouraged to do what they do best—eat!

Enbridge, in partnership with Spectrum Resource Group, is proud to employ these goats for the first time on our natural gas pipeline system in BC, to ensure our rights-of-way are cleared of invasive plant species. Aptly called the Goat Grazing Project, these amazing creatures will munch away aggressive grasses and shrubs considered invasive plants.

Clearing invasive plants is a critical component of Enbridge’s commitment to integrated vegetation management along the pipeline right of way. This land needs to have an herb-dominated ecosystem, meaning having only smaller plants like grasses and legumes grow in the area. shrubs and trees on the right of way reduce Enbridge’s ability to access sites for maintenance on our pipeline infrastructure.

So why goats? Well, these incredible creatures have proven to be one of nature’s best grazers, with an appetite for invasive species that rivals traditional methods of vegetation management, such as using chemical application and mechanical means like cutting.

“When these goats are penned in an area, they will overgraze these shrubs. When they are confined in a space, they will eat everything on a plant, and that disturbance is far more damaging,” explains Dan Tisseur, Senior Environment Advisor for Operations and Maintenance with Enbridge’s Canadian natural gas pipeline business.

“The best-case scenario is the goats eat everything. They eat the leaves, they eat the little branches, and they graze it right down to the ground.”

The Goat Grazing Project is part of Enbridge’s Integrated Vegetation Management Program, incorporating both traditional and biological methods through the use of herbivores. So while these goats happily fill their tummies, we’re also doing our part to control invasive plants in an environmentally friendly way.

While the concept of goats on the job might raise a smile, Enbridge takes the Goat Grazing Project very seriously. To help gain deeper insights into managing invasive species effectively, we’re conducting research in the locations where the goats are grazing. Picture this as a collaborative effort between Enbridge’s expert team and our ravenous four-legged partners. While the goats feed their way down a pipeline corridor, Enbridge researchers and environmental specialists are diligently observing and recording the progress and efficacy of this approach.

“This is going to be a multi-year project to assess the efficacy over time. So we’re actually going to bring these goats back to the same location to repeat these treatments to see if over time we’re witnessing a reduction in the shrub biomass and invasive plants on site,” Tisseur says.

The next time you see a goat gracefully grazing along Enbridge’s pipeline right of way, know that it represents more than just a charming sight.

It’s a symbol of our dedication to sustainable practices and a reminder that sometimes, the most effective solutions come from working hand-in-hoof with Mother Nature.

By Nestor Mato

“We haven’t seen each other in over five years because of COVID. There’s a lot of love, a lot of energy.”

David Christian is Senior Vice President of Community Affairs at Regions Bank. His eyes light up as he walks into the Tampa Convention Center for the Kappa Alpha Psi 2023 Conclave. The historic Black fraternity is celebrating 112 years of education and service.

“It’s an emotional moment,” he said.

More than 15,000 of his Kappa brothers came from all over the county. Kappa’s international president, Reuben Shelton, said it all began at Indiana University in 1911 when racial barriers often stood in the way.

“We could not join the white organization, fraternity or otherwise,” said Shelton. “So, we needed a network of individuals, like-minded individuals, that we could lean on and support each other.”

Regions Bank has a longtime relationship with Kappa, including supporting this year’s conclave. Regions is also home to many proud members, like Christian.

“Regions Bank has been great for us. We have the same mission; we have the same goals of helping the community,” said Shelton as he stood in front of the iconic Regions Big Green Bike.

More than a family reunion, at the conclave, the Kappas gave back to the community, networked, and learned from community partners like Regions Bank about financial education through a Regions Next Step discussion.

“Our idea of achievement is that everyone has an opportunity to be successful,” said Regions’ Head of Community Affairs, Leroy Abrahams.

Abrahams was a special guest. He spoke in front of hundreds at the Kappa undergraduate luncheon about our shared values.

“We share a great relationship with Kappa, business relationship as well as the community engagement relationship,” he said.

Regions’ commitment to the fraternity is evident with the exclusive Kappa Alpha Psi Regions Visa Card.

“It’s an opportunity for Kappa members to carry their pride in their wallet, and every time they shop, they can share their Kappa pride,” said Abrahams.

A partnership that hopefully lasts throughout the fraternity’s next 112 years.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Today Bath & Body Works announces a $250,000 grant to Besa, a Central Ohio-based nonprofit organization that connects people and businesses to community service. From food pantries and community gardens to homeless shelters and senior homes, Besa has provided support to the Central Ohio region for over a decade.

The grant from Bath & Body Works will help fund four key Besa initiatives:

Mobilizing Community Members to Respond to Crises: Allow Besa to mobilize even more volunteers to help people navigate unforeseen crises, like providing fans to people during a heat wave or checking on senior citizens during an electrical blackout.Advancing Equity in Underserved Neighborhoods: Build Besa’s capacity so it can better support nonprofits—and ultimately neighbors in need—by staffing food pantries and distributing diapers in communities like Linden and Franklinton.Overcoming Chronic Community Issues: Support Besa’s efforts to expand volunteer shifts with nonprofits addressing chronic issues, like helping outfit women at Dress for Success or preparing care packages for youth at Star House experiencing homelessness.Celebrating Heritage Months and Moments: Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by curating community engagement opportunities during meaningful times like Black History Month, Women’s History Month and Pride Month.

“For years, we have partnered with Besa on initiatives that serve and support underrepresented communities while inspiring volunteerism among our associates and fostering deeper connections to the community,” says Bath & Body Works Associate Vice President of Community Relations Rhoe Fields. “This investment will allow Besa to inspire that same volunteerism and connection with more in our community who are in times of crisis.”

“Bath & Body Works is an exemplary company on so many levels. The way they consistently seek to understand needs and find creative ways to fill gaps is incredible, and this gift is another example,” says Besa CEO Matthew Goldstein. “It will help us build capacity to serve even more nonprofits by mobilizing critical volunteers during the nation’s ongoing volunteer shortage. And it will enable us to deliver help and hope to our community’s most underserved and overwhelmed during emergencies, when they need that help and hope the most.”

Since partnering with Besa in 2018, over 1,800 Bath & Body Works associates have donated nearly 10,000 volunteer hours and facilitated more than $250,000 in community impact. Bath & Body Works was named Besa’s Corporate Partner of the Year in 2022, and today’s grant marks the largest corporate donation in Besa’s history.

For more information on Bath & Body Works’ commitment to community and philanthropy, visit bbwinc.com.

Contact:  
Emmy Beach 
Bath & Body Works 
communications@bbw.com

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS 
Home of America’s Favorite Fragrances®, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company’s predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,820 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 440 international franchised locations to an online storefront at bathandbodyworks.com.

ABOUT BESA

Besa is a Columbus-based nonprofit dedicated to powering a wave of civic engagement and supporting those who need it most by connecting people and businesses to community service. Besa makes giving back easy by curating more than 70 volunteer experiences every month that Columbus residents can easily find and register for at www.besa.org. It also helps business partners manage and strengthen their philanthropic efforts through strategic planning, curated volunteer experiences, volunteer management and philanthropy software.

As school-aged children and young adults in the United States and many other countries around the world head back to school, parents, teachers and administrators are increasingly keenly aware of the importance of school facilities in supporting student and staff health and well-being. For many, schools represent a safe haven, the center of the community where children learn, develop and grow. Yet, from outdated infrastructure to climate-change related extreme weather events such as wildfire smoke and heat waves that increase the incidence of indoor air pollution, much of the education sector is struggling to keep up with the requirements of operating and maintaining modern school facilities.

It is widely understood how critical the school years are to supporting academic needs, but students, teachers and staff also need educational facilities that support their physical, mental and emotional health. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “By the time a student graduates high school, they will have spent more than 15,000 hours in a school building, which is the second longest indoor exposure time after their home…This is a time of critical physiological, social, and emotional growth and development, which is susceptible to many indoor conditions including, indoor air pollution, mold, elevated noise levels, radon, asbestos, inadequate lighting and more.” These indoor conditions can not only affect student health, but have a significant impact on learning, too. A recent New York Times article highlighted that “decades of research have suggested that improving air quality also can raise academic performance, increase test scores, bolster attention and memory, and decrease absences due to illness or other factors.”

These concerns are magnified when considering the dire condition of school facilities. In 2021, IWBI collaborated with 21st Century School Fund and the National Council on School Facilities to develop and release the 2021 State of our Schools Report: America’s PK-12 Public School Facilities, which compiles and analyzes school district data regarding U.S. PK–12 public school facilities funding and draws attention to the massive underinvestment across the U.S. in funding efforts. The report also identifies solutions for all children, in every district, to attend healthier, safer and more sustainable schools that can provide the supportive learning environments and resilient facilities — of which indoor air quality is a critical component.

The report projected that the United States alone faces a projected shortfall of a staggering $85 billion USD in school facility funding every year. Districts are spending about $110 billion every year on maintenance, operations and capital construction – but the educational facilities standards for good stewardship necessitates nearly $195 billion. This chronic underinvestment in PK-12 school facilities jeopardizes student health, hinders academic achievement and weakens our entire educational framework.

Policymakers are taking notice and are looking to improve their support for schools and districts to address this gap through a federal-state partnership for school infrastructure. Recently reintroduced in July 2023 and strongly supported by IWBI, the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023 in the U.S. aims to “improve public school infrastructure and environments to ensure school facilities are safe, healthy, sustainable, and offer positive learning environments for all students” through a total of $130 billion in investments. As noted by IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon, although many schools are “literally falling apart…we can turn the tide.”

Alongside these policy-focused efforts, it continues to be important to understand how we can deliver school buildings that help protect the health and safety of the students, teachers and staff who walk through their doors every day. Published every three years, the next iteration of State of our Schools will be released in 2024. The 2024 report represents a signature opportunity to provide decision makers with better data and new analyses that prioritize health, education equity and resilience in public educational facilities planning, policy and budget. Over the last two years, since the 2021 report, there is a deepening awareness of the structural inequities in our nation’s public school facilities, by income and race. There is a better understanding of climate related vulnerabilities of our communities and schools. Finally, the shared trauma of a global pandemic has highlighted an array of health threats and hazards associated with the longstanding neglect of our public school facilities. Given this changing landscape, the need has never been more urgent to add to our understanding of the state of our schools and their impact on health and equity – and to take action to address our school facilities.

As states and school districts seek to lead on healthy schools, the WELL Standard is a practical framework that can be leveraged by educational institutions to help demonstrate health leadership and make school buildings safer, healthier and fit for learning. When implementing WELL strategies, educational institutions can capture data on building performance and human experience, and optimize space for health, productivity, creativity and collaboration over time. For leaders who value verified performance, prioritize risk management and want to make a highly visible commitment to health and well-being, WELL is an invaluable program. Nearly 2,200 school locations have already implemented WELL programs across 18 countries encompassing over 78 million square feet, as of August 2023.

In particular, the WELL Health-Safety Rating, a framework for driving health resilience into the center of organizational policies and operational plans through facility operations and management, has been prevalent in supporting the education sector. With over 60 evidence-based strategies from the WELL Standard, from operational policies and maintenance protocols to emergency plans, the WELL Health-Safety Rating serves as a roadmap for organizations to anticipate what’s around the corner and put necessary plans and protocols in place to build confidence and drive long-term resilience.

Jeff Platenberg, Assistant Superintendent, Facilities and Transportation Services at Fairfax County Public Schools, said of the WELL Health-Safety Rating: “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. Ensuring that our buildings are optimized to provide a healthy learning and work environment is a critical part of that effort.”

Dr. John Rozzo, Superintendent, Upper St. Clair School District, also commented: “The health and safety of our students and staff, as well as others who use our school facilities, remain our top priority… the WELL Health-Safety seal is testament that we are sincere in our efforts to go above and beyond to provide the safest environment possible for teaching and learning.”

“Where our children learn matters, and access to safe, healthy and equitable learning environments should be a right, not a privilege. Amidst this school infrastructure crisis, the WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a preparedness solution that meets educational institutions where they are and provides them a way to navigate challenges of the moment and prepare for what’s to come,” said Hodgdon. “We are seeing school facility operators and administrative leaders around the world use the rating as a roadmap to make health, well-being and safety a best practice. Their commitments place the focus on where it should be – student and staff health and well-being – so that learning can take center stage.”

The rating is a tool to help schools start their WELL journey and continue their engagement at the portfolio level through an at-scale commitment. The WELL at scale program helps organizations advance a culture of health by applying WELL across multiple locations, gaining recognition for incremental improvements along the way.

KinderCare Learning Centers achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating for its system of child care and early childhood education facilities. Achieving the rating is one way KinderCare is showing their dedication to the health and safety of their students, teachers and staff, and they have since expanded their commitment to health by pursuing WELL at scale.

Commenting on the importance of implementing the WELL Health-Safety Rating in an early years educational setting, Sarah Redgrave, VP of Operations at KinderCare, said, “…because we serve children when they are at a vulnerable age: where physical, social and emotional well-being will have a direct impact on a child’s development and growth. We want every child in our programs to have a safe and healthy place to learn and grow, so that they can develop the skills they need to build confidence for life. We also believe that by holding ourselves to these high standards of health and safety we will create a safer environment for our staff, which will in turn allow them to focus on what they do best, making a positive impact on the life of each child in their care.”

For more information, read how IWBI is “Supporting Healthier Schools” in our 2022 Annual Report: Delivering on our People-first Approach: Healthy Buildings, Organizations and Communities.

View original content here.

In the second episode of season 4 of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF)’s Sustainability Podcast Series, the CGF chats with Mark Chadwick, EMEA Executive Managing Director at ENGIE Impact to discuss the key takeaways from the CGF Global Summit in Kyoto and the main challenges companies in the Food and Beverage and Consumer Goods sector are facing as they strive to achieve Net Zero.

September 7, 2023 /3BL/ – A new guidebook was released today to provide companies with a resource to support responsible corporate engagement efforts in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain that will improve resiliency, advance sustainability, and reduce the social and environmental impacts of scaling up EV battery production.

Electric Vehicle Batteries: A Guidebook for Responsible Corporate Engagement Throughout the Supply Chain comes as many private and public companies are already operating electric vehicle fleets or plan to soon purchase fleets to reduce their carbon footprint and capture cost savings. For these companies, electric vehicle fleets are supporting their business goals to meet their financial and climate targets. With EV markets undergoing exponential growth, the pressure on EV battery supply chains is intensifying, thereby amplifying the challenges companies already confront. This soaring demand for batteries hinges on critical mineral extraction and refining processes that inherently carry both environmental and social impacts.

“Corporate and consumer demand for electric vehicles is already playing a critical role in decarbonizing the country’s transportation sector. And that demand is only going to expand, along with the need for critical minerals and other materials for the batteries that will help power those vehicles.” said Sara Forni, director of clean vehicles and head of the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance at Ceres. “Companies have the potential to exert considerable influence over how the supply chain operates through thoughtful purchasing practices and advocacy, and this guidebook equips them with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster and promote a more sustainable and resilient EV battery supply chain.”

The guidebook highlights three key areas in the EV battery supply chain where corporate engagement can have the greatest impact: the mining of critical minerals, the recycling and reuse of batteries, and transparency and traceability along the supply chain. It categorizes corporate action in these areas by principles for procurement and engagement and actions.

The guidebook recommends that:

Fleet owners and vehicle manufacturers prioritize battery minerals sourced from Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)-certified mining operators where possible, and advocate for U.S mining reform that includes the remediation of abandoned mines and the implementation of royalties for local communities.Fleet owners and vehicle manufacturers prioritize EVs and batteries that are inherently designed for second-life use and recyclability, marked by clear labels indicating instructions for end-of-life processing. Manufacturers should also actively participate in extended producer responsibility schemes and establish partnerships for second-life usage and recycling initiatives.Companies use manufacturers engaged in the Global Battery Alliance’s Battery Passport initiative and encourage suppliers and collaborators to do the same. Companies should also advocate for federal policies that establish standardized EV battery labeling and traceability mechanisms.

Further, the U.S. has enacted several federal policies geared at fortifying supply chains and nurturing domestic EV battery manufacturing. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 includes substantial funding for critical minerals mining, processing, and research activities in the U.S. The Biden administration’s invoking of the Defense Production Act in 2022 has also served as a catalyst for increased domestic battery investment, fostering a reduced reliance on imports. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has subsequently expanded and redefined EV tax credits by including increasingly stringent material sourcing requirements including one that requires manufacturers to source or produce EV battery materials domestically or from nations holding free trade agreements with the U.S.

Corporate fleet operators are influential stakeholders in the EV supply chain, wielding substantial collective influence and purchasing power that can effectively shape policy agendas and industry priorities. The strategies contained in this guide are designed specifically for U.S. on-road fleets and other major companies. However, the information and recommendations included hold the potential to be of immense benefit to all stakeholders in the expansive EV supply chain network.

Ceres, in coordination with UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, developed and released the guidebook. Ceres works to decarbonize the transportation sector—the highest-emitting sector of the U.S. economy—through the work of its Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance and Ambition 2030 initiative.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Reginald Zimmerman, rzimmerman@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 136

A necessidade de inovações tecnológicas favoráveis ao meio-ambiente acelerou o desenvolvimento de soluções que promovam economia de carbono nas operações de tratamento de superfícies. Ser mais eficiente com menor impacto ambiental, desejo de qualquer empresa, é importante não apenas em termos de negócios: ser produtivo com maior preservação dos recursos naturais se tornou um valioso pilar estratégico de responsabilidade social das empresas, o “S” do ESG, com a aplicação, de fato, da sustentabilidade das companhias, e não apenas em discursos.

Neste aspecto, a aplicação da nanotecnologia em camadas de substratos metálicos mostra-se uma poderosa ferramenta capaz de aliar eficiência, otimização de processos e maior proteção ambiental e laboral por meio de um processo altamente sustentável.

A adoção da nanotecnologia no tratamento de superfície de linhas brancas pode representar economia de até 70% de água, em razão, sobretudo, da menor quantidade de etapas químicas de limpeza em relação ao método convencional, reduzindo em média de 11 para seis etapas na operação de lavagem em linhas de eletrodomésticos, dispensando processos como o refinador de cristais e passivação, por exemplo. 

Essa redução de água se torna ainda mais significativa quando aplicada em grandes processos industriais de desengraxe ou conversão, com tanques de 30 mil a 100 mil litros em atividade 24 horas por dia. O processo feito pela Henkel com nano à base de Zicôrnio permitiu, por exemplo, que 270 mil litros de água fossem economizados na produção de linha branca de uma multinacional. Essa economia equivale a pouco mais de ¼ de uma piscina semiolímpica (25 metros). A otimização de etapas de pré-tratamento também significa menos equipamentos e mais espaço na área da fábrica.

Do ponto de vista energético, os desengraxe e conversores nano no sistema de tratamento de superfície feito com redução de temperatura em até 30°C promove maior eficiência energética com economia substancial no consumo de energia. Isso porque os produtos inovativos Henkel não precisam de aquecimento reduzindo complexidade de processo e podendo oferecer ao mercado um processo limpo, livre de metais pesados e garantindo a qualidade do produto dos nossos clientes. 

Com menos energia dispensada para lavagem das superfícies com baixa temperatura, é possível otimizar a utilização de recursos naturais e assegurar maior segurança laboral dentro da fábrica. 

As ações sustentáveis dentro das operações de tratamento de superfície requerem amplitude em suas atuações, analisando todos os processos produtivos até o descarte. Pré-tratamentos de pintura com processos de fosfatização resultam em uma certa quantidade de resíduos negativos à natureza. A borra de fosfato gerada necessita de uma eficiente gestão de resíduos na companhia para que essa lama seja descartada corretamente ou ganhe outras finalidades sem prejuízo ao meio-ambiente. 

Todo esse sistema de recolhimento de resíduos envolve profissionais e custos. As operações com nanotecnologias apresentam baixa formação de borra. Diferentemente da borra de fosfato, o pouco de borra gerado pode ser descartado diretamente na ETE (Estação de Tratamento de Superficie). Não há necessidade de destinação em empresa especializada.

Tão importante quanto se alinhar às boas práticas sustentáveis visando um bem maior, as novas tecnologias de pré-tratamento de superfície estão ganhando cada vez mais espaço no mercado em razão de sua performance robusta e em atendimento às normas e exigências dos clientes, podendo cooperar com um mundo mais sustentável. 

La necesidad de innovaciones tecnológicas respetuosas con el medio ambiente ha acelerado el desarrollo de soluciones, que fomenten el ahorro de carbono en las operaciones de tratamiento de superficies. Ser más eficiente con menor impacto ambiental, el deseo de cualquier empresa. Ser productivo con una mayor eficiencia en la preservación de los recursos naturales se ha convertido en un valioso pilar estratégico de la sostenibilidad corporativa, la “S” de ESG.

En este sentido, la aplicación de nanotecnología en capas de sustratos metálicos es una poderosa herramienta capaz de combinar eficiencia, optimización de procesos y mayor protección medioambiental y laboral a través de un proceso altamente sostenible.

La adopción de la nanotecnología en el tratamiento superficial de líneas blancas puede suponer un ahorro de hasta el 70% de agua, debido principalmente al menor número de pasos de limpieza química en comparación con el método convencional, reduciendo de media de 11 a seis los pasos de la operación de lavado en líneas de electrodomésticos, prescindiendo de procesos como el refinado de cristales y la pasivación, por ejemplo.

La reducción de agua se hace aún más significativa cuando se aplica a grandes procesos industriales de desengrase o conversión, con tanques de 30.000 a 100.000 litros en actividad las 24 horas del día. El proceso de Henkel con nano a base de Zircón permitió, por ejemplo, ahorrar 270.000 litros de agua en la producción de electrodomésticos de línea blanca de una multinacional. Este ahorro equivale a algo más de ¼ de una piscina semiolímpica (25 metros). La optimización de las fases de pretratamiento también supone menos equipos y más espacio en la zona de la producción.

Desde el punto de vista energético, el desengrase y los nano convertidores en el sistema de tratamiento de superficies realizados mediante la reducción de la temperatura en hasta 30°C promueven una mayor eficiencia energética con ahorros sustanciales en el consumo de energía. Esto se debe a que innovaciones como las presentadas por Henkel, no requieren un calentamiento previo ni posterior, reduciendo la complejidad y proporcionando al mercado un proceso limpio, libre de metales pesados y que garantiza la calidad de los productos de nuestros clientes.

Al utilizar menos energía para lavar las superficies a bajas temperaturas, es posible optimizar el uso de los recursos naturales y garantizar una mayor seguridad laboral dentro de la planta.

Las acciones sostenibles dentro de las operaciones de tratamiento de superficies requieren un abordaje transversal que tenga en cuenta todos los procesos de producción hasta la eliminación. Los pretratamientos de pintura con procesos de fosfatación generan una cierta cantidad de residuos negativos para la naturaleza por esta razón los lodos fosfatados generados requieren una gestión eficaz de los residuos para que los puedan disponer correctamente o utilizarse para otros fines sin perjudicar al medio ambiente.

Todo este sistema de recogida de residuos implica costo. Las operaciones de nanotecnología tienen una baja formación de lodos y a diferencia de los lodos de fosfato, los escasos lodos generados pueden disponerse directamente en la ETE (Planta de Tratamiento de Superficie). No es necesaria la disposición a través de una empresa especializada.

Esta es la razón por la cual es tan relevante hoy en día, alinearse con las buenas prácticas sostenibles para el bien común, las nuevas tecnologías de pretratamiento de superficies están ganando cada vez más espacio en el mercado debido a su sólido rendimiento y al cumplimiento de las normas y requisitos de los clientes, aportando a la construcción de un futuro más sostenible.

SECAUCUS, N.J., Sept. 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the leader in diagnostic information services, today released its 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report.

The report provides information on the company’s strategy regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues which aligns with The Quest Way, the company’s purpose, strategy and culture.

“Our approach to ESG helps us to deliver on our strategy and our purpose of working together to create a healthier world, one life at a time,” said Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO and President.

“This report highlights our strategies and initiatives in equity and health access, employee and community engagement, governance, and the environment. Quest is well-positioned to play an even more significant role in the evolving healthcare ecosystem, including through our investments in the areas of molecular genomics, oncology and consumer health. I’m proud of the work our team is doing to help create a healthier world, and excited about what lies ahead for us.”

In 2022, Quest took an important step in its ESG strategy, establishing a set of goals based on priorities identified in its materiality assessment. The four pillars of the company’s ESG strategy are: Governance and ethics; Equity and health access; Employee and community engagement; and Environmental sustainability.

“We’re making good progress executing our ESG strategy, driving alignment, and embedding ESG throughout our operations to build long-term sustainable value for all of our stakeholders,” said Sam Samad, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, who leads the company’s ESG Leadership Council. “Realizing our purpose of helping to create a healthier world requires a team effort among our employees, partners and the communities we serve.”

The report features key impact areas and highlights from 2022, including: 

More than 20,000 hours volunteered by employeesApproximately 750,000 test requisitions discounted through the company’s patient assistance programs or donated through Quest for Health Equity, the company’s initiative with the Quest Diagnostics Foundation to reduce health disparities in underserved communities.Approximately $15 million in corporate giving and Quest for Health Equity grants to impacted communities across the nation.More than 50% of U.S.-based Quest employees identify as people of color, representing more diversity than the U.S. workforce. Seventy-two percent of the company’s workforce is female, also exceeding the representation of women in the U.S. workforce.Over 6,000 Quest colleagues were promoted and advanced their careers at the company.Thirty percent of the company’s Board of Directors represent a diverse race or ethnicity. Dr. Luis Diaz, Head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recently joined the company’s Board of Directors. The Board has 10 members, including six men and four women.Additionally, the company received its first ISO14001 environmental management certification for its San Juan Capistrano laboratory.

Click here to view the report on the Quest Diagnostics corporate website.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world’s largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors, and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

For further information: Shawn Bevec (Investors): 973-520-2900 or Dennis Moynihan (Media): 973-520-2800

Originally published on Built From Scratch

September is Workforce Development Month and The Home Depot is proud to highlight the Path to Pro program. Path to Pro provides skilled trades resources, trades training and career networking opportunities through PathtoPro.com, the Skills Program and the Network. 

Brandon Williams is a residential contractor who participated in the Skills Program and joined the Path to Pro Network to secure his first skilled trades job.

Brandon always knew he wanted to get into the trades, but it wasn’t until he discovered Path to Pro that he realized the career opportunity. As a child, he participated in Kids Workshops. “Growing up, I loved building things,” he reminisces. “Path to Pro gave me the option to learn and see if that’s what I wanted to do [as a career].”

With a mix of online trades training and real-world exposure, Path to Pro laid the foundation for Brandon’s career. “I knew some skills for hobby work, but for an actual job, I wasn’t fully trained, and it [Path to Pro] put me in a position where I could get trained,” Brandon explains. “Being able to work at your own pace and learn in your own time was probably one the best parts.”

He was quickly contacted by a potential employer through the Path to Pro Network, and that’s when his journey into the skilled trades truly began. “I’d been looking for something in this profession for months before I learned about Path to Pro, and most employers want someone with experience. Path to Pro really helped with that.”

On his very first day, Brandon found himself diving into a bathroom demolition project alongside his supervisor, who showed him the ropes along the way. Brandon found that this hands-on training made a world of difference. “Every day, and this is the part I love about my job, there’s something new.”

As the Skills Program expands to Spanish, Brandon is eager to share the opportunity, especially with his colleagues he works closely with and who speak Spanish.

Looking to the future, Brandon is set on making a mark in the skilled trades. “Eventually, I would love to run my own company. I’d love to do what she [supervisor] did for me – hire new people, teach them and set that path forward.” When asked if he could see himself hiring through the Path to Pro Network in the future, Brandon exclaimed, “One hundred percent! I wouldn’t really be here right now if it weren’t for Path to Pro.”

“Honestly, the biggest thing I can say is thank you,” said Brandon. I love being able to go to work every day doing what I love, and I wouldn’t be able to do that without Path to Pro.”

Since its inception, Path to Pro has had more than 8,000 people register for the Skills Program. The Path to Pro Network has introduced more than 12,000 jobseekers to millions of The Home Depot’s Pro customers nationwide and has provided exclusive access to more than 2,200 jobs.

Those interested in learning more about careers in the skilled trades can visit PathtoPro.com.

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