Tag: 3BL

Being a leading provider of high-performance mineral and material solutions goes beyond delivering quality products. Everything we do is in support of our core mission and vision that guides our approach as an organization:

• Our Mission: Responsibly provide minerals solutions for a better tomorrow.
• Our Vision: Covia is the leading minerals solutions provider, and through the passion and commitment of our people, we enable our customers’ success—ensuring an enduring and sustainable future for our company.

Across plants, labs, customer partnerships, and communities, Covia teams demonstrate what it truly means to operate responsibly, with passion and commitment. From safety and teamwork to growth, courage, and customer focus, here’s a look back at how Covia’s values shaped real decisions, meaningful progress, and shared success throughout 2025.

Safety: Our North Star

Safety remains the foundation of everything we do at Covia. It is not a box to check or a metric to chase. If we’re not operating safely, we are failing in our mission.

Covia’s commitment to safety was fully on display at the Troy Grove Resin plant, a facility that hasn’t had a lost-time incident in more than 10 years. Every day, the facility’s 17 team members share a mindset rooted in trust, accountability, and pride, understanding that safety is a shared responsibility that affects each person, their fellow employees, and their loved ones at home.

“Safety starts with us,” said Troy Grove Resin Operations Manager Jennifer Perry. “Many of these guys have worked side-by-side for decades. They’re not just protecting themselves; they’re protecting each other.”

Read the full story: Processes, People, and Pride: Inside Covia’s Troy Grove Resin Plant

Team: Growing Together at Every Stage

The way we work with each other is crucial for ensuring that our passion and commitment can drive our success. Covia’s ability to achieve our vision is dependent on building high-performing work teams that learn and grow together and as individuals.

In 2025, a series of stories highlighted how Covia invests in people not just as employees, but as individuals with potential. Learning is an ongoing process, and we strive to provide hands-on learning, mentorship, and trust to everyone, from interns who are new to the industry to established employees looking to grow.

“I have a college degree, but you don’t go to school for manufacturing resin-coated sand,” Jennifer Perry said. “Covia gave me the opportunity to get out there and learn, and that opened the door for me to spread my wings and continue to grow.”

Read the full stories:

• The Next Generation of Talent: Investing in the Future Through Internship
• From Intern to Employee: Gary Vinson and Blake Rader’s Journey at Covia
• Jennifer Perry: Elevating People, Process, and Product

Customers: Focused on What Matters Most

Customer success is central to Covia’s vision. In 2025, this commitment was evident throughout the organization. The work of all teams, whether they interact directly with customers or support those who do, matters in how well we can provide the minerals solutions our customers need.

At Covia’s Elco and Tamms plants, that commitment is deeply personal. The pride behind the work done at both plants is unmistakable, with teams taking measures to increase the output of fine-grade products and reduce operating times. These proactive process improvements are an example of how the team’s hard work impacts repeat customers from all over the world.

“People here feel like what they’re doing matters,” said Elco and Tamms Plant Manager Bleve Willoughby. “Our team takes pride in making a premium product that makes a difference for our customers.”

Read the full story: Local Roots, Global Reach: Inside Covia’s Elco and Tamms Plants

Growth: Innovating for the Future

As Covia continues to grow, we must embrace opportunities and adapt as necessary to continue being the leader in our industry. That dedication also requires us to innovate and do things we’ve never done.

In 2025, innovation played a central role in our commitment to growth. The opening of the Covia Innovation Center was instrumental in accelerating the journey from mineral to market. That philosophy carries through in advanced applications like 3D sand printing, where Covia’s consistency, reliability, and technical expertise support new manufacturing possibilities.

“We are not just a raw material supplier – we are a mineral solutions provider,” said Mike Marcely, Covia’s EVP, US/Canada and Business Development. “We grow together with our customers, and we take a customer-centric approach to innovation.”

Read the full stories:

• From Mineral to Market: Meet the Covia Innovation Center
• Additive Advantage: Why Foundries Are Turning to 3D Sand Printing

Courage: Doing the Right Thing, Even When It’s Hard

Covia’s mission is to responsibly provide minerals solutions for a better tomorrow. Our ambition and strategic drive for growth won’t always be easy to pursue, but it is essential that we make the right decisions for our customers, team members, and communities as we move forward.

A commitment to courage was on full display at Covia’s Hephzibah plant, a 125-year-old facility that sets the standard in kaolin clay mining. The plant has a rich history as an active part of the local community, and the Hephzibah team was quick to help out in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Whether through community involvement, long-term stewardship, or standing firm on values, Covia’s courage shows up in actions that prioritize people and place over convenience.

“We don’t just work here,” said Hephzibah Senior Plant Manager Adam Beatty. “We live here, too. And that means giving back in every way we can.”

Read the full story: Kaolin Clay, Community, and Commitment: Celebrating 125 Years at Covia’s Hephzibah Plant

Covia’s Values: Operational, Not Aspirational

In 2025, Covia’s values guided how we can ensure an enduring and sustainable future for our company. They are a core part of why progress is possible, and they continue to transform our expertise into solutions that make a meaningful impact on the customers and communities we serve.

LOS ANGELES, February 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Global Green, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) will convene an invite-only Executive Leadership Forum at EarthX this April, bringing together senior leaders to advance a shared vision for healthier, more resilient cities. The forum will gather executives and experts from industry, academia, public health, civil society and mission-driven organizations to explore how resilient, people-centered buildings and organizational strategies can improve human health, strengthen communities and bolster resilience in the face of growing climate and societal risks.

Held on April 22, 2026, alongside EarthX in Dallas, the Executive Leadership Forum will sit at the nexus of people and communities, health and well-being, the built environment and infrastructure, sustainability, resilience, and risk reduction. Designed as an interactive, solutions-oriented exchange, the convening will focus on translating science, policy and leadership into practical action, charting a path forward for leaders who recognize the profound influence that buildings and organizational decisions have on people and cities.

“It’s an honor to host this Executive Leadership Forum and to welcome Global Green, WBCSD, and IWBI to Dallas this April,” said Trammell S. Crow, Founder, EarthX. “This convening will be a critical part of EarthX 2026, bringing the right leaders together at the right moment to accelerate practical solutions that strengthen health, resilience, and long-term value for communities.”

For business leaders, these issues are no longer peripheral: decisions about buildings, workplaces and organizational strategy now directly shape workforce performance, risk exposure, operating resilience, and long-term value creation.

“This is a pivotal moment for business to build on the leadership it has demonstrated for years,” said Bill Sisson, Executive Director of Americas, WBCSD. “As climate, physical, and social risks increasingly affect operations, assets, and workforces, companies are being called to move beyond incremental change. Forums like this help senior leaders align on practical, scalable solutions that integrate health and resilience into core business strategy—strengthening performance and long-term value at the scale the moment demands.

The Forum will feature a carefully curated group of nearly 50 senior leaders, including CEOs, sustainability and resilience executives, public health experts, real estate and infrastructure leaders, risk professionals, city and community leaders, and philanthropic and NGO partners. Through fireside conversations, expert insights and facilitated small-group dialogue, participants will surface new ideas, proven practices and practical tools to accelerate progress across sectors.

“We are seizing this opportunity to come together and align as leaders, breaking down silos to coordinate more effectively and collaborate more deeply,” said Bill Bridge, CEO, Global Green. “The challenges facing our cities demand coordinated leadership. By convening decision-makers who shape buildings, organizations and communities, we can drive outcomes that are not only ambitious, but actionable and enduring.”

Programming will include a signature fireside conversation, multi-sector panels and spotlight sessions on innovations shaping the future of healthy and resilient buildings, and interactive working sessions focused on applying best practices and overcoming barriers to implementation. The Forum will also spotlight confirmed speakers and notable participating organizations, with additional leaders to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Health is the connective tissue between human performance, corporate resilience and environmental stewardship,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “By uniting science with executive leadership, we are recognizing a fundamental truth: you cannot have resilient cities without healthy people and healthy buildings. Our mission is to move this dialogue into action, accelerating market transformation and lasting change.”

The invitation-only Executive Leadership Forum is designed to drive meaningful collaboration and tangible outcomes. A flagship result of the convening will be a special EarthX executive report, shaped by forum participants, that lays out a roadmap for healthier, more resilient cities. Serving as a call to action, the post-event report will focus on leadership priorities for healthy, resilient cities, defining critical areas for action and offering leaders across sectors a clear framework to align efforts, mobilize partnerships and accelerate solutions at scale.

Media contacts:
Global Green: amy@bigpicpr.com
WBCSD: tcalandro@purposefulstrategies.com
IWBI: media@wellcertified.com

About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)   
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is the leading community of around 230 global businesses making sustainability performance a key driver for competitiveness. Established in 1995, WBCSD is a non-profit member-led organization that connects business leaders through all sectors and major economies, and creates the tools and frameworks to scale collective impact, drive cross-sector innovation, and shape an ambitious, enabling policy agenda. We operate from seven offices worldwide — in Geneva, New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, London, Singapore and Wuhan — enabling collaboration across value chains and geographies. Together with our members, we are rewiring economic and financial systems to support the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive, and inclusive future that creates business value.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky
www.wbcsd.org

About Global Green
Global Green is the American affiliate of Green Cross International (GCI), an international non- governmental organization founded by President Gorbachev in 1993. For nearly 30 years, Global Green has served as a recognized national leader in advancing smart solutions to climate change that improve lives and protect the planet, with the mission to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. Programmatically, Global Green works to create green cities, neighborhoods, affordable housing, and schools to protect environmental health, improve livability, create sustainable communities, and support the planet’s natural systems. In service of its mission, Global Green has partnered with over 50 organizations including local and federal governments, Fortune 100 companies, academic institutions, international groups and private foundations.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

View original content here.

LOS ANGELES, February 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Global Green, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) will convene an invite-only Executive Leadership Forum at EarthX this April, bringing together senior leaders to advance a shared vision for healthier, more resilient cities. The forum will gather executives and experts from industry, academia, public health, civil society and mission-driven organizations to explore how resilient, people-centered buildings and organizational strategies can improve human health, strengthen communities and bolster resilience in the face of growing climate and societal risks.

Held on April 22, 2026, alongside EarthX in Dallas, the Executive Leadership Forum will sit at the nexus of people and communities, health and well-being, the built environment and infrastructure, sustainability, resilience, and risk reduction. Designed as an interactive, solutions-oriented exchange, the convening will focus on translating science, policy and leadership into practical action, charting a path forward for leaders who recognize the profound influence that buildings and organizational decisions have on people and cities.

“It’s an honor to host this Executive Leadership Forum and to welcome Global Green, WBCSD, and IWBI to Dallas this April,” said Trammell S. Crow, Founder, EarthX. “This convening will be a critical part of EarthX 2026, bringing the right leaders together at the right moment to accelerate practical solutions that strengthen health, resilience, and long-term value for communities.”

For business leaders, these issues are no longer peripheral: decisions about buildings, workplaces and organizational strategy now directly shape workforce performance, risk exposure, operating resilience, and long-term value creation.

“This is a pivotal moment for business to build on the leadership it has demonstrated for years,” said Bill Sisson, Executive Director of Americas, WBCSD. “As climate, physical, and social risks increasingly affect operations, assets, and workforces, companies are being called to move beyond incremental change. Forums like this help senior leaders align on practical, scalable solutions that integrate health and resilience into core business strategy—strengthening performance and long-term value at the scale the moment demands.

The Forum will feature a carefully curated group of nearly 50 senior leaders, including CEOs, sustainability and resilience executives, public health experts, real estate and infrastructure leaders, risk professionals, city and community leaders, and philanthropic and NGO partners. Through fireside conversations, expert insights and facilitated small-group dialogue, participants will surface new ideas, proven practices and practical tools to accelerate progress across sectors.

“We are seizing this opportunity to come together and align as leaders, breaking down silos to coordinate more effectively and collaborate more deeply,” said Bill Bridge, CEO, Global Green. “The challenges facing our cities demand coordinated leadership. By convening decision-makers who shape buildings, organizations and communities, we can drive outcomes that are not only ambitious, but actionable and enduring.”

Programming will include a signature fireside conversation, multi-sector panels and spotlight sessions on innovations shaping the future of healthy and resilient buildings, and interactive working sessions focused on applying best practices and overcoming barriers to implementation. The Forum will also spotlight confirmed speakers and notable participating organizations, with additional leaders to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Health is the connective tissue between human performance, corporate resilience and environmental stewardship,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “By uniting science with executive leadership, we are recognizing a fundamental truth: you cannot have resilient cities without healthy people and healthy buildings. Our mission is to move this dialogue into action, accelerating market transformation and lasting change.”

The invitation-only Executive Leadership Forum is designed to drive meaningful collaboration and tangible outcomes. A flagship result of the convening will be a special EarthX executive report, shaped by forum participants, that lays out a roadmap for healthier, more resilient cities. Serving as a call to action, the post-event report will focus on leadership priorities for healthy, resilient cities, defining critical areas for action and offering leaders across sectors a clear framework to align efforts, mobilize partnerships and accelerate solutions at scale.

Media contacts:
Global Green: amy@bigpicpr.com
WBCSD: tcalandro@purposefulstrategies.com
IWBI: media@wellcertified.com

About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)   
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is the leading community of around 230 global businesses making sustainability performance a key driver for competitiveness. Established in 1995, WBCSD is a non-profit member-led organization that connects business leaders through all sectors and major economies, and creates the tools and frameworks to scale collective impact, drive cross-sector innovation, and shape an ambitious, enabling policy agenda. We operate from seven offices worldwide — in Geneva, New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, London, Singapore and Wuhan — enabling collaboration across value chains and geographies. Together with our members, we are rewiring economic and financial systems to support the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive, and inclusive future that creates business value.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky
www.wbcsd.org

About Global Green
Global Green is the American affiliate of Green Cross International (GCI), an international non- governmental organization founded by President Gorbachev in 1993. For nearly 30 years, Global Green has served as a recognized national leader in advancing smart solutions to climate change that improve lives and protect the planet, with the mission to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. Programmatically, Global Green works to create green cities, neighborhoods, affordable housing, and schools to protect environmental health, improve livability, create sustainable communities, and support the planet’s natural systems. In service of its mission, Global Green has partnered with over 50 organizations including local and federal governments, Fortune 100 companies, academic institutions, international groups and private foundations.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

View original content here.

February 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Welcome to the BIER Member Spotlight series, highlighting the leaders advancing environmental sustainability across BIER member companies and the global beverage sector.

As the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable enters its 20th year, we are pleased to welcome Harriet Cullum, Global Head of Water, Agriculture and Nature Strategy at Diageo, as BIER’s 2026 Steering Committee Co-Chair, serving alongside Chair David Grant.

Harriet is the Global Head of Water, Nature and Agriculture at Diageo, leading a team of talented sustainability professionals focused on integrated strategy development and execution, in partnership with functional and market teams. This work helps drive performance toward Diageo’s Spirit of Progress plan, supporting continuous evolution in a fast-moving regulatory and societal landscape, and contributing to broader environmental and social progress.

With a career spanning environmental and social sustainability in corporates and not-for-profits in Europe and Asia Pacific, Harriet brings a strong global perspective and a deep understanding of how data, transparency and communication can accelerate meaningful change. She is a passionate advocate for sustainability and impact storytelling, and firmly believes in leveraging data to engage stakeholders and drive action.

Harriet’s systems-level approach, spanning water, agriculture, nature, and ESG performance, aligns closely with BIER’s mission to advance practical, science-based solutions through collaboration. Her experience and leadership will be a valuable asset as BIER continues to support its members in navigating complex environmental challenges and strengthening collective impact.

“I am delighted to be taking on the role of BIER Co-Chair, supporting David in his role as Chair. I am passionate about the power of industry collaboration to make progress on complex sustainability challenges, so it’s a real privilege to support the important role BIER plays in this for the beverage industry.”” ~ Harriet Cullum, Global Head of Water, Nature and Agriculture Strategy

As BIER looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, Harriet’s role as Co-Chair comes at a pivotal moment, building on two decades of industry collaboration while helping guide the organization’s next chapter of strategic evolution.

“Harriet is a thoughtful and inclusive leader with a pragmatic, systems-driven approach and a clear focus on action. That mindset will be incredibly valuable as BIER builds momentum and expands its collective impact.”~ Erica Pann, Executive Director of BIER

We are delighted to welcome Harriet into this leadership role and look forward to her contributions as BIER continues to advance environmental sustainability across the global beverage sector.

February 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Welcome to the BIER Member Spotlight series, highlighting the leaders advancing environmental sustainability across BIER member companies and the global beverage sector.

As the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable enters its 20th year, we are pleased to welcome Harriet Cullum, Global Head of Water, Agriculture and Nature Strategy at Diageo, as BIER’s 2026 Steering Committee Co-Chair, serving alongside Chair David Grant.

Harriet is the Global Head of Water, Nature and Agriculture at Diageo, leading a team of talented sustainability professionals focused on integrated strategy development and execution, in partnership with functional and market teams. This work helps drive performance toward Diageo’s Spirit of Progress plan, supporting continuous evolution in a fast-moving regulatory and societal landscape, and contributing to broader environmental and social progress.

With a career spanning environmental and social sustainability in corporates and not-for-profits in Europe and Asia Pacific, Harriet brings a strong global perspective and a deep understanding of how data, transparency and communication can accelerate meaningful change. She is a passionate advocate for sustainability and impact storytelling, and firmly believes in leveraging data to engage stakeholders and drive action.

Harriet’s systems-level approach, spanning water, agriculture, nature, and ESG performance, aligns closely with BIER’s mission to advance practical, science-based solutions through collaboration. Her experience and leadership will be a valuable asset as BIER continues to support its members in navigating complex environmental challenges and strengthening collective impact.

“I am delighted to be taking on the role of BIER Co-Chair, supporting David in his role as Chair. I am passionate about the power of industry collaboration to make progress on complex sustainability challenges, so it’s a real privilege to support the important role BIER plays in this for the beverage industry.”” ~ Harriet Cullum, Global Head of Water, Nature and Agriculture Strategy

As BIER looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, Harriet’s role as Co-Chair comes at a pivotal moment, building on two decades of industry collaboration while helping guide the organization’s next chapter of strategic evolution.

“Harriet is a thoughtful and inclusive leader with a pragmatic, systems-driven approach and a clear focus on action. That mindset will be incredibly valuable as BIER builds momentum and expands its collective impact.”~ Erica Pann, Executive Director of BIER

We are delighted to welcome Harriet into this leadership role and look forward to her contributions as BIER continues to advance environmental sustainability across the global beverage sector.

February 17, 2026 /3BL/ – Whirlpool Corporation has been named to TIME’s list of “America’s Most Iconic Companies,” earning a place among 250 U.S. companies recognized for their enduring influence on the fabric of American culture.

“It is an honor to be named one of the nation’s most iconic companies, especially as we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday,” said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. “From the company’s humble start in 1911 to the millions of American homes we serve today, our legacy is built on designing and manufacturing appliances that improve life at home. We’re proud to have started in America and stayed in America, growing for generations alongside the communities that have helped make us who we are.”

Whirlpool Corporation is the only home appliance company to be recognized as one of America’s Most Iconic Companies, which is based on an independent survey of U.S. residents who were invited to evaluate companies on recognition, cultural impact, emotional connection, and resilience.

The company’s iconic brand portfolio includes Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. Approximately 80% of the products the company sells in the U.S. are manufactured domestically, supported by more than 20,000 U.S. employees, including 14,000 manufacturing workers across 10 U.S. plants. Over the past decade, Whirlpool Corporation has invested $23 billion in American manufacturing, labor and logistics.

Click here to see TIME’s full list of America’s Most Iconic Companies.

View original content here.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com. 

KeyBank, the City of Cleveland, and LISC Cleveland have taken a major step toward transforming the region’s affordable housing landscape with the groundbreaking of Walton Senior Apartments, the first of two investments launched under the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund, a new $100 million initiative designed to close long‑standing financing gaps and accelerate development across the city. This milestone marks the beginning of a series of strategic investments that will strengthen neighborhoods and create long‑term housing affordability for Cleveland residents.

A Model of Partnership Making Immediate Impact

Walton Senior Apartments represents what’s possible when public and private partners come together with a shared purpose. Developed in collaboration with Volker Development, Cuyahoga County, LISC Cleveland, and the City of Cleveland, the project demonstrates how aligned investments can address critical housing shortages while supporting seniors who want to remain rooted in their communities.

Meeting a Critical Need for Cleveland’s Older Adults

Located in the heart of the Clark‑Fulton neighborhood, the development will bring 52 new affordable homes for residents ages 55 and older. Twenty of those homes will include long‑term Section 8 Project‑Based Vouchers, ensuring deeply affordable rents for seniors living on fixed incomes. The project will help older adults maintain stability, dignity, and community connection, an essential part of aging in place.

KeyBank’s Investment in Cleveland’s Housing Future

As part of its commitment to expanding affordable housing, Key provided nearly $24 million in construction financing and Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity through its CDLI platform and Key Community Development Corporation. This investment supports more than the construction of a building—it supports opportunity, security, and a stronger future for residents who have long contributed to the community.

A Foundation for More to Come

With Walton Senior Apartments leading the way, the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund is poised to spark additional development that expands access to safe, affordable housing across the city. This groundbreaking marks the first of many projects that will help reshape Cleveland’s housing landscape for years to come.

National Leadership in Affordable Housing

Ranked the #2 affordable housing lender in the nation, KeyBank continues to invest in developments that change lives and uplift communities. Each new project is a testament to Key’s belief that housing is the foundation for healthier, stronger neighborhoods—and that supporting communities means supporting the people who call them home.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Stronger double materiality assessments emerge when stakeholder surveys are used to validate ESG priorities with real-world input.
• A strategic survey approach helps translate diverse stakeholder perspectives into decision-ready materiality insights.
• Well-analyzed survey data can be transformed into a materiality matrix that directly informs strategy, reporting, and governance.
• Alignment with evolving ESG reporting requirements, including CSRD and ISSB, is reinforced through documented stakeholder input.
• Consistent use of survey insights enables ongoing stakeholder engagement and supports long-term value creation.

Even well-intentioned businesses can benefit from deeper insight into what matters most to their stakeholders. While ESG priorities are often informed by internal expertise, direct stakeholder input helps ensure those priorities are grounded in real-world perspectives.

Incorporating surveys into a double materiality assessment (DMA) is an effective way to gather this input at scale. Surveys enable companies to systematically capture stakeholder views on both financial impacts and broader societal and environmental effects, helping to validate assumptions, identify gaps, and focus on the issues most relevant to decision-making and long-term value creation.

In this guide, we’ll examine what a materiality assessment is, then walk through how to conduct materiality assessment surveys using the following seven steps:

1. Identify internal and external stakeholders
2. Conduct initial stakeholder outreach
3. Identify and prioritize what you want to measure
4. Design your materiality survey
5. Launch your survey and start collecting insights
6. Analyze the insights
7. Put insights into action

What Is a Materiality Assessment?

A double materiality assessment is a structured process used to identify and prioritize the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics that are most relevant to a company from two perspectives:

• How sustainability issues affect the company’s financial performance
• How the company’s activities affect society and the environment

The process combines multiple inputs, including internal expertise, risk and opportunity analysis, regulatory and peer research, and direct stakeholder engagement. Together, these elements inform a materiality matrix that visualizes priorities and guides strategy, reporting, and communications. Over time, this approach supports more focused decision-making and clearer, more credible sustainability narratives.

Surveys play a specific role within this process by fostering stakeholder engagement. They provide a scalable, consistent way to capture their perspectives and validate internal assumptions, particularly when assessing impact materiality.

How to Conduct a Materiality Assessment Survey

Understanding how to effectively design and execute materiality assessment surveys is a crucial part of a comprehensive DMA. The following steps outline how to plan, execute, and apply survey insights within the broader materiality process.

1. Identify internal and external stakeholders

Materiality assessments are most effective when they reflect a wide range of perspectives across the value chain.

Begin by identifying relevant stakeholder groups and key contacts within each group who can provide informed input. This typically includes internal stakeholders such as executive leadership, board members, regional managers, and employees, as well as external stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, trade associations, and non-governmental organizations. Including both groups helps ensure a balanced view of priorities and impacts.

2. Conduct initial stakeholder outreach

Once stakeholders have been identified, reach out early to encourage participation and set expectations.

Communicate why their perspective matters, how their input will be used, and how it will inform sustainability strategy and decision-making. Clear, concise outreach helps build trust and improve response rates once the survey is launched.

3. Identify and prioritize what you want to measure

Before designing the survey, determine which ESG topics and indicators stakeholders will evaluate.

These indicators are commonly grouped into economic, social, and environmental categories, such as financial performance, labor practices, human rights, resource use and climate impacts. Use existing internal data, preliminary stakeholder feedback, media and peer analysis, and external frameworks such as GRI, SASB, and CSRD to identify topics most relevant to your business context. This step ensures that the survey focuses on issues that are meaningful and relevant.

4. Design your materiality survey

Surveys should be structured and consistent to produce insights that can be compared, analyzed, and visualized.

A traditional survey format allows stakeholders to rate the importance and impact of each ESG topic using a numerical scale, such as 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. This provides quantitative data that can be aggregated across stakeholder groups. Optional open-text fields allow respondents to add context and qualitative insights that enrich the results.

Once the survey content is finalized, deploy it using a tool that is easy for stakeholders to access and simple for your team to analyze. Common options include dedicated sustainability software or general survey platforms such as SurveyMonkey, Alchemer, or Google Forms.

5. Launch your survey and start collecting insights

Invite stakeholders to participate by sharing the survey link and giving them a clear deadline.

Thank them for their time and explain how their input contributes to the assessment. As the deadline approaches, follow up with reminders to encourage completion. Providing a point of contact for questions can further improve participation and data quality.

6. Analyze the insights

Once responses are collected, review results both collectively and by stakeholder group. Aggregate scores by ESG topic and compare results across internal and external stakeholders, or across roles such as management and employees. Pay close attention to written comments, which often provide valuable context behind numerical rankings.

Use this analysis to identify common priorities, areas of divergence, and topics with high stakeholder significance. These insights can then be visualized in a materiality matrix that supports decision-making and reporting.

7. Put insights into action

Survey results should inform strategy, not conclude the engagement.

Share outcomes with stakeholders through sustainability reports, summaries, or digital channels, and invite ongoing feedback. Use findings to refine sustainability priorities, guide communications, and align initiatives with stakeholder expectations.

By integrating survey insights into broader strategy and reporting efforts, companies can strengthen stakeholder trust and ensure their materiality assessment delivers long-term value.

Aligning Materiality Assessments with Emerging ESG Standards

As sustainability reporting requirements evolve, materiality assessments are expected to clearly show how ESG topics were identified and prioritized. Stakeholder surveys support this expectation by providing structured, documented input that strengthens the double materiality assessment and supports alignment with frameworks such as CSRD and ISSB. When combined with internal analysis and regulatory research, survey results help demonstrate the ways in which stakeholder perspectives informed topic selection and prioritization across both impact and financial dimensions.

Align With Your Stakeholders

Surveys translate stakeholder engagement into actionable insights by capturing perspectives in a consistent and measurable way. When survey results are analyzed alongside internal data, they inform ESG priorities, reporting decisions, and communications. Sharing outcomes with stakeholders and explaining how their input influenced decisions reinforces transparency and supports ongoing engagement.

Have any questions?

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Taco Bell

When Heilyn G. came to the United States from Cuba in 2016, she arrived with her family for a new start, not speaking any English. In April 2018, she started her first job as a Team Member at Taco Bell, stepping into an unfamiliar environment with curiosity, a strong work ethic and a desire to learn.

From the very beginning, Heilyn stood out. She learned English on the job, communicating with her team while continuously seeking opportunities to grow. Her mindset quickly set her apart, leading to her promotion to Shift Manager in June 2019. Just six months later, she advanced to Assistant General Manager, and in December 2025, she took on the role of Restaurant General Manager.

Her leadership truly shined during the COVID pandemic. While her Assistant General Manager was on leave, Heilyn stepped up to run the restaurant, persevering through one of the most challenging periods the world faced. Her dedication to the team ensured the restaurant continued to succeed during uncertain times.

Heilyn’s impact has extended far beyond her own role as Heilyn has played a critical part in developing new Shift Leads, Assistant General Managers, and future leaders at Taco Bell. She partners closely with her Restaurant General Manager to identify talent, strengthen the restaurant culture, and elevate the Team Member experience every day!

Those who work alongside Heilyn often speak about her humility and thoughtfulness. Xochitl Z., People & Culture Director at Taco Bell Corp., who trained with her in Miami, shared how inspired she was by Heilyn’s pride in her restaurant and her approach to leadership.

“During training, I observed her onboarding a new employee and how thoughtful she was to make that new employee feel welcomed. She was so proud of her restaurant, the food quality, and leveraging all the tools the company provided…I learned a lot from her!”

Heilyn’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. She continues to inspire her team every day, proving that with passion and leading with heart, there are no limits to how far you can go.

Heilyn, you make more people say, “This is the best job.” Thank you for all that you do… we’ll continue to cheer you on and can’t wait to see what you do next!

Across Latin America, 2025 marked a year of measurable sustainability progress for DP World — driven by decarbonization, renewable energy adoption, biodiversity protection, education, and inclusive community development.

From ports and terminals to surrounding communities, DP World continued embedding sustainability into core operations, translating long-term commitments into tangible environmental and social outcomes across the region.

DP World in Brazil: Accelerating Decarbonization Through RTG Electrification and Environmental Investment

In Brazil, DP World delivered some of its most tangible emissions reductions in the region by targeting diesel-intensive port equipment and scaling long-term environmental programs at DP World’s Santos terminal

• Electrified 13 rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes, converting them from diesel to electric power and reducing diesel consumption by up to 60% — a major step toward DP World’s carbon neutrality target by 2040
• RTG electrification formed part of an R$80 million (US$16.2 million) investment, using overhead cable systems to maintain operational efficiency while cutting emissions
• Earned a second consecutive Gold Seal for Emissions Transparency, recognizing robust measurement, reporting, and disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions
• Invested R$12 million (US$2.4 million) in more than 30 environmental projects, including mangrove conservation, biomass reuse, and waste reduction initiatives
• Advanced its Zero Landfill program, eliminating landfill waste from terminal operations and reinforcing circular economy principles

DP World in Ecuador: Biodiversity Protection, Education, and Gender Inclusion

In Ecuador, sustainability initiatives combined environmental stewardship with workforce development and inclusion.

• Delivered an Agreement for the Sustainable Use and Stewardship of the Mangrove Ecosystem (AUSCEM), placing more than 900 hectares of mangroves under community custodianship — a first for Ecuador’s port sector
• Advanced nature-based solutions to strengthen coastal resilience and marine biodiversity at and around DP World’s Posorja terminal
• Graduated students from the “Comienza con Nosotros” dual-training program, developed with ESPOL, supporting careers in mechatronics and port logistics
• Formalized a Letter of Intent with Red MAMLa, reinforcing commitments to gender equality and female leadership in the maritime sector

DP World in Peru: Decarbonization Leadership and Community Investment

In Peru, DP World continued to demonstrate how operational growth and emissions reduction can advance in parallel — delivering measurable progress on its decarbonization roadmap while expanding community impact.

• Advanced its commitment to a 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, positioning DP World in Peru as a leader within the company’s global decarbonization strategy
• Reduced its carbon footprint from nearly 13,000 tons of CO₂ to a projected 9,700 tons by the end of 2025 — an approximate 22% reduction, despite increased capacity and cargo volumes
• Achieved emissions reductions through energy efficiency measures and cleaner operations at DP World Callao
• Inaugurated six digital classrooms, benefiting more than 300 students and expanding access to digital education
• Continued the “Emprende DP World” program, supporting local micro-entrepreneurs and strengthening economic resilience in the Callao community
• Recognized with Best Good Practices in Social Sustainability by the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ Sustainability Observatory

DP World in the Dominican Republic: Clean Energy, Electrification, and Inclusive Growth

In the Dominican Republic, DP World delivered one of its most comprehensive sustainability performances of the year.

• Generated more than 3.26 million kWh of renewable energy through its photovoltaic solar plant, reducing over 1,100 tons of CO₂ emissions in 2025
• Expanded electric internal transfer vehicle (E-ITV) integration, reducing emissions, noise, and operational inefficiencies
• Advanced mangrove reforestation and watershed restoration projects for a third consecutive year, supporting climate resilience and water security
• Delivered youth training and micro-entrepreneurship programs, reaching thousands of community beneficiaries
• Earned the 3R Sustainability Certification and the “Sustainable Investment” award from ProDominicana

DP World in Chile: Clean Energy, Sustainable Mobility, and Community Wellbeing

In Chile, DP World’s sustainability impact spanned clean energy enablement, low-carbon transport, education, and community investment.

• Continued to operate on 100% renewable electricity, sourced from hydroelectric power, the first port in South America to do so.
• Supported the handling and movement of wind energy components at DP World’s Lirquén terminal, strengthening supply chains for Chile’s renewable energy sector
• Enabled one of the largest global shipments of electric buses through DP World’s San Antonio terminal, supporting national clean mobility goals
• Launched a fully funded English Academy in San Antonio and sports and social center in Lirquén, expanding access to language education for local youth
• Opened the DP World Sports and Social Centre in Lirquén, a CLP $150 million (US $290k+) community investment supporting recreation, wellbeing, and social connection
• Established a CLP $2.2 billion (US$2M+) fund to support permanent housing for 164 DP World employees and their families in the wake of devastating wild fires in Lirquén.

A Regional Commitment to Sustainable Trade

Across Latin America, DP World’s 2025 sustainability performance reflects a consistent, integrated approach — embedding environmental responsibility, social inclusion, and economic growth into everyday operations.

Whether cutting emissions through electrification, restoring ecosystems, expanding access to education, or strengthening community wellbeing, DP World continues to demonstrate that sustainable trade is not a parallel initiative — it is fundamental to how the company operates across the region.

Learn more about DP World’s global sustainability work.