Tag: 3BL

On July 20, 2023, AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Roche, Sanofi and Samsung Biologics, seven of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, published an open letter to all of their suppliers with an urgent plea to become greener, more efficient, and circular. The manufacturers have joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) in a strategic effort to decarbonize the healthcare sector and move it toward net zero.

What is different from each individual company’s previous corporate climate communications is the fact that they have joined together and broadened their collective goals to require reporting and commitments from their supply chains. The companies’ leaders have set joint, minimum climate and sustainability targets as well as definitive deadlines, beginning in 2025, to disclose emissions, climate and waste reductions, and science-based target goals. They are also requiring their suppliers to make commitments to switch to renewable power by 2030, to set climate and reporting standards for suppliers further upstream, and to set targets to increase water efficiency and establish comprehensive water stewardship practices.

This is a LOT for suppliers to take in! Many, particularly small and privately owned companies, have never had to calculate their own Scope 1 and 2 emissions, consider their Scope 3 emissions (emissions from their own upstream and downstream supply chains), or address the setting of science-based targets for the future. This is a huge lift for any company, and embarking on a sustainable climate journey can seem like an insurmountable task, particularly with a reporting deadline in just two years.

SCS has been helping companies navigate sustainability challenges for four decades and assists companies in making the transition toward robust climate and environmental objectives. We understand what it takes to start from scratch on a corporate climate strategy, the steps involved to achieve an initial corporate carbon footprint, and how to successfully present accurate data in a sustainability report that can be fully verified. We’ve worked with many global companies, large and small, to understand what is considered material within a particular industry and business type, what should be reported, and how to move where you are today towards setting achievable and meaningful targets based on science and fact instead of marketing spin and fiction.

Whether you are in the Pharma supply chain or any other supply chain that is beginning to require emissions reporting, and regardless of the size of your company, below are our five recommendations for meeting the new emissions reporting requirements and setting a new standard for your ongoing corporate sustainability practices.

1. Offset Panic with a Plan

Many companies may find themselves in a tailspin. That is understandable, but panic will not solve the problem. Planning will. Pull together your internal stakeholders, including members of your leadership team, operations, supply chain management, procurement, IT, accounting and others who are involved in any activities that utilize power (generation and usage), transportation, waste, emissions and recordkeeping. Unless you already have an experienced sustainability leader well-versed on greenhouse gas calculations, reporting and climate mitigation on your team, it is best to bring into your kick-off discussions an external climate consultant with experience in emissions calculations, science-based target setting, sustainability reporting, sustainable supply chains, and water stewardship practices. This will help you understand the breadth and scope of what you will be undertaking to meet the reporting and science-based target requirements, and support you in putting together a successful internal ESG Management System. For many companies, this will be a new approach to doing business that will require significant internal shifts to ensure successful entry into the circular economy.

2. Get Educated to Take Advantage of the Latest Climate Science 

Once your company has created an internal sustainability team focused on meeting your customers’ emissions and climate requirements, your team would benefit from learning about the range of factors contributing to climate change. Companies focused solely on carbon dioxide emission reductions could be missing a lot of low hanging fruit when it comes to establishing and meeting science-based targets with meaningful, short- and long-term climate impact. For instance, your team will be inspired to learn that methane mitigation has far more short-term climate benefit than most people recognize, and that reductions in nitrous oxide and other “long-lived” climate pollutants are also powerful ways to reduce impacts from your company and supply chain. Moreover, you can now get credit for reducing very “short-lived” climate pollutants, such as black carbon from combustion and tropospheric ozone, which have historically been left out of carbon footprinting. These potent climate pollutants are having a major impact on the earth’s excess trapped heat, which in turn is wreaking havoc on global and regional temperatures and increasingly dangerous weather-related events. This is not the climate science of a decade ago, and sustainability teams owe it to themselves to be fully educated so they can make informed decisions when reporting and setting achievable science-based targets.

3. Develop the Basics

For suppliers new to emissions and sustainability reporting, the first place to start is with a Materiality Assessment. A materiality assessment, in essence, is a determination of the myriad ways in which your company operations, including your own supply chains, may be contributing to climate change as well as other environmental, social and economic impacts. The assessment will help you discover what to report based on your industry, how to collect quantitative and qualitative data, how to engage with stakeholders, and how to align with the different emissions reporting frameworks such as GRI, CDP, TCFD and others that might be required by the companies you supply. Of particular concern will be assessing the materiality of Scope 3 emissions, which fall into 15 categories including emissions from both your upstream and downstream value chain.

In addition, you’ll want to calculate your company’s corporate carbon footprint or Greenhouse Gas Inventory and have your data independently verified to ensure that it is accurate increasing confidence in the data reported. Care should be taken to ensure that the data meet the supply chain requirements of your customers as well as the requirements of any regulatory requirements in the regions where you do business, such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Directive (CSDR), California SB 253, and many of the proposed regulations in the U.S. and abroad. You’ll also want an inventory format that can be used year after year to ensure consistency in reporting.

4. Get Grounded in the Different Emissions Disclosure Frameworks

There are many different emissions disclosure frameworks used in the market. For instance, if your company is a supplier to both pharmaceutical companies and other large entities such as retailers, you may find yourself needing to report the same data in different formats. When preparing a sustainability report, either for the first time or on an ongoing basis, keep in mind the changing reporting landscape and the requirements of each of your “requesters” (the companies and agencies requiring you to report your emissions data).

AstraZeneca, for example, is requiring suppliers to report through CDP. Samsung Biologics is also a member of the CDP Supply Chain, enabling its suppliers to report directly through the CDP framework. Other frameworks such as TCFD and GRI may also be used by other pharma companies requiring supply chain reporting, and companies in multiple supply chains will need to be aware of the differences in reporting frameworks to ensure accuracy of reporting.

For companies new to emissions reporting, working with a reputable sustainability consultancy can offer significant insights and support in understanding the nuances of sustainability reporting frameworks and ESG risk rating systems that all of the pharma companies are scrutinized under, such as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), MSCI, Bloomberg ESG, DJSI, Sustainalytics, and others. Supplier reporting, which is considered part of the pharma companies’ Scope 3 emissions, will continue to have a growing impact on how pharma companies are rated.

5. Get Serious About Your Company’s Future Climate Impact

Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reporting is simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shifting gears towards becoming a circular company. The pharma companies are requiring science-based target setting as a way to not only future-proof your company but also to detail how your company will facilitate becoming part of a low-carbon economy. These are well-defined and achievable targets for emissions reductions both internally and within your own supply chain leading to successful climate mitigation. Science-based target setting can also be an integral part of creating your own sustainable supply chain, another requirement set forth by the pharma companies.

Integral to the lowering of emissions, both internally and externally, is the creation of new pathways for additional climate strategies that move beyond a solo focus on carbon emissions and dig deep into other forms of pollutants that negatively impact air, land and water. Many companies are implementing corporate zero waste strategies that address the reduction, recycling, and diversion from landfills of all forms of solid, liquid, and chemical waste. In tandem, water stewardship practices are considered by many, and in particular by the ESG risk rating organizations, to be “the next carbon” as the level of chemical and plastic pollution in our waterways continues to escalate and access to clean water diminishes throughout the world. While the pharma companies have extended an olive branch in these areas by moving requirements for implementing such programs back to 2030, now is the time to be adding these into your comprehensive sustainability strategy to ensure that your company and all its facilities are able to pivot to meet the requirements and achieve a lower carbon and pollution footprint.

Regardless of your previous reporting requirements, whether full-on ESG reporting or none at all, the time has come for all companies that fall within the supply chains of large, publicly traded entities to realize that the new, green economy is upon us, and required reporting is quickly becoming the norm, not the exception. To be a part of this economy requires diligence, education, and support from others who are well versed on the regulations, reporting frameworks, and the science that’s driving a more climate-friendly way of business. We are here to help and work together with you towards building a greener, cleaner planet.

AUTHOR

Tom Ehart 
Corporate Marketing Director 
SCS Global Services 
Email: corporatemarketing@scsglobalservices.com

Originally published by Ericsson

What makes a network the best? Have you got the answer? Register for the Imagine Live Business Lounge series and get ahead!

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Step into the world of Imagine Live Business Lounge, a unique and immersive webinar series by Ericsson. Breaking free from traditional webinar conventions, Imagine Live Business Lounge offers a refreshing and dynamic experience where business insights meet the comfort of a virtual lounge! 

Webinar 2: Unleashing the Network Performance Excellence: Inspiring Stories from 5G Pacesetters 
Date: September 7th, 2023, Thursday at 10:00 EDT 
Duration: 1 hour 

Mark your calendars and get ready to elevate your understanding of 5G acceleration and network performance optimization! The webinars will provide you with valuable insights, practical tips, and a glimpse into the future direction of connectivity. 

We encourage you to register early to secure your spot. We look forward to your active participation in these insightful sessions!

Published by Las Vegas Sands on April 11, 2023

LAS VEGAS /3BL/ – Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) announced that The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) has joined Sands Cares Accelerator, a three-year membership program aimed at advancing nonprofits to deliver greater community impact. Sands also continues its capacity-building support for The Center to enable further expansion of the Arlene Cooper Community Health Center and buildout of its events center.

The Center will focus its time in the Sands Cares Accelerator on solidifying marketing and communications strategies to best share its story with the LGBTQ+ community, allies, partners, funders and other supporters to sustain a strong foundation for the organization’s future. Through the Sands Cares Accelerator, The Center will receive $100,000 annually for the three years of membership, along with structured guidance to support its focus area, strategic counsel from Sands, and other in-kind support to help the nonprofit achieve its goal.

In addition, general funding from Sands Cares will bring the 2023 donation to The Center to just over $265,000 and help facilitate the continued buildout of the Cooper Community Health Center toward The Center’s goal of becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), as well as provide funding to finalize renovation of the nonprofit’s events center. The health center and events center deliver critical services to the community, as well as generate recurring revenue streams to fund The Center’s programs and services.

Specifically, the Sands Cares capacity-building support in 2023 will enable The Center to expand the health center by covering infrastructure costs to relocate general administrative staff to another facility so that space can be used for medical services, as well as provide technology and other upgrades for the events center. Sands has supported The Center’s expansion of the Cooper Community Health Center since 2021 and enabled The Center to renovate the events center in 2022. Since 2021, Sands has provided $570,000 in cumulative funding to support The Center’s mission.

“The partnership with Sands has been a valuable catalyst for helping us make significant progress toward our long-term vision for The Center,” John Waldron, CEO of The Center, said. “Joining the Sands Cares Accelerator will be an even greater vehicle for helping us build our capacity to better meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. It is a great honor to be part of this unique and exclusive program.”

The Center is the sixth organization to join the Sands Cares Accelerator, launched by Sands in 2017 to help fast-track nonprofit organizations on the tipping point of making a leap in community impact. During the three-year membership, Sands creates longer-term relationships with nonprofits via extended funding, structured guidance and customized support rarely found with typical corporate-nonprofit engagements.

The Center has been a vital part of Las Vegas for 30 years, offering inclusive, life-enriching programs, events, education and support groups for people who identify as LGBTQ+ and allies of the community. The Center serves as the hub for an array of essential resources and care, including food and meal delivery, physical and mental health care services, and community advocacy.

“Inviting The Center to join the Sands Cares Accelerator was a natural fit after having worked with John and his team over the past few years,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives for the company. “Everything we look for in a Sands Cares Accelerator member had been demonstrated – a strong long-term vision for impact, measurable progress toward identified goals and the ability to deliver significantly greater impact with the support the program brings. We have been greatly impressed with The Center’s accomplishments in building a sustaining model of service and look forward to seeing its continued progress as part of the Sands Cares Accelerator.”

Inspired by the entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit of Sands’ founder Sheldon G. Adelson, the Sands Cares Accelerator carries on his legacy of building successful businesses and giving back to communities with a greater corporate involvement to help advance the capabilities of nonprofit organizations to better address the needs of their communities. During the three-year membership, nonprofits focus on building their capacity in a strategic area or enhancing a program offering to better serve the community. Sands serves as a catalyst and mentor for helping organizations achieve their goals.

Other Sands Cares Accelerator members have included the Inspiring Children Foundation, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and Green Our Planet in Las Vegas; Art Outreach in Singapore and Green Future in Macao. For more information on the Sands Cares Accelerator, visit https://www.sands.com/responsibility/communities/#our-program-sands-cares.

About Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Sands is the world’s preeminent developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts.

Our iconic properties drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities for local businesses and community investment to help make our host regions ideal places to live, work and visit.

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao and Sands Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

Sands is dedicated to being a leader in corporate responsibility, anchored by our core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. Our ESG leadership has led to inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America. To learn more, visit www.sands.com.

About The LGBTQ Community Center of Southern Nevada

For 30 years, The Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBTQIA+ individuals and those who are underserved in Nevada. We function as the heart and home of the LGBTQIA+ community by making connections, delivering programs, and providing a safe space for health and wellness, social services, arts and culture, advocacy, and community building. Ongoing Center programs support LGBTQIA+ youth, adults, families, seniors, vets, people with disabilities, those living with HIV, and underserved populations. Additionally, we are proud to offer the Center Advocacy Network, the first nationally accredited program of its kind, focusing on LGBTQIA+ issues for victim advocacy. For more information on how The Center empowers everyone to thrive in Nevada, please visit The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada.

Contacts:
Kristin Koca
Sands
702.923.9142
Kristin.Koca@sands.com

Brian Hosier
The Center
702.802.5427
bhosier@thecenterlv.org

Be Well. Do Well.—Aramark’s Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) platform—encompasses the company’s focus on and commitment to helping people and the planet.

“I am proud of the progress we are making to reduce inequity, support and grow communities, promote diversity, and protect our planet while strengthening the long-term value proposition of our business,” said John Zillmer, Chief Executive Officer, Aramark.

At the end of fiscal year 2022, Aramark summarized the progress made delivering on the company’s ESG commitments. View 2022 Progress Report.

Because work continues throughout the year, it is timely to share recent highlights and accomplishments that benefit people and the planet.

Accelerating Environmental Sustainability

From food purchases and operations to supplier selection and sourcing decisions, Aramark is committed to promoting planetary health.

Aramark achieved a key milestone in the journey toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in July 2023 with the official approval of new global near- and long-term science-based targets to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. These enterprise-wide targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the global standard for corporate net-zero target setting.

The approved targets include:

Reducing direct emissions from the company’s operations including corporate offices and fleet by more than 50% by 2030;Substantially reducing indirect emissions by 2030, including engaging suppliers and reducing emissions from operations at client sites; andAchieving net-zero value chain emissions by 2050, including an absolute emissions reduction of 90%.

Reducing emissions from food is key to achieving Aramark’s climate commitments. Therefore, the company has also committed to reducing food emissions 25% by 2030 through the Coolfood Pledge, and now serves Coolfood meals certified as low carbon at client locations across the U.S. and Canada.

To minimize food waste, Aramark team members focus on prevention, recovery, and recycling during planning, purchasing, production, service, and post-service—in addition to training chefs and other operators on operating procedures and making choices that will help reduce food waste.

In addition to other industry collaborations, this year Aramark committed to the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment (PCFWC) goal of reducing food waste by 50% along the west coast of the U.S. by 2030. As part of this commitment, Aramark has partnered with the PCFWC and other food service companies to pilot plate waste studies to support a better understanding of the drivers of post-consumer food waste and how consumer messaging may help influence food waste.

A refreshed priority to embed circularity reaffirms Aramark’s commitment to eliminate or substantially reduce the company’s reliance on single-use plastics and other disposables, promote responsible consumption, and integrate reuse across operations.

Partnering across the value chain is a critical component to achieving this commitment and Aramark actively engages suppliers, national brands, and NGOs in this effort.

Through our membership in the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network, the company has had meaningful dialogue to begin participating in their Reuse and Refill Action Network.

Valuing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

A commitment to DEI helps Aramark create an equal and inclusive culture vital to meeting the needs of the company’s employees, customers, and communities.

In February 2023, Aramark announced a partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community, to launch the Aramark HBCU Emerging Leaders Program.

Fifteen students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were chosen to attend a two-day immersive experience at Aramark’s headquarters in Philadelphia to focus on career exploration and professional development.

The company’s 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) have focused on new membership growth, recruitment, professional development, community outreach, and global expansion. Year to date, our ERGs have experienced an approximate 20% increase in new membership, established new hubs in Latin America, Germany, UK, and Canada, and supported community outreach events that have impacted thousands of students across the country.

This year, Aramark expanded its Pronouns Matter campaign companywide to educate employees on inclusive language and its importance in gender identity and expression.

To date, more than 2,000 employees have used the resources.

In June, Aramark launched its first campaign to encourage all employees to voluntarily and confidentially self-identify in the company’s human resources systems.

The myWholeSelf self-ID campaign goals include helping the company better understand its LGBTQ+ population, inform DEI strategy, and continue to measure veterans and employees with disabilities in the company workforce.

Building Vibrant Communities

In April, Aramark celebrated its 10th annual global day of service, Aramark Building Community Day (ABC Day). ABC Day engages thousands of employee volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to service projects in their local neighborhoods.

This year, more than 5,000 Aramark volunteers from 12 countries participated in projects to support 130 nonprofit organizations, positively supporting nearly 150,000 community members.

Read more about the 2023 ABC Day activities and impact.

In recognition of the 10th annual ABC Day, 10 randomly selected nonprofit community organizations received one-time grants, thanks to nominations from the company’s most engaged employee volunteers.

Sourcing Responsibly, Ethically, and Inclusively

Aramark has a long-standing commitment to global procurement practices that strive to positively impact people, animals, and the environment. The company’s Responsible Sourcing program focuses on adopting environmentally sustainable, ethical, and inclusive sourcing practices throughout the supply chain—practices that benefit local and global economies, the communities we serve, and the planet.

The following 2023 highlights further support this commitment to sourcing responsibly, ethically, and inclusively.

With Aramark’s support, The FruitGuys Community Fund (TFGCF) makes multi-year grants to small and medium farms and agricultural non-profits.

During the 2022 and 2023 grant cycles, the Aramark partnership has enabled TFGCF to award grants to 20 farms across 13 states, many of which are operated by beginning and under-represented farmers including women and/or Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

An enhanced Tier 2 supplier diversity portal was launched in 2023.

Recruiting is underway for the fourth cohort of the Aramark and Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council’s Progress Insight Performance Education (PIPE) program. This eight-week, advanced management training program provides participants with the skills and knowledge needed to optimize their businesses.

Aramark expanded its supplier sustainability assessment program with EcoVadis® to increase the number of priority category suppliers participating globally. As of June 2023, Aramark Spain was the first business to activate the program outside of North America.

To grow food that’s nutritious and better for the planet, Aramark partnered with Babylon Micro-Farms.

As of the end of July 2023, the 49 micro-farms, which supply fresh produce to Aramark client locations, have resulted in a reduction in water use, food waste, and nitrogen in waterways.

Additionally, the company continues to make progress toward its sustainable sourcing commitments, including:

Sourcing 100% contracted canned tuna that meets Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommendations.100% of the soy in contracted oils, margarines, and shortenings is from regions with no deforestation risk.100% of the palm oil in contracted margarines and shortenings is Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified.Ongoing monitoring, supplier engagement, and accelerating progress on Aramark’s animal welfare commitments, including pork welfare and cage free eggs globally; and In May, Aramark first reported efforts toward the ethical sourcing of broiler chickens in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, receiving favorable recognition from Compassion in World Farming organization.Received an A Grade in Mercy for Animals’ Count Your Chickens Report for progress toward better animal welfare.Read more about the company’s animal welfare commitments and other Aramark Responsible Sourcing Progress and Priorities.

Notable Awards

In August, Aramark was named one of the “Best Companies for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)” by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the top Black digital media brand and premier business and financial resource for African Americans.

This recognition highlights a select group of publicly traded corporations that have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating dynamic workforces, diverse corporate governance, expansive supply chains, and inclusive management.

In July, Aramark earned a score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI), a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN. With this top score, Aramark has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the seventh consecutive year.

Aramark was recognized as one of the most community-minded employers in the Greater Philadelphia region in June 2023. In the Civic 50, as the award is known, the company was ranked number one among companies over 500 employees for engaging employees, purchasing and supply chain, and promoting a more diverse and inclusive company culture.

In May, Aramark was ranked number 40 on DiversityInc’s 2023 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, up five spots from last year’s ranking. This is the seventh consecutive year Aramark appeared on the Top 50. For the first time, the company was also ranked on the Top Companies for Supplier Diversity at number 20.

The company was named the Greenest Food Contractor in North America at the 2023 Green Restaurant Association Awards in April. The prestigious Green Restaurant Awards commend the restaurants and organizations in the restaurant industry which have accomplished a high level of environmental achievement in their respective categories.

For the ninth consecutive year, Aramark was named a Top 50 Employer by CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine for providing a positive working environment for people with disabilities.

In January 2023, Aramark was named to Newsweek’s 2023 list of America’s Most Responsible Companies.

On August 25, Texas Capital was proud to assist in the ribbon cutting and unveiling of The Cloud Kitchen, a project three years in the making. The new kitchen is located on the property of Cornerstone Baptist Church, a hub for community development and engagement in south Dallas. The Kings Academy, also supported by Texas Capital, is located on the church campus, as are a free laundromat and cooling station, fresh market, showers and a clothes closet for the homeless.

The Cloud Kitchen is a brand new, state-of-the-art commercial kitchen that will help stimulate the economy by providing a place for small businesses to grow and scale. Anyone, from caterers and bakers, can utilize the space. While there are several of these kitchens in south Dallas, food regulations require prepared food for sale to be prepared in a commercial kitchen. The location of The Cloud Kitchen will also allow for small businesses to leverage the existing Southpoint Market next door, which may serve as an outlet to sell goods from food entrepreneurs.

The project was done by The Real Estate Council’s (TREC) young leaders program, the Associate Leadership Council (ALC), and Texas Capital gave a grant to fund the equipment. TREC Community Investors is a Certified Community Development Corporation that provides loans and grants as well as technical assistance and education for commercial real estate projects. Texas Capital’s grant assisted in the renovation of the commercial space that became The Cloud Kitchen. Texas Capital is proud of this partnership and looks forward to a continually growing relationship.

To learn more, check out:

WFAA feature hereDallas Morning News feature hereDallas Business Journal feature here

About Texas Capital

Texas Capital is a full-service financial services firm that delivers customized solutions to businesses, entrepreneurs and individual customers. Founded in 1998, the firm is headquartered in Dallas with offices in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth, and has built a network of clients across the country. With the ability to service clients through their entire lifecycles, Texas Capital has established commercial banking, consumer banking, investment banking and wealth management capabilities. For more information, please visit www.texascapital.com.

I attended two incredibly thought-provoking conferences recently, surrounding hydrogen and carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which attempted to unravel the challenges hindering the scale-up of clean energy innovations.

I came away from the World Hydrogen North America conference in Houston last month, feeling energised by the notion that there is enormous potential for hydrogen production in the continent.

North America is home to the largest rise in planned hydrogen projects globally which is forecast to increase due to demand and progression in the industry.

While there is great scope for using green hydrogen and CDR as a lever that will play a key role in building a more sustainable American economy the proof, as ever, will be in the pudding. We need to know what we are doing with hydrogen – and where we want to go with it, for it to succeed as a green energy powerhouse in the continent.

By this, I don’t just mean utilizing the energy source, but also considering transportation and storage of the low/zero carbon gas and asking ourselves whether we have the right resources to store a potential global commodity. For true success, the cost of imports needs to be lower than the cost of domestic production but transporting hydrogen remains a hurdle.

Hydrogen storage

The success and long-term viability of clean hydrogen atoms in the market depends on the demand pipeline and understanding the best answer for the elephant in the room – what do we do with this supply of hydrogen once we have it? 

One opinion raised was that the transportation sector will not be a big enough solution in the short-medium term despite an established, domestic customer base waiting in industrial manufacturing and fertilizer production. This pales in comparison to the opportunity for export to the EU and Asia – a proposition that could have easily been played in reverse not so long ago.

Since the introduction of the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), the economics of production have dramatically shifted globally, the result of which is evident in the surge of international investment to early-stage domestic projects on this coastline alone. In fact within the 400-450 miles from Corpus Christi to Baton Rouge, there are now more than one hundred sustainable fuel, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in early-stage development!

The next few decades are forecast to see project financing in excess of $1trillion so we must hope the administration from 2024 onwards keeps momentum and remains at the forefront of the global hydrogen economy as regulation, permitting policy, and future funding decisions will be vital for debate over the next few years.

The future of carbon dioxide removal

The other conference that inspired me was Carbon Unbound in New York, which united global industry pioneers and showcased how renewable energy developers/independent power producers (IPPs) will have a big role to play in the engineered CDR solution space.

This discussion was raised in a few sessions, with my personal highlight being the talk about being on the road to “Gigaton-Scale Deployment” with  Josh Santos, Adrian Corless,  Jason Hochman, and Nicholas Chadwick.

The conference raised other clean energy conundrums which made it clear to attendees that collaboration is key and that engineered CDR innovators can gain a lot from partnering with existing energy developers not only because of the institutional knowledge on the key issues of EPC/Permitting/Interconnection front but most importantly access to clean electrons.

As a final note from the carbon conference, it was emphasized we need to use as much, or more, clean energy than currently produced globally to scale the amount of direct air capture (DAC) for the planet to reach net-zero.

What are your thoughts on the future of hydrogen and carbon markets? If you are looking to advance your career in the renewable energy space, do get in touch.

Tom is a recruitment leader with nearly 10 years of experience partnering with companies ranging from start-ups to industry leaders across varied markets, globally. Predominantly Tom’s experience has been in the development, manufacture & deployment of clean energy technologies, with particular success in the exec search space placing President & C-Suite executives. His experience spans: Project Development & Origination, Procurement & Supply Chain, Engineering & Construction, Finance, Operations, Sales & Marketing, Quality & HSE, Research & Development. Originally from the UK now living in NYC for the last few years, Tom joined Acre in 2023 to direct and expand our Sustainable Energy & Clean Technologies division in North America.

About Acre

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

The KFC Foundation is awarding $1 million in grants to 100 community-based non-profit organizations to make a project on their wish list come true. The KFC Foundation’s Kentucky Fried Wishes program supports communities by funding community development projects on the wish lists of non-profit organizations.

“We’re so inspired by the work of these incredible non-profits and honored to help serve joy by positively impacting hundreds of communities across the country with this funding,” said Emma Horn, Executive Director of the KFC Foundation. “With our Kentucky Fried Wishes program in its third year, we’re proud to double last year’s donation amount and help fund more community projects than ever before.”

Since 2021, the KFC Foundation’s Kentucky Fried Wishes program has invested over $1.6 million to support over 160 local non-profit organizations.

This year’s grant recipients represent a mix of nominations by local KFC restaurant teams and non-profit self-nominations, spanning over 35 different states and supporting a variety of causes and communities, including:

Anson County Partnership for Children, located in Wadesboro, NC, works to make the county a better place for the youth by raising the quality of early care and education, supporting families, advancing child health, and expanding literacy. Several local KFC restaurant employees have volunteered their time helping Anson County Partnership for Children with events and programming. The Kentucky Fried Wishes grant will help the organization purchase and stock a book vending machine for one year in the waiting room of the local health department.Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO), located in Macedonia, OH, works to build courage, confidence, and character in young girls. Local KFC Franchisee and previous Girl Scout, Sandra Rapp, serves on the GSNEO STEM Advisory and STEM Center Capital Campaign Committees and referred the organization to the Kentucky Fried Wishes program. The Kentucky Fried Wishes grant will help the non-profit build an ADA-accessible StarLab Dome to provide STEM-oriented educational experiences to girls and boys across its 18-county GSNEO region.Peer 1 on 1, located in Cypress, CA, creates a supportive and inclusive community that empowers youth and teens on the autism spectrum through personalized one-on-one interactions to enhance their social and communication skills. The local KFC generously offers meals to the children to support the organization’s activities and the store manager introduced the organization to the grant program. The Kentucky Fried Wishes grant will provide funding for the organization’s “quiet space,” a construction project that will create a stress-relieving environment, aiding in faster relaxation and increased focus and productivity.Runway to Hope, based in Orlando, FL, provides direct support and aid to families fighting pediatric cancer. Jessica Phillips, KFC Corporate Field People & Culture Business Partner, referred the non-profit to the Kentucky Fried Wishes program because her family was a recipient of the organization’s Family Assistance Program in 2018 & 2019. Runway to Hope provided Phillips’ family with direct emergency financial assistance during that time. The Kentucky Fried Wishes grant will help fund toiletry kits prepared for pediatric cancer families to make patients as comfortable as possible while receiving treatment.

Kentucky Fried Wishes recipients are listed below by state.

Alabama 
Birmingham Education Foundation Birmingham

Alaska 
Catholic Social Services Anchorage 
Family Promise Mat-Su Wasilla

Arizona 
Angel Heart Pajama Project Tucson 
Arizona Autism United Phoenix 
Donkey Dreams Littlefield

California 
ABC Hopes Corona 
Life Learning Academy San Francisco 
LMWS, Inc. (dba: Pacific Lifeline) Upland 
Peer 1 on 1 Cypress 
Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center Riverside 
Special Needs Network, Inc. Los Angeles 
StreetCode Academy East Palo Alto

Colorado 
Housing Resources of Western Colorado Grand Junction 
StableStrides Elbert

Connecticut 
Connecticut Institute for the Blind d/b/a Oak Hill Hartford

Florida 
Arc Broward Plantation 
Friends of Manatee Lagoon West Palm Beach 
Grand Avenue Economic Community Development Corp Orlando 
New Life Mission Melbourne 
Resilient Retreat, Inc. Sarasota 
Runway to Hope Orlando 
Save Our Seabirds, Inc. Sarasota 
Seniors on a Mission, Inc. Jacksonville 
St Francis Society Tampa 
The Arc of Volusia County Daytona Beach 
The McKenzie Project, Inc. Miami 
The NASCAR Foundation Daytona Beach

Georgia 
Called to Care, Inc. Tifton 
Southwest Christian Care Union City Idaho 
Bingham Health Care Foundation Blackfoot 
RISE, Inc. Boise 
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Twin Falls

Idaho 
Bingham Health Care Foundation Blackfoot 
RISE, Inc. Boise 
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Twin Falls

Illinois 
United Way of Central Illinois Springfield

Indiana 
Genesis House Corydon 
Indiana Canine Assistant Network Inc. Zionsville 
Southeastern Church of Christ Indianapolis

Kentucky 
Hardin County Schools Elizabethtown 
Hazel Green Elementary School East Bernstadt 
Inspire 1 Louisville 
Louisville Ballet Louisville 
Miniature Buddies, Inc. Walton 
Pennyroyal Mental Health/Trace Industries Hopkinsville

Louisiana 
Lowlander Center Many

Maine 
Maine Discovery Museum Bangor

Massachusetts 
Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford New Bedford

Michigan 
Flint STRIVE Flint 
Life Remodeled Detroit 
Pegasus Springs TRC National City 
SLD Read Grand Rapids 
Yad Ezra Berkley

Mississippi 
Mississippians Against Human Trafficking Jackson 
Stewpot Community Services, Inc. Jackson 
We Will Go Jackson

Montana 
Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Blue Springs

Nevada 
CARE Chest Las Vegas

New York 
Adaptive Sports Foundation Windham 
Catholic Charities of Herkimer Domestic Violence Program of Herkimer County Ilion 
Girls Inc. of New York City New York 
Latina Sisters Support Commack 
Massena Fire Department Massena

North Carolina 
Anson County Partnership for Children Wadesboro 
Irene Wortham Center Asheville 
Simply Girls, Inc. Dunn 
Unbroken Spirit Arden

North Dakota 
Abused Adult Resource Center Bismarck

Ohio 
Family Violence Prevention Center Xenia 
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Macedonia 
Lutheran Community Services Bellefontaine 
RTC Services Bellefontaine

Oregon 
Chintimini Wildlife Center Corvallis 
Circle of Friends Eugene 
Evans Creek Retreat Stayton

Pennsylvania 
Community Action Lehigh Valley Bethlehem 
Crime Victim Center of Erie County Inc. Erie 
Joyful Readers Philadelphia 
Pittsburgh Zoo Pittsburgh 
The Salvation Army Lock Haven 
WPSU – Penn State University Park

Rhode Island 
Jonnycake Center of Westerly Westerly

South Carolina 
Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center Lexington 
Dorchester Paws Summerville 
North Myrtle Beach Rescue North Myrtle Beach 
Project Cool Breeze Charleston 
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate Greenville 
Walt’s Waltz Greenville

South Dakota 
Children’s Care Hospital & School dba LifeScape Sioux Falls

Tennessee 
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley Knoxville 
KELCURT Foundation Soddy-Daisy 
Samaritan House Family Ministries of Carson-Newman Jefferson City

Texas 
Children’s Museum of Brownsville Brownsville 
Mesita PTA El Paso

Utah 
The Christmas Box International Salt Lake City

Virginia 
Beyond Boundaries Richmond 
La Cocina VA DBA Kitchen of Purpose Arlington 
The Heart Leaf Center Fairfax

Vermont 
Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless Bennington

West Virginia 
Jeremiah Tree Foundation Ona 
Youth Services System, Inc. Wheeling

Wisconsin 
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Milwaukee

Operating independently from KFC Corporation and led by a board including KFC franchisees, the KFC Foundation receives its financial support from the Franchise Donation Program, in which a portion of every case of Secret Recipe Fries sold at participating restaurants goes directly to the KFC Foundation.

KFC team members also help raise money for the KFC Foundation by inviting customers to Round Up their orders during designated Round Up windows. KFC customers can participate in this year’s Round Up fundraising program at participating restaurants from Sept. 10 – Nov. 12, to help contribute to next year’s Kentucky Fried Wishes non-profit grant recipients.

Kentucky Fried Wishes is just one way the KFC Foundation supports, empowers and serves joy to KFC restaurant employees and communities. The KFC Foundation also provides programs focused on education accessibility and financial assistance for KFC restaurant employees.

About the KFC Foundation

The KFC Foundation, an independent 501c3 organization, has provided over $31 million to support, empower and serve joy to more than 9,300 students, KFC restaurant employees and non-profits. The KFC Foundation’s charitable programs include GED achievement, college scholarships, tuition coverage, community giving, savings matching and financial hardship assistance, all made possible by Round Up donations, purchases of KFC’s Secret Recipe Fries and other donations. For more information, visit kfcfoundation.org.

*References to “KFC” “KFC Family” “we” and “our” refer to KFC’s corporately owned restaurants and independently owned and operated franchises. Franchisees are the exclusive employer of their employees and as such are solely responsible for all employment related matters, including wage setting and benefits, in their restaurants.

Albertsons Companies’ Intermountain Division recently teamed up with Kellogg’s to establish a food pantry at Capital High School in Boise, ID. Thanks to the Intermountain team for supporting their community and fighting food insecurity at a local level, so all our neighbors thrive.

By combining cow manure with inedible food waste, we create renewable energy and mitigate GHG emissions.

Our Farm Powered solution is:

Better for the planet: up to zero carbon emissionsBetter for your business: our experts will create a customizable materials management for your food or beverage companyBetter for your values: your waste can build a healthy planet and community

We’ve recycled over 4,239,869 tons of food and farm waste and mitigated 2,459,142 tons of CO2E since 2014. 

We’ll help you harness the power of waste: www.foodwaste.com

The push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and decarbonize the economy is stronger than ever with global initiatives striving to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030.

For businesses, this means that the time to develop a comprehensive decarbonization plan is now. And while there are many methods to begin lowering your GHG emissions, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to decarbonization. The key to success in the long-term is to develop a strategy that fits the unique needs of your operations.

Setting an internal carbon pricing strategy is one tool that is helping many companies in their decarbonization journey.

Internal Carbon Pricing: What, Why, and How 

Carbon pricing is the process of assigning a price per ton of greenhouse gas emissions which helps to capture the external cost of GHG emissions. This external cost can then be tied back to the source of the emissions and the party responsible can be held accountable, rather than leaving the public to pay the price. Ultimately, carbon pricing is a method to help further decarbonization efforts. Carbon prices are typically set by governments or markets; however, many businesses are beginning to take matters into their own hands with internal carbon pricing.

Internal carbon pricing (ICP) is a tool used to reflect the social, environmental, and economic costs of climate change on financial decisions. More and more companies are setting their own carbon prices with the goal of mitigating risk, reducing their carbon footprint, and preparing for future regulations. By establishing ICP, companies can highlight carbon-intensive activities within their operations and incentivize decisions aligned with emissions reductions.

Common reasons that companies are implementing carbon pricing include:

Driving Low-Carbon InvestmentEngaging EmployeesDriving Energy EfficiencyGuiding Capital Investment DecisionsAchieving GHG reduction TargetsGaining Competitive AdvantageScenario and Transition Risk AnalysisPreparing for Regulations

So, you’re interested in ICP, but how does it work? Below we outline seven steps to help you get started with your own internal carbon pricing strategy.

7 Steps to Implement Internal Carbon Pricing 

1. Allocate Accountability

The first step is to assign accountability: who is in charge of what and how can they contribute to the overall GHG reduction targets? Before implementing ICP, your organization should already have calculated baseline GHG emissions and have set ambitious emissions reduction targets that align with science. Allocating accountability will help to ensure that everyone is in agreement with the goals set and that your strategies for achieving the goals are in alignment.

2. Gain Internal Buy-In

From the start of a company’s climate commitment journey, it is key to engage stakeholders from across the company. Successfully implementing ICP requires strategic decisions about carbon emissions, revenue, incentives, and pricing structure which means buy-in from across the company will be necessary to make progress toward your goals. Key internal stakeholder can include:

Sustainability TeamSenior leadershipFinanceEnterprise Risk ManagementHR employees accountable for Change Management and Employee TrainingSupply Chain / ProcurementIT

3. Determine the Scope

A crucial step to implementing ICP is to clearly define the objectives and scope of the strategy. Determine which business activities will be included in the IPC mechanism. To be successful, you much find the right balance between impact, difficulty, and influence. To do this, ask yourself the following questions:

Impact: what is the potential positive impact that influencing the business activity will have on achieving the company’s GHG target?Difficulty: how difficult it is to calculate the emissions of each option considered in the decision point?Influence: how much emissions can potentially be influenced by the decision maker?

4. Select an Approach

There are four methods of implementing internal carbon pricing: carbon charges, shadow prices, internal cap and trade, and implicit carbon pricing.

The most common types of internal carbon pricing mechanisms are carbon charges and shadow pricing. Both send a price signal by assigning a monetary value to greenhouse gas emissions, but carbon fees collect revenue whereas a shadow price does not. Shadow pricing was the most common type of internal carbon price reported to CDP in 2020 and 2021.

Internal cap and trade is an approach with an upper limit on total emissions from all business activities. A company creates an allowance for each ton of carbon emitted, and various business units within the organization can buy, sell or trade any excess allowances with each other.

An implicit carbon price is an approach where the carbon price is calculated based on how much it costs a company to implement emissions reduction projects, such as renewable energy purchases or energy-efficiency upgrades. An implicit price is calculated retroactively after a company reduces emissions.

5. Set a Price

A good place to start is with the UN Global Compact’s recommended price of $100 / MT and adjust up or down based on internal and external factors specific to your organization. Important factors to consider include:

The Social Cost of Carbon: A financial estimate of the economic damages that would result from emitting an additional ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphereCarbon Pricing Regulations: This consideration accounts for carbon tax rates and emissions trading schemes (ETS).Carbon Price Corridors: Scenario analyses that identify the carbon price range required to meet a 1.5-degree outcome.Behavior Change Incentives: The minimum price needed to encourage innovation, unlock investment, and shift market signals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Cost of Offsets: A 2022 report from Ernst & Young on the carbon credits market states the average current price at $25/tonne and expects that price to rise to $80-150/tonne by 2035.Investments Needed: Companies can calculate this price by dividing annual funding required for emissions reduction initiatives by annual GHG emissions in scope of the pricing mechanism.

6. Pilot and Implement

As with any new initiative, running a pilot prior to full implementation will allow you to test the strategy, gather feedback, fix any bugs, and make improvements. With the lessons learned from your pilot, you’re ready to fully implement ICP across your operations.

7. Measure

Perhaps the most important step is to measure the effectiveness of your program. It’s critical to regularly assess whether the ICP initiative is supporting desired outcomes for the business, outcomes for people, and business capabilities.

Remember, implementing internal carbon pricing into your strategy is not the end goal. Rather it is just one tool to implement in your overall carbon reduction strategy.

Is Internal Carbon Pricing Right for Your Business? 

Now that you have a better understanding of what goes into setting up an internal carbon pricing strategy, it’s time to decide if it’s right for your business.

Internal carbon pricing should be just one element of your overall strategy to achieve your GHG targets and mitigate climate risks. Consider your organization’s unique challenges and objectives and how ICP might help (or hinder) your progress. Consider

What benefits will the business see, such as mitigating risk (legal, reputational, supply continuity) and capturing business value (brand value, product differentiation)?What will be the improvements for affected people?What abilities will the company gain from implementing ICP?What deliverables will be completed?What tasks need to be completed? Each action should be assigned to a person and given a timeline – assign accountability!What financial, human, and material resources are required?

If you do implement internal carbon pricing, revisit these questions when measuring progress to help determine if your program is having the intended effect.

The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER), in collaboration with Antea Group, recently published “Internal Carbon Pricing: An Implementation Guide for Beverage Companies.” This guide offers a detailed analysis of internal carbon pricing and implementation by coalescing public research and case studies in consultation with BIER members.

This toolkit offers a better understanding of how Internal Carbon Pricing (ICP) can be a useful tool in a company’s decarbonization journey.

Read the full guide on the BIER website.

To learn more about internal carbon pricing and other decarbonization strategies, connect with our Sustainability Team!