Tag: 3BL

Listen to Varsha Monick, VP of customer experience and innovation, describe how innovation and Principled Entrepreneurship led to in-transit tracking to meet customers’ needs. She also shares how transformation can impact the individual through the development of learning new skill sets and seeking knowledge. 

Through our Principles in Perspective series, we aim to highlight employees leading change through our principles. Hear more from these individual who are leaning into a culture where everyone can succeed and fulfill their passions at work: https://news.gp.com/2023/02/principles-in-perspective

Georgia-Pacific

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. Our familiar consumer brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us . For news, visit: gp.com/news

View original content here

Listen to Varsha Monick, VP of customer experience and innovation, describe how innovation and Principled Entrepreneurship led to in-transit tracking to meet customers’ needs. She also shares how transformation can impact the individual through the development of learning new skill sets and seeking knowledge. 

Through our Principles in Perspective series, we aim to highlight employees leading change through our principles. Hear more from these individual who are leaning into a culture where everyone can succeed and fulfill their passions at work: https://news.gp.com/2023/02/principles-in-perspective

Georgia-Pacific

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. Our familiar consumer brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us . For news, visit: gp.com/news

View original content here

The CNH Industrial brand, New Holland, is a proud sponsor of the Young Farmers contest. Recently, they congratulated the remarkable achievement of Emma Poole for winning the 55th FMG Young Farmer of the Year and emerging as the first-ever female champion in the history of the competition. 

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year, a prestigious event in New Zealand agriculture, showcases the talent and skills of young farmers across the country. During this year’s regional finals, candidates competed in three days of challenges. The tasks included farm machinery repairs, farm skills demonstrations, and a high-paced race-style challenge featuring multiple tasks that tested both skill and speed.

As a contest sponsor, New Holland provided machinery for all seven regional competitions and the Grand Final. The equipment line up included the Boomer 25C, T5.105 Utility, T6070, T7.230 tractors, 1290 HD and Pro-belt Balers, and CNH XCN1050. New Holland also hosted modules for AgriKids, FMG Junior, FMG Young Farmer, and AgriSport, providing a platform for young farmers to showcase their abilities and passion for the industry.

In addition, New Holland staff members served as judges during the practical day module held on July 7th. More than 600 spectators gathered at Winchester Showgrounds in Timaru to witness the action unfold as contestants demonstrated their skills. Each challenge accumulated points, and the competition remained fiercely contested until the final buzzer quiz on Saturday evening.

Emma’s victory not only earned her the esteemed title of FMG Young Farmer of the Year but also awarded her the iconic trophy and the famous Cloak of Knowledge. Furthermore, Emma will have the opportunity to select her prize, either a New Holland Boomer 25 compact tractor and loader package, or an international sustainability trip.

The support from New Holland and other contest sponsors made it possible for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year to present a prize pool worth $90,000 to Emma.

“On behalf of New Holland and the team, we extend our warmest congratulations to Emma Poole for her outstanding achievement and wish her every success in her farming career. We remain committed to supporting the next generation of farmers and will continue to sponsor and contribute to events that celebrate incredible talent within the agricultural industry,” said Murray Grant, Commercial Business Manager (New Zealand) at CNH Industrial.

There are many reasons not to engage in meaningful conservation action on corporate lands. There are also many reasons to do so.

The obstacles to conservation action lie in the fact that business must be efficient, safe and in compliance with regulations. Many businesses operate on small margins with not enough staff and no budget for non-essential activities. Many businesses find themselves in an ongoing race to create annual plans, report on quarterly goals and meet monthly targets. Additionally, businesses across all sectors can be in a state of disruption at any time due to operational changes in process or technology, corporate changes from mergers or divestments and global changes from politicians and trade wars. For these reasons and more, mainstreaming conservation into corporate operations can be challenging.

Regardless of the obstacles or challenges, the reasons for conservation action are myriad but boil down to one simple but important story: Our natural world is suffering. Many forces including a changing climate are causing species’ environments to become less habitable, unconsidered land-use patterns are destroying and fragmenting habitat, invasive species are crowding out native species, and many other climate-related and man-made forces are causing previously balanced systems to move out of kilter.

We all need to take action to mitigate the impacts on nature and the private sector is no exception. Businesses, with their vast landholdings and resources, have a critical role to play in conservation and biodiversity. Businesses can take action on their lands that contain its operations, offices and infrastructure.

To take action in a meaningful and sustainable way and to overcome the obstacles for inaction consider the following:

1. Know Why.

For conservation action that improves nature to become truly mainstreamed into corporate lands management it must be done for a business reason – to address a challenge, grasp an opportunity or meet a management, operational or corporate need. There are 16 common business drivers that can be addressed through conservation. These drivers range from securing social license to operate to advancing STEM education, providing a KPI for corporate reporting or enhancing employee engagement. For corporate conservation efforts to be strategic and sustainable, the reason must be identified.

2. Acknowledge Differences.

Across any company, each operations area will have different opportunities for conservation action. A quarry with a large land area and a dedicated budget for reclamation will have many more opportunities to engage in conservation than a production facility. By understanding that a diversity of opportunities exist and that all lands have potential for positive outcomes for nature, a corporate conservation strategy can be built that is inclusive and adaptable to all operations, budgets and lands.

3. Alignments Matter.

Conservation action across geographies are stronger when they align with the context of their locations. The alignments can be to existing conservation plans like State Wildlife Action Plans or local watershed plans. These plans will inform conservation goals and actions and ensure that the operation is undertaking ecological stewardship or restoration efforts that are locally appropriate, meaningful and with a high likelihood of being successful. The alignments can also be to social or cultural needs especially in urban areas where conservation action can connect into the community or to culturally significant populations.

4. Recognize Effort.

Many of the best conservation programs are done through voluntary actions by teams of dedicated employees and community partners. Recognizing these efforts will sustain them through budget cycles, economic downturns and corporate disruptions. Recognizing the efforts will also create a contagion that will spread conservation action across the company’s lands. Recognition can be internal, through company newsletters or websites or external through certifications, press releases or corporate reporting. Recognition provides the company with a single metric from multiple locations and a simple way to tell the story of its conservation action.

5. Understand Disruptions:

Corporate disruptions (mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, economic downturns) happen with increasing frequency. Understand that a disruption is not necessarily the death knell for conservation action and that continued support for the program can help during these challenging times. Reduced financial support for such efforts may be necessary but increasing other resources like time or access to community partnerships can protect the program and have a positive impact on employee morale. Conservation programs can also be simple and effective post-merger integration tools, bringing a culture of nature-based action to newly acquired businesses or newly created business units.

With limited government funding available for conservation and increasing competition for grant support, corporate efforts can fill a growing need for environmental stewardship while also providing business benefits. WHC President Margaret O’Gorman’s book, Strategic Corporate Conservation Planning, offers fresh insights for both corporations and environmental groups alike looking to create mutually beneficial partnerships that use conservation action to address business challenges and realize meaningful environmental outcomes.

August 10, 2023 /3BL/ – As National Black Business Month shines a light on Black-owned businesses, SkysTheLimit.org, an innovative digital platform committed to fostering the growth of historically excluded entrepreneurs, is proud to connect mentors to the resources they need to enhance their commitment to empowering Black founders.

Producing $141 billion in revenue annually and 1.3 million jobs in the U.S., Black-owned businesses make a significant impact supporting the American economy and the needs of our communities.

Bo Ghirardelli, Co-Founder and CEO of SkysTheLimit.org, says, “Over half of the visionary entrepreneurs on Sky’s the Limit are Black founders. One of our goals is to create an environment of mentoring excellence, where our business mentors and peer mentors have the tools to support entrepreneurs to get the guidance they need through their entire journey, so that they can build thriving, sustainable businesses.”

Here are five ways people interested in supporting entrepreneurs can engage:

Become a Sky’s the Limit mentor: By joining Sky’s the Limit as a business mentor and advisor, you can help make a significant difference by offering encouragement, listening, coaching, and sharing valuable business skills and perspectives that entrepreneurs may need to overcome business challenges.Increase mentorship excellence by listening to and sharing “The First Buck” podcast: “The First Buck” podcast, hosted by Sky’s the Limit Co-Founders Nic Cary and Bo Ghirardelli, offers inspiration for mentors, emerging entrepreneurs, and established business leaders. Each episode features success stories and insights from accomplished entrepreneurs, providing listeners with tools and motivation to thrive in the dynamic world of business. Tune in here to be equipped with the knowledge to better support entrepreneurs.Help entrepreneurs tune and amplify their business funding pitches: Throughout August and beyond, Sky’s the Limit entrepreneurs have the chance to vie for startup grants ranging from $2,500 to $30,000 by submitting online video pitches. Kickstart their businesses by helping them develop their pitch and business strategies to access these funding opportunities.Gain and share inspiration from entrepreneurs with transferrable experiences: Join Sky’s the Limit for episode 8 of the Limitless! Web Series featuring two inspirational founders, Erick Donaldson, Founder of 99 BXNG, and Chris Harvey, Founder of Harvey Media, LLC and Blackwood Tulsa as they engage in a virtual conversation. This episode provides valuable insights into the experiences and strategies of two successful Black entrepreneurs. Registration is available here.Collaborate with easy tools that help founders move their businesses forward. SkysTheLimit.org offers four free digital workbooks for mentors and entrepreneurs to work on together to get unstuck and move their businesses forward. These resources aid in business planning and strategy development. Here’s the link to download all four.

This Black Business Month, Sky’s the Limit takes pride in celebrating the accomplishments of the thousands of entrepreneurs who have tapped into the nonprofit’s services to help advance their businesses, and the mentors who provided guidance and encouragement along the way.

“The mentors were instrumental in helping to refine my pitch deck for funding, my business plan, website, and social media, and placed us on a better trajectory toward achieving our goals,” said Mark Wright, Founder of TRANUTRA

“Business plans are the foundation of any company. With the assistance of the volunteers, I was able to build on a solid foundation,” said Risha Brown, Founder of Vera Organix, describing how mentors helped her.

Read more inspiring stories and transformative experiences from entrepreneurs, including Mark and Risha, here.

Sky’s the Limit offers opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise. The organization has also provided over $450,000 in startup grants and educated tens of thousands of diverse entrepreneurs.

For more information about partnerships and how to get involved, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

###

About SkysTheLimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 

The global corporate reporting system continues to evolve and there is promise that the result will be a global cohesive corporate reporting system that consists of two distinct perspectives and purposes on materiality.

The European Commission has adopted the 1st set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), that cover “double materiality” and will be the disclosure standards associated with the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The CSRD will require more than 50,000 European companies to report on double materiality using these standards, as well as at least 10,000 companies outside the EU, including approximately 3,000 US companies and 1,300 Canadian companies. The EU Commission has confirmed that they will ensure a ‘very high degree of interoperability’ between EU standards and global standards set by GRI, after GRI served as co-constructor of the impact-related standards.

The recent launch of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)’s inaugural set of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 General and S2 Climate-Related Disclosures also represents a significant step in the pursuit of a global cohesive corporate reporting that consists of financial and impact materiality to serve all stakeholders. Under the Memorandum of Understanding between GRI and IFRS Foundation, both organizations have agreed to collaborate and work towards the interoperability of their standards.

To continue their work, ISSB is currently soliciting input on its priorities for the next two-year work plan. To gather feedback, they have released the Request for Information Consultation on Agenda Priorities, which will remain open until September 1st. The consultation aims to collect opinions on potential projects, which include exploring sustainability-related risks and opportunities concerning:

Biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services;Human capital; andHuman rights.

We are pleased to see ISSB’s interest in these topic areas that are also impacts represented in GRI Standards. These topics remain areas of critical work of GRI and the Global Sustainability Standards Board, as can be seen with the recent work to revise GRI 304—Biodiversity, the launch of the GRI Topic Standard Project on Labor, and Human Rights disclosures embedded in the GRI Universal Standards.

We strongly encourage all stakeholders to participate in ISSB’s request for Information Consultation on Agenda Priorities. Your input is critical in ensuring representation of all interested parties and contributing towards the convergence of a global corporate two-pillar reporting system.

Note that the content disseminated via this newsroom pertains to information concerning the North America perspective. For global updates regarding our organization, please visit GRI’s global newsroom.

Originally published in Enbridge’s 2022 Sustainability Report

Enbridge’s natural gas distribution business provides natural gas to more than 15 million people in Ontario and Quebec, through 3.9 million residential, commercial, institutional and industrial meter connections. We engage with municipalities, businesses, individual consumers and consumer advocacy groups on a range of related issues, including affordability and emissions reduction.

Only about 1% of the emissions associated with our gas utility come from our operations, while the other 99% are created when customers use the natural gas we provide. For more than 25 years, our demand-side management (DSM) programs have been helping consumers adopt strategies to use less energy, save money and minimize environmental impact.

In addition to helping consumers use less energy through equipment upgrades, behavior changes and other strategies, we continue to explore and scale solutions that enable us to provide consumers with lower-emission energy sources.

Pairing lower-carbon fuels with existing infrastructure. 
We’re working on blending fuels like hydrogen and renewable natural gas with conventional natural gas in the existing delivery infrastructure. For example, in January 2022, we announced with our partner Cummins that the first hydrogen blending initiative in North America was operational and serving the southern Ontario city of Markham. This network can deliver blended gas—clean hydrogen injected into the existing natural gas distribution network—to about 3,600 customers. By delivering these blended fuels directly to customers’ homes, we help to reduce emissions without the need for major changes (such as furnace replacement) at the household level. The success of this project will enable us to validate and pursue larger-scale hydrogen-blending activities in other parts of our distribution system.

Smart hybrid heating solutions for savings and efficiency. 
Advanced controls for home heating and cooling appliances also hold promise for boosting energy efficiency. These controls respond to changes in ambient temperature and on the energy grid, adjusting the energy sources they draw on for heating and cooling. In 2022, we launched a pilot project in four Ontario communities to help homeowners reduce energy costs and environmental impact by using smart controls and air-source heat pumps in combination with conventional natural gas heating appliances to maintain thermal comfort with less energy.

Strategies and incentives for reducing energy use. 
We offer a range of ways for households and businesses to boost energy efficiency using equipment upgrades, behavior changes and home adaptations—from simple fixes like improving seals around windows and doors to insulating basements and attics. In 2022, we were proud to become the delivery agent for the federal government’s Greener Homes Grant. This role enables us to extend the practices that have proved highly effective for our customers in Ontario for more than two decades.

Read more

Disney’s UNCF program introduces a new FX-supported scholarship in honor of legendary director John Singleton for students pursuing directing and producing in the next academic year

Andscape Rhoden Fellowship and National Geographic Content HBCU Scholarship also added, building on Disney and UNCF’s multi-year legacy of collaboration 

BURBANK, Calif., August 10, 2023 /3BL/ – Today, The Walt Disney Company and UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) announced the 2023 Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars, representing students from four-year institutions across the country, including many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The 2023 scholars will be awarded annual scholarships, with several having applied and been placed in paid internships for the summer at Disney. The scholarship recipients are juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in business, communications, creative writing, journalism, film/media and science who will also receive mentorship opportunities and consideration for possible full-time roles with Disney upon graduation.

The Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program builds on Disney’s longstanding history of supporting aspiring storytellers and innovators in collaboration with UNCF and is part of the Disney Future Storytellers initiative. Disney’s support of UNCF scholars includes scholarships, mentorship, internship opportunities, professional development, and career exploration workshops. In an effort to inspire future storytellers, Disney frequently provides guest speakers for UNCF events and invites UNCF scholars and staff to advanced screenings of Disney films.

FX Storytelling Legacy Scholarship

Just announced with this year’s cohort is a series of FX-supported college scholarships within the Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program. These new scholarships will honor the legacy of acclaimed director and producer John Singleton. John’s relationship with FX began in 2016 when he scored an Emmy® Award nomination for the award-winning and acclaimed hit limited series, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He then Co-Created and was Executive Producer on FX’s acclaimed hit drama series Snowfall. Singleton is the youngest and first Black person to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. The intention is for these scholarships to encourage and empower the next generation of Black artists following in John’s footsteps as part of the Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program.

“Every artist has that person, the one that makes it over the hill so they could tell you everything is ok. Mine was John Singleton,” said Damson Idris, actor, Snowfall.

“It was a rare honor to work with the legendary John Singleton on several iconic FX series and to see him in action as a leader, mentor, and friend to so many,” said John Landgraf, chairman, FX Content & FX Productions. “John was generous to a fault with his time and wisdom, having never forgotten where he came from and the hard work it took to break barriers. FX is proud to endow these scholarships in John’s name so that his legacy will inspire the next generation and offer meaningful assistance as they follow the trail he blazed.”

Andscape’s Rhoden Fellows

For the first time, Andscape’s Rhoden Fellows will also be part of the Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program. Rhoden Fellows is a training program for the next generation of sports journalists from HBCUs, founded and headed by Andscape editor-at-large and former New York Times award-winning columnist William C. Rhoden. The year-long fellowship aims to develop new voices and serve as an incubator for future multicultural journalists. Scholars will receive scholarships and are currently summer interns at Andscape.

The fellowship’s learning curriculum includes writing from various onsite events, producing weekly podcasts, pitching creative storytelling ideas and contributing content published on the Andscape digital hub, plus continued learning, professional development, and journalism projects throughout the upcoming school year. Following a 10-week, intensive summer immersion program with Andscape and ESPN, the fellows return to serve on-campus as local correspondents for Andscape throughout the academic year.

“We are thrilled to welcome the seventh class of Rhoden Fellows! They reflect the future of journalism and the vision of Andscape,” said Raina Kelley, vice president and editor-in-chief, Andscape. “We embrace their diverse experiences and boundless curiosity. We look forward to nurturing them and providing the platform for them to shine brighter.”

National Geographic Content HBCU Scholarship

Additionally, the National Geographic Content HBCU Scholarship program will become part of the Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program going forward. Since 2021, National Geographic’s program has offered scholars real-world experience to help gain access and exposure to the factual entertainment industry. Scholars receive scholarship funding, participate in a multi-day immersive experience on the National Geographic campus in Washington, D.C., and are part of a six-month mentorship program with a National Geographic executive.

“At National Geographic, the power, influence, and reach that our stories have around the world is unparalleled,” said Karen Greenfield, senior vice president, Content, Diversity & Inclusion, National Geographic. “We want to ensure that the stories we tell are not only impactful and relevant, but are also authentic, diverse, and reflective of our global audience and experiences. Through the Nat Geo Content HBCU Scholarship program, we hope to inspire and cultivate the next generation of factual storytellers.”

The 2023 Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars are:

Name

School

Major 

Jordan CaldwellClark Atlanta UniversityArtZacharias TappPepperdine UniversityBusinessBrynn WarrenDillard UniversityFilmSamantha WhitleyNew York UniversityCreative WritingTiyena BienaimeFlorida International UniversityPublic Relations, Advertising & Applied CommsAdrianna BoydUniversity of FloridaBusiness AdministrationAlexandria GreenleeSpelman CollegeScienceAntoinette (Toni) LorfilsNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityLaboratory Animal ScienceKameron NapoliFlorida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityBusiness AdministrationLauren RandleCalifornia State University-BakersfieldBusiness AdministrationErin FosterSpelman CollegeMedia CommunicationsTakier GeorgeHoward UniversityCreative WritingLawrence Goss IVFlorida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityBroadcast JournalismKamryn JacksonNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityMass Communication & JournalismChanel FractionUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignCommunications

 

###

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

Contact:

Bruce Lam 
bruce.lam@disney.com

May 22nd was the United Nations (UN) International Day for Biological Diversity, also known as “biodiversity.”

But what is biodiversity? 

Biodiversity is commonly defined as the biological diversity of species including plants (flora), animals (fauna) and ecosystems.

Why is biodiversity important?

The latest WWF Living Planet Report (2022)1 highlights that global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970—threatening the livelihood of our environments and diverse species–and confirms that biodiversity is at risk.

What is causing this crisis?

The 5 key drivers for biodiversity loss (UN, 2019)2, and some examples, include:

Changes in land and sea use – deforestation and peatland drainage—especially to enable mono-crop agricultureNatural resource use and exploitation of organisms – over-fishing, unethical mining, unsustainable extraction of waterClimate change – increases in extreme weather events leading to habitat destructionPollution – marine plastic pollution and nitrogen run-off, especially from chemically fertilized agricultureInvasive species – introduced through global supply chains and human activity — overtaking native species

Does this impact our industry? Why is it critical for Crown to protect biodiversity? 

i) Nature is a part of our supply chain, regardless of whether we directly use natural resources. Businesses, and ultimately our way of life, are dependent on healthy ecosystems. A healthy, diverse ecosystem maintains soil and soil health to grow the food we need to eat; preserves water quality for us to safely drink; and filters and improves the quality of the air we need to breathe.

Crown makes packaging from aluminum and steel, mined from the abundant resources of bauxite and iron ore, to protect our customers’ beverages, food, and other products—products that ultimately come from plants and water. Without nature-provided resources, also known as “eco-systems services,” businesses including ours cannot continue to function effectively.

ii) A lack of biodiversity has significant monetary impacts – for example, the loss of insect and animal species diversity is not just a loss for their ecosystem, but a much larger domino effect. In fact, the loss of pollinator species alone will specifically threaten global crops with an annual market value of up to $577bn.3 

iii) Biodiversity and nature is recognized as a powerful force to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions – it is estimated that by working with nature, emissions can be reduced by up to 11.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 20304, over 40% of what is needed to limit global warming.

How is Crown taking action for biodiversity?

a) Understanding any potential impacts on biodiversity: Crown has been mapping biodiversity in the vicinity of our plants using IBAT – Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool5 – starting with the aluminum beverage manufacturing facilities. We are also creating Biodiversity Risk Assessment, Mitigation, Management, and Action plans that have been audited to meet the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Biodiversity criteria for the ASI Performance Standard.

b) Raising awareness about biodiversity: Crown is offering training in our manufacturing sites (starting in Asia Pacific and the Americas) that supports employees to plant native trees and share information about biodiversity online. Raising awareness and fostering conversation around this topic is critical to improving engagement – as the existence of International Biodiversity Day demonstrates.

c) Partnering with local organizations in the vicinity of our plants: To meet water replenishment targets as part of Twentyby30 sustainability program, including Goal #9, we are teaming up with other parties on appropriate habitat preservation and creation. This support for local communities in turn supports biodiversity.

It is important we step up in these ways as almost 75% of the land-based environment and about 66% of marine environment has been significantly altered by human actions, but on average these trends have been much less severe or avoided in areas held or managed by indigenous peoples and local Indigenous peoples6 act as stewards for over 40% of intact ecosystems and protected areas, despite only representing 6% of the global population. Indigenous peoples managed lands have equal or higher levels of biodiversity in Brazil, Canada.7

Therefore, ensuring local partnerships are engaged with local and indigenous communities is critical to sustaining a biodiverse future that will help mitigate climate change, as well as support our businesses and human life.

For example, Crown’s ongoing water replenishment project in Brazil supports 3 years of work, through engaging with local farmers and communities, which will result in the protection of 100 hectares of forest in the Jundiaí Mirim Watershed, for each year of the project. It will also replenish almost half of the water consumed in our manufacturing plant in Cabreúva by the project completion date, and will offset 1,310 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year.8

The biodiversity crisis is not unsolvable, but it needs attention now. Businesses have a role to play in long-term solutions. Crown is just at the start of an important journey to address biodiversity, alongside our ambitious and continuing Twentyby30 strategy to ultimately minimize our environmental footprint.

1https://wwflpr.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/lpr_2022_full_report_1.pdf

2https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/

3IPBES, 2015 – Given that pollinator-dependent crops rely on animal pollination to varying degrees, it is estimated that 5-8 per cent of current global crop production, with an annual market value of $235 billion-$577 billion (in 2015, United States dollars1) worldwide, is directly attributable to animal pollination

4https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/climate-action/facts-about-climate-emergency

5https://www.ibat-alliance.org/

6Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Media Release 2019 – Media Release: Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’ | IPBES secretariat 

7Vertebrate biodiversity on indigenous-managed lands in Australia, Brazil, and Canada equals that in protected areas – ScienceDirect

8Page 42, Crown_2021-Sustainability-Report.pdf (crowncork.com)

View original content here

Every Day is Race Day! Denny Hamlin raced back to North Carolina after securing his 50th Cup Series win at Pocono Raceway just in time. The three-time Daytona 500 Champion, and driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, along with his #11 FedEx pit crew, FedEx volunteers and Operation Warm delivered more than 150 new pairs of shoes to children at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 1st and 2nd grade children received brand new shoes, manufactured by Operation Warm and funded through the FedEx Cares program.

To make the event special, each child had a chance to create their own shoe design using colored pencils on a paper template from the Jordan brand. Out of the drawings submitted by the children receiving shoes, Denny will select his top 3 favorite designs that will be put to a fan vote on @fedex social media channels. The winning design will be brought to life and worn by Hamlin at Daytona International Speedway on August 26 for the last race of the regular season.

However, all kids left as winners, receiving new shoes, a die-cast replica of the #11 FedEx Cares Toyota and a Denny Hamlin hero card. The highlight for many students and FedEx volunteers was the opportunity to meet Denny and take a photograph in front of his #11 FedEx Toyota Camry race car parked out front of the event.

“I have got to do a lot of different things with FedEx,” Hamlin said. “We’ve rebuilt houses for tornado victims, we’ve done things with St. Jude’s Children Hospital, and with the Salvation Army, but anything with kids always touches your heart.

“For us, to put shoes on the kids’ feet, the Operation Warm program’s core belief is that every kid deserves the basics. That’s shoes on their feet and clothes on their back. FedEx is really giving back to the community, and we were able to do that this week. I am really happy to be a part of an organization like FedEx that gives back so much to the community, especially when it involves kids that are around my kids’ age. It puts things in perspective of how fortunate we are.”

This is part of the FedEx Cares Drive Forward, Give Back campaign, which focuses on the FedEx belief that every action that improves our world, whether by working with nonprofits or doing other acts of kindness, is something extraordinary.