Tag: 3BL

CAMDEN, N.J., August 1, 2023 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) today announced that for the third year in a row, the automaker and its retailers will provide funding to teachers across the country to purchase the school supplies and resources needed to help their students succeed. Subaru believes that all students deserve an equal and fair opportunity at a quality education, and by continuing its partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, as part of the Subaru Loves Learning® initiative, students will have the supplies and learning materials they need to excel in the classroom.

To kick off the 2023 program, SOA will continue to support students in the Camden City School District (CCSD) by adopting all of the 55 classrooms at the four-school Camden High Campus (grades 9-12) near the automaker’s headquarters in Camden, NJ. Furthermore, SOA will fund career and technical education (CTE) programs at Camden’s Eastside High School, which was also adopted in 2022.

“We are proud to work with AdoptAClassroom.org again this year to help students across America succeed in the classroom with the resources they need,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America, Inc. “Subaru and our retailers want to support students in the community by providing teachers with the funding they need to purchase essential school supplies for a thriving learning environment.”

According to AdoptAClassroom.org, more than 92 percent of classrooms have students whose families cannot afford to purchase any school supplies for their children, often requiring teachers to purchase resources using their own money. Throughout August, Subaru and more than 630 participating retailers will once again work with AdoptAClassroom.org to adopt classrooms at high-needs* schools in their communities by providing teachers with funding for critical learning supplies. Many participating retailers will also be donating school supply kits that contain highly requested learning materials, and nearly 10 percent of retailers will be adopting an entire school (20 or more classrooms).

“We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our partnership with Subaru for the third year to provide even more schools and students across the country with the resources they need,” said Ann Pifer, Executive Director of AdoptAClassroom.org. “The enthusiastic and generous involvement of Subaru and its retailers means that more teachers will be supported and empowered to make an even bigger difference for their students’ lives this school year.”

As the largest corporate partner of AdoptAClassroom.org, Subaru and its retailers have supported more than 470,000 students nationwide through the Subaru Loves Learning initiative since 2021. The automaker and nonprofit were recently awarded the 2023 Gold Halo Award for Best Education initiative for their commitment to supporting education, on behalf of the impact of the 2022 Subaru Loves Learning initiative. Last year, Subaru and 621 of its retailers helped support teachers by supporting 652 schools and 5,699 teachers across the U.S., allowing teachers to choose the supplies that would most benefit their students. Retailers also visited their local schools and hand-delivered classroom supply kits to the adopted classrooms.

To highlight Subaru Loves Learning and the support it provides to students and teachers nationwide, the automaker developed advertising assets including a 15-second clip, 30-second TV spot, and a feature video centered around the emotional impact that these initiatives can have on a personal level for both educators and children. The commercial will run on national television, digital video, and social media platforms throughout August.

For information about Subaru Loves Learning and to find out more about the partners that Subaru supports, visit subaru.com/learning, and follow #SubaruLovesLearning on social media. To learn more about AdoptAClassroom.org, visit adoptaclassroom.org.

*High-need is defined as a school that has a Title I Schoolwide Program and/or a school where 40% or more of the student population qualifies for the Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program.

About AdoptAClassroom.org

AdoptAClassroom.org believes every child deserves the tools and materials they need to learn and thrive in school. To achieve this, teachers are spending an average of $860 of their own money each year on their classrooms. AdoptAClassroom.org is a national nonprofit that funds PreK-12 teachers and schools across the U.S. to help equip more classrooms and students for success, and offset the financial burden on teachers. Since 1998, AdoptAClassroom.org has raised $65 million and equipped more than 6.4 million students across the U.S. 90% of all funded classrooms are considered high needs. The 501(c)(3) holds the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and the highest transparency rating offered by Candid/GuideStar. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit www.adoptaclassroom.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Contact: 

Diane Anton 
Subaru of America, Inc. 
856-488-5093 
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter 
Subaru of America, Inc. 
(856) 488-8668 
aleiter@subaru.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., August 1, 2023 /3BL/ – Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE:RF) on Wednesday announced Alison Rand has been appointed to the boards of Regions Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Regions Bank. Her term will begin Oct. 1, 2023.

An experienced corporate executive, Rand has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Primerica for 23 years. Based in metro Atlanta, Primerica delivers a range of financial products and services centered on the needs of middle-income households in the United States and Canada.

As a member of Primerica’s executive team, Rand led the company’s public offering in 2010 and continued to help grow the company by concentrating on investor relations, strategic planning, capital management, product development and financial reporting and analysis. In her CFO role, Rand is responsible for the management of Primerica’s finances, optimizing capital, driving innovation through product development and casting a long-term strategic vision. In addition, she oversees all aspects of Primerica’s finance and accounting functions, treasury, capital management, tax, investor relations and more. Rand serves as a key spokesperson with the investor and analyst communities.

Alison’s depth of experience will complement the vision and focus of the Regions Boards of Directors as we develop and enhance strategies to support the company’s commitment to deliver consistent, sustainable long-term performance.

Charles McCrary, Chair of the Regions Financial Corp. and Regions Bank Boards

“Alison’s depth of experience will complement the vision and focus of the Regions Boards of Directors as we develop and enhance strategies to support the company’s commitment to deliver consistent, sustainable long-term performance,” said Charles McCrary, Chair of the Regions Financial Corp. and Regions Bank Boards. “The Regions mission is to make life better for the people we serve, and we accomplish that by creating shared value for customers, associates, communities and shareholders. With her strong financial management background and her passion for community engagement and superior service, Alison will be a significant contributor as we accomplish short-term priorities and long-term objectives on behalf of everyone we serve.”

Prior to being named as CFO for Primerica, Rand served in various financial leadership positions at Primerica. She began her career in 1990 at KPMG in the Audit department.

Rand is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She serves on several nonprofit boards, including The University of Florida Foundation and Junior Achievement of Georgia. Further, she participates in advisory boards for the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and the University of Florida Warrington College of Business.

“Living in metro Atlanta – a market where Regions has made significant investments in terms of locations, talent and community engagement – I am very familiar with the Regions brand and its strong reputation for customer service and community support,” Rand said. “I am honored to be a part of a company whose values of doing what is right and focusing on the customer so closely align with mine, and I’m pleased to lend my knowledge and experience to help Regions consistently attain its goals for long-term, sustainable growth.”

I am honored to be a part of a company whose values of doing what is right and focusingon the customer so closely align with mine.
–Alison Rand

With the addition of Rand, the Regions Boards will consist of 14 members. Upon joining the Regions Boards, Rand will serve on the Technology Committee. It is expected that she will join the Audit Committee upon her previously announced retirement from Primerica.

Regions is committed to serving the long-term interests of shareholders by maintaining strong governance principles and cultivating an experienced and engaged Board of Directors with diverse skills and attributes supporting both Regions Financial Corp. and Regions Bank. Board members have adopted comprehensive Corporate Governance Principles to guide their oversight and independent governance. The Corporate Governance Principles affirm the Boards will seek members from diverse professional backgrounds, who combine a broad spectrum of experience and expertise with a reputation for integrity, to ensure the Boards maintain an appropriate mix of skills and characteristics to meet the needs of Regions and the people it serves.

About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $154 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

KeyBank announced Vic Laurenza has been promoted to Market President in Western Pennsylvania. In this role, he will help grow KeyBank’s business and community presence in the region while continuing to serve as the National Client Engagement Leader for Key Private Bank.

Laurenza joined Key in 2016, serving first as a Wealth Advisor and later as Senior Vice President of Private Banking Market Leader before stepping into his current role last year. Already active in the greater Pittsburgh community, he will now take on a more visible role as the face and voice of Key in the Western Pennsylvania market. He will also partner closely with Carla Frost, Key’s Corporate Responsibility Officer for the market, to plan Key’s strategic investments to help the community thrive.

“We are thrilled to expand Vic’s title and look forward to the great things he will accomplish as Market President,” said Chris Doyle, KeyBank’s Senior Commercial Sales Leader. “His presence and reputation in Western Pennsylvania will be an important asset to continue our growth in the region and for community engagement. His experience within the Private Bank uniquely positions him to drive collaboration and coordination in the market.”

Laurenza began his banking career more than 20 years ago at PNC in retail management and business banking, eventually moving into Wealth Management. Before joining Key, he was Vice President, Relationship Manager in Huntington National Bank’s Private Client Group.

In addition to Market President, Laurenza will also continue his role within Key Private Bank. As the National Client Engagement Leader, he works with a broad set of stakeholders and subject matter experts to create and execute on client satisfaction initiatives, marketing, field communications and change management initiatives.

A veteran in the banking industry, Laurenza holds a Bachelor of Finance from Mercyhurst University. He serves on the board of Familylinks, a local nonprofit dedicated to positively impacting lives through integrated community, behavioral and social programs and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh.

Additionally, Tim Glass has been promoted to Commercial Sales Leader for the market. While leading the commercial sales client-facing team, he will also continue to manage and develop his own portfolio.

Glass joined Key in 2022 as a Senior Relationship Manager. Over the course of his 23-year banking career, he has acquired valuable experience as a credit analyst, field examiner, underwriter, portfolio manager and relationship manager. Prior to joining Key, Glass was a Relationship Manager for Wells Fargo in Western Pennsylvania.

Glass earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University. He also serves as a board member of Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, a local nonprofit assisting low-income homeowners with the maintenance and care of their homes to improve living conditions and the quality of life.

“Since joining Key last year, Tim has been an outstanding team player and commercial banker,” said Doyle. “His extensive experience in the industry, established reputation and leadership will position us in the market to create an even greater impact.”

Applied Materials’ latest Sustainability Report includes updates to Applied’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals, strategies and accomplishments. We sat down with Michelle Mapp Cooper, culture of inclusion vice president, to get an inside look at what Applied is doing to build upon our culture of inclusion so everyone can thrive.

What does diversity, equity and inclusion mean to you?

It’s about building an environment where everyone can be their best selves and achieve their full potential. That’s where I want to work! At Applied, our DEI strategy starts with leaders as champions of change who work to break down systemic barriers, build diversity in our teams and ensure equity in our talent processes. When leaders remove barriers, we begin to see DEI operationalized in all we do.

How are you building a culture of inclusion?

We’ve launched the DEI Engine—a framework of tools, learning and processes—to give our leaders and employees tangible assets and learning opportunities to accelerate our culture of inclusion strategy and help them further their own inclusion journey. Our focus for 2023 is to ingrain an inclusive culture. It’s phase one of a multiyear roadmap designed to achieve our 2030 goals.

What are Applied’s 2030 diversity goals?

Our goals for 2030 are:

Increase representation of women in our global workforce to >25%Increase representation of women executives (director-level and above) globally to >21%Increase underrepresented minorities (URM) in our U.S. workforce to >25%Increase URM representation among our U.S. executives to >10%Achieve top quartile results for our Inclusion Index (measured via the employee survey) with no significant differences between demographics

I believe that as an industry leader, it is our responsibility to make the world a better place—and to lead the way when it comes to inclusive practices and broader workplace diversity.

What is your strategy to meet those goals?

We have a focus on talent where each leader works in partnership with human resources to review their DEI data and put plans in place to achieve improvements as needed. These actions and plans are not only for women and underrepresented minorities, but for all employees. Our overarching goal is to enable everyone in our workforce to achieve their full potential.

What are Applied’s biggest accomplishments in the DEI space to date?

I moved into my role to lead our culture of inclusion in 2022, and since then I’ve built a team to raise the level and increase the pace of our DEI efforts—and we’ve engaged with our colleagues outside the company to broaden the impact across the tech industry. All our work is showing up in our 2023 mid-year results, where we have achieved three of our five goals and are making strong progress on all fronts.

What are the unique challenges for tech companies in attracting and recruiting diverse talent?

The tech industry has historically lacked diversity due to culture and availability. At Applied, we aren’t sitting on the sidelines. We invest in building an inclusive talent pipeline to expand opportunities for those who have been traditionally underrepresented in tech. We partner with nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities to foster interest and build STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) capabilities, particularly among girls and underrepresented minorities.

Through the Applied Materials Foundation’s Generation Girl® initiative, we collaborate with U.S. nonprofit organizations to strengthen girls’ self-confidence and to grow interest and engagement in STEM subjects. Since 2018, Generation Girl has served more than 36,000 girls, with over 60% of participants coming from low-income households and identifying as Black, Latina or Native American.

Recently, in collaboration with Last Mile Education Fund, we established the Applied Materials Momentum Fund, accelerating the next generation of women in engineering. Through the Momentum Fund, we will provide flexible financial support to increase graduation rates for women engineers facing financial hardship. In addition to funding, Applied will also offer dedicated internships and networking opportunities with our employees, helping scholars gain industry experience and grow their list of contacts in the semiconductor ecosystem. With this new program, Applied Materials and the Applied Materials Foundation will support girls and young women from kindergarten to career – growing access to opportunity and strengthening pathways to careers in the semiconductor industry.

What excites you most about the future of DEI at Applied?

I came to Applied more than 20 years ago as an engineer supporting the manufacturing of our incredible products, because I was excited to have a hand in technology that is essential to the electronic devices we use every day. But what I’ve also come to understand about myself over the years is that I love our people. They are dedicated, smart and hardworking. DEI work is human work. And I can see that when our employees feel included, with a deep sense of belonging, they are happier, healthier and more productive, both at work and at home. What job could be better?

“I’m driven by the opportunity to bring social impact into every part of Gen. It’s incredibly motivating to see the Corporate Responsibility team working closer than ever across the business. DEI, recruitment, talent development, global health and wellness, legal, product, brand and marketing are all pulling together to make a real difference. Our people feel they have an active stake in the program. We’re united in our community-minded values and passion for powering Digital Freedom.”– Kim Allman, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy, Gen
 
Today, Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN) releases its 2023 Social Impact Report. Gen is a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its trusted Cyber Safety brands, Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner. The Company’s commitment to social impact is embedded in its daily work as Gen empowers people to live their best digital lives.
 
The Company’s inaugural Social Impact Report demonstrates how Gen brings together its team, passions and technology to support people and communities, making the world a better, safer place.
 
Our Social Impact strategy is focused on helping children, families, and vulnerable people stay safe online, and eliminating the gender gap in tech by helping women advance their cybersecurity careers. The Gen team is unified in its efforts to foster a culture of giving, care for the environment and build a diverse and dedicated team.
 
You can see the efforts of Gen and its family of consumer Cyber Safety brands come to life through some of the 2023 highlights from the report including:

Reached more than 2.8 million people through its Cyber Safety education and training programs.Contributed $5.3 million in charitable giving to high-impact nonprofits, including the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Save the Children India, Planet Water Foundation and Discovery Education.Donated products to more than 9,200 nonprofits.Gen employees spent more than 4,700 hours volunteering in their communities and 33% of employees participated in Gen giving programs.Globally, 32% of Gen employees are women.Gen employees completed more than 780 projects through its Sustainable Home Improvement Program, an employee benefit providing cash incentives for home improvement projects that help reduce environmental impacts.Delivered approximately 98% of products digitally and less than 0.5% of the material used in physical products contained plastic.Received social impact awards and recognitions, including Points of Light’s The Civic 50, Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies, SEAL’s Environmental Initiatives Award, The Corporate Engagement Awards, Fortune’s Modern Board 25 and being listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Learn more about how Gen is committed to making the world a better, safer place in its 2023 Social Impact Report.

About Gen 
Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN) is a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its trusted Cyber Safety brands, Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner. The Gen family of consumer brands is rooted in providing safety for the first digital generations. Now, Gen empowers people to live their digital lives safely, privately, and confidently today and for generations to come. Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy and identity protection to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Learn more at www.GenDigital.com. 

Media Contact: 
Jenna Torluemke
Gen                      

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Are you struggling to effectively communicate your company’s sustainability and social impact commitments? 

We’ve all seen businesses stumble when trying to share ESG progress. From failing to acknowledge missteps, to greenwashing their content, and even resorting to jargon that only a select few can comprehend – these mistakes can leave stakeholders feeling disconnected and incredulous of your commitments.

3BL is here to help you navigate these common communication pitfalls. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 red flags found in ESG content and practical advice on how to fix them.

Think of red flags as mistakes that hinder stakeholder engagement. While these slips in communication are rarely intentional, they can have a significant impact on how your ESG efforts are perceived. By addressing these red flags head-on, you can ensure that your sustainability and social impact content remains engaging throughout the year and that your stakeholders will be excited to be part of your journey toward positive change.

Explore the top 10 red flags our team commonly sees in ESG content and guidance on how to avoid them now.

International Olympic Committee news

In less than a year, the world will gather for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

We live in a turbulent, polarised world, and uniting people around sport, above political and social divisions, is needed more than ever.

At the same time, with climate change on the rise, the footprint of the Olympic Games is a valid concern which needs to be addressed. 

The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 are stepping up to this challenge more than any Games before. And they are doing so by focusing first and foremost on reducing emissions.

The Paris 2024 Organising Committee plans to halve carbon emissions compared to the average of London 2012 and Rio 2016. This target reflects both the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which world governments signed in 2015.

Going forward, this focus on carbon reduction will become a contractual requirement for all Olympic hosts. From 2030, the Olympic Host Contract sets binding requirements to minimise direct, as well as indirect, carbon emissions. The same contract also obliges Games organisers to encourage stakeholders to take action against climate change.

In line with the IOC’s philosophy of lower-impact Games that adapt to the needs of the host cities and their residents, Paris 2024 is minimising new construction. Some 95 per cent of venues will be pre-existing facilities – refurbished and modernised, where necessary – or temporary structures. The venues have been specifically chosen so they can be accessed by public transport.

Paris 2024 is also setting new sustainability standards for major sporting events by encouraging energy conservation, innovation and creativity. These will be Olympic Games of a new era.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy – mainly clean electricity, but also biogas. All sites will be connected to the grid by network operator Enedis and supplied by EDF with renewable electricity sourced from wind and solar farms. Avoiding the use of diesel generators has made it possible to reduce the equivalent of 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. These solutions will remain in place after the Games, allowing other events, in sport and beyond, to reduce their emissions too.

Organisers have also reinvented the way sports events do catering, and pledge to serve 13 million meals and snacks in a more sustainable manner. The target is an average of 1kg of CO2 per meal, compared with the 2.3kg French average. Some 80 per cent of ingredients will be French, and at least 30 per cent organic. The amount of plant-based products will be doubled, while that of single-use plastic will be cut in half. 

And while there are currently no solutions to fully eliminate the carbon footprint of large events, Paris 2024 is showing how this can be reduced, setting a clear pathway on how to bring the world together, in a much more sustainable way.

With their mesmerising visibility, the Games already serve as an incubator for sustainable solutions that can be applied and further mainstreamed by sporting events around the world.

It’s fun to be a challenger—to spark innovation, invite change, operate sustainably. VMware customers see possibility where others see problems, transform obstacle into opportunity, face difficulty with determination. VMware customers challenge expectations.

Seizing opportunity at the 5G edge

The telco industry is poised to seize the tremendous potential of 5G technology—unprecedented levels of connectivity, ultra-dependable low-latency, and efficient energy use, including exponentially greater connection density and the capability to support mind-boggling levels of network traffic. But the eventual market leaders may not be the traditional heavyweights. Up-and-comers are making their mark on the market in a big way.

The smallest wireless provider in Norway—with a workforce of fewer than 300 people—is one of these upstarts, daring to compete against the country’s two market leaders. Less intrepid entrants might take one look at this scenario and walk away. Not Ice Norway. Since signing its first customer in 2015, the company now serves more than 700,000 customers. This rising star carved out a market by building its own 5G platform. To support its operations, the company developed a multi-cloud infrastructure incorporating telco, AWS and Azure cloud and on-premises resources, all supported by VMware Cloud Foundation. By creating a shared, flexible, scalable infrastructure across multiple environments—managed by only two people—this high-flying wireless challenger is edging to lead in the wireless market in Norway.

Setting the green standard for high-tech agriculture

Anyone who grows basil on a windowsill knows the challenge of keeping one small plant alive and thriving. But keeping millions of growing plants healthy, productive and producing a year-round harvest demands careful orchestration. An innovative greenhouse grower of cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, Nature Fresh Farms harnessed an extensive suite of VMware technologies—VMware Horizon, Workspace ONE, SD-WAN, Edge Network Intelligence, vSphere and Carbon Black Cloud—to unite geographically dispersed operations and a workforce distributed across three countries.

“We have to monitor, in real time, about 1.7 million plants,” says Keith Bradley, Vice President of IT and Security, Nature Fresh Farms, “and each of those we control at the micro level, down to the milliliter of water, and any time that process is disrupted, it affects our growing cycle, and our quality.” By maximizing every square inch of its operations, Nature Fresh Farms has set the green standard for sustainable, climate-controlled farming. “We use technology to know exactly how produce is doing, from the time it’s picked from the vine, to when it needs to be packaged, and how quickly we can get it to your store.”

“We want to ensure our produce is the highest quality, freshest and most flavorful,” says Bradley. “And as odd as it may sound, we use technology to do just that. With these technologies, we have improved our farm-to-fork time, giving you a better pepper that tastes better and lasts longer.”

Rolling forward with sustainable purpose

At Quality Bicycle Products—known by fans as QBP—everything revolves around one gutsy phrase: “Every butt on a bike.” QBP aims to get everyone rolling. “We think the bike is a method of transport everyone should use,” says Joe Van Ert, systems architect, QBP. “And your local bike shop is our number one customer.”

A Certified B Corporation since 2021, the company’s core values advance sustainability and bicycling communities. “At QBP, we aim to be the common thread that weaves together retailers, suppliers, industry partners and riders,” says Van Ert. “All our warehouses and distribution centers use solar power,” says Van Ert. “Domestic operations are currently 52 percent solar powered and will reach 100 percent by 2029. All our distribution centers are electrified—we use no gas. And our main facility is a Gold LEED certified building, with all materials responsibly sourced.”

QBP walks the talk and encourages employees to do the same. “We pay our employees to bike to work—six bucks a day—and pay them to do errands by bike, both at work and at home,” says Seth Nesselhuf, director of Corporate Social Responsibility, QBP. “The folks who design the bikes ride the bikes. Our proprietary products allow us to engineer sustainable materials into every part of our manufacturing.”

As an environmentally conscious company, vendor flexibility allows QBP to align with vendors with genuine green commitments. “If a company we’re working with doesn’t have a carbon neutral policy, or they’re not making efforts in that direction, we want the ability to move,” says Van Ert. “As a Certified B Corporation, we don’t want that tarnishing our record. That’s one reason we chose VMware.”

Confronting challenges courageously

With its ancient history of dairying, India understands milk. And nowhere is this expertise more evident than at Chitale Dairy, one of the country’s most respected brands. The family-owned company traces its roots to 1939, with a family-owned local operation that now, seven decades later, comprises a network of state-of-the-art facilities processing half a million liters of milk a day.

Chitale Dairy eagerly embraced technology from its earliest beginnings. Adopting modern dairy processing technology enabled the company to qualify for one of India’s earliest ISO certifications for food science management. And its “cows to cloud” solution, developed in concert with VMware and Dell Technologies, uses IoT solutions to help farmers improve the health and productivity of cattle.

“We use technology to help farmers become more efficient and productive,” says Vishvas Chitale. “By monitoring the health and reproductive cycles of the animals we can help our farmers maintain their economic viability.”

The company’s ongoing commitment to innovation emerged in a big way during the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns prevented consumers from visiting newly shuttered shops. Chitale Dairy redesigned operations to include a business-to-consumer delivery model. Shifting to direct-to-consumer delivery rapidly and at scale might have discouraged some, but this company confronts challenges courageously. “If you are not agile enough to provide modern apps to consumers,” says Chitale, “you’ll be out of business in a short span of time. With VMware, we have progressed quickly on that journey, and transforming our software has helped us become a more agile business moving in the direction consumers want.”

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What You Need to Know

Biodiversity is taking on increasing importance as a consumer concern, but it isn’t always top of mind for investors. We think that could soon change. Beyond the obvious environmental benefits, there’s an economic case to be made for protecting biodiversity. New, innovative technologies are disrupting age-old systems that are both lower-yielding and environmentally destructive. We believe the next wave of innovation will be fueled by secular growth trends that could reshape the way we think about the world’s ecosystems. Ultimately, we believe protecting and maintaining biodiversity is an attractive financial proposition for growers, consumers and investors alike.

VIEW PDF—NON-US INVESTORS

90%

Percentage of global deforestation attributable to farmland expansion.

$824 Billion

Annual amount required to bridge current funding levels with what’s needed to reverse biodiversity loss.

10 Billion

Earth’s projected human population by 2050.

Author

Joseph Sun, CFA| Senior Research Analyst—Sustainable Thematic Equities

Just outside Gibson City, Illinois, a modern-day farmer named Greg is tasked with the responsibility of helping to feed America. Back when Greg’s father managed their farm, it took a full day to harvest just one bushel of corn by hand. Over the years, the introduction of innovative farm tools and equipment significantly enhanced production speed and efficiency, and when Greg eventually took over the farm, he benefited from the improved machinery and industrial chemicals. As a result, the farm’s yield and productivity experienced exponential growth.

But as Greg transitions the family’s assets to his son, their multigenerational farm faces the global challenge of biodiversity loss. Across the North American corn belt and beyond, a decline in soil health from years of excessive agrochemicals has impaired growers’ ability to deliver higher yields to feed the world’s expanding population.

Greg’s story highlights the power of technology in addressing farm productivity. But technology can also help us understand the dangerous loss of biodiversity in the ground beneath our feet—the very soil that feeds the world. Across every industry, we must look to technology to solve the challenges of declining marginal yields and the loss of ecosystem services.

As biodiversity awareness grows, companies that provide effective solutions to biodiversity loss are enjoying substantial growth potential. When science and industry combine to address sustainable development issues, exciting opportunities arise for investors. In recent decades, we’ve seen the decoding of the human genome open new markets in biotech and pharmaceuticals. Today, the nascent synthetic biology revolution is building on those developments to create new products in areas ranging from consumer goods to industrials. We’re now on the cusp of a new agricultural revolution that can harness the power of science to address these invisible threats to human sustenance.

It’s not too soon for investors to start discovering the opportunities that can be created by addressing the growing biodiversity funding gap. The market could be sizable. By some estimates, more than $800 billion annually will be required to bridge current funding levels with what’s needed to reverse biodiversity loss (Display). That could add up to roughly $8 trillion by 2030.

Past performance, historical and current analyses, and expectations do not guarantee future results.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to revision over time.

Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here

Funding will help 25 nonprofits and organizations increase their capacity to serve Hoosier families impacted by food insecurity

PLAINFIELD, Ind., Aug. 1, 2023 /3BL/ – The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding more than $200,000 in grants to local food pantries and community organizations to feed Hoosier families in need. The grants will support the purchase of canned goods, fresh produce and essential supplies to address food insecurity across the company’s Indiana service territory.

“Too many Hoosiers struggle with economic instability and food insecurity,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “When people don’t have enough food to meet their needs or are uncertain of where their next meal might come from, it weighs heavily on families and communities. With these funds, we hope to curb the number of Indiana families experiencing hunger and support local organizations extending a helping hand to their neighbors in need.”

The Center for Lay Ministries is the recipient of a $6,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant to support Clark County, Ind., residents who struggle with food insecurity. Each month, the nonprofit organization provides food for more than 1,100 individuals and their families.

“These funds will allow us to meet the increased needs of local families this summer while kids are home from school and food costs are rising,” said Kara Brown, executive director of the Center for Lay Ministries. “The support of partners like Duke Energy is instrumental in helping us continue to serve our clients with compassion, dignity and respect.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Anchor House (Jackson County) – $5,000 
 Center for Lay Ministries (Clark County) – $6,000 
 Clay County YMCA (Clay County) – $7,000 
 Food Finders Food Bank (Benton, Carroll, Cass, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Tipton and Warren counties) – $29,000 
 Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana (Statewide) – $10,000 
 Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County (Hamilton County) – $10,000 
 Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition (Hendricks County) – $5,000 
 Henry County Community Foundation (Henry County) – $5,000 
 Hoosier Hills Food Bank (Brown, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange and Owen counties) – $22,000 
 Hope Center (Fayette County) – $5,000 
 Hope Southern Indiana (Floyd County) – $6,000 
 Knox County United Way (Knox County) – $12,000 
 The Princeton Salvation Army (Gibson County) – $10,000 
 Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry (Putnam County) – $5,000 
 The Rescue Mission (Huntington, Kosciusko and Whitley counties) – $5,000 
 The Salvation Army of Southern Indiana (Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties) – $10,000 
 Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana (Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph and Wabash counties) – $3,000 
 Shelby County Boys & Girls Club (Shelby County) – $10,000 
 South Madison Community Food Pantry (Madison County) – $2,500 
 United Way of Bartholomew County (Bartholomew County) – $12,000 
 United Way of Clinton County (Clinton County) – $7,000 
 West Vigo Community Center (Vigo County) – $5,000 
 Western Indiana Community Foundation (Vermillion County) – $5,000 
 Westfield Washington Schools (Hamilton County) – $15,000 
 YMCA of Morgan County (Morgan County) – $7,000

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. More information about the Foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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