Tag: 3BL

A few weeks ago, experts from the LyondellBasell Government Relations team and I had the privilege of attending key events related to the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 2) on Plastic Pollution in Paris. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is working to develop an international legally binding agreement to address plastic pollution and the INC process is the vehicle used to negotiate and deliver such an agreement.

An important outcome of INC 2 was the mandate to prepare a zero draft of the international agreement on plastic pollution before the next INC session this fall. To learn more, click here.

As industry representatives, we were in good company with colleagues from Dow, ExxonMobil, Sabic, Braskem, CP Chem and more. Speaking on behalf of our industry, together with the World Plastics Council, we shared our views, and debated options and solutions with INC delegates and other stakeholders from countries around the world.

Plastic manufacturers are committed to an ambitious and country-driven approach to help governments meet their goal of eliminating new plastic pollution in the environment. We are an industry in transition, with actions already underway such as recycling innovation and scale up, improving product design and investing in waste management infrastructure, but we recognize the need to move faster.

Plastic producers have an important role to play in addressing this issue, and we can be an enabler and partner in creating sustainable solutions to support the development of an effective global plastics agreement.

I was inspired by the enthusiasm of all attendees coming from a wide variety of viewpoints with a shared vision to be part of the solution to end plastic pollution. I left Paris optimistic about the future and with these reflections:

Despite differences of opinion on details, all parties agree plastic pollution is a critical issue and are passionate about taking action to address the problem. 
 Industry leaders are committed to being part of the solution and advocating for what we believe will make an agreement most successful. To read more about our industry positions and ambitions on eliminating plastic pollution, click here. We believe a global agreement should:Focus on ending plastic pollution, not plastic production, because plastic plays a key role in offering solutions for a sustainable tomorrow.Emphasize a bottom-up, country-based approach founded on national action plans recognizing local circumstances rather than a top-down, one-size-fits-all global approach.Address access to waste management, which is also key to a circular economy. Without access to waste collection and environmentally sound management of waste, all types of materials will continue to leak into the environment.De-risk waste management investments to encourage developmental banks and investors to fund basic waste management infrastructure where it is needed most. 
 We have a long way to go and not every country is on the same page with respect to how we address the crisis, but we are listening to each other. As the name implies, the pending zero draft is only a starting point for detailed negotiations and even compromises. The industry will continue to advocate, educate and listen to all perspectives, as we move ahead on this global agreement. The next INC session is in November at the UNEP headquarters in Kenya, and we are already taking the lessons learned from INC 2 to engage successfully during INC 3.

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about how LYB is helping shape solutions and global policy for a better tomorrow. If all goes well, the UN will register and announce an agreement to address new plastic pollution at the end of 2024 or in early 2025, and it will be an agreement we helped influence and can support.

Originally published on Built From Scratch

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program labels thousands of products in a variety of price points, styles and finishes. Not only do WaterSense-labeled products look great, but they are also independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models.

If you’re looking to remodel or update your bathroom, check out these easy and accessible bath hacks that help improve water performance.

Switching your showerhead to a WaterSense-labeled model saves 2,700 gallons of water annually and enough energy to power your home for 11 days.

How to Replace a showerhead in 4 Easy steps

You will need:

ToothbrushPlumbing TapeCloth (optional)wrench (optional)Remove old Showerhead.Clean the thread.Apply plumbing tape clockwise.Twist on new WaterSense labeled showerhead.

Replacing the aerators on your faucets with WaterSense-labeled models saves 700 gallons of water and enough energy to power your hair dryer every year.

How to Replace a Faucet Aerator in 4 Easy Steps

You will need:

WaterSense Labeled AeratorWrench (optional)Cloth (optional)Cover your drain.Remove aerator.Remove rubber washer if stuck.Twist on new WaterSense labeled aerator.

For just a few dollars, a new toilet flapper ends leaks that can waste 30 gallons of water or more per day.

How to Replace a Toilet Flapper in 6 Easy Steps

Save water by stopping leaks in your bathroom.

Turn off the water.Remove the toilet’s tank cover and flush.Remove the old flapper.Attach the new flapper to the pegs.Reattach the chain for a tight seal, making sure the seal is strong.Tum the water back on and flush.

Click here to learn more about The Home Depot’s commitment to sustainability, and visit HomeDepot.com for more DIY bathroom upgrade ideas.

Learn more about ways to save water in your bathroom by visiting the WaterSense website at www.epa.gov/watersense/better-bathroom.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

As originally published by GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative

The top 5 counties (with 250,000+ in population) that experienced a notable change in microbusiness density include:

Volusia, FL,Trenton, NJ,Burlington, NJ,Tulsa, OK ; andMontgomery, MD.

Venture Forward, a GoDaddy one-of-a-kind research initiative established in 2018 to quantify the impact of online microbusinesses on their local economies, defines microbusinesses as businesses with fewer than ten employees, a unique domain and an active website.

The Big Fact

Venture Forward research found, when analyzing the most recent U.S. Census data (2021), that counties with a microbusiness density (microbusinesses /100 people) change of 1, when holding other factors constant, also improved median household income by $489 in the area on average during the following year.

The Research

GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative analyzes more than 20 million online microbusinesses in the U.S. with fewer than ten employees, a unique domain and active website providing an unparalleled view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of microbusiness entrepreneurs. The initiative’s U.S. national survey started in 2019 and occurs twice a year, typically capturing responses from over 3,500 entrepreneurs per instance to identify and explore trends, as well as deliver insights to advocates of microbusiness entrepreneurs.

While these microbusinesses may be small, their impact on the U.S. economy is outsized. For example, for every one online microbusiness entrepreneur an additional 6.7 jobs are created at the county level.

Macro to Micro Impact

Not only are microbusinesses making waves in the wider economy, but they also have an impact at the household level. One in three microbusinesses contribute 51% or more to household income, and half of those households are generating more than $60,000 per year. And 19% of microbusiness owners said 76% or more of their household income comes from their business.

Who Are the Breadwinners?

There’s a shift in who is contributing to household income. Almost half (49%) of microbusiness owners who contribute more than 51% of income to their family are women. This segment steadily increased over time, according to Pew Research. Since 1972, wives accounted for an 11% increase in being primary or sole breadwinners for their households, while the same Pew Research noted a 30% decrease in husbands being primary or sole breadwinners for their households.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today released its 2022 ESG report on the company’s work supporting customers with their sustainability initiatives while advancing its own internal high-priority ESG programs, from reducing Scope 3 emissions in the value chain to cultivating a talented, diverse, and inclusive workforce.

“Agilent is committed to our customers’ success at every stage of their journey to bring great science to life,” said Agilent President and CEO Mike McMullen. “That includes helping them achieve their sustainability goals with our products, technology, and services. At the same time, we’re driving ESG objectives within our operations by fostering a great workplace, and investing in a diverse pipeline of talent, which is essential to our company’s future.”

The report also covers the role of Agilent products and technology in addressing some of society’s biggest challenges—from improving outcomes for cancer patients to helping measure exposure to substances such as PFAS.

Below are some of the highlights from fiscal 2022 in four focus areas of Agilent’s ESG program:

People

Earned Great Place to Work® certification in more than 20 countries and territories, based on strong results from an independent survey of employees.Contributed $1 million to Delaware State University, a historically Black university, to fund scholarships for students pursuing STEM degrees; pledged an additional $3.5 million worth of state-of-the art instruments and supplies to equip the university’s new lab.Launched two new employee networking groups (ENGs) to support both Hispanic and Asian Pacific Islander employees, adding to existing networking groups at Agilent to support Black, veteran, women, and LGBTQ+ employees.Increased spending with diverse suppliers by 47 percent year over year, a key element of Agilent’s supplier diversity program.

Planet

Engaged suppliers in a plan to reduce Scope 3 emissions and submitted emissions-reduction targets to the Science Based Targets initiative for validation.Reduced energy and water consumption intensity by 9.5 percent and 27.6 percent respectively, exceeding our targets in both areas.Achieved 94 percent diversion of solid waste.Launched a product life cycle assessment pilot study of an Agilent liquid chromatography instrument.Implemented a formal sustainability function in Agilent’s Order Fulfillment division, which embeds sustainability into all aspects of manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics.

Products

Expanded sustainability offerings for our customers, including:increasing the number of instruments that have earned the My Green Lab Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency (ACT) label;adding How2Recycle labeling to product packaging;achieving My Green Lab certification of Agilent customer demonstration labs;introducing the HydroInert source for GC/MS, which runs on renewable hydrogen as the carrier gas, in place of non-renewable helium gas; and,offering asset performance management software that can reduce lab energy use.Refurbished 4,300 lab instruments through our award-winning Certified Pre-Owned Instruments Program, keeping decommissioned instruments out of landfills and substantially extending their life.

Prosperity

Invested $725 million in Agilent’s Frederick, Colorado, manufacturing facility to double production of therapeutic nucleic acids, which is expected to generate more than 160 life science jobs.Donated $7.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions to support graduate students in STEM disciplines and academics working on innovative research that aligns with Agilent’s mission and business strategy.Invested $7 million to upgrade Agilent’s R&D labs in Little Falls, Delaware, adding jobs to Agilent’s workforce in the state.

Agilent’s 2022 report also includes an updated Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, an index of materially relevant topics from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and a SASB index. Read the report and related materials about Agilent’s ESG program at Agilent.com.

About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, delivering insights and innovation that help our customers bring great science to life. Agilent’s full range of solutions includes instruments, software, services, and expertise that provide trusted answers to our customers’ most challenging questions. The company generated revenue of $6.85 billion in fiscal 2022 and employs 18,000 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com. To receive the latest Agilent news, subscribe to the Agilent Newsroom. Follow Agilent on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarah Litton
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Read the Report

T-Mobile is excited to earn recognition as a Top 100 Internship Program from WayUp and Yello this year! 

Our interns contribute innovative perspectives to the coolest projects in wireless while connecting and engaging with senior leaders across all business functions including technology, marketing, strategy, retail, customer service, and more.

Internships available at T-Mobile include opportunities like the Explorer Prep Program, which provides high school kids of all backgrounds a chance to fast track a career in STEM as well as provides a pathway towards higher education for those who otherwise may feel its financially out of their reach.

Hear from one recent intern on how the program helped demystify common technology competencies and showed her what a career in STEM truly looks like.

T-Mobile empowers interns to bring their passion, ambition, and desire to make a difference. Interns work with diverse colleagues who will challenge them and help develop important career skills—while changing wireless for good!

Check out the full list of winners

Learn more about internships at T-Mobile

Industry Insights Season 2 | Episode 4 features Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, EVP Entertainment Diversity & Inclusion, West Coast, Paramount Global 

For season 2 of Industry Insights, Fresh Films teamed up with Paramount Company through their Content For Change Initiative to bring you conversations between future storytellers and industry professionals that pull back the curtain on the entertainment industry.

Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i is the Executive Vice President of Entertainment Diversity & Inclusion, West Coast for Paramount Global who thought her entertainment career was going to be in front of the camera but instead, she found her home behind the lens. In an industry full of “NOs”, Tiffany gets to say “YES” to actors, writers, directors and producers every day. Tiffany gives creators the opportunity to tell their stories, adding to the tapestry of voices and perspectives that reflect authenticity and change in entertainment and media production. 
 

Not only does every episode educate and entertain, it also provides the opportunity for educators to receive $300 grants for their classrooms! Learn more and enter to win at https://freshfilms.org/educators/

Created by teens for teens, Industry Insights, is dedicated to empowering and educating future storytellers and creators on the different career paths that the film and tv entertainment industry has to offer. In each episode, different industry professionals talk about their careers, how they got to where they are today plus inspiration and advice for aspiring media professionals.

Originally published on bloomberg.com

A turbulent year hasn’t thrown off the long-term prospects for the carbon offset market, which could be valued at half a trillion dollars annually by 2050. Demand will rise into the billions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent within the next decade as companies work toward net-zero goals. Supply could increase nearly 60-fold depending on how carbon removal and nature-based solutions scale. If all offset types are allowed, the market will be oversupplied and prices will average just $18/ton out to 2050. Conversely, a removal-only market would increase this average to a massive $127/ton. A third scenario could see the market splitting in two, keeping prices reasonable but failing to direct investment to technology-based removal and the most impactful avoidance projects.

Long-term carbon offsets outlook 2023

Access the report

Offset demand dropped in 2022: Corporations purchased and retired just 155 million carbon offsets in 2022, down from 161 million the previous year. The biggest driver was growing criticism of carbon offsets by investors and the media, tempering enthusiasm from buyers. Crypto companies, who bought over 18 million offsets on the Verra registry in 2021, were also forcibly removed from the market midway through the year for fears of catalyzing investment into low-quality projects, cutting out a big chunk of demand.Offset supply rose slightly in 2022: Projects in 77 countries issued 255 million carbon offsets, up just 2% from 251 million in 2021. Avoided deforestation (REDD+) supply dropped 32%; major projects in Peru, Indonesia and Kenya received heaps of criticism and issued no offsets in 2022, as customers were wary of the reputational risk that could come from buying such credits. Reforestation and agriculture supply both rose in 2022 but it wasn’t enough to counterbalance the drops seen elsewhere.Companies will still need billions of offsets long term: Today’s fluctuating demand is mostly classified as behavioral, meaning companies buy offset to differentiate products or satisfy customers. It’s more responsive to prices and criticism, and BloombergNEF expects behavioral demand to drop from 181MtCO2e in 2023 to zero in 2050. It will be replaced by fundamental demand as companies work toward net-zero goals, increasing to 1.1GtCO2e in 2030 and 5.4GtCO2e in 2050. This demand is less price elastic and takes over long term.Carbon offset supply will likely grow significantly: In a market that allows all offsets like those seen today, regardless of their sector and geography, supply will exceed 8GtCO2e by 2050. Over three quarters of this supply will come from nature-based avoided deforestation, reforestation and agriculture. Conversely, a market focused on removal would catalyze massive investment into technology like direct air capture (DAC) and bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in later years, pushing supply to 9.8GtCO2e in 2050.This report forecasts carbon offset prices under three scenarios: The voluntary market scenario assumes nothing fundamentally changes about the offset market, with companies buying all types of offsets. The removal scenario assumes companies can only buy removal offsets to achieve net-zero goals. The bifurcation scenario has the market splitting in two, with a smaller market for expensive high-quality credits and a larger market for everything else.Prices would be criminally low in the voluntary market scenario: Supply would be almost four times greater than demand in 2030. Offsets will cost just $13/ton at that point, valuing the market at a mere $15 billion. Prices rise to $35/ton in 2050, which is less than our previous outlook of $47/ton. This would be a disastrous outcome for the market – companies would continue to invest in cheap, low-quality offsets while sectors like DAC would fail to get needed investment. Issues thought to be largely tangential to the offset market today, such as the Russia-Ukraine War, the Brazil elections and compliance offset demand, could tighten the supply-demand balance and lead to much-needed rises in offset prices in this scenario.A bifurcation scenario lives and dies by the definition of quality: Once stakeholders create such a definition, it’s likely that the market diverges into a less liquid, more expensive market for high-quality offsets and a larger, cheaper market for everything else. BNEF estimates that such a market denoted by quality peaks at $38/ton in 2038, but would still be too cheap to incentivize investment into technology-based removal like DAC. A low-quality market would exacerbate many of the issues already seen in today’s market and prices would peak at just $22/ton in 2050. Just how fundamentally different these markets would be is based on how inclusive the definition of ‘high-quality’ is. This makes the work of the Integrity Council on Voluntary Carbon Markets and registries like Verra very important.A removal scenario would send offset prices to new highs, but the rise is gradual and gives buyers time to brace: An alternate outcome from the two scenarios above is a market that focuses entirely on carbon removals, which have inaccurately developed a reputation as always driving more impact than avoidance. This dichotomy is further obscured by groups like the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), who will only allow members to achieve net-zero by using removal offsets such as reforestation, agriculture, DAC and BECCS. A removal-only market keeps the supply-demand balance skintight out to 2050, with the market briefly undersupplied from 2037 to 2044. Prices would rise to a manageable $42/ton in 2030, before shooting up to $105/ton in 2032 and $254/ton in 2037 – set by expensive forestry projects in Malaysia and valuing the market at $953 billion annually. Companies will have trouble stomaching such prices, but they come late enough that affordable alternatives may be available to still drive needed decarbonization. It’s also possible that a removal-only market could alienate buyers and lead to the creation of a separate pure avoidance market. In this avoidance market, offsets like REDD+, clean energy and clean cookstoves would be cheaper early on, but prices eventually reach $32/ton in 2050, valuing the market at $100 billion.

BloombergNEF (BNEF), Bloomberg’s primary research service, covers clean energy, advanced transport, digital industry, innovative materials and commodities. BNEF helps corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals navigate change and generate opportunities. Explore more content on the BNEF blog. 

Celebrating those in the Olympic Movement who are taking tangible steps to tackle the climate crisis, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the shortlisted athletes, International Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) for the inaugural IOC Climate Action Awards. More than 70 applications were received from across the Olympic Movement for three award categories: sustainable travel, innovation and athlete advocacy.

The IOC Climate Action Awards are supported by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partners (TOPs) Airbnb, Deloitte and P&G. They aim to recognise innovative and effective efforts from across the Olympic Movement to limit sport’s impact on climate, while inspiring others to follow suit. The initiative was launched in November 2022 as part of the IOC’s commitment to sustainability.

Shortlisted candidates

The Climate Action x Sustainable Travel Award, supported by Airbnb, recognises innovative action and advocacy to travel more sustainably within the sports calendar. Athletes, IFs and NOCs have showcased remarkable efforts in this field, exploring sustainable travel options and raising awareness about the importance of reducing carbon emissions.

The shortlisted candidates are:

In the athlete category:

Marton Kekesi, Alpine Skiing, Hungary – for recognising the impact of his travel schedule and taking steps to reduce his carbon footprint, including by car sharing, travelling by electric vehicle and choosing accommodation as close as possible to his event venue.Marcus Mepstead, Fencing, Great Britain – for advocating climate action through an Environmental Sustainability Athlete Group and for his work as an Ambassador for the Trees for the Future charity.Katie Tannenbaum, Skeleton, US Virgin Islands – for strategically planning her competition schedule to minimise travel emissions and ensuring fewer people travel from race to raceMarion Thénault, Freestyle Skiing, Canada – for working to calculate, reduce and compensate her carbon emissions, and for raising awareness through her work with the non-profit Protect Our Winters Canada.

In the IF category:

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – for developing the UCI Bike City label, which supports and rewards cities and regions for hosting major UCI cycling events and investing in infrastructure and programmes to promote cycling amongst their wider population.World Rugby – for implementing a number of initiatives to reduce travel impacts and support its climate action objectives, including by combining previously separate men’s and women’s events at the Sevens World Series.World Sailing – for identifying travel and transport as one of its main focus areas for carbon emissions reduction, with priorities including reduced organisational travel and new policies for promoting the use of public transport by staff.

In the NOC category:

Spanish Olympic Committee – for promoting sustainable mobility by using electric and hybrid vehicles from Worldwide Olympic Partner Toyota, and prioritising the use of trains for domestic staff travel.Swiss Olympic – for promoting sustainable travel during the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival by ensuring the Swiss delegation travelled together by coach and minibus rather than flying.

The Climate Action x Innovation Award, supported by Deloitte, recognises how innovation and education drives climate action. The creative and innovative solutions demonstrated by athletes, IFs and NOCs are inspiring and help us to collectively create a more sustainable future.

The shortlisted candidates are:

In the athlete category:

Benjamin Blankenship, Athletics, USA – for establishing the Endless Mileage Project, which plants trees for every American miler who breaks 4 minutes (men) and 4:30 min (women) in the event, and which redistributes used sports clothing and equipment to local schools.Paloma Schmidt Gutierrez, Sailing, Peru – for her work with the organising committee of the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) European Championships in Andora, Italy, to introduce a range of measures to reduce waste.Marie-Claude Molnar, Para Cycling, Canada – for encouraging elite and grassroots athletes to consider the environmental impact of their sporting equipment and urging equipment manufacturers and suppliers to measure the environmental impacts of their product lines.Lina Taylor, Beach Volleyball, Bulgaria – for launching a non-profit organisation called Climate Executive Coaching, which supports climate and sustainability leaders through science-based training and solution-focused professional coaching.

In the IF category:

International Biathlon Union (IBU) – for helping local organising committees of IBU events measure and manage their carbon emissions, including by developing a tailor-made event CO2 footprint calculation tool.Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – for launching the UCI Climate Action Charter, which unites cycling stakeholders to reduce the sport’s emissions, advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and advocate more everyday cycling.World Rugby – for implementing in partnership with the South African Rugby Union and CRDC “The Bag that Builds” – an innovative initiative involving the collection of waste generated by fans, athletes and operations staff during the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 for conversion into an eco-aggregate used for the construction of social housing in the event’s host nation, South Africa.World Sailing – for leading the establishment of the Carbon Fibre Circular Alliance (CFCA) to promote the use of recycled carbon fibre in equipment for sailing and other sports.

In the NOC category:

Brazilian Olympic Committee – for moving to more energy-efficient headquarters, introducing remote working for employees, and modifying its training centre to reduce energy consumption.Colombian Olympic Committee – for launching a pilot initiative to reduce carbon emissions at the National Sea and Beach Games held in Tolú (Coveñas) in 2021, which is being rolled out at other sporting events in the country.Spanish Olympic Committee – for working to develop a climate mitigation programme using seagrass and marine reforestation, following the successful launch of the Spanish Olympic Forest.Swiss Olympic – for launching the Swiss Olympic Climate Fund – an innovative carbon mitigation scheme for the Swiss sporting system.

The Climate Action x Athlete Advocacy Award, supported by P&G, highlights the endeavours of athletes who actively engage people and communities in the fight against climate change. Shortlisted athletes are recognised for leveraging their platforms to serve as advocates, inspiring others and promoting sustainable practices that contribute to a greener world.

The shortlisted candidates are:

Benjamin Blankenship, Athletics, USA – for promoting sustainability through the establishment of the Endless Mileage Project, which plants trees for every American miler who breaks 4 minutes (men) and 4:30 min (women) in the event and redistributes used sports clothing and equipment to local schools.James Farndale, Rugby Sevens, Great Britain – for his work with Athletes of the World – a non-profit that inspires athletes to become climate leaders. As a spokesperson for the cause, he has engaged in panels, participated in podcasts and used his platform to educate others.Marcus Mepstead, Fencing, Great Britain – for driving the development of fencing equipment made from recycled ocean plastic to help raise awareness of sustainable practices, and for advocating climate action through his role as an ambassador for Trees for the Future and as a member of an Environmental Sustainability Athlete Group.Oliver Scholfield, Field Hockey, Canada – for his work with Racing to Zero, which aims to equip grassroots sports events and organisations with the tools and knowledge they need to adopt sustainable practices.

“The IOC Climate Action Awards celebrate the efforts of athletes, International Federations and National Olympic Committees that are leading the way in addressing the climate crisis,” said Marie Sallois, the IOC’s Director for Sustainability. “We are extremely grateful for the support and collaboration of our Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partners, Airbnb, Deloitte and P&G. We hope that these awards will serve as an inspiration for others to follow suit and use the power of sport to contribute to the global fight against climate change.”

The winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards will be announced prior to the International Athletes’ Forum taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 1 and 2 October 2023.

For more information about the IOC Climate Action Awards, click here.

Find out more about the Worldwide Olympic Partners Airbnb, Deloitte and P&G, which are supporting these awards.

To find out more about the IOC’s work on climate, click here.

Juan Gonzalez, KeyBank’s Central Indiana Market President and Business Banking Sales Leader, has been named to the second annual Indiana 250 list. The list represents the state’s most influential and impactful business and community leaders, representing public and private companies, law firms, universities, not-for-profits, government and community organizations.

The list is compiled by the executives, editors and newsroom staffs at IBJ Media’s three news brands after a months-long process that included reviewing nominations, researching Indiana organizations and talking with community leaders across the state.

In his role, Gonzalez is responsible for making sure KeyBank is growing its market share, partnering with local non-profit organizations and encouraging employees to engage in the community. Gonzalez joined KeyBank in 2010 and is deeply involved in the community through local events and board memberships.

“I am honored and grateful to be included on this year’s Indiana 250 list,” said Gonzalez. “I take great pride in representing KeyBank and our commitment to the communities we serve. I am proud of my team and the impact we’re making across all of Indiana.”

The Indiana 250 will be celebrated at an exclusive reception on July 20.

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

SAN DIEGO, July 31, 2023 /3BL/ — Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN), a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, and Pillar Biosciences Inc., the pioneers of Decision Medicine™, announced a strategic partnership to make Pillar’s suite of oncology assays commercially available globally as part of the Illumina portfolio of oncology products. The agreement will result in an unprecedented offering of complementary next-generation sequencing solutions that will enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of oncology testing through advanced sequencing techniques, improving patient access to personalized cancer treatment options.

“We are proud to partner with Pillar to provide products that will improve care for patients with advanced and high-risk cancer,” said Phil Febbo, chief medical officer of Illumina. “By leveraging Pillar’s targeted sequencing technology alongside Illumina’s state-of-the-art sequencing and bioinformatics solutions, we will enable rapid and focused genomic profiling of tumors, which is essential to facilitate personalized therapy in healthcare systems across the globe.”

Pillar’s targeted assays help oncologists and researchers identify mutations that drive tumor growth. This knowledge is pivotal in making informed decisions about cancer treatment. By gaining an understanding of the genomic landscape of the tumor, clinicians can tailor treatment options such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies to suit each patient’s needs. This personalized approach has the potential to result in more effective and precise interventions.

“Pillar Biosciences is committed to enabling global access to our high-value genomic profiling assays to empower better-informed precision patient treatment,” said Randy Pritchard, CEO of Pillar Biosciences. “This agreement will facilitate seamless integration between Pillar Biosciences assays and Illumina sequencers, delivering a streamlined workflow and complementary product offerings and leading to faster turnaround times for patients.”

Pillar’s suite of oncology assays can be used on any of Illumina’s sequencers. Assay offering will depend on the region. Commercial availability of Pillar’s assays through Illumina is set to begin this month.

Use of forward-looking statements 
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors to which Illumina’s business is subject that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, and launching new products and services, and Illumina’s ability to successfully partner with other companies and organizations to develop new products, expand markets, and grow its business, together with other factors detailed in Illumina’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. Illumina undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements, to review or confirm analysts’ expectations, or to provide interim reports or updates.

About Pillar Biosciences 
Pillar Biosciences is the leader in Decision Medicine™, which is the utilization of highly accurate and sensitive next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing technology to generate data that optimizes the selection of precision therapies for cancer patients, from tumor profiling to therapy selection and recurrence monitoring. Pillar’s NGS testing solutions, including the FDA-approved oncoReveal™ CDx pan-cancer solid tumor IVD, are powered by its proprietary SLIMamp® and PiVAT® technologies, and decentralize the testing process, reducing diagnostic costs and improving access and efficiency of complex NGS testing for clinicians, prescribers, and patients globally. The company has more than 20 NGS testing kits available in IVD or RUO formats, and several others in various stages of development, including a comprehensive liquid biopsy assay and tumor-informed MRD assay. Pillar Biosciences has operations in Natick, MA and Shanghai, China. For more information visit pillarbiosci.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

About Illumina 
Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. In 2023 we celebrate 25 years of innovation, which has established us as a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit illumina.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Contacts 

Investors: 
Salli Schwartz 
858-291-6421 
IR@illumina.com

Media: 
David McAlpine 
347-327-1336 
PR@illumina.com

SOURCE Illumina, Inc.