Tag: 3BL

Originally published in SEE’s Global Impact Report

SEE® (formerly Sealed Air) is committed to making our world better than we find it. By focusing on positively impacting the communities in which we live and work, we bring this commitment to life.

Project Scientist

Through the national nonprofit Project Scientist, girls are given the tools to let their creativity flow and construct innovative solutions for everyday problems. In 2021, SEE sponsored a virtual summer camp for Project Scientist participants, which exposed girls to some of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) aspects of a food packaging manufacturer.

Based on research that showed underserved and unidentified girls are not provided STEM opportunities that align with their talents and interests, Project Scientist was created to “change the world’s view of who a scientist is and what a scientist does.” The organization provides a community where girls are inspired through the hands-on activities they accomplish, the STEM workplaces they experience, and the STEM professionals they meet.

SEE’s sponsorship provided the opportunity for 25 girls ages 7 to 12 from under-resourced communities in Charlotte, NC, where SEE is headquartered, to engage in a weeklong virtual STEM lab about innovations in food production and delivery. Five of SEE’s female food-science employees explained their jobs and talked to the students about the lifecycle of food from growing, production, and packaging to consumption and nutrition These types of immersive learning experiences are designed to challenge and inspire girls to become problem solvers while making gains in math and science.

Meeting in a virtual instructor-led classroom, the girls conducted food-based science and engineering experiments, worked on related math problems, and participated in virtual expeditions to some of SEE’s innovation and development spaces. Virtual expeditions allow the students to picture themselves in a professional STEM environment and meet and see women who are working in STEM-related workplaces.

Gastromotiva

Already a supporter of Gastromotiva—a Brazilian-based nonprofit offering vocational kitchen training, nutrition programs, and food education—when the pandemic hit, SEE provided the organization with additional emergency support in 2021 to keep Brazilians fed during the COVID-19 crisis.

In an effort to help feed the most vulnerable in Brazil during the pandemic, Gastromotiva created a network of Solidarity Kitchens, through which current and former Gastromotiva students prepared meals inside their own homes and had them delivered to nearby communities.

Goonj 

Headquartered in India with a mission to offer disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and community development, Goonj received support from SEE to provide food rations and other essentials to disadvantaged families during the pandemic. In 2021, in response to the worsening COVID-19 crisis in India, which reached catastrophic levels, SEE provided additional funding to support the provision and delivery of food, medical kits, and other essential goods.

FareShare

FareShare, a network of charitable food redistributors in the United Kingdom, tackles hunger and food waste by collecting quality surplus food that would otherwise go to landfills and redistributing it to charity and community groups that turn it into meals. During the COVID-19 crisis, SEE supported FareShare’s efforts to deliver more food to front-line organizations providing a lifeline to those most at risk.

Vaccine Clinics

Supporting the well-being of its employees and fulfilling its long-standing commitment to serve the communities where facilities are located, SEE offered COVID-19 vaccine clinics for employees and the general public throughout 2021 and 2022 at its Charlotte, NC headquarters. SEE provided on-site vaccinations for manufacturing employees at some of the company’s larger facilities in the U.S.

Read Sealed Air’s Global Impact Report here.

Learn More About Sealed Air’s ESG efforts here.

CHICAGO, July 18, 2023 /3BL/ – The results are in: the names of three more talented filmmakers have gone up in lights as McDonald’s USA unveils the rising stars who are primed to take the industry by storm. The newly selected finalists of the Spotlight Dorado short film contest will each receive a production budget of $75,000 and mentorship from renowned industry leaders as they embark on the unforgettable creative journey of producing their short films. In its second year, Spotlight Dorado continues to uplift and amplify diverse voices to help drive inclusivity and bridge the gap that exists for Hispanic filmmakers in the industry, further reinforcing McDonald’s long-standing commitment to championing the community’s rich culture through programs that fuel pride and representation.

After reviewing hundreds of submissions, a panel of industry pros handpicked this year’s top three finalists based on criteria like their originality, direction, writing, and production value. The filmmakers were surprised with the news at a star-studded celebratory event in the heart of Hollywood where they got to meet some of their mentors including comedian, writer, actor, and producer Al Madrigal, actress Danay Garcia, and writer, producer, director, and actress Gloria Calderón Kellett, along with last year’s Spotlight Dorado grand-prize winner Jesus Celaya.

“When I was starting out in Hollywood, it was challenging being the only Latina in the room. I often felt out of place and I struggled with imposter syndrome,” said Gloria Calderón Kellett, showrunner of the Amazon Original series With Love. “That’s why I am so thrilled to have joined Spotlight Dorado as a mentor to give these three rising stars the platform to tell stories that will resonate with our community and to let them know that they deserve to be seen and heard.”

Also joining this year’s all-star mentor squad are Grammy®-winning artist, Golden Globe®  and Emmy® nominated actor Anthony Ramos, director Carlos López Estrada and writer-director Nancy Mejía. Together, they will guide the finalists over the next few months as they bring their stories to life, while sharing insights into their own experiences breaking through the barriers they faced as Latino creators in Hollywood.

Meet Spotlight Dorado’s newest finalist line-up

Get ready to be mesmerized by the display of creativity and raw talent about to grace the golden screen!

The three short films will premiere on SpotlightDorado.com in November, giving viewers nationwide the opportunity to watch and vote for their favorite to help determine the 2023 grand-prize winner.

The winner will be announced in December and will receive a year-long opportunity to work with McDonald’s on next year’s Spotlight Dorado campaign along with a laptop and one year of industry standard creative software subscription services. All three finalists will also be granted entry fees for up to six national film competitions in 2024 on behalf of the program.

Marissa Díaz Fancy Florez’s

Summer Staycation

Marissa Díaz is a Tejana writer, director, and producer who has worked on notable projects including HBO’s Girls and HBO Max’s teen drama, Generation. She is also a Film Independent + Netflix Episodic Lab Fellow, a Film Independent + CNN Original Series Docuseries Fellow, and a Producers Guild of America + Google Create Fellow.

Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation Synopsis: For ten-year-old Fancy Florez, it’s all in the name. She wants the finer things in life and puts in the work to manifest the greatest summer staycation ever, even if it means standing up to her archenemy. This slice of life comedy is a peek into all the ups and downs that come with girlhood.

Kryzz Gautier

Chimera

Kryzz Gautier is a queer Afro-Latina writer/director born and raised in the Dominican Republic. She has worked on numerous projects as a writer including the critically lauded Gordita Chronicles and the highly celebrated franchise BIOSHOCK. Gautier’s work has gained international acclaim, with her films screening at numerous Academy Awards, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Awards qualifying festivals like Fantasia, Outfest, and Frameline.

Chimera Synopsis: Exploring obsession and how technology enables us, Chimera tells the story of Kian Zarrido, a talented virtual reality developer who leads a double life after recreating her ex-girlfriend in VR yet continuing her relationship with her fiance in real life.

Pablo Riesgo

Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra/ When We Came Back to Earth

Pablo Riesgo is a Spanish writer and director based between Los Angeles, Madrid and Mexico City. Currently pursuing his MFA at the American Film Institute, Riesgo was chosen to direct the pilot episode for the inaugural AFI Television Initiative in 2022. His latest short, Tiro Dominical, played in over 20 film festivals worldwide and received the Best Comedy Short Award at the 34th Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra Synopsis (CVALT): A reimagining of the legend of the astronaut and Native American, CVALT is set to take viewers on a mission to Mars through the eyes of Marcel, an ultra-rich man with lofty dreams who encounters two unexpected guests that desire a better life.

For more information about Spotlight Dorado, visit spotlightdorado.com.

ABOUT MCDONALD’S

McDonald’s has always been committed to the communities it serves, and the people that make up those communities. Spotlight Dorado underscores just one of the steps McDonald’s has taken to help achieve a more equitable and inclusive future for our employees, Franchisees, suppliers, customers, and the communities we serve and foster. Serving more than 14,000 local communities nationwide, McDonald’s wants to use its scale to empower and amplify the voices of Hispanic talent, especially in areas where they are underrepresented, including film.

Beyond Spotlight Dorado, the Golden Arches has given back and connected with the Hispanic community through initiatives in music, education, and sports, as well as supporting local charities and organizations that fuel Latino pride and representation.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

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The modern world is evolving quickly, and business is changing right with it. Those of us working in supply chain functions are adapting to keep pace and deliver even more value to our companies. Just a few years ago, we were asked to embrace General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and become knowledgeable on privacy topics to support business operations and regulatory compliance. Now, it’s commonplace to talk about these topics with suppliers. Looking ahead, the next big change is undoubtedly Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), especially with the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) from the European Union.

Personally, I could not be more thrilled to have ESG conversations with suppliers, as I’ve always been an advocate of protecting our planet. I also understand why those of us in supply chain roles have major leverage – our organizations help companies spend over $22 trillion dollars in the United States alone1.

Legislation that supports sustainable development has been slow to gain traction, especially in the United States. But corporations can and must be part of the solution. According to the UN Global Compact, there are more than 17,000 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) participants in over 160 countries. These companies have the opportunity to generate strong economic returns, while also embedding long-term social and environmental value into their operations.

To bring this to life, Responsible Sourcing2 has become a popular strategy. For many companies, this is because their biggest sustainability impact often lies within their supply chain.

I’m excited about our part to help deliver on VMware’s 2030 Agenda and ESG outcomes of Sustainability, Equity and Trust, serving as a key lever to strengthen our business resilience, create opportunities to innovate, and combat climate change through VMware Responsible Sourcing.

Over the past 12 months, our Responsible Sourcing program has made considerable progress around sustainability, diversity, and accessibility. Two significant achievements in this area are:

The official launch of our Sustainability Supplier Engagement ProgramVMware’s recognition as a CDP Supplier Engagement Leader

Sustainability Supplier Engagement Program

Our suppliers represent a significant portion of our carbon footprint, with 70%+ of our emissions coming from our supply chain in our most recent greenhouse gas inventory. As a company, VMware has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions for our operations and supply chain by 2030. As a critical first milestone, we are aiming for 75% of our annual spend to be with suppliers who have set science-based targets (SBTs) by end of FY25. Ambitious as this is, we know it is achievable and requires strong partnerships with our suppliers.

Supplier sustainability is not something that just happens on its own, nor can you make strides without a baseline understanding of what sustainability means to your suppliers. In FY21 we started this journey by leveraging EcoVadis‘ newly released Carbon Action Module to assess our suppliers on their sustainability practices. Once we had a baseline understanding we set a strategy to act.

At the end of FY22, we found that 23% of our suppliers had set science-based targets. A report published by CDP revealed that only 5% of suppliers annually are motivated to set SBTs on their own. We knew then that we had to take direct action in order to meet our FY25 goal by finding ways to accelerate progress through procurement actions, such as strengthening our Supplier Code of Conduct, direct enablement for our suppliers, and even implementing contractual language with sustainability requirements.

In early FY23 we began a pilot program to learn how direct enablement with our supply network could help move suppliers along in their sustainability journey. We were intentional in ensuring the program represented a diverse set of suppliers from across various industries, business sizes, and diversity ownership. This provided a good framing to identify nuances in how we support different types of suppliers as we work to expand the program.

The pilot revealed promising results. Seventy-three percent of participating suppliers who interacted with us are now interested and/or actively engaged in setting their own SBTs.

The pilot also became a driver for VMware Responsible Sourcing to develop an initial set of educational training and resources to help our suppliers along the way. Five training modules were created to understand where suppliers were on their sustainability journey and how VMware could help them reach new milestones. The net result was a library of educational resources covering topics like how to build a business case for sustainability and engage your stakeholders, SBTs 101, and how companies can get started on measuring their greenhouse gasses. This material is now available for free to our community through our Responsible Sourcing Website.

On May 5th, we officially launched a new, scaled Sustainability Supplier Engagement program leveraging Watershed, our supplier resource portal and carbon management system, and an automated communications platform designed by Bridge Partners. The roll out will be staged as we gather important feedback that will enable us to further optimize interactions. We expect to engage 90% of our suppliers (by spend) in FY24.

CDP Supplier Engagement Leader

In addition to the Sustainability Supplier Engagement Program, we have continued to expand our impact across several other areas. These include working with Procurement to add new contractual language related to the environment in our Supplier Code of Conduct, and more recently, launched a new Supplier Sustainability Addendum (SSA) specifically designed to support and drive supplier commitments to set science-based targets. We have begun executing this new SSA with all our highest-spend suppliers. In addition, we’re engaging our Suppliers in completing an ESG assessment in EcoVadis and launching a new program designed to increase sustainability in our promotional and giveaway items.

These efforts, all combined, led to our recent recognition by CDP as a Supplier Engagement Leader. We were among the top 8% of companies assessed for supplier engagement on climate change, based on our 2022 CDP disclosure. This recognition is a great proof point for the progress we’re making toward our supply chain emissions goals. It’s also a testament to the collaboration between our many teams.

We are well on our way to meeting our 2025 goal, and with the direct engagement and education we’re offering through our scaled program, I’m confident we’ll hit our target.

It takes all of us to do everything we can to fight against climate change. We encourage you to use our Responsible Sourcing site as a guide and you can find more on VMware’s ESG efforts here.

[1] Kramer, M. R., Agarwal, R., & Srinivas, A. (2019). Business as Usual Will Not Save the Planet.

[2] The term Responsible Sourcing herein is inclusive of the following: Sustainable Sourcing, Sustainable Supply Chain, Sustainable Procurement, Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Responsible Supply Chain, Responsible Procurement, Responsible Supply Chain Management.

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The insurance industry is battling a regulatory and legal challenge in the United States, which has essentially dismantled the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA). Simultaneously, the industry faces growing exposure to climate-related disasters in susceptible geographies.

The insurance industry is currently undergoing a search for meaning, stemming from a letter penned by 23 Republican Attorneys General (AGs) of various states in the US. The letter claims that net zero aligned business practices will result in “increasing costs and decreasing productivity for companies, most notably those in the oil, gas, and energy industries […] causing inflation and higher prices for consumers.”1

The AGs further claimed that the UN-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) has targets and requirements that violate federal antitrust laws. They argue that acting to reduce emissions which stem from insured products would be “unreasonably harmful to competition”.

While they no longer deny the climate crisis, a number of Republican party legislators are certainly delaying any form of action in the name of the economy. Their actions have had international repercussions resulting in the collapse of the NZIA. Following the letter, key members began withdrawing, with the rest toppling like dominoes. Every one of them insistent in their own way that their “commitment to [their] sustainability strategy remains unchanged”, even as they withdraw from their commitments.4

So, having introduced the rock, let’s consider the hard place. Insurers are both unwilling and, to some extent, unable to continue insuring in climate-risk-prone geographies.

The saying goes that in every great crisis lies opportunity – but not so with insurance. In his testimony to the Senate committee, Eric Andersen, president of Aon PLC, a global professional services and insurance solutions firm, made clear that the industry is experiencing “a crisis of confidence around the ability to predict loss”.

These words reverberate while the biggest home insurers in California, All State and State Farm, stops issuing any new home insurance policies. The reasons cited include the increasing risk of wildfire, the rising cost of building materials, and the rising cost of reinsurance. Arguably, climate change is the common denominator behind all three of these issues.

On the other side of the continent, it is expected that insurance premiums in southern Florida will rise by a phenomenal 200% to 350% between Miami and Palm Beach. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a new risk rating pricing plan to better reflect this increased flood risk, arguing that the increased premiums reflect equitable distribution. Yet the reaction has been resoundingly negative. Ten states and a host of local governments have moved to sue FEMA for “disrupting the housing market and business climate”.

All this makes clear: it’s not easy being an insurer. The industry must inevitably bear the costs of the climate crisis while, at the same time, catering to regulatory whims and maintaining market competitiveness.

The climate for insurers is currently an unfriendly one. At South Pole, we recognise the fundamental role that the insurance industry has to play in the urgent transition towards a low-carbon economy. Akin to deep ocean currents, insurance underwriting sends subtle but powerful market signals that dictate the direction of investment. As an example, global insurer CHUBB introduced methane management and conservation area assessments to its underwriting policies, requiring the oil and gas industry to meet its standards.

To aid in the herculean task of transitioning into a low-carbon future, South Pole’s sustainable finance team has been helping clients with their accounting of insurance-associated and financed emissions aligned with the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) standard. This allows insurers to identify their carbon exposure to and understand the climate impacts of their invested capital and insured activities in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). We complement this work in partnership with our risk and opportunities team by performing climate risk and opportunity assessments, analysing both physical and transition risks and opportunities for clients. The assessments take into account the geolocation of key assets, activities or operations, sourced commodities and raw materials, and value chain exposure. This work classifies and gauges climate-related risks and opportunities, and also enables the development of a business resilience strategy assessment, allowing clients to have strong TCFD disclosures. As climate consultants we help clients navigate all manners of storms, be they atmospheric or regulatory.

We supplement all of this work with internal capacity building in understanding climate-related metrics, making sustainability commitments, and developing market expectations. After laying this groundwork, our insurance clients are able to define paths forward, including setting credible targets (for managed assets) that can be aligned with guidance from either the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the Net-Zero Insurers Alliance, the Net-Zero Asset Managers Alliance or the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance.

While the task at hand for insurers may seem daunting, it’s not beyond the means of the industry, or our capabilities.

Insurance players are leviathans in their own right, governing kingdoms of premiums, dominating markets, and setting policies on which the rest of us must align. The current events impacting the world of insurance may be discouraging, seeming to suggest that working together is impossible or unfeasible. But the threat is too great for us to give up that easily. Tackling climate change is a moral and regulatory imperative, and every decision made by the insurance industry will reverberate across the global market. Let us help you rise to the challenge.

Mondelēz 2022 Snacking Made Right Report

“As we continue confidently into our second decade as a responsible, high-growth, pureplay global snacking company, we are prioritizing key areas of Snacking Made Right, so we can help drive innovative, more sustainable growth the right way for people and the planet.”

I am proud to say that our chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks brands continue to bring more and more moments of enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning to millions of people around the world. This is an ongoing good growth story. A story that has at its heart our enduring purpose to empower people to snack right, and our renewed strategic focus on achieving greater sustainable growth so that we deliver our vision: to be the global snacking leader, winning in chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks.

We are working together to achieve our vision at a time of considerable change and challenges – from the war in Ukraine to rising inflation and economic uncertainty around the world, from climate change to nature loss. It is an increasingly tough world in which to make snacking right. Yet at the same time, it is also a world where the demand for snacking right continues to grow. As our 2022 State of Snacking report shows, 71% of consumers said that they snack at least twice a day, and they are looking for ways to snack more mindfully.

So there are many challenges and many opportunities for us here at Mondelēz International, and indeed for all our stakeholders, and we remain resolutely focused on driving more sustainable growth – prioritizing and accelerating to achieve this growth.

As this report shows, our strategic commitment to Snacking Made Right is fundamental to our more sustainable growth. It is our way of determining our environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities and delivering on our mission of leading the future of snacking by offering the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way.

As we continue confidently into our second decade as a responsible, high-growth, pure-play global snacking company, we are prioritizing key areas of Snacking Made Right, so we can help drive innovative, more sustainable growth the right way for people and the planet. With that in mind, sustainability now follows growth, execution, and culture as the fourth pillar in our long-term business strategy, Vision 2030.

We are focusing on more sustainable snacking – more sustainable sourcing of key ingredients, lowering climate impact, respecting human rights, and reducing packaging waste.

We are building our pool of deep and diverse talent, making strong progress in our global diversity, equity and inclusion ambitions for our colleagues, culture, and communities.

We are evolving our portfolio to meet a range of consumer nutrition and well-being choices, while promoting mindful portions and active lifestyles.

And as with every core aspect of our business, we remain focused on strong ESG governance, with oversight from the Board of Directors (Board) and leadership from the top. We are also committed to enhancing our transparency and reporting – to increase understanding, share in achievements, and encourage greater collaboration.

Collaboration among stakeholders is critical. As this report highlights, beyond what we are doing as a company, we are partnering a great deal with others to together make snacking right – and we can continue to do a great deal more, too. I look forward to many more years of us making snacking right together as we seek to have an ever-greater positive impact for people and the planet.

Dirk Van de Put 

Chairman & CEO, Mondelēz International

Read more in the Mondelēz 2022 Snacking Made Right Report

Congratulations to the student teams from the Kamnoetvidya Science Academy Thailand, who secured first and second place in the Asia Pacific region for our global Made to Move Communities student challenge. 

Collaborating with ten Otis volunteer mentors, these students developed two innovative STEM-based solutions, including an AI flood forecasting website and a semi-autonomous flood delivery robot. Their innovations focused on creating mobility solutions aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

“Thanks to the guidance and mentorship provided by Otis’ mentors, our students have developed valuable analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills,” shared Associate Professor Dr. Boonchoat Paosawatyanyong, Principal of KVIS. “We take immense pride in our students’ accomplishments, which demonstrate the crucial role the next generation of innovators plays in shaping our communities for the better and advancing our world for the future.”

The third annual Made to Move CommunitiesTM Student Challenge from Otis Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: OTIS), paired volunteer mentors from the vertical mobility leader with 230 students across 15 countries and territories.

With the guidance of their Otis mentors, students developed innovative solutions based on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that they believe can mitigate some of the obstacles to real-world mobility issues.

The program is also driving progress toward three of Otis’ ESG targets: impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM and vocational training, directing 50% of giving to STEM programs and dedicating 500,000 colleague volunteer hours by 2030. 

Read more about the company’s performance in the 2022 ESG Report.

At Merck, our commitment to equality goes beyond the month of June.

While there has been great progress when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, there’s still work to be done — and we’re proud to play a role in achieving those goals. Merck has a longstanding tradition of supporting the LGBTQ+ community in our company and beyond. Here are just a few of the ways we stand by our commitment to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace:

01.

Offering inclusive benefits

We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and that means providing a safe and welcoming space for all of our colleagues. It’s more important than ever that we remain committed to creating an environment of belonging, equity and empowerment in the workplace.

In 2018, we implemented our “Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Employee Inclusion in the Workplace Policy” in the U.S. to educate our colleagues and ensure that our transgender and gender non-conforming employees feel safe, protected and welcome. In addition, we’ve made significant enhancements to our transgender-inclusive benefits. In the U.S., our medical plan offers a full range of transgender-related coverage. We also offer an adoption/surrogacy reimbursement program for employees who want to expand their families through adoption or a third-party surrogate.

Globally, transgender health coverage varies by country and is often limited due to local law or the local health care system. However, we continue to support and encourage our employees globally to elevate their voices and support efforts to effect change wherever possible.

02.

How we do business

Our company has consistently scored 100 percent and has been named “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, the foremost benchmarking survey measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. By cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce, we promote the discovery of the broadest range of possible medical solutions to address the needs of patients. 

That also extends to whom we do business with outside of our organization. Supplier diversity is integrated into our company’s vision, creating a competitive business advantage and driving shareholder value.

“Diversity is critical for innovation and scientific excellence, as well as for better decision-making and cultural agility,” says Susanna Webber, SVP and chief procurement officer. “Putting people first is firmly embedded into the core values of our company, and that is clearly reflected in our business strategy and procurement processes.”

Our goals go beyond how much we spend with small and diverse-owned businesses. We also expect our suppliers to share our same focus on diversity and inclusion, and, in this way, we help to drive diversity and inclusion on a broader, and even more global scale. 

“I did my research before I joined our company and saw that Merck openly and visibly supports the LGBTQ+ community,” says Donna Dvorak, product manager for change realization and communications. “I had a strong feeling that I would be welcome and comfortable here, and I was right!”

03.

A unique approach to employee outreach

Many companies offer resource groups for employees, but we go a step further. We’ve taken a pioneering and global approach to our diversity strategy through the creation of Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs), including the Rainbow Alliance.

With more than 3,500 members across 32 chapters around the globe, the Rainbow Alliance works to inspire and grow an inclusive workplace culture that supports a vibrant network of LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies through talent recruiting and development, community outreach and business integration.

“I feel proud to know that the Rainbow Alliance is having an impact on our colleagues,” says Dvorak, who is part of the leadership team for the Rainbow Alliance in the Czech Republic. “We’re opening eyes and gaining allies.”

During Pride month — and every month — we celebrate our LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities around the world.

Learn more about Merck’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach by visiting merck.com/company-overview/esg.

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CLEVELAND, July 17, 2023 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton (NYSE: ETN) has been named a Top Scoring Business for the third time by The Disability Equality Index® (DEI), a benchmarking tool that measures disability workplace inclusion. Eaton earned its score by championing career opportunities for neurodiverse adults, supplier diversity practices that utilize disabled-owned businesses, community engagement projects that support people with disabilities and for its leadership’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

“We aspire to be a model of inclusion and diversity in our industry,” said Monica Jackson, vice president, Global Inclusion and Diversity, Eaton. “By completing the DEI, we are demonstrating our commitment to transparency and advancing disability inclusion and equity in our workplace.”

The DEI is modeled off the Corporate Equality Index that highlights LGBTQ+-inclusive workplace policies and was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Businesses are measured across six categories, including culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices, community engagement, supplier diversity and non-U.S. operations. Those companies that score 80 or above on the index are recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. To learn more about Eaton’s inclusion and diversity journey, please review our most recent Global Inclusion and Diversity Transparency Report.

“Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we’re thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a ‘Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion’ for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain,” said Jill Houghton, president and CEO, Disability:IN.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and doing what’s best for our stakeholders and all of society.

Founded in 1911, Eaton is marking its 100th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We reported revenues of $20.8 billion in 2022 and serve customers in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contacts
Drew Horansky 
+1 (216) 374-4968 
DrewAHoransky@Eaton.com

Feature by Michael McComb

SAP aims to be a net-zero enterprise by 2030. To achieve this, SAP needs to move the majority of customers to the cloud in order to reduce overall emissions and have better emissions management capabilities. RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP, two flagship solutions designed to help our customers migrate to cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), are essential elements in SAP’s net-zero journey.

SAP is now the second-fastest growing cloud company, having successfully moved thousands of customers to the cloud over the past several years as part of the company’s strategic transformation.

“Our customers want flexibility, reliability, and security from SAP, but they also want sustainability,” said Scott Russell, member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, Customer Success. “Our RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP solutions help customers move to cloud data centers, which play a significant role in helping them achieve their net-zero targets and deliver more sustainable practices throughout their business processes.”

SAP and other cloud providers are increasingly investing in building and operating green data centers. Green data centers prioritize sustainability, aiming to minimize environmental impact and carbon footprints. To minimize the negative environmental impact, SAP-owned data centers run with 100% renewable electricity. The company achieves a “green cloud” by investing in high-quality, EKO energy-certified energy attribute certificates (EACs) to support renewable energy generation. These facilities incorporate energy-efficient design principles, use renewable energy sources, and employ eco-friendly cooling methods.

Moving SAP’s data centers to more energy efficient cloud computing is a key part of our own carbon emissions management. SAP’s net-zero commitment goes far beyond SAP’s internal data center usage. SAP aims to reduce or ensure renewable electricity for all cloud computing usage by customers, including partner hyperscaler data centers running SAP solutions. Even when RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP customers opt to use hyperscalers, the partner data center’s emissions relating to SAP customer usage is accounted for in SAP’s own scope 3 emissions reporting.

Cloud computing, whether in an SAP data center or a partner hyperscaler data center, offers several sustainability advantages over traditional on-premise computing. There are many ways cloud computing contributes to net-zero strategies:

Energy Efficiency
Cloud service providers operate large-scale data centers that are optimized for energy efficiency. These data centers are designed with advanced cooling systems, efficient hardware, and virtualization techniques, which reduce energy consumption compared to individual, on-premise servers. Cloud providers can achieve economies of scale and consolidate computing resources, leading to more efficient energy usage.

Resource Utilization and Scalability
On-premise computing often results in underutilized servers, as organizations typically focus their infrastructure to handle peak workloads. This leads to a significant amount of idle computing capacity during periods of low demand. Cloud computing allows organizations to dynamically scale their computing resources based on demand. Instead of overprovisioning on-premise infrastructure to accommodate future growth, businesses can easily scale up or down in the cloud. This scalability feature eliminates the need for excessive hardware purchases and allows efficient resource allocation, minimizing the environmental impact.

Shared Infrastructure
Cloud computing allows multiple users to share the same infrastructure, reducing the overall number of physical servers required. This shared model optimizes resource utilization, decreases hardware manufacturing demands, and lowers energy consumption and electronic waste generation.

Data Center Location
Some cloud providers strategically select data center locations based on factors such as access to renewable energy, cooling efficiency, and local climate conditions. They aim to place data centers in regions with lower electricity costs and higher availability of renewable energy, optimizing their operations for energy efficiency.

Direct Renewable Energy Purchases
Hyperscalers are increasingly signing long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy providers. These agreements ensure a stable and predictable supply of renewable energy at competitive prices. By directly purchasing renewable energy, companies can reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and support the growth of renewable energy projects. They often invest in wind, solar, and hydroelectric power plants.

On-Site Renewable Energy Generation
Some cloud providers are building renewable energy infrastructure on-site. They construct solar arrays, wind farms, or other renewable energy facilities near their data centers to generate electricity. These on-site renewable energy projects enable the companies to have greater control over their energy supply and reduce transmission losses associated with transporting energy from remote locations.

Energy Attribute Certificates and Carbon Offsets
Cloud providers may purchase energy attribute certificates or carbon offsets. EACs represent the environmental attributes of renewable energy generation and can be bought to match the company’s electricity consumption. Carbon offsets, on the other hand, allow companies to invest in projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions to compensate for their own carbon footprint.

Grid Integration and Renewable Energy Contracts
Some cloud providers collaborate with local power grids and governments to support the development of renewable energy infrastructure. They enter into contracts that incentivize the grid operators to increase the share of renewable energy in their overall energy mix. This collaboration promotes the growth of renewable energy in the local region and enables the hyperscalers to access cleaner energy sources.

Innovation and Research
Cloud providers invest in research and development initiatives to explore new technologies and methods for renewable energy integration. They actively participate in collaborations and partnerships with academia, government agencies, and other industry players to drive innovation in renewable energy storage, management, and utilization. These efforts aim to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and overcome the challenges associated with its scalability.

Collaboration and Remote Work
Cloud computing facilitates remote collaboration and remote work, reducing the need for employees to commute as frequently to physical offices. This leads to a decrease in carbon emissions associated with transportation.

Large cloud computing companies are reducing their carbon footprints and contributing to net-zero programs around the world. RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP have strong momentum in helping move SAP customers to the cloud and helping both SAP and customers achieve ambitious climate action goals.

Tapestry is on a journey to create a better made future for all. We know how important community and assistance are when faced with hardship or disaster. To further support our people when they need it most, we’ve established the Associate Relief Fund.

As a program of the Tapestry Foundation, the global Fund provides immediate and critical financial assistance to full-time and part-time associates across Tapestry and our brands – Coach, kate spade, Stuart Weitzman – facing financial hardship resulting from qualifying natural and humanitarian disasters, like a hurricane or geopolitical conflict, and certain qualifying personal hardships.

“At Tapestry, we believe in the power of standing taller together – particularly in times of crisis. Our teams are the backbone of our company, and the Associate Relief Fund will allow us to be an even greater source of support for those facing severe hardships,” said Joanne Crevoiserat, CEO of Tapestry.

Assisting our people during times of need goes beyond the newly established Relief Fund. Tapestry’s existing Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) offer counseling, free consultations with financial, tax, and legal professionals, and assistance with finding doctors and other professionals or resources, and many of the services are free or available at a discount. Through our benefits partners, associates have access to backup child, adult, and elder care at no cost when usual care is unavailable. There’s also a free subscription to the Headspace app for mindfulness, sleep, fitness, and focus programs.

As a people-centered organization, Tapestry continually evaluates what we offer associates. From benefits to career development opportunities and mobility to well-being resources and support, our people are at the center of our business as we stretch what’s possible for our people, communities, and planet.

Want to learn more about what its like working at Tapestry? Check out our careers page for more information: https://careers.tapestry.com/.