Tag: 3BL

By Nestor Mato

Eradicating abuse. Empowering survivors.

They’re at the heart of the mission for the nonprofit Kristi House in Miami.

And they’re the focus of a determined group of experienced leaders, generous supporters and longtime advocates who are deeply invested in helping people be made whole.

“They will heal. They will recover,” Kristi House CEO Amanda Altman told the Doing More Today team as they saw how the agency works hand-in-hand with those who have experienced physical abuse, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, substance abuse, and other traumas.

Survivors benefit from evidence-based, therapeutic expertise. In addition, Kristi House coordinates legal, medical and social services for people going through the program.

Chris Cruzpino, Miami-Dade market executive for Regions Bank, serves on the Kristi House Board of Directors. She also volunteers her time to share financial wellness with people supported by the agency.

“Helping them understand things about a Social Security number, a checking account, what credit means to them, and savings and how that can affect them and impact them is extremely valuable,” Cruzpino shared.

Because financial wellness supports financial freedom. And it gives survivors another way to move forward, to heal, and to write a new chapter.

This is all complex work. And much of it is delivered through Kristi House’s Project GOLD, or Girls Owning their Lives and Dreams. Nestor Mato from the Doing More Today team shows you how it works. (See the video above.)

Supporting organizations like Kristi House complements Regions Bank’s Community Engagement Strategy. And the bank has a clear track record of helping survivors of human trafficking and related traumas.

Check out the following examples from recent years – starting with an article that shows how you can help spot the warning signs of trafficking and alert law enforcement to what you see.

Human Trafficking is a Growing Problem. Here’s How We Can Fight ItFighting ‘A Crime Hidden in Plain Sight’This Forensics Team Leaves Criminals with Nowhere to HideThe Fight to End Human Trafficking Takes a Step ForwardRefuge. Recovery. Healing‘Fighting the Good Fight’

Now through 2026, Whole Planet Foundation and one of its key partners, the Kasperick Foundation, are disbursing $850,000 to two organizations in Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico. The funds will go to Trickle Up, a nonprofit, and FondoMás, a financial cooperative, and will support approximately 2,320 people living in rural communities to generate income and improve their business strategies. 86% of recipients will work with Trickle Up and will be women receiving free seed capital to start a very small business, selling items such as food, household goods, or clothing. The other 14% will work with FondoMás and be primarily men, smallholder coffee farmers receiving loans to prepare their harvest. Supporting entrepreneurship in southern Mexico is critical as 76% of Chiapas’ population is living at the poverty line while 66% of Oaxaca’s is.

Trickle Up

In early 2023, 1,000 women from remote towns in Chiapas, Mexico, received seed capital grants of $250. 1,000 more women will be included by the of the year. These women formed part of Trickle Up’s Fuerte project. Trickle Up is well-known as one of the pioneering organizations behind the Ultra-Poor Graduation model, which uses a sequenced and time-bound approach to move households out of extreme poverty. Upon joining, participants commit to receiving livelihoods training and to organizing into Savings and Loans groups, where they will run a small community bank with the support of Trickle Up’s training.

FondoMás 

In May 2023, Whole Planet Foundation approved a second project in Chiapas, with FondoMás, a savings and lending cooperative based out of San Cristobal de las Casas. FondoMás lends to rural smallholder farmers, who typically have less than 5 acres of land. They use their cash loans to maintain and harvest their plants and then pay off their loans by selling their coffee to FondoMás, who, in turn, sells the coffee in bulk. By opening up these market linkages to farmers, they are providing them with more consistent and better pricing. Moreover, FondoMás’ commitment to environmentally friendly farming practices and with equipping farmers with the tools they need, align them well with Whole Planet Foundation and Whole Foods Market’s higher purpose of Nourishing People and the Planet.

FondoMás works through a network model; while they offer credit, their partners offer training and market linkages to clients. This allows an efficient business model, keeping pricing low and competitive. They also have developed in-house monitoring technology to ensure seamless data sharing with their network partners.

When asked why he supports Whole Planet Foundation’s work in Mexico, Vince Kasperick, the founder of the Kasperick Foundation and donor of this project, said “We are proud to be part of this partnership, bringing opportunity to these budding entrepreneurs.”

Thank you to the Kasperick Foundation for their generosity in supporting our goals in Mexico and to all Whole Planet Foundations donors that enable us to partner with high-impact organizations, helping their clients change their own lives through entrepreneurship.

Learn more at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

The transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable and clean energy sources has been gaining momentum globally. While this transition is largely focused on creating a much more climate-conscious energy sector, it also has significant socio-economic implications for communities and governments around the world.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates a sizable net gain in jobs due to energy transition, with an estimated 14 million new jobs added in the clean energy sector by 2030. Over the same period, the IEA reports, fossil fuel production could lose upwards of 5 million jobs. On the whole, a net gain of 9 million jobs is predicted.

While these numbers are encouraging at first glance, this global view does not take into account the regional impact of job loss and economic uncertainty brought about by the closure of vital local industries.

In this post, we’ll explore the importance of justice in energy transition, as well as take a look at the role businesses play in fostering energy equity and creating a just energy transition.

What Is Just Energy Transition?

Just energy transition refers to the process of shifting from fossil fuel-based energy systems to a more sustainable, low-carbon energy infrastructure in a way that is equitable and inclusive, taking into account social, economic, and environmental justice considerations.

The concept recognizes that the transition to renewable and clean energy sources can have significant social and economic implications, particularly for communities that are dependent on fossil fuel industries or face energy poverty.

What makes an energy transition strategy just?

A just energy transition strategy

Seeks to ensure that the burden and benefits of the transition are distributed fairly and that vulnerable and marginalized communities are not disproportionately affected.Aims to create new job opportunities in clean energy sectors, provide support and retraining for workers in declining industries, and address energy affordability and access issues.Recognizes the importance of engaging and empowering communities in decision-making processes, including those who may be most affected by the transition.Emphasizes the need for participatory approaches, community involvement, and transparent governance to ensure that diverse voices are heard and that principles of social justice and equity guide the transition.

Ultimately, a just energy transition strives to achieve a sustainable and low-carbon energy future while upholding principles of fairness, equality, and inclusivity.

How Governments Are Helping Enact a Just Energy Transition

Governing bodies around the world are aligning with corporations to enable this just transition. With the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, a framework was created to guide a global energy transition that is both equitable and sustainable.

In fact, just energy transition is key to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. By centering the work of climate action around people, governing bodies can ensure their climate actions aren’t causing social harm in the name of environmental good.

To this end, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has authored guidelines for achieving sustainable development, decent work, and green jobs in the pursuit of just transition.

Global energy equity in action

The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is an integral part of the European Union’s (EU) efforts to ensure a fair and inclusive transition towards a climate-neutral economy. This framework supports national just transition initiatives, providing dedicated financial resources and technical assistance to EU member states.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with governments around the globe to ensure both environmental protection and social inclusion are properly accounted for in the design and implementation of energy infrastructure.

The government of South Africa, in partnership with several other just energy leaders, is working to accelerate the decarbonization of the South African economy. The official statement reads, “The Partnership recognizes the importance of supporting South Africa’s efforts to lead a ‘Just Transition’ that supports affected workers and vulnerable communities, especially coal miners, women, and youth as the South African economy changes.”

These are only a few of the ways governments are supporting the businesses and communities that are working toward a just transition.

The Role of Business in a Just Energy Transition

Businesses play a crucial role in driving and facilitating a just energy transition. They have the potential to be both catalysts and agents of change in advancing sustainability and social equity within the energy sector.

Investors are demanding greater accountability from businesses, seeking to invest in organizations that proactively take sustainable action in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. This has spurred an increase in ESG reporting mandates around the world.

Just energy transition sits right at the intersection of the “E” and the “S” in ESG, and businesses that are invested in improving their ESG ratings are playing a more active role in ensuring the wellbeing of both the environment and the communities they serve.

The social impact of a just energy transition strategy typically relates to two key business principles: job creation and community engagement.

Job creation and economic development

A key principle of a just energy transition is the creation of new job opportunities in renewable energy sectors and related industries. It aims to support the growth of green jobs that offer fair wages, good working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement. The transition also seeks to promote economic diversification and develop sustainable industries that contribute to local economic development and resilience.

Community engagement and participation

A just energy transition emphasizes the active involvement of communities in decision-making processes. It recognizes the importance of local knowledge, perspectives, and needs in shaping the transition. Community engagement ensures that affected communities have a voice in determining the direction of the transition, allowing them to influence policies, projects, and investments that impact their lives. Meaningful participation strengthens social cohesion, builds trust, and facilitates the adoption of sustainable solutions.

Just Energy Transition in Action

The private sector plays a central role in achieving a just energy transition. By recognizing the unique needs of various stakeholders in affected regions, collaborating with those entities, and committing to responsible and sustainable operations, businesses can tailor opportunities for innovation and investment in affected regions.

Proactive measures

An example of a proactive just energy transition in action is Germany’s Commission on Growth, Structural Change, and Employment. Established in 2018, its primary objective was to develop a plan for phasing out coal-fired power generation in Germany while managing the economic and social consequences of the transition. The commission consisted of representatives from the government, industry, labor unions, environmental organizations, and affected regions.

The recommendations of the Coal Commission were subsequently incorporated into German law, and specific measures and policies have been implemented to support the transition away from coal. The Commission played a crucial role in facilitating a just and managed transition, taking into account social, economic, and environmental aspects and balancing the interests of various stakeholders involved in the coal phase-out process.

Innovative ventures

The Futur-e project is an initiative launched by Enel Group, a global energy company, with a focus on facilitating a just energy transition. The program aims to repurpose and redevelop decommissioned or soon-to-be decommissioned power plants and other energy infrastructure to support sustainable projects that generate economic, social, and environmental benefits.

Strong stakeholder support

Uruguay’s Energy Policy 2005-2030 is a comprehensive framework that outlines the country’s strategic objectives and measures for the development, diversification, and sustainability of its energy sector. The policy, which enjoys strong support from local and international labor unions, aims to ensure energy security, promote renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster social and economic development.  

Through a combination of supportive policies, investment incentives, and a favorable regulatory environment, Uruguay has achieved a significant increase in renewable energy generation, attracting both domestic and international investments in the sector. The policy’s focus on sustainability, energy security, and social and economic development has enabled Uruguay to make substantial progress toward a clean and sustainable energy future.

Fostering Energy Equity Through A Just Energy Transition

By embracing sustainable practices, driving innovation, advocating for policy changes, and collaborating with stakeholders, businesses can contribute significantly to a just energy transition and help build a more sustainable and equitable energy future.  

Learn how Inogen Alliance is helping businesses on the road to a sustainable future.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

In our Top Story this issue, as reported in ESG Today, anti-ESG critics continue to work to undermine the use of ESG factors by various public sector fiduciaries – such as state and city pension fund managers, comptrollers, treasurers – and are joining forces at both the state and federal levels to mount attacks on ESG proponents (such as Wall Street asset managers).

For example, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Accountability held hearings earlier this spring to “examine the concerns of state attorneys general related to the integration of ESG factors by [state-based] asset managers.” Republican committee members see great dangers posed by adoption of ESG investment strategies by fiduciaries in their states. The hearings produced anti-ESG comments to encourage House and Senate Republicans to pass legislation to reverse the Department of Labor’s rule allowing for state and city pension plan managers (under ERISA oversight) to use ESG factors in their investment management process.

A number of Republican state AGs are working in tandem at the state level to attack the ESG investment strategies adopted by state pension system managers in their jurisdictions — which the AGs see “as being used to push a radical, far-left ideology to shape the behavior of American businesses.” The House hearings were designed to air these grievances, such as those of Utah AG Sean Reyes, who sees ESG as “an open conspiracy to bypass Congress and impose costly changes on American consumers by using the power of horizontal agreements by key players in the financial system.” (These are the banks, asset managers and insurance companies forcing changes “over the real economy corporations” by pressuring managements “to adopt changes they would not do on their own.”)

On the national level, the committee members characterized “the Biden Administration [agenda] as routinely pushing ESG priorities over the economic, energy, and national security needs of the United States.” Committee Chair James Comer – Republican of Kentucky, a coal-producing state – said ESG practices “are a coordinated effort by unelected shadow organizations to force liberal policies on U.S. taxpayers, investors, and retirees.” In his view, the Biden Administration’s embrace of ESG initiatives (such as renewable energy) is risking Americans’ retirement funds in an effort to advance a political agenda. This is how “the Far Left” works, he states.

Moving the committee’s agenda toward Federal law, Republican Congressmen Andy Barr (Kentucky) and Rick Allen (Georgia) reintroduced in late June the Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act “to protect retail investors’ retirement accounts from asset managers who put environmental and social goals ahead of returns.”

ESG approaches, says Representative Barr, are a “cancer within our capital markets that prioritizes higher-fee, less diversified and lower return investments.” The legislation if adopted would reverse the U.S. Department of Labor guidance for fiduciaries on ESG investments and seek to avoid such investments as in “climate-related ESG funds.” (The bill originally passed by House and Senate was sent to the White House in March for signing was vetoed by President Biden.)

The targeted Department of Labor rule – “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” – was adopted in December 2022, allowing pension plan fiduciaries for ERISA plans to consider ESG in the investment process and allows consideration of climate and ESG factors in annual corporate proxy voting. The Republicans in Congress are working to overturn the rule (which reversed a Trump-era rule that aimed to block the consideration of ESG factors by pension plan managers).

Should we consider this a primary factor in the anti-ESG attacks by many Republican leaders: The worldwide investment in clean power was the same amount spent on producing oil and gas (US$1 trillion).

As the attacks on “ESG” and “woke” policies accelerate at both federal and state levels of government, the G&A team will continue to keep you updated.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

Originally published in Paramount’s 2021-2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report

Our Workforce & Culture goals, developed in 2021, reflect our focus on achieving more immediate gains in the short term while mapping a path toward sustainable long-term gains on diversity, representation, engagement, and inclusion. Above, we provide an update on our progress toward these goals.

We continue to live through a new civil rights era in the United States – a moment that demands collective action from all of us. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, deeply entrenched issues of racism and inequality have been exacerbated, while the pain and trauma experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other marginalized communities has become ever more undeniable.

The media has a collective role to play in shaping a better world by reflecting our shared challenges and shining a light on underrepresented people, voices, and stories. In order to be the best creators and storytellers, it is imperative that we build a workforce and culture that welcomes all and reflects and celebrates the diversity of our audiences.

We are committed to elevating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in every aspect of our business. This commitment starts at the top but is shared across all levels and employees at Paramount. We continue to create policies and programs to ensure our workforce is diverse and to foster a culture where employees can thrive. This work is supported by our internal stakeholders, including our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Inclusivity Councils. Transparency and accountability are key drivers for our shared progress.

The diverse spectrum of perspectives, experiences, and identities among our employees is one of our greatest assets, particularly in a time of transition for our business. Our dedication to DE&I also speaks directly to our core values of Inclusivity & Collaboration and Agility & Adaptability.

In service of an equitable and representative workplace, we work to create a culture that is welcoming and nurturing to all. We do this in a variety of ways, including regular communication touchpoints from our top leaders, employee engagement in our network of ERGs, and regular celebrations of our diversity, such as our Heritage and Cultural Month series.

We know we have more work ahead, and that there is a continuous need for improvement. But we are proud of our progress to date and are optimistic about our potential for growth. For more on how we are integrating DE&I throughout Paramount, please refer to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion update on our website.

Learn More in Paramount’s 2021-2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report

Read the full Axios interview with Avantor CEO Michael Stubblefield.

Michael Stubblefield, President and CEO of Avantor, was recently interviewed by Axios about Avantor’s innovation business model and commitment to sustainability. 

“Being sustainable is part of our license to operate,” Stubblefield told Axios. “Looking ahead, we know that creating a better world means not only the actions we take as a company, but it also requires collaboration across the entire value chain. Avantor works with customers on their most important research, scale-up and manufacturing workflows.”

One way in which Avantor collaborates across the value chain is through its recently launched Responsible Supplier Program, designed to help reduce environmental impact and accelerate sustainable practices across the supply chain.

Avantor is also adopting technologies to help reduce waste. Stubblefield told Axios: “We’ve installed a new automated packaging system at our distribution facilities in New Jersey and Germany. This allows us to ship products with less packaging material — and greater speed — than ever before.”

Read more about how Avantor’s everyday actions positively impact the environment and society.

Check out Avantor’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

Nasdaq

ESG and sustainability initiatives have been part of strategic business conversations for over a decade, but the last few years have seen a rapid increase in importance and attention. As sustainability weaves its way into the work across many different functions, most organizations still have relatively small dedicated teams. In response to growing external pressures, organizations will need to take deliberate steps towards establishing more mature ESG strategies and processes. 

So, how are decision-makers approaching ESG? Watch the webinar replay to gain insights on current ESG and climate trends, and for guidance on ways to overcome key challenges in the market. We discuss:

Top 3 key trends for corporatesAttracting investment in a challenging macro-economic environmentNavigating climate innovation climate risk management for corporatesAnd more

Moderator: 
Sarah Crowe, ESG Sustainability Channel Lead, Nasdaq 

Speakers: 
Ally Rodrigues, Lead ESG Advisor, Nasdaq 
Charles Neidenbach, Lead ESG Advisor, Nasdaq 
Kim Knickle, Research Director, ESG Sustainability, Verdantix 
Michael Bennett, VP, Investor Relations, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc

Submit the form to access the webinar replay

Originally published by TriplePundit

For the companies developing consumer products, making the needed progress can seem unattainable in an age when plastic has become a reliable and affordable go-to for packaging. It might even feel like a distraction from other priorities. So, how can consumer goods companies contribute to global goals around reducing plastic waste and pollution?

While many consumer goods companies have made ambitious targets for 2025 and beyond, success on some fronts has proven to be elusive. Progress toward the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, signed by over 500 organizations, for example, has been a mixed bag. In 2022, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reported that the use of recycled materials has been improving, but signatories are still using too much virgin plastic and not enough reusable plastic. The overall use of virgin plastic was reported as comparable to 2018 levels when the Commitment was first signed.

Meanwhile, regulatory pressure and consumer demand for change have only increased. More than 60 countries have enacted some form of ban or levy on plastic packaging, according to the U.N. Principles for Responsible Investment initiative. When it comes to purchasing patterns, consumers are also conscious of the packaging they buy. In a 28-country Ipsos survey, 82 percent of respondents said they prefer buying products that have as little plastic packaging as possible.

Research shows the need is urgent: If we don’t reduce waste production, we will more than exceed the boundaries of our planet by 2060. Consumer industries have a major part to play. They represent $35.2 trillion in the global economy, and reducing plastic waste is a crucial focus.

Escaping “pilot purgatory” to reduce plastic waste

Given this business case, Accenture and SAP have built expertise in the circular economy, helping clients reduce waste in product lifecycles. Drawing on this experience, extensive market research and testing, the companies have published a new report, “The Future of Packaging in the Circular Economy: 5 Actions for Long-Term Success,” that gives consumer goods companies insights and tools to build momentum for packaging circularity and achieve long-term success, escaping what the authors call “pilot purgatory.”

Research from the report shows that 66 percent of pledges to go greener on plastic have failed due to companies breaking their own commitments and targets.

Accenture and SAP reviewed corporate communications on 50 circular pilot programs between 2017 and 2023. Of those, only two programs followed up with impact measurement and consistent progress updates. “In short, the overwhelming majority of pilots have not shown progress beyond the initial announcement, with no acknowledgement of cancelled pilots or shared learnings from those projects,” the report reads.

In contrast to the culture of launching pilots that lack the infrastructure to support them to scale, the following five actions help nurture a circular system where initiatives can thrive.

Embrace authenticity and transparency

In business, it’s tough to know how far transparency should go. The important thing is to build a system of data collection and disclosure that expresses credibility to customers and builds trust among stakeholders. This starts with a comprehensive baseline of product packaging and continues by building out tools like digital twins — or virtual models that, in this case, would illustrate what’s happening in the supply chain, as well as how initiatives are progressing.

The public-private Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) established the Circular Economy Indicators Coalition to make disclosure of this information more feasible. By bringing standardization to circular economy metrics, the coalition aims to catalyze more robust and meaningful disclosures that push collective understanding and action forward.

Re-imagine packaging R&D

In calling for innovation, Accenture and SAP recommend first getting down to the basics. A few simple questions about the purpose of the packaging and the product help prune unnecessary elements that would get in the way of circularity.

Then comes design. Changing up materials doesn’t necessarily happen automatically, and it must be done with care. Not every material is truly scalable in an environmentally-friendly and business-sensitive way throughout a package’s lifecycle. Advanced technologies like machine learning can speed up the prototyping and testing process so that it’s easier to find solutions that achieve circular goals while also meeting business needs.

The Consumer Goods Forum, an industry group representing more than 400 companies globally, released its Golden Design Rules for packaging in 2021 to provide further guidance to the sector. The rules range from choosing the proper color to ensure plastic bottles are more easily recyclable, to reducing the use of plastic overwrap, to removing hard-to-recycle plastic resins from packaging. Though the standards are voluntary, companies within the Forum’s Coalition of Action on Plastic Waste have committed to align with them in their packaging design.

Still, packaging that’s more sustainable isn’t necessarily simpler. With “smart” elements like QR codes and digital tags that enable two-way communication, packaging can enhance engagement with customers. And if a circular design sacrifices the glam of shiny and vibrant single-use plastic, tech solutions like augmented reality experiences can expand marketing into new (cost-saving) directions.

Invest in infrastructure and communities

The beauty and complexity of circular economy goals is that they don’t end with production. A circular company has the responsibility to ensure its packaging is properly collected and repurposed at end-of-life. If this involves recycling, for example, there are various stakeholders and community features to engage and support.

The report calls out Danone as one positive example of a multinational company stepping beyond its walls to fulfill circular packaging aspirations. For example, the company helped establish the largest and most advanced PET plastic recycling facility in Indonesia and has invested significantly in recycling technology and infrastructure in North America. These initiatives have been in supplement to the company’s basic efforts at changing its packaging for the better. Today, almost three-quarters of Danone’s plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable, compared with a baseline of almost two-thirds in 2018.

Grow, reuse and explore circular business models

Here’s another roadblock to overcome. What if a company puts time, effort and money into a circular solution, but consumers don’t buy it? Or maybe the market jumps in an unexpected direction. We’ve already noted the solid and intensifying business case to pursuing circularity, but aligning properly (and securely) with these trends takes intentional efforts.

Accenture and SAP outline steps including user research, testing and learning instead of putting all your eggs in one pilot. Collaborating with other actors along the value chain also allays risks.

Further, reusable packaging offers a uniquely secure opportunity not only for resource efficiency, but also for brand loyalty. As widely reported across news outlets including Time Magazine, success in reuse requires demonstrating proper customer buy-in and low environmental impact over the course of the packaging’s lifecycle.

Collaborate to scale

It’s no accident that we find collaboration at the end of the report. Breaking down silos between companies and organizations is a big ask. Yet the authors write, “Collaboration is one of the critical and necessary components for circular packaging to gain traction.” Consumer goods companies should seek to collaborate with each other before getting to the stage of competition in the market, SAP and Accenture recommend.

Some opportunities include creating “communities of practice” that prioritize forthright communication, where companies can openly share triumphs and challenges in the march toward circularity. It’s through collaboration that companies might also find reusable packaging a more feasible option: They can work together to coordinate investments and establish the necessary relationships and infrastructure.

The bottom line

The most important element to each of these recommendations is work. That’s why Accenture and SAP called them “actions.” They aren’t targets to be made and set aside after a few months. Actually working through the outlined steps takes dedication.

The innovation and honesty required might not be comfortable, but working together can help make the path smoother. “Given the scale of the challenge, time is too short for each consumer goods company to learn the same lessons individually,” the authors write. 
In the end, finding solutions to wasteful plastic packaging will make companies more compliant to regulations and appealing to customers. Consumer goods companies are uniquely positioned to lead the way.

This article series is sponsored by SAP and Accenture and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image credit: Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels

With record high prices, fuel shortages and slowing economies worldwide, the current energy crisis is a truly global issue. The year 2022 saw oil prices soar to levels not seen since 2008, directly impacting the availability and affordability of energy for consumers.

This issue is of particular concern to the telecoms industry. According to GSMA Intelligence, energy consumption accounted for between 15 and 40 percent of the operating expenditure of telco operators in 2021. With the expected increase in data traffic and the new infrastructure required to handle 5G, energy consumption and emissions are expected to rise over the coming years. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem that the industry is taking lying down. Orange is one such example.

An industry pioneer through sustainable growth

Working across 26 countries, Orange Group strategically focuses on sustainable growth—reinventing itself and adapting to a constantly changing world while delivering exemplary performance on social and environmental issues. The Group is working towards achieving an ambitious 30 percent reduction in its direct emissions by 2025, with the ultimate aim of becoming a Net Zero Carbon business by 2040. This would make it a pioneer in the telecoms industry, achieving this target a full decade ahead of the rest of the sector.

Orange France is helping lead the change for the Orange Group. The subsidiary, which boasts 26 million customers and generated around EUR €18 billion in 2021, is committed to supporting Orange Group’s environmental goals through substantial operational change.

Data centers: significant developments

Orange France identified data centers as a key component of its plans to improve sustainability and embarked on a journey to close 17 older, energy-inefficient facilities and invest in three state-of-the-art data centers. Due to their environmentally conscious design, these new facilities can operate without air conditioning for ten months of the year, reducing their energy impact by up to 30 percent when compared to legacy premises. With a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) that Orange estimates at 1.3, the data centers rank among the most efficient in France and are considered strategic assets for the Group.

Reducing servers tenfold and significantly reducing the average workload energy consumption

The move presented Orange France with a huge workload migration task. It also presented a great opportunity to further optimize the IT infrastructure from an environmental perspective.

Orange France started working closely with VMware Professional Services. Mathias Rousselet, head of the virtualization innovation cloud, Orange France, says, “The advantage of Professional Services is that they spend time with us, and they learn about our ecosystem and environment. VMware products have many possibilities, but they teach us how to make them work best for Orange.”

Orange France created a private cloud with VMware Cloud Foundation spanning its old and new data centers. This enabled the migration of apps and data to the new facilities. To date a third of workloads have been moved. The efficiency of private cloud has reduced the requirement for servers tenfold, providing significant energy savings. Orange reports that the average workload in its private cloud consumes significantly less energy than it did in the virtualized legacy infrastructure. This was further supported by the use of VMware Aria Operations to identify existing resources that could be redeployed or deleted. Orange France estimates this results in approximately 1,800 reclaimed VMs a year.

“VMware Cloud Foundation and Aria Automation help us optimize resources to reduce our carbon emissions,” says David Varusio, IT Cloud Project Manager, Orange France. “We’ve reduced our hardware footprint across computing, storage and networking, there is better sizing of IT environments from the outset and we’re running the same number of applications on ten times fewer servers.”

TO LEARN MORE

Click here to view the original content

In December of 2021, the worst tornado outbreak in Kentucky historydecimated the Bluegrass State, flattening entire towns and leaving hundreds homeless. The shocking images out of Western Kentucky attracted global media coverage and an outpouring of support from around the world.

ekō Solutions, a division of Land Betterment based in Fishers, Indiana, which specializes in low-cost upcycled shipping container homes, immediately sent four units to Dawson Springs to house families displaced by the storms. Now, nearly two years later, as the news cycle moves on and as the tornadoes fade into memory for much of the public, ekō Solutions continues to help affected individuals and families in Western Kentucky with the tall task of rebuilding their communities and their lives.

Last month, ekō Solutions placed six units on site at Camp G.R.A.V.E.S., a nonprofit organization in Water Valley working to provide short-term housing solutions and a host of educational and employment resources to displaced families. The current plan is to house around 30 families on the site — 14 in tiny homes, 16 in camper sites and six in ekō Solutions container homes.

“After my apartment in Mayfield was destroyed, I didn’t know what to do,” said Jared Medlock, a Camp G.R.A.V.E.S., resident who recently moved into a new unit provided by ekō Solutions. “Now I feel like I have some kind of stability under my feet.”

That sense of stability comes at a critical time for Medlock, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. He says searching for housing while battling cancer was an exhausting and harrowing experience.

“First FEMA arranged temporary housing for me in Murray, but that funding ended last month,” said Medlock. “Then my case worker told me about Camp G.R.A.V.E.S., and I was accepted, now I’ll be here for the next 18 months.”

Medlock will be living in an ekō Solutions container home, which features an open floor plan, full kitchen and full bathroom. He says the home, which was built using the mainframe from an upcycled steel shipping container, will give him space to focus on his health while rebuilding his life.

“It’s been nonstop stress, with my health issues and looking for housing, it’s been a 24/7 job on its own,” Medlock said. “But the container home is awesome, it’s a really neat way to do it. When you walk in you just feel at ease. I’d love to buy one for myself one day.”

Five other individuals and their families will occupy ekō Solutions homes on the site. They began moving into the units in June.

For more information on Camp G.R.A.V.E.S., and to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.campgraves.org

To learn more about ekō Solutions and their line of low-cost container home solutions, visit www.ekosolutions.com

Media Contacts:

Mark LaVerghetta 
Chief Governance Officer, Corporate Finance 
Land Betterment Corporation 
Phone: 317.537.0492 ext. 0 
Email: info@landbetterment.com

Stephanie Conzelman 
Stakeholder Engagement Director 
Land Betterment Corporation 
Phone: 207.205.0790 
Email: info@landbetterment.com

Zak Owens 
Fleur de Lis Communications 
Phone: 502.386.5704 
Email: zak@fdlcomms.com