Tag: 3BL

The Clorox Change Makers initiative spotlights people who actively champion inclusion, celebrate diversity, promote equity, and practice allyship — what we call IDEA — to make a positive impact on our business and culture. This month, we’re highlighting Tyler Van Arsdale, a regional sales manager for West Grocery. 

Born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma, Tyler has a distinctly world view. An accomplished linguist, he is conversant in French, Japanese and American Sign Language, among others, and has studied in Japan, taught English in South Korea and earned his yoga teaching certification in India. He’s also spent more than 15 years advocating for LGBTQ+ causes. 

His intersectional experiences are integral to his IDEA evangelism at Clorox. As an active and engaged member of our Pride, CelebrAsia, DisABILITY and HOLA employee resource groups, fellow teammates laud the example he sets for bringing one’s full self to work while creating safe spaces for others to learn and grow.

Can you tell me about an accomplishment from your time at Clorox that you’re proud of? 

I’m most proud of my advocacy and ally education work with Clorox’s Pride ERG, driving awareness of LGBTQ+ issues across other employee resource groups. For example, I recently helped generate a dialogue within our HOLA ERG (our Latin/Hispanic community) about FIFA’s decision to ban players’ LGBTQ+ solidarity symbols at the World Cup last fall. I’m also proud to have helped shape Clorox’s real estate policy for all-gender bathrooms, including converting two single-stall restrooms at our office in Sunrise, Florida, into all-gender restrooms with proper signage.

It’s incredibly rewarding to hear from coworker friends that I have helped them better interact with and understand LGBTQ+ people, including their children!

How do you think about IDEA, and what experiences have shaped this for you? 

I see IDEA as a process of developing compassion for others unlike oneself. It’s a taming of our knee-jerk reactions to interactions and ideas outside of our comfort zone. One experience that is particularly memorable is when I participated in our Sales team IDEA (then called I&D) storytelling sessions a few years ago. Having the opportunity to talk about challenging topics with my peers really showed me how being vulnerable and sharing your own story can bring people closer together.

How have you seen IDEA help the business and/or helped drive culture change? 

I’ve seen IDEA foster meaningful connections across seniority levels and functions like nothing else. That kind of openness is an incredible catalyst for our ability to collaborate as professionals. It lets people hit the ground running on business priorities and problem-solving because there’s already a foundation of trust and shared understanding on a personal level.

I’ve led a lot of programming over the last few years, and I think the impact of those conversations are very unique and personal — at least at first. People will mull the new ideas around and change their hearts first, and that collectively leads to cultural change through more thoughtful words and actions.

There’s still a lot of work to be done at Clorox to that end, but there is no shortage of passionate people here to keep that inclusion momentum going.

What has helped enable you to be a Change Maker? 

Having a team that enthusiastically and authentically embraces IDEA has been incredibly meaningful throughout my time at Clorox, coupled with a supportive Pride ERG that has encouraged me to lead discussions focused on what I am passionate about. I also have my parents to thank for teaching me to be outspoken, advocate for my needs and believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.

Do you have tips/advice on small actions to bring inclusivity into the everyday? 

Read about things you don’t understand. Share new discoveries with your friends, family and peers at work. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned from that alone.Be curious first, before you judge someone for an action or preference. Ask open-endedly about anything you don’t at first understand. “Why do you think that?” is a good question to start with.

To live our purpose and values, we must build a workplace where every person can feel respected, valued and fully able to participate in our Clorox community. We aim to lead by example, at every level within the company, and to continually challenge ourselves to do better.  Learn more about our inclusion and diversity efforts here. 

Mining consumes up to 6% of the world’s energy with 50% of that energy used to grind material into smaller particles in a process called comminution.

The Canadian Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) was formed to reduce the mining industry’s environmental footprint by 50% by 2027, with a focus on energy, water, and waste. CMIC is utilizing Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) solutions in a first of its kind venture called ReThink Milling. The consortium of operators unites over a dozen mining industry leaders in shared research and development to drive sustainability.

Among the upcoming projects is the development of new, disruptive technology to replace the current comminution process. Upcoming projects, including a conjugated anvil hammer mill, have the potential to reduce energy consumption by 65% and eliminate the need for secondary crushing mills, equipment, and related transportation.

Data collection is key to commercialization, and the projects feature several Rockwell technologies that enable data capture, management, and analytical capabilities for improved decision-making.

Learn more about the work ReThink Milling is doing to drive innovation in the mining industry.

As we enter the summer and kids are home from school, I’m thrilled to join friends and colleagues across our industry and from partner organizations to kick off the ACP Week of Action, which starts today. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has grown to become a cornerstone of the future of accessible and affordable broadband in this country.

Earlier today, the administration officially launched the Online For All campaign with an event in Towson, Maryland at the local branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. During the event, White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu and FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel underscored the importance of the ACP and challenged all of us to reach even more people with the program, which provides a $30 per month credit ($75 per month on Tribal lands) toward Internet bills.

Just this year, we provided a grant to the library to train Digital Navigators, and an additional grant to the Community College of Baltimore County to employ these local experts to help folks get connected.

$11.4M in grants awarded in 2022 for ACP awareness and Digital Navigators

225+ organizations supported around ACP and broadband adoption efforts

We are proud to serve as the founding partner of the new Civic Nation and U.S. Department of Education campaign, Online For All, which will supercharge efforts across government, private industry, nonprofits, and community partners nationwide to connect more people to the Internet.

While it’s impressive that more than 18.5 million households have signed up for the ACP benefit so far, the next phase of this effort will be more challenging. With more than 31 million households eligible for the ACP, but not yet enrolled, our attention must now turn toward broadband adoption.

Comcast’s decade of experience working in this space has given us the data and know-how to pursue this task head-on. Through Project UP, we have a network of hundreds of partner organizations across our footprint, working in cities and towns from coast to coast on broadband adoption and ACP awareness.

In fact, in 2022 alone, Comcast invested $11.4 million in more than 225 nonprofits and community-based organizations to raise awareness of, and drive sign-ups for, the ACP. And that includes investing in training and deploying Digital Navigators, a key piece of the solution. As trusted local experts, usually associated with existing organizations like churches and community centers, Digital Navigators can get folks signed up for Internet service, connect them with devices, and show them the rules of the road when it comes to staying safe online.

Which brings us to this ACP Week of Action. Together with other companies and partners, we’re joining the activation from June 14-22 to shine a light on the truly transformative nature of the ACP – connecting people to the Internet at virtually no cost to them, especially those who can benefit most. I’ve seen this firsthand as I’ve visited the communities we serve to learn more.

For the week of action, Comcast is continuing to work with national and local partners to drive participation in the ACP. We’re hosting events to drive ACP enrollment, embedding connectivity information into other events we’re sponsoring, and sharing stories of our customers whose lives have changed with low or no-cost Internet.

Check out a sampling of over 100 events Comcast is participating in during the week of action and beyond below:

On June 14, Comcast will be hosting an ACP sign-up event and offering technology assistance at Plymouth Housing in Seattle to help connect residents to high-speed Internet.On June 14, Comcast will be participating in “Career Day” in Boston’s Chinatown Neighborhood Center to raise awareness of digital equity and the ACP.On June 16, Comcast will be a participating sponsor of the Latin American Community Ciencias (Science) Night at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, OR. This family-friendly event welcomes visitors of all ages for a night of museum exploring science demos, lectures, and cultural entertainment. Comcast will increase awareness of the ACP and Internet Essentials at the event.On June 21 at the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Annual Conference in Spokane, WA, Comcast is bringing together two conversations with state and local leaders about digital equity and the ACP.On June 27, Comcast will be participating in the Leon County Digital Equity Forum to raise awareness of ACP and Digital Navigators in Tallahassee, FL.

Broderick Johnson is Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Executive Vice President, Digital Equity for Comcast Corporation.

Originally published on GoDaddy Life

Listen to the Podcast, here! Transcription provided, below.

Janelle (Host): Hello, and welcome to the Own Your career podcast. My name is Janelle Jordan and I’m a Program Manager on our Talent, Performance and Engagement team. I’m so excited to be here with you. Throughout this series, you’ll hear inspiring interviews with employees who have achieved career growth at GoDaddy through internal promotions and movements. In addition, you’ll hear tips, best practices, and advice to support your career journey. Career management is necessary for successful journey, and we hope that you’ll walk away ready to own your career. Thanks for spending time with us today. Now let’s jump into our career spotlight. I’m here today with Raisa, who is an Instructional Designer on the customer education team at GoDaddy. Hi, Raisa. Welcome to podcast.

Raisa (Guest): Hi, thanks for having me.

Janelle: All right, let’s get to know you quickly. Can you share with us a little bit about who you are and what brings you joy outside the office?

Raisa: Sure. I was actually born and raised in Phoenix, but I live in Washington now. I have a five year old foster fail dog named Benji and a loving partner of four years. I am an enjoyer of Internet culture and I have been making YouTube videos for about ten years now.

Janelle: Ten years is a really long time. Can you share a little bit more about Internet culture? I think that’s a term that’s new to me.

Raisa: So, my degree is actually digital culture. I am chronically online. It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed. I think I picked it up from my dad. He was also very into computers and cameras, and I think every moment of my existence is recorded somewhere in a hard drive in his house. And then when I started working at Disneyland, I filmed every moment of that. So that was what started my YouTube career, was working at Disney.

Janelle: Amazing. I can’t wait to hear a little bit more about this. Can you give our listeners a quick overview of your career journey and any of your movement here at GoDaddy?

Raisa: Absolutely. So I started in the Outbound Call Center in Gilbert in 2018 and I was absolutely terrible at it. I couldn’t sell ice to a polar bear, and the only time I would ever have met my sales goal, a customer ended up returning the PWS that I sold her in the first place. Thankfully, there was an opening for a Video Copywriter on the Content Marketing team at the time. I absolutely jumped at the chance to apply. I got the job and immediately moved to Seattle to start making YouTube videos for the GoDaddy YouTube channel. Then about a year later, I was reorganized into the Customer Education team and promoted to become the Instructional Designer that I am today.

Janelle: Awesome. That was quick. Let’s rewind. You started in Outbound in Gilbert and you were terrible at it. Okay. What brought you to GoDaddy? Why did you say yes to the job?

Raisa: I was actually working on a cruise ship, of all things. And when I came home and finished my contract, I didn’t want to do another one. I came back to Phoenix, and I was just looking for work, and my mom’s like, “hey, you know, GoDaddy is here in the Valley. Why don’t you apply?” It was just supposed to be not necessarily a temporary thing, but just like, I need a job. So I came, I interviewed and my interviewer actually was talking to me about my YouTube channel. He’s like, “if this doesn’t work out, we could totally find you a position working maybe on the YouTube channel. Who knows?” I’m like, “wow, that’d be so cool.” Fast forward maybe four months, and I was doing exactly that.

Janelle: I love that. That’s great. All right, can you share with us who or what has been most impactful to your career growth at GoDaddy and why?

Raisa: I think the most impactful thing was probably the Education Reimbursement Program. Not to say I didn’t have any supportive managers and coworkers, because I absolutely do. I love my team. Everyone’s very passionate about what they do, and I’m very thankful that they looked past my education and focused more on my relevant work experience when hiring me as an Instructional Designer, because I didn’t actually have my degree at the time. I had wanted to go back and finish it, but I was pushing off for one reason or another. Right about the time I went to Seattle, my student loans became due, and I was like, “oh, hey, maybe I should refinance those.” I had four different ones, all different rates, and it was just a nightmare. But you can’t do that unless you have a degree. So, I was talking about it with a coworker, and she told me about the GoDaddy Reimbursement Fund. If you pass your class with a B or better, it’s reimbursed. Obviously there are a lot more rules and conditions, so go read up on those if you’re interested! But GoDaddy covers your tuition costs, so it was definitely an added incentive to go back. And I ended up earning A’s in both of the classes that I needed, which was shocking because I am riddled with ADHD. But thanks to the program, I was able to get a tutor, which was helpful. I now officially have my bachelor’s degree in digital culture, like I mentioned, with a focus in design. I highly recommend this to anyone who’s going back to school to look into the program. Why not? As long as you’re passing your classes, why not get that money back?

Janelle: I just learned so much, and I imagine so did all of our listeners, because I was today years old when I realized that, one, you have to have a degree to do the refinancing and the consolidating, because you’re right, that’s a brilliant move. Anyone listening? Consolidate your student loans. I did that as well, but I didn’t realize you had to have a degree, which is really cool. And then also the reimbursement with getting B’s and getting your tuition costs. Like, wow, how powerful is that? And what a great tool and benefit as a GoDaddy employee to take advantage of. Especially because, like you said, maybe you start going to school and you’re tracked on like, I’m going to do journalism and I’m going to do finance. There’s these really awesome programs out there that are more catered, for what you are truly passionate about, like digital culture with a focus and design, you know what I mean? Like sustainability, which I swear that was not a major when I was in college. So great. And then here you are working with a company that allows you the flexibility, one, to be a student and then supports you financially.

Raisa: Absolutely. I mean, I was thankful that I only have the two classes left, but the reason I was putting off is because they were math. I’m not good at math at all and I would argue if I was able to finish the entire degree without the two math classes, did I really need them in the first place?

Janelle: Okay, thank you so much for sharing that. I love it. What advice do you have for someone who’s new to your industry?

Raisa: So I think a pretty shared experience among professional creative people is burnout. I know I’ve experienced it in major way. A big part of my job is to write scripts for YouTube videos and then I would then quote, unquote, log off from work, would try and write scripts on my own videos. And that just wasn’t working because obviously I need to kind of pay my bills. So, work has to come first and my creative outlet kind of has to be put off to the side for a bit just so that I can have the creative mindset to work on my work. But there are a few things I have done to kind of prevent my burnout. So one thing I am terrible at is making myself eternally available for work. And sometimes I’ll even work well into the night. I try and set rigid work hours. This time I am at my desk trying to be productive and at this time I am done. Put it all away, log off. Another thing I do is I follow the Pomodoro technique, which is where you do 25 minutes of work, you take a five minute break and after four rounds of that, you take a bit of a longer break. I try and do as much as I can. I also have an Apple Watch that reminds me when to stand or drink water again. Helps my brain too. I also have a completely unrelated creative outlet. I started embroidery as a way to continue to be creative. But again, I have ADHD, so these things might not work for the same for everybody, but I even have trouble sticking to some of the 100% of the time. The intention is there.

Janelle: The intention is there, and the intention is positive. And I love that you talk about the ADHD and how that impacts so much of your work and how you do your work and how you get your work done. And it’s just important for anyone that’s listening that can relate to it and the advice that you gave in setting rigid work hours. And the Pomodoro technique. Again, for anyone who’s listening, this might be new information or a new technique to try and then really understanding yourself. For some people, creativity, for example, is not an outlet. For me, it burns me out. It’s hard for me. I can do it. I would find that I’m talented at it, but it is exhausting for me. And so for somebody where they drive their passion and their energy from it right, so they refill their cup. If you’re doing that in work and in personal, for sure, that would be an a vicious cycle that doesn’t end. So just knowing when to give your brain a break.

Raisa: Yeah, exactly. I get hyper focused on a project and I will go for hours. I don’t eat, I don’t stop. It’s good having the little reminders to stand a drink water. Or to have a snack.

Janelle: Don’t you wish our dogs could talk? You mentioned earlier that you have a five year old dog named Benji. Don’t you wish that they could just like, “hey, you have not gotten up from your desk in 2 hours.”

Raisa: He definitely knows when it’s time to walk. He’ll come up and nudge me, which, thankfully, is a good physical indicator. Like, “hey, let’s go do something else right now.”

Janelle: Truly a man’s best friend. We don’t deserve them. Last question. What is a common myth about your job department or your field of expertise?

Raisa: When talking about Instructional Designers, specifically, I think one myth would be that you need to have a formal education to be able to become one. Obviously, I didn’t go to school for it, and actually nobody on my team did either. I don’t think anyone on my team has either A degree or B, a specific instructional design degree. It all comes from relative experience. Since I have a background in online video and I also used to teach lifeguarding, CPR, first aid, I was a great candidate for the job because I understood the individual aspects of the teaching and also the creation of the materials without even realizing it. I remember being in college and asking myself, is it the lifeguarding part that I like or is it the teaching? And I kind of had an existential moment like “oh, my gosh, am I doing the wrong degree?” So for me, it really just came down to my passion of wanting to help people, to teach them skills that they can then apply to whatever aspect of their life.

Janelle: It’s amazing, the reflection and the asking yourself the questions to get better, to better understand what is it that you like and love and don’t like and how you can use that to drive the work that you do every single day. And I think that’s the goal of everyone is we want to be doing work that we love because we know that makes it not feel like work. We know that makes the day go by faster. It’s the reason we want to wake up and we want to get excited to sit down at our laptop. And so we’re all looking and seeking to bring our values and what we’re passionate about closer to the work that we do. And you found that, and that’s fantastic. What an inspiration. I want to thank you so much, Raisa, for spending time with us today and sharing your personal and career journey with our GoDaddy listeners. Can you share with us the best way to reach you?

Raisa: You’re welcome to check out my YouTube channel and my Instagram. It’s “RaisaLynn”.

Janelle: You have given us all permission to find you on the Internet. Just beware! I can’t wait to check out your content. Thank you, everyone for listening to the Own Your Career podcast, aiming to inspire, motivate and empower our employees to meet and achieve their professional goals. If you’re interested in being a guest on a future podcast, visit the My Career Portal Career Spotlight page and complete the interest form. While you’re there, check out the many resources and articles available and reach out to us with feedback, questions and ideas. We would love to hear from you. Thank you, Raisa, for spending time with us today.

Raisa: Yeah, thanks so much for having me.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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By Liz Habersham, T-Mobile Stories

In a world where device usage and mental health often intersect, we offer a handful of ways you and your smartphone can have a more intentional relationship.

While our mobile devices are ever-present in our lives these days, we don’t always use them with the best of intention, even if we think our doom scrolls on social are helping take the edge off. As we’ve seen in recent headlines from major news outlets and health leaders, treating your device as something that’s okay to engage with just because it’s always there can take a toll on our mental health. Just because it feels easy doesn’t mean it’s helping us take it easy.

Haesue Jo, clinical support lead for online mental health platform BetterHelp, embraces the idea of using our smartphones as an extension of ourselves — being present no matter the place or platform.

“I am a big fan of mindfulness in general, which is the idea of being attuned to your present moment and what’s going on with your mind and body,” Jo said on the “Mobile Mindfulness” episode of the T-Mobile Stories team’s Mobile Diaries podcast. “It’s about paying attention to what makes sense for you versus what’s getting in the way of you living your life.”

The practice of mindfulness can take many forms, and if we use our devices strategically, we can work towards achieving a calmer state of mind. Sometimes the key to relaxation really is in the palm of your hand. From meditation apps to yoga videos, there are plenty of resources that can allow your device to be your partner in relaxation. We’ve put together this handy Zen guide with a few quick tips on how to use your device to unwind your mind.

Make use of “focus” modes.
While we may not always have the luxury of being able to unplug for long periods of time, most devices offer the closest possible escape in the form of “focus” modes. Often found in your phone’s settings or as a dedicated app, these modes let you take a break from notifications while you sleep, drive or zero in on your projects. In terms of specific apps that aim to promote focus or boost productivity, look into ones that gamify the process like Forest or apps such as GoodNotes or Notability that allow you to digitally plan your day and schedule in those much needed breaks and recharge sessions.

Chill out with a mindfulness app.
Being our most productive self feels great, but stress can often block us from getting to that point. This is where mindfulness apps come into play, including popular ones like Calm, Headspace and Sanvello. Apps in this category allow you to achieve a state of calm by introducing intentional breathing techniques, journaling space, expert advice and more. By setting aside of bit of time each day to tap into your favorite mindfulness practice, you’ll no doubt notice positive changes in your overall wellbeing. In addition to caring for your mind, you can also tap into wellness videos, with a wide variety available for free on apps like YouTube, that will guide you through a session of Pilates or gentle yoga.

Elevate your mood through sound.
Whether it’s music, guided meditations or ASMR TikToks (no judgement here!), we all have sounds that transport us to that Zen-like state. Whatever your favorite streaming service is, pick a playlist that helps you kick back and let that be the soundtrack for your day. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out this song whose calming effects are backed by science.

Get in sync with your body.
Spending all day on your phone can be difficult on the body, especially for those of us who have a tendency to slouch. (Guilty!) Sitting with your shoulders back and chin up is not often top of mind when fixated on your screen. Having an awareness of your body while you casually use your device might sound like advice you’d rather swipe left on, but studies referenced in books such as Presence: Bring Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges — which you can download and read or listen to on your mobile phone — explain some of the science behind how our posture is connected to our wellbeing.

Make your lock screen meditative.
Smartphones are becoming more and more customizable, and sometimes we overlook the versatility of more basic features like lock screens. We see our screens constantly, so spaces like lock screens offer the perfect real estate for a relaxing or motivational visual. A popular practice has been creating vision board lock screens, a collage of images that might contain your personal goals, memories that make you happy, or inspirational quotes that really speak to you. You can use a variety of tools, or find pre-made ones online, to motivate you and make you at feel at peace every time you pick up your phone.

By Liz Peters

Frederick Law Olmsted was an American landscape architect and social activist. Credited with the creation of Central Park in New York City and having served as an early supporter for the North of the U.S. Civil War, he had a deep desire to improve our world.

Olmsted’s footprint and tenacious spirit has influenced tens of thousands–including Hiroki Hiramatsu.

With Olmsted being such a strong catalyst for Hiramatsu’s career, it’s no wonder that he set out to translate a bestselling biography of Olmsted into Japanese. The book, A Clearing in the Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the 19th Century by Witold Rybczynski, had a lasting influence on Hiramatsu, helping shape his vision on how to transform urban settings.

“The man who created Central Park was an activist…[the book] was inspiring in how to fight against disparity and inequality, and [the power of] sending out a message to the public. And for me that is running a sustainable consulting firm.”

Hiramatsu is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Woonerf, a firm that’s centered on creating better spaces and places–with themes from Olmsted’s philosophies woven in the fabric of the firm. Woonerf provides green building consulting and sustainable urban landscape principles to help clients improve environmental performance, people’s well-being and public perception of environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives–while securing economic benefits.

Woonerf is the first organization in the world to achieve the WELL Equity Rating for its office, a framework that helps organizations take action toward their diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility goals, while improving company culture and employee health and well-being.

“Disability and inequality are hard to see,” explained Hiramatsu, sharing that it can be difficult to determine how to take action on solving such issues–but it is critical to do so.

And Woonerf has certainly taken action. In pursuing and achieving the WELL Equity Rating, the organization has overhauled its survey practices as well as recruitment tactics. Specific actions included implementing DEI support systems; providing restorative space; and supporting victims of domestic violence including creating a custom survey that will be implemented every year. The team also offers thermal and lighting control in the workplace, as well as acoustic work zone control, creating an enhanced sense of comfort and choice for all employees.

“Equity is a very important message to people interested in joining our company, as well as our current employees,” said Nobuaki Koyama, CFO of Woonerf. On its career page, Woonerf’s values are on display, clearly articulating benefits that align with WELL. They also share employee statistics, from the rate of parental leave taken for those eligible (100%) to what percentage of employees like hiking (36%).

Upon the rating’s launch, Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI, said: “Many organizations have made commitments to DEI, but precious few have a roadmap for activation. The WELL Equity Rating is a transformative new offering that empowers organizations to make good on their promises.”

Not only has the Woonerf team made good on their promises, but they are striving for better. In support of pursuing WELL feature EB11, Support Victims of Domestic Violence, the team surveyed staff regarding their experiences.

Koyama explained they wanted to create an environment where everyone could feel comfortable coming forward with struggles, issues or otherwise–that it’s within the company’s DNA to be open to their people.

“We should not be satisfied with those results only. We want employees to feel safe, to feel happy. If there is any sort of trouble, we are ready to hear.”

View original content here.

DÜSSELDORF, Germany, June 23, 2023 /3BL/ – Henkel has a longstanding track-record as a leader in sustainability for decades and constantly drives transformational change to create value for its stakeholders. Last year, the company accelerated its efforts as part of its 2030+ Sustainability Ambition Framework including the ambition to achieve climate positive operations by 2030. The Adhesive Technologies business unit has translated this framework into its specific Sustainability Ambition 2030 and aims to lead by example as well as through technologies.

Adhesive Technologies is operating 124 sites around the globe, the vast majority of Henkel´s facilities. To execute towards its ambition the business unit is investing into a broad variety of sustainability projects in operations. The focus is on increasing the use of electricity generated from renewable sources, implementing state-of-the-art technologies to generate thermal energy without fossil fuels and increasing the circularity of water and production material usage.

“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and with the ambition of becoming climate positive in operations by 2030 Henkel is leading in the industry for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings,” said Dimitri Kozak, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Performance in Operations at Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “Thus, we are taking holistic actions in all our manufacturing sites around the globe. As a first milestone we want to become carbon neutral in production. We have achieved carbon neutrality in our aerospace manufacturing plant in the Montornès del Valles (Montornès) plant in Spain. This year, we have already turned three further adhesive production sites to carbon neutrality with much more to come in the near future.”

Carbon neutral production

To achieve carbon neutral production Adhesive Technologies constantly invests into technologies enabling the local use of 100% electric and thermal energy. Once installed, manufacturing sites start changing the supply of sources to renewable alternatives such as biomass or biogas. By combining on-site renewable energy and green energy procurement the aerospace manufacturing plant in Montornès already has become a lighthouse project for Adhesive Technologies. This year, the adhesives manufacturing sites in Chennai, India, Tuzla, Turkey, and Bileca, Bosnia and Herzegovina, have become carbon neutral as well. The three plants have reached this goal by drawing electricity from on- and offsite renewable energy sources, along with the deployment of energy efficient solutions such as LED lighting, smart motion sensors and natural lighting. All fossil fuel users such as hot water boilers and heating have been replaced by electrical systems.

Electricity generated from renewable sources

By end of 2022, about 60% of all sites operated by Adhesive Technologies already used electricity generated from renewable sources. In Mexico, for example, all manufacturing facilities have been equipped with technologies that enable 100% usage of electricity from renewable sources. In Australia, the business unit has invested into its plants in Seven Hills, New South Wales, and Kilsyth, Victoria. With this, all adhesive manufacturing sites in the country are powered by 100% renewable electricity. When building new sites Henkel implements sustainability already into the design phase. For example, the Songdo plant in Korea, opened in 2022, incorporates a broad range of sustainability features, including solar panels, a rainwater recycling system and energy-efficient equipment.

Continuous efforts to increase energy efficiency

Investments into technologies that help replacing fossil fuels for the generation of thermal energy is another important building block to significantly reduce the CO2-footprint in productions. In its Cannon Falls plant in Minnesota, US, Adhesive Technologies has implemented a regenerative thermal oxidizer technology which provides higher efficiency and reduces gas consumption. The process thermally treats volatile organic compounds instead of releasing them into the atmosphere. As a result, the site reduces direct emissions and in average can save more than 11,000MWh of gas annually.

Increasing circularity

The use of circular water as well as the circular use of production waste material is another key priority of Adhesive Technologies. By optimizing the hot water cleaning process in one of its adhesive production facilities in Düsseldorf, Germany, the business unit will be able to save up to 50% freshwater for each cleaning and disinfection cycle and 50% of energy. The Cannon Falls site has implemented a facility chiller estimated to save 18,000 m3 of water annually. The new chiller system replaced individual units which require city water with a centralized, continuous circulating system of water and glycol mixture. The Warren facility in Michigan, US, has introduced a reverse osmosis system that increases the water reuse and reduces water consumption by 40% annually.

In addition, Adhesive Technologies is constantly improving its disposal methods of its waste streams. 85% of all adhesive manufacturing sites have achieved zero waste to landfill status (ZWTL). The Chivilcoy plant in Argentina has implemented a novel biological waste treatment process with earthworms that transform materials into organic matter. This process allows the annual re-use of around 2,500m3 of wastewater and the generation of 50m3 of compost that donated to local agricultural producers and for environmental awareness events.

With all these initiatives and projects Henkel Adhesive Technologies is constantly driving progress towards its sustainability ambitions in production.

About Henkel 
With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The Adhesive Technologies business unit is the global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in hair care and laundry & home care in many markets and categories around the world. The company’s three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2022, Henkel reported sales of more than 22 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 2.3 billion euros. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of more than 50,000 people worldwide – united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: “Pioneers at heart for the good of generations.” More information at www.henkel.com. 

Media Contact 
Sebastian Hinz 
+49 211 797-85 94
sebastian.hinz@henkel.com

This episode of ESG Talk features Chad Reed, vice president of strategic initiatives and ESG at HASI, the first public company to report avoided emissions. Chad shares how his team calculates its “carbon count” metric, the critical role coalitions play in sustainability reporting, and why HASI has doubled down on double materiality.

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In its 2022 ESG Report, Moderna provides an update on how it is advancing its ESG strategy against five guiding focus areas for ongoing and future efforts:

Medicines for patients
Employees
Environment
Community
Governance and ethics

The report also includes updates to the progress Moderna has made to date:

156% increase in tracked volunteer hours from 2021
63% employee participation rate in volunteering and/or giving
$7.8M in grants by the Moderna Foundation
$4M focused on improving health systems and healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa
Moderna also announced key progress in 2022 for its Global Public Health Strategy to:

Advance vaccines targeting 15 pathogens identified as the biggest public health risks into clinical studies by 2025 – 12 priority pathogens currently in research and development
Launch mRNA access – 9 institutions participating today
Expand regional manufacturing – 4 new facilities announced in Australia, Canada, Kenya, and the United Kingdom

The Company also announced reported on how, as it continues to scale as an organization, it is creating an environment that is rooted in a strong sense of belonging:      

Moderna’s team represents 34 different nationalities, and its workforce is 50 percent female with women comprising 41 percent of Moderna executives
Moderna also continued to work to increase racial and ethnic representation in its U.S. workforce in 2022

Understanding that human health and planetary health are interconnected, Moderna affirmed its prior commitments by establishing its environmental sustainability strategy based on three pillars.

Decarbonize value chain: Moderna has committed to define a near-term science-based target and evaluate a long-term Scope 3 target to minimize the impact to the environment from its value chain, establishing its 2021 GHG Scope 3 baseline
Natural resource conservation: Moderna has initiated internal energy audits to find efficiency opportunities and identify fossil fuel-fired equipment for replacement in pursuit of its net-zero carbon emissions commitment
Sustainability by design: Moderna has also committed to LEED certification (or equivalent) for new sites and buildings, targeting a 92% reduction in fossil fuel use and 10% reduction in embodied carbon in Moderna’s new HQ and R&D operations building in Cambridge, MA

To read more, please visit: https://www.modernatx.com/responsibility/our-commitment
 
Media Contact:
Katherine O’Malley
Executive Director, Communications

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Energized by Edison

By Erika Potter ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

As summer sets in, many children lose access to the meals provided by their schools. To combat the pressing issue of childhood hunger during the summer months, Southern California Edison joined the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for its annual Food From the Bar campaign. Over two weekends, volunteers sorted through almost 50,000 pounds of produce, separating potatoes and oranges into boxes that will join other groceries for distribution.

Food From the Bar taps into the legal community’s philanthropic spirit by engaging law firms, legal departments and organizations in a friendly competition to raise funds and volunteer hours to support the food bank’s mission: eliminating food insecurity. Last year, 50 law firms or legal organizations participated in the program, raising $550,000. This year, 65 organizations (including SCE) are involved and hoping to hit a goal of $615,000. Every dollar donated creates four meals for those in need.

The nonprofit fundraiser will continue to accept donations through May 31, allowing individuals to contribute to the fight against childhood hunger in Los Angeles County.

Visit Los Angeles Food Bank or Food From The Bar for more information or to contribute.

For more information on Edison International’s community giving and philanthropic initiatives, visit edison.com/community.

Above are photos from the recent volunteer events.