Tag: 3BL

SINGAPORE, June 23, 2023 /3BL/ – Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced that its AI-driven sustainability solution – Energy Expert – has been trialed to measure and analyze carbon emissions from temporary construction built to host the first Olympic Esports Week, generating data-driven insights on the choice of materials and equipment. The tool has been deployed through Alibaba Cloud’s partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Alibaba Cloud deployed its proven carbon measurement tool, Energy Expert, to measure and analyze the carbon emissions of the event’s temporary construction. A series of metrics including the impact of energy consumption, waste management, signage and decoration were assessed. This software-as-a-service tool was used by the Local Organizing Committee to compare the relative impacts of several types of materials and equipment.

Leveraging the latest tech-driven sustainability solution, Energy Expert allows event organizers to identify the sources of the carbon emissions from venue construction and operation, quantify the carbon footprint generated by a venue and visualize a venue’s sustainability performance via an integrated dashboard and online reports.

According to Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert, the carbon footprint of temporary construction for the Olympic Esports Week 2023 is estimated at 274 tons CO2e, after replacing 60% of printed signage with digital alternatives which led to 14 tons CO2e of carbon dioxide emissions reductions, as well as reusing 50% of carpets after the event that would slash emissions further by 10 tons CO2e.

“We are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment, and we’re pleased to work with Alibaba Cloud to apply cutting-edge technologies to measure carbon emissions so we can continue to make a difference,” said Vincent Pereira, Head of Virtual Sport of IOC Sports Department.

“We have been supporting the IOC’s digital transformation of the Olympics since Tokyo 2020, and it has been an honour to be part of this latest, historic milestone for virtual sport. Sustainability is one of the priorities for our sports innovation roadmap. As the sports industry continues to evolve, we’re passionate about providing organizations with timely data, actionable insights and energy-saving recommendations that make positive and tangible impacts,” said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

The first Olympic Esports Week marks the latest step in the collaboration between the IOC and Alibaba on digital transformation – following the success of developing sports innovations for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 – and is Alibaba’s first large-scale international project to tackle carbon emissions within the esports industry.

The esports industry has a growing environmental impact as the sport becomes more mainstream. Industry analysis estimates that in 2022 a single esports team could create as much as 100 tonnes of CO2 emissions . Individual consumption is also growing as 40% of the global population (three billion people) now play video games, according to industry analyst firm DFC Intelligence, meaning that there’s a significant impact to be addressed.

Besides the carbon measurement of temporary construction, to draw public attention on the importance of reducing carbon footprints, Alibaba Cloud’s web application for Olympic Esports Week, invites the public to take photos of items around them (such as keyboards and headsets) to help understand the carbon footprint of each item and actions that can be taken to reduce this footprint, such as increasing the lifetime of digital equipment or buying second hand equipment. This is achieved through integrating Alibaba Cloud’s AI technologies with traditional emission datasets. Participants can also pledge to take carbon reduction actions in their daily life, such as bringing their e-waste to dedicated collection points for recycling. Participants agreeing to the pledge can earn points on the app, with an aim to earn a Sustainability Champion badge, as part of the web application.

The inaugural Olympic Esports Week, taking place at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, features the best of virtual sports, including esports competitions, exhibition matches, exhibitions of the latest innovations, as well as a series of panel discussions and education sessions organized by IOC. The festival also played host to the Olympic Esports Series finals, which was the culmination of this year’s Olympic Esports Series which saw top Olympic Esports athletes from around the world competing in ten disciplines for a gold medal.

As a global leading cloud infrastructure provider, Alibaba Cloud is committed to helping organizations slash carbon emissions with emerging technologies such as intelligence computing and AI technologies. Leading the forefront of this notion, Alibaba Cloud strives to achieve Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon neutrality and commits to powering its cloud computing with 100% clean energy by 2030.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com) is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and IoT services. Alibaba maintained its position as the third leading public cloud IaaS service provider globally since 2018, according to IDC. Alibaba is the world’s third leading and Asia Pacific’s leading IaaS provider by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner.

Media Contact

Crystal Liu
Alibaba Group
+852 63785626/+86 18578497650
crystal.liu@alibaba-inc.com

Luica Mak
Alibaba Group
+44 790 547 1332
luica@alibaba-inc.com

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Join Tetra Tech’s Health & Safety team in recognizing Safety Month during June by reaffirming our commitment to Leading with Safety.

As leaders in the markets we support, we must also lead with safety. Not only do we provide clear solutions to complex problems, our employees and clients also expect our work is performed safely.

“While we work on tens of thousands of projects every year, there’s not a single one of those projects that are more important than every one of our employees going home every day safely,” said CEO Dan Batrack. “And there’s nothing that’s a higher priority to this company than that.”

Leading with Safety means that Tetra Tech staff are engaged in the safety program and take a proactive approach to health, wellness, and injury prevention. During Safety Month 2023, we have an opportunity to show how each of us can lead with safety.

Leading with Safety can vary depending on your assignment and perspective—but it’s all about the actions we take now that prevent an injury from occurring tomorrow. These actions can include identifying and controlling potential hazards prior to initiating work and participating in relevant safety training so that your work is performed safely.

Each of us can be safety leaders, whether you are working remotely, in the office, or in a hybrid model.

Throughout June, we will highlight weekly articles, photos, and resources related to how each of us are valued for our contributions to the program, health and wellness, and common field hazards on our social media profiles—LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Remember that safety leadership is a choice. “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It is about one life influencing another,” as John C. Maxwell said.

Let’s take the time in June to exemplify safety leadership to others around us.

Week 1 – Strong Voices, Safe Choices: Everyone Can Own and Lead with SafetyWeek 2 – Vehicle SafetyWeek 3 – WellnessWeek 4 – Focus Four Injury Prevention

CHICAGO, June 22, 2023 /3BL/ – Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) and the Wharton Global Family Alliance (Wharton GFA) announced findings from the Wharton GFA’s sixth benchmarking survey of family offices, highlighting best practices, trends and financial performance drivers of family offices. Faced with vast geopolitical and economic uncertainty and complex family dynamics, the survey found that family offices are returning to a focus on core principles: making sure they have the right investing and governance plans, and the best strategies, to fulfil the family’s long-term goals, including:

How family offices are responding to inflation, potential recession and geopolitical risks;Special considerations for direct investments;Interest and action related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing; andHow families are most effectively making decisions and preparing the next generation to manage the wealth.

Geopolitical and Economic Uncertainty

When asked about their greatest concerns, family office respondents cited inflation (24%), the possibility of recession (18%) and geopolitical risk (17%) as top of mind. While these concerns are not surprising given the current environment, they do manifest in a similar fashion: increased market volatility.

Direct Investments and ESG Investing

Family offices have substantially increased direct private investments at the expense of making investments through private-equity firms. However, at the same time, family offices have not staffed up with private equity professionals to evaluate, structure, monitor and add value to such direct investments.

“Private investments are attractive for many family offices because of the potential for high returns, but it is imperative that they deploy the right resources to evaluate and manage these investments,” said Professor Raphael Amit, Founder and Chairman of the Wharton Global Family Alliance and the author of the Wharton 2022 Family Office report.

In addition, many family offices report that they are or plan to deploy capital to ESG investments. Even so, a significant number of survey respondents report that ESG investments amount to less than 10% of their portfolios. Hesitancy to act may be attributed to challenges in finding consensus among the family on investment themes. It can be hard to find agreement on what is ‘most’ important, as many families remain uncomfortable about potentially sacrificing returns, while others grapple with the best way to measure performance.

Succession Planning

While succession is a normal, healthy part of every family’s evolution, succession plans are rare, with just one-third of respondents having a formal succession plan in place for either the family office or the family itself. Further, when there is a succession plan in place, only 37% of stakeholders are aware of the plan.

“The risks inherent in avoiding these conversations and failing to prepare are immense. A well-planned succession process takes at least a year; the time to start is now,” said David W. Fox, President of Northern Trust Global Family and Private Investment Office Services.

Methodology

The Wharton Global Family Alliance is a world-leading research forum created by the Wharton School and the CCC Alliance. Northern Trust and Wharton have collaborated on research programs spanning multi-generational, multi-branch families and their businesses since 2017.

This report is the sixth in a series of benchmarking surveys that seek to develop a better understanding of trends and financial performance drivers of family offices. It highlights the latest knowledge and best practices that will benefit substantial global families.

For the purposes of the survey, a family office is defined as a professional organization, owned and controlled by a wealthy family, dedicated to managing the personal and financial affairs of family members.

The sample used in this survey spans 24 countries. With respect to assets under management, the majority of survey respondents have more than $1 billion in assets under management and represent families who own, manage and/or control at least one business in addition to the wealth managed by their family offices.

Assets under management (AUM) managed by respondents, 51% have greater than $1 billion; 27% have between $500 million to $1 billion; 19% have AUM between $100 million and $500 million; and 3% have less than $100 million.34% of the Family Offices in our sample serve 1-3 households, about 23% serve 4-6 households, and about 43% of the Family Offices in the sample serve more than 7 households.More than 30% of sample Family Offices employ 4-7 professionals. Nearly 20% are larger Family Offices that employ more than 21 professionals

Request the full executive summary here.

Northern Trust Wealth Management offers holistic wealth management services for affluent individuals and families, family offices, foundations and endowments, and privately held businesses. It is recognized for its innovative technology, service excellence and depth of expertise, with $368.3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. The Northern Trust Company is an Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC.

About Northern Trust 

Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 25 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 23 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of March 31, 2023, Northern Trust had assets under custody/administration of US$14.2 trillion, and assets under management of US$1.3 trillion. For more than 130 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit us on northerntrust.com. Follow us on Twitter @NorthernTrust or Northern Trust Corporation on LinkedIn.

Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Global legal and regulatory information can be found at https://www.northerntrust.com/terms-and-conditions.

About the Wharton School

Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

Many potential homebuyers are concerned about making one of the biggest purchases in their lives, whether because of high interest rates or the competitiveness due to a low inventory of homes. Fifth Third Bank, National Association, has some tips and guidance to ease fears and find homebuying opportunities.

“A lot of customers are getting discouraged by high rates and lack of inventory,” said Jay Plum, head of mortgage at Fifth Third Bank. “But there are many state programs and down payment programs available to help. The key is to ask a lot of questions.”

Questions to ask when you’re buying a home:

What is affordable for me? Look at payment instead of interest rates.What type of mortgage is best for me? Should I base that on how long I plan to live in the home?What kind of down payment assistance programs are available in my area? What do I need to do to see if I qualify?What agencies are in my community that can help me through the homeownership process in conjunction with a mortgage loan officer?What are the minimum qualifications that must be met to purchase a home (credit, job history, etc.) and what documentation is needed to determine what I qualify for?What is mortgage insurance, and will I have to pay for it?What costs will I pay at closing?Having a good realtor on your team is critical. When searching for a realtor, be sure and ask: What is your area of expertise? What geographical area do you cover? How do you advocate for your clients? What is your commission rate?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Development also offers a list of common questions. And Freddie Mac provides a variety of free financial education programs, including its CreditSmart Homebuyer U, which helps potential homeowners understand the homebuying process step by step.

“The automotive industry needs to collaborate across the entire value chain, including public-private partnerships. Historically, companies have tried to solve challenges in isolation and that is not going to work in the future.”

– Tim Boven, Dow MobilityScience™ Commercial Vice President

The urgent need for decarbonization and a circular economy is well-documented. Take the European Green Deal for instance – a visionary driver to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Many industries around the globe, including the automotive industry, are exploring ways to work towards goals similar to these. And while progress has been made, an ever-evolving policy and political environment with dissonance around shared goals and processes has the power to stunt that progress. Done right, collective, collaborative action from industrial, governmental and community stakeholders can accelerate transformation and strengthen resilience.

This vision inspired the Sustainable Mobility Summit in Berlin, hosted by Dow ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Berlin E-Prix. Designed to bring together partners and organizations spanning the mobility value chain, the Summit sparked discussions on how industry can work together to address the sustainability challenges at hand and invest in the solutions that will allow us to meet the increasingly stringent standards that come with them.

Fewer siloes. Greater opportunities.

The automotive sector is undergoing a substantial shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), with 30 million of them expected to be on the road by 2030, representing 10% of the global car fleet1. And while the automotive industry of today is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, electrification represents its potential to be one of the most powerful incremental enablers of a green energy transition. How? By creating a global fleet of EVs the industry can catalyze a transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar and help consumers make a significant step towards achieving a climate-neutral lifestyle.

To make this a reality, we will collectively need to overcome some of the ways our operational efforts are not ‘in sync’, from restrictions on necessary chemical ingredients, to stalled infrastructure development. The historically siloed automotive sector must look beyond the traditional supplier-customer relationships for solutions.

Where our two organizations – Dow and Plastics Europe – have been able to grow our collaboration to meet this demand, we’ve seen accelerated development and the birth of new, innovative technologies. One area where this has been particularly powerful is end-of-life and waste management – empowering circular designs and business models.

Transform the Waste

Dow and Plastics Europe are committed to helping lead the charge towards a circular economy. For example, Plastics Europe works with its member companies to prevent pellet loss in industrial operations, educate consumers on proper disposal of plastic waste and facilitate the adoption of renewable feedstocks, all of which will help make a future circular economy more effective.

The possibilities are thrilling, but for OEMs (the automotive brands) and Tiers (part / component manufacturers) the transition is not easy. We recognize that the variety of materials that go into cars require equally developed solutions: mixed plastic waste, paints, textiles and more, all require advanced recycling. That’s why our Dow MobilityScience™ team is constantly innovating to improve the sustainability profile of our materials without compromising on performance or safety of the vehicle, through research into pyrolysis, gasification and other cutting-edge techniques. Our partnership with Mura Technology will be a key enabler to bring advanced recycling solutions at scale.

Other examples include enabling the use of modifiers with recycled content in plastic automotive parts to enable the desired mechanical properties, or the use of compatibilizers that help overcome the contamination of mixed plastic waste. Another example: silicone-based self-sealing tire solutions can also be efficiently separated from the tire at end-of-life, enabling both the tire and silicone to be recycled as individual materials.

A low carbon future for mobility requires not just action, but bold, new approaches and ways of collaborating with companies and regulators alike. Which new partnerships can you imagine, in the automotive industry or any other, that can help make progress towards a low carbon and circular economy?” 

Tim Boven, Dow
Ingemar Buehler, Plastics Europe

1 International Energy Agency

JOHANNESBURG, June 22, 2023 /3BL/ – Altron Arrow, a joint venture between Altron and Arrow Electronics, has installed a 100kW rooftop solar system and implemented a fleet of electric delivery vans, becoming the first Altron company to introduce this technology as the group moves towards a more sustainable operations.

The company has also installed an electric vehicle charging station, using their solar installation as the power source.

“Our solar system is supplying our warehouse and offices, as well as our new EV charging station, supplying low-cost, green energy that helps us maintain delivery performance to our customers while maintaining our goal to keep enhancing the sustainability of our operations. All this while remaining true to Altron Arrow’s core values and purpose of being ethical and being there when it matters. Smart cities, smart homes, and smart transportation have the potential to improve lives while simultaneously growing demand for the products we sell. It’s a virtuous cycle that challenges us to keep improving our services and delivery performance, as we continue working to protect the environment” said Renato Martins, managing director, Altron Arrow.

Altron Arrow has introduced the EC35 vans in collaboration with STC Logistics, a delivery service provider, operating from the Altron Arrow Jet Park distribution centre. This is part of an ongoing supplier and enterprise development programme. The two-seater vans have a large cargo area and yield a travel distance of up to 280 km per charge, with a carrying capacity similar to that of a one-ton LDV. STC’s analysis has indicated (together with use of Altron Arrow’s solar installation) these vehicles will not only provide a green and sustainable solution for deliveries, but will also be more economical on certain delivery routes.

About Arrow Electronics:

Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 220,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2022 sales of $37.1 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com.

Originally published in Enbridge’s 2022 Sustainability Report

The world faces an urgent imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a lower-carbon economy. As one of the largest renewable energy companies in Canada and an innovator in delivering lower-carbon fuels, Enbridge is working hard to bring that economy to life. Our focused plan is embedded in our operations and capital allocation framework and aims to achieve our targets while ensuring resiliency through the transition. Therefore, every capital investment we consider is analyzed against our two-pronged growth strategy to include a path to achieve net zero—or we won’t participate.

At the same time, energy demand is rising—and world events in 2022 have been a powerful reminder that energy reliability, security and affordability remain critical considerations, while reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We believe that conventional fuels—and associated infrastructure operated as efficiently as possible—are essential to meeting societies’ energy needs today, even as we move toward a net-zero future.

To ensure the reliability and affordability of energy today while accelerating the energy transition, we’re innovating across the entire energy value chain. We’re introducing cleaner fuels into the energy mix, reducing the emissions of existing processes, turning promising technologies into scalable solutions, re-purposing existing infrastructure (for example, blending hydrogen into natural gas distribution networks) and continuing to invest in new, lower-carbon infrastructure, including renewables.

Our targets for reducing our GHG emissions were set in 2020, making us the first midstream company in Canada—and North America’s largest energy infrastructure company—to commit to operating on a net-zero basis by 2050. We also committed to reducing the intensity of GHG emissions from our operations by 35% by 2030.

These targets were informed by using guidance and methodology recommended by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which drives ambitious climate action in the private sector. They’re aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement to keep global temperatures well below 2 C above pre-industrial times while pursuing means to limit the increase to 1.5 C. We continue to work with experts— including SBTi, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, and Climate Action 100+—to develop appropriate standards for our sector.

Every part of our business is now systematically engaged in our work to meet our GHG targets. Our LP, GDS and GTM groups are enhancing the efficiency of their infrastructure, procuring low- or zero-carbon emission power for their operations and adopting innovative technologies to minimize their GHG emissions. Our Renewables business is growing quickly, with $4 billion in new investments planned through 2025. We continue to build partnerships, invest in new technologies, advocate for policy change, and acquire promising energy innovators—all to accelerate the energy transition while reinforcing our status as a responsible, differentiated energy provider in North America and internationally.

Learn more 

The current update to our Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) provides insight into how we see the transition to a lower-emissions economy and our role within that transition. Our disclosure has been updated to reflect updates from our business units—Liquids Pipelines (LP), Gas Transmission and Midstream (GTM), Gas Distribution and Storage (GDS) and Renewables; in particular, identifying physical and transition risks, and associated mitigation and management measures, for each business unit. See our 2022 ESG Datasheet for details.

Increasing global energy demand 

Global demand for energy has increased steadily over time, driven by megatrends, including worldwide population growth and urbanization.

The megatrends driving increased energy demand are expected to continue. According to the United Nations, the world’s population, which stood at 8 billion in 2022, could grow by 1.7 billion by 2050. Alongside population growth, urbanization and improved global health—both ongoing trends—tend to increase the demand for energy.

With these factors continuing to push the world’s energy needs upward, the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook (Stated Policy Scenario) forecasts that energy demand will reach 206,000 TWh by 2050. While demand forecasts have been moderated slightly in view of high inflation and other factors, most analysis points to continued growth in the world’s need for energy.

Although natural gas is a conventional fuel, there is growing recognition of the valuable role this fuel can play in the energy transition. The European Union’s Green Taxonomy and the IEA’s scenario analysis each foresee a role for natural gas as society moves away from conventional fuels and toward low-carbon or zero-carbon energy solutions. See our TCFD report for information on IEA natural gas forecast.

The potential for natural gas to enable progress in the energy transition includes the following:

First, in markets where coal remains a dominant fuel source, switching to natural gas can deliver substantial reductions in GHG emissions relatively quickly. In the U.S., between 2010 and 2018, the roughly 100 power plants that switched from coal to natural gas delivered a reduction of about 255 million tonnes of CO2 e annually. Indeed, the single biggest contributor to reducing GHG emissions in the U.S. electricity sector in recent years has been coal-to-gas fuel switching. There are opportunities to replicate this success in other jurisdictions, especially in some of the world’s most populous countries where coal remains an important fuel source, notably China and India. As natural gas becomes more widely available and cost-effective in many parts of the world, analysts see the potential to reduce up to 50% of GHG emissions from the electricity sector for many regions through fuel switching.Second, natural gas can complement the intermittency of energy sources like solar and wind. In some cases, the supply of renewable energy varies according to weather and time of the day. Natural gas can help to balance this variability by providing a reliable source of supplemental power when renewable energy or other energy sources are insufficient to meet demand. Natural gas provides flexibility in energy systems, enabling power plants to quickly ramp up or down as demands change.Third, natural gas systems can be decarbonized using various approaches such as CCS at compressor stations, hydrogen blending, etc.

The North American natural gas advantage 

We believe North American natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are a key part of the global energy solution. Compared to natural gas produced in other regions, fuel from North American sources stands out on affordability and ESG performance. This cost advantage is expected to be longstanding. The abundant low-cost reserves and improved well production enables North America to continue supplying affordable gas to meet the world’s natural gas demand. In 2022, the U.S. had more LNG export capacity than any other country and led the world in LNG exports. Enbridge’s Texas Eastern natural gas pipeline is already connected to four LNG facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and we are contracted for more. In addition to offering cost advantages, North American natural gas excels on ESG dimensions, particularly on emissions performance.

Canadian LNG has some of the lowest emissions intensity in the world, producing about 60% fewer GHG emissions per unit of volume than the global average, and our Woodfibre LNG project is expected to deliver exceptionally low emissions intensity, producing about 90% fewer emissions relative to global competitors. This relatively strong emissions performance is driven by a range of factors, including Canada’s abundance of hydroelectricity, cooler temperatures, and Canada’s geographic proximity to key markets, notably East Asia.

Expanding global access to natural gas through LNG will play a critical role in North America’s energy future and will help to reduce the world’s GHG emissions through the displacement of coal-fired power generation, creating strong alignment with our ESG goals.

Cynthia Hansen, Executive Vice President and President, Gas Transmission and Midstream

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SkysTheLimit.org, the leading digital platform empowering historically excluded entrepreneurs to pursue their business dreams, is thrilled to announce the newest episode of their inspiring podcast series, The First Buck. Hosted by Nic Cary, “Fundamental Truths of Entrepreneurism” gives listeners valuable insights from Fabio Rosati, Chairman at Snagajob, a platform revolutionizing the job market.

Fabio was previously CEO of Elance and Upwork, which Stephane Kasriel took public in 2018 (Nasdaq: UPWK). Throughout his illustrious career, Fabio has shaped the employment landscape through innovative solutions. He currently serves as a board member for several organizations, including Xometry, and remains passionate about the potential of innovative technology platforms.

In this episode, Fabio discusses the evolution of job search processes, the importance of embracing technology, and the significance of hiring employees whose values align with a company’s culture. During the episode, listeners will:

Gain invaluable insights from Fabio’s entrepreneurial journeyDiscover how job search processes evolved in recent decadesLearn the importance of embracing technology platforms to connect employers with suitable candidates.

“Fundamental Truths of Entrepreneurism” is just one of many thought-provoking episodes in Sky’s the Limit’s The First Buck podcast series. Episodes drop on Wednesdays and feature prominent guests including Mary Mack, Fabio Rosati, Rick Wade, and many more, offering captivating stories, practical advice, and motivational insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders at every stage of their journey.

Hosted by Sky’s the Limit Co-Founders, Nic Cary and Bo Ghirardelli, The First Buck podcast aims to inspire and equip entrepreneurs and business leaders at every stage of their journey. With each episode, listeners delve into the stories and insights from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who have made significant strides, discovering the pivotal moments when they earned their first buck. The podcast provides valuable knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help turn entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

Nic Cary, a serial entrepreneur and lifelong technologist, brings a wealth of experience to The First Buck. As the Co-founder and President at Blockchain.com, Nic has raised over $300 million from leading investors. Named the European Digital Leader of the Year in 2015, Nic is also the Founding Commissioner of the Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development and co-authored the book The Future is Decentralised. He’s been featured in the New York Times, TEDx, NPR, Financial Times, Forbes, and many more.

Bo Ghirardelli, the Co-Founder & CEO at Sky’s the Limit, brings a wealth of experience in small business development to the podcast. Bo’s background includes multiple entrepreneurial ventures that have created 100+ jobs and he has personally supported over 150 early-stage, underrepresented entrepreneurs over the past decade. Besides co-founding Sky’s the Limit, he also launched two businesses abroad, including Youth Cooperative in Agriculture, an award-winning social enterprise that provides jobs and access to scarce proteins in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco.

Tune in to The First Buck – “Fundamental Truths of Entrepreneurism” on Spotify, iTunes, and wherever you listen to podcasts – to gain the tools, insights, and motivation needed to thrive in the dynamic world of business.

Learn more about The First Buck podcast here.

Sky’s the Limit offers opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise. The organization has also provided over $450,000 in startup grants and educated tens of thousands of diverse entrepreneurs.

For more information about how to get your company involved in mentoring, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

# # #

About SkysTheLimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

State-of-the-art line at Stora Enso’s Polish production site is set to triple the country’s annual recycling capacity of post-consumer beverage cartonsPotential to recycle the entire volume of beverage cartons sold in Poland, with additional volumes from Central and Eastern EuropeBy turning used paper-based packaging into new paper-based packaging materials, the line is keeping quality resources in circulation, reducing the use of virgin content 

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 22, 2023 /3BL/ – With a joint investment of around €29 million by Tetra Pak and Stora Enso, a new recycling line for post-consumer beverage cartons is starting operations in Poland. The line has the potential to triple the annual recycling capacity of beverage cartons in the country – from 25,000 to 75,000 tonnes – and provides scope to absorb the entire volume of beverage cartons sold in Poland, as well as additional volumes from neighbouring countries, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

Featuring an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes, the state-of-the-art line at Stora Enso’s production unit in Ostrołęka (Poland) handles solely beverage carton material separation, detaching fibres from polymers and aluminium. The fibres are then recycled into cardboard materials, effectively contributing to material circularity by turning used paper-based packaging into new paper-based packaging materials. This new paper recycling facility is complemented by Czech company Plastigram Industries, that, together with Tetra Pak, is industrialising a solution to recycle polyAl1 into new products.

“For decades, we have been working to enhance beverage carton recycling capacity, co-investing with recyclers, technology providers and suppliers in new equipment and facilities” comments Lars Holmquist, EVP Sustainability & Communications at Tetra Pak. “In 2022, Tetra Pak contributed nearly €30 million2 to collection and recycling projects worldwide, with plans to go further and invest up to €40 million annually over the next years. As part of the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), we support the industry ambition to increase the collection for recycling rate of beverage cartons to 90% and the recycling rate to 70%, in the EU, by 2030. I am very pleased to see that our collaboration with Stora Enso translates into one of the largest recycling hubs for beverage cartons in Europe, contributing to this ambition. This is also an excellent example of how systemic and collective actions can help keep quality renewable materials in the loop – like paper fibres from recycled cartons.”

“We are very pleased to see the results of our close cooperation with Tetra Pak, who, like Stora Enso, has the development of sustainable solutions at their core. This new modern solution marks a significant addition to European recycling capacity and a concrete step forward in the circularity of consumer packaging. In addition to complementing the current scope of our production site in Poland, the recycling facility will significantly contribute towards the recycling and waste reduction goals of the EU’s proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation,” says Hannu Kasurinen, EVP Packaging Materials at Stora Enso.

The new line is set to ramp up recycling of beverage cartons throughout Central and Eastern Europe, signaling the beverage carton industry’s willingness to support the circularity goals of the proposed EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and showcasing the pivotal role of recycling in helping the green transition of the food packaging sector. The industry has already invested approximately €200 million to increase the capacity for beverage carton recycling in the EU and plans to invest a further €120 million by 2027.3

Media contacts 

Lucia Freschi  
Tetra Pak 
Tel: +39 347 2632237 
Lucia.freschi@tetrapak.com 

1 The non-fibre component of carton packages is known as polyAl, which designates the layers of polyolefins and aluminium being used as barrier against oxygen and humidity to protect the food content in aseptic carton packages. 
2 Both OPEX and CAPEX investments 
3 https://www.beveragecarton.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ACE-Impact-assessment-study-of-an-EU-wide-collection-for-recycling-target-of-beverage-cartons-Roland-Berger.pdf

On our Idaho timberlands, nothing beckons the awakening of the forest to spring like the sudden bustle of tree planting season. In six to eight weeks, roughly 6 million seedlings are planted across 15,000 acres of forestland. Planting is the culmination of an 18-month process that involves planning, preparation, and the growing of seedlings in the nursery. The climate and steep terrain in Idaho force this uniquely compressed tree planting window. To ensure high planting survival, seedlings must be planted into moist, warming soils with adequate time to grow new roots and become established on the site before the inevitable summer dry-down comes. The logistics are challenging, yet our foresters, contractors, and support staff do an excellent job ensuring the planting crews are just behind the snow as it recedes up the mountains in the spring.

Seedlings for spring planting are grown at several different nurseries located throughout the Pacific Northwest and southern British Columbia. Over 90% of our seedlings are from first-generation tree improvement programs and more than 70% of the seed is sourced at PotlatchDeltic’s own Cherrylane Seed Orchard. Seedlings must be thawed and then shipped to our cold storage buildings. Thirty to forty deliveries are planned and executed to keep seedlings on hand for the planting crews while minimizing the time between thawing and planting to improve seedling out-planting success. Planting inspectors are on site at every planting unit to make sure the operations plan is followed and to sample planting quality. At the peak of planting season in early May, over 200 people are actively involved in the planting program with more than 280,000 seedlings per day being planted – over one square mile planted in each day!

We recently undertook initiatives to decrease seedling stock size to lower growing, transportation, and planting costs and to reduce the inputs per seedling, including water, energy, soil, fertilizer, and packaging. We plant up to 6 different conifer species. Every tree species has evolved to fill an ecological niche in the forest, and we match those attributes to the conditions of the planting site. Each planting site is reviewed by our foresters and the appropriate species are selected with multiple species often planted in one planting unit. This process bolsters the diversity and resiliency of our timberlands, minimizing risks from climate and disturbance. Idaho’s steep and variable terrain limits planting operations to manual hand planting. Planters use either a shovel or hoedads to open a hole to mineral soil in which the seedling is planted. Planters carry the seedlings in tree bags they wear via a belt and suspenders with seedling holding compartments located on either hip. Each planter carries between 220 and 300 seedlings at a time. 

High-quality, detailed planting is critical to the growth and survival of the seedlings – a seedling planted with minor error such as a crooked root or one planted too shallow with the root plug exposed will not survive. The critical job of planting the seedlings is done by contractors that rely on H-2B temporary labor visas to staff their crews. Companies must go through a heavily regulated process to get approval for the capped number of visas available. This includes the demonstration that the jobs are posted and available to American citizens but cannot be filled domestically. If contractors cannot secure sufficient H2-B visas, the seedlings grown the previous year may be wasted, and reforestation that is critical for regulatory, certification, environmental management, and wildlife may be delayed. Planting crews consist of one foreperson and typically 14 planters. A tree planter averages 1,700 seedlings planted per day – that is one seedling every 3.5 seconds for 8 hours. The work is hard, but you will not find a more pleasant group of people to work with than those reforesting our timberlands. We’ve built long-standing relationships with many of the planting companies, with some working with us for more than a quarter century. Many of the tree planters return for many seasons to plant seedlings on PotlatchDeltic timberlands and it’s great to see familiar faces and build relationships year after year. 

Tree planting is one of the most important investments a timberland company undertakes, setting the stage for the future and ensuring all the benefits that forests provide are perpetuated.

View the full PotlatchDeltic 2022 ESG Report here.