Tag: 3BL

What is your organization’s employee purpose iQ?

Host Carol Cone is joined by Wendy Salomon, Managing Director of Reputation & Corporate Strategy at The Harris Poll, to walk you through this first-of-its-kind tool to measure the success of your organization’s purpose. EPiQ, or Employee Purpose iQ, is an analysis of strengths and opportunities to activate your company’s purpose with employees—backed by a custom roadmap to drive growth.

Based on a survey of an organization’s employees, and using a succinct set of targeted metrics exploring Credibility, Talent, and Activation, EPiQ helps organizations understand and diagnose where purpose is not optimized while identifying efficient strategies to move the organization forward.

Listen for insights on:

The EPiQ score and how it’s measuredThe specific areas for growth the EPiQ dashboard pinpointsHow the EPiQ dashboard can inform investment and strategy decisionsThe long-term impact of knowing and advancing your employee purpose iQ

To listen to this episode and others, visit Purpose 360 Podcast.

WALTHAM, Mass., and NEW YORK. / 3BL Media/ – National Grid has been recognized as one of ‘America’s Best Large Employers’ by Forbes. The Company was also recognized in 2022 on the lists of ‘Best Employers for Veterans’ and ‘Best Employers for New Grads.’

“This recognition underscores that we are living our values and seen as an employer of choice,” said Natalie Edwards, Chief Diversity Officer, National Grid. “Ensuring our people are supported and empowered to learn and grow in their careers has always been central to our work. We are determined to continue enhancing the employee experience for our diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture that drives innovation.”

National Grid is committed to creating a work environment where employees feel valued for their skills, backgrounds, expertise, and insights. Employees receive equitable benefits and have access to a range of Employee Resource Groups and volunteer activities; training and professional development opportunities; and safety, health, and wellness resources and programs.

About the Ranking 

Forbes and market research firm Statista compiled the America’s Best Employers 2023 list through an independent and anonymous survey taken by approximately 45,000 American employees working for companies with more than 1,000 employees in their U.S. operations.

Employees spanning 25 industry sectors were asked to rate their employer on specific criteria, including salary and wages, company image, advancement opportunities, and workplace safety. Respondents were also asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family, as well as other companies in their respective industries.

To see the full list of recipients, visit Forbes.com.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.

Media Contacts

Emily Demarest 
Massachusetts 
(781) 907-3980

Send an email

The KeyBank Foundation has awarded Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc. a $175,000 grant in support of the newly opened The Academy at the Goodwill Bendix Campus. The Academy provides skilled trades technical training and serves the counties of La Porte, Elkhart and St. Joseph.

The Academy gives students the opportunity to work side by side with trainees, as well as be a source for job interviews and potential positions within their companies. With local manufacturing partnerships in place, Goodwill is helping bridge the gap between the talent pool looking to earn a living wage and businesses seeking qualified individuals.

“We are so excited that classes have begun at The Academy, and students are now going into skilled trade positions where they can expect to make good money. Our goal is to provide training opportunities for in demand skilled trade jobs in our community,” said Debie Coble, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc.

The Academy at the Goodwill Bendix Campus will serve nontraditional students seeking to further their education with technical training. The Academy provides skilled trades training and nationally recognized certifications in automotive, construction, welding, CNC manufacturing, and offers classes in digital skills and customer service and sales training – all at no cost to the students. An average student would be unemployed or underemployed pursuing the opportunity to increase income and gain technical skills within an accelerated time frame.

“At Key, we’re passionate about removing barriers to employment and strengthening individuals through education and training,” said Seth Keirns, KeyBank Northern Indiana Market President. “We’re incredibly proud to support Goodwill and the transformative work they’re doing to meet the needs of the community and job market.”

Since 2017, KeyBank has made community investments supporting low to moderate income individuals and neighborhoods totaling more than $105 million in Northern Indiana. This involves lending for affordable housing, small businesses, mortgage and home improvements as well as transformative philanthropy.

ABOUT KEYBANK

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $198 billion at March 31, 2023.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MICHIANA

Goodwill Industries of Michiana strengthens communities by empowering individuals and families through education, training and job placement. The organization serves 16 Indiana counties and operates over 24 retail locations, with charter schools for adults, a maternal-child health program, a childcare center, and workforce development programs such as veteran’s services and group violence intervention.

This year, Sappi has further developed our portfolio of products to provide our customers with dynamic papers, packaging and textiles without a steep environmental cost. We pride ourselves on our ability to raise the bar with innovation. From biodegradable kitchen tools to high-quality brochures, we strive to forge new paths in a variety of industries. For Sappi, advancing our customer base helps make every day more sustainable.

Spectro® and Proto® shine in new samples

Sappi’s Spectro is a paperboard that features enhanced optics and the most consistent side-to-side printing surface in its category. Proto is an SBS paperboard certified for direct food contact and offers the durability and superior convertibility customers can count on. A range of samples were created to showcase the printing versatility of these paperboards and the many verticals with which they are capable of engaging. This includes beauty, luxury foods and houseware packaging. These packaging samples were very well received at conferences such as Pack Expo International, and we are excited to continue venturing into new markets.

Holiday kit shows care with McCoy®, Spectro and LusterCote® 

Each holiday kit we send out highlights Sappi’s paper capabilities while serving as a reminder for customers that striking, memorable gift packaging can be sustainable. This kit featured cards, gift tags and gift boxes for any occasion printed on Spectro, and a sheet of metallic envelope seal stickers printed using McCoy, all packaged in a box lined with LusterCote C1S for recipients to enjoy with their loved ones. Each component featured embossed imagery, metallic accents and several box closures, demonstrating the durability and flexibility of our paper offerings.

Brochures for health and beauty verticals 

Sappi North America took another step into the health and beauty industries with new marketing materials printed on Spectro C2S paper. These brochures offer information about our paperboard offerings, which can benefit brands looking to meet consumers’ preferences for renewable solutions. As global innovators, we are uniquely positioned to detail the benefits of our products while showing their quality through tactile experiences.

Swedish dish towels make every day more sustainable 

Our biodegradable dish towels are made using dissolving pulp to offer an alternative to paper towels, sponges and traditional, plastic-based dish cloths. Customers may be surprised to discover that, unlike disposable paper towels, there is a reusable product that is also made using the power of trees. This product further displays Sappi’s versatility in various markets that service everything from large-scale operations to a spill in the kitchen.

A calendar that leaves a lasting impression 

Printed on McCoy Silk and Spectro C1S, this calendar allows recipients to experience the Sappi difference firsthand. These foldable wall calendars were created to meet the needs of customers who have extensive work schedules and need to plan several months at a time. Our premium line of McCoy products touts unrivaled luminosity, allowing for bolder contrasts and vivid imagery. Each calendar demonstrates that it is possible to have beautifully designed paper products that are also mindful of the environment.

Spring/Summer 2023 Texture & Trend Kit 

Our seasonal texture and trend forecast showcases Sappi’s textile offerings in a variety of colors and finishes. It is geared toward development, design, sourcing and production teams eager to ensure that their upcoming product lines are on target for consumers and brands around the world. These swatch collections keep Sappi on the pulse of the fashion and textile industries, further positioning us as global leaders across verticals.

EcoVadis Methodology Provides Common Foundation for Companies to Drive Supply Chain Risk Management, Due Diligence and Positive Impact

PARIS and NEW YORK , June 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Companies across the globe, of all sizes and maturity, continue to improve their sustainability performance and build upon ongoing progress to implement positive sustainable practices across their value chains. This insight and more are found in the seventh edition of the Business Sustainability Index, published today by business sustainability ratings provider EcoVadis.

This year’s Index is based on the sustainability performance data derived from more than 62,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis between 2018 and 2022 across four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The EcoVadis network has seen a 134% increase in assessments since 2018 as the awareness surrounding supply chain due diligence grows and more organizations begin to assess and monitor their suppliers.

Over half (54%) of the companies were assessed multiple times between 2018 and 2022. These companies are more likely to fall into EcoVadis’ highest performance scoring categories of Advanced (65+) or Outstanding (85+), with 12% now achieving those scores. Overall, the global average score for companies is now at 50.3, crossing the halfway mark for the first time.

After years of declining or flat score trends, Sustainable Procurement topped all themes in yearly gains, increasing 1.7 points to 40.6 since 2021. This suggests that more companies are implementing practical strategies to mitigate risk and drive meaningful sustainable change throughout their value chains. Sustainable Procurement is crucial to building organizational resilience, mitigating risk and cascading a company’s sustainability values and goals throughout the upstream value chain.

“Companies who work with their value chain on a ratings and improvement cycle can comply with due diligence regulations and manage risks by helping their suppliers move above the risk zone, as well as enable solid performers to reach more advanced levels that contribute to sustainability, net-zero and other ESG goals,” said Sylvain Guyoton, Chief Rating Officer at EcoVadis. “It is particularly encouraging to see companies progress on the Sustainable Procurement theme as it is the most powerful lever available for driving positive environmental and social change.”

Other key Index findings include:

Rating Improvement Cycle Helps Companies Improve Beyond Risk Range: The proportion of reassessed companies scoring below 45 dropped by half between 2018 and 2022. This indicates that more companies are embarking on the continuous ratings and improvement cycle, which is helping them rise out of the risk range. Additionally, the proportion of higher performing reassessed companies at the Advanced level reached 28%, up from 10% in 2018.Consistent Improvement Across Themes: Labor & Human Rights increased by 0.7 points since 2021 to 53.3, the highest theme score in the Index. The Environment theme increased 1.5 points since 2021 with large companies leading the way. The Ethics theme increased 1.0 points since 2021 to 47.9, with momentum slowing compared to the years before.Small and Midsize Enterprises (SMEs) Forge Ahead: Much of the global average sustainability performance score improvement has been fueled by SMEs. Small companies improved the most, gaining 6.9 points between 2018-2022, followed by medium enterprises with a 5.6-point gain, and large companies improving by 3.3 points.Industries Surpassing the Halfway Mark: Six out of nine industries crossed the 50-point threshold by 2022. Finance, Legal and Consulting increased 7.0 points since 2018 (highest overall average of 53.9) and leads with 19% of Advanced performers. Construction (52.0) and Heavy Manufacturing (51.9) follow, improving by 6.0 and 5.6 points respectively. Construction stood out as the only industry in 2022 with more than 1% of its companies reaching the Outstanding level.

To view this year’s full study, as well as create custom views of specific sectors, geographies, and themes, visit the EcoVadis Business Sustainability Index and Impact resource center.

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About EcoVadis

EcoVadis is a purpose-driven company whose mission is to provide the world’s most trusted business sustainability ratings. Businesses of all sizes rely on EcoVadis’ expert intelligence and evidence-based ratings to monitor and improve the sustainability performance of their business and trading partners. Its actionable scorecards, benchmarks, carbon action tools, and insights guide an improvement journey for environmental, social and ethical practices across 200 industry categories and 175 countries. Industry leaders such as Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Unilever, LVMH, Bridgestone, BASF and JPMorgan are among the 100,000 businesses that collaborate with EcoVadis to drive resilience, sustainable growth and positive impact worldwide. Learn more on ecovadis.com, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Press Inquiries

US: Corporate Ink for EcoVadis

617-969-9192, ecovadis@corporateink.com

Schneider Electric

The oil and gas industry is vital to ensuring the world’s energy transition, yet the production and transformation processes represents 15% of the overall industry footprint according to the IEA. It’s also one of the most energy-intensive industrial processes. In recent years, has embarked on the journey to help decarbonise the energy sector with the help of data, software, efficiency and green electrons. The company’s mission is to help create a more sustainable and efficient energy industry with new sources of clean energy.

There has been a lot of talk in the industry about Green Premium especially since Bill Gates has been more vocal about this topic in recent months. The Green Premium concept does a great job in highlighting cost as the key barrier to adopting cleantech. But the main risk lies in ensuring government and industries can distinguish between technologies and solutions that will never be suitable for mass deployment versus those that can potentially make a significant and immediate impact, once scaled up.

Our belief is that ambitious environmental considerations must be embedded in all processes, products and business decisions. We are committed to facilitating meaningful change. Today, more than 75% of Schneider Electric’s product sales come from Green Premium solutions that offer superior transparency and environmental stewardship, as well as improve resource-efficiency throughout an asset’s lifecycle. This includes the efficient use of energy along with the minimisation of CO2 emissions, water, air, and other natural resources, putting us on the right path to a Net Zero future.

When it comes to the oil and gas sector, we can go further. I believe that Net Zero upstream facilities are the future for the oil and gas industry. It’s something that is already possible today, with the solutions we have now. The first step to that Net Zero future is changing the sector infrastructure and best practices to future-proof them for 20-30 years to come.

Schneider Electric, together with McDermott and io Consulting, released the findings of the ‘Net Zero Upstream Facility’ study in March 2021. It reveals that for a minimal total expenditure ‘Green Premium’ increase of 2%, the solution operational emissions of oil and gas operators could be reduced by a staggering 76%, while embedded carbon (CAPEX emissions) could be dropped by 17%. This can be achieved through a high mix of renewable grid power, SF6-free switchgear, designing out the flare system and the so-called fugitive emissions, encouraging remote operations and increasing staff safety.

The core of the study was the development and evaluation of five alternative concepts to identify the optimal solution for reducing the lifecycle GHG emissions of the reference case facility – an offshore compression platform located 100+ km from shore in a water depth of 100+m. The platform is sized to process a maximum capacity of 650 MMSCFD of gas with no provisions for condensate treatment and removal or produced water treatment and removal. The platform has full utilities and support systems.

The intent was to develop a facility that has minimal carbon intensity. This is achieved using power from the mainland grid, a grid that is partly based on renewable power generation, and the use of equipment and instrumentation that minimises/eliminates potential leaks or venting requirements.

Ten years from now, one positive thing 2021 will be remembered for is how the concept of . The pivotal shift that has made this more sustainable future possible is the rapid acceleration of digital.

Though corporate action has spurred progress in addressing climate change, to date only 23% of Fortune 500 companies have made public climate commitments to meet by 2030. This is surprisingly low given the awareness of the potential consequences of climate change on our planet as well as future generations. As Secretary-General of the U.N. António Guterres pointed out in a speech in September 2019, “the climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win”.

There are many green alternatives available today for the oil and gas industries that reduce costs and more than pay for themselves over their lifespan. As we undergo the energy transition, it’s important to invest in decarbonizing the oil and gas sector as the costs have proven to be marginal in comparison to the benefits.

When you consider that 80% of all carbon emissions are due to energy consumption, and 60% of the way we manage energy is inefficient, the scale of the task of changing the ways we create, manage and use energy to reach Net Zero is significant, but so are the potential benefits. As an industry, we must empower key players to make sustainable energy choices that reduce GHG emissions in a sustainable and affordable way and don’t cost the planet.

This piece was first published in Future Net Zero on April 7, 2021

Advocating for LGBTQ+ Rights

For years, McDonald’s PRIDE Network has been instrumental in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights inside and outside of the workplace. McDonald’s first expanded its benefits to include domestic partners in 2005. In 2015, days before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all same-sex couples in the U.S. have the right to marry, McDonald’s decided to provide tax equalization for same-sex couples who participated in McDonald’s insurance. Still, the PRIDE Network realized there was more that could be done.

McDonald’s current LGBTQ-focused health care benefits are far-reaching, due in no small part to the efforts of those in the network. These include a $100,000 lifetime limit toward gender reassignment surgery; prescription coverage for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention and a variety of gender reassignment medications; adoption leave for the primary adoptive parent, regardless of gender; and fertility treatment benefits.

Recently, several McDonald’s employees have taken advantage of these benefits to affirm their gender, protect their physical health and grow their families.

McDonald’s PRIDE Network’s Positive Impact

The positive impact of McDonald’s PRIDE Network extends far beyond employee health and wellness benefits, according to longtime member Bill Russell.

Bill joined the McDonald’s PRIDE Network as an ally in 2017. Soon, he became a reliable presence at all sorts of PRIDE Network events, including that year’s AIDS Run & Walk Chicago.

By 2020, Bill had taken on the role of Project Manager and Strategy Chair for the network. He’s managed McDonald’s presence in the Chicago Pride Parade, run webcasts and much more. As an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, his membership in the PRIDE Network has been rewarding, revealing and a “no brainer.”

“The people in the network have taught me so much, including the importance of being resilient and accepting things I don’t understand,” Bill says. Because of what he’s learned, he’s also become a trusted resource to others at McDonald’s.

“I have a colleague who has a trans son,” Bill says. “When he found out I was a member of the PRIDE Network, he felt comfortable coming to me and sharing more about his family.”

Overall, McDonald’s PRIDE Network “pulls the best from everybody,” he adds. “It’s humbling and empowering to learn from the people in the network every day.”

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Capturing the attention of 7-9th grade students and inspiring them to consider careers in STEM can be accomplished through role modeling, representation, and realistic experiences, according to Dr. Kelly Lane-deGraaf, associate professor of biology at Fontbonne University and creator of its Girls* in Science Program.

Role-modeling STEM is important to future innovation

STEM workers play a vital role in America’s innovative and global competitiveness, and the need to cultivate a talented STEM workforce has never been greater. One area ripe for growth is women in STEM. Although women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they are still vastly underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. 

“As we celebrate International Women’s Day in March, it’s a great time to recognize organizations that promote the advancement of women into STEM roles,” says Al Mitchell, President of Bayer Fund. “Bayer Fund is proud to support Fontbonne University’s Girls in Science program. Starting early is one of the keys of this program, which seeks to pique the interest of middle school girls in science and technology.”

Role-modeling, Representation, and Realistic Experiences

Capturing the attention of 7-9th grade students and inspiring them to consider careers in STEM can be accomplished through role modeling, representation, and realistic experiences, according to Dr. Kelly Lane-deGraaf, associate professor of biology at Fontbonne University and creator of its Girls* in Science Program. 

“Research shows that middle school girls lack real-life mentors in the sciences, reducing the likelihood of careers in science,” Dr. Lane-deGraaf says. “By enabling middle school students from historically excluded identities to come to a university, interact with women and other minority scientists, learn the practices of science, see experiments fail and have the opportunity to learn from those experiments, the Girls in Science program facilitates learning science in a real laboratory.”

The Girls in Science program hosts multiple 2-week residential summer camps on Fontbonne University’s campus. There are also academic-year programs, with both face-to-face and remote options for participation.

“The program is developed entirely by women scientists in their respective fields to emphasize experimental design, critical thinking, and research skills, including troubleshooting, all while experiencing a taste of college life while meeting and making friends from across the St. Louis area,” Dr. Lane-deGraaf says. 

Programs in the summer of 2023 and 2023-2024 academic year will focus on Biology/Ecology (including genetics, parasitology, animal behavior, and modeling and data analysis with R); Chemistry & Physics (spectroscopy and chromatography, water chemistry, and electrochemistry); and Exercise Science (including kinesiology, sports nutrition, and analyses of fitness).

Growing STEM Participation

Dr. Lane-deGraaf launched Girls in Science in 2015 with 5 girls and no funding. Since that time, thanks to annual grants from Bayer Fund, the program has grown tremendously – expanding its reach to approximately 500 girls in 2020/2021. 

Pre- and post-surveys from the program consistently demonstrate that girls show:

Increased interest in careers in science (5-year average: from 35% to 92%)Increased thinking of science as fun (5-year average: from 48% to 100%)Increased thinking of science as accessible (5-year average: from 46% to 100%)Increased comfort with making ‘mistakes’ (5-year average: from 18% to 83%).

“In 2020, our first cohort of Girls in Science participants entered college, and follow-up surveys show that they are actively pursuing careers in science – 2 reporting interest in attending medical school; 2 in attending schools of veterinary medicine; 1 in civil engineering; and 1 in attending graduate school in genetics!” says Dr. Lane-deGraaf. 

As the world becomes increasingly technical, investing in STEM experiences for young women pays big dividends for their futures, and for our future too.

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Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) today published its 2023 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, emphasizing the Company’s ongoing commitment to creating timeless products that are made to live on responsibly, using materials in ways that reduce its products’ environmental impact, and supporting people within its workforce, supply chain and communities. The 2023 report outlines progress across the Company’s Citizenship & Sustainability approach, Timeless by Design, which ensures timelessness is embedded from inspiration through to products’ every use and reuse across generations.

“Ralph’s vision of timelessness is apparent in the beautiful products we create, and it’s our commitment to ensure this vision is carried into how we create and address our impact on the world,” said Katie Ioanilli, Chief Global Impact & Communications Officer, Ralph Lauren Corporation. “Our approach is rooted in science, ambitious goals, collaboration and innovation that, together, will enable us to continue to inspire people to live the life of their dreams.”

As part of its Timeless by Design strategy, the Company continued over the past year to advance on its commitments across three pillars: Create with Intent, Protect the Environment and Champion Better Lives. Highlights include:

Continuing to support the circular economy with the introduction of Ralph Lauren’s Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold Luxury Cashmere Sweater, the first luxury cashmere C2C Certified® product and the first of five iconic products that the Company committed to make C2C Certified® by 2025;Expanding its efforts to create innovative products with sustainable attributes, including the POLO® MIRUM® sneaker and crossbody pouch, featuring Natural Fiber Welding’s MIRUM® components that are 100% plastic-free and made from plants and minerals;Establishing a roadmap to eliminate coal in its supply chain;Meeting its zero waste goal by diverting 92% of waste from landfill and incineration across its distribution centers;Achieving its goal to increase the number of women in factory leadership by at least 25% two years ahead of schedule, making progress on the path to gender parity in the supply chain; andThe Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation announcing a $25 million commitment to expand or establish five cancer centers in the U.S. aimed at reducing cancer care inequity in underserved communities and celebrating the opening of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center as a part of this commitment.

The full 2023 Ralph Lauren Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report and ESG Supplement are available for download on the Company’s website.

ABOUT RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of luxury lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren has sought to inspire the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style. Its reputation and distinctive image have been developed across a wide range of products, brands, distribution channels and international markets. The Company’s brand names — which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children and Chaps, among others — constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, visit https://corporate.ralphlauren.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release and the Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report contain goals, initiatives and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the Company’s citizenship and sustainability goals and environmental, social and governance goals. Forward-looking statements are indicated by words or phrases such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “ensure,” “commit,” “expect,” “project,” “believe,” “envision,” “seek,” “goal,” “target,” “can,” “will,” and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company’s expectations and judgments and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond Company control. The factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to materially differ from forward-looking statements include, among others, the risk factors identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact
Corporate Communications
RL-Press@RalphLauren.com

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June 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has welcomed the launch by the European Commission of a consultation on a Delegated Act that includes the first set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), open until 7 July. This signals that the ESRS are on track to be available for use by companies from 2024, as set out in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

While DG-FISMA have proposed adjustments to the ESRS, importantly, the Delegated Act continues to require disclosure on the full range of sustainability topics – as needed to address all impacts companies have on the environment and society. As previously confirmed by EFRAG (who were mandated to develop the ESRS), the impact disclosure requirements in the ESRS are aligned as closely as possible with GRI and other global reporting standards.

Eelco van der Enden, CEO of GRI, said:

“The publication of the ESRS for consultation is a key moment towards the realization of the ambitions in the CSRD to significantly expand mandatory sustainability reporting by companies operating in the EU. Notably, it reflects the European Commission’s stated aim of a high degree of interoperability with existing, widely-used reporting frameworks.

What this means is that complying with ESRS impact reporting requirements will be much easier for those companies that already use GRI, and they can then focus on adding financially material information and possible ESRS specific disclosures. Furthermore, in cases where the ESRS does not provide standards deemed material for corporate reporting, it is reassuring that ESRS-1 states companies can utilize the GRI Standards for disclosure on these topics.

GRI provided wide-ranging technical input during the development phase of the ESRS. We will, of course, further engage through the public consultation to support efforts to create decision-useful EU standards that are interoperable with our global standards. Not only will this reduce the reporting burden, it will also support globally comparable disclosure that meets the needs of all stakeholders, including investors.”

GRI has collaborated on the development of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) to ensure the highest possible degree of commonality between the respective standards. Under the EFRAG-GRI cooperation agreement, signed in July 2021, the two organizations joined each other’s technical expert groups and committed to share information, and for standard setting activities and timelines to be aligned as much as possible.

In December 2022, GRI published detailed FAQs guidance to explain to reporting organizations how the GRI Standards and ESRS interconnect.

The KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting (October 2022), which included the top 100 companies in 17 EU countries, found that 68% of companies in Europe voluntarily report with GRI.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards are the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards, which are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.