Tag: 3BL

Across industries, sustainability has transformed from a mere buzzword – and a box to be checked – to a critical component of corporate strategy.

“There have always been regulations, rules, and expectations on how companies operate in order to make sure there isn’t a negative impact on the environment,” says Michael Censurato, global solution manager for Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) at SAP. “What’s changed in the last couple of years is that there’s a lot more focus and scrutiny. It’s in the news. It’s on consumers’ minds. It’s on investors’ minds.”

A recent report by the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment found that in 2022 climate change was the top environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issue, in asset-weighted terms, for money managers and institutional investors alike. SAP’s own research shows that, between 2021 and 2022, the importance of customer demand as a motivator for sustainable action increased sevenfold.

Joining the Green Vanguard

While executives now consider ESG initiatives integral to the future success of their businesses, they’re also acutely aware of the difficulty in measuring the progress of these initiatives and of translating their successes to regulators. In research conducted by Oxford Economics and SAP, only 27% of executives surveyed had established policies for working with regulators to ensure the implementation of sustainable practices. For businesses of all sizes, the risks and costs of non-compliance are high – ranging from penalties and fines to suspended operations, loss of business, and even personal liability on the part of executives.

Among the most significant difficulties in ESG reporting is ensuring that environmental metrics are both transparent and accurate – reflecting actual values, rather than averages. In many organizations, environmental compliance strategies have historically required a highly manual effort, relying on spreadsheets and weeks of data aggregation and processing across multiple time zones and working structures, often leading to oversights and delays.

Finding a solution that offers a better route towards ESG reporting and compliance is a critical step in the broader business strategies and outcomes of teams big and small. As the imperative to establish a carbon-neutral bottom line becomes stronger than ever, those companies that are able to meet these challenges will emerge as market leaders.

End-to-End Environmental Management

Since 2003, SAP’s EHS team has been helping enterprises comply with environmental regulations through a range of solutions, including SAP Environment, Health, and Safety Management. This application can provide the consistency, auditability, risk reduction, and transparency that companies require. It can also supply environmental managers and technicians with an easily navigable platform, helping to unlock in-depth insight into their operation’s environmental impact.

Powered by SAP S/4HANA, SAP EHS Management helps support teams throughout the process of aggregating, preparing, and analyzing their environmental data. The application’s advanced capabilities can also allow for early detection of deviations from target emissions values – so that if, for example, carcinogenic compounds released during a particular production process exceed their environmental limit, a plan can be instantly put into action, giving teams plenty of time to adjust and remain compliant.

The Emissions Declaration Challenge

Within the broader category of EHS compliance, emissions declarations in particular are notorious for the time and diligence they require. Companies based in Germany, for example, must file detailed reports every four years for the BImSchV ordinance on emissions declarations, while European companies at large must file annually for The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). There are more regulations on the way: earlier this year, the International Finance Reporting Standard’s (IFRS) International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) announced the development of a standardized language for disclosing ESG-related risks and opportunities. The new criteria will come online in January 2024.

And for companies in heavy-emitting industries, such as chemical, oil and gas, or steel and iron production, the diversity of emissions that need to be recorded and included in these declarations range from the dust and exhaust released during the transportation and processing of raw materials to passive emissions such as fuel tank venting. As a result, the extent of the reporting itself – and the challenge of remaining compliant – is immense, particularly for global operations operating across jurisdictions.

In the past, the burden of these emission reports fell on the shoulders of environmental and operations managers, who have had to struggle with the inefficiencies built into the highly manual procedure of gathering, calculating, and reporting the necessary information, all within a strict timeline.

Reporting Made Easy

Addressing this bottleneck, the new SAP Fiori app “My Emissions Declarations” is designed not only to help fast-track the creation and completion of emissions declarations but also to help establish a governed backbone to the process itself. My Emissions Declarations is currently designed specifically for the filing requirements of the BImSchV ordinance, but additional filing procedures, triggered by legal requirements, will soon be featured as part of the app’s offering.

The My Emissions Declarations app helps emissions reporting stay on track from the very beginning of the process. Plant managers are in charge of ensuring that the required reports are started and filed on time. When plant managers need to initiate a declaration, the app sends a notification directly to the manager’s e-mail and automatically creates a task on the homepage.

Once the task has been successfully opened, the plant manager can hand over responsibility to others, like plant operators or environmental technicians, who will typically take charge of entering all necessary data into the app for each emissions source. The flexibility of the My Emissions Declarations app can support automatic data collection, by way of sensors, meters, operational systems, and data historians.

After data has been entered, the app takes the lead, running the complex calculations required to generate accurate emissions data. “Within the app, the respective experts are able to simply input the minimum information required by the calculation formula,” explains Mariya Krasteva, area product owner for SAP EHS Management. “Then, as soon as the concentration of a specific emitted substance is entered, all other parameters are calculated automatically.” Whereas some solutions store these equations in a database or in the software coding, making them difficult to validate and edit, the My Emissions Declarations app allows end users to easily view, edit, and maintain these equations all within the platform.

Crucially, My Emissions Declarations can also enable plant managers to quickly validate the data’s accuracy, helping to ensure its quality throughout the process. And, with seamless integration to SAP EHS Management as a whole – and by extension, to the SAP S/4HANA digital core – the app can allow teams to establish a holistic understanding of their operation’s footprint. After all, enterprise-wide sustainability management does not exist in a vacuum. Companies must juggle a wealth of other compliance, monitoring, and maintenance procedures. In many operations, compliance processes overlap with plant maintenance because the manufacturing equipment also needs to be maintained and monitored for any pollutants it produces.

“Our solutions help to tie these pieces together, making the handoff to other processes much more seamless,” explains Hitesh Patel, product manager for SAP EHS Management. Integrating the My Emissions Declarations app into the broader management system helps teams utilize company data previously defined in the software’s asset management feature, creating a comprehensive view of emissions sources – including scope 3 emissions, such as those related to facilities and assets. By calculating actual emission amounts, rather than averages, teams are now able to make even more accurate, data-driven decisions.

“The bottom line is that this is out-of-the-box compliance and an end-to-end solution, which allows auditability at anytime,” says Krasteva. “One precise emissions inventory, one source of truth.” And when, ultimately, the plant manager is ready to prepare the declaration itself, the app generates an XML report, which it can then directly submit to the relevant authorities before closing the task until next time.

Taking the Lead

Maintaining efficiency and diligence in compliance procedures is an indispensable step for companies looking to chart a more sustainable future for themselves and their industries. SAP EHS Management, as well as My Emissions Declaration, can give teams crucial support in charting that future and in reaching the sustainability goals and benchmarks that will help them get there.

Learn more about how SAP can guide your team in this journey today.

Sami Emory is a brand journalist for Sustainability Communications at SAP.

Antea Group recently held our annual EHSxRetail event hosted by Burberry at their New York City office. The purpose of this event is to provide a space where those responsible for Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHS&S) within the retail industry can gather and network with their peers to discuss what’s keeping them up at night, as well as achievements, best practices, areas of improvement and areas of success. The main topics of discussion this year included the current state of EHS&S in retail, supply chain and value chain, waste challenges, and audits and assessments.

The discussions were facilitated by Kelly Sampliner, Retail Industry Leader, Lauren Corbett-Noon, EHS Auditing and Compliance Leader, and Nate Kimball, Sustainability Practice Leader.

The Current State of EHS&S

There are many challenges facing EHS&S professionals today, and when participants were asked what their biggest challenges are currently, contractor management seemed to top the list. It can be challenging to manage who is in the retail stores to perform a service and is that service being performed by an approved vendor, particularly when employees are taught to welcome everyone into their stores with a friendly smile. How do the store employees ensure the contractor has been vetted and approved by their corporate team?

There are a number of considerations when developing and implementing an effective contractor management program, and the only way to be successful is when you have the following:

buy-in from corporate/management.commitment at all levels to follow the process and not cut corners.the right level of training for those responsible for maintaining and/or executing the program.

This discussion also touched on an overarching theme in retail and other low-risk settings, where EHS is less of a focus compared to other higher-risk industries. But just because there is low risk doesn’t mean there is no risk.

Unfortunately, workplace violence is something that has been impacting the retail industry more than ever, and the best way to keep retail employees and customers safe is through training. Training can take many shapes and forms, but it is key to ensure that training provided to retail employees is appropriate and focuses on situational awareness and how to respond in the event of an emergency.

Value Chain and Supply Chain

Companies are recognizing that many organizational risks are tied to activities within their value chains, where the majority of their environmental and social impact lies. For example, the greenhouse gas and water impacts associated with material extraction are significant, and companies are discovering significant human rights and labor concerns in their supply chains. Without remedy, these risks can cause reputational and operational damage to companies that can be difficult to recover from. Therefore, it is critical to understand who is included in a company’s value chain, and what is considered upstream (e.g., material extraction) vs. downstream (e.g., reuse and recycling of products at the end of their life).

EHS leaders are critical stakeholders in mapping upstream and downstream risk within value chains and tracking key performance metrics associated with environmental and social impacts. We continue to see a growing push from stakeholders and consumers for better EHS&S tracking and initiatives for upstream suppliers.

Companies that understand their material environmental and social non-financial risks are primed to outperform their peers better during periods of shock, stress, and economic downturn. Proper management of material environmental and social risks and strong governance structures can help companies weather shocks more effectively.

Waste Management/Handling

Another big challenge retailers face is how to properly manage the various waste streams. For high visibility and big-name retail brands, there seems to be added pressure to implement more sustainable means of disposal by evaluating and utilizing different options for recycling.

But managing waste is not always intuitive, in fact, it is often quite the opposite. Many items, including batteries and aerosol cans, which as consumers, we are allowed to throw into our household trash, have to be managed and disposed of separately in a workplace/business setting.

In an industry with a traditionally high turnover rate, it can be challenging to keep retail employees up to speed on all of the proper waste management practices.

Audits and Assessments

One way for retailers to keep tabs on how well they are doing, not only with managing their waste but also gauging how well they are doing in all areas of EHS&S, is by conducting routine audits/assessments of their different locations.

ESG assessments are becoming more popular since they help to identify areas where there are opportunities for improvement outside of traditional EHS compliance. There can be a lot of different drivers and goals for audits/assessments, and there are almost as many different types of audits/assessments, making it challenging to find the right approach.

But no matter what, why, or how you do it, figuring out a way to standardize your approach is essential, especially for global companies who have to contend with country-specific EHS&S requirements that can sometimes seem to be in conflict from one country to the next.

Despite all of the challenges they face, EHS&S professionals continue to find innovative methods for managing and overcoming those challenges. We are grateful to all the EHSxRetail participants for sharing their unique insights and experiences as we continue to navigate the complex world of EHS and sustainability in retail.

Learn more about EHSxRetail and stay tuned for the next in-person event!

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com. 

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Peloton hosted a panel conversation for the Peloton Corporate Wellness Community where we discussed the importance of community and connection  when it comes to mental wellbeing. The panel featured Marcia Liu, Ph.D., Licensed Counseling Psychologist and National Advisor at the Steve Fund and Mariana Fernández, Peloton Yoga and Meditation Instructor, and was hosted by Peloton’s Director of ESG – Social Impact, Alia McCants.

The Steve Fund, a Peloton Pledge partner, is the nation’s leading organization focused on supporting mental health and emotional well-being for young people of color. Peloton is proud to support them as part of our mission to dismantle systemic barriers to mental health care.

During the session, our panelists shared how valuable community and connection were to their own mental wellbeing, as well as ideas on getting started, or taking the next steps, in a fitness and mental health journey.

Building community with The Steve Fund

Both Dr. Marcia and Mariana shared insights on how community and belonging have critically shaped their own mental health experiences. Dr. Marcia explained that community plays an essential role in how we live in this world and feel about ourselves:

“When we surround ourselves with people we can connect with – people we matter to, and who accept us for who we are – it’s easier to feel understood and valued.”

But community isn’t always easy to find, especially during transitional periods like going to college or starting a new job. The Steve Fund, as Dr. Marcia explained, works to bridge this gap by partnering with colleges and universities, workplaces, and community spaces to help institutions think more intentionally about the needs of young people of color at these times. 

Prioritizing one’s mental health is often a deeply personal and individual experience, and so much of it is influenced by the systems and structures in which we live and work. One innovative approach to addressing this reality from the Steve Fund is the Equity in Mental Health Framework, which helps institutions identify the needs of young people of color and strengthen their support systems.

Mariana also discussed her role as an Instructor Ambassador for the Steve Fund at Peloton. She spoke about her own experiences using her platform to break down stigmas around mental health by sharing personal stories and helping others find belonging and connection.

Carving out time to care for yourself

Our panelists both highlighted the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being while taking time for yourself. As Dr. Marcia shared, “It’s a radical act to take care of yourself.” When days get busy – as they are so often do – be courageous and carve out a few personal minutes to check-in and take a breath.

Everyone’s form of self-care for their mental wellbeing will be different – it could be meditating, running, swimming, contributing to a community group, or any other practice which unlocks a sense of mindfulness. And these practices may shift over time as our priorities and personalities change. It’s about finding what works on a personal level. Mariana shared that her form of self-care is getting outside and into the fresh air to help clear her mind. Meanwhile, Dr. Marcia lifts her mental wellbeing by connecting with her family, even if just through a short phone call.

The panel acknowledged the pressures and expectations we’re all guilty of placing on ourselves, whether that be not meditating right, not exercising enough, or not being the best parent. It becomes very easy to become critical of ourselves for not doing things perfectly, but in these moments self-compassion and self-acceptance become so important.

Learn more about Peloton’s partnership with the Steve Fund by visiting the Peloton Pledge website and reading our 2022 ESG report.

Ceres commends the California Senate for voting yesterday to pass two bills that would give investors, consumers, and other stakeholders far more insight into companies’ efforts to address the financial risks of the climate crisis.

The two bills — SB 253 Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act and SB 261 Climate-Related Risk Disclosure Act — would require companies operating in California to report their greenhouse gas emissions from across their supply and value chains and their climate-related risks in line with leading standards that have long been used voluntarily by major businesses. They were respectively sponsored by California Sens. Scott Wiener and Henry Stern.

“Today’s action by the California Senate demonstrates the growing momentum for mandatory climate disclosure,” said Steven Rothstein, managing director for the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. “Year after year, California experiences the effects of climate change with greater intensity and devastation. Leading companies recognize this, and they are taking steps to mitigate the financial risks of the climate crisis and take advantage of the economic opportunities in confronting this challenge. These bills will ensure transparency so that investors, consumers, workers and communities know what all major economic actors in the state are doing to minimize relevant risks and drive toward a more just and sustainable future.”

Major companies operating in California — including Avocado Green Brands, Grove Collaborative, REI-Co-op, Seventh Generation, and Sierra Nevada Brewing, among others — have thrown their support behind the two bills. Though many companies already voluntarily disclose emissions, they argue that large-scale disclosure policy levels the playing field by standardizing the process and provides greater insight into the economic risks of economy-wide climate pollution.

The bills would complement the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule requiring climate disclosure for public companies, as well as the global standards expected to be finalized this year by the International Sustainability Standards Board. However, because the California bills would apply to both public and private companies over certain revenue thresholds, they would broaden the coverage of companies required to provide information beyond the SEC’s proposed disclosure standards.

“California has an opportunity to set the bar for corporate transparency, disclosure, and risk management,” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy at Ceres. “We urge the California State Assembly to seize today’s momentum and act quickly to pass both bills.”

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org

Jamestown Engine Plant commits to reducing water waste through reverse osmosis | Cummins Inc.

The Cummins Inc. Jamestown (New York) Engine Plant wants to set the standard for plants across the U.S. as it makes progress on the company’s goal of having a net positive impact on local communities.

Part of Cummins’ PLANET 2050 environmental sustainability strategy is the 2030 goal to reduce absolute water consumption in facilities and operations by 30%. Plants like Cummins Mid-Range Engine Plant in Columbus, Indiana, for example, have removed their 6.7 turbo diesel engine coating process to help reduce their water consumption.

Sustainability leaders at Jamestown, however, hope to achieve this goal by eliminating 100% of potable water for irrigation, and reusing 100% of fire sprinkler test water and 100% of treated wastewater. Recycling and reusing wastewater through the science of reverse osmosis will be one of the largest initiatives in plant history.

Reverse osmosis is a technology that separates potable water from the outgoing waste streams by removing contaminants. This process is a major water-saver at the plant. 

In 2022, the plant used 16 million gallons of fresh water, a 59% reduction in total water usage since 2016. Of that 16 million gallons, approximately 8 million gallons left as wastewater to the local sewer system for treatment. The reverse osmosis system provides the potential to recycle or reuse 80% of that outgoing water, which goes a long way towards meeting Cummins’ 2030 water reduction goals.

“If we want 30% to 50% water reduction at the plant, the reverse osmosis (process) is what gets us there,” said the plant’s Machining Director of Operations David Burlee.

This is no easy feat, as a significant amount of effort is required to maintain a reverse osmosis system at its peak efficiency. Water is extracted and reused in the deionizer water process, which removes the metals, calcium and magnesium that are normally in city water.

“City water has a lot of minerals that we need to take out. The beauty of the (reverse osmosis) system is that it removes 98% of it,” Burlee said. “We don’t want minerals in our water because when it evaporates, it leaves behind all that as scale – and we don’t want that in our cooling systems.”

Before the introduction of reverse osmosis, wastewater needed to be regenerated — a process that creates giant vats of acidic and caustic waste that requires treatment — every three or four days. Now, the water is fed into the deionizer where it can run for weeks before it needs to be regenerated, reducing the production of the acids and caustics associated with regeneration.

Today, 80% of deionized water used in the factory process is from the reverse osmosis system.

“Our plant is a case study to show that it is viable to implement green energy solutions or energy conservation measures in a workplace such as ours with heavy machine manufacturing,” Burlee said.

Burlee said the more significant impact comes with long-term viability. With machinery purchases, the return on investment is usually one to two years. The return on investment for green energy solutions, however, is usually closer to eight to 10 years. 

“You’re in it for the long haul. You’ve got to play the long game,” Burlee said. “The technology fits our manufacturing profile. So as long as up-front financials can be overcome, a business can see the long-term benefits of these things.”

Washington, D.C., May 31, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Pyxera Global, a leading global nonprofit organization dedicated to creating  sustainable solutions to global challenges, is thrilled to announce an engaging on-demand  session focused on the achievements of their partnership with Mastercard on the Global Pro  Bono for Racial Justice Program. This exciting session will be presented at the prestigious Points  of Light Conference 2023. 

The Points of Light Conference 2023, held in Chicago from June 14-16, brings together leaders  and organizations from across sectors to share insights, build partnerships, and inspire action on  the most pressing social issues of our time. Pyxera Global’s session will highlight the innovative  approaches and measurable impact of the Racial Justice Program, a partnership between  Pyxera Global and Mastercard to address systemic racism and promote equitable and inclusive economies. 

“We are proud to partner with Mastercard on their commitment to support Black communities  and minority-led organizations working on the frontlines of racial justice. Through the Racial  Justice Program, employees learn, serve, and act in solidarity with local organizations to address racism and barriers to inclusive growth.,” said Maura Fulton, Vice President of Global Pro Bono  at Pyxera Global. “We look forward to highlighting our progress and sharing the deep impact of  the Racial Justice Program with other organizations that are committed to this important work.” 

Pyxera Global’s presentation will be on-demand, allowing attendees to engage with the content  at their convenience. Mastercard’s Global Pro Bono portfolio includes the Virtual Global Pro  Bono for Racial Justice Program (and Launch for Social Impact Challenge). 

The 11-week Virtual Global Pro Bono for Racial Justice Program engages employees to support organizations working on the frontlines of racial justice, while the month-long Launch program  engages new hires to support organizations addressing financial inclusion, education, and  workforce development. The program stands as an exemplary model for organizations in the  esteemed Points of Light community striving to advance equity and inclusion.

To register for the Points of Light Conference 2023 and access Pyxera Global’s on-demand  presentation on the Racial Justice Program, please visit https://www.pointsoflight.org/points-of light-conference/. 

Featured Speakers: 
Maura Fulton is Vice President of Global Pro Bono at PYXERA Global, partnering with  corporations and their employees to provide pro bono expertise to nonprofit organizations and  communities around the world. She believes in the power of skills-based volunteering programs  to deliver gains to corporations, employees, and nonprofit organizations simultaneously.

Maura has held leadership roles in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors, and has  dedicated her career to intercultural understanding, social impact, sustainable community  development, and organizational and leadership development. Prior to joining Pxyera Global,  Maura served in senior leadership roles with the Peace Corps, including as senior advisor to the  director and as country director in Myanmar and Georgia. She led the development of the  agency’s current strategic plan, centered around creating inclusive and equitable systems and  advancing racial equity and programs for underserved communities worldwide. 

Kendra Brown is Vice President of Public Policy, Federal Affairs for Mastercard. She is also  the Chair of the Maryland State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.  Previously, she was the Chief of Staff for Representative G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) in the United  States Congress and Senior Director for Diversity, Inclusion and Affinity for the Washington  College of Law at American University where she led the law school’s diversity and inclusion  initiatives.  

She is a Former National Chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). During  her term as National Chair, NBLSA was active in election protection, leadership training and  development, academic planning, career development, and extensive advocacy efforts. Kendra  completed her undergraduate studies at Hampton University, her Master of Divinity at Howard  University Divinity School, and received her law degree from Vermont Law School. Additionally,  Kendra attended the George Washington University School of Law for her Master of Law. 

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About Pyxera Global 

Pyxera Global works around the globe to improve community livelihoods and resiliency by  leveraging the resources of business, government, and community to solve the world’s most  pressing challenges. Building on 30 years of experience channeling the innovation, skills, and  expertise of industry and community, Pyxera Global customizes its strategy advisory and service  delivery to bring about positive social change for people and planet. 

For more information, please contact: 
Jillian McFarland 
jmcfarland@pyxeraglobal.org

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Regeneration, a restoration and remining social enterprise, welcomes Mejuri as its first jewelry partner.

The announcement comes as part of Mejuri’s first sustainability report.

Regeneration is a public benefit company supported by founders, including RESOLVE, Rio Tinto, Apple, and now Mejuri, dedicated to the idea that waste from past mining is a hidden solution; it can support restoration while providing minerals for the energy transition and sustainable brands. This unique combination offers an opportunity to “begin again” for communities and lands impacted by legacy mining.

“Regeneration thinks and works outside the box to address our biodiversity and climate challenges. Our success requires innovative, creative partners in communities and across the minerals-to-product supply chain, like Mejuri. As we build these partnerships, Mejuri is an obvious choice as our first jewelry partner,” says Stephen D’Esposito, founder and CEO of Regeneration. “With Regeneration, Mejuri brings something back – remining creates beautiful, compelling jewelry that supports rebuilding habitat and restoring biodiversity and tells the story of regeneration.”

Regeneration is structured as a social enterprise because it is commercially ambitious but also works with patience and humility and offers something back to nature and communities. In addition to $1.5 million (US) in funding Mejuri will undertake significant work with Regeneration to share the story and build awareness of the opportunity through its jewelry.

“Since inception, we have been transparent – about our wins and our challenges – with our customers, which has built a loyal community who have come to expect high standards,” says Noura Sakkijha, Mejuri’s Co-founder and CEO. “When it comes to our sustainability goals, it’s no different. As we grow and learn more, these goals will evolve and we’ll bring our community along for the journey. What won’t change is that we will always aim to focus on where we can make an impact.”

Mejuri’s sustainability report describes its commitment to Regeneration. Within Mejuri’s sustainability framework is the brand’s commitment to help restore the environment where they can.

“As a next generation brand that is deeply in tune with our community’s values, Mejuri takes our responsibility seriously to help push this industry forward where we can,” says Holly McHugh, Mejuri’s Vice President of Sustainability. “Mejuri is committed to remining with restoration, which is central to responsible sourcing and represents the future of our industry. We’re excited to invite our community into this conversation now that we’re ready to share our progress as we continue down this innovative and exciting path.”

Mejuri is already supporting Salmon Gold, another RESOLVE initiative, now part of Regeneration. Salmon Gold produces precious metals while restoring vital habitats for salmon and other anadromous fish species. For Giving Tuesday 2022 Mejuri donated significant funding to this initiative.

Regeneration extracts minerals from mine waste, where past mining methods left value behind; utilizing new methods and strategies so that our partners can create responsibly, sustainably made jewelry, climate tech, and other end-products. Because Regeneration is a social enterprise, earnings from sales then go back to the sites to fund habitat restoration and closure activities.

Regeneration will soon announce additional founding partners across the minerals and metals value chain. “Our partners, like Rio Tinto, Apple, and Mejuri, each bring unique expertise and value to Regeneration; together we will draw from jewelry, mining, technology, and in the future other areas” noted Stephen D’Esposito. Apple included its support for Regeneration in its People and Environment in Our Supply Chain Report. The law firm Paul Hastings is providing legal support.

Media Contacts

Stephen D’Esposito, President and CEO, Regeneration 
+1 (202) 255-2717 | sdesposito@regeneration.enterprises

Nicholas Mitchell, Program Manager and Policy Analyst, Regeneration 
+1 (704) 222-2994 | nmitchell@regeneration.enterprises

Navajo Technical University in New Mexico has increased its capacity to help students meet the increasing demand for drivers in the U.S. trucking industry.The school’s commercial driver’s license program received its first tanker truck for use in training courses through a donation from Marathon Petroleum’s midstream segment, MPLX.The truck will allow for more effectively training students to drive in the energy industry, helping address a national shortage of 78,000 truck drivers.

In recent testimony before a U.S. House committee, the President and CEO of American Trucking Associations highlighted a growing shortage of 78,000 drivers in the trucking industry, calling for more efforts to develop the industry’s workforce. The commercial driver’s license (CDL) program at Navajo Technical University (NTU) is now better equipped to help fill this void after adding the program’s first tanker truck, which was donated by Marathon Petroleum’s midstream segment, MPLX, from its existing fleet.

“This cab unit and liquid tank trailer will help the program build capacity and more effectively train students to drive in the energy industry,” said Marathon ESG and Stakeholder Engagement Manager V.J. Smith. “The truck can immediately be put to use, so I’m grateful to Gathering and Processing’s Transportation and Rail team within MPLX for making this happen.”

“I’m proud to be part of a company that is committed to making our shared communities stronger by aiding programs that promote the education and advancement of the local workforce.”

Located in Crownpoint, New Mexico, NTU was the first university established on the Navajo Nation and is the largest tribal university in the U.S. The CDL program is a one-semester certificate program that prepares graduates for employment as professional over-the-road drivers and drivers for local companies or to establish their own trucking companies.

MPLX Transport Driver Jonathan Begay, a member of the Navajo Nation whose routes include the area where NTU is located, spoke during the truck donation ceremony.

“I’m proud to be part of a company that is committed to making our shared communities stronger by aiding programs that promote the education and advancement of the local workforce,” Begay said.

The truck donation adds to Marathon’s ongoing support of educational initiatives in the region. A company grant in 2022 provided funding to purchase tools and equipment for NTU’s skilled trades programs, including construction technology, electrical trades and welding.

The built environment has a direct impact on the daily lives of virtually every individual and community on the planet. The building industry itself, however, also has significant impacts on the environment. Owens Corning is among the companies in the sector that are looking to minimize their impact and push more sustainable practices forward.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of building materials, Owens Corning recognizes the impact its industry can have in the reduction, collection and reuse of waste through circular economy systems. The company’s European insulation brand Paroc, for example, has been running an insulation take-back program known as Rewool for nearly 20 years.

Paroc embraces insulation take-back to reduce waste 

Paroc’s stone wool insulation is a natural product that serves as an energy-efficient and fire-safe insulation solution for both new and renovated buildings, as well as heating and air conditioning, marine, offshore, and other industrial applications.

First introduced in Sweden in 1996, the Rewool program allows for collection of Paroc stone wool offcuts to be recycled back into Paroc’s manufacturing operations in an effort to reduce waste and incorporate recycled material into the production cycle.

The program allows Paroc’s Finland-based stone wool insulation manufacturing facility to implement circularity principles into its own operations, particularly as the collection of stone wool offcuts and scraps reduces the need for raw materials, turns customer waste into a valuable asset, and gives waste material a new life.

But the program also aids in the important task of helping Paroc customers reach their own sustainability goals, which is of particular importance for the brand’s European clients that are tasked with adhering to and adapting with the principles of the European Green Deal.

“Owens Corning and and its Paroc facilities set our own goal of zero waste to the landfill by 2030, but with the European Green Deal aiming for climate neutrality and a transition to a circular economy by 2050, there are a lot of incentives for our customers to move toward zero waste, as they have the same external pressures through the coming regulation,” said Beatrice Hallén, Owens Corning’s senior sustainability leader for insulation in Europe.

The business case for circularity 

While the Rewool program serves as a key example of a sustainable business practice as a means of corporate responsibility, there is also a direct business case to be made for both Paroc and its customers.

Landfills around the world implement fees, known as tipping fees, for every ton of waste. By sending stone wool offcuts and scraps back to Paroc’s stone wool plants, customers avoid these fees while also contributing to the beginnings of a more circular economy for insulation. Moreover, sending offcuts back to Paroc plants in lieu of sending them to the landfill increases a building’s score in environmental ratings such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification and international BREEAM certification.

Expanding Rewool to more customers 

The Rewool program now operates in Sweden and Finland, with plans to expand into new markets in the coming years. A takeback pilot is underway with select customers in Germany, but it is not without its challenges.

“With any new service, there are logistical considerations, and you have to roll out a huge development phase to make it successful,” said Thomas Kayser, Paroc’s European stone wool insulation circular economy lead.

Implementing circularity on a material level is also a tough task, particularly when it comes to ensuring cleanliness and integrity. “The challenge today is really to get the material sorted and clean, but that is a typical challenge in the transition to the circular economy,” Kayser said.

The circular economy as an asset 

While there are reasonable logistical and material challenges in expanding the program across Europe, Kayser highlighted that what was once a barrier to expansion is now an impetus for the success of the program, particularly in conjunction with the European Green Deal.

“Originally, generating awareness of the Rewool program with our clients was a challenge. But now that installers are trying to avoid landfill fees, the Rewool recycling service is something they are inquiring about,” he said. “What once was a sell from Paroc is now a frequent request from clients.”

By providing insulation take-back for offcuts, Owens Corning’s stone wool business in Europe gives its customers a practical way to reduce waste, avoid fees and lessen their environmental impact. The Rewool program also fits into Owens Corning’s broader strategy to be part of transitioning the building sector to a more circular economy.

“We are working to replace virgin materials in our products, and the Rewool program is a piece of that,” Hallén said. “We are also looking into other industries’ waste fractions to see what is suitable for our production, and by doing so, we are able to increase the so-called recycled content, which currently serves as a main indicator of a circular economy [system], particularly in Europe.”

The bottom line: Consistent commitment can change hearts and minds on circularity 

The Paroc Rewool program is a prime example of how reducing and reusing waste can support a company’s overall sustainability strategy. But more importantly, the program serves as a catalyst for the industrial and cultural shift toward a circularity mindset.

Programs like Rewool prove that incremental but consistent commitment to the circular economy and material innovation will get people engaged and, slowly but surely, make the lasting changes needed to shift the way the world thinks about waste.

This article series is sponsored by Owens Corning and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Images courtesy of Owens Corning

What if instead of going to the landfill, your old mattress was recycled to find a second life in something new, like a sofa? By turning end-of-life mattresses into RENUVA™ polyols for use in new furniture and bedding, our RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program is contributing to both a circular and lower-carbon economy.

But Dow isn’t doing it alone. Collecting and recycling old mattresses into new polyols is a complex process, and we’ve engaged the entire value chain – from recyclers to materials manufacturers to brand owners – to make it happen.

“This project represents a fully circular investment across the value chain highlighting Dow’s materials science solutions to critical challenges facing the industry,” said Marcel Moeller, Global Sustainability Director, Dow Polyurethanes.

Here’s a look at the RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program and its benefits:

The Issue

In Europe, each year approximately 40 million discarded mattresses end up either as bulky waste in landfills or are incinerated to produce heat and electricity. However, incineration is a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) and a waste of valuable resources.

But by breaking down the foam into its base molecules through advanced processes that Dow uses to make RENUVA™ polyols, discarded mattresses stay out of the waste stream, and non-renewable resources that would have been used to make virgin products are saved.

In 2021, a cradle-to-gate ISO-certified external life cycle analysis study demonstrated that RENUVA™ polyols offer the potential for a significant reduction of the environmental footprint, resulting in a 54% equivalent CO2 reduction compared to standard polyol production.

Collaborating Across the Value Chain

To bring new value to old mattresses, the RENUVA™ Program brings the value chain together to create a new business ecosystem model. The collaboration started between Dow, the raw material producer and supplier, and H&S Anlagentechnik, the technology provider. Ecomaison supplies the polyurethane foam from dismantled post-consumer mattresses for the recycling unit. Orrion Chemicals Orgaform is Dow’s manufacturing partner and produces the RENUVA™ polyol for Dow. The Vita Group, Europe’s leading flexible polyurethane foam manufacturer, was the first customer to use the first batch of RENUVA™ polyol in their newly launched ORBIS foam, which replaces up to 30% of virgin polyol with RENUVA™ polyol.

Turning a Concept into a Reality

Construction of the first commercial RENUVA™ production plant started in early 2021. The RENUVA™ plant has the capacity to process the foam from 200,000 waste mattresses, avoiding these being incinerated or landfilled every year.

The plant was inaugurated in France in September 2021. In March 2022, the first sofa containing ORBIS foam and RENUVA™ polyol was commercialized in France. The RENUVA™ polyols are now being promoted to other key bedding and furniture customers in Europe as well.

“This program is part of Dow’s strong commitment to delivering solutions that help close the loop and protect our environment,” Moeller said.