Tag: 3BL

Segment Snapshot

QSR/FOODSERVICE:

Operators are leaning heavily into hot honey flavors, especially paired with chicken, to create craveable offerings. Honey is also used a better-for-you flavor enhancer for dessert items.

PROTEIN PROCESSORS:

Honey is the ideal ingredient for balancing savory and spicy flavors, especially when used in sauces that are paired with proteins. In that context, honey is occasionally used to replace refined sugars, so highlighting the health halo that honey can add to products is key.

SNACKING:

CPG brands are also leveraging honey as a refined sugar replacement, creating more naturally sweetened offerings. Brands are also highlighting honey’s origin, varietal, bee-friendly farming techniques and even bee-free offerings to create more eco-friendly honey products.

A Touch of Sweetness

The versatility of honey to pair with other ingredients makes it a true back-of-house staple. Chef Jaime Mestan is showcasing honey as both a brine for tea-smoked duck breast as well as the base of a honey-lemongrass finishing sauce in our latest video.

Consumption of honey is at an all-time high. Used to add nuanced sweetness to everything from salad dressings to cocktails to potato chips, honey is one of the world’s most versatile ingredients. And with more than 300 varietals in the US alone (National Honey Board, 2022), there’s a unique type of honey for every product and menu application.

So, why the buzz? To answer this question, let’s look at honey’s health halo. A whopping 38% of global consumers say they are actively trying to reduce their sugar consumption (GlobalData, 2022) and many consider honey to be more desirable than refined sugar. Product manufacturers are certainly taking note. Snack and energy bars across North America, South America and the Middle East are touting simple ingredient labels with no refined sugars or additives, thanks to the naturally sweet power of honey (Mintel, 2023). Even candy companies are pairing honey with ingredients such as fair-trade dark chocolate, roasted almonds and orange (Candy Industry, 2021) to create products that align with the “permissible indulgence” trend.

Moving from sweet to savory and spicy, honey is one of the most popular flavors paired with protein. Honey garlic, honey barbecue, honey sriracha and honey chipotle are just some of the sauces, glazes and marinades enlivening wings, chicken sandwiches, plant-based sausages and meal kits. Across China, Thailand and Japan, honey plays a major role in adding flavor to chicken and pork products, but it’s often paired with ingredients such as yuzu, fingerroot ginger and miso to add depth of flavor. The hot honey trend, which was prevalent in Brazilian pizzerias before making its way across the globe (Mintel, 2023), continues to play on consumers’ love of flavor mashups.

But we can’t talk about honey without talking about sustainability. On retail shelves from India to South Africa, honey brands are providing on-pack claims to highlight their products’ origin, bee health, hive management and more. The bigger issue of protecting pollinators (not just honeybees) is also at play in the food industry. For example, the US-based Bee Better Certified seal designates use of ingredients that have been harvested with pollinator-friendly conservation practices (USDA, 2021). An even more sustainable option is being explored in the world of food technology, as lab-grown honey is being developed to address the growing demand for honey in an eco-friendly way.

Create And Innovate

Brown Butter Hot Honey Scallops

Playing up sweet and heat is a great way to add signature appeal to perfectly seared scallops, dressed with a spicy garlic and honey glaze. Brown butter sauce infused with honey, apple cider vinegar, chile de arbol and ancho chiles truly sets this dish apart.

Featuring Griffith Foods Spicy Garlic Honey Glaze

LOOKING TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR OFFERINGS WITH HONEY?

Between its versatile usage, appealing flavor and healthy halo, honey is having its moment in the spotlight. Products from Griffith Foods and Custom Culinary® featuring this powerhouse ingredient can help you capitalize on demand for alternative sweeteners as well as the sweet-and-spicy/sweet-and-savory flavor trends.

Seasonings

From glazes to dry rubs, our unique seasonings enhance flavor, appearance and aromatics of finished dishes thanks to the sweet appeal of honey.

Honey and Black Garlic Brine/CureBrown Butter, Honey and Sage RubSpicy Miso and Honey Dry Glaze

Sauces and Dressings

Always crafted with a chef-driven approach, our sauces and condiments use honey to complement hot, tangy and smoky ingredients.

Nashville Hot Honey Flavor GlazeCreole Mustard and Honey DressingSpiced Honey and Bacon Jam

Textures and Coatings/Dough Blends

Our value-added coating systems, mixes and batters are optimized for taste, texture and performance—bringing a light sweetness to breakfast items, fried chicken and more.

Gingerbread Waffle and Pancake MixAncho Chile and Honey Pre-DustHoney, Sesame and Mirin Pre-Dust for Tempura Batter

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL:

Contact your Griffith Foods representative to learn how these exciting, versatile products can enhance your product and menu offerings with the sweet touch of honey.

Chef Tip: “Spice-infused honey adds the perfect finishing touch to any savory dish. Simmer warm spices together with honey, considering such combinations as ginger and lavender, cumin and black pepper or black cardamom and star anise.”

–Chef Mark Serice, Vice President Global Culinary, Griffith Foods

Looking Forward: What’s next for the honey category?

SUSTAINABILITY:

As brands start to explore more sustainable practices that acknowledge the environmental impact of honey production, bee-friendly farming techniques and even bee-free honey will continue to grow.

A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE:

Brands are starting to communicate the benefits of honey not just as a flavor enhancer but as a refined sugar replacement. As consumers increasingly look for reduced or natural sugar options, honey will play an even more important role in new product launches, including snacks and sauces.

THE HEAT IS ON:

Hot honey is commonly used in foodservice innovation, presenting an opportunity to explore more nuanced spicy honey flavors with specific chile flavor callouts. Other up-and-coming flavor pairings will include truffle, citrus, ginger and more.

© 2023 Griffith Foods. All rights reserved.

Sources:
Christopher Doering, “US honey consumption soars to all-time high amid better-for-you trend,” Food Dive, August 18, 2022.
GlobalData, “Mapping the Strategic Direction of Foodservice,” March 3, 2022.
“Hey there, honey: 6 new candies made with honey entice consumers,” Candy Industry, October 13, 2021.
“Honey Varietals,” National Honey Board, accessed December 2022.
Jocelyn Benjamin, “Bee Better Certification Program is Buzzing on U.S. Farms, Local Grocers,” USDA, July 29, 2021.
Mintel, 2023 FlavorIQ® Food and Flavor Outlook Report, January 2023.

View original content here

HOUSTON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, April 25, 2023 /3BL Media/ – LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today published its annual sustainability report titled, Unlocking Possibilities. The publication offers an in-depth review of the company’s 2022 sustainability performance, focused on progress toward ending plastic waste in the environment, taking climate action and supporting a thriving society. Highlights include:

Ramping up circular and low carbon solutions through initiatives including growing the company’s plastics recycling footprint globally to meet customer demand for more sustainable products and solutions.Accelerating interim greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for 2030, in line with science-based guidance and the Paris Agreement, by increasing scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target to 42% and establishing a scope 3 emissions reduction target of 30%, relative to a 2020 baseline.Contributing to a thriving society, including focusing on safety, advancing commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, and continuing to contribute to and engage with the communities in which the company operates.

“The need to address climate and circularity has never been greater, and during my first year with LyondellBasell, we took decisive action to advance our sustainability goals and accelerate progress on existing commitments. We see opportunities to capture value from our actions and we are primed to unlock possibilities toward a more sustainable, low carbon future,” said Peter Vanacker, CEO of LyondellBasell.

In 2022, the company reported sustainability highlights including:

Announcing four new plastic waste recycling projects and ventures to grow its mechanical recycling footprint and increase access to feedstock through advanced sorting.Producing and marketing more than 175,000 metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers since 2019 under its Circulen brand. The result marks progress toward the company’s commitment to produce and market at least 2 million metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers annually by 2030.Signing renewable electricity power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the U.S. and Europe, achieving more than 50% of our target to procure at least half of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Agreements signed this year have now taken us to 70% of our target.Completing more than 17,000 training hours on diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, 40% of the CEOs direct reports are women.Achieving a record low total recordable injury rate (TRIR) of 0.12, a top-decile result within the petrochemical manufacturing sector.Recording five million safe work hours at four sites and one million safe work hours at 21 sites.

“We are committed to providing transparency and demonstrating how we are making an impact as a leader in the chemicals industry,” said Vanacker.

For more information, read the 2022 LyondellBasell Unlocking Possibilities sustainability report here.

About LyondellBasell  
We are LyondellBasell – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements 
The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, market conditions, the business cyclicality of the chemical, polymers and refining industries; the availability, cost and price volatility of raw materials and utilities, particularly the cost of oil, natural gas, and associated natural gas liquids; our ability to successfully implement initiatives identified pursuant to our value enhancement program and generate anticipated earnings; competitive product and pricing pressures; labor conditions; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; operating interruptions (including leaks, explosions, fires, weather-related incidents, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, supplier disruptions, labor shortages, strikes, work stoppages or other labor difficulties, transportation interruptions, spills and releases and other environmental risks); the supply/demand balances for our and our joint ventures’ products, and the related effects of industry production capacities and operating rates; our ability to manage costs; future financial and operating results; our ability to recognize the benefits and synergies of any proposed transactions; legal and environmental proceedings; tax rulings, consequences or proceedings; technological developments, and our ability to develop new products and process technologies; our ability to meet our sustainability goals, including the ability to operate safely, increase production of recycled and renewable-based polymers to meet our targets and forecasts, and reduce our emissions and achieve net zero emissions by the time set in our goals; our ability to procure energy from renewable sources; our ability to hire and retain diverse employees and engage with the communities in which we operate; the successful shut down and closure of the Houston Refinery, including within the expected timeframe; potential governmental regulatory actions; political unrest and terrorist acts; risks and uncertainties posed by international operations, including foreign currency fluctuations; uncertainties and impacts related to the extent and duration of the pandemic; and our ability to comply with debt covenants and to repay our debt. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.

Northern Trust’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts are global and led by its leadership teams across the world. This strategy has placed conversations on DE&I and LGBTQ+ inclusion in our business and people priorities at the very top of our list.

We were honored to co-present and sponsor the 2023 PFIP – Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride CEO Forum in Manila, Philippines — an executive session around transformative allyship and the role of corporates in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

Coy Macaspac-Ordonez,CPA, Northern Trust Country Executive – Philippines, was one of the panelists during the event. Other delegates included senior leaders from top firms and employers of choice from major industry organizations across the Philippines.

“From our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we understand that LGBTQ+ inclusion should be driven with support and accountability from the top. While we have done a lot of meaningful work in this space, we are cognizant that there is still more we can do in shaping inclusive workplaces for diverse gender identities within and outside of our organization. Therefore, we are proud of this partnership with the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride and the broader corporate pride community.”

You can discover more about our People and our Inclusive culture here.

As a signatory of the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles and a global technology company, Lenovo is committed to advancing gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community. As a global technology company, Lenovo has a strong role to play in advancing women in STEM. On International Women’s Day, we’re taking inspiration from our community partners around the world to understand how they help women around the world embrace equity and overcome the challenges of access to a career in STEM.

The roots of the STEM gender bias begin in early education. According to UNICEF’s report on Mapping Gender Equality in STEM from School to Work, trends in gender bias in STEM can be seen as early as primary (elementary) school. While initial factors of a girl’s proficiency in STEM can be contingent on where she is born and the socioeconomic status of her family, common barriers and STEM gender biases can be seen in the most developed countries for girls with higher socioeconomic status. Below, we pull out key boundaries found in UNICEF’s report, with strategies and advice from Lenovo partners and programs around the world to overcome them.

1. Provide more access to STEM resources for educators.

With the motto, ‘technology has no gender,’ Aj Ty v IT is focused on building a gender equal technology sector. The organization’s efforts are focused in Slovakia, which is also home to Lenovo’s largest European office. While Aj Ty v IT offers a wealth of resources across the STEM pipeline, they’ve recently launched a new program specifically focused on helping educators encourage more girls in STEM. The TECHLIB project allows Aj Ty v IT to be present in schools, giving teachers access to technology so that they can attract more girls into tech by showing their own acquired skills and tech literacy.

Cooperation with Lenovo Bratislava WILL team is a great experience. Petra Hajdukova (Lenovo employee leader) and the rest of organizational team are very helpful and engaged. Most important is that we share common understanding about how important it is to connect professionals and students and create opportunities for students to succeed in their future careers. – Matúš Masica, Project Manager, Aj Ty v IT

2. Check for gender representation in STEM curriculum.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” is a saying that resonates with even the most pioneering champions of change. It represents the need for organizations to ensure that their own curriculum and visuals are providing balanced representation of women and men. While gender representation across materials may seem like a straightforward fix, many organizations go above and beyond by creating curriculum specifically for girls and women. In Australia/New Zealand, Code Like a Girl has created their own ‘School of Code’, with courses designed to appeal to women, but grounded in inclusion for all. “For our tech to be for all of us, it must be built by all of us. Code Like a Girl exists to empower women and girls to have a role in developing that future. By removing barriers to education, we can ensure a more equitable tomorrow and more inclusive workplaces.” Ally Watson OAM. Founder & CEO, Code Like a Girl

3. Bridging the lack of role models

While there’s been a rise in recognition for women paving the way for female leadership in tech, role models that are accessible and approachable for most young girls can be harder to find. Laboratoria has made mentorship and role models a key part of its mission to empower women who dream of a better future to start and grow transformative careers in technology. Lenovo volunteers – men and women – have served as career mentors and role models through the partnership, helping to encourage the future of female STEM talent on their journey with the understanding that better mentorship leads to better program outcomes.

“The lack of female role models in tech is a significant barrier for women seeking to start a career in this industry, and also affects the sense of belonging and professional growth for those women who are already in the tech sector. At Laboratoria, we are grateful to the Lenovo volunteers who have helped address this gap and we are proud to see the way our graduates are becoming role models for other women and girls, and supporting each other’s growth as future leaders of the tech sector.” – Karen Kelly, Director of Regional Partnerships, Laboratoria

4. Overcoming general gender stereotypes

Waffle Japan has designed curriculum and programs to attract and keep girls in technology from middle and high school through college. Guided by the mission to ‘unlock women’s potential and make an impact in the world together with them’, their solutions have been designed with their home country’s specific challenges in mind (Female students’ ICT career aspirations in Japan are the lowest of all 63 OECD countries). Waffle recognizes women’s need for varying levels of support across their journey to a STEM career. Their pipeline begins with programs built to attract middle and high school girls to tech through software application development contests. From there, girls are able to take part in multi-week, remote coding camps that teach them software development basics while connecting them to female role models in tech. Finally, Waffle supports women in college by providing training and internships in technology through Waffle College, available to undergraduate and graduate students. Through these programs and personalized support, Waffles co-founders work to overcome stereotypes about women’s belonging or aptitude in technology.

Beyond the partnerships highlighted through examples above, Lenovo remains committed to advancing women in STEM in its own workforce and programs. With its industry-leading 36% overall female representation in its workforce, Lenovo is working to increase representation at the top with a goal to increase female executive representation to 27% by 2025. Outside of its workforce, Lenovo is focused on empowering women in STEM around the world and across the pipeline. Understanding that drastic change happens faster through collaboration, in July 2022 Lenovo was proud to join Micron Foundation and AVPN in a USD $1 million investment to encourage young girls in STEM. Through the leadership of its female employees and with support from Lenovo global philanthropy, Lenovo has fostered partnerships with the community for Lenovo offices around the world. Lenovo has been honored to support the work of two former NAF interns to encourage their peers in STEM. With help from female employees in Lenovo’s Morrisville, North Carolina U.S., Lenovo hosted a day-long event as part of the ‘Girls Belong in Tech’ initiative. The event succeeded in breaking down the barriers for the girls in STEM, providing role models, mentorship, access to technology, all while being inspired by their peers.

For more information about how Lenovo supports women and underrepresented groups in STEM, view our latest grant round announcement, including multiple new partnerships focused on skilling women for STEM careers. Visit LenovoFoundation.com for more information about Lenovo’s global philanthropy or read Lenovo’s latest ESG Report.

Covia is committed to being more than just a leading provider of high-performance mineral and material solutions for the Industrial and Energy markets. We believe that through our Covia Values—Safety First, Be Different, Deliver on Promise, Act Responsibly—we can make a positive difference for our Team Members, the environment and our stakeholders.

This year’s report, to be released in June, will mark Covia’s 18th consecutive year of corporate responsibility reporting. We will provide progress updates on our 2030 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments. Natalie Eglinton, Director of ESG at Covia, recently shed some light on these initiatives, as well as how Covia plans to continue to drive these goals forward in the coming years:

Each year we reaffirm our commitment to creating a sustainable future. In 2022, we moved forward with the realignment of our ESG strategy which set our GOALS THAT INSPIRE: ESG 2030. These ambitious goals are led by Steering teams, managed by Covia Team Members from across our footprint. These teams are engaged year-round helping to drive meaningful progress. They are empowered to make key decisions and to take an active role to deliver results in line with our ESG vision and strategy. These Team Members are the ones who make it all happen!

I continue to be thankful for the support, collaboration and expertise of our Covia Team Members who make our achievements possible.

Covia’s ESG initiatives position Covia to be an even stronger partner, dedicated to being a good neighbor for generations to come.

In June, Covia will be releasing our 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report. Follow our social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn as we highlight the report findings and share valuable insight about our progress.

Up to 12 candidates pursuing associate or bachelor’s degrees in engineering to receive as much as $10k in scholarship funding and a paid summer internship with National Grid’s MA or NY businesses.Launched in 2022 to advance skill training opportunities and a clear pathway to employment in energy for underrepresented talent.Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year will be accepted from April 25 to May 22, 2023.

WALTHAM, MA and BROOKLYN, NY, April 25, 2023 /3BL Media/– Applications are now being accepted for National Grid’s “Charging Our Future” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Engineering Scholarship Program for high school seniors and college students interested in pursuing engineering degrees and exploring rewarding careers in energy, the company announced today.

Now in its second year, the program has expanded to support more students from low- and moderate-income communities, awarding up to twelve candidates for the 2023-2024 academic year. Each selected candidate will receive as much as $10,000 in scholarship funding and a paid summer internship at one of National Grid’s Massachusetts or New York business locations.

“I’m proud that we continue to live our values at National Grid by expanding our DEI Engineering Scholarship Program to reach more aspiring engineers with better opportunities to drive innovation,” said Natalie Edwards, Chief Diversity Officer, National Grid. “To deliver a clean energy future for all, we must ensure our workforce represents the communities we serve and empower the leaders of tomorrow to bring new ideas and perspectives to the table. Reaching critical net zero goals requires an inclusive workforce that strongly values fresh approaches to ongoing challenges.”

Leading the transition to a clean, fair, and affordable energy future, National Grid is dedicated to investing in the next generation of industry professionals, providing individuals—particularly those from lower-income communities—with pathways to meaningful careers. The company places diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center of its operations, with a commitment to achieving 50% diversity in its senior leadership team and new talent programs by 2025, as outlined in its Responsible Business Charter.

DEI Engineering Scholarships were awarded to five students in 2022. Recipients are now gearing up for Summer 2023 internships—part of National Grid’s annual Gridtern Program—where they will put their education into practice on the job, network with peers, and volunteer in the local community. 

College freshman Miguel Leonarte says the program will enable him to apply new skills in a diverse, collaborative work environment.

“Coming from a small Latino community, I want to see more representation in the engineering field. The National Grid scholarship caught my attention because it’s oriented toward increasing diversity in engineering across Massachusetts,” said Leonarte. “While the monetary award reduces the financial burden of attending college, the internship program gives me the opportunity to receive hands-on experience alongside others in my field and get involved in projects that matter.”

National Grid is driving the clean energy transition in the Northeast U.S.—building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy system by accelerating renewable generation, advancing fossil-free heating, and readying the transmission grid for a highly electrified future for all customers.

To be eligible for National Grid’s “Charging Our Future” DEI Engineering Scholarship Program, applicants must:

Come from a home with a household income of less than 80% of the HUD medianBe high school seniors or college students residing and attending school in Massachusetts or New YorkPlan to enroll or be enrolled in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university for the entire 2023-2024 academic yearMajor in an engineering disciplineMaintain a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or aboveAccept a paid summer internship with National Grid in the summer of 2024

Awards are renewable for up to three additional years or until an undergraduate degree is earned, based on academic performance, full-time enrollment in an eligible major, and the completion of the summer internship program.

The deadline for applications is May 22, 2023. The program is administered by Scholarship America. Applications may be submitted at: https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/ng-chargingourfuture

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 Contact
Emily Demarest
Massachusetts
(781) 907-3980
Email

MIDLAND, Mich., April 25, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW) has earned a place on the Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the third consecutive year, moving up ten places from #99 last year to #89.

Dow is also the only materials science company to be recognized and one of only three manufacturing and production companies to make the list.

To determine the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Great Place To Work analyzed the anonymous survey responses of more than half a million employees from Great Place To Work Certified™ companies with at least 1,000 employees. Companies also submitted essays describing their efforts to offer generous and innovative support for their people, which were validated against employee survey responses.

“We are proud of this recognition which is based on direct feedback from our employees” said Jim Fitterling, Dow chairman and chief executive officer. “Being recognized again as a Great Place to Work is also an opportunity to continue to reflect on the responsibility we have to our people and our culture going forward, and ensuring we continue to raise the bar on enabling the best possible employee experience at Dow – which in turn enables better outcomes for all our stakeholders.”

Making the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list is highly competitive. Survey responses reflect a comprehensive picture of the workplace experience. Honorees were selected based on their ability to offer positive outcomes for employees regardless of job role, race, gender, sexual orientation, work status, or other demographic identifiers.

“This recognition is proof of the commitment from Team Dow to establish a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion for all,” said Alveda Williams, Dow chief inclusion officer. “Our Company thrives because of Team Dow, and in order to realize our ambition, it is necessary to cultivate a culture where everyone can contribute their utmost potential.”

Dow has also been recognized by Great Place to Work® with certifications in several other countries around the world including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

Additionally, Dow was named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by FORTUNE in 2023, named “2022 PEOPLE Companies that Care®” for the 3rd consecutive year by Great Place to Work® and PEOPLE, and one of the “Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production™” by Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE in 2022.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance leadership to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,800 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $57 billion in 2022. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

About Great Place To Work®

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, we have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Our employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything we do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work for all.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Fortune

The Fortune mission is to change the world by making business better. We achieve that by providing trusted information, telling great stories, and building world-class communities. We measure performance by rigorous benchmarks. And we hold companies accountable. Our goal is to make Fortune a force for good through its second century and beyond. For more information, visit www.fortune.com.

For further information, please contact:

Kyle Bandlow
+1.989.638.2417
kbandlow@dow.com

Nasdaq

After environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has moved into the mainstream over the past couple of years, the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) is launching the WFE Green Equity Principles, a global framework for identifying and appointing shares as green. Nasdaq collaborated closely with the WFE and contributed to the development of this global framework from Nasdaq’s own Green Designations, a marker for equity issuers in our European markets to increase visibility and transparency toward investors looking for sustainable investments.

The WFE Green Equity Principles will enable exchanges to promote access to capital for issuers with primarily green activities, provide investors with more information to help in their investment decision-making, allow issuers to raise their profile among investors committed to sustainability and increase visibility of issuers’ green credentials and commitment to the green economy.

To qualify for the WFE Green Classification, issuers must meet certain criteria that falls under a definition based on five overarching pillars: 

RevenuesTaxonomyGovernanceAssessmentDisclosure

The criteria attached to these principles aim to counter greenwashing and support the flow of funding towards more sustainable economies.

Two years before the WFE established its Green Equity Principles, Nasdaq was ahead of the curve, launching its own Green Designations in 2021. While WFE’s Green Equity Principles are aligned with Nasdaq’s Green Designations, there are a few key differences.

The Nasdaq standard is slightly more rigorous as it also encourages companies to keep an elevated level of green investments. For its two designations, Nasdaq also has exclusion criteria for revenue from fossil fuels.  

Nasdaq’s Green Designations make space for companies in transition, currently investing to become green with the Green Equity Transition Designation.

Green Designations is just one of Nasdaq’s ESG offerings as Nasdaq has expanded its suite of solutions over the past few years, establishing itself as an active partner in every stage of our clients’ ESG journey.

In addition to Green Designations, Nasdaq provides an ESG advisory program for companies looking to create a defined, future forward ESG strategy, and software solutions that help companies parse through the many frameworks required to report out ESG initiatives to stakeholders, such as Nasdaq OneReport and our recent acquisition of Metrio. Nasdaq also owns a majority stake in Puro.earth, the world’s leading crediting platform for engineered carbon removal.

WFE’s work to bring a global minimum standard to green equity issuers addresses a critical demand in the ESG space, and Nasdaq believes market standardization will battle greenwashing while advancing the global effort toward green markets.

United Rentals is committed to diversity, and to enabling every employee to bring their complete authentic self to work. “We envision United Rentals as an inclusive, empowered and safe workplace, where members of our team go home each day even better than they arrived,” said Monica Rodriguez, director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Reinforcing those values are the company’s employee resource groups (ERGs). These employee-led affinity groups create safe spaces for employees to have a voice and feel valued and respected.

The company recently carved out four new ERGs — Hispanic and Latin Advancement United (HOLA), LBTQIA+ United, Mental Wellness United and African and Black Heritage United — from an umbrella multicultural ERG called Together United. The need was clear, and the company was determined to be more inclusive to these historically marginalized groups

Some of the employees who stepped up to assume leadership positions in the new ERGs shared their visions.

HOLA United

Marina Conklin, consultant, national accounts, represents the HOLA (Building Hispanic & Latin Advancement) ERG.

“I’d like to tackle the stigma that we are just checking off a box in corporate America,” said Conklin. Her first goal is to encourage anyone interested in joining HOLA to do so. She said the group plans to hold virtual events, share content on the company’s internal web platform and highlight job advancement opportunities. “And of course, we’ll share all the cultural love that makes up the fabric of our Latino/Hispanic heritage.”

“I am honored and lucky to represent for this ERG,” added Conklin. “There is a ton of diverse, excellent talent at United Rentals, and I want to be a part of seeing and visibly acknowledging it rather than just wishing for it. Leveraging our diversity and the different cultures that exist at the company can elevate our brand as a whole. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

LGBTQIA+ United

Matt Guercio, operations supervisor, United Rentals Tool Solutions, joined the LGBTQIA+ ERG when it was an alliance group under Together United. One reason: “I wanted to bring awareness to the excessive suicide rate within the LGBTQIA+ youth community vs. its heterosexual counterpart. I felt compelled to educate employees and to humanize our stories,” said Guercio.

“I’ve watched the group grow and blossom into something beautiful,” Guercio noted. Now, as the company lead for the new ERG, he wants to continue to build pride in the company’s LGBTQIA+ employees, encourage proper pronoun use and educate all employees on how to support their LGBTQIA+ coworkers and be more effective allies.

“If we can touch just one employee to be more accepting of their LGBTQIA+ family members, then I feel like we’ve done something right.”

Mental Wellness United

Branch manager Mark Madden represents Mental Wellness United. Like many ERG leaders, he has deeply personal reasons for his involvement.

“My best friend died by suicide in 2019 with no previous indications that he was depressed,” said Madden. “We felt that he didn’t want to open up to friends or family because he was always the one to be there for others.” Madden recognized the importance of having an outlet outside of family and friends for discussing feelings confidentially.

The ERG’s purpose, Madden explained, is to give employees a platform to share their experiences, learn from each other and learn more about the many resources the company provides.

“We want to have mental health professionals come in and give educational talks on ways we can deal with stress, anxiety and depression. We also want to hold awareness campaigns on different mental health topics and how we can come together to help one another,” said Madden.

He added, “This company cares a lot about its employees and continues to raise the bar on what it means to take care of everyone inside of a company.”

African and Black Heritage United

The mission of ABHU is to recruit, retain and develop employees who identify as Black, African American or of African descent, explained Kerrigan Ambers, a United Rentals district manager and the group’s leader.

“People want to feel included,” said Ambers. “Being a minority not only in the organization but in the industry, I hope that my fellow team members know that they are not on their journey alone. ABHU and its allies are here to support you each step of the way.”

According to Ambers, the ERG is considering holding events such as quarterly leadership symposiums, open forum roundtables and development courses, along with events commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Black Heritage Month and Juneteenth.

The group is important because representation matters, Ambers noted. “Team members like to see others who look like them in leadership roles throughout the company. It gives them a sense of hope that they too can achieve higher-level roles while feeling a sense of belonging.”

By forming the four new ERGs, United Rentals aims to better support its employees across a wider range of demographics and needs and give them space to come together for everyone’s benefit.

Said Rodriguez, “We believe that when every employee has a sense of belonging, United Rentals as a whole can make a positive impact for its customers, communities and each other.”

We are honored to have our environmental leadership in the transportation industry recognized by JUST Capital for Earth Day. Through our ongoing efforts to reach our goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2040, FedEx will continue innovating to make our operations—and world—more sustainable: http://ms.spr.ly/6043g3zYF