Tag: 3BL

We’re helping solve our customers’ big challenges by innovating and delivering solutions that are better for their business – and for the environment.

Project At-a-Glance

The opportunity: Help the Neiman Marcus Group achieve its goal of a net-zero future by improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions at their historic Bergdorf Goodman building.

The solution: Replacing the building’s outdated, inefficient absorption chillers with two 500-ton water-cooled, energy-efficient Trane® electric chillers, low-GWP refrigerant, and upgraded controls.

Sustainability outcomes:

annual carbon reduction of 642 metric tonstotal elimination of the use of natural gas and progression toward electrificationan estimated $61,000 savings in annual energy costscompliance with New York City’s Local Law 97, one of the most ambitious plans for eliminating emissions in the nation

The Neiman Marcus Group (NMG) has been revolutionizing luxury retail for over 100 years. With the recent launch of its first-ever Environmental, Social, Governance report, “Our Journey to Revolutionize Impact,” NMG has applied its bold spirit to sustainability commitments, pledging to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50% by 2025 and to transition to 100% renewable energy use by 2030.

To reach these ambitious benchmarks, NMG worked with its longtime building technology and energy solutions partner Trane to create an enterprise-wide decarbonization roadmap. Understanding that buildings account for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,[1] NMG and Trane looked to the company’s iconic New York City storefront, the 94-year-old Bergdorf Goodman building, as a starting point.

Big challenges require bold solutions

The historic building sits in the heart of midtown Manhattan, at the intersection of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, and houses the Bergdorf Goodman Women’s Store. While the Bergdorf Goodman building is known for its elegant architecture, unique slanted mansard-style rooflines, and rich history, the nine-story building was also accounting for nearly 20% of the energy usage in the entire NMG fleet of stores.

After an initial comprehensive review to assess the functionality of the building, Trane and NMG considered infrastructure needs, key performance indicators, and Trane’s portfolio of innovative, sustainability-focused technologies to develop a comprehensive solution: Replacing the building’s outdated, inefficient absorption chillers with two 500-ton water-cooled, energy-efficient electric chillers and upgrading to a low-GWP refrigerant and optimized controls.

In addition to improving the building’s energy efficiency and launching NMG on its path toward net-zero, the proposed solution would also allow the Bergdorf Goodman to be among the first historic buildings to comply with New York City’s Local Law 97, a groundbreaking law requiring large buildings to meet new energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024, with stricter limits coming into effect by 2030[2].

The significant infrastructure upgrade, which took place in the center of bustling New York City without disrupting the day-to-day operations of the Bergdorf Goodman Women’s Store, required seamless coordination between the two companies and other key New York City agencies, including the Department of Buildings, the Department of Transportation, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Pioneering comprehensive solutions through innovative technology

Innovative, energy-efficient, decarbonizing technology from Trane enabled the Bergdorf Goodman building to eliminate the use of natural gas, progress toward full electrification, and transition to renewable energy use, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Trane’s next generation, low-GWP refrigerant electric chillers offer more efficiencies and capacities, setting a new standard for buildings in New York City, while upgraded controls optimize the system’s runtime and ensure more consistent comfort for customers.

Together, the carefully-orchestrated installation of the chillers and controls is expected to reduce the building’s emissions by 642 metric tons of carbon – the equivalent of GHG emissions from 138 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. As a direct result of their increased efficiency, the upgrades in the building will save NMG an estimated $61,000 in annual energy costs.

Strategic partners with shared climate goals 

The partnership between Neiman Marcus Group, a luxury retailer visionary, and Trane demonstrates the power of collaboration and shared values around renewable energy and decarbonization.

For Neiman Marcus Group, the installation represents a significant milestone along the company’s path toward decarbonization and places NMG at the forefront of energy innovation in historic buildings. At the same time, NMG’s transition to renewable energy supports New York City’s goal of reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and Trane Technologies’ goal of reducing a gigaton of carbon emissions from customers’ footprints by 2030.

The Bergdorf Goodman project is only the beginning of NMG and Trane’s decarbonization strategy, which includes deep decarbonization assessments at other high sales retail buildings across multiple states. As NMG continues on the pathway to net-zero, Trane will be there to offer holistic, bold solutions: delivering efficient results for business and creating a lasting, positive impact on the planet.

You can learn more about this project on trane.com. 
 

[1]Source: U.S. Green Building Council

[2] https://www.nyc.gov/site/sustainablebuildings/ll97/local-law-97.page

Nearly two dozen major companies and large energy consumers with operations in North Carolina are urging state policymakers to expand access to clean energy technologies and electric vehicles in order to drive economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.

In a letter delivered today to members of the North Carolina General Assembly and Gov. Roy Cooper, 22 companies, universities, and trade associations urged elected officials to consider policies and programs that will increase access to cost-effective, clean energy technologies. Additional policy action is needed to meet North Carolina’s power plant emissions reduction goals and maintain the state’s competitive advantage as an economic leader. The companies on the letter include Gaia Herbs, New Belgium Brewing Co., Nestlé, SAS, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Trane Technologies, Unilever, and VF Corporation, among others.

“Strong, decisive clean energy policies will signal that North Carolina is “open for business” — thereby attracting in-state investments, creating jobs, and helping businesses access additional opportunities to save money and strengthen their competitive advantage,” they wrote in the letter.

The companies also reaffirmed their support for North Carolina’s goal to reduce carbon emissions 70% by 2030 and achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050, as required by House Bill 951 enacted in 2021. Many were strong advocates for the state to pass House Bill 951, as well as for robust renewable energy and energy efficiency utility programs. They are now urging further policy and regulatory action to solidify North Carolina’s commitment to clean energy and electric vehicles to help the state attract investment, save businesses and consumers money, and bring new jobs to local communities.

“From the way we plant and grow the ingredients used in our products, to their harvest and distribution, Sustainability is at the core of our business at Gaia Herbs because a healthy climate is critical to our ability to continue to prosper as a North Carolina-based business,” said Alison E. Czeczuga, director of sustainability and impact at Gaia Herbs, based in Brevard. “As a verified B Corporation, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, and strongly support legislative and administrative solutions that help facilitate our efforts while ensuring the entire North Carolina economy can move toward this goal as quickly as possible.”

“Nestlé is committed to a more sustainable future, and ambitious state policies make it possible for companies to meet their pollution goals while growing the economy,” said Megan Villarreal, director of government relations at Nestlé, which has a manufacturing facility under construction in Rockingham County. “As North Carolina progresses through the 2023 legislative session, we welcome the opportunity to work with lawmakers and the Cooper administration on new measures to build upon the momentum in the state’s clean energy industry and achieve the state’s climate and economic goals.”

There are more than 85 companies with operations in North Carolina that have set goals to power their operations with 100% renewable energy sources—and many more with other clean energy, electric vehicle, or emissions reduction goals—and they want to see state policies and programs that support their electricity needs as they work to reduce risk and stay competitive in their respective sectors.

“Companies have a choice where to locate or expand their operations. We’re seeing firsthand that companies that select states that have strong clean energy policies and customer programs that help them meet their clean energy and emissions reduction goals,” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy at Ceres. “We look forward to working with North Carolina’s elected officials to build upon its clean energy policies to ensure North Carolina remains open for business and ready to reap the economic benefits of a clean energy and electric transportation economy.”

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

“I’m a lifetime learner,” explains Tim Bates, Chief Technology Officer for Lenovo’s Global Accounts and Latin America organizations.

The definition of technologist, Bates fashioned an impressive resume even before embarking on a successful IT career that’s spanned more than two decades. As a teen, he was a white hat hacker for the government, before putting his tech skills to use in the U.S. Marine Corps, including service in the Desert Storm operation in 1991.

A proud son of Detroit, MI, Bates joined Lenovo in December 2021 after almost 20 years in corporate leadership with General Motors. As CTO, Bates is passionate about working with Lenovo clients to identify the best solutions to meet customers’ IT needs, including security solutions, application development, virtual adoption, and infrastructure requirements.

Bates’ affinity for technology and lifetime learning feeds another passion: giving back to the community. He’s volunteered for years with organizations like Wounded Warrior Homes, MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Computing Tech, and in his capacity as an IT executive served as a special advisor to tech companies including AMD, NVIDIA, and Epic Games.

The Beginning: Unreal Basecamp Pilot, from Concept to Reality

In 2021, Bates’ passion for technology and service intersected, when he was inspired to create a program to benefit underserved students in the greater Detroit region. The objective was simple – provide a pathway for young people to pursue IT careers. In many cases, these students lack the means or inclination to attend college, but Bates saw opportunity in IT that even they might not have imagined. The need – and opportunity – is clear: Brookings Institute research indicates that Black and Hispanic workers are significantly underrepresented in the tech industry, respectively comprising only 8 and 7 percent of the IT workforce.

Bates envisioned a program where participants would learn to design applications through Epic Games’ Unreal engine and position themselves for careers in IT. He recruited like-minded Detroit area business contacts to the cause, most notably Dan Garrison, Sr. Managing Director for Accenture and Edward Kim, a Detroit-area entrepreneur. Together, they created a concept for a program – called Unreal Basecamp – and brought it to life, even serving as initial faculty members. Bates also secured support from Lenovo and NVIDIA. Lenovo, for example, provided its Legion gaming model laptops for participants to use during the pilot.

The inaugural Unreal Basecamp launched a year ago, in January 2022, and included 10 Detroit-area high school students and their parents. Some participants came from very difficult backgrounds, including living in homeless shelters among other challenging circumstances.

Unreal Basecamp was held at the site of the former Marygrove College, a historic setting in Detroit that adds greater meaning for Bates personally.

“It’s right in the middle of Detroit, where you have some of the brightest kids you could ever imagine, but who don’t all have access to technology,” he states. “One of those kids who used to live in the neighborhood was myself.” The home he was raised in is just a few blocks away.

Over 6 months, Bates, Garrison and Kim taught them low-code no-code programming, a skillset that can open doors to entry-level IT positions, and the potential to dramatically change program participants’ lives.

Bates explains, “Many of the jobs today that young people who do not have a college degree take are going away. Automation in fast food and other service-type roles, for example, further limits those type opportunities long term. Information Technology, on the other hand, is in demand, and we hope that by teaching low-code, no-code, our students will help meet that demand, better themselves and be prepared for the jobs of the future.”

In conjunction with the training Bates led, students also had the opportunity to take on internships at corporate supporters including Accenture, GM and Lenovo.

The program culminated with a fun “Shark Tank” like competition in June where teams presented the applications they’d designed to their instructors and other Detroit-area IT professionals.

Bates expresses pride in the success of Unreal Basecamp year one, and gratitude for Lenovo’s support. “Lenovo’s latest leading-edge technology was key, and the important point is this partnership isn’t so much about looking at the now, but rather, the future of development jobs,” he says. “It was crucial from our perspective also to show the community we care about their future by aligning them with what’s next in technology.”

What’s Next

Bates and team are optimistic about the next phase of Unreal Basecamp. Key objectives include growing partnerships with governments, nonprofits and other corporations. The state of Michigan has expressed interest in partnering. Opportunities being explored include expanding to places like Chicago, Las Vegas and North Carolina.

In addition to growing Unreal Basecamp, Bates has also taken a leadership position within Lenovo’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program. His dedication to customers, community and the ideals of DEI are notable, states Kevin Nelson, Lenovo Global Accounts vice president.

“It is so very impressive how Tim has leveraged his expertise in technology to create meaningful opportunities for others that in turn will make our industry stronger,” notes Nelson.

Bates is philosophical about how programs like Unreal Basecamp can make a difference.

“We talk about ‘it takes a village’ to move forward,” Bates states. “I believe it takes a village to be strong enough to connect with other villages to become a community. What I’m trying to do is connect communities – villages – together like they’ve never been connected before. If we can all achieve to work together, we can do amazing things.”

Ready-to-use AgPowered Services from Bayer running on the new Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Agriculture / Readymade capabilities and robust digital infrastructure allow innovators to focus on differentiated value / Companies, farmers and consumers share value through better connected solutions and increased supply chain transparency that support sustainable agriculture and food production / Azure Data Manager for Agriculture to become the largest connection point of agricultural data and services, accelerating innovation, breaking down data silos and driving interoperability across the value chain – including food, feed, fiber and fuel

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Following a 2021 strategic partnership announcement with Microsoft, Bayer today launched new cloud-based solutions for the agri-food industry: AgPowered Services from Bayer in combination with the new Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Agriculture provide ready-to-use capabilities available for businesses and organizations from start-ups to global enterprises to license and use for their own internal or customer-facing digital solutions.

For example, companies that develop on-farm technologies can build on the new cloud infrastructure and core capabilities from Microsoft (Azure Data Manager for Agriculture) and license additional capabilities from Bayer (Bayer AgPowered Services) to build digital tools that support favorable agronomic outcomes for growers. Similarly, consumer goods companies can use the cloud offerings to build solutions that provide insight into nutrients, sustainability, and production practices to build trust with consumers, stakeholders and investors.

Azure Data Manager for Agriculture combines decades of Bayer’s agricultural expertise with Microsoft’s cloud solutions, advancing the industry through readymade capabilities and robust infrastructure that allow innovators to focus on differentiated value. After initial preview starting today allowing for customer exploration of both the Azure Data Manager and AgPowered Services, full commercial availability will be announced at a later date.

“Only innovation can ensure global food security while protecting the planet. Modern agriculture and food production generate a tremendous amount of valuable data that can drive productivity and sustainability,” said Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of R&D for Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “However, this data is often disconnected, not useable throughout the value chain, and the costs to build digital solutions from scratch are high. Our new cloud-based solutions help overcome these challenges. Customers can use the infrastructure and capabilities to build their own digital solutions and products on top of the most robust collection of ag data in the world.”

These cloud offerings also support an ecosystem that allows for greater transparency along the whole food production value chain. This transparency, enabled through end-to-end interoperability, would make it easier for consumer goods companies to partner with growers based on how crops are raised and help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions based on origin practices. The potential to support sustainable agriculture and food production can ultimately benefit companies, farmers, consumers, and the planet.

“In order to enable a more sustainable future in agriculture, we must scale innovation which starts with data,” said Ralph Haupter, President of Microsoft EMEA. “Our partnership with Bayer allows us to benefit from each other’s experiences to empower organizations to address challenges in farming today.”

In addition to using the platform to develop their own internal and customer-facing digital platforms, companies and organizations will have the ability to bring their own solutions to Azure Data Manager for Agriculture and make them available for licensing, similar to how Bayer is offering these initial AgPowered Services as add-ons to Azure Data Manager robust infrastructure and core capabilities:

Bayer Imagery Insights – Track crop health over time and quickly identify areas in fields that need attention through a series of satellite images and supporting data within individually selected geographic areas.Bayer Growing Degree Day Calculation – Provide a calculation for Growing Degree Days, a critical input for models that focus on identifying key timing of variables affecting crop growth, health and output, as well as the emergence and development of important crop insect pests and diseases.Bayer Crop Water Use Maps – Gain access to map layers and supporting data that help define the amount of water a crop is using or losing during a 24-hour period. Users will be able to understand crop evaporation and transpiration levels and potential crop loss areas due to lack of water, which is a key driver for irrigation planning.

Data models powering Bayer AgPowered Services are developed using publicly available data like weather information, remote sensing like satellite imagery, decades of rich agronomic data from Bayer research and market development efforts, as well as aggregated, anonymized, and enhanced data from Climate FieldView™, Bayer’s leading digital farming solution with subscriptions across more than 220 million acres in over 20 countries. All cloud-based solutions are designed to meet or exceed global data privacy requirements, providing data storage on the world’s most trusted cloud with leading security offerings.

Solutions built on Azure Data Manager can benefit farmers seeking to track disease, pest and weed pressure, apply precision inputs, identify crop growth and production patterns, measure potential yield, track and capture carbon emissions, and analyze heat stress impact, rainfall, hail and weather data. In addition to bringing the first AgPowered Services to the cloud offering, Bayer is using capabilities from Azure Data Manager to power insights in FieldView.

Using these cloud-based enterprise solutions, value chain partners will be able to apply insights into supply projections, sustainable sourcing, and ESG reporting. They will also be able to meet quickly changing consumer preferences for fresh, high-quality ingredients with data driven insights that allow for optimization of harvest, transport, and ripening processes as well as advanced traceability of food ingredients.

“This is an important step towards accelerating the impact of big data and agriculture. With high-quality data fueling insights, we expect to see a value chain that is more predictable, more transparent, and importantly, where value is shared all the way back to producers,” said Jeremy Williams, Head of Climate and Digital Farming at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “This is how we incentivize sustainable business models to drive these regenerative agriculture ecosystem benefits, providing growers options to meaningfully connect with supply chains that start on their farms.”

The partnership between Microsoft and Bayer is a significant, strategic step forward in accomplishing Bayer’s ambitious target of 100-percent digitally enabled sales in its Crop Science division by 2030 and accelerating its ability to bring new value and deliver outcomes-based, digitally enabled solutions to farmer customers. Bayer is committed to setting a new standard for the industry in data-driven, digital innovation.

For more information, please check our website.

About Bayer 
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2022, the Group employed around 101,000 people and had sales of 50.7 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Follow us on twitter.com/bayer

Forward-Looking Statements 
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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Suppliers of Whole Foods Market are empowering microentrepreneurs, primarily women, with economic opportunity. These generous brands fund microloans for entrepreneurs living in poverty so they can start or expand a small business, often home-based. With a small loan of around $200, an entrepreneur can purchase essential needs for their small enterprises, such as products for a food stand, equipment for a sewing business, or tools for a small-scale farm.  Profits from their microbusinesses provide these entrepreneurs the opportunity to lift themselves and their families out of poverty, one loan at a time.

Celebrating the economic achievements of women in March

Every year, we celebrate the economic achievements of women microcredit clients in March during Women’s History Month. Supporting brands are invited to help further our mission by funding additional microloans. Brands that donate $25,000 in March to fund microcredit are recognized as members of Whole Planet Foundation’s Poverty Is Unnecessary Fund. This month’s generous donors include Lundberg Family Farms, MaryRuth’s, Schmidt’s, SheaMoisture and So Delicious.

Lundberg Family Farms

Lundberg Family Farms, a leading grower of organic rice and maker of best-selling packaged rice and rice snacks, returns as a member of the $25,000 Poverty is Unnecessary Fund supporting Whole Planet Foundation’s mission. To date, they have helped fund more than 630 microloans to create income-generating opportunities for microentrepreneur families around the globe. These loans help a microentrepreneur to start or grow a small business in their communities.

“Our family knows firsthand how the seed of an idea can grow into a business that can help families and communities flourish,” says fourth-generation family member Brita Lundberg. “We’re honored to pay it forward by supporting Whole Planet Foundation so we can all keep growing together for generations to come,” says Lundberg Family Farms Team.

Learn how you can help support our mission at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

This press release was originally distributed by Denver Public Schools (DPS). You can find the DPS version online here.

DENVER, Colo., March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – The Denver Public Schools STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, PE, Health and Media Literacy) Department is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative with Discovery Education which will help educators district wide provide K-12 students with innovative and engaging multilingual learning experiences and resources.

“We are thrilled to bring Discovery Education’s digital resources to our students,” said Nadia Madan Morrow, Chief of Academics of Denver Public Schools. “This initiative will help us enhance and enrich the educational experiences of our K-12 students, while also empowering our teachers with tools and resources to enhance the district’s adopted curriculum.”

Discovery Education, a worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place, offers K-12 educators a range of digital tools and resources that support the design and delivery of exciting educational experiences every day. The program includes science simulations, STEM connection videos and activities, virtual field trips and more!

“Discovery Education is more than just a program, it’s an experience,” said Beth Vinson, Director of STEAM at Denver Public Schools. “We believe that this initiative will help our students develop a love of learning and a curiosity for the world around them.”

Discovery Education’s supplemental curriculum offers a wide range of interactive and engaging resources that align with Colorado state standards. With Discovery Education’s science simulations, students can explore and experiment with scientific concepts in a safe and engaging virtual environment. The program’s STEM connection videos and activities provide real-world examples of STEM concepts in action, while the virtual field trips take students on exciting adventures to explore new places and learn about different cultures.

Denver Public Schools use of Discovery Education’s digital resources is funded in part by the STEM Careers Coalition and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.

“Discovery Education is excited to support the talented team at Denver Public Schools as they launch this important effort,” said Coni Rechner, Discovery Education’s Senior Vice President of State and Strategic Partnerships. “The district’s innovative use of federal funding is a model for school systems nationwide seeking to engage and inspire all learners–even our youngest students–to explore the careers of tomorrow.”

Denver Public Schools will be rolling out the Discovery Education program to all K-12 schools in the district in the coming weeks. The program will be available during the school day and to use at home, ensuring that all students have access to the same high-quality educational resources.

About Denver Public Schools STEAM Department:
The Denver Public Schools STEAM Department is dedicated to providing students with innovative and engaging learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, PE, health and media literacy. Through the implementation of new programs and technologies, the STEAM Department is helping to prepare students for the 21st century workforce and beyond.

For more information about the Denver Public Schools STEAM Department and the Discovery Education program, visit DPS STEAM

About Discovery Education:
Discovery Education is a worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – T. Rowe Price, a global investment management firm and a leader in retirement, today published the latest findings of its annual Retirement Savings and Spending study, which found women lag far behind men in terms of retirement contributions, savings, and confidence. Notably, the median 401(k) account balance for women was 65% lower compared to men. The study surveys a national representative group of 401(k) participants, with this iteration focused on the gender gap in retirement savings, addressing plan access and adequacy, a key theme in T. Rowe Price’s 2023 U.S. Retirement Market Outlook.

Although women are saving less, there were no meaningful gaps inaccess to retirement plans between men and women. According to 2022 Census data, retirement plan participation appears consistent among private sector wage and salaried workers between the ages of 21 and 64 across both genders (52.5% participation for men versus 51% participation for women).

Some contributing factors to the gender savings gap likely include:

National income averages reflect that women typically earn less than menWomen are more likely to have shorter job tenures compared to men (median of six verses eight years)More women than men held debt across most of the categories offered in the survey, to include credit card and personal loan debt, with a staggering disparity in student load debt in particular. According to the study, 23% of women and 14% of men reported student loan debt – a difference of 60%

“The gender income gap is contributing to a domino effect of women’s finances; lower earnings can have an effect on their current financial decisions which ultimately impacts their financial future, including retirement savings,” said Judith Ward, CFP®, thought leadership director. “As women, it’s critical for us to be proactive when it comes to our money and to seek guidance and education that is necessary to put us on the path toward a successful financial future.”

Additional key findings from the survey include:

The median annual contribution for women was 43% less than menWomen are less confident about retirement than men (22% verses 37%)

“The gender gap in retirement savings is a challenge for women who are preparing for retirement, and we understand that there are various social and economic factors that significantly affect women’s ability to save,” said Sudipto Banerjee, vice president, Retirement Thought Leadership at T. Rowe Price. “We believe that financial wellness programs offered by employers can be beneficial. Taking steps to improve individual finances can be empowering and help position women for a more secure retirement.”

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ABOUT T. ROWE PRICE 
Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price (NYSE: TROW) helps people around the world achieve their long-term investment goals. As a recognized global asset management company known for investment excellence, retirement leadership, and independent proprietary research, the firm is built on a culture of integrity that puts its clients’ interests first. Investors rely on T. Rowe Price for its active management approach and its broad range of equity, fixed income, retirement, alternatives, and multi-asset investment capabilities. T. Rowe Price manages $1.31 trillion in assets under management as of February 28, 2023, and serves millions of clients globally. T. Rowe Price can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube, and troweprice.com/newsroom.

Hispanic and Black populations have long experienced disproportionate rates of childhood obesity in the US. COVID-19 has exacerbated this issue and others, putting more minority and low-income populations at risk for extensive health complications, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To help address this crisis, the Social and Health Research Center (SAHRC) of San Antonio, TX, under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Roberto Trevino, developed the Bienestar/NEEMA Coordinated School Health Program (Bienestar). This evidence-based curriculum is designed to educate and engage children in positive behaviors that can significantly reduce the health risks of obesity, diabetes, respiratory ailments, and other predisposing conditions. Since its launch, Bienestar has been recognized as a successful intervention program by numerous public health and education agencies, including the CDC, the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Texas Education Agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Cancer Institute.

To influence behavior change, SAHRC is developing content that is both affordable for schools and engaging for students. With support from Q4HE, SAHRC is converting its kindergarten through 3rd-grade curriculum from a traditional textbook format to an interactive, digital animated platform, making it more economical for school districts and more compelling for students. This new platform utilizes age-appropriate, full-motion 3D animated characters, animated sing-alongs, tutorials, and gamification of quizzes and tests to inform, entertain, and inspire students to adopt healthy habits.

“This grant from Q4HE provides a better chance of reaching more children and families with more effective health messaging. This means that we can help close the gap in health equity and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in more communities. Less disease means fewer sick days taken, less school missed, and longer lives lived. If that doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, what does?”

– Dr. Roberto Trevino Executive Director, SAHRC

The Bienestar program is culturally appropriate and designed to engage high-risk students. Its coordinated lessons were created for use in health and physical education classes, in school food service programs, and in direct engagement with parents. SAHRC is using this curriculum to help reduce blood glucose and insulin levels, decrease obesity rates, increase dietary fiber intake, and increase fitness levels in children. With Q4HE’s support, SAHRC will be able to expand its reach from San Antonio across the country, offering a more accessible, inspiring, and affordable curriculum for schools to engage underserved student populations.

“The dramatic decrease in the cost of the Bienestar curriculum makes it accessible for school districts serving low-income communities. Through digitization of its content, the price for schools dropped from $18,000 for the printed version to under $1,000 for the digitized version. This puts the resource within reach so our students can improve their health and quality of life.”

– Pedro Martinez Superintendent, San Antonio Independent School District

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SHANGHAI, March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987, “Yum China” or the “Company”) announced it has been named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023 by Fast Company. This marks the second time the Company has been included in the prestigious annual list, following its previous inclusion in 2020.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature list and provides a firsthand look at the inspiring and innovative efforts of companies across all sectors of the economy. Fast Company recognized Yum China’s efforts to promote digital inclusion, specifically highlighting KFC’s roll-out of a new version of its app with a simplified user interface designed for seniors. Fast Company highlighted the app as being “the first of its kind in the fast-food business.”

“We are honored to receive this recognition once again, which underscores Yum China’s vision to becoming the world’s most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry,” said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. “We embed innovative thinking and approaches across our business as we strive to make a difference and drive sustainable growth.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of and demand for digital services among the older consumer demographic group. The launch of the senior-friendly KFC Super App set a benchmark for the restaurant industry, highlighting how digital technologies can adapt and help bridge the digital divide for the older consumer demographic group.

The senior-friendly app is not just about enlarging the fonts and streamlining functions. By utilizing AI technology, the app can generate meaningful recommendations according to user habits and simplify the purchasing process.

Yum China was one of the earliest restaurant companies to embrace digitalization. As early as 2014, the Company launched its digital loyalty program. The program has grown to over 410 million members by end of 2022. The majority of customers now place their orders through the Company’s proprietary SuperApps and other digital channels. Digital ordering accounted for nearly 90% of the Company’s sales in 2022, a notable increase from 55% in 2019. The Company has also created a powerful digital ecosystem that effectively integrates online platforms with offline stores, offering customers great experience while driving operational excellence.

Innovation is a key ingredient of Yum China’s core competitiveness, penetrating all aspects of the business – from digitalization, menu innovation to store format development, among other areas. Moving forward, Yum China will continue to explore and roll out new and exciting innovations in order to better serve customers, drive efficiencies and achieve sustainable growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as “expect,” “expectation,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “belief,” “aim,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “predict,” “project,” “likely,” “will,” “continue,” “should,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “look forward to” or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.

About Yum China Holdings, Inc.

Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates nearly 13,000 restaurants under six brands across 1,800 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee shop concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world’s most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

Tel: +86 21 2407 7556 / +852 2267 5801

IR@YumChina.com

Media Contact:

Tel: +86 21 2407 7510

Media@YumChina.com

Edward Palmieri, head of global sustainability at Meta, and Nethra Rajendran, Net Zero Analyst at GreenBiz Group, discuss Meta’s commitment to become water positive by 2030.

“Climate change is exacerbated by water stress around the globe. When it comes to this precious resource, we know that we have a responsibility as members of the global community — and in the local communities where we operate — to use less, and to be water positive,” says Palmieri, who notes that currently, Meta data centers are 80% more water efficient than industry average.

Adds Palmieri, “Our Meta offices are 38% more water efficient than the LEED baseline, which is what we use to evaluate our criteria. So we know that we are starting from a really strong efficiency space. And then we want to make sure that beyond that, we’re putting back the water we consume through our operations.”

About Meta

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. We collaborate with community members, climate action leaders and scientists to innovate beyond what is possible today and accelerate action-oriented resources for tomorrow. Meta envisions a just and equitable transition to a zero-carbon economy and is working with others to scale inclusive solutions that help create a healthier planet for all, ensuring that no one is left behind.