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The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) in the EU reforms and significantly expands the reporting obligations of companies. It extends the reporting requirements and makes it compulsory for big to small and medium-sized enterprises based on a harmonized reporting standard.

The extended scope will mean that from 2024, more than 50,000 European companies will have to disclose detailed ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) information. The EU Council announced the approval of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive on the 28th of November, 2022.

This new directive will have implications beyond the EU. For non-European companies, the requirement to provide a sustainability report applies to all companies generating a net turnover of €150 million in the EU and with at least one subsidiary or branch. These companies must report their ESG impacts, namely environmental, social and governance impacts, as defined in this directive. Not to mention, many companies have existing reporting obligations aside from the CSRD, so it’s important to map these requirements against existing and/or future reporting mechanisms and identify any reporting gaps that may need to be addressed in upcoming disclosures.

Read more on the business implications below, with this article originally published here from our Inogen Alliance Associate in Hungary, denxpert, along with an infographic on how to prepare for CSRD.

What is CSRD?

The CSRD will replace the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) after 2024. Under the current working version of the CSRD, a significantly larger number of companies in the EU will be required to report on their non-financial sustainability performance compared to the previous NFRD. Typical sustainability issues to be reported include environmental rights, social rights, human rights, and governance factors.

The CSRD proposal:

extends the scope to all large companies and all companies listed on regulated markets (for example banks and insurance companies)requires the audit (assurance) of reported informationintroduces more detailed reporting requirements according to EU sustainability reporting standards

The European Commission’s proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) forces the adoption of EU sustainability reporting standards. The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) will be responsible for establishing these European standards, following technical advice from several European agencies. The standards will be tailored to EU policies while building on and contributing to international standardization initiatives.

Who is affected by the CSRD?

The CSRD will apply to all large companies and entities with securities listed on regulated markets in the EU, except micro-enterprises. Large companies are entities that exceed the thresholds for at least two of the following three criteria: 1) balance sheet total: €20 million, 2) net turnover: €40 million, 3) the average number of employees in the financial year: 250.

These companies are also responsible for assessing the information at the level of their subsidiaries.

Large companies are not the only ones required to publish their sustainability reports. The EU proposes that listed small and medium-sized companies could also be affected, but they will be subject to simpler rules than large companies. An opt-out will be possible for SMEs during a transitional period, meaning that they will be exempted from the application of the directive until 2028.

How can I prepare for CSRD compliance?

Different approaches to reporting can be taken depending on whether a company is preparing its first sustainability report or has already communicated its non-financial performance.

If the company is likely subject to the CSRD, it is worthwhile to carry out a gap analysis to show its current state of compliance. The next step is to draw up a plan to address the gaps so that the report is fully compliant with the CSRD by the deadline.

The first steps can be taken based on the information available. A materiality analysis needs to be carried out, stakeholders need to be mapped, channels to learn about sustainability issues need to be developed, corporate governance structures need to be designed to meet expectations, and data collection methods need to be developed. Some companies may have other reporting obligations besides the CSRD, which need to be identified and a timetable set to meet these by the deadline.

Companies that have already reported on their non-financial performance are at an advantage, especially if they have prepared their reports under an international standard. However, it is also essential for these companies to review their reporting practices, considering the expected new requirements.

Continue Reading on the Inogen Alliance Blog

With the CSRD, there are varying levels of applicability and urgency to formally align depending on a variety of factors including company size, subsidiary structure, location, and revenue. So the first step is to gain a better understanding of the disclosure requirements and how they will impact your business.

For help navigating your sustainability reporting and disclosure journey, reach out to Antea Group’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Disclosure team today.

By Julie Nash, Ph.D., Ceres Senior Program Director, Food and Forests

The historic pact agreed to in December by world leaders to tackle the devastating impacts of global biodiversity loss highlights the critical role that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in conserving nature.

Bold in its scope and language, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework recognizes the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in safeguarding biodiversity and the need to adopt human rights-based conservation approaches. This is a result of tireless efforts from the communities that have historically suffered human rights abuses and land use restrictions from strictly protected areas. These groups are proven stewards of effective biodiversity conservation and they must be engaged by companies in creating climate plans that address the escalating risks of nature loss.

Investors recognize that more than half of the world’s GDP ($44 trillion of economic value generation) is either moderately or highly reliant on nature and the services it provides. Further nature loss will cause negative economic repercussions globally. 

To drive greater corporate ambition and action to reduce nature and biodiversity loss, Ceres and its partners recently announced a global investor engagement initiative, Nature Action 100. The investors who are part of the new initiative will engage companies in key sectors that systemically important to reversing nature loss by 2030 – directly contributing to the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Key to that engagement will be understanding how companies’ nature-based risks mitigation plans involve Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Drawing on our insights from carbon credit projects, including Ceres report, Evaluating the Use of Carbon Credits: Critical questions for financial institutions when engaging with companies, there are certain elements that are shown to make corporate plans more successful. These elements help strengthen participation, improve the distribution of benefits and burdens, enhance cultural and political recognition, and lower business risks.

These key elements build on each other to ensure that these groups are not only considered and respected, but also are active participants in the risk mitigation process:

Upholding rights

As they craft plans for addressing the risks stemming from nature and biodiversity loss, companies need to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Respect for the rights of these populations is included in the Framework’s sweeping Targets 1 and Target 3, aimed at bringing the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance close to zero by 2030 and ensuring and enabling that at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed. However, the efficacy of the 30×30 target, which was widely disputed by indigenous peoples and human rights organizations, depends on its implementation. Achieving this target by recognizing indigenous territories in Target 3 could pave the way towards a future of effective community and rights-based biodiversity protection.

Safeguarding free, prior, and informed consent

Indigenous Peoples and local communities have the right to free, prior, and informed consent. That means that these groups should be given consent without coercion and with sufficient time to make decisions. They also must have the right to deny any actions at any time in the development of nature-based risks mitigation plans. This concept was acknowledged in Target 21 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which states that “traditional knowledge, innovations, practices and technologies of Indigenous Peoples and local communities should only be accessed with their free, prior and informed consent, in accordance with national legislation.”

Ensuring active participation

Companies must ensure that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are active participants in the conception, design, and implementation phases of plans for mitigating nature-based risks. Corporate engagement must go beyond simply receiving consent from these groups to involving them in all stages of the development process for plans to be most successful. While relevant to many of the targets, Target 19 about increasing financial resources toward biodiversity conservation specifically alludes to active participation through “enhancing the role of collective actions,” including by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Providing for equitable participation

Companies should strive for equitable participation of all community members, including women. Target 23 of the Global Biodiversity Framework directly addresses this concept, highlighting the need to enhance gender equality in the framework’s implementation. Specifically, the target mentions recognizing the equal rights of women and girls and “their full, equitable, meaningful and informed participation and leadership at all levels of action, engagement, policy and decision-making related to biodiversity.”

While it requires dedicated effort by companies, Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be respected, active, and equitable participants as they work to address the biodiversity loss that jeopardizes their own business and to achieve the ambitious aims of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Investors can use these insights to knowledgably engage companies in support of the pact’s just and inclusive biodiversity protection and restoration goals. Additionally, they can join Nature Action 100, which will formally launch in Spring 2023. To learn more about the new initiative, visit natureaction100.org.

Logitech Blog

Technology creates positive change in the world across many industries, from healthcare to communication and education. According to a report from Logitech, 92% of women working in tech and IT say the ability to make a meaningful contribution to society is a primary factor in their career development. Celebrating the good work being done by the industry, especially women, could help close the gender gap that persists in the field.

Logitech MX supports opportunities for women and girls to build the skills they need for STEM careers and honors women working in tech and IT with #WomenWhoMaster. The series has featured many women who are giving back to their community through tech, including the three stories below.

Nelly Cheboi: Gives Back to Sustainably Solve Poverty

As a little girl, Nelly Cheboi’s family barely had enough money for food or shoes, let alone a computer. She dreamed about ending this poverty for her family and others in rural communities.

“I wanted to rewrite what it looks like to grow up in a village like Mogotio [a small village in Kenya].”

After taking an introduction to Java course in college, she saw the power of coding. That moment led her to found the nonprofit TechLitAfrica, which partners with schools in Kenya to provide a technology-based curriculum focused on self-efficacy, troubleshooting, and internet skills. Nelly single-handedly provided the computers for the nonprofit’s early years, collecting discarded computers from the U.S. and transporting them to Kenya. It’s part of the reason Nelly was named the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year. TechLit Africa has reached 4,000 students in 10 schools, and Nelly plans to grow that number to 100 schools. 

Yuko Nagakura: Gives Back to Fight the Patriarchy

Yuko Nagakura is proof that someone is never too young to make a difference. By 17 years old, she built two global communities that invite girls into tech and challenge gender inequality in the industry. World Coding Club introduces the basics of coding to young people in more than 30 countries. Through hackathons and digital groups, the club gives young people, with a focus on girls, the opportunity to learn coding skills in a fun way. One of Yuko’s favorite parts of the project is the opportunity to mentor younger students. 

Her other organization, SHEQUALITY, is an online platform where female writers from around the world publish articles about feminism from a global lens. Yuko started SHEQUALITY to change  the world and combat gender inequality. However, the site has changed her as well, broadening her views on how feminism differs around the world. 

“Reading the articles and talking to the other girls has been a really eye-opening experience for me. Because there are girls from so many different cultural lenses it’s changed how I think about feminism.”

Kavya Krishna: Gives Back to Democratize Financial Independence

While working her first job at a major technology company, Kavya Krishna was only one of two women on her team. They started meeting for what they called “women in tech” lunches. The goal was to meet other women in the company but it slowly became passionate discussions about the women’s journeys to corporate America and the lack of support for girls in their home countries to become financially independent. As someone who always saw technology as a path to gain financial independence, Kavya wanted to do something. So she started the Society of Women Coders, a nonprofit that teaches digital skills to girls from underserved and at-risk communities around the world.

“[In the beginning] we called ourselves the Sisterhood of the Traveling Coders, but it wasn’t an organization. We were just a group of women techies who wanted to give back.”

At first, Kavya and her co-founder used their vacation days and savings to travel to different countries to conduct coding camps. Now five years later, Kavya has built a thriving online and in-person community of girls who are empowered to direct their own future. She knows these girls will soon be scientists, top engineers, and heads of corporations. She hopes they too will be inspired to give back to their communities. 

Influential innovators like Nelly, Yuko, and Kavya are changing the world and inspiring the next generation of tech professionals. Read more about these difference-makers and others like them in Logitech’s #WomenWhoMaster series.

Ready to help more women and girls make a meaningful contribution to the world through STEM careers? Share the #WomenWhoMaster series on social or submit your own #WomenWhoMaster nominee by tagging them on Instagram with the hashtag or emailing their story to us here. 

Women Who Master puts a spotlight on women who have made outstanding contributions to STEM fields. The goal of the series is to celebrate those contributions, inspire future leaders, and help close the gender gap in technology.

PHILADELPHIA, February 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Sofidel, a global household products company received a ESG Risk Rating of 13.6 from Morningstar Sustainalytics, ranking it first out of over 120 companies in the Household Products industry. The rating recognized Sofidel for its strong commitment to the preservation of biodiversity, anti-corruption strategies, transparency, and efforts to fight climate change and global warming. With 1,500 employees across the U.S., Sofidel also placed in the “Low Risk” category as of August 2022, that lists companies with a strong ability to manage the environmental, social and governance risks that characterize the three areas of a company’s responsibility.

Morningstar Sustainalytics is a leading ESG and corporate governance research provider, and ratings and analytics firm that supports investors around the world with the development and implementation of responsible investment strategies.

Sustainalytics also ranked Sofidel in the top 10% of more than 15,000 global companies evaluated.

“Once again, Sustainalytics’ ESG Risk Rating attests to the rigor of our commitment to ESG sustainability and risk management policies,” commented Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of the Sofidel Group. “These analyses, in addition to traditional financial ratings, represent a benchmark for investors, external observers, and worldwide stakeholders whose choices are increasingly guided by companies’ abilities to develop and implement effective sustainability strategies. This is a recognition we are pleased with as it translates the commitment and dedication of recent years into measurable results, which are essential to allow us to compare ourselves with international best practices and, above all, to detect further areas for improvement.”

Sofidel excelled in the material categories ranking of Land Use – Biodiversity and Business Ethics. For risk management related to Land Use – Biodiversity, the company received a score of 97/100, thanks to a strict forestry procurement policy, developed in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), whose only goal is zero deforestation. Today, Sofidel uses only pulp which is (100%) certified under forest chain-of-custody schemes and is committed to the active monitoring of high-risk countries and the introduction of control measures on the second and third levels of its supply chain. Additionally, Sofidel is among the first companies in the world to join the “Forests Forward” platform launched by WWF to protect forests and ecosystems.

In the category of Business Ethics, Sofidel achieved a score of 86.9/100 for its continued commitment to promoting models of integrity, anti-corruption and transparency. The company has recently established a new internal audit process to ensure that everyone in the company follows the procedures and acts/operates in an ethical way.

There was also positive feedback on decarbonization. The residual risk assessment for the Carbon – Own Operations category, the company achieved a ‘negligible risk’ rating (1.3 Negligible), which recognizes Sofidel’s decarbonization strategy. The Group’s 2030 reduction targets (40% reduction in scopes 1 and 2 CO2 emissions – those produced directly by its business – and 24% scope 3 reduction – emissions related to the supply chain are endorsed by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with the requirements of the Paris Agreement. In this context, the Group is now implementing a multi-option strategy (based on the legislative, climatic, and infrastructural contexts of the various countries in which it operates) to differentiate the energy mix with the goal of having 84% of purchased energy derived from renewable sources by 2030.

Copyright ©2022 Sustainalytics. All rights reserved.

This publication contains information developed by Sustainalytics (www.sustainalytics.com). Such information and data are proprietary of Sustainalytics and/or its third party suppliers (Third Party Data) and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement of any product or project, nor an investment advice and are not warranted to be complete, timely, accurate or suitable for a particular purpose. Their use is subject to conditions available at https://www.sustainalytics.com/legal-disclaimers.

Sofidel America 

Sofidel America is a subsidiary of the Sofidel Group. It was established in 2012 through the acquisition of the Cellynne tissue company which was founded in 1988 with one integrated plant in Haines City (Florida) and two converting plants in Green Bay (Wisconsin) and Henderson (Nevada) – the latter moved to Las Vegas in 2018. Sofidel America is now active in seven States – the original three already listed, as well as Oklahoma (Inola), Mississippi (Hattiesburg), Ohio (Circleville) and Pennsylvania (Horsham) where the company has its American corporate office. In 2021 the US market accounted for 22.5% of Sofidel’s revenues.

The Sofidel Group 

The Sofidel Group is one of the leading manufacturers of paper for hygienic and domestic use worldwide. Established in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,000 employees, net sales of 2,095 million Euros (2021) and a production capacity of over one million tonnes per year (1,440,000 tonnes in 2021). “Regina,” its most well-known brand, is present on almost all the reference markets. Other brands include: Softis, Le Trèfle, Sopalin, KittenSoft, Nalys, Cosynel, Lycke, Nicky, Papernet. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers programme, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic factor with regards to growth and is committed to reducing its impact on natural capital and maximising social benefits, setting as objective the creation of shared added value for all stakeholders. Sofidel’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets to 2030 have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with reductions required to keep warming to well-below 2°C, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

www.sofidel.com

By Gabriele Goertz

SAP solutions currently touch most of the world’s financial systems, commerce traffic, and business network interactions – with SAP customers generating 87% of total global commerce. Through that connectivity and reach, SAP partners are helping our joint customers combine data and business processes to solve challenges specific to their industry and line of business.

When combined with partner expertise and innovation, that reach across business domains and processes becomes a powerful tool for advancing key corporate agendas, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. It enables our customers to secure their business, uncover new opportunities, mitigate risks, and get ahead of operational turbulence while dismantling barriers that stand in the way of a healthier planet and more equitable society.

Whether fueled by environmental laws or consumer demand, increasing organizational focus on ESG-related goals is opening opportunities for partners – key junctures where their innovations can contribute. Implementation, content, and technology experts can take advantage of sustainability trends to help customers balance increased competitiveness with positive impacts under the new ESG principles.

A Vital Platform for Meaningful Change

Over the last few years, SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) has empowered SAP partners to innovate, integrate, and extend solutions across lines of business and industries in the cloud. Now, they can turn their attention, knowledge, and ingenuity toward questions about sustainability, helping customers understand where to start, where to end up, and how to get there quickly.

SAP partners can rapidly innovate on SAP BTP, thanks to the collaboration-driven nature of the partner ecosystem and access to enablement and support powered by SAP around ESG practices. In return, they can be well-equipped to deliver on expectations for revenue generation, efficiency improvement, and risk mitigation through emissions and waste reduction, circular business models, and sustainable and responsible leadership.

Take, for example, the digitalization of supply chains. Sustainability is now being infused into the business function’s DNA as companies pay more attention to lowering their carbon footprint, minimizing waste, and sourcing materials responsibly. But the greatest success comes from ESG initiatives combined with – not competing against – objectives for increasing system resilience, expanding logistics capacity, or protecting operations from disruptions that threaten customer fulfillment.

With climate change ranking as high as economic instability among top concerns for companies and their customers, more and more SAP partners – such as EcoVadis Inc. and Trifork AG – have come to understand that sustainability cannot continue to be placed on the back burner. Instead, they help customers see how ESG principles can help deliver goods and services sustainably, improve operational efficiency, reduce business costs, and overcome risks to help ensure supply chain resilience around the globe.

ESG Innovation Materializes through Strong Collaboration

Software such as the SAP Sustainability Control Tower solution, which is built on SAP BTP, demonstrates the strength of the collaboration between SAP partners and customers when bringing ESG innovation to market. Our partners can create a real-time, data-driven environment that empowers organizations to comply with reporting and auditability requirements imposed by national and regional governments, including the International Sustainability Standards Board and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

As a component of a unified platform connecting data and business processes, SAP Sustainability Control Tower enables partners to help customers combine accurate, auditable, and reliable financial and nonfinancial data. This approach provides the insights and transparency needed to make specific changes in how businesses operate. Additionally, since SAP software touches most of the world’s day-to-day commerce, the solution helps unlock the inherent power of existing data to record, report, and act on business and ESG goals.

But our partners’ use of SAP Sustainability Control Tower during customer engagements doesn’t stop there. They can build on the solution’s predefined integration capabilities with live SAP systems, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud, to instantly upgrade audit-ready data and connect HR, finance, and supply chain organizational structures to crucial sustainability metrics. This work brings the sustainability data layer to life, transporting new sustainability practices into their critical business processes and functions with actual data.

Furthermore, the presence of prebuilt content libraries in the solution allows partners to accelerate the realization of their customers’ sustainability visions. They can pinpoint which processes need to change to reduce emissions and where operations can benefit from being more circular and automated.

The Next Phase of Data Intelligence Transformation

We are reaching a fork in the road where businesses will have two key choices in their digital transformation journey. They can either invest in ESG efforts to gain the associated benefits of circularity, efficiency, and resilience or stray from the sustainability and process integrity that environmentally discerning customers demand.

This emerging reality is quickly pushing the boundaries of what it means to be competitive. And for most organizations, becoming experts in capturing and reporting on the correct data and connecting the necessary processes can be daunting without consistent guidance and support.

SAP customers working with our partners can leverage the latest innovations in the field of sustainability as part of their data intelligence transformation powered by SAP BTP. And more importantly, they can realize new business opportunities and act as a positive force for sustainable business practices.

Learn more about SAP Business Technology Platform, SAP Sustainability Control Tower, and SAP solutions for sustainability. If you’re interested in software partnership opportunities with SAP, check out the SAP PartnerEdge, Build track. And if you’re already a partner, explore these resources available on the SAP Partner Portal site:

Sustainability solutions from SAP for lines of businessSAP Business Technology Platform“SAP Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises: SAP Sustainability Control Tower Deep Dive” webinar“Getting Started with ESG Steering and Reporting” openSAP course

Gabriele Goertz is vice president and global head of the Sustainability Ecosystem at SAP.

Originally published on Built From Scratch

Scott Casteel grew up around retail. After years of working in other fields, it took a lightbulb moment at a family meal to make it click.

“I knew I had to join The Home Depot when during dinner, my father and my ex-wife had what felt like a 20-minute conversation using nothing but abbreviations and Home Depot lingo,” remembers Scott. “I knew I needed to join the company if I ever wanted to participate in family conversations again.”

Scott joined the company in 2011 as a customer service associate and is currently a Home Depot Installation Services (HDIS) sales recovery associate. Not only do his dad, James, and ex-wife, Stacy, still work for Home Depot, but his wife, Stacy; his daughter, Lilianne; and his bonus daughter, Lauren; are also part of The Home Depot family. Yes, that’s three generations and six associates in one family.

“For me, having my immediate family also work with Home Depot means that my whole family is supported by this company. I know my father can work and do something he truly enjoys. I know my two oldest daughters both have careers rather than just jobs. I know they can provide for their families and are both given the tools to go as far as they want with Home Depot,” Scott says.

Let’s meet the family:

“WORK AS IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE NEXT JOB YOU WANT. SHOW UP, TAKE A LEADING ROLE, SUPPORT YOUR PEER ASSOCIATES. PUT THE EFFORT AND THE HOURS IN SO THAT YOU ARE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE WHEN THE NEXT PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY COMES UP.” 
– SCOTT CASTEEL

Scott’s dad, James Casteel, works as a lumber recovery associate at Store #153 in Marietta, Georgia. A Vietnam veteran, Jim spent his teen years helping his carpenter dad build churches in California. “As a youth, I was a construction company’s roustabout, a mason’s apprentice, and a heavy equipment operator in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

James likes to help customers solve problems, find supplies to meet their needs and complete their projects.

“LEARN FROM PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE AND TEACH THOSE WHO COME TO YOU FOR HELP OBSTACLES ARE LIKE A TWO-EDGED SWORD – FAILURE ON ONE SIDE AND A GREATER PATH TO SUCCESS ON THE OTHER WHEN YOU OVERCOME THE PROBLEM.” 
– JAMES CASTEEL

Lilianne Whisenant-Casteel, Scott’s daughter, is a customer service rep in the Virtual Contact Center. She started out with Home Depot Measurement Services (HDMS) for flooring in 2019. “I had a baby a year out of high school, so I had to grow up fast and become an adult. Home Depot helped me get insurance for my child.”

While she plans on going to college soon and using the company’s tuition reimbursement program, Lilianne says, “I like that we can grow in our current position or go to other positions without the need for a college degree.”

“EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, ALWAYS BE WILLING TO LEARN AND THAT WILL TAKE YOU A LONG WAY.” 
– LILIANNE WHISENANT-CASTEEL

Stacy Whisenant, Lilianne’s mom, works in Human Resources as a knowledge base admin. She was the first member of the family to put on the orange apron. “I started with THD as an associate shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. My first few days set the tone for my career. I found water, paychecks, and other items because my leaders at the time asked if I could do something. My response was ‘sure, I could try.’ So I did.”

While building her career at The Home Depot, Stacy and her family dealt with some medical challenges that surpassed their resources when Lilianne needed extensive diagnostic work. “My Home Depot family took up the challenge for a Homer Fund drive and helped us care for her.”

“TITLE IS NOT A BARRIER TO IMPACT. BE CURIOUS AND BE BRAVE.” 
– STACY WHISENANT

The other Stacy in this family is Stacy Smith, Scott’s current spouse.

“I’m a copywriter in the Brand Marketing and Creative department. I write and edit copy for the Product Information Pages (PIPs). I’m also the brand claims coordinator. I analyze brand claims submissions for accuracy and validity according to our claims standards.”

An animal lover who volunteers with a local nonprofit in her community, Stacy considers her time at The Home Depot as the high point of her career.

“MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING AT THD IS THE COMPANY CULTURE AND VALUES. THE HOME DEPOT EMBRACES DIVERSITY AND ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO SUCCEED. THE COMPANY TAKES CARE OF BOTH THE CUSTOMERS AND THE EMPLOYEES IN A WAY THAT I’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN SUCH A LARGE BUSINESS. IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP, THEY DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR TO FIND IT. WE TRULY ARE LIKE A FAMILY.” 
– STACY SMITH

Stacy’s family also includes a bonus daughter, Lauren King, a senior training specialist who joined the company in 2019.

“I came from a construction background, working specifically in water damage, remediation (mold, asbestos) and rebuilding. These skills allowed me to learn critical sales methods and make myself an asset to Home Depot Measurement Services. In the first few weeks, I realized I loved training and even told the training specialist on the last day of class, ‘One day I’m going to be one of your colleagues.’ I continued to work hard, providing best-in-class service while also assisting classes as a subject matter expert. In April, I transitioned to a training specialist role and have been loving every second!”

Lauren is excited about her future and wants to encourage others to pursue their dreams, too.

“BE APPROACHABLE AND MAKE AS MANY CONNECTIONS AS YOU CAN. THE MORE YOU MEET WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE POSITION YOU WANT, THE MORE YOU CAN GET ADVICE TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS. LEADERS ACTIVELY WANT TO HELP YOU, BUT YOU MUST ASK FOR IT.” 
-LAUREN KING

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Recently, we announced LyondellBasell’s new climate ambitions. Today I am writing to give you my reflection on the importance of LyondellBasell’s recent bold and significant moves: reducing our Scope 3 emissions. I started my sustainability career at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), leading the development of the scope 3 standard, an extensive process between WBCSD, the World Resources Institute (WRI), more involving than 60 companies and hundreds of stakeholders. The WRI and the WBCSD created the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) in 2001 to help companies to measure emissions and identify opportunities to reduce them. The development of the scope 3 standard was part of the GHGP.

My experience with GHGP standards, combined with working with over 200 companies to advance the sustainability transition for 10 years, has given me the know-how to lead LyondellBasell’s sustainability efforts and contribute to advancing the company’s climate ambition strategy, including reducing scope 3 emissions. The actions LyondellBasell is taking in support of our new climate ambitions demonstrate tangible steps to advance a more sustainable future.

As I reflect today, we are living with inflation, a war in Europe, energy insecurity, and a potential global recession. I realize how brave and committed our company is to lead and advance our sustainability position by increasing our emission reduction targets during these challenging times.

Our step forward in sustainability is achievable, smart for business and good for society. We are taking concrete action to create value while also positioning us to be a first-mover to address growing customer demand, as well as societal, customer, brand owner and investor expectations.

The Importance and Challenges of Scope 3

Scope 3 (also known as value chain emissions) represents corporations’ greatest proportion of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the chemical industry, scope 3 emissions account for approximately 75% of all total emissions. Yet, it is the most challenging to tackle, particularly because the sources of these emissions are not controlled by the company, i.e., the products, materials and services a company buys in order to make its products and the subsequent downstream use and disposal of these products. Many global companies in chemicals and other industrial sectors are reluctant to commit to tackling scope 3 emissions given the value chain challenges, such as the complexity of measuring the emissions (which entails complicated data collection), and the need for more transparency in the supply chain. However, to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius, there is an urgency to accelerate decarbonization efforts, including significantly reducing scope 3 emissions.

What Scopes 1, 2 & 3 mean

The GHGP defines emissions as follows:

Scope 1 – These are direct GHG emissions occurring from sources owned or controlled by the company, for example, emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces.Scope 2 – They are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy consumed by the company.Scope 3 – These are all other indirect emissions from sources in the value chain, such as the extraction and production of raw materials, or from the use of sold products.

While many countries and organizations require reporting scope 1 & 2 emissions, scope 3 emissions reporting is mostly voluntary.

Understanding Our New Climate Ambitions

In December 2022, LyondellBasell announced it is increasing the company’s 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target for:

Increasing scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions reduction from 30 percent to 42 percent, relative to a 2020 baseline.Establishing a 2030 scope 3 GHG emissions reduction target of 30 percent, relative to a 2020 baseline.

For us, it was important our updated climate goals aligned to the latest science and that we seek to have them validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is a partnership between the non-profit CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This initiative defines and promotes best practices in science-based climate target setting for companies.

The SBTi requires companies to include a scope 3 target when scope 3 emissions exceed 40% of the company’s total emissions, which is the case for LyondellBasell. SBTi requires Scope 3 goals to align with a well-below two-degree pathway or GHG emissions reduction of 2.5% per year. Over the 10 years from LyondellBasell’s 2020 baseline to 2030, this translates to a reduction of 25%. Therefore, our new scope 3 goal to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030 exceeds the SBTi minimum requirements.

Advancing Scopes 1,2 & 3 GHG emissions reduction

We are progressing with our strategic plan and timeline for implementing the steps to reduce our carbon emissions. As announced in April 2022, one concrete action to reduce scope 3 emissions is to close our Houston refinery by the end of December 2023. This plan is on track and is expected to reduce scope 3 emissions by approximately 40 million metric tons annually.

In addition, there are many emissions reduction initiatives planned for implementation by 2030, yet beginning in 2024, including:

Process heat recovery projects, electrification of a large process turbine and optimization of steam demand at its site in Wesseling, Germany, in 2024Optimization of heated equipment through advanced digitization, efficiency improvements and fuel management at its site in Channelview, Texas, in 2025

Also, as announced last week, we signed eight PPA agreements and achieved over half of our 2030 target to procure a minimum of 50 percent of global electricity from renewable sources. These PPAs will generate over 2.6 million megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity annually and reduce the company’s scope 2 emissions by nearly 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to the emissions associated with the annual electricity consumption of more than 370,000 homes. In addition, we are continuing with plans to phase out the use of coal at our Wesseling, Germany site, reducing the site’s scope 2 emissions by about 170 thousand metric tons annually.

Furthermore, as we progress in our Circular and Low Carbon Solutions efforts to achieve our 2 million metric tons (MM MT) goal for recycled and renewable products, the corresponding increases in recycling rates will positively impact scope 3 emissions. We expect the emissions reductions we will get from accomplishing this goal to be incremental to the plans we currently have to reduce our scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030. We estimate approximately 1-1.5MM MT scope 3 reductions coming from achieving our circularity ambition.

Lastly, LyondellBasell is part of several sector initiatives through our engagement with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Together for Sustainability (TfS) to further understand and act upon the common challenges of the chemical industry in dealing with scope 3 emissions. LyondellBasell is also taking part in efforts led by the SBTi to develop a sectoral decarbonization approach for the chemical industry. We expect this approach will take into account the specific challenges the chemical industry is facing, as a hard-to-abate sector, in its journey to reaching a state of net zero GHG emissions.

Invigorating Times

Tackling scope 3 emissions must remain a top priority for businesses worldwide, regardless of the challenges. Working at a company with colleagues who are committed to action, are fantastic collaborators, are willing to take a chance on ideas, and see sustainability strategy as an opportunity is INVIGORATING. As such, we will continue to find innovative ways to reduce our emissions and offer circular and low carbon solutions to address GHG emissions. While plenty of work remains, sustainability no longer feels like a far-away goal—we’re on our path to leading it and enabling a more sustainable future for all.

More information on our sustainability commitments can be found here.

I grew up 228 miles northwest of New York City in a rural village dotted with small farms. It was in this environment that I felt closest to planet Earth. I spent summers barefoot, with my toes between blades of grass. At night I could hear the small chorus frogs (also known as the spring peeper) while fireflies danced in the field behind our house. My third-grade teacher would take us on long walks in the woods, sharing her knowledge about every insect, animal, and plant we saw. My mom carefully tended her garden, growing lots of healthy vegetables for us to eat and composting leftover scraps.

I didn’t feel a distinct separation between nature and our home life because we could open our windows or doors and instantly experience singing birds, swaying trees, and rolling hills. When I went away to college and moved to a more urban environment, I felt pulled away from that oneness with Earth. I now had to make an effort to spend time outside or walk in the woods. And when I started my career, sometimes I felt like I didn’t have the time or energy to immerse myself in nature. I still did some small acts of kindness for Earth, like recycling, unplugging devices I wasn’t using, or taking cloth bags to the grocery store. As the news about climate change grew worse, I started to feel guilty. I had the privilege of enjoying all the beauty and resources that planet Earth offers us but didn’t take enough actions to improve her health.

Now working on sustainability communications, I’m working more closely with issues around the climate crisis. At the same time, I also see dedicated people working hard to make a difference for the planet. Collaborating with these amazing individuals across Cisco is not only inspiring but motivating as well. There is the saying that “actions speak louder than words,” so instead of continuing to profess my love for Earth, I want to share five actions Cisco is taking to help create a more sustainable and regenerative future for our planet:

Cisco’s net zero goal

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), heat is retained in the atmosphere because greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions trap some of Earth’s outgoing energy. This trapped heat alters climate and weather patterns, which can lead to more frequent and more severe natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and droughts.

Net zero is a state where we add no incremental GHGs to the atmosphere. In September 2021, Cisco set a goal to reach net zero GHG emissions across its value chain by reducing our absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions 90% by 2040 compared to our 2019 fiscal year, and neutralizing any remaining emissions by removing an equal amount from the atmosphere. And, we have near-term targets that support the net zero goal that you can learn more about in Cisco´s 2022 Purpose Report and related supplemental information located on our environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) Reporting Hub.

Cisco’s 2040 net zero goal and near-term targets are approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) under its Net-Zero Standard. SBTi validation means we must prioritize deep emissions reductions required by climate science, and can use offsets for no more than 10 percent of our emissions reduction.

Improving product energy efficiency

As a large, global company, we want to do our part to decrease the GHG emissions associated with our business and help our customers do the same.

Because many of our products operate 24/7 and stay in use for several years, the majority of our emissions result from our customers’ use of our products. Cisco is looking into how our products can use less energy while performing at the same standard. According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to address climate change is through energy efficiency.

To reduce the emissions associated with the use of our products, we are making improvements in four key areas: power; thermal (i.e., the heat they generate); high-speed interconnects and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (“ASICs”); and integration into our customer facilities (read more in our Purpose Report and ESG Reporting Hub).

Reducing our use of plastics

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (“UNEP”), around “7 billion of the 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced from 1950-2017 became plastic waste, ending up in landfills or dumped.”

Virgin plastics are made from materials that have never been used or processed. In fiscal year 2021, we exceeded our goal to decrease use of virgin plastics in products by 20% compared to a fiscal year 2018 base year. Building on the momentum and key learnings from this goal, we recently set a new goal that by our fiscal year 2025, 50% of the plastic used in our products (by weight) will be made of recycled content. The plastics included in this goal exclude those contained in commodity components sourced from suppliers (e.g., plastic screws, fans, and cables).

As part of our journey to minimize the use of virgin plastic, our teams are sourcing more recycled plastic parts and designing our products to reduce the need for plastic parts more generally. For example, select models of our 8800 Series IP phones consist of 68% recycled plastic, and some products in our Catalyst series of network switches were designed without bezels, the plastic cosmetic surface on the outside of a device.

Increasing our use of renewable electricity

According to the UN, the main cause of climate change is society’s reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels, and renewable energy like wind and solar can help us tackle the climate crisis.

Cisco operations account for only 1% of our total GHG emissions. However, we remain committed to reducing GHG emissions in our operations by procuring renewable electricity and improving the efficiency of our offices, laboratories, and data centers.

Increasing our use of renewable electricity is a fundamental part of our strategy. In fiscal year 2022, 89% of our global electricity came from renewable energy sources, including 100% in the United States, Canada, and several European countries. We are ramping up both our onsite and offsite renewable energy efforts, targeting approximately 5 MW of new onsite solar and securing over 500 MW of new long-term renewable energy contracts by the end of fiscal year 2025. We are actively evaluating long-term power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) in India and Europe that would collectively add over 100 MW of new solar and wind developments to these regions.

Making it easy to return products for reuse and recycling

According to the UNEP, “The world produces as much as 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) a year, weighing more than all commercial airliners ever made. Only 20% of this is formally recycled.”

Cisco has had programs for over two decades to facilitate product returns for reuse and recycling, offer comprehensive service and repair, and remanufacture used equipment for sale through Cisco Refresh. These programs can create a second life for equipment, saving the resources required for new manufacturing and reducing waste.

In fiscal year 2022, Cisco Capital launched Cisco Green Pay, a circular IT payment solution that makes it easier for customers to build a sustainable technology strategy. It provides a path for customers of all sizes to acquire Cisco sustainable solutions. The program offers predictable payments for five years, with a 5% incentive on equipment at the outset, while Cisco retains ownership. This and our other long-standing programs focused on product return and reuse help us make progress toward our PACE Capital Equipment pledge.

Steps you can take to show planet Earth that you care

Want to give planet Earth some love today and every day? Here are ten actions from ActNow, a UN campaign for individual action on climate change, that you can take:

Save energy at home by using LED light bulbs, washing laundry with cold water, and switching to energy-efficient appliances.Walking, biking, or taking public transit will reduce GHG emissions, and carpooling is also an option when you need to use a vehicle.Eating more vegetables can significantly lower your environmental impact since plant-based foods can be produced with less energy, land, and water.Consider how you travel, especially since airplanes burn large amounts of fossil fuels. When you can, meet virtually or avoid long-distance trips.Throw away less food because food that ends up in a landfill produces methane, a potent GHG. It is best to only buy what you need and compost leftovers.Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle when you can because electronics, clothing, and other things we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in their production.Change your home’s energy source by installing solar panels on your roof or asking your utility company for other renewable options.Switch to an electric vehicle (“EV”) to help reduce air pollution since EVs cause significantly less GHG emissions.Make your money count by purchasing from companies that use resources responsibly and are committed to reducing emissions and waste.Speaking up and getting neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family to take action is one of the simplest and most effective ways to make a difference.

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SAN FRANCISCO, February 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – SkillUp Coalition, a national collaboration of nonprofits, training providers, and employers, today announced a $1.5 million grant from Truist Foundation to develop a remote jobs catalog. The jobs catalog aims to surface thousands of highly-quality, remote jobs, particularly for job seekers in rural areas.

“It’s undisputed that remote work is here to stay. But if we’re honest, the benefit will largely accrue to those with the means, opportunity, and pedigree (i.e., a college degree) to explore remote work,” said Steve Lee, Executive Director, SkillUp. “The important question is how do we up the ante; how do we provide access to remote work for historically marginalized populations, and specifically, for job seekers in rural communities? That’s what SkillUp’s remote jobs catalog – supported by Truist Foundation – aims to do. For rural areas, especially those in historically distressed regions, this presents the chance to reshuffle the traditional economic development deck. Those who live in areas that have not traditionally participated in remote work opportunities will be able to cast a wider net when job seeking, making previously unattainable employment a possibility. In short, remote work has the opportunity to level the playing field between rural and urban areas when it comes to high-paying and high-skilled work.”

With U.S. job openings reaching 11 million in December 2022, more and more employers are turning to remote-based opportunities to bring in new talent, particularly in the fields of business, tech, and healthcare. Searches for remote digital jobs increased in urban areas during the pandemic, and the gap in interest between rural and urban counties shrunk to just 30 percent of what it was pre-pandemic. The percentage of job searches for remote digital jobs in small urban and rural counties increased by 64 percent between February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and February 2022 (to 72 percent in February 2022, up from 44 percent two years earlier).

“Truist Foundation is dedicated to building career pathways to economic mobility for systemically disadvantaged workers, including women and people of color without college degrees or living in rural areas,” said Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation. “We are proud to invest in programs, like SkillUp’s remote jobs catalog, that remove barriers and create a more equitable employment ecosystem for all. This new tool will provide workers access to resources they need to attain high-quality jobs, while simultaneously offering an untapped talent pool for businesses across the country.”

The to-be-developed remote jobs catalog will leverage the existing SkillUp platform, which has supported more than 1.3 million workers since its launch in July 2020. SkillUp currently identifies over 30 gateway occupations – jobs that don’t need a 4-year degree, pay a good wage, and unlock pathways to high-opportunity careers. SkillUp then connects job seekers to a quality, vetted training catalog of more than 900 regional and national short-term training programs (12 months or less) that align with in-demand career fields. Over 500 training programs can be completed online or in hybrid environments and more than 140 programs are offered at no cost. The SkillUp ecosystem also provides career exploration, 1:1 and group career coaching, job connections, and resources to support workers at any stage of their career journey.

The new remote-based job catalog is expected to be released by Labor Day 2023. If you are a training provider, employer, technology & service provider, or nonprofit interested in joining SkillUp, please visit www.skillup.org/partners/.

About SkillUp Coalition

Founded in July 2020, SkillUp Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects workers with the right tools, resources, and support so they can make confident career shifts, find quality living-wage jobs, and position themselves for promising career growth. Since its founding, SkillUp has connected 1.3 million workers to career, training, and job support throughout the country.

The coalition brings together over 90 leading organizations including training and education providers, technology developers, policymakers, employers, and philanthropies. In addition to its national reach, SkillUp operates local partnerships in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Florida, Louisiana, Northern Nevada, Philadelphia, New York City, Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, and Dallas.

SkillUp proudly advocates for an affordable, equitable, upskilling ecosystem that ensures every worker has high-opportunity employment. For more information, please visit www.skillup.org or follow on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

About Truist Foundation

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Purpose/Truist-Foundation.

Media Contacts:

Desiree Jewell, VP of Marketing & Communications, SkillUp: desiree.jewell@skillup.org 
Kristen Fraser, Truist: media@truist.com

As global respondents look to change jobs in the next 12 months, awareness of career and training options is lowTo tackle these misconceptions and bring STEM education closer to underrepresented communities, IBM is adding 45 IBM SkillsBuild collaborations around the world

ARMONK, N.Y., February 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Job seekers, students, and career changers around the world want to pursue roles related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across different industries, but say they are not familiar with career options. At the same time, online training and digital credentials are emerging as a recognized pathway to opportunity as respondents plan to seek new jobs in the year ahead.

These were some of the global findings from a new study that IBM unveiled today. The study*, administered by Morning Consult and commissioned by IBM, is based on more than 14,000 interviews of students, people seeking new jobs, and people seeking to change careers, located across 13 countries. Respondents also cited concerns that career options may not be available to them. These findings contrast with market data that employers are investing in the reskilling of their current workforce to keep pace with rapid advances in technology and stay relevant in the modern, digital economy.

“Technology training can have a transformational effect on a person’s life,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Chief Impact Officer. “There are many misconceptions about what’s needed to pursue a rewarding and lucrative career in today’s rapidly advancing workplace. This is why we must raise awareness of the breadth of science and technology roles that exist across industries. Together with our IBM SkillsBuild partners, we’re highlighting the many pathways that exist for underrepresented communities to pursue futures in tech.”

To help tackle these misconceptions and bring STEM education closer to historically underrepresented communities in the field, IBM is announcing today 45 new educational partners around the world. These IBM SkillsBuild collaborations across social service, economic development, and vocational organizations, as well as government agencies, and universities, will make free online learning widely available, with clear pathways to employment. Many of these organizations focus on specific communities that are underrepresented in technology and will help skill women, including mothers returning to the workforce, ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and refugees. [Full list of collaborations below]

Study Shows Misconceptions and Opportunities in Tech and Beyond

The IBM / Morning Consult study revealed perceptions from interviewed students, career changers, and job seekers who are interested in a role in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM):

Misconceptions around STEM training: it’s too expensive, learners don’t know where to start, and don’t know enough about digital credentials. 

61% of respondents think they are not qualified to work in a STEM job because they don’t have the right academic degrees40% of students say the greatest barrier to professional or technical skill development is that they don’t know where to start60% of respondents worry that digital credentials may be costly to obtainBeing able to continue to work while earning a credential is particularly important to career changers

Learners and workers around the world are planning to make a change, with about 60% of respondents looking for a new job in the next 12 months. 

61% of students and career changers are actively looking for a new job now or plan to within the next yearMore than 80% of all respondents have plans to build their skills in the next two yearsAt least 90% are confident they can develop skills or learn something new from an online program

Awareness of options around different STEM roles across industries is low, and many are concerned these careers won’t pay enough. 

50% of respondents are interested in pursuing a STEM-related job64% of career changers are not familiar with STEM jobsMany respondents are unsure of which careers are considered to be a STEM job62% of respondents share concerns that they won’t be able to find a STEM job that pays enough to support themselves or their family

Respondents are optimistic that roles in STEM fields across sectors will increase in the future, and that digital credentials are a good way to supplement traditional education and increase career opportunities.

66% of all respondents think that STEM jobs across industries will increase over the next decade86% of those respondents who have earned a digital credential agree that it helped them achieve career goals75% of all respondents agree that digital credentials are a good way to supplement traditional educationIncreased career opportunities and qualifications were the top reasons why respondents across the globe said they wanted to earn digital credentials

45 New Collaborations Around the World

Through a holistic approach to investing in the future of work, IBM is supporting learners and helping tackle their misconceptions about technology and STEM careers. IBM SkillsBuild is bringing free technology training available to learners all over the world, with a focus on underrepresented communities in tech. Online training, like the courses offered by IBM SkillsBuild, is most effective when it is delivered collaboratively with local partners. Community experts enrich course content through project-based learning and connect learners with real career opportunities. To this end, today IBM SkillsBuild is proud to announce 45 new and expanded collaborations around the world:

Brazil: Inteli; MastertechChina: University of PetroleumCosta Rica: Asociación Costarricense de Iniciativas de Desarrollo (CINDE)Czech Republic: CzechitasFrance: CY Cergy Paris Université; Social Builder India: GSHEC-Goa State Higher Education Council; Gurukul Kangri University-Haridwar; Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women; ISA – International Solar Alliance; KRIES – Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society; KSDC- Karnataka Skill Development Corporation; National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT); OSDA – Odisha Skill Development Authority; RV College of Engineering; Sister Nivedita University-Kolkata; Tamil Nadu Skill Development CorporationIndonesia: PT Kinema Systrans Japan: Freelance Association Japan FAJ Malaysia: EduNxt Global Sdn Bhd UniversityNew Zealand: Yoobee Colleges Limited Qatar: Community College of QatarSouth Africa: Innovolution Educational Programmes; Nelson Mandela University; Sefako Makgatho University of Health Sciences; WeThinkCode_, YiEDISweden: New to Sweden, Young ScientistsTaiwan: Gap of Learning & Field (GOLF)United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi University; University of Wollongong in Dubai; Zayed University            United States: CompTIA; Digital Promise; Franklin Apprenticeships; HDG University; ITExperience; Junior Achievement of Arizona; Mom Relaunch; Rise — The Mom Project; The Wond’ry at Vanderbilt University; Transition Overwatch; University of the Cumberlands

Through collaborations like these, IBM continues to progress towards its commitment to skill 30 million people globally by 2030.

*Methodology: This study was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of IBM from November 2 – December 20, 2022. The study was conducted among a sample of 4,926 Students, 4,629 Job Seekers, and 4,628 Career Changers in 13 countries (Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, UAE, UK, and the US).

About IBM SkillsBuild 

IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program focused on underrepresented communities in tech, that helps adult learners, and high school and university students and faculty, develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. The program includes an online platform that is complemented by customized practical learning experiences delivered in collaboration with a global network of partners.

The open version of IBM SkillsBuild is an online platform that offers over 1,000 courses in 19 languages on cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other technical disciplines — as well as in workplace skills such as Design Thinking. Most important, participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials that are recognized by the market.

The enhanced partner version of IBM SkillsBuild may also include workshops, expert conversations with IBM coaches and mentors, project-based learning, access to IBM software, specialized support from partners through the learning process, and connection to career opportunities.