Tag: 3BL

Direct Relief has been named the TIME 2025 Dreamer of the Year, honoring the organization’s disaster response and sustained recovery efforts in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires. The Dreamer of the Year distinction, presented by TIME Magazine in collaboration with American Family Insurance, celebrates individuals and organizations who protect, restore, and champion their communities in the face of adversity.

Immediately following the fires that swept through Los Angeles beginning January 7, 2025, Direct Relief moved to support the health systems and response agencies most strained by the disaster. In total, Direct Relief has provided $17.7 million in medical and financial support across Los Angeles County since January 7, 2025, reflecting its commitment to both immediate response and long-term community recovery.

This support included critically needed medicines and emergency supplies for healthcare partners serving evacuees, medical resources for first responders operating at regional command centers, and community pick-up points for N95 masks and personal essentials during prolonged smoke conditions. Direct Relief also issued emergency operating funds to first responder agencies addressing urgent needs in the earliest days of the crisis, and continued funding in the months that followed to support rental assistance, trauma-informed mental health services, and operations at community healthcare organizations managing increased demand and infrastructure strain.

“Direct Relief is honored to receive this recognition for our role in supporting communities across Los Angeles before, during, and after the devastating fires last January,” said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. “At every stage, our work has been strengthened by the first responders who moved people to safety with only moments to spare, the healthcare providers who cared for everything from acute injuries to chronic conditions, and the many community partners whose commitment has powered this effort. Above all, it reflects the resilience of the people of Los Angeles, who continue to recover and rebuild with steadiness and resolve. Direct Relief is honored to stand with them, ensuring that the needs of the community continue to guide our work for as long as needed.”

Following the initial response phase, Direct Relief expanded its support to long-term stabilization efforts, including behavioral health programming, school-based recovery resources, and continued support for clinics addressing chronic conditions intensified by smoke and displacement. Funding prioritized organizations serving children, older adults, frontline workers, and medically vulnerable residents throughout extended recovery timelines.

In addition to its work in Los Angeles, Direct Relief operates the world’s largest private humanitarian medical aid program, delivering donated medicines, medical supplies, and emergency resources to health facilities in all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 countries. Over the past year, the organization has provided more than $2 billion in medical aid globally, supporting responses to wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, respiratory emergencies, and conflict-related displacement.

Direct Relief has received 100 percent ratings from Charity Navigator for transparency and financial efficiency for 15 consecutive years.

American Family Insurance and TIME’s award-winning branded content division, TIME Studios, created a digital highlight spotlighting Direct Relief and its work here.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty and disasters, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the U.S. and world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, visit https://www.directrelief.org/.

Direct Relief has been named the TIME 2025 Dreamer of the Year, honoring the organization’s disaster response and sustained recovery efforts in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires. The Dreamer of the Year distinction, presented by TIME Magazine in collaboration with American Family Insurance, celebrates individuals and organizations who protect, restore, and champion their communities in the face of adversity.

Immediately following the fires that swept through Los Angeles beginning January 7, 2025, Direct Relief moved to support the health systems and response agencies most strained by the disaster. In total, Direct Relief has provided $17.7 million in medical and financial support across Los Angeles County since January 7, 2025, reflecting its commitment to both immediate response and long-term community recovery.

This support included critically needed medicines and emergency supplies for healthcare partners serving evacuees, medical resources for first responders operating at regional command centers, and community pick-up points for N95 masks and personal essentials during prolonged smoke conditions. Direct Relief also issued emergency operating funds to first responder agencies addressing urgent needs in the earliest days of the crisis, and continued funding in the months that followed to support rental assistance, trauma-informed mental health services, and operations at community healthcare organizations managing increased demand and infrastructure strain.

“Direct Relief is honored to receive this recognition for our role in supporting communities across Los Angeles before, during, and after the devastating fires last January,” said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. “At every stage, our work has been strengthened by the first responders who moved people to safety with only moments to spare, the healthcare providers who cared for everything from acute injuries to chronic conditions, and the many community partners whose commitment has powered this effort. Above all, it reflects the resilience of the people of Los Angeles, who continue to recover and rebuild with steadiness and resolve. Direct Relief is honored to stand with them, ensuring that the needs of the community continue to guide our work for as long as needed.”

Following the initial response phase, Direct Relief expanded its support to long-term stabilization efforts, including behavioral health programming, school-based recovery resources, and continued support for clinics addressing chronic conditions intensified by smoke and displacement. Funding prioritized organizations serving children, older adults, frontline workers, and medically vulnerable residents throughout extended recovery timelines.

In addition to its work in Los Angeles, Direct Relief operates the world’s largest private humanitarian medical aid program, delivering donated medicines, medical supplies, and emergency resources to health facilities in all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 countries. Over the past year, the organization has provided more than $2 billion in medical aid globally, supporting responses to wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, respiratory emergencies, and conflict-related displacement.

Direct Relief has received 100 percent ratings from Charity Navigator for transparency and financial efficiency for 15 consecutive years.

American Family Insurance and TIME’s award-winning branded content division, TIME Studios, created a digital highlight spotlighting Direct Relief and its work here.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty and disasters, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the U.S. and world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, visit https://www.directrelief.org/.

After winning the 2025 ESG Award in the “Technological Innovation in ESG” category, CNH brand, New Holland’s T6.180 Methane Power tractor – the world’s first agricultural tractor powered by biomethane gas – also recently won the traditional ECO Innovation and Sustainability Award, in São Paulo, Brazil.

From 2006, when it launched the alternative fuels leadership strategy, New Holland developed tractors powered primarily by biodiesel, as well as hydrogen, until the launch in 2013 of the first methane-powered T6 series tractor prototype, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to meeting its environmental goals and contributing to CO2 reduction.

Environmental advantages

Launched as a commercial product in 2022, the T6.180 Methane Power is available to Brazilian producers. Biomethane propulsion technology offers numerous environmental advantages, including up to 80% reduction in regulated pollutant emissions and 84% in CO2 compared to a standard diesel engine. By using biomethane, a cost reduction of between 25% and 40% can be achieved when compared to conventional fuels. And the tractor has the same performance and autonomy as a diesel tractor of the same size.

In 2023, the brand also presented the concept of the energy-independent farm, in partnership with the main companies in the biomethane sector to create an innovative ecosystem for the production of gas generated from the decomposition of animal waste. Composed of a biodigester, biogas purification system, generator, tractors and heavy trucks, this ecosystem is a pioneer in Brazil and revolutionizes the country’s biogas market.

This type of solution gives the producer the possibility of using the biogas generated within the property (from animal waste, for example) to supply the equipment, taking advantage of the so-called virtuous cycle of the farm, which becomes increasingly self-sufficient from an energy and environmentally correct point of view. In addition, there is a reduction in operating costs and greater peace of mind in the management of activities, as it becomes self-sufficient in fuel production and use, being free from all the uncertainties of the fossil fuel market.

After winning the 2025 ESG Award in the “Technological Innovation in ESG” category, CNH brand, New Holland’s T6.180 Methane Power tractor – the world’s first agricultural tractor powered by biomethane gas – also recently won the traditional ECO Innovation and Sustainability Award, in São Paulo, Brazil.

From 2006, when it launched the alternative fuels leadership strategy, New Holland developed tractors powered primarily by biodiesel, as well as hydrogen, until the launch in 2013 of the first methane-powered T6 series tractor prototype, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to meeting its environmental goals and contributing to CO2 reduction.

Environmental advantages

Launched as a commercial product in 2022, the T6.180 Methane Power is available to Brazilian producers. Biomethane propulsion technology offers numerous environmental advantages, including up to 80% reduction in regulated pollutant emissions and 84% in CO2 compared to a standard diesel engine. By using biomethane, a cost reduction of between 25% and 40% can be achieved when compared to conventional fuels. And the tractor has the same performance and autonomy as a diesel tractor of the same size.

In 2023, the brand also presented the concept of the energy-independent farm, in partnership with the main companies in the biomethane sector to create an innovative ecosystem for the production of gas generated from the decomposition of animal waste. Composed of a biodigester, biogas purification system, generator, tractors and heavy trucks, this ecosystem is a pioneer in Brazil and revolutionizes the country’s biogas market.

This type of solution gives the producer the possibility of using the biogas generated within the property (from animal waste, for example) to supply the equipment, taking advantage of the so-called virtuous cycle of the farm, which becomes increasingly self-sufficient from an energy and environmentally correct point of view. In addition, there is a reduction in operating costs and greater peace of mind in the management of activities, as it becomes self-sufficient in fuel production and use, being free from all the uncertainties of the fossil fuel market.

December 11, 2025 /3BL/ – LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Upstate South Carolina and AIM (Accept. Inspire. Minister) celebrated the grand opening of South Carolina’s first Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) program—a powerful, evidence-based model proven to help individuals and families achieve lasting financial success. This program expansion was made possible in part by a new national $1.5 million Wells Fargo Foundation grant to LISC.

Located at AIM, 1202 S. Murray Avenue, the center will connect residents with bundled employment services, one-on-one financial coaching, and income support navigation so they can achieve greater financial resiliency and mobility. The launch event included remarks from local leaders, representatives from Wells Fargo leadership, a ribbon-cutting, and tours of the space where FOC services will be delivered.

LISC operates a growing network of more than 120 FOC partner organizations nationwide, each rooted in trusted, community-based partner organizations like AIM. These centers serve individuals and families living on low to moderate incomes by helping them build effective money habits, strengthen their financial bottom line, and pursue long-term career and financial goals.

“As LISC brings the Financial Opportunity Center® model to South Carolina for the first time, we are proud to demonstrate what national expertise paired with local partnership can achieve,” said Dawn Deck, LISC Upstate SC Executive Director. “LISC has spent decades refining this integrated coaching approach because we know it works—families increase income, build credit, gain financial stability, and achieve their goals. Partnering with AIM allows us to anchor this proven model in a trusted community organization so that Upstate South Carolina residents can access the tools and supports they need to thrive.”

What sets the FOC model apart is its bundled service approach. Rather than offering these services separately, FOC staff integrate each service through a long-term coaching relationship. National studies show that clients who receive bundled services experience stronger job placement outcomes, better job retention, higher net income, and measurable improvements in financial health.

FOC services include:

• Employment and career counseling
• One-on-one financial coaching and education
• Low-cost financial products that safely build credit, savings, and assets
• Connections to income supports, such as SNAP, utility assistance, and affordable health insurance

“We at AIM are honored to be the first Financial Opportunity Center in the state of South Carolina. We are very excited about this partnership and the opportunity to take our current work to the next level by incorporating this financial wellness piece into all of our programs at AIM,” said Kristi King-Brock, CEO of AIM.

AIM’s FOC program is supported in part by Wells Fargo, which was recently awarded a $1.5 million national grant to support LISC bringing FOC services to communities across the country. This commitment strengthens efforts to build financial security and advance wealth creation for local families and residents who are working hard to build brighter futures.

“Through our philanthropic investments, we are committed to creating pathways to economic mobility and wealth-building for communities across the country,” said Pam Bryant, vice president, Wells Fargo Philanthropy and Community Impact. “We can help more people gain the tools and resources they need to achieve lasting financial success through close collaboration with trusted local organizations, like LISC Upstate South Carolina.”

By launching South Carolina’s first FOC program, AIM and LISC are forging a new pathway for families in the Upstate to improve household stability, overcome financial barriers, and build long-term wealth.

FOC coaches will work directly with residents to map out employment goals, create personalized financial action plans, access benefits, and build the kind of strong financial habits that support lasting success.

About LISC

LISC is one of the country’s largest nonprofit community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $35.1 billion to create more than 530,457 affordable homes and apartments, develop 83.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. Learn more at www.lisc.org.

About AIM

AIM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating poverty, restoring hope, and strengthening families throughout Anderson County. Through a broad range of programs, AIM provides immediate support and long-term solutions to help individuals achieve self-sufficiency. www.aimcharity.org

 

Media Contact

Kamilla Johnson
Program Officer for Asset Building, Income & Wealth Building
LISC Upstate South Carolina
kjohnson2@lisc.org

Entergy is dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities we serve. This November, we launched a “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” campaign, focusing on community assistance and food drives aimed at alleviating food insecurity for our most vulnerable neighbors across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. 

The Thanksgiving holiday has long been a meaningful time for addressing food insecurity and offering support to those in need. This year, many families are facing unprecedented challenges, with rising costs straining their resources. In response, Entergy employees partnered with local organizations to lend a helping hand to our neighbors. 

“At Entergy, we believe that our greatest strength lies in our commitment to the communities where we work, live and serve,” said Patty Riddlebarger, vice president of corporate social responsibility. “This campaign is not just about providing food; it’s about fostering hope and ensuring that our neighbors have a place at the table, especially during the holiday season.” 

Throughout November, our dedicated employees organized a variety of initiatives, including fundraising, canned food drives, turkey distribution events, and contributions to food banks, all designed to help customers in need during the holiday season.  

Key highlights of our efforts included:

• Entergy Corporation, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans: Collaborated with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Second Harvest Food Bank, Northshore Food Bank, Our Daily Bread, Community Center of St. Bernard, Giving Hope, and the Junior League of New Orleans to collect nonperishable food items and diapers for our communities. Entergy New Orleans also partnered with Einstein Charter School Turkey Drive for the 6th year, feeding over 100 families.  
• Entergy Arkansas: Donated $40,000 to Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, The Salvation Army and local pantries, and hosted successful food drives to gather essential supplies. Employees also volunteered at local food bank distributions, including those specifically for federal employees impacted by the recent government shutdown, and rang bells for the Red Kettle Campaign.
• Entergy Mississippi: Joined forces with Extra Table for the “Give ‘Em a Bird” fundraiser, distributing over 9,000 chickens and raising vital funds to support local families.
• Entergy Texas: Contributed $30,000 to aid local food banks in their efforts to combat food insecurity within vulnerable communities. 

Through these collective efforts, we remain committed to supporting our neighbors and strengthening our communities year-round, especially during these challenging times. Learn more at Entergy.com/communities.  

View original content here.

December 11, 2025 /3BL/ – The O2 and Music Venue Trust (MVT), the charity which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues across the UK, have announced a groundbreaking new commitment that formally recognizes the essential role of the grassroots circuit in creating the future headliners for the UK’s world-leading live music scene.

The pioneering initiative will see The O2 make a direct donation to Music Venue Trust each time a new artist headlines the arena for the first time as part of a wider three-year commitment. This ensures that the grassroots ecosystem, which nurtures artists in the early stages of their careers, receives tangible, ongoing support from the very venues that later host their success.

This year alone, The O2 has hosted over 50 first-time performers and is making an initial six-figure donation to Music Venue Trust in celebration of this record milestone. This single donation underscores the volume of talent flowing from small stages to the arena and highlights the critical need for a sustainable pipeline.

Artists who have graduated from the grassroots network to make their debut at The O2 in the last year include Gracie Abrams, Pulp, Architects and Wolf Alice, all of whom honed their craft on stages at venues within the Music Venues Alliance.

Ben Lovett, Mumford & Sons, said: “This week we will play two shows at The O2. Whilst this might not be the first time we’re headlining the arena, it doesn’t make it any less special to be able to come to our hometown and headline a couple of nights in one of the best arenas in the world. Our first time taking to this iconic stage was in 2012, back when many of the venues where we had cut our teeth, including the Luminaire in Kilburn where we played our first headline show, had started closing down. This trend has only continued, in London and across the country, and we have done everything we can to protect the essential grassroots scene; lobbying various sitting governments, trying to educate anyone who’d listen to the fact that artists don’t just arrive in these arenas from nowhere. We’ve played countless shows in these smaller rooms ever since, encouraged our fans to support and actioned the £1 per ticket levy on this current tour, generously supported by our audience.”

Emma Bownes, Senior Vice President, Venue Programming at AEG Europe, added: “The O2 is proud to support the UK’s live music ecosystem, starting with the small stages in local communities. Every artist who headlines The O2 for the first time reflects the strength of that grassroots network. By partnering with Music Venue Trust, we’re investing in the pipeline that nurtures the next generation of breakthrough artists and ensures they have a place to start.”

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said: “This is a hugely significant and welcome move from The O2. The success of our arenas is directly connected to the health of the grassroots venues where so many of those headliners began their journey. This partnership sets a powerful new benchmark for the industry, proving that major venues can actively participate in securing the future of the talent pipeline. Our challenge to every other arena in the UK is simple: The O2 has taken a lead, now it’s your chance to follow.”

Ben Lovett continued: “I’ve personally invested into the Music Venue Properties initiative as well as continuing to support Music Venue Trust and a host of similar organisations over recent years. I have even built and operated venues around London and further afield in an effort to brace against the rising tide of the issue. All to say, we couldn’t care more about the essential work of small venues up and down the country and we think it’s brilliant that a venue like The O2 is making a meaningful donation, tied to their “first-time headliner” model to contribute, as we all should, towards a more sustainable ecosystem within live music in the future.”

The commitment represents a major step forward in uniting the live music industry, from the smallest stages to the largest, to create a more resilient and sustainable future for UK music.

December 11, 2025 /3BL/ – The O2 and Music Venue Trust (MVT), the charity which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues across the UK, have announced a groundbreaking new commitment that formally recognizes the essential role of the grassroots circuit in creating the future headliners for the UK’s world-leading live music scene.

The pioneering initiative will see The O2 make a direct donation to Music Venue Trust each time a new artist headlines the arena for the first time as part of a wider three-year commitment. This ensures that the grassroots ecosystem, which nurtures artists in the early stages of their careers, receives tangible, ongoing support from the very venues that later host their success.

This year alone, The O2 has hosted over 50 first-time performers and is making an initial six-figure donation to Music Venue Trust in celebration of this record milestone. This single donation underscores the volume of talent flowing from small stages to the arena and highlights the critical need for a sustainable pipeline.

Artists who have graduated from the grassroots network to make their debut at The O2 in the last year include Gracie Abrams, Pulp, Architects and Wolf Alice, all of whom honed their craft on stages at venues within the Music Venues Alliance.

Ben Lovett, Mumford & Sons, said: “This week we will play two shows at The O2. Whilst this might not be the first time we’re headlining the arena, it doesn’t make it any less special to be able to come to our hometown and headline a couple of nights in one of the best arenas in the world. Our first time taking to this iconic stage was in 2012, back when many of the venues where we had cut our teeth, including the Luminaire in Kilburn where we played our first headline show, had started closing down. This trend has only continued, in London and across the country, and we have done everything we can to protect the essential grassroots scene; lobbying various sitting governments, trying to educate anyone who’d listen to the fact that artists don’t just arrive in these arenas from nowhere. We’ve played countless shows in these smaller rooms ever since, encouraged our fans to support and actioned the £1 per ticket levy on this current tour, generously supported by our audience.”

Emma Bownes, Senior Vice President, Venue Programming at AEG Europe, added: “The O2 is proud to support the UK’s live music ecosystem, starting with the small stages in local communities. Every artist who headlines The O2 for the first time reflects the strength of that grassroots network. By partnering with Music Venue Trust, we’re investing in the pipeline that nurtures the next generation of breakthrough artists and ensures they have a place to start.”

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said: “This is a hugely significant and welcome move from The O2. The success of our arenas is directly connected to the health of the grassroots venues where so many of those headliners began their journey. This partnership sets a powerful new benchmark for the industry, proving that major venues can actively participate in securing the future of the talent pipeline. Our challenge to every other arena in the UK is simple: The O2 has taken a lead, now it’s your chance to follow.”

Ben Lovett continued: “I’ve personally invested into the Music Venue Properties initiative as well as continuing to support Music Venue Trust and a host of similar organisations over recent years. I have even built and operated venues around London and further afield in an effort to brace against the rising tide of the issue. All to say, we couldn’t care more about the essential work of small venues up and down the country and we think it’s brilliant that a venue like The O2 is making a meaningful donation, tied to their “first-time headliner” model to contribute, as we all should, towards a more sustainable ecosystem within live music in the future.”

The commitment represents a major step forward in uniting the live music industry, from the smallest stages to the largest, to create a more resilient and sustainable future for UK music.

Name: Mitsunori Odagiri | Sustainability Senior Manager

Company:  Asahi Group Holdings

Connect with Mitsunori Odagiri on LinkedIn

Welcome to our series aimed at spotlighting the individual leaders within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations. Learn how these practitioners and their companies are addressing pressing challenges around water, energy, agriculture, climate change, and what inspires each of them to advance environmental sustainability in the beverage sector and collectively, overall.

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities and how long you have worked with your company. 

I joined Asahi Group Holdings as a Sustainability Senior Manager in 2022. Since then, with a focus on environmental topics, my work has been around the development of group sustainability strategies and roadmaps as well as the monitoring of progress in close collaboration with regional headquarters, Asahi Global Procurement teams, and other relevant functions.

How has the company’s sustainability program evolved over the years, and what are your specific priorities for 2025?

In the early stages, our focus was on establishing governance, setting baselines, and aligning with global frameworks. Over time, our approach has matured to embed sustainability into our core business strategy, supply chain, and innovation agenda.

For 2025, our priorities are centered on thought leadership and strategic refinement.

We are updating and sharpening our sustainability roadmaps across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and recycled PET. This includes aligning with the latest science-based targets and ensuring our plans are both ambitious and actionable.

This evolution reflects our belief that sustainability is not a side initiative: it’s a driver of innovation, risk management, and long-term growth.

How do you feel being a BIER member will help you successfully address the key areas you are addressing in 2025? 

The in-person BIER meetings, which I’ve had the privilege of attending twice, are especially invaluable. They bring together some of the most forward-thinking sustainability professionals in the beverage industry, creating a space for open, candid dialogue and deep collaboration. These sessions go beyond information exchange; they foster a shared commitment to raising the bar across the sector.

Through BIER, we gain access to harmonized methodologies, emerging best practices, and peer insights that directly inform how we shape and evolve our own strategy. The ability to benchmark, challenge assumptions, and co-develop solutions with global peers helps ensure that our roadmap is not only ambitious but also grounded in practical, scalable action.

In short, BIER strengthens our ability to lead with clarity, collaborate with purpose, and continuously refine our approach to sustainability in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Share a recent accomplishment of your company’s sustainability initiatives/achievements you are most proud of and why.

One of the most significant and proud accomplishments of Asahi Group Holdings in recent sustainability efforts is the official approval of our Net Zero targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in June 2024.

This achievement makes us the first company in Japan to receive SBTi approval for both short-term and long-term targets, including FLAG. Our targets are aligned with the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement, and include:

• A 70% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (vs. 2019),
• A 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030,
• And full Net Zero across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2040.

What makes our targets especially meaningful is not just the ambition, but the rigor and transparency behind them. The validation process involved detailed emissions calculations, cross-functional collaboration, and alignment with global standards. It also reflects our commitment to translating complex climate science into actionable, measurable goals that can be understood and embraced across our global operations.

If you had one superpower that could be used to radically accelerate and scale sustainable best practices, which one would it be, and how would you use it? 

Sustainability often lives in the realm of technical jargon, fragmented metrics, and long-term projections. If I could have a superpower, it would be the ability to bridge that gap and turn lifecycle assessments, carbon accounting, TCFD, TNFD, or biodiversity risks into stories that spark understanding and action. Whether I am speaking to a factory manager in Japan, a finance lead in Europe, or a community partner in Oceania, with the superpower, I would tailor the message to what matters most to them, without losing the integrity of the data.

This power would not only accelerate alignment across functions and regions but also empower more people to become champions of sustainability in their own context. Because when people truly understand the “why” and “how,” they’re far more likely to act – and that’s how transformation scales.

Name: Mitsunori Odagiri | Sustainability Senior Manager

Company:  Asahi Group Holdings

Connect with Mitsunori Odagiri on LinkedIn

Welcome to our series aimed at spotlighting the individual leaders within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations. Learn how these practitioners and their companies are addressing pressing challenges around water, energy, agriculture, climate change, and what inspires each of them to advance environmental sustainability in the beverage sector and collectively, overall.

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities and how long you have worked with your company. 

I joined Asahi Group Holdings as a Sustainability Senior Manager in 2022. Since then, with a focus on environmental topics, my work has been around the development of group sustainability strategies and roadmaps as well as the monitoring of progress in close collaboration with regional headquarters, Asahi Global Procurement teams, and other relevant functions.

How has the company’s sustainability program evolved over the years, and what are your specific priorities for 2025?

In the early stages, our focus was on establishing governance, setting baselines, and aligning with global frameworks. Over time, our approach has matured to embed sustainability into our core business strategy, supply chain, and innovation agenda.

For 2025, our priorities are centered on thought leadership and strategic refinement.

We are updating and sharpening our sustainability roadmaps across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and recycled PET. This includes aligning with the latest science-based targets and ensuring our plans are both ambitious and actionable.

This evolution reflects our belief that sustainability is not a side initiative: it’s a driver of innovation, risk management, and long-term growth.

How do you feel being a BIER member will help you successfully address the key areas you are addressing in 2025? 

The in-person BIER meetings, which I’ve had the privilege of attending twice, are especially invaluable. They bring together some of the most forward-thinking sustainability professionals in the beverage industry, creating a space for open, candid dialogue and deep collaboration. These sessions go beyond information exchange; they foster a shared commitment to raising the bar across the sector.

Through BIER, we gain access to harmonized methodologies, emerging best practices, and peer insights that directly inform how we shape and evolve our own strategy. The ability to benchmark, challenge assumptions, and co-develop solutions with global peers helps ensure that our roadmap is not only ambitious but also grounded in practical, scalable action.

In short, BIER strengthens our ability to lead with clarity, collaborate with purpose, and continuously refine our approach to sustainability in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Share a recent accomplishment of your company’s sustainability initiatives/achievements you are most proud of and why.

One of the most significant and proud accomplishments of Asahi Group Holdings in recent sustainability efforts is the official approval of our Net Zero targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in June 2024.

This achievement makes us the first company in Japan to receive SBTi approval for both short-term and long-term targets, including FLAG. Our targets are aligned with the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement, and include:

• A 70% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (vs. 2019),
• A 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030,
• And full Net Zero across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2040.

What makes our targets especially meaningful is not just the ambition, but the rigor and transparency behind them. The validation process involved detailed emissions calculations, cross-functional collaboration, and alignment with global standards. It also reflects our commitment to translating complex climate science into actionable, measurable goals that can be understood and embraced across our global operations.

If you had one superpower that could be used to radically accelerate and scale sustainable best practices, which one would it be, and how would you use it? 

Sustainability often lives in the realm of technical jargon, fragmented metrics, and long-term projections. If I could have a superpower, it would be the ability to bridge that gap and turn lifecycle assessments, carbon accounting, TCFD, TNFD, or biodiversity risks into stories that spark understanding and action. Whether I am speaking to a factory manager in Japan, a finance lead in Europe, or a community partner in Oceania, with the superpower, I would tailor the message to what matters most to them, without losing the integrity of the data.

This power would not only accelerate alignment across functions and regions but also empower more people to become champions of sustainability in their own context. Because when people truly understand the “why” and “how,” they’re far more likely to act – and that’s how transformation scales.