Tag: 3BL

For over a decade, the PSEG Foundation has proudly partnered with Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to help educate children across the state on the importance of living healthy lives free of substance abuse. 

Together, we provide age-appropriate programming to students each year, like the Third Grade Life Choices Coloring and Activity Book, that help children learn how to make smart, healthy choices – one page at a time. 

We’re grateful for this partnership and the chance to help make a difference in the lives of New Jersey’s youth.

View original content here.

About Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG) is a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future. Guided by its Powering Progress vision, PSEG aims to power a future where people use less energy, and it’s cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. With a continued focus on sustainability, PSEG has appeared on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for 17 consecutive years. PSEG is included on the 2023-2024 list of U.S. News’ Best Companies to Work For. PSEG’s businesses include Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island (https://corporate.pseg.com).

Complimentary Webinar:

Introduction to the Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular Recycling

Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 1PM EST | 10AM PST

Register Here

While the global chemical recycling market was valued at $14.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow continuously through 2030, the industry continues to face challenges resulting from regulatory ambiguity, economic viability, and even pushback from those questioning whether chemical recycling is beneficial.

In response, a new Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular (ACM) Recycling (SCS-004) is being developed to establish a credible basis for independently assessing and certifying environmentally and socially responsible ACM recycling operations. The Standard, which brings needed transparency to ACM recycling, is primarily applicable to recyclers handling polymers (e.g., plastics, textiles, elastomers) and to different advanced, chemical, and molecular recycling technologies (e.g., pyrolysis, solvolysis, depolymerization, and gasification).

Join Victoria Norman, Executive Director and Rachel Boothby-Hentschel, Senior Associate, of SCS Standards and Assurance Systems; and representatives from Eastman, LyondellBasell and Alterra on November 18th, 2025, at 1PM ET (10AM PT) where they will introduce the certification standard.

Key topics to be discussed:

• Presentation of the standard structure and requirements
• Overview of the proposed certification process
• Value of defining responsible advanced/chemical/molecular recycling

Register Here

In its How Energy Works video series, SLB’s experts make energy technology easy to understand. 

In this installment, SLB takes viewers inside the evolving landscape of industrial decarbonization, highlighting the critical role of carbon capture and storage in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as cement and steel. 

Watch the video here.

In an industry as interconnected as ours, progress on sustainability depends on shared purpose, credible data, and scalable action.

That’s why Cascale and Worldly work together through what we call the Shared Value Loop, a concept we revealed at the Cascale Annual Meeting 2025 in Hong Kong. The Shared Value Loop is how Cascale and Worldly turn credibility into capability, and capability into measurable progress. It’s a living system that ensures standards evolve, data scales, and insights turn into impact across the value chain.

The Shared Value Loop represents how our two organizations — one a market-driven nonprofit, the other a leading technology platform — complement one another in driving industry transformation. It’s not just a collaboration; it’s a system designed to ensure that members, customers, and the broader community all benefit from clarity, consistency, and real results.

Where Credibility Meets Capability

Cascale and Worldly play different but deeply connected roles within the sustainability ecosystem.

• Cascale convenes a global industry, and ensures the integrity of the tools, the alignment of methodologies, and the industry-wide governance that keeps our systems credible and trusted.
• Worldly delivers those tools at scale through a real-time technology platform, proven analytics, and industry-forward innovation; making credible data accessible, actionable, and comparable.

Together, we close the loop between standard-setting and implementation, turning ambition into measurable impact. This collaboration ensures that credible standards become widely adopted practices — moving the industry from alignment to real-world execution.

Cascale builds the foundation for credible, science-based measurement. Worldly transforms that foundation into daily usability, enabling thousands of organizations to act on shared standards, at scale.

The Eight Dimensions of Shared Value

The Shared Value Loop is built around eight reinforcing elements that move from Cascale’s foundation of governance and legitimacy to Worldly’s enablement through data and technology.

1. Tool Governance & Methodology Integrity (Cascale)

Everything starts with a robust foundation. Cascale governs the methodologies that underpin its Higg Index tools, ensuring they are science-based, globally aligned, and further enhanced through a multi-stakeholder process.

2. Market Access & Industry Relevance (Cascale)

Cascale brings together 300+ members across the value chain — brands, manufacturers, and affiliates — ensuring the tools and frameworks stay relevant to real-world challenges and business needs.

3. Legitimacy & Accountability (Cascale)

Cascale’s multi-stakeholder governance provides transparency and accountability, giving industry, civil society, and academia a voice in shaping credible frameworks that include the voices of all actors, including the manufacturers.

4. Collective Action & Impact Leadership (Cascale → Worldly)

Through shared initiatives — from decarbonization programs to responsible purchasing practices — Cascale mobilizes its members and broader global community around shared commitments and the co-creation of solutions. Worldly then operationalizes those commitments through data and insights, turning collective intent into measurable outcomes.

5. Platform & Network Scale (Worldly)

Worldly connects the world’s largest sustainability network — tens of thousands of facilities and hundreds of brands and retailers — transforming individual data inputs into collective visibility and progress. This reach is powered by years of investment in innovation and customer enablement, ensuring the Higg Index and related tools reach the hands of those driving change on the ground.

6. Analytics & Actionable Intelligence (Worldly)

Worldly’s powerful analytics and benchmarking capabilities transform raw data into trusted intelligence, helping organizations predict risks, identify opportunities, track progress, and act with confidence.

7. Reporting & Risk Management (Worldly)

The platform supports credible reporting and risk management by offering consistent data outputs that align with major ESG disclosure frameworks and emerging regulatory requirements.

8. Technology Innovation & Enablement (Worldly)

Finally, Worldly’s ongoing innovation keeps the tools future-ready, integrating new capabilities like supplier dashboards, advanced benchmarking, and AI-driven analytics to accelerate learning and performance.

Delivering Value Across the Ecosystem

This Shared Value Loop ensures that every stakeholder benefits:

• Retailers and brands gain credible, comparable data to guide business decisions and meet regulatory expectations.
• Manufacturers gain visibility, benchmarking solutions, and opportunities to improve and be recognized for progress. They also gain efficiencies by aligning with a widely accepted standard (the Higg Index), and stronger alignment with their customers’ sustainability goals and increased access to markets that value verified performance.
• Policymakers and investors gain confidence in standardized, verifiable data.
• And the planet benefits from coordinated, data-driven action rather than fragmented, duplicative efforts.

By connecting Cascale’s convening power with Worldly’s delivery capability, the Shared Value Loop creates a self-reinforcing system: the more it’s used, the stronger and more valuable it becomes.

From Shared Framework to Shared Impact

We asked, and over 3,000 of you answered our recent awareness survey. You want a clearer depiction of how Cascale and Worldly work, and what benefits are ultimately delivered to you. The Shared Value Loop ensures every action reinforces the next, from credible standards to verified data to measurable progress. It’s how ambition turns into execution, and how our shared ecosystem grows stronger with every new participant. With your help, we are creating the alignment the industry needs to deliver on its sustainability goals — faster, smarter, and at scale.

Our shared goal is simple:

To equip the consumer goods industry with the trusted data and collaborative networks needed to achieve measurable, lasting impact.

As we expand further into adjacent product categories, such as home furnishings, this model will remain our foundation — helping new sectors tap into credible measurement, scalable data, and collective action.

Originally published on Forbes

Fintech, big data, AI, and blockchain are tools for transparency and inclusion, with great outcomes already in play:

• AI and satellite data that can verify emissions and deforestation claims in real time.
• Digital platforms that can extend credit and insurance to unbanked populations.
• Blockchain that can track supply-chain provenance and carbon credits with integrity.

At SAP, we see the same opportunity in enterprise transformation. Data-driven insights, interoperable reporting, and transparent value chains can turn sustainability intent into measurable impact. Solutions like SAP Sustainability Control Tower and SAP Green Ledger help finance leaders connect sustainability metrics to financial outcomes, enabling decision-making that’s both accountable and regenerative.

Click here to read more on Forbes

CAMDEN, N.J., November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc., and its partner, POWDR, today announced that Subaru WinterFest will return to five mountain destinations across the U.S. this winter. The automaker’s annual mountain resort tour embraces the winter playground mentality for music fans, skiers, snowboarders, and dog lovers alike. With free music performances from both established and up-and-coming bands, exciting outdoor activities, gear demonstrations from respected partners, and charitable initiatives that give back to non-profits, WinterFest appeals to a variety of attendees.

Headlining artists this year will include an impressive mix of musical acts playing Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, and rock and roll. With Shakey Graves, The 502s, The Last Revel, Susto Stringband, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Artikal Sound System, and more set to perform free concerts along with incredible supporting acts, the mountain vibes will be hard to beat.

Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Subaru of America, Inc.: “This year’s WinterFest lineup is sure to offer exciting experiences at some of the best mountain locations in North America. Whether you’re already part of the Subaru family or just want to enjoy the hospitality and see what it’s all about, WinterFest is a perfect opportunity to see the Subaru Love Promise® come to life.”

Continuing its commitment to being More Than a Car Company®, WinterFest attendees who complete a lead form will be able to choose a non-profit charity partner, including Operation Warm®, SheJumps, and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, for Subaru to make a $5 donation on their behalf, up to $10,000 per charity over the course of the tour. In addition, Subaru and POWDR have a joint community investment fund aligned with the values of the Subaru Love Promise and POWDR’s Play Forever commitment to support important community and environmental initiatives.

Meghan Matschke, Vice President of Partnerships at POWDR: “When Subaru joins us for WinterFest, we know guests are in for something special. From incredible music to hands-on brand activations and real community impact, this experience stands apart. We welcome everyone to connect, celebrate, and share with us in our favorite places.”

This year’s tour will include the automaker’s adventure-ready 2026 Outback Wilderness, the 2025 Forester Hybrid, and the 2026 Solterra. Subaru brand specialists will accompany a newly updated tiny home trailer that provides information on EV, Hybrid, and Wilderness category offerings, and will be available to highlight features such as Harmon Kardon sound systems and more.

Guests will have access to a variety of WinterFest activities. Returning this year, the Americana-inspired Harman Kardon Warming Hut will provide WinterFest attendees with an opportunity to demo the audio equipment maker’s latest portable Bluetooth products in a cozy and warm environment. Attendees can also check out the newest gear from acclaimed brands such as Thule, 100%, Nordica, Never Summer, Mammut, Luno, and Springbar, in addition to Wilderdog for their furry companions. Leave No Trace will also have experts available to inform people of ways to conserve the outdoors. Attendees can get an energy boost in the morning at the Wilderness Cafe with complimentary coffee from Alpine Start, craft hot cocoa served in a YETI mug, and certified organic energy bars from JAMBAR. There will also be Solo Stove’s smokeless fire pits at every stop for guests to warm up and roast marshmallows for s’mores in the afternoon, along with daily prize giveaways from the Subaru WinterFest partners.

As a special treat for some lucky Subaru owners, some Subaru Winterfest events will feature exclusive ‘on-mountain’ experiences, intimate music sessions, VIP parking privileges, and exclusive gifts (subject to availability).

The full schedule for Subaru WinterFest 2026 can be found below:

Weekend	Resort	Headline Artist
January 30 – February 1	Killington Resort, VT*	Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
February 20 – 22	Copper Mountain Resort, CO	The 502s
March 6 – 8	Eldora Mountain Resort, CO	The Last Revel
March 20 – 22	Snowbird, UT	Artikal Sound System
March 27 – 29	Mt. Bachelor, OR	Shakey Graves

*Killington is not a POWDR-owned or operated resort. 

For more information on Subaru WinterFest locations, please visit www.subaruwinterfest.com and follow #SubaruWinterFest on social media.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

About POWDR

POWDR is an adventure lifestyle company that inspires every human being with cool experiences in awesome places. POWDR’s awesome places include Copper Mountain and Eldora Mountain Resort in Colorado; Boreal Mountain Resort and Soda Springs in the Lake Tahoe region of California; Mt. Bachelor in Oregon; Snowbird in Utah; and SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada. The company also fuels adventure through a collection of experiences from the mountains to the valleys including Sun Country Tours river rafting outfitter based in Oregon, Powderbird heli-adventure operator based out of Snowbird in Utah, Stovepipe lodging and concessions based in Death Valley National Park, and Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. POWDR’s Woodward brand empowers and inspires the next generation of action sports enthusiasts through summer camps, mountain experiences, and mountain centers, incorporating dynamic programming and innovative environments at Woodward Park City in Utah, Woodward PA in Pennsylvania, Woodward Copper in Colorado, and Woodward Tahoe in California.

POWDR is headquartered in Park City, UT. For more information, please visit: www.POWDR.com.

###

Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn., November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Last month, FedEx (NYSE: FDX) continued its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) procurement momentum, beginning to take delivery of blended SAF at two additional U.S. airports for the first time: Chicago-O’Hare Airport and Miami International Airport. The start of these fuel deliveries in October marked the company’s second and third deployments of blended SAF at a major U.S. airport in six months. In May, FedEx announced its first major U.S. SAF deployment at Los Angeles International Airport.

“Each executed agreement signals to fuel producers that airlines are willing and eager collaborators to help to scale the SAF market,” said Karen Blanks Ellis, chief sustainability officer and vice president of Environmental Affairs, FedEx. “The aviation industry still faces a mismatch between available SAF supply and carrier demand, but we are encouraged by the early signs of increased SAF production globally this calendar year.”

Chicago-O’Hare International Airport

At O’Hare, FedEx will receive a blend to include a total of one million gallons of neat SAF at a minimum 30% blend from Air bp. With its first fuel delivery in October, FedEx became the first U.S. all-cargo airline to purchase and deploy SAF at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport.*

“Existing fuel infrastructure and enabling policy conditions at the state level made sourcing SAF at O’Hare a logical next step in our alternative fuel procurement strategy,” Blanks Ellis added.

Miami International Airport

At Miami International Airport, FedEx has started to take delivery of around three million gallons of blended SAF at a 30% blend minimum from AEG.

“With FedEx flights from Miami heading all over Latin America and the Caribbean every day, we are proud to see our Miami hub leading the way in sustainable fuel adoption,” said Luiz R. Vasconcelos, president, FedEx Latin America and the Caribbean. “This milestone reinforces our commitment and demonstrates to our customers that sustainability is not just a corporate goal—it is a regional priority. From SAF deployment in Miami to the rollout of electric delivery vehicles in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil, we’re embedding sustainable innovation across our operations and actively contributing to the corporation’s global sustainability strategy.”

SAF: Part of a holistic aviation sustainability strategy

Under current fuel standards, neat—or unblended—SAF is mixed with traditional jet fuel before use in an engine. Blended SAF is a “drop in” fuel, meaning airlines do not need to make changes to existing aircraft engines or fueling infrastructure to use it. By 2030, FedEx aims to obtain 30% of its fuel supply from alternative sources, on a blended basis.

Deploying SAF is just one component of a broader FedEx aviation sustainability and fuel efficiency strategy. Though the emissions profiles of SAF and traditional jet fuel are similar when burned, the production of sustainable aviation fuel can result in up to 80% fewer lifecycle emissions compared with the extraction of conventional fuels.^{^} However, this technological reality means that reducing overall fuel consumption and increasing operational efficiency must go hand-in-hand with alternative fuel uptake in order to reach emissions goals as an industry.

Aircraft modernization and other fuel savings initiatives enabled FedEx to avoid the use of 140 million gallons of jet fuel in FY 2024, resulting in $400 million in savings for the company. In FY 2024, FedEx achieved its previous goal of a 30% reduction in aircraft emissions intensity from a 2005 baseline. Upping its ambition, FedEx has since expanded that goal to target a 40% reduction in aircraft emissions intensity by 2034.

Learn more about the FedEx sustainability strategy and the company’s goal of carbon neutral global operations by 2040 here: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/sustainability/our-approach.html

*Based on publicly available information
^When used in neat form (i.e., unblended) and calculated with established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, such as CORSIA methodology

About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of $89 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions utilizing its flexible, efficient, and intelligent global network. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, such as statements regarding business strategies and management’s views with respect to future events, and the assumptions underlying such expected statements. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “intends” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to achieve or demonstrate progress on our goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and other factors which can be found in FedEx Corp.’s and its subsidiaries’ press releases and FedEx Corp.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We do not undertake or assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Lenovo teamed up with Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) to launch a state-of-the-art EdTech classroom at NIS International Baccalaureate campus in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The initiative reflects Kazakhstan’s focus on accelerating the integration of AI and digital technologies into the education sector and is part of Lenovo’s long-standing commitment to local innovation and community empowerment.

A hub for future innovators

The new classroom is packed with the latest in Lenovo equipment: ThinkVision P24 monitors, ThinkPad L14 laptops, and ThinkCentre M70t workstations—recognized for both performance and great reliability. To boost collaboration and keep students engaged, the room also features an interactive panel with smart software tools designed to help teachers deliver dynamic, tech-driven lessons.

But this is more than a classroom: It’s a hub for tomorrow’s tech leaders, with students and teachers diving into cutting-edge subjects such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, mobile app development, and both virtual and augmented reality. It’s a bold step toward building digital fluency and practical skills in the classroom and beyond.

At the opening ceremony, Anuar Zhangozin, Chairman of the NIS Board, highlighted the impact of this initiative.

“Our students’ achievements speak volumes. This year, they won two gold and one bronze medal at the International Olympiad in AI in Beijing, a silver medal at the Informatics Olympiad in Bolivia, and sixteen prize-winning places at national competitions in the same fields,” he said.

Zhangozin also shared how NIS is pushing boundaries with its own digital projects—from an online platform for fair exam grading to AR-powered textbooks and the AI-driven learning network Beyim.ai. These tools are helping reshape how students and teachers interact with technology every day.

When Lenovo’s global vision meets local impact

Lenovo has worked with schools and universities across Kazakhstan before, bringing its tech expertise into the classroom. By sharing its cutting-edge tools and devices with educators, the company is delivering on its mission to provide Smarter technology for all and create a more inclusive, trustworthy and sustainable digital society.

“Lenovo is proud to partner with Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools in their digital transformation,” said Gaziz Abdrassilov, Director of Corporate Sales for Lenovo in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova. “Integrating advanced IT solutions into the educational process expands access to quality learning and creates new opportunities for students to develop both academic and practical skills. We value the trust placed in us to carry out such an important mission and continue to support innovation in education.”

About NIS

The Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) are an autonomous educational organisation established in 2008. Today, it comprises 22 schools that serve as experimental platforms for the introduction of advanced educational practices. The learning process is based on proprietary standards designed to foster critical thinking, research, and leadership skills, while also promoting national values.

The NIS curricula are developed in alignment with University of Cambridge programmes, ensuring the integration of the best national and international educational practices.

Instruction is delivered in Kazakh, Russian, and English. NIS students and alumni consistently excel in international examinations, achieve success in academic competitions, and pursue studies at leading universities in Kazakhstan and abroad. The organisation’s activities have gained international recognition and exert a systemic influence through teacher training, the development of textbooks, and the cultivation of a professional talent pool within Kazakhstan’s education system.

November 12, 2025 /3BL/ – Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A), a leading corporate sustainability consulting and research firm, today issued a new reference guide on “Strategic Approaches to Scope 3 Emissions.” Scope 3 emissions across the value chain are often the largest and most complex component of a company’s carbon footprint. The guide provides a concise overview of leading Scope 3 reduction strategies, including product design, supplier engagement, and emerging novel approaches.

“G&A recognizes that companies are facing increased pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions to help address climate change,” said Louis Coppola, G&A’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. “Whether your organization is beginning to map Scope 3 emissions or refining an existing reduction strategy, our guide provides valuable information to inform your decision-making.”

Since Scope 3 emissions occur across a company’s upstream and downstream value chain and mostly fall outside direct control, efforts to measure and manage these indirect emissions can be quite difficult. G&A’s new reference guide covers key topics including:

• Data Collection and Disclosure
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Products/Services
• Contractual Requirements with Suppliers
• Third-Party Auditing
• Use of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) for Scope 3 Upstream Categories
• Modifications to Internal Operations

The full reference guide is available for download here, G&A is available to answer questions and help put these strategies into action by contacting us at info@ga-institute.com.

ABOUT G&A INSTITUTE, INC.

G&A Institute is a leading sustainability consulting and research firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 2006, G&A helps corporate and investor clients recognize, understand, and develop winning strategies for sustainability and ESG issues to address stakeholder and shareholder concerns. G&A’s proprietary, comprehensive full-suite process for sustainability reporting is designed to help organizations achieve sustainability leadership in their industry and sector and maximize return on investment for sustainability initiatives.

Since 2011, G&A has been building and expanding a comprehensive database of corporate sustainability reporting data based on analysis of thousands of ESG and sustainability reports to help steer strategy for our clients and improve their disclosure and reporting. More information is available on our website at ga-institute.com.

CONTACT:
Louis D. Coppola, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder 
Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. 
Tel 646.430.8230 ext. 14 
Email: lcoppola@ga-institute.com

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Kitty Broihier

Are you confused about all the “ultra-processed foods” discussions on the news and in your social media feed? You’re not alone. It’s hard to know what to think (and do) about these foods, partly because there is no uniform definition of what they are. Let’s take a look at some of the big questions about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), with two goals in mind. First, that you’ll be able to make an informed opinion about their role in your diet. And second, that you’ll learn how to easily identify them when grocery shopping.

Are You Eating Ultra-Processed Foods?

Chances are, you do eat ultra-processed foods. In fact, most of us consume plenty of them. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published a study in January 2025 which found that American adults get more than 50% of their calories from UPFs. For children and teens, that percentage rises to 67% of their calories. You might think this makes sense for meals eaten away from home, say at a fast-food restaurant or grabbed from a mini-mart while getting gas. But the figure holds for both meals consumed away from home and at home. So even our “home-cooked” meals include a substantial amount of UPFs.

What Makes a Food “Ultra-Processed”?

Food processing is not automatically bad or unhealthy. In fact, even home cooks “process” food before eating it—when they wash, peel, and chop carrots, for example. And food processing does have benefits, like helping to preserve food and keep it safe for eating. It may also enhance nutrient content, and even help reduce food waste. The Nova system is a method of classifying processed foods that’s often cited, but controversial. Developed by researchers in Brazil in 2009, Nova categorizes foods based on the extent and purpose of processing, as well as the addition of certain ingredients. It divides foods into four categories, ranging from unprocessed (category 1) to ultra-processed (category 4). A food is considered ultra-processed based on several factors, including whether it:

• contains multiple processed ingredients added for taste or convenience (such as flavor enhancers, stabilizers, non-caloric sweeteners, bulking agents, etc.)
• is made using industrial processing technologies

Unfortunately, the Nova system does not take into account nutritional quality. This means that the ultra-processed category contains some foods that are widely considered healthy, such as enriched, whole-grain breads and certain yogurts.

What’s the Link Between Consuming UPFs and Health?

With ultra-processed foods, the risk basically comes down to how much you’re eating and how often. A 2024 review published in the British Medical Journal evaluated 45 population-based studies of UPF exposure and adverse health outcomes. It concluded that the greater the exposure to UPFs, the higher the risk of cardiometabolic disease, especially type 2 diabetes. And lower-quality evidence suggests a link between UPFs and cardiovascular disease mortality, mental health disorders such as anxiety, and obesity. UPFs also connect to a variety of other health conditions, but the quality of the research varies widely—more needs to be done before making any conclusions. What’s more, finding an association isn’t the same as finding a cause.

Nevertheless, it’s not difficult to see how highly processed foods may be less healthy than less processed options. There’s the presence of lots of additives, for one. And the nutritional impacts of the processing itself (less fiber, more sugar, salt, and fat, for example). Chronic inflammation, a contributing factor to many of the top causes of disease and death in the US, also increases with these negative characteristics.

Which Foods Are UPFs?

It’s easy to think about UPFs as just “junk food,” but that’s not exactly a correct or thorough description. However, there is a fairly simple formula for maintaining an un-processed diet. Put an emphasis on whole foods, and select versions of foods that are as minimally processed as possible.

Typical UPFs include a wide range of processed foods, such as:

• soft drinks
• breakfast cereal
• ice cream
• frozen pizza
• commercial baked goods
• canned soup
• microwavable meals
• protein bars and drinks
• candy

It’s important to realize that some UPFs do contribute more to the diet than just sugar, fat, or calories: vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein, for example. Still, a single, accurate definition of UPFs would be helpful. It would especially benefit federal rule-making and the development of consumer health guidance about consuming these foods.

Recently, some states have defined UPFs for themselves. And the state of California is actively taking steps to remove them in places like school lunches. Thankfully, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) do realize the need for a uniform UPF definition, and they have been collecting comments and information that will assist in creating it. The Guiding Stars team has contributed to this effort, and we’re hopeful that our experience in helping consumers easily select nutritious foods will help inform the new definition.

How Does Guiding Stars Handle UPFs?

It’s the mission of Guiding Stars to help consumers make nutritious food choices by providing an easy-to-understand, evidence-based program that rates products based on their nutritional value. In short, we assess information from the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient list, then calculate a score that summarizes the nutritional value of the food. Foods that provide more health benefits than detriments are assigned 1, 2, or 3 stars for good, better, or best nutrition. Those stars are easy to find on shelf tags, packaging, in-store signage, and online to aid shoppers in quick decision-making.

Our five algorithms do not include a specific debit for extent of processing. However, the Guiding Stars program does shift consumers towards more nutritious, whole foods because it uses a combination of nutrient density and ingredient-based scoring. Products receive a debit for the presence of ingredients that closely align with ultra-processed food items, such as trans fats, sugar alcohols, added sodium, and added sugar.

We also utilize an “Additives to Limit” list. This list only includes additives that provide no benefit to nutrition and are associated with undesirable health effects. (And we base these decisions on scientific consensus or recommendations from an established authoritative scientific body.) It includes a variety of ingredients such as chemical preservatives, synthetic non-nutritive sweeteners, and artificial colors and flavors, among others. The next time you shop, be mindful of selecting foods and beverages that earn Guiding Stars. It’s an easy way to fill your cart with nutritious foods that include fewer ultra-processed ingredients and additives.

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

*Image by Freepik