Tag: 3BL

When it comes to global trade, time is money. For companies looking to expand in the Americas, DP World’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Dominican Republic offers a unique opportunity to move fast, scale quickly, and help shape an ecosystem designed for the future of logistics.

At the heart of this transformation is DP World’s $760 million investment to expand the Port of Caucedo and develop 225 hectares of integrated logistics and industrial infrastructure. For early movers, the advantages go beyond location – they extend to influence, incentives, and impact.

Proximity That Changes the Game

Imagine cutting weeks off shipping times. Goods from Caucedo can reach Miami in three days and New York in just five – an unrivaled advantage compared to Asian supply chains that can take several weeks. This speed-to-market capacity allows businesses to respond to shifting consumer demand, reduce inventory holding costs, and maintain leaner, more agile supply chains.

Shaping Infrastructure from the Start

Early adopters aren’t just leasing space; they’re helping set the standard for what this SEZ will become. With more than 120 new industrial buildings, multimodal transport links, and flexible warehousing options in development, first movers gain a seat at the table to influence infrastructure, services, and even sustainability practices that align with their operational needs.

Incentives That Multiply Over Time

The Dominican Republic already hosts more than 850 companies in its free trade zones, but demand continues to outpace availability. Those who secure early entry into the expanded SEZ will enjoy preferential trade incentives – including tariff-free access to U.S. markets under DR-CAFTA – as well as priority access to state-of-the-art facilities. The zone is projected to create up to 50,000 jobs and attract nearly $3.9 billion in foreign direct investment, amplifying its long-term ecosystem value.

Building Growth on ESG Principles

What sets this project apart is its ESG-driven foundation. From deploying electric equipment to supporting environmental protection initiatives along the coast, DP World is embedding sustainability into every phase of SEZ development. The company builds on a rich history of sustainable operations in Latin America spanning electrification, habitat restoration, and waste reuse. For early movers, this means operating in a zone that not only boosts efficiency but also enhances brand reputation with customers, investors, and regulators demanding more responsible trade.

Early Movers Define the Future

The global trend toward nearshoring and regionalization is reshaping supply chains, and the Dominican Republic is fast becoming a hub of choice for manufacturers and logistics providers. Companies that act now will do more than reap speed-to-market benefits—they will help define the region’s next-generation logistics ecosystem, gaining first-mover advantages that compound over time.

As global trade realigns, early movers in the Dominican Republic SEZ aren’t just entering a market. They’re helping to build one.

Learn more about DP World’s Dominican Republic SEZ here.

Complimentary Webinar

Elevating Food Safety: Strategic Planning for 2026

October 16, 2025 | 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT

REGISTER

As the year draws to a close, it’s an ideal time to reflect on your food safety journey and overall performance of the systems.

By evaluating key learnings and challenges from the past year, we can position ourselves to be more proactive, effective, and resilient in driving success into 2026.

Join SCS Global Services for a forward-thinking webinar designed to help food safety leaders evaluate performance, identify areas for improvement, and align their teams around mission-critical approach to ensure compliance.

This session will explore:

• Tips to assess your current Food Safety Systems (BRCGS, SQF and others)
• Ways to challenge the status quo to drive continuous improvement
• Refine KPIs to better measure impact and progress
• Food Safety Culture – Inspire your team to embrace innovation and accountability

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your food safety systems or build a roadmap for next-level performance, this webinar will provide actionable insights to help you lead your team with confidence.

REGISTER HERE FOR THE WEBINAR

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Analyst, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

Images available on Futur/io Press Folder.

NEW YORK, September 23, 2025 /3BL/ – The names of the most important Chief Sustainability Officers of North America were announced at the Futur/io CSO Awards on Monday night. The celebration took place at a gala dinner at the newly opened and stunning vitra design showroom, during New York Climate Week.

Erik Hansen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Workday received the CSO Award /25 in Gold.

The Silver Award went to Jackie Jung, Vice President, Global Operations Strategy & Planning, Corporate Sustainability at Western Digital, while the Bronze Award was granted to Susan Uthayakumar, Chief Energy and Sustainability Officer of Prologis.

The Grand Jury also granted two Special Honour CSO Awards to Annika Dubrall from Tiffany & Co., and Ann Tracy from Colgate-Palmolive.

Ara Erickson from Weyerhaeuser received a special Sustainable Supply Chain Award presented by Simon Jaehnig, Co-Founder & President of IntegrityNext Inc.

The Peer Award, chosen by the live audience of the CSO Awards gala ceremony, went to Jennifer Motles, Chief Sustainability Officer at Philip Morris International, and was presented by jury members Livio Scalvini, Co-Founder and executive director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London and Daniel Erasmus, Founder of ClimateGPT.

Among the speakers of the evening were Sandrine Dixson-Declève, of the Club of Rome, Magnus Drewelies, of CEEZER Software, Nina Eisenman, of NASDAQ, Raphael Gielgen, of vitra and jury members among others.

“Our mission is to shine a light on the role of Chief Sustainability Officers, we hope to inspire others to be ambitious and work on building the desirable futures we want to live in,” said Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute. “These years winners and 20 nominees are exemplary in their commitment towards keeping the pace needed to solve for the Sustainable Development Goals and higher ambition for NetZero, e.g. a goal of 2040 or better.”

In the three months of data collection and analysis, Futur/io and its partners recognized delay in reporting compared to 2024, and some companies even retracted their earlier reporting on sustainability. The business climate can be characterized by geopolitical headwinds, economic pressures and potential “greenhushing”. Also, the participation in our annual survey –that was sent to big name corporations you might expect as leaders in their field and missing among the 20 nominees – lacked support by some CSOs.

The final winners were selected from the 20 Nominees list by a Grand Jury that includes some of the most influential and inspiring voices in sustainability.

Members include John Elkington, known as “the Godfather of Sustainability”, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, honorary president of the Club of Rome, Michael Kobori, former Chief Sustainability Officer for Starbucks, and winner of the CSO Awards Gold in 2024. Additional members are Niyanta Spelman, CEO of Rainforest Partnership, and Nina Eisenman, Vice president at NASDAQ, and Vandinika Shukla, Deputy Director of Global Programs (USA Lead), Obama Foundation. The Chair of the Jury is Harald Neidhardt, CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute.

This is the second edition of the CSO Awards North America, an initiative of the Futur/io Institute, a pioneering organisation dedicated to nurturing and inspiring leadership in sustainable innovation and building the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers globally. The European edition of the CSO Awards took place in Davos, parallel to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025.

The CSO Awards North America is a collaboration with partner Made in Sustainability, and supported by premium partner Integrity Next, together with scientific partner the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School, knowledge partners Denominator, Rainforest Partnership, Climate GPT, and Economist Impact, and also Gold Partner CEEZER Software. The complete list of community partners and supporting brands is available online.

Award Winners 

Gold Award Winner – Erik Hansen 

Chief Sustainability Officer at Workday

 

Silver Award Winner – Jackie Jung

Global Operations Strategy & Planning, Corporate Sustainability of Western Digital

 

Bronze Award Winner – Susan Uthayakumar

Chief Energy and Sustainability Officer for Prologis

 

Special Honour – Annika Dubrall

President of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation / Director and Head of Sustainability – Tiffany & Co.

 

Special Honour – Ann Tracy

Chief Sustainability Officer – Colgate-Palmolive

 

Sustainable Supply Chain Award Winner – Ara Erickson

Vice President Corporate Sustainability – Weyerhaeuser

 

Peer Award Winner – Jennifer Motles

Chief Sustainability Officer at Philip Morris International

 

Awards Criteria 

The 20 CSO Awards North America Nominees have been drawn from the Top100 CSOs of North America 2025 list, compiled by Futur/io using an extensive database including all the major companies with a headquarter in the USA or Canada. The shortlist was defined using a four-quadrant model criteria, developed by Futur/io and scientific partner the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School, and supported by knowledge partners Denominator, specialized in human-centric data, Rainforest Partnership, focused on biodiversity and ClimateGPT by Erasmus.ai adding a balanced public sentiment on the Top 100 CSOs.

The four quadrant model takes into consideration the maturity of corporate behaviours, regulatory performance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) criteria, net zero goals, environmental and human impact and also a self-assessment survey.

CSO Awards North America Grand Jury

• Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome; Author & Chair of Earth4All
• John Elkington, Founder & Chief Pollinator at Volans, known as “the Godfather of Sustainability”
• Livio Scalvini, co-founder and executive director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London
• Vandinika Shukla, Deputy Director of Global Programs (USA Lead), Obama Foundation
• Michael Kobori, former Chief Sustainability Officer for Starbucks, and winner of the CSO Awards Gold in 2024
• Niyanta Spelman, CEO of Rainforest Partnership
• Nina Eisenman, VP, Head of Sustainability Strategy & Reporting at NASDAQ
• Daniel Erasmus, Chief Executive Officer, Erasmus.AI and Creator of ClimateGPT
• Harald Neidhardt, CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute, as the Chair of the Grand Jury

About Futur/io Institute

We believe in co-creating desirable futures where ideas and innovation drive a regenerative economy that benefits people and the planet within the planetary boundaries.

The Futur/io Institute is a pioneering organisation to serve the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers dedicated to transforming businesses to drive positive impact for people, planet and prosperity. We do this through publications, podcasts and convening at inspiring locations like Davos, Basel, Lisbon, Venice and New York.

With a mission to inspire ambition, action and cross-pollination to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the institute provides a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape the futures of business and society.

Futur/io works with organisations like the UNFCCC or corporations in leadership training and curates Executive Programmes to inspire future leaders in sustainable innovation. Each year in Davos, the institute organizes executive receptions and recently debuted the annual CSO Awards to shine a light on the leadership role of Chief Sustainability Officers.

Futur/io is based in Hamburg and works as a think-tank with a selected international and diverse faculty of 100+ leaders in sustainability. The most recent book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” was published in May 2024 with Murmann Publishers. CEO & Curator Harald Neidhardt hosts the CSO Impact Podcast.

futur.io

Additional Info

https://www.csoawards.org/north-america
Images of the winners, the jury and the ceremony are available in our Press Folder.

Media Contact

Luciana Prestes
Chief of Staff & Head of Marketing 
luciana@futur.io

Researcher Tim Laske was in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park when he felt the weight of time collapse.

Flanked by a troop of baboons and Cape buffalo grazing in the distance, he quietly walked the ancient landscape with the footsteps of his daughter, Noelle, beside him.

“It could have been a million years ago, walking across the savannas in the middle of wildlife,” said Tim Laske, vice president of research in the Cardiac Ablation Solutions Operating Unit at Medtronic. “It was surreal. To be able to do that together was amazing.”

The father-daughter duo has traversed continents — from the icy climates of North America, to the dense forests of Thailand, to the plains of Africa — in pursuit of something quiet and profound: understanding. As scientists with Medtronic, they implant heart monitors in vulnerable species to study stress and survival, blending cutting-edge technology with a reverence for the natural world.

At home in the wild

Tim has long marveled at nature.

As a teenager, his family visited the rugged, remote island of Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, where he learned of the Wolf-Moose Project, a long-standing effort to better understand interactions between the two species. He later was hired as a field assistant on the project and it unlocked a lifetime of close encounters with animals around the globe in the pursuit of science.

“I loved wildlife and the outdoors, I loved engineering and medicine,” Tim said. “And so it all worked out perfectly that I was able to combine the two.”

Noelle inherited the same adoration for the wild.

When his daughter was a little girl, Tim deliberately taught her about the woods near their home. Noelle was “fearless,” always bucking the trail to explore through the bushes, Tim said. He taught her how to use a compass, and together they named areas of the forest so that Noelle always had reference points.

“The more you learn about the plants and animals, the more the wilderness feels like a home,” Tim said.

Noelle accompanied Tim on his research projects, curling up with cubs while her dad checked on the hibernating bears in northern Minnesota he monitored, or to Isle Royale, where Tim tracked wolves and moose. She joked she “could sit and watch a moose drink water for four hours” and be content.

“Growing up, I always thought he was the coolest person ever,” said Noelle of her father. “He’s always been my role model.”

While Tim has two other daughters who are quick to hold bear cubs and wolf pups and love the outdoors, Noelle embraced the science of the research and over time evolved from an eager witness to her dad’s work to an active contributor. She now works as an associate clinical specialist in the Cardiac Rhythm Management Operating Unit at Medtronic. The opportunity to work closely with her dad isn’t lost on Noelle.

“These are experiences most father-daughter relationships don’t get to have,” Noelle said. “Traveling with him, learning so much, is really cool and it’s something that’s unique to us.”

Not all glitz and glamour 

Tim and Noelle’s work around the world may seem glamorous to an outsider, but seeing an animal in the wild — and oftentimes, they don’t — is the culmination of months of research and prep work, often grueling hikes, bugs, extreme temperatures and sometimes sleeping on floors and under tables in remote places.

Collaborations have included a partnership called The Rhythm of Life Project with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute including the team’s recent work on giant anteaters, where Noelle previously spent two summers studying the behavior and physiology of maned wolves as an intern.

“We’re there as scientists to help,” Tim said of his work around the globe.

It’s part of our Mission to be good global citizens and provide good quality of life for both humans and animals on the planet, he said.

Tim publishes all learnings in scientific articles through his appointment as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Minnesota.

What’s next 

The father-daughter pair has worked together on numerous species including grizzly bears, American black bears, gray wolves, mountain lions, clouded leopards, Indian elephants, scimitar-horned oryx, maned wolves, and baboons.

The research program is made possible by Medtronic volunteers working behind the scenes and hundreds of donated devices. The conservation work is entirely extracurricular, done beyond the confines of their regular jobs. But it’s worth it, said Noelle, whose favorite wild encounter involved an elephant wrapping its trunk around her waist.

“Anything we can do to help understand species and how they interact both in captivity, and also in the changing environments, is really the least we can do,” she said. “And the fact that I enjoy every second of it really helps.”

Read more: At the heart of giant anteater conservation is a medical device

By Eric Best

It’s a simple fact many take for granted: Where you live can influence the smallest details of life. For affordable housing developments, adding amenities and services like a community center, recreation center, communal garden, reading rooms, and coworking spaces could drastically enhance the quality of life for residents, improving chances at long-term success and economic mobility.

Just ask Antoine Lewis.

Lewis, a lifelong resident of Sunnydale, San Francisco’s largest public housing project, said he and his neighbors not only feel better today but are doing better, too. The difference is the result of a groundbreaking rebuild of an entire 50-acre community now under construction in one of the densest cities in America.

“Sometimes, [the old Sunnydale buildings] might’ve brought peoples’ attitude and behavior down, just because [they were] waking up to an environment like that. Now it looks a little brighter. There’s more greenery. It’s just better,” he said. “When you see better, you do better.”

Sunnydale co-developers Mercy Housing California and Related California are aiming to do more than provide housing, but strengthen community, too.

“It’s not just about the brick and mortar of rebuilding homes. It’s about how we create comfortable, vibrant communities,” said Ashlei Hurst, Mercy Housing’s vice president of community life, who is overseeing the revitalization of Sunnydale. “Our focus is on belonging. Do you feel like you belong here and can thrive here?”

At Sunnydale, many of these services are housed at The Hub, a 30,000-square-foot community center. It’s where residents and even neighbors who aren’t Sunnydale residents eat free meals and drink coffee, practice yoga, play board games, or enjoy amenities like a recording studio and library. Across the street, a new resource center offers counseling and supportive services.

For Lewis and his family, the new Wu Yee Children’s Services early learning center in the nearby Hub means his son, a toddler, has a place to be active during the day.

“The Hub is a really nice place to have a whole lot of activities here for people to do and everything,” he said.

Envisioning the next generation of community-building

The Hub is more than a community center for residents who’ve lived at Sunnydale for decades without many amenities. It’s become something for them to rally around.

“This is the heart of the neighborhood,” Hurst said. “People from all over San Francisco come to The Hub right now.”

To make The Hub and Sunnydale’s lengthy list of resources not only possible but sustainable, the development team turned to philanthropic partners in addition to traditional funding sources like city and state funds. “This work began more than a decade before construction started,” said Tiffany Bohee, president of Mercy Housing California. “In a neighborhood long underserved, The Hub represents lasting change made possible through investments by Mercy Housing California and a coalition of philanthropic partners who believe in Sunnydale’s future.”

“We’ve been longtime supporters of Mercy Housing to give people with limited income really good options for housing,” said Darlene Goins, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation, which contributed $1 million to seed a new endowment that funds The Hub’s resident services.

Wells Fargo, an early collaborator, supported multiple parts of the revitalization.

“The bank provided financing to 4 phases of the affordable housing project totaling more than $535 million in debt, equity, and permanent financing. The bank also provided $13.1 million in equity investment in New Market Tax Credit for the Community Center, bringing the total Community Lending and Investment (CLI) into Sunnydale to approximately $549 million.”

A development like Sunnydale that doesn’t displace residents and builds belonging is “some of the hardest work you can do” as a developer, Hurst said, but it will be a win if people feel proud of their community. It will be another win if others can look to Visitacion Valley as an example of how a neighborhood can be rebuilt in a way that honors residents, new and old.

“I would like [Sunnydale’s revitalization] to be replicated,” Hurst said. “If we’ve figured out some of the pieces and also share lessons learned, I think it would be helpful for the next generation of people who are trying to do this in their neighborhoods.”

Inside a resident-focused approach to affordable housing

Emerging building by building are Mercy Housing’s colorful four-story apartments with affordable hoimes. Even the original street grid is getting a modern overhaul.

Key to the developers’ resident-centered “housing-first” model is not displacing residents who choose to stay, Hurst said, a principle baked into the project as part of the HOPE SF initiative. So, as new homes become available, Sunnydale residents — including many who’ve lived there for decades — move in.

Plus, once completed, the project will add room for hundreds more families, with roughly 1,000 affordable units and potential for 600–700 market-rate apartments with a development partner.

This community-building approach addresses residents’ needs and intentionally creates places and moments for them to connect. Mercy Housing staff, including several Visitacion Valley residents, surveyed hundreds of neighbors to hear what they needed firsthand.

Commercial spaces will add a grocery store, a café, and a food hall, among other shops. Residents can connect over meals or cooking classes in The Hub’s community kitchen, too.

“The way we think about it is creating a community where people can be more self-sufficient within their own neighborhood,” said Julia Katz, Mercy Housing California commercial developer. “This not only makes people’s lives easier, because they can walk to services and goods, but it can also bring [them] together in really meaningful ways.”

Connections are forming. Hub activities like senior programs and art classes have brought Tim Harrison, who’s called Sunnydale home since the 1970s, out to socialize more.

“I’m happy to see Sunnydale changing and bringing in a lot of new people, bringing in businesses and stores,” he said. “The sudden change is something new for us and for new people — a new generation — to enjoy.”

Key takeaways

• Adding services and amenities to affordable housing could improve the success and economic mobility of residents, a new housing model asserts.
• Nonprofit affordable housing developer Mercy Housing California and its team are using an innovative approach to revitalizing San Francisco’s largest public housing project to address residents’ long-term needs.
• Because of its complexity, the revitalization of the Sunnydale community relies on private and philanthropic supporters like Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

To learn more, please visit Wells Fargo Stories.

Originally published on GEC’s Blog.

The Global Electronics Council^® (GEC) is a thought leader on one of the technology industry’s most pressing challenges: ensuring that electronics create value for people, the planet, and the economy. As the trusted steward of EPEAT^® and a global convener of purchasers, manufacturers, investors and other technology stakeholders, GEC plays a unique role in shaping how responsible technology contributes to a better world.

To reflect this role, we are introducing our new tagline: Advancing Responsible Technology.

Why Advancing Responsible Technology

The new tagline reflects what defines GEC today:

• Advancing: signaling GEC’s unique role in accelerating industry and purchasing practices towards sustainable electronics.
• Responsible: reinforcing the environmental and social outcomes GEC advances across the lifecycles of electronics, with room to evolve with the industry and the markets in which it operates.
• Technology: anchoring our role squarely in helping to shape the future of a responsible global electronics sector.

Together, these words express GEC’s position as a global leader in accelerating systemic change in electronics.

A Unifying Message

A tagline is not a mission statement. It is a shorthand that conveys tone, authority, and differentiation across all communications. Advancing Responsible Technology brings together GEC and its globally recognized EPEAT ecolabel under a single, unifying expression of purpose, uniting every program, partnership, and initiative under one voice.

Looking Forward

Electronics shape how organizations work, collaborate, and impact their communities. Managing their impacts is central to addressing climate change, circular electronics, chemicals of concern, and social responsibility. With our new tagline, GEC affirms its role as a trusted leader, delivering measurable impact and guiding the industry toward better outcomes for people, the planet, and the bottom line.

Advancing Responsible Technology is a shorthand for GEC’s commitment to 100% sustainable electronics by 2050 for everyone, everywhere.

This story first appeared on Baker Hughes’ Energy Forward Stories.

Inspired by the opportunity to drive global impact while delivering local value, Marta joined Baker Hughes three years ago as a procurement intern.

Today, Marta is a key member of the sustainability team in the Industrial & Energy Technology (IET) business segment of Baker Hughes. As a procurement specialist focused on sustainability, she co-develops the procurement sustainability strategy and is involved in guiding its operationalization across the business. One of the most rewarding aspects of her role, she says, is ‘‘launching innovative initiatives and cultivating environments where sustainability can thrive.’’

One such initiative is ‘Bees for the Future’, a biodiversity conservation project focused on urban beekeeping and education for sustainable development. It aims at creating a positive impact and fostering sustainability with local suppliers in regions where Baker Hughes employees live and work – which is a key part of  the company’s Planet pillar of sustainability strategy.

The initiative began in Italy, home to eight Baker Hughes sites and 6,600 employees. Launched initially in Talamona in April 2023, the program expanded to Massa in April 2024, reflecting its growing impact across the nation. The project has resulted in multiple benefits to the larger community, such as corporate crowdfunding with urban regeneration, beekeeping, sustainability-focused educational workshops and social inclusion activities for people with disabilities. 

In Talamona, Italy, Baker Hughes manufactures high-tech components for turbomachinery equipment, including parts for gas and steam turbines, compressors, and other related machinery. The facility is a center of excellence for advanced manufacturing, robotics, and digital solutions, leveraging technologies like additive manufacturing. 

In Massa, Italy, center of excellence for gas technology equipment, Baker Hughes excels in welding, assembling, and rigorously testing advanced turbomachinery solutions, including the LM9000 aeroderivative gas turbine and large compressors primarily for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and new energy value chains.

In Massa, the project supported the redevelopment of an abandoned area and several walking trails within the Monte di Pasta Park. There, a honey garden was created featuring over ten species of pollinator-friendly plants and flowers. Together with Baker Hughes suppliers, the initiative adopted nine bee colonies, which are lovingly tended by a professional beekeeper.  

To find out more about the project, the Energy Forward Stories team caught up with Marta, as she explained key highlights and learnings:

Question:
What inspired your team to launch this project?
Marta Rinaldi:

At Baker Hughes, our sustainability strategy includes climate stewardship, biodiversity, inclusion, and supporting education and knowledge to improve quality of life and food security. Sustainability for us, starts with people and the communities where we live and operate in.

This project was created because we really wanted to do something with our suppliers on sustainability that would have a positive impact locally. The idea was to involve different stakeholders. Some of our partners are members of the local community and non-profit associations, and with such diverse stakeholders, we wanted to create something innovative that encourages dialogue between different realities – one, true hands-on sustainability project!

Question:
How did you engage with the team?
Marta:

At first, people wanted to better understand the value of getting involved. My role was to focus on explaining the benefits and understanding the specific needs of our stakeholders including the Baker Hughes team, our suppliers, and the local community. As the initiative evolved and we developed more details, there was positivity and enthusiasm from everyone.

Question:
How were the locations for the installation of the beehives chosen?
Marta:

The town of Talamona is close to a local apiary APAS (Association of Beekeeping Producers of the Province of Sondrio), making it ideal for a pilot project. In Massa, the location offered a unique opportunity to regenerate the Monte di Pasta public park, allowing us to integrate biodiversity support with urban renewal and social inclusion. 

Both Baker Hughes facilities in these two towns have a strong relationship with the community and were therefore identified as potential ‘sustainability hubs’. They were ideal locations for projects that blend local impact with addressing global challenges like decline of pollinators and climate change.  

Question: 
How did you and the team make this project a reality?
Marta:

We began by defining with a local crowdfunding partner the baseline of the project. This was to ensure we established a clear purpose, enabling us to achieve our sustainability goals and respond to specific needs of our stakeholders.

We then engaged with employees and key external collaborators  to build a cross-functional approach for co-creation, setting-up and fine-tuning the project scope.

Finally, we launched the initiative by hosting  opening ceremonies , kicking off all the activities related to sustainability such as training sessions, beekeeping and social inclusion. On May 20, 2024, International Bee Day, we officially launched the Massa project at Monte di Pasta Park. The event brought together local officials, school children, suppliers, and community members. In addition to being a celebration, it demonstrated our deep commitment to biodiversity, sustainability education and inclusion. The buzz of the bees was matched only by the energy and smiles of the people.

Every step was designed to engage and inspire everyone involved.

Question: 
What are the three key goals your team established for this project?
Marta:

First, our goal is to protect biodiversity and the quality of life by supporting pollinators. Creating habitats that help ecosystems thrive through the adoption of bees and creation of pollinator-friendly environments is essential. Second, we want to foster a culture of keeping sustainability top of mind for all our actions and behaviors – both at work and outside of work – one that is lived, not just talked about. And third, we wanted to respond to the needs of our local community and promote social inclusion, revitalizing public spaces and ensuring that the benefits of the project reach far beyond our office and factory walls.

Question: 
Have the beehives made a noticeable impact so far?
Marta:

Yes. A single bee can visit up to 5,000 flowers a day and we adopted 650,000 bees, meaning from our Massa plant alone, they could visit 3 billion flowers in a single day, a massive boost to any ecosystem. Such a large population of bees could cover hundreds of acres of crops like apples, almonds, or blueberries in the region.

So far, we have donated 130 kg of honey, we involved 12 strategic partners and four non-profit associations. Through this initiative, around 80 people, employees and non-employees, have been trained.

In addition, we were able to get insights from the ecosystems’ health. Bees are bio-indicators. They are super sensitive to pollution, so they are perfect for naturally monitoring the environment. The honey analysis confirmed high purity and biodiversity, with no traces of pesticides or harmful pathogens.  So, we were very pleased.

These results are especially meaningful in the context of pollinator crisis. According to the European Commission, one in three pollinator species in the EU is in decline, and one in ten is at risk of extinction. Around four out of five crop and wild flowering plant species depend on animal pollination, this means that pollinators have a key role in food security and thriving ecosystems. Our project is a small but powerful step in reversing that trend. 

Question: 
How did you work with charitable organizations to support or guide the project?
Marta:

Charities were essential to the project’s success. In Talamona, the honey was donated to the Opera delle Minime Oblate, which supports disadvantaged youth. In Massa, Caritas distributed the honey to local families in need. These organizations helped us ensure that the project had a strong social impact.

They guided us in understanding local needs and helped us connect sustainability with solidarity, turning honey into a symbol of care in the community.   

Question: 
What does leading this project mean to you personally?
Marta:

I really love to talk and connect with different people. I love nature and I am protective about it. This project has shown us that environmental conservation isn’t just about the planet, but its impact reaches far beyond.  

With a job in corporate sustainability, I found my vocational path and my career, so it is something that gives a meaning to my work. Nature reminds me to listen, not just to the world around me, but to myself and others. It sharpens my focus, sparks brilliant ideas, lifts my mood and energy. Nature has become both a guide and a teacher to me throughout my life.

I’m inspired by biomimicry – sustainability solutions inspired by nature. It taught me to observe how ecosystems thrive through balance, resilience, and interdependence, and to bring those same principles into the way we work and lead. For example, did you know that bees build honeycombs using hexagonal cells, which are mathematically the most efficient shape for storing the most honey with the least wax? This structure maximizes space and strength while minimizing material use – a principle even engineers admire.

Real impact begins when we align our actions with the wisdom of the world we’re trying to protect. True leadership is not about control but about genuine connection.

Question: 
What is your advice for someone looking to lead a sustainability initiative?
Marta:

I would say to start with a clear purpose and look to build strong partnerships. Engage your stakeholders early and often. Explain the ‘why’. Don’t be afraid to start small but think big. Measure your impact, tell your story, and stay open to learning.

Most importantly, remember that sustainability is not a solo act, it is a collective journey. I truly believe that when you bring people together around a shared goal, the results can be extraordinary. 

Published by Action Against Hunger.

For inquiries, please contact Nora Benito at nbenito@accioncontraelhambre.org and Elisa Bernal at ebernal@accioncontraelhambre.org.

New York/Jerusalem, 22 September 2025. Action Against Hunger shares with deep sadness the news of the tragic killing of our former colleague, Mustafa Walid Mohammed Al Ejla, in the Gaza Strip. Mustafa worked at an Action Against Hunger warehouse in Gaza City until it was rendered inaccessible as a result of displacement orders. He was killed on September 16th in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City near his family’s home. He was 29 years old and married.

Mustafa’s devastating death is the third suffered by Action Against Hunger teams in Gaza since June this year. The ongoing assault and ground operation in Gaza City continues to claim the lives of civilians and loved ones, including members of our own team who lived with immeasurable dedication to service.

“Mustafa was an exemplary of ethics,” remembers one of his colleagues. “He was a friend and role model.”

“The loss of our beloved colleague Mustafa exemplifies the terrible conditions of life in Gaza City,” explains Natalia Anguera, Head of Middle East Operations at Action Against Hunger. “Our teams are in a constant state of grief while also being forced to make impossible choices: flee to an overcrowded south that is ill-equipped to sustain human survival on a large scale, or risk death in the north in the face of the offensive.”

“Over half of our colleagues in Gaza City have been forcibly displaced, making the dangerous 15-hour trek to the South. Similarly, half of the families with acutely malnourished babies and toddlers that we treat were forcibly displaced in the last week,” said Natalia Anguera. “With two additional warehouses inaccessible as a result of previous displacement orders, we fear continuous loss of access to critical areas, humanitarian infrastructure and supplies.”

Around 86% of the Gaza Strip is now under displacement orders or in militarized areas, blocking humanitarian access to certain areas, separating farmers from their land, and preventing engineering professionals from accessing essential water and sanitation infrastructure in need of rehabilitation.

More than 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, including 20,000 children and at least 540 humanitarian workers. It is the deadliest place on earth to be an aid worker. Action Against Hunger reiterates its urgent call for the protection of the civilian population, including humanitarian workers. The tragedy of these losses once again underscores the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

Action Against Hunger extends our deepest condolences to Mustafa’s family and loved ones. We will not forget Mustafa, nor Obada and Mohammed, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on June 26th.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our humanitarian mission: to continue bringing aid to those facing unimaginable challenges in Gaza.

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Around the block and across the globe: FedEx shows up for people and communities in need 

Asia, Middle East, and Africa

Education and youth support:

• China: FedEx Library Program reached 17 primary schools in rural areas, setting up reading rooms and donating books, benefiting over 10,000 children
• Kenya: Assembled and distributed 1,800 new backpacks filled with school supplies and essentials in Kajiado with Feed the Children
• Philippines: Supported Zonta’s Empowering Women Scholarship Program to support women enrolled in engineering and science courses prepare for the STEM workforce
• Vietnam: Worked with Vietnam Volunteer Center to construct eight computer labs for 3,000+ students in remote areas
• Philippines: Assembled and distributed 1,600 new backpacks filled with school supplies and essentials in Bohol with Feed the Children

Food security:

• Japan: Collected 558 packages of essential food items weighing 400 lbs for Second Harvest Japan
• Malaysia: Established a community vegetable garden with nonprofit TrEES, producing vegetables for approximately 700 meals monthly

Health and wellness:

• Asia Pacific Region: 800 volunteers donated 8,000 lbs of food and essentials, to 1,600 individuals alongside 20+ NGOs across 11 countries
• South Africa: Donated 200 bicycles to help youth get to school in rural South Africa
• Vietnam: Through “FedEx Delivers Heartbeats,” provided free cardiac screening to over 300,000 children and identified nearly 7,700 previously undiagnosed heart defects

Europe

Education and youth support: 

• Germany: Collected items including food, warm clothes, books, stationery, and hygiene articles to support school children
• Spain: Collected and delivered 2,000 school and hygiene supplies benefiting children in Senegal and Djibouti

Food security and basic needs:

• Belgium: Filled more than 51 boxes with food and hygiene products for unhoused people with the nonprofit Les Samaritains
• Region-wide: 506 volunteers participated in 11 food packing events with Rise Against Hunger, preparing 3,560 boxes and 32,400 meals
• UK & Ireland: Collected food that supported the Coningsby and Tattershall Lions to provide Christmas dinners to struggling families

Vulnerable populations:

• Italy: Collected toys and school items for Casa Priscilla, supporting vulnerable mothers, minors, abused women, and families
• Poland: Decorated gingerbread cakes and clay angels for Guardian Angels, which supports disadvantaged children and youth
• Romania: 19 volunteers renovated an educational center for vulnerable children and families with Habitat for Humanity

The Americas

Education and youth support:

• Mexico: Delivered 3,200 backpacks with school supplies to 13 public schools affected by Hurricane Otis
• U.S. (Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida): Teamed up with Feed the Children and local NGOs to pack 3,000+ backpacks with school supplies, hygiene items, and meal kits
• Guatemala: Assembled and distributed 700 new backpacks filled with school supplies and essential in Palencia with Feed the Children as well as the installation of purified water stations in Palencia.

Food security and basic needs:

• Canada: Delivered joy for the holidays by collecting 6,000 lbs of food for food banks, organizing collections for 25 nonprofits, and volunteering for organizations including Holiday Helpers and Operation Warm
• Chile and Argentina: 70 volunteers delivered 888 coats to schools in vulnerable communities in both countries and to regions affected by Chilean wildfires
• Panama: 26 volunteers assisted with packing and inventory management at a local food bank
• U.S. (Memphis, Tennessee): FedEx volunteers, interns, and University of Memphis Tigers football athletes worked with United Service Organizations (USO) to assemble 10,000 toiletry care packages and 10,000 additional holiday care packages for service members stationed around the world
• U.S., Canada and LAC (Multiple): 2,100 FedEx volunteers delivered 21,000+ brand-new coats and 9,000 new pairs of shoes with socks to students at 70+ schools alongside Operation Warm. We also supported Operation Warm’s FLY:FWD and distributed 360 sports bras to student athletes.
• U.S. (Illinois, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.): Hosted Resource Rally events distributing food, personal care, books, and household essentials for 1,600 families alongside Feed the Children. Learn about the Memphis Fooda Essentials Hub here.

Health and wellness:

• Brazil: Volunteers organized activities for 85 individuals with intellectual disabilities at APAE Cajamar
• Colombia: 16 volunteers visited “Alegría de Vivir” foundation, engaging with elderly residents through games and dancing
• Mexico: Team members volunteered with the Cruz Rosa Institution, which supports women diagnosed with cancer by providing lodging, food, psychological, and spiritual care
• U.S. (Indiana): Raised funds for 19,000 Special Olympics athletes through the Plane Pull Challenge, which engaged 75 volunteers

Animal welfare:

• Brazil: Donated pet blankets and supplies to the Focinhos de Luz shelter in Rio de Janeiro
• Canada: Collected 400+ lbs of pet food, toys, and cleaning supplies in support of Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter
• Mexico: Supported “Buenos Chicos” shelter for 225 rescued dogs by donating kibble, cleaning supplies, and volunteer hours

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

Story authored by International Medical Corps

For nearly a decade, FedEx has supported International Medical Corps’ mission to bring health and hope to crisis-affected communities. In the aftermath of a crisis, families often face increased rates of food insecurity due to supply chain disruptions and displacement—factors that dramatically increase their risk of malnutrition, illness and death.

In Cameroon, more than 3.3 million people urgently need assistance as the country grapples with three overlapping humanitarian crises: the protracted Lake Chad Basin conflict affecting the Far North region, clashes between armed groups in the North-West and South-West regions, and the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Central African Republic into the Eastern border areas.^[1]

These crises have exacerbated widespread displacement and instability, leaving more than 2.5 million people facing acute food insecurity—including more than 390,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

With FedEx’s support, International Medical Corps delivered medical and nutrition supplies—including desperately needed Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs)—to treat children with SAM in remote and crisis-affected communities in North-Western Cameroon.

While conducting door-to-door malnutrition screenings in the Njinikan Village, International Medical Corps identified Praise, a 15-month-old girl suffering from SAM. Similarly, during an outreach campaign in Bome Village, we identified another child suffering from SAM, four-year-old Amadou. Though their families—already burdened by poverty and limited access to healthcare—tried to improve their children’s health, they continued to decline. In response, International Medical Corps quickly admitted both children into our Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTPs), where they were able to receive RUTF shipped by FedEx, as well as regular medical check-ups, nutritional counseling and more.

Both children’s recoveries were also made possible through the education and support of their caregivers. Praise’s grandmother and Amadou’s mother received training on proper feeding practices and learned how to monitor their children’s health progress using a mid-upper arm circumference tape—a tool to assess a child’s nutritional status, specifically malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition.

After 51 days of care, Praise regained her weight and strength. Her grandmother expressed deep gratitude, saying she never imagined her granddaughter would fully recover. Amadou, after 73 days of treatment, was also discharged with a healthy weight, and his mother expressed great happiness: “My child was very sick and weak, but now he can eat and play like any other child.”

FedEx’s charitable shipping of RUTFs was instrumental in delivering lifesaving care during our emergency response efforts in Cameroon. Since beginning our new ‘Delivering for Good’ project, International Medical Corps has utilized FedEx’s charitable shipping to deploy more than 1.4 million units of emergency medicines and medical supplies—including RUTF and other critical nutrition items—to reach those in the most need, including hundreds of children like Praise and Amadou. Whether handling complex inventory, ensuring regulatory compliance or transporting high-tech medical equipment, FedEx consistently delivers hope with excellence. 
 

^{[1] UNOCHA. (January 31, 2025). Cameroon Humanitarian Needs Overview 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/cameroon/cameroon-humanitarian-needs-overview-2025-january-2025.}

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