Tag: 3BL

Whirlpool Corporation recently announced a planned $300 million investment in its U.S. laundry manufacturing facilities, one in a series of strategic commitments to grow its American manufacturing footprint. This investment is expected to create between 400 and 600 new jobs across the company’s operations in Clyde and Marion, Ohio, positioning Whirlpool Corp. for increased production of its next generation of washers and dryers, while also supporting approximately 5,000 additional jobs outside the company.

Started in America …

Founded in the United States more than 110 years ago, Whirlpool Corp. maintains the largest U.S. manufacturing operations in the home appliance industry. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, today’s investment reinforces that legacy.

“Whirlpool Corporation’s unwavering commitment to American manufacturing is a cornerstone of our identity. This $300 million investment in our Clyde and Marion facilities underscores our dedication to creating jobs, fostering innovation, and delivering high-quality, American-made appliances to U.S. consumers.”

Whirlpool Corp.’s Clyde manufacturing facility, in operation since 1952, is the largest washing machine plant in the world. The Marion dryer factory celebrated its 70th anniversary in September, marking seven decades of manufacturing excellence and community impact.

… Stayed in America

The benefits of Whirlpool Corp.’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing are felt across the U.S. The company manufactures more of its appliances in the U.S. than any of its industry peers, while partnering with thousands of suppliers across the country. Approximately 80% of Whirlpool Corp.’s U.S. major appliance sales come from products produced in the company’s U.S. factories – significantly higher than the 25% competitor average. Ninety-six percent of the steel used in the company’s U.S. plants is sourced domestically.

In the past decade, Whirlpool Corp. has invested $6 billion in U.S. capital expenditures, R&D and new product development, as part of $23 billion in total spent on our U.S. operations, logistics and workforce. With 20,000 employees in the U.S., including over 14,000 at its 10 manufacturing plants, Whirlpool Corp. continues to play a leading role in sustaining and growing American manufacturing.

“Across our U.S. operations, from the factory floor to design labs to distribution centers, our people are the foundation of everything we build,” said Kristin Day, Vice President of U.S. Manufacturing at Whirlpool Corporation. “We are proud to reinforce our commitment to the communities and plants where generations have not only built appliances but careers, families and futures. This investment builds on that legacy, enhancing our manufacturing capabilities and ensuring we can continue producing world-class appliances right here in America.”

Financial assistance from JobsOhio and tax credits from the State of Ohio will support continued investments in workforce development and the company’s Clyde and Marion operations. The investments are subject to final approval of the financial assistance.

For more information about Whirlpool Corporation and its U.S. manufacturing footprint, click here.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

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• Improvements across climate action, resource efficiency, responsible sourcing, circularity and other sustainability measures
• CO₂ intensity reduced by 26%
• Renewable electricity increased by 121% and total water withdrawals decreased by 14%
• 80% of TIP members with time-bound targets for responsible sourcing

GENEVA, October 23, 2025 /3BL/ – The Tire Industry Project (TIP), a voluntary CEO-driven initiative representing ten of the largest tire manufacturers globally, has published its latest KPI report, highlighting the measurable progress in sustainability made by member companies between 2021 and 2024.

The report, titled “Sustainability Driven: TIP’s Progress Towards SDGs,” tracks progress against 16 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) KPIs across the seven pathways within the Tire Sector SDG Roadmap. This reporting structure showcases the sector’s contributions to the wider UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

TIP member companies’ collective advancements over the 2021-2024 period include:

• Climate action & energy efficiency: TIP members achieved a 26% reduction in CO₂ intensity, down to its lowest level since 2009. Other key achievements include a 121% increase in the amount of renewable electricity, and a 14% decrease in water withdrawals.
• Sustainable natural rubber commitment: All TIP members remained active participants in the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), reporting annually under its mandatory framework.
• Responsible sourcing acceleration: By the end of 2024, 80% of TIP members had set time-bound targets for responsible sourcing, more than double the number since 2021. Additionally, 70% embedded these targets into supplier contracts and 30% completed third-party audits. 

The publication also underscores TIP’s continued leadership in research. Between 2021 and 2024, TIP-sponsored publications on TRWP increased by 75%, with their citation by the scientific community rising 175%. This growing body of research reflects the sector’s role in advancing environmental science and shaping future standards. Other highlights of the report include TIP’s ongoing focus on circularity through the development of the End-of-Life Tire (ELT) Management Hierarchy. This framework supports stakeholders across the tire value chain and national governments in moving towards more circular solutions for tires.

“Data-driven reporting is the cornerstone of credibility,” said Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director, TIP. “This KPI report shows how our members are turning commitments into measurable results, driving change that extends across the value chain. As TIP marks its 20th anniversary, it’s inspiring to see how far stakeholder collaboration and science have taken us — and how much more we can achieve together in the years ahead.”

For nearly a decade, TIP has mobilized its members to report on shared sustainability KPIs, publishing them for the first time in 2016. As members’ reporting approach evolved, so did that of TIP. In 2021, TIP published Sustainability Driven: Accelerating Impact with the Tire Sector SDG Roadmap, providing a unified reporting framework for accountability and action. The latest KPI report, which discloses progress against the SDG Roadmap, marks the most recent milestone in TIP’s continuing ambition to help drive transparent sectoral reporting.

– END –

Notes to Editors:

To download the report, visit:

https://tireindustryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sustainability-Driven-TIPs-Progress-Towards-SDGs-2021-24-web.pdf

More information on TIP’s initiative Sustainability Driven can also be found on the TIP website: https://tireindustryproject.org/sustainability-driven/  

For general inquiries about the report and the SDG Roadmap, contact tip.communications@wbcsd.org 

About TIP

Formed in 2005, the Tire Industry Project (TIP) is a voluntary CEO-driven initiative with a mission to anticipate, understand, and address global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues relevant to the tire industry and its value chain.​

TIP acts by commissioning independent research of the highest standards, collaborating on sectoral solutions, and engaging with external stakeholders. ​

TIP is part of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), bringing together 10 leading tire companies that represent more than 60% of the world’s tire manufacturing capacity. ​

In 2025, TIP marks its 20th anniversary — a milestone that reflects its long-term commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and fostering collective industry action to improve sustainability across the tire value chain.​

For more information, visit The Tire Industry Project.

Originally published on Tork Newsroom

Tork, an Essity brand and the global leader in professional hygiene, has launched the Tork Focus4 Sustainability platform in North America to help businesses benefit from sustainable hygiene in the restroom. The platform provides holistic information, tools, and training to help customers make informed decisions that reduce environmental impact and improve business outcomes.

Sustainability increasingly influences where people choose to work and spend their money, directly affecting business performance.^¹ The Tork Focus4 Sustainability platform helps customers navigate this by providing a clear, simple view of product claims and benefits to empower informed decision-making. Prioritizing sustainability strengthens brand reputation, builds customer loyalty, and helps attract and retain talent:

• 84% of people say that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company.²
• 67% would like public restroom managers to be more considerate about sustainability and the environment when it comes to restroom solutions or management. ²
• 62% of people say they always or often seek to purchase products because they are sustainable^.1
• 65% of people say a company’s eco-friendly reputation and actions impact their decision when finding a new job.¹

As part of Essity, one of the world’s most sustainable companies,3 Tork knows that sustainable hygiene and business performance are linked. Tork also understands how complex sustainability can be and believes the restroom offers a small, high-impact space where businesses can make significant improvements across a manageable number of products.

“Sustainability is a complex endeavor for businesses, but one that can help drive business outcomes,” said Jill Trider, Customer Marketing Sustainability Manager, Professional Hygiene at Essity. “The restroom offers a manageable starting point for those on the journey to reducing their environmental footprint. At Essity, we are continually evolving how we deliver even more transparent, simple-to-understand information to our Tork customers so they can choose products that fit their sustainability ambitions and what matters to their business.”

Tork approaches sustainability through a circular lens and breaks it down into four key areas: materials and packaging, use and waste, carbon, and hygiene for all. Tork Focus4 Sustainability materials follow this lifecycle approach and offer an overview of comparable sustainability benefits for each of these four focus areas. The resources also feature tools and free access to interactive educational modules that improve sustainability knowledge.

Focus4 Sustainability is part of the Tork brand’s holistic effort to help businesses build business value from sustainable hygiene across their facilities. Tork products are designed with sustainability at the forefront: many products feature less packaging or cardboard cores for less waste and material use; compressed products save transport space, leading to reduced carbon emissions. Innovative one-at-a-time dispensing helps people use fewer paper products and foam soaps help reduce consumption. Additionally, Tork offers a range of carbon-neutral certified dispensers produced with certified renewable electricity and offset with credits from climate projects by ClimatePartner.⁴ 

To learn more about Focus4 Sustainability and how the vast array of Tork sustainable hygiene solutions can improve your facilities, please visit: www.Torkglobal.com/us/en/focus4materials. 

1 Tork Eco Office survey US 2023.

2 Data from the 2024 Tork Insight Survey of 6,000 individuals 18-65+ and 900 respondents representing businesses in the United States, Mexico, UK, Germany and France

3 Corporate Knights Global 100 most sustainable companies 2024 and Europe 50, 2025

4 Valid for dispensers sold or leased as of Oct. 2023. ClimatePartner certified product: www.climate-id.com/9VIUDN.

About Tork

The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit www.torkglobal.com/us/en/.

About Essity

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2024, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 146bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.

When: Wednesday, October 29, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. 
Where: San Jose Convention Center — San Jose, California

As global supply chains evolve to balance efficiency with sustainability, technology is redefining what’s possible. At Trellis Impact 2025, leaders from across industries will gather to discuss how artificial intelligence and other innovations are driving measurable impact — from reducing emissions to improving resilience.

In this 60-minute panel, experts will share real-world examples of AI-enabled fleet management, predictive analytics, and carbon accounting tools that are helping companies operate smarter and greener. The discussion will also explore key challenges in scaling these solutions, overcoming internal barriers, and addressing potential risks and blind spots in technology-driven transformation.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Sarah Mourino, Senior Director, Sustainability, DP World in the Americas
• Tara Gupta, CEO, Map-collective
• Natasha Tuck, Director of Sustainability, Dolby Digital
• Miranda Gardiner, Executive Director, iMasons

Moderator: Ashley Allen, President, CSO Copilot & Sr. Advisor, CO2EFFICIENT

Join the conversation to explore how AI is transforming the global supply chain and shaping a smarter, more sustainable future.

Learn more about DP World’s global sustainability journey here. 

EMERYVILLE, Calif., October 23, 2025 /3BL/ – The Global Heat Reduction Initiative (GHR) has released Version 2.0 of its Registry Standard, ensuring that Heat Reduction Credits seamlessly align with the integrity and transparency standards guiding the global voluntary carbon market, including Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) and International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA) accreditation requirements. GHR plans to pursue formal accreditation under both programs in 2026.

The first of its kind in the voluntary carbon market, GHR’s framework accounts for all heat drivers including super pollutants like methane and HFCs, and air polluting aerosols like black carbon, and quantifies their climate impacts to accelerate global heat reduction.

Key revisions to the Registry Standard include bolstered social and environmental safeguards and expanded stakeholder engagement requirements. Incorporating these updates ensures Heat Reduction Credits remain interoperable with traditional carbon credits, building long-term market integrity and confidence.

“Version 2.0 underscores GHR’s continued leadership in integrating critical near-term reduction efforts into the world’s leading climate action standards,” said Kiff Gallagher, GHR Executive Director. “Project developers and buyers can have the confidence that Heat Reduction Credits meet the highest standards for scientific rigor and transparency.”

With five methodologies released and more in development, the GHR Standard provides public and private organizations with a credible pathway to quantify, verify, and finance heat reduction initiatives that address the full range of climate forcers across target-aligned timescales.

“The GHR Registry Standard brings an unprecedented level of precision to the climate marketplace,” said Linda Brown, Co-founder and Senior Vice President of SCS Global Services. “Version 2.0 builds on our commitment to uphold environmental and social integrity while translating the latest climate science into actionable, verifiable standards.”

The GHR Registry Standard is grounded in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) science and reviewed by experts from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This scientific foundation ensures the framework addresses all heat drivers of climate change including those historically undervalued while delivering climate impact data beyond conventional CO₂e reporting.

The GHR Registry Standard (Version 2.0) is now available here. Organizations can learn more at heatreduction.com/registry.

 

Media Contact: 
media@heatreduction.com

SCS@browningenvironmental.com

 

About the Global Heat Reduction Initiative 

Global Heat Reduction Initiative combines cutting-edge methodology with expert advisory, enabling organizations to understand their total climate footprint, plan comprehensive mitigation strategies, and accelerate heat reduction. With this holistic view, organizations can prioritize interventions with the greatest climate return per dollar spent, unlock faster climate progress, and deliver immediate local benefits. Learn more at www.heatreduction.com.

 

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is an international leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, and standards development with over 40 years of experience. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

LINCOLN, Neb., October 23, 2025 /3BL/ – Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, was invited to speak at the First International Green Cities Conference, hosted by The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Habitat.

The two-day conference was held last week at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, coinciding with the World Food Forum. The First International Green Cities conference brought together public officials, private sector leaders, and NGOs like the Arbor Day Foundation to help create momentum around the effort to shape greener cities worldwide.

“I am grateful for FAO’s continued trust in the Arbor Day Foundation and this opportunity to showcase our knowledge, experience, and leadership in urban forestry,” said Lambe. “The positive impact of trees goes beyond borders and transcends language barriers. That’s why it’s so important we, as an international community, work together to reimagine urban life for the better. Because together, we can make a lasting difference for millions of people.”

Dan Lambe was invited to speak at two events that focused on how trees and green spaces can shape more climate-resilient cities, the rapid growth of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Cities of the World program, and how the Arbor Day Foundation is collaborating with FAO to scale global impact through forestry.

Tree Cities of the World recognizes cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the livability and sustainability of their local area. This year, 210 communities were recognized as Tree Cities of the World, the most ever honored since the program began in 2018. These cities represent 24 countries and 6 continents, with communities ranging in population size from 1,500 to 12 million people. Globally, more than 134 million people live in Tree Cities of the World.

“Through Tree Cities of the World, we’ve been able to galvanize a global network of passionate tree planters eager to make their cities better places to live. The growing interest in this program is proof we’re all eager to learn from one another and use those insights to shape a greener future,” said Lambe.

The Tree Cities of the World program is jointly operated by FAO and the Arbor Day Foundation and is in alignment with FAO’s Green Cities initiative, which is designed to make a tangible impact on the health and well-being of people in 1,000 cities by strengthening green infrastructure. During the First International Green Cities Conference, FAO leaders debuted new criteria and a commitment pledge for Green Cities.

Visit treecitiesoftheworld.org to learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s global network of cities leading the way in urban and community forestry.

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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This article is authored by Amy Volz, Director of Workforce Innovation, Trane Technologies

Amidst significant economic and labor market shifts, it’s crucial to establish innovative practices for recruiting and retaining talent. At Trane Technologies, every individual’s unique background and perspective add value to our business. We understand that skills come from a variety of experiences, so we are building a workforce that reflects our communities with pathways to thrive at work and at home.

Transforming practice into solid strategy

In 2023, we decided to change our approach to creating pathways, programs and partnerships for some of our most critical job roles. We have always hired employees without four-year degrees, including about a third of our global workforce, but we had not systematized the process. We recognized the chance to innovate and develop a more robust talent pipeline, opening the doors for people without formal credentials or experience who showed an interest and aptitude for our business.

After several years of significant growth, creating a new talent pool of commercial service technicians had become a business imperative. These roles are mission-critical to Trane and to the industry, and they represent a large portion of our workforce. As technicians retire, the competition for recruiting new talent is fierce. 

Opening the doors to opportunity more widely than ever is the key to creating a sustainable talent pipeline for these jobs.

Inspired, we launched the Trane® Technician Apprenticeship Program (TAP) to build a larger and more diverse service technician workforce. The TAP is a four-year earn-as-you-learn program nationally registered through the U.S. Department of Labor, designed to hire and train aspiring HVAC technicians regardless of education or experience. 

Since launching TAP, five cohorts across more than 30 states have participated. Of those 155 apprentices, we’ve retained 86%. Over 95% are skilled through alternative routes rather than a four-year degree. There are more than 70 million American adults who fit this description, with skills learned through alternative routes like the military, community college or work experience in other industries. 

More than one-third of our apprentices are from underrepresented backgrounds, making them a diverse group. And a third are over 30, proving that an apprenticeship is not just an early talent strategy. 

In the two years since launching the TAP, we’ve gained much knowledge along our journey to codifying skills-based hiring at Trane Technologies. Here are four essential lessons we’ve learned along the way:

1. Just start.

Not moving quickly on a corporate initiative saps its energy. We could have spent years designing the perfect program; instead, we launched a fully developed and functional apprenticeship program company-wide in just 90 days!

Launching quickly required giving ourselves some grace. By taking an iterative approach, we capitalized on a sense of urgency and allowed for future enhancements. For example, we introduced an assessment that allowed candidates with relevant experience to earn accelerated placement into higher levels of the program.

We are empowered to continuously identify, evaluate and implement new ways of ensuring the experience we bring to our apprentices meets the value they bring to our organization.

2. Talent development for skills-based jobs is a holistic process

In addition to the new apprenticeship program, we’re challenging traditional hiring processes and broadening our talent pools by reconsidering how we hired for other critical company roles.

We’ve found and eliminated barriers, like unnecessary four-year degree requirements and industry experience that wasn’t needed, allowing us to build our broadest and deepest talent pools internally and externally. For more than 50 roles, including business-critical jobs such as account managers, plant supervisors and maintenance managers, we’ve removed the four-year degree requirement.

We have always focused on the whole person, and by codifying our skills-first approach into our hiring and promotion practices, we are continuing to challenge the myth that no degree means no skills. We will continue to grow and evolve our commitment to skills-based hiring.

3. Seek outside expertise

Our hiring managers and corporate executives are highly knowledgeable, yet we understood this new approach would benefit from outside experience. Our partnership with Grads of Life gave us the guidance we needed to get this process moving quickly.

Last year, Grads of Life helped us determine how to accelerate our efforts to re-credential roles, identify required skills and reconsider candidate assessments. In 2025, we continue to partner with the organization and expand our internal evolution to train hiring managers, provide them with the proper tools and resources, embed the skills-based approach within the hiring process and empower advocates to communicate these changes throughout the company.

Using Grads of Life’s Skills-First Accelerator and Skills-First Navigator, we’re identifying the places that Trane Technologies can shift its practices and protocols to better focus on skills. At the same time, we’re taking steps to recredential roles, provide mentorship and guidance to hiring managers, and manage change more broadly across the organization. This external expertise has been invaluable in helping us develop a formula we can now use for multiple roles across the company.

4. Encourage employees to share their journeys

Stories about how employees followed unconventional paths and overcame barriers to become successful are powerful. Although employees are often reluctant to share parts of their background that make them appear different, their willingness to share can be inspirational for others.

People who succeed without four-year degrees tend to be resilient self-starters who take the initiative to learn the skills they need to get hired and promoted. Sharing these stories across an organization can engage other employees with similar experiences and help them feel that they’re not “less than” — just different.

One story we’re sharing is about an employee who started out on our parts counter and is now running a multi-state division that supplies HVAC parts to Trane customers throughout the South.

Another of those stories is mine. I grew up in a small rural town and was the first member of my family to graduate from college. I never felt comfortable talking about that part of my background until I was in this role – and I’ve met dozens of other coworkers who followed a similar path.

Our recent experiences developing skills-based hiring strategies demonstrate that talent can travel along many different paths. By not letting perfect be the enemy of the good and tapping into internal and external expertise, organizations can help non-degreed employees thrive. It’s good for them — and it’s good for business.

Explore careers with the potential to make an impact at Trane Technologies.

LEEDS, United Kingdom, October 23, 2025 /3BL/ – Marking an exciting milestone in our growth, Antea Group UK welcomes Dan Ellis as our first Service Line Director for ESG.

Dan brings extensive experience in energy and carbon management, climate change risk, and adaptation, helping clients reduce costs, improve productivity, and enhance resilience. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed a wide range of sustainability projects across both the public and private sectors.

Among his notable achievements, Dan supported a global logistics operator in developing and implementing a Net-Zero plan for a Ministry of Defence contract, driving decarbonization across buildings, transport, and supply chain operations. He has also delivered ‘blue carbon’ habitat suitability assessments for 94 inhabited Scottish islands on behalf of the Scottish Government and authored Net-Zero transition plans for the Isles of Arran and Cumbrae.

Dan’s experience further includes producing lifecycle carbon footprints for a diverse range of products including skincare, fragrances, whisky, virtual reality headsets, and even ice cream, demonstrating his versatility and innovative approach to sustainability challenges.

“Dan’s arrival represents an exciting new chapter for Antea Group UK,” says Alex Ferguson, CEO of Antea Group UK. “As our first ESG Service Line Director, he’s helping us build a new area of expertise that will allow us to better support clients on their Net-Zero and sustainability journeys. His depth of experience and collaborative approach will be instrumental in building this service.”

Click here to learn more about our Sustainability & ESG Consulting services. 

 

About Antea Group UK

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,250 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more: www.anteagroup.uk.

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Ahmed Issack Hussein — Communications & Advocacy Coordinator, Email: aihussein@so.actionagainsthunger.org 
Victor Akumu — Regional Communications Manager, Email: vakumu@actionagainsthunger.org
 

October 22, 2025 /3BL/ – Action Against Hunger, in partnership with Genius Water, Zamzam University and READO, (Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization) has launched the REACT Project in Baidoa. The initiative — Resilient and Efficient Agroecological Value Chains and Technologies for Water and Food Security of Small Farmers in Somalia — is funded by the Italian Agency for International Development (AICS) and will run through 2028.

The project is crucial as it comes at a time when Somalia is facing another season of heightened food and nutrition risk. Recent analysis of Gu’ and Deyr (the two main rainy seasons in Somalia) point to poor crop performance, rising admissions to nutrition programmes, and continued exposure of rural households to climate shocks. Baidoa, a displacement and agricultural hub, remains at the center of this vulnerability.

Aligned with the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus and the Somalia National Transition Plan, the project aims to reduce dependence on short-term aid by investing in water security, sustainable food production, and local market systems. In its two years of implementation, farmers will have adequate time to learn and apply new practices across seasons, build institutional skills, and strengthen market linkages over time.

The project will rehabilitate water infrastructure, promote soil and water conservation, establish farmer field schools, supply agricultural inputs, and support women and youth in agroecology and small-scale agribusiness. Additionally, the project will strengthen farmer groups to access buyers and financial services. A distinctive feature of REACT is its localization model: Somali institutions and community farmers are not only participants but co-designers and co-implementers, ensuring that solutions reflect local realities and can be sustained beyond donor funding.

“We are not investing in a temporary fix. REACT is a transition tool embedding water systems, agroecological skills and market access within local structures so that farmers in Baidoa can withstand shocks and progress with dignity,” said Rehema Bashir, Project Lead at Action Against Hunger.

Through this program, thousands of small farmers in Baidoa will gain the means to produce food more efficiently, protect their land and water resources, and connect to markets in ways that increase income and reduce the drivers of hunger and humanitarian dependency in the region.

Southern Company

Two Southern Company projects recently earned national recognition, reflecting Southern Company’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and superior performance in meeting the evolving needs of customers and the grid.  In its 2025 Top Innovators awards, Public Utilities Fortnightly recognized groundbreaking work by Southern Company teams in hydrogen blending and concrete thermal energy storage.

“These awards recognize Southern Company’s shared commitment to getting better every day in how we meet customers’ evolving energy needs – from everyday innovation to transformational technologies,” said Southern Company Chief Operating Officer Stan Connally.

“These individuals and teammates across our system are leading the way for the future of energy. They embody how we keep customers’ needs at the center of everything we do,” he said in a keynote address at the Fortnightly Top Innovators 2025 conference this month in Washington.

Pioneering hydrogen innovation 

Georgia Power’s team at Plant McDonough-Atkinson, along with teammates from Southern Company’s Operations business unit received the Bertha Lamme Top Innovator in Power Generation award for successfully demonstrating a 50% hydrogen blend on an advanced-class gas turbine – a global first and the largest test of its kind to date. 

The project, conducted in partnership with Mitsubishi Power, EPRI and Certarus, achieved up to a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining reliability and safety. The turbine was converted from steam-cooled to air-cooled, enabling faster startups, expanded turndown capability and reduced maintenance costs. 

“This was a world-first,” said Drew Uptain, Plant McDonough engineering team leader and project manager. “We scoped, planned and executed a complex conversion and demonstration in just 15 months – all while continuing to serve our customers without interruption.”  

Revolutionizing energy storage

Southern Company’s research and development team, with teammates from Alabama Power’s Plant Gaston and Southern Company Operations, earned the Mabel MacFerran Top Innovator in Energy Storage award for leading the world’s largest pilot of a concrete thermal energy storage system. The 10-megawatt-hour system, developed with Storworks Power and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and EPRI, stores excess heat in modular concrete blocks and releases it as superheated steam when needed – offering a scalable, cost-effective alternative to conventional batteries. 

“This project advances the technology closer to commercial readiness and gives us a new way to manage energy more efficiently,” said Josh Barron, senior research engineer for Southern Company. “The technology’s modular design and use of existing infrastructure could help lower costs and improve reliability for customers, while giving us greater flexibility to meet changing customer demand.” 

The Fortnightly Top Innovator Awards honored 24 innovators or teams from 20 utilities nationwide. In all, 110 utility employees are being recognized in the October and November issues of Public Utilities Fortnightly.