Tag: 3BL

Strengthening Global Leadership in Sustainability 

Marking one year of impactful collaboration, DP World’s partnership with Teach For All has produced remarkable results globally, particularly in Argentina, by empowering educators, engaging students, and preparing the next generation for the evolving workforce.

At the global level, DP World and Teach For All have significantly advanced educational leadership and sustainability. DP World’s Global Education Platform, central to this collaboration, has connected thousands of teachers worldwide to resources and practical training focused on sustainability, STEM education, and career readiness. Through interactive global workshops and educational sessions, educators from Argentina, Pakistan, Senegal, and South Africa have enhanced their teaching practices, better equipping students to thrive in a green economy.

Focused Impact in Argentina

In Argentina, DP World’s investment has notably amplified the capabilities of Enseñá por Argentina. Over the past year, the partnership directly supported 87 first- and second-year teaching fellows in Buenos Aires, impacting over 6,000 students. Critical to this success was the translation of DP World’s educational portal into Spanish, providing educators with accessible resources that align closely with local educational needs.

A standout example of DP World’s community-focused approach was the active engagement at Polo Educativo Mugica – one of Buenos Aires’ largest educational hubs. Volunteers from DP World’s nearby port terminal hosted dynamic workshops, focusing on sustainability themes such as climate change and recycling. More than 80 high school students participated in these activities, gaining practical insights into logistics operations, waste management, and career possibilities, inspiring students to envision themselves in new and promising professional roles.

Adapting and Expanding the Impact

Despite economic challenges in Argentina, DP World and Enseñá por Argentina effectively maximized resources. When local government funding was secured for teaching fellowships, DP World’s contribution was strategically redirected towards enhanced training opportunities, national educator seminars, and essential classroom materials, further amplifying educational outcomes.

A Global Reach: Pakistan, Senegal, and South Africa

DP World’s support extends beyond Argentina, demonstrating significant results in other Teach For All partner countries:

• Pakistan: DP World’s partnership enabled Teach For Pakistan to expand significantly by launching a new Karachi chapter and training over 100 new teaching fellows.
• Senegal: Teach For Senegal used DP World’s support for digital empowerment and career readiness programs, greatly enhancing educators’ skills and classroom effectiveness. As a result, confidence in integrating technology into the classroom rose by 45%.
• South Africa: Teach The Nation successfully integrated sustainability education into core subjects, impacting thousands of students in underserved communities and significantly increasing teachers’ confidence in delivering sustainability-focused lessons – 80% of teaching fellows are now likely to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum.

Building on Success

Looking ahead, Teach For All and DP World will continue to leverage DP World’s educational resources, deepen community engagement, and amplify sustainability initiatives across schools. As we celebrate this impactful first year, especially in Argentina and across the Americas region, this milestone is more than an anniversary – it’s a foundation for future successes. Together, DP World and Teach For All will continue empowering educators and preparing students to lead and innovate in a more sustainable, inclusive global workforce.

Strengthening Global Leadership in Sustainability 

Marking one year of impactful collaboration, DP World’s partnership with Teach For All has produced remarkable results globally, particularly in Argentina, by empowering educators, engaging students, and preparing the next generation for the evolving workforce.

At the global level, DP World and Teach For All have significantly advanced educational leadership and sustainability. DP World’s Global Education Platform, central to this collaboration, has connected thousands of teachers worldwide to resources and practical training focused on sustainability, STEM education, and career readiness. Through interactive global workshops and educational sessions, educators from Argentina, Pakistan, Senegal, and South Africa have enhanced their teaching practices, better equipping students to thrive in a green economy.

Focused Impact in Argentina

In Argentina, DP World’s investment has notably amplified the capabilities of Enseñá por Argentina. Over the past year, the partnership directly supported 87 first- and second-year teaching fellows in Buenos Aires, impacting over 6,000 students. Critical to this success was the translation of DP World’s educational portal into Spanish, providing educators with accessible resources that align closely with local educational needs.

A standout example of DP World’s community-focused approach was the active engagement at Polo Educativo Mugica – one of Buenos Aires’ largest educational hubs. Volunteers from DP World’s nearby port terminal hosted dynamic workshops, focusing on sustainability themes such as climate change and recycling. More than 80 high school students participated in these activities, gaining practical insights into logistics operations, waste management, and career possibilities, inspiring students to envision themselves in new and promising professional roles.

Adapting and Expanding the Impact

Despite economic challenges in Argentina, DP World and Enseñá por Argentina effectively maximized resources. When local government funding was secured for teaching fellowships, DP World’s contribution was strategically redirected towards enhanced training opportunities, national educator seminars, and essential classroom materials, further amplifying educational outcomes.

A Global Reach: Pakistan, Senegal, and South Africa

DP World’s support extends beyond Argentina, demonstrating significant results in other Teach For All partner countries:

• Pakistan: DP World’s partnership enabled Teach For Pakistan to expand significantly by launching a new Karachi chapter and training over 100 new teaching fellows.
• Senegal: Teach For Senegal used DP World’s support for digital empowerment and career readiness programs, greatly enhancing educators’ skills and classroom effectiveness. As a result, confidence in integrating technology into the classroom rose by 45%.
• South Africa: Teach The Nation successfully integrated sustainability education into core subjects, impacting thousands of students in underserved communities and significantly increasing teachers’ confidence in delivering sustainability-focused lessons – 80% of teaching fellows are now likely to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum.

Building on Success

Looking ahead, Teach For All and DP World will continue to leverage DP World’s educational resources, deepen community engagement, and amplify sustainability initiatives across schools. As we celebrate this impactful first year, especially in Argentina and across the Americas region, this milestone is more than an anniversary – it’s a foundation for future successes. Together, DP World and Teach For All will continue empowering educators and preparing students to lead and innovate in a more sustainable, inclusive global workforce.

Originally published on 3M News Center

As the world pivots towards electrification, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is set to skyrocket. According to McKinsey, battery demand is expected to increase nearly sevenfold, from approximately 700 GWh in 2022 to about 4,700 GWh by 2030. This surge is driven by the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), utility-scale grid storage, and portable electronics. However, the supply of raw lithium is struggling to keep pace, and production is expected to fall short of projected annual demand of 3 million tons by 2030. This looming supply gap presents a critical opportunity for innovation in lithium extraction.

Lithium is a key component in the global energy transition, boasting the highest energy density for a solid material, and making it the optimal choice for batteries. Since the introduction of the lithium-ion battery in 1991, its use has expanded exponentially, doubling every two to three years. However, the success of lithium-ion technology brings challenges in supplying enough raw materials to meet demand.

Lithium is mined worldwide from hard rock deposits and from underground brines. The highest concentration sources are being mined first, but many new reserves, such as the Smackover Formation in Arkansas or the Salton Sea in California, are low-concentration brines or geothermal fluids. As a result, the industry is turning to innovative methods to extract lithium from these non-traditional sources.

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) is emerging as a viable solution to the challenges of lithium supply. DLE includes a family of techniques that chemically separate lithium ions from brines using sorbents, ion exchange, membranes, or electrochemical cells. According to ID TechEx, DLE can deliver higher recovery rates, faster cycle times, and lower environmental impact than conventional evaporation ponds. This makes DLE a necessary approach to unlock new lithium resources and reduce the impact of predicted global supply constraints.

3M technologies are uniquely positioned to advance the commercialization of DLE through our expertise and scale in manufacturing similar materials, including precision-engineered abrasive particles and advanced nonwoven materials.

“With current market conditions, now is the ideal time for collaboration,” said Mark Copman, senior vice president, 3M New Growth Ventures. “3M has a long history of applying advanced materials science to solve critical challenges and our innovative technologies are perfectly suited to meet the specific needs of the lithium market while helping to secure a reliable supply of this critical resource.”

• Sorbent Expertise: 3M’s particle-shaping capabilities are directly translatable to creating high-performance DLE sorbents. These sorbents are engineered for optimal brine-flow, durability, and selectivity, allowing for efficient lithium extraction alone or in conjunction with non-wovens.
• Next-Gen Nonwovens: 3M designs sorbent-laden nonwoven fabrics that mimic high-surface-area membranes in compact formats. These fabrics offer enhanced brine contact, faster kinetics, and reduced chemical usage, making them ideal for DLE applications.
• Scalable Manufacturing: 3M’s global manufacturing prowess allows rapid throughput from R&D to pilot and then to full-scale deployment. This scalability is crucial for establishing a robust DLE supply chain in the U.S.

3M is dedicated to enhancing energy security and delivering efficient solutions that meet the growing demands of the global energy landscape. Our technologies and solutions can help to efficiently bridge short-term lithium supply needs and help to open long-term local sources of supply, supporting battery production that’s essential for the future needs of electric vehicle expansion and grid-energy storage.

 

Originally published on 3M News Center

As the world pivots towards electrification, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is set to skyrocket. According to McKinsey, battery demand is expected to increase nearly sevenfold, from approximately 700 GWh in 2022 to about 4,700 GWh by 2030. This surge is driven by the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), utility-scale grid storage, and portable electronics. However, the supply of raw lithium is struggling to keep pace, and production is expected to fall short of projected annual demand of 3 million tons by 2030. This looming supply gap presents a critical opportunity for innovation in lithium extraction.

Lithium is a key component in the global energy transition, boasting the highest energy density for a solid material, and making it the optimal choice for batteries. Since the introduction of the lithium-ion battery in 1991, its use has expanded exponentially, doubling every two to three years. However, the success of lithium-ion technology brings challenges in supplying enough raw materials to meet demand.

Lithium is mined worldwide from hard rock deposits and from underground brines. The highest concentration sources are being mined first, but many new reserves, such as the Smackover Formation in Arkansas or the Salton Sea in California, are low-concentration brines or geothermal fluids. As a result, the industry is turning to innovative methods to extract lithium from these non-traditional sources.

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) is emerging as a viable solution to the challenges of lithium supply. DLE includes a family of techniques that chemically separate lithium ions from brines using sorbents, ion exchange, membranes, or electrochemical cells. According to ID TechEx, DLE can deliver higher recovery rates, faster cycle times, and lower environmental impact than conventional evaporation ponds. This makes DLE a necessary approach to unlock new lithium resources and reduce the impact of predicted global supply constraints.

3M technologies are uniquely positioned to advance the commercialization of DLE through our expertise and scale in manufacturing similar materials, including precision-engineered abrasive particles and advanced nonwoven materials.

“With current market conditions, now is the ideal time for collaboration,” said Mark Copman, senior vice president, 3M New Growth Ventures. “3M has a long history of applying advanced materials science to solve critical challenges and our innovative technologies are perfectly suited to meet the specific needs of the lithium market while helping to secure a reliable supply of this critical resource.”

• Sorbent Expertise: 3M’s particle-shaping capabilities are directly translatable to creating high-performance DLE sorbents. These sorbents are engineered for optimal brine-flow, durability, and selectivity, allowing for efficient lithium extraction alone or in conjunction with non-wovens.
• Next-Gen Nonwovens: 3M designs sorbent-laden nonwoven fabrics that mimic high-surface-area membranes in compact formats. These fabrics offer enhanced brine contact, faster kinetics, and reduced chemical usage, making them ideal for DLE applications.
• Scalable Manufacturing: 3M’s global manufacturing prowess allows rapid throughput from R&D to pilot and then to full-scale deployment. This scalability is crucial for establishing a robust DLE supply chain in the U.S.

3M is dedicated to enhancing energy security and delivering efficient solutions that meet the growing demands of the global energy landscape. Our technologies and solutions can help to efficiently bridge short-term lithium supply needs and help to open long-term local sources of supply, supporting battery production that’s essential for the future needs of electric vehicle expansion and grid-energy storage.

 

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., August 5, 2025 /3BL/ – Cascale today released the Better Buying 2025 Garment Industry Scorecard, a benchmark tool that tracks year-over-year progress in brand and retailer purchasing practices across the global apparel sector. Based on anonymous input from over 1,200 suppliers during the 2025 Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) ratings cycle, the Scorecard measures performance across seven key purchasing practices categories that directly impact suppliers’ ability to provide decent work and wages.

These suppliers represent over 10 million workers, or roughly one in six of the estimated 60 million workers employed in the global apparel value chain.

Insights include:

• Most category scores declined by one or two points, signaling stalled progress.
• The steepest drop was in Planning and Forecasting, which fell from 59 to 56 points. More than 37 percent of suppliers identified this category as the most critical area for improvement.
• The overall purchasing practices score declined slightly, from 67 to 66.

This Better Buying Garment Industry Scorecard is the first to be published since Better Buying joined Cascale in February 2025, and offers topline data ahead of the full Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) Report. This will combine the Scorecard with deeper commentary and analysis of what lies behind the scores, and will be published during Cascale’s Annual Meeting in Hong Kong on 15-17 September.

Companies that subscribe to Better Buying’s surveys have already received individual scorecards. Cascale encourages them to share their scorecards with suppliers, and work with them, as true partners, to co-create solutions to the challenges that are identified.

“The BBPPI scores provide us with a critical baseline on where we are, as an industry, on purchasing practices,” said Katie Hess, Head of Product at Cascale Better Buying. “I’m pleased to see that brand and retailer progress has been broadly maintained, even during a period of unprecedented global and geopolitical turbulence as a result of the ongoing trade tariffs uncertainty, but at this late stage in the game, stagnation is not good enough. The urgent need for collective, committed, whole-industry action on purchasing practices is starkly clear.”

“With Better Buying now part of Cascale, we have an unprecedented opportunity to drive up action at scale, by bringing together all key stakeholders to embed fair purchasing principles as the norm in global supply chains, and achieve our mission of Decent Work for All,” said Fiona Sadler, global head of responsible sourcing at Marks and Spencer and Cascale board director representing brands and retailers.

 

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

The Better Buying tools, now part of Cascale, empower brands, retailers, and manufacturers to embed responsible purchasing practices into their operations, making fair business relationships the industry norm. By integrating Better Buying’s proven tools into Cascale’s ecosystem, we move responsible purchasing practices from voluntary commitments to measurable, data-driven progress—ensuring that accountability and transparency become foundational to sustainable business relationships.

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., August 5, 2025 /3BL/ – Cascale today released the Better Buying 2025 Garment Industry Scorecard, a benchmark tool that tracks year-over-year progress in brand and retailer purchasing practices across the global apparel sector. Based on anonymous input from over 1,200 suppliers during the 2025 Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) ratings cycle, the Scorecard measures performance across seven key purchasing practices categories that directly impact suppliers’ ability to provide decent work and wages.

These suppliers represent over 10 million workers, or roughly one in six of the estimated 60 million workers employed in the global apparel value chain.

Insights include:

• Most category scores declined by one or two points, signaling stalled progress.
• The steepest drop was in Planning and Forecasting, which fell from 59 to 56 points. More than 37 percent of suppliers identified this category as the most critical area for improvement.
• The overall purchasing practices score declined slightly, from 67 to 66.

This Better Buying Garment Industry Scorecard is the first to be published since Better Buying joined Cascale in February 2025, and offers topline data ahead of the full Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) Report. This will combine the Scorecard with deeper commentary and analysis of what lies behind the scores, and will be published during Cascale’s Annual Meeting in Hong Kong on 15-17 September.

Companies that subscribe to Better Buying’s surveys have already received individual scorecards. Cascale encourages them to share their scorecards with suppliers, and work with them, as true partners, to co-create solutions to the challenges that are identified.

“The BBPPI scores provide us with a critical baseline on where we are, as an industry, on purchasing practices,” said Katie Hess, Head of Product at Cascale Better Buying. “I’m pleased to see that brand and retailer progress has been broadly maintained, even during a period of unprecedented global and geopolitical turbulence as a result of the ongoing trade tariffs uncertainty, but at this late stage in the game, stagnation is not good enough. The urgent need for collective, committed, whole-industry action on purchasing practices is starkly clear.”

“With Better Buying now part of Cascale, we have an unprecedented opportunity to drive up action at scale, by bringing together all key stakeholders to embed fair purchasing principles as the norm in global supply chains, and achieve our mission of Decent Work for All,” said Fiona Sadler, global head of responsible sourcing at Marks and Spencer and Cascale board director representing brands and retailers.

 

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

The Better Buying tools, now part of Cascale, empower brands, retailers, and manufacturers to embed responsible purchasing practices into their operations, making fair business relationships the industry norm. By integrating Better Buying’s proven tools into Cascale’s ecosystem, we move responsible purchasing practices from voluntary commitments to measurable, data-driven progress—ensuring that accountability and transparency become foundational to sustainable business relationships.

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Episode Summary

Data collection and analysis is a vital step in the fight to end plastic pollution. AI could hold the answers, however it also poses significant challenges. Here we discuss how AI technology is influencing research at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and at Wageningen University to see how they are overcoming these new challenges. 

Host: Maithreyi Seetharaman
Show Producer: Lisa Desai
Sound Production: PhiLipp Schweidler, Department of Noise
Artwork: Dow Creative Element

Episode Notes

Data collection and analysis is a vital step in the fight to end plastic pollution. AI could hold the answers, however it also poses significant challenges. Here we discuss how AI technology is influencing research at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and at Wageningen University to see how they are overcoming these new challenges.

On July 19, Southwire’s Project GIFT hosted its annual Back to School drive in West Georgia, distributing more than 4,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to local K-12 students.

More than 100 volunteers gathered at Midway Church in Villa Rica, Ga., to participate in one of the company’s signature Giving Back events.

“Back-to-school season is always something special,” said Stefanie Anderson, Sr. Giving Back Specialist. “Every small act of support helps parents and students feel more prepared—and more excited—for the year ahead.”

The West Ga. event was just one of many. Throughout July and August 2025, 26 Southwire communities will host school supply drives or partner with local organizations to help their local students prepare for the academic year.

“It’s a great opportunity to pour back into the community that supports you,” said Amber Bassett, Total Rewards Coordinator. “My mom is a teacher, so the chance to serve alongside my peers that I work with every day giving back to our community, especially in the education area, is a great way to get plugged in.”

The work goes beyond the bookbag distribution events. Even more volunteers joined the cause ahead of the event. Southwire team members donated their time to prepare for the event by packing the bookbags to be distributed in West Ga. and beyond. In total, 30,000 bookbags are anticipated to be distributed through Project GIFT’s Back-to-School events.

2025 marks Southwire’s twenty-first year of the Back-to-School supply drive. Other signature Giving Back events include Walk for Water benefitting Water Mission, Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive and Disaster Relief Collection and Distribution campaigns.

Back-to-School is made possible by the generosity of its sponsors: West Georgia Technical College, MedImpact, Cintas, Midway Church, RaLin, CDT Inc., Tisinger Vance, University of West Georgia, 3:16 Healthcare, Phoenix Wood Products, Heart Wood Products, Chick-fil-A, The City Menus, Gradick Communications, New Leaf Marketing and Systems & Methods Inc.

To learn more about Giving Back at Southwire, visit southwire.com/sustainability.

St. Paul, Minn., August 4, 2025 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA is proud to announce its contribution to “Corporate Guide: Identifying and Remediating PFAS” published by Environment Analyst.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” have rapidly become one of the most pressing environmental and financial liabilities for both public authorities and privately held landowners and asset managers. In response to growing concerns around the health and environmental risks associated with these persistent substances, Environment Analyst has released a new free corporate guide to help organizations assess, address, and remediate PFAS contamination.

This guide brings together insights and best practices from subject matter experts who are leading the charge in PFAS investigation and cleanup. These experts offer practical knowledge grounded in field experience, with the aim of equipping organizations of all sizes with the tools they need to evaluate potential PFAS exposure and take proactive steps to mitigate risks.

Antea Group authored the “Investigating the Extent of PFAS Risk Exposure” chapter, which focuses on PFAS risk assessment and due diligence. Tailored for businesses that are just beginning their journey in understanding PFAS liabilities, the chapter outlines how to initiate investigations into the historic and current use of PFAS across assets, products, and supply chains. It also examines key risk pathways and highlights available data sources that can inform a strategic and efficient approach to PFAS management.

“Given the rapid evolution of PFAS regulations across the globe and the increasing tide of litigation, undertaking this initial, proactive investigation is no longer optional; it’s a fundamental requirement for responsible business in today’s environment,” states Jason Lagowski, Senior Consultant and PFAS Management Service Lead at Antea Group USA. “By proactively identifying potential exposure, you can get ahead of regulatory curves, build trust with stakeholders, and empower your organization to explore innovative, PFAS-free alternatives, ultimately building long-term business resilience.”

This guide aims to provide a valuable roadmap for navigating the evolving regulatory landscape and mitigating long-term liabilities tied to PFAS.

Download the Guide Here

Antea Group Belgium and Antea Group Netherlands, also recently contributed to Environment Analyst’s Focus on Europe Insight Report, which provides a high-level overview of economic and environmental situations within the current political backdrop.

About Environment Analyst 

Environment Analyst is an international membership community for the environmental services space, built around their market intelligence service. Their analysts help customers examine market opportunities in the environmental sector. They bring together business leaders and practitioners in peer-to-peer networks and share news and insight with member companies.

Their mission is to connect the environmental, ESG and professional services community, and provide the intelligence to deliver a sustainable transition. They aim to be the leading global partner supporting the environmental, sustainability & ESG community in its ambition to shape a better future. Learn more.

About Antea Group 

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more.

Originally published in Northwestern Mutual 2024 Sustainability and Impact Report

Helping Americans achieve financial security is at the core of our value proposition.

Every day, our work supports policyowners and clients in growing wealth and protecting what they’ve worked so hard for. We’re dedicated to expanding financial access in underserved communities, reducing the wealth gap, and empowering economic growth by helping to build generational wealth.

• $2.4T of life insurance protection in force¹
• $335B of retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual²
• $175M Impact Investment Fund to increase access to capital to businesses that support and improve underserved communities

IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH FINANCIAL SECURITY

According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study,³ the number of Americans feeling personal financial insecurity is on the rise.

This annual study found that among generations closest to retirement, just half of Boomers+ (49%) and Gen X (48%) believe they will be financially prepared for retirement.

We approach financial planning differently. We ask deeper questions and listen closely. We pursue longterm value over short-term gain. And we have access to a range of exclusive solutions designed to deliver better outcomes. Our comprehensive approach considers both risk management and growth because we believe that a financial plan optimized with insurance, investments, and guaranteed income is the best way to help policyowners and clients reach their goals.⁴

Our products and services

Northwestern Mutual’s products and services offer policyowners and clients a better way to money:^TM

• Our comprehensive planning services offer policyowners and clients a wide range of financial options built to reinforce each other, like insurance for protection, investments for growth, and annuities for guaranteed income in retirement.
• Our risk-focused offerings, including permanent life insurance (PLI), term life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance, bolster access to financial resources during unexpected life events, while annuities can provide a guaranteed income that doesn’t change based on market volatility.
• Our range of wealth solutions, including advisory services and brokerage products, help clients grow their assets over time and build financial security.
• Our network of more than 22,000 advisors⁵ and team members across hundreds of locations in the United States understand the specific needs and circumstances of their communities. Northwestern Mutual advisors garner the trust of our clients by creating comprehensive, personalized plans to help secure their long-term financial futures.

We know that seamless customer service is vital to policyowners and clients. In 2024, we continued our work to remove inefficiencies in our customer service process. Efforts that began in 2023 have led to reduced costs, better service, higher call quality, and improved satisfaction scores. We regularly monitor our Net Promoter Score (NPS), which reflects the trust our clients have in us, earned through the dedication and collaboration of our employees and advisors.

POWERING CHANGE THROUGH RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT

Maximizing long-term value for our policyowners is our first and foremost goal as a mutual company. Our General Account strives to earn superior long-term investment returns while maintaining our unsurpassed financial strength.

General Account investments

Our General Account invests the premiums paid to us by policyowners across a diversified investment portfolio to generate superior risk-adjusted returns over the long term. Prudent investment management enables us to pay claims and benefits, innovate and grow our business, and share our success with policyowners in the form of dividends.

We seek to direct at least 5% of total investment assets toward investments with environmentally and socially responsible features while continuing to focus on our fundamental commitment to superior long term investment returns while maintaining exceptional financial strength. To this end, we invest a portion of General Account assets through our local and national Impact Investment Fund and Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, among others. At the end of 2024, these investments totaled more than $26.4 billion, or 8.2% of total invested assets.

Our team evaluates potential investments through the lens of driving superior long-term investment returns while prudently managing risks. We define responsible investments in our General Account through two primary categories:

• Environmentally responsible investments: Supportive of or sensitive to the environment, such as bonds and loans linked to renewable and alternative energy projects, real estate investments that meet nationally recognized sustainable building and occupant wellness standards, and projects that support the lowcarbon transition
• Socioeconomically responsible investments: Promoting projects that increase affordable housing and healthcare access in underdeveloped areas or support businesses with owners from underserved groups

Impact Investment Fund

Our Impact Investment Fund directs capital to businesses that support and improve underserved communities, creating local and national economic benefits. These investments are focused on:

• Building safe and thriving communities
• Reducing the wealth gap and driving financial security
• Encouraging entrepreneurship and start-up growth

The Impact Investment Fund consists of a local Milwaukee allocation as well as a nationally focused allocation, with a total commitment of $175 million. As of 2024, the Fund has supported a total of 97 businesses in underserved communities that created over 1,100 jobs.

MKE Business Expansion Fund

As of 2024, the MKE Business Expansion Fund has invested nearly $3.4 million of capital across the community, supporting 34 local businesses.

One of these businesses, VC414, is a woman-owned venture capital firm that specializes in making investments in high-growth-potential start-ups founded by women and undercapitalized founders. VC414 deployed capital to Pruuvn, an alumnus of Northwestern Mutual’s accelerator program, demonstrating a synergy between our strategies for increasing access and opportunity for entrepreneurs who might otherwise be overlooked.

We also committed a total of $5 million with two community development financial institutions (CDFIs), Northwest Side CDC and Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, in 2024. CDFIs offer many types of financing, including microfinancing, and our investment facilitates increased access to financial resources. Three local businesses received financing as a result of these CDFI investments in 2024.

The MKE Business Expansion Fund has a real impact on individuals in our community. We invested in the Milwaukee Community Land Trust to support two meaningful projects in 2024:

• Rehabilitating homes in the Milwaukee area to serve as permanent residences for low- income families
• Partnering with SecureFutures to educate local high schoolers on the impact of homeownership and the importance of building credit, saving money, and planning for the future

National Impact Fund

As of 2024 year-end, the National Impact Fund has invested $109 million. Funding recipients included:

• Clear Vision Impact Fund, which provides capital to established, minority-owned businesses and expands access to products and services in underserved communities
• BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund, which enables clients to invest in direct private market opportunities that accelerate positive economic outcomes for undercapitalized communities⁶
• Siguler Guff, which provides credit to small businesses in underserved communities, creating and retaining quality jobs where they are needed the most

NM Future Ventures

Through Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, we support entrepreneurs who have been underserved in accessing venture capital. We prioritize investment in companies that align with our strategic business priorities, including companies that:

• Develop tools and platforms to help us deliver the best client experience
• Bring new technologies and enhanced analytics to market
• Work to shape the future of health and wellness

Beyond providing capital, investing creates opportunities to forge meaningful business partnerships—sharing our expertise to help their business grow while maximizing our return on investment.

Check out our 2024 Sustainability and Impact Report to learn how we’re building a better way to tomorrow

_{¹ Source: S&P Capital IQ Pro. Prepared and calculated by Northwestern Mutual.}

_{² Combined client assets of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) as of December 31, 2024. The advisory programs offered by NMWMC are in conjunction with brokerage services from NMWMC’s affiliate, NMIS. NMIS and NMWMC are both wholly owned subsidiaries of Northwestern Mutual.}

_{³ https://news.northwesternmutual.com/planning-and-progressstudy-2024} 

_{⁴ How life insurers can provide differentiated retirement benefits, EY, 2022.}

_{⁵ Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services. For ease of reference, we refer to Northwestern Mutual representatives as advisors throughout this report.}

_{⁶ https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/investment-ideas/alternative-investments/blackrock-impact-opportunities}