Tag: 3BL

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) today announced an extension of its long-term partnership with Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. With the renewal of this 22-year partnership, Louisiana teachers maintain access to innovative digital resources that foster engaging learning environments, spark student curiosity, and boost academic success.

LPB is Louisiana’s largest digital classroom over the air, on every device, in schools, and in the community. LPB’s Educational Services Department is committed to providing extensive information, lesson plans, materials, and digital resources to support formal K-12 education statewide. Through its 22-year partnership with Discovery Education, LPB has offered learners access to a deep library of digital resources through Discovery Education Experience.

Discovery Education Experience is the essential companion for engaged classrooms, offering supplemental, cross-curricular, digital resources that inspires teachers, motivates students, and supports instruction in all academic disciplines. Designed expressly for K-12 schools, Experience delivers all-in-one, ready-to-teach lessons and strategies, exciting career exploration resources, standards-aligned content, and flexible tools for differentiation and assessment. Recently, Discovery Education announced a host of new enhancements to Discovery Education Experience that include new tools and resources, AI technology, additional career explorations, and more.

“Louisiana Public Broadcasting is delighted to mark its 22nd year of partnership with Discovery Education,” said Clarence “C.C” Copeland, President and CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. “In collaboration with Discovery Education, we are equipping teachers with the essential tools they need to ignite student curiosity and deepen engagement in learning. We are excited to continue this impactful partnership.”

All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network or DEN. A global community of education professionals, the DEN connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.

This year, the DEN is celebrating 20 years of connecting educators to their most valuable resource: each other. Educators interested in learning more this powerful professional learning community and joining the DEN can visit the DEN homepage here.

“Discovery Education is excited to extend this long-standing partnership,” said Lyndley McNabb, Partnership Manager at Discovery Education. “C.C Copeland, CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and Nancy Tooraen, Education Director, have demonstrated remarkable commitment to supporting teachers and students statewide, and we are honored to contribute to their work on behalf of the students and teachers of Louisiana.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education  
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

Contact 
Stephen Wakefield 
Discovery Education 
Phone: 202-316-6615 
Email: swakefield@discoveryed.com

Hamilton, Bermuda, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Bacardi in Puerto Rico has achieved Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Certification, powered by Tandem Global, recognizing its dedication to preserving Puerto Rico’s bat populations and educating the community about their ecological importance.

The bat is deeply embedded in the family-owned company’s 163-year history and conservation work to protect bat populations takes place at many Bacardi sites around the world. In Puerto Rico, Bacardi has launched a series of initiatives to educate employees, local communities, and visitors about the vital role bats play in the island’s ecosystem.

The program’s efforts include hosting the Puerto Rico Bat Festival in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Bat Conservation Program (PCMPR). The festival, which is attended by more than 500 people, includes educational talks from bat conservation experts, interactive workshops and educational exhibits. In 2024, Bacardi also opened a new space dedicated to educating the c. 150,000 annual visitors to the Casa BACARDÍ visitor experience about the importance of bats. Through its partnership with the PCMPR, Bacardi also helps engage the wider community in Puerto Rico through outreach events.

“Protecting the local bat population is a real passion for us at Bacardi, and this WHC Certification is fantastic recognition of our success in sharing that passion and drive for action with others,” said Gregorio Frias, Sustainability Manager, Bacardi, based at the BACARDÍ rum distillery. “From our own teams to the wider community across the island, we want to help foster a culture of environmental stewardship and play our part in protecting the planet for the future.”

Looking ahead, Bacardi plans to further its conservation efforts by funding new research equipment for the PCMPR, as well as reforesting a small patch of habitat near the front of the distillery which was damaged during recent hurricanes. 

“The Puerto Rico Site is recognized as meeting the strict requirements of WHC Certification,” said Margaret O’Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Tandem Global. “Companies achieving WHC Certification, like Bacardi, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”

This is the fourth time the site has achieved this award. The largest premium rum distillery in the world and the home of the world’s most awarded rum, received the first WHC Certification ever presented to an organization in Puerto Rico in 2018 and as of today, remains the only organization to receive a WHC Certification on the island.

The BACARDĺ rum distillery joins other sites in the company’s portfolio in securing the WHC Certification. Both the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® distillery in the UK and the Bacardi Bottling Corporation site in Jacksonville, Florida, have earned WHC Certifications for their work in conservation.

For more on how Bacardi is protecting People & Planet, visit www.bacardilimited.com/CS.

A new plant-based food program is helping Thomasville, Georgia seniors manage chronic illnesses through free meals, health screenings, and community support.

Fifty seniors are served weekly with four free plant-based meals. Health data is tracked through A1C, glucose, and BMI testing, and the program powered locally by local farms, chefs, and labs.

The program is one of several new programs that Thomasville Community Development Corporation is able to implement as recipients of a two-year grant ($100,000 this year) from Drawdown Georgia.

Watch the video here.

• 4 MW installation will offset 30% carbon generation across five Eaton facilities and accelerate progress toward company’s sustainability goals

PITTSBURGH, July 24, 2025 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton is adding a new clean energy project to drive carbon reduction at its operations in Wisconsin, advancing its commitment to achieve net zero operations by 2050. The joint project with We Energies, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, and Eaton will help strengthen energy security, deliver cost-effective power to the grid, and reduce Eaton’s carbon footprint at five locations in Wisconsin, where the company conducts research and makes electrical infrastructure for utility, data center, large commercial and industrial applications.

Once energized in early 2026, the 4-megawatt solar project located adjacent to Eaton’s Thomas A. Edison Technical Center is expected to meet 30% of the annual carbon reduction goals at five Eaton sites in Franksville, South Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls and two Waukesha facilities. Combined with previous energy efficiency upgrades, the initiative will support a 58% reduction in Eaton’s greenhouse gas emissions across the state since 2018.

“At Eaton, we’re tackling the energy transition from all angles — including right here in Wisconsin, where we produce the technologies essential to modernize the grid and support a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” said Guillaume Laur, senior vice president and general manager of Power Delivery and Regulation, Electrical Sector at Eaton. “Around the world, we’re leveraging the global megatrends of electrification and digitalization to unlock greater operational and environmental value from energy systems. This project marks another important milestone on our journey and there is much more to come.”

Under the agreement, We Energies will build, own and operate the system on Eaton’s behalf. Eaton will provide the land for construction and receive renewable energy credits for delivering clean energy to the local grid. Eaton is also contributing engineering expertise and essential technologies to the project, including electrical transformers produced at its Waukesha, Wisconsin manufacturing facility.

“We’re pleased to partner with Eaton to bring more renewable energy to Wisconsin,” said Mike Hooper — president, We Energies. “Our focus on reliable energy supports all of our customers and strengthens economic growth across the state.”

The Franksville solar project is an example of Eaton’s Everything as a Grid approach to the energy transition that is shaping a future where homeowners, communities and businesses can reduce the cost and environmental impact of energy through intelligent power management and on-site renewable energy production. The company has deployed multiple solar projects across its global operations since 2009, including a first-of-its-kind clean energy microgrid in Arecibo, Puerto Rico completed in 2024.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Founded in 1911, Eaton has continuously evolved to meet the changing and expanding needs of our stakeholders. With revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit  www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kristin Somers
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com

Regina Parundik 
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com

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Water is a shared resource.

We all use it. We all need it. But do we give serious thought to the fact that we all need to work together to steward it? Or do we assume that someone else, someone with more people, more money, and more resources, will take charge and “fix” water risks on their own?

It is easy to believe that because water still flows from your tap, your home or business isn’t at risk. But a watershed is more like a shared bank account than a private vault. Everyone draws from the account, and it only stays full if everyone contributes back into it. When one user overdraws (or pollutes), it impacts the whole system.

To meaningfully address water risks and properly steward the water resources we have, we must look outside of the four walls of our home or facility. It takes real commitment to partner with others in the basin and take shared responsibility for the health of the watershed. Collective action is one of the core tenets of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term water security.

What Is Collective Action in Water Stewardship?

AWS defines collective action in the context of water stewardship as “a coordinated set of engagements among interested parties playing complementary roles, which pools together knowledge, resources, and/or expertise to jointly identify and implement solutions at various geographic scales, with the aim to address shared freshwater challenges.”

Collective action matters because water risks are interconnected, highly localized, and often impact multiple users or activities, which can add up over time to create much bigger problems. What one user does upstream can affect the water quality, quantity, or access to water downstream. These risks don’t stop at property lines or company boundaries.

Individual efforts, while important, may not be enough, especially in large or water-stressed basins. One facility can implement best practices internally, but if surrounding users are over-extracting, polluting, or not stewarding their water resources, the whole catchment remains vulnerable. It’s like being a healthy fish in a drying pond. No matter how strong or well-adapted you are, you’re still at risk if the environment around you is collapsing. That’s why collaboration is key. Only by working together can stakeholders protect the shared ecosystem they all depend on.

Who Needs to Be Involved—and Why

The success of collective action also depends on who is involved and how they’re engaged. Stakeholders each bring unique knowledge, perspectives, and priorities that contribute to a fuller understanding of the local water context. Building trust and capacity among these groups is often a necessary first step. Long-term basin health can’t be achieved without cooperation from diverse players, such as local communities, governments, other businesses, NGOs, and water utilities. Everyone has a role to play.

How the AWS Standard Supports Collective Action

The AWS Standard v.2.0 embeds collective action throughout its framework, but also addresses it directly in Step 5: Communicate & Disclose, Criteria 5.4: “Disclose efforts to collectively address shared water challenges.”

• Indicator 5.4.1 states that “the site’s shared water-related challenges and efforts made to address these challenges shall be disclosed.”
• Indicator 5.4.2 states that “efforts made by the site to engage stakeholders and coordinate and support public-sector agencies shall be identified.”

Collective action is also emphasized several times in the Standard’s Advanced Indicators. This reenforces the idea that as facilities and businesses continue to grow in their water stewardship maturity, they will begin to work more at the catchment level, partnering with other water users and stakeholders to drive meaningful change.

Moving Beyond the Fence Line

Water stewardship doesn’t stop at the fence line. It goes beyond the four walls. It requires a willingness to engage, collaborate, and invest in the health of the entire basin. As a business, we urge you to consider seeking out partnerships, supporting shared initiatives, and helping build trust among the diverse stakeholders who rely on the same watershed as you. Collective action isn’t a bonus, an add-on, or a “nice to have.” It’s essential to business resiliency. It’s how we move from isolated effort to scalable, meaningful, and lasting impact.

For questions about your business and responsible water management, reach out to our team of water stewardship experts today!

The content herein is the author’s opinion and not published on behalf of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The author holds an AWS Professional Credential and this piece of publishing helps fulfil their Continuing Contribution Units requirements. For more information about AWS or the AWS Professional Credentialing Program please visit https://a4ws.org/.

VIDEO: Watch Season 5 Episode 3: Embodied Carbon – First Movers of the Built Environment

The cause of climate change isn’t a mystery: we’ve been reliant on burning fossil fuels for centuries, contributing to a warming planet. Our carbon emissions are a big problem, but what if carbon could be part of the solution?

How can sustainable innovation reduce emissions?

There are many solutions that can contribute to reducing our emissions footprint, from the transition to renewable energy, to sustainable consumption, production and building practices. And for the first movers in the sustainability space, the opportunities for innovation are endless.

In this episode, we speak to Cal Krause, Operational Impacts Program Manager at Trane Technologies, Nollaig Forrest, Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at Amrize, and Molly Swanson, Transportation Management Technology Analyst at Trane Technologies.

We talk about embodied carbon in the built environment, strategies for reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions, and the sustainable innovation that could turn buildings into carbon sinks, batteries and more!

Featured in this Episode:

Hosts:
Dominique Silva, Marketing Leader EMEA, Trane Technologies
Scott Tew, Vice President Sustainability and Managing Director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, Trane Technologies

Guests:
Cal Krause, Operational Impacts Manager, Trane Technologies
Nollaig Forrest, Chief Marketing & Corporate Affairs Officer, Amrize
Molly Swanson, Transportation Technology Analyst, Trane Technologies

About Healthy Spaces

Healthy Spaces is a podcast by Trane Technologies where experts and disruptors explore how climate technology and innovation are transforming the spaces where we live, work, learn and play.

This season, hosts Dominique Silva and Scott Tew bring a fresh batch of uplifting stories, featuring inspiring people who are overcoming challenges to drive positive change across multiple industries. We’ll discover how technology and AI can drive business growth, and help the planet breathe a little bit easier.

Listen and subscribe to Healthy Spaces on your favorite podcast platforms:

Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
YouTube 
Amazon Music

How are you making an impact? What sustainable innovation do you think will change the world?

Share your story with us and learn more about the Healthy Spaces Podcast.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

U.S. Bank is excited to partner with Happy Gilmore 2, which premieres July 25 on Netflix. The bank is integrating its brand into the movie, serving as a premier sponsor of the fictional “Tour Championship.” The U.S. Bank logo also appears on the bib of Happy Gilmore’s caddy.

Additionally, U.S. Bank has created a co-marketing campaign with Netflix, which includes social spots with pro golfer Collin Morikawa and a TV spot. The spot features the golf announcers from the original Happy Gilmore, Verne Lundquist and Jack Beard (played by Jack Giarraputo) and Morikawa, a U.S. Bank brand ambassador.

This is a national campaign and will run within the bank’s existing brand media buy across channels as well as throughout the Netflix’s ad-supported plan.

“We are delighted to be at the forefront of ‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ a partnership that strategically embeds U.S. Bank within a cultural phenomenon,” said Michael Lacorazza, chief marketing officer for U.S. Bank. “This partnership offers us the opportunity to establish meaningful connections with both our devoted customers and new audiences who are passionate about entertainment, sports, and culture. By associating with this classic film franchise and harnessing the expanding allure of golf, we’re highlighting U.S. Bank as a modern and innovative partner in our customers’ financial lives.”

With this sponsorship, U.S. Bank is focused on reaching young and midlife affluent audiences and positioning the company as a strong financial partner on the journey to achieve their “happy places.”

“U.S. Bank stands for stability, strategy, and financial planning, and we were excited to surprisingly blend these qualities with the world of Happy Gilmore, in our new campaign,” said Magno Herran, vice president of brand marketing and partnerships for Netflix. “Bringing U.S. Bank on board allowed us to imagine what it might be like to even bank happily, creating a memorable and delightful partnership for our members, that strategically channels the spirit of the highly anticipated return of Happy Gilmore this summer.”

“Leaning into sustainable packaging solutions helps us meet consumer expectations today and prepare for the trends to come.”

The increasing consumer demand for sustainable packaging is being driven by growing environmental awareness and the desire to reduce waste. Consumers are increasingly seeking products with packaging that is recyclable, biodegradable, compostable or made from renewable or circular materials.

This shift is inspiring companies like Dow and our customers to continue innovating all aspects of the processes that go into packaging, from design to materials to collaborations. Leaning into sustainable packaging solutions helps us address consumer expectations today and prepare for the trends to come.

Understanding packaging design for recyclability

Overall, there are numerous dimensions to sustainability, and it is a similar case if we look at packaging specifically.

Consumers may choose to examine packaging before deciding to make a purchase to see if the packaging includes circular materials or whether it is recyclable. However, even before it gets to the store shelf, the design of the packaging and the materials that go into it can have a significant impact on its sustainability.

When we say packaging is designed for recyclability, it means it has been produced in a manner that is conducive for the materials to be processed and reused in the production of new materials.

What are circular materials?

Circular material refers to material that has been recycled from some form of waste. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is an example of a circular material.

“As companies and consumers in general, our responsibility doesn’t end in delivering the product and consuming the product, but also in what happens after that.” — Daniella Souza Miranda, global business marketing director, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics

Promoting circularity in packaging

Design is an important aspect of creating sustainable packaging solutions, and so are the materials selected for those designs. To gain a better understanding of how design for recyclability shows up in daily life, we can look to a morning cup of coffee as an example of how materials contribute to circular packaging.

Café Sello Rojo

The number of cups of coffee consumed globally each day reaches into the billions.

In Colombia, the third largest coffee producer in the world, about 2.5 million people rely on coffee for their livelihoods¹. As a main export and key contributor to Colombia’s gross domestic product growth (GDP) in 2024², the overall sustainability of coffee production and consumption is increasingly critical in Latin America’s fourth largest economy.

Traditional coffee bean and ground coffee packaging uses a variety of materials formed into layers to preserve the quality of the product and to control moisture. To achieve this, it is common for coffee packaging to use a combination of paper, plastic and foil. This multilayered approach to packaging design extends the shelf life of many consumer products, not just coffee, but it presents a challenge once the product has been consumed and the packaging becomes waste.

With this challenge in mind, Dow began a collaboration with the Colombian coffee brand, Café Sello Rojo, and their packaging manufacturer, Alico, to produce coffee packaging designed for recyclability. Together, we have created a mono-material packaging for Café Sello Rojo’s 400g product that is made from 100% polyethylene. That means that once consumers have enjoyed the coffee, the packaging can be recycled in areas that offer polyethylene recycling services. By considering sustainable packaging trends during the design phase, the team was successful in creating packaging that uses 15% less material than traditional coffee packaging designs.

To take a deeper dive into our collaboration with Café Sello Rojo and Alico, check out this video interview on the packaging success story.

Paper coffee cups

Have you ever wondered what keeps hot liquids like coffee and tea from leaking through a paper to-go cup from your local coffee shop?

Fiber-based packaging like paper cups and plates often have a thin coating that provides that liquid barrier. Barrier coatings can also provide oil and grease resistance and control the amount of moisture and oxygen that products in sealable paper food pouches are exposed to on the grocery store shelf.

Traditional paper cups are about 93% paper and 7% hard-to-recycle barrier coating. That material composition contributes to more than 90% of disposable cups ending up in landfills. But advanced packaging technology can help change that statistic.

The Dow product portfolio of barrier coatings for paper products address the multifaceted performance needs for paper packaging while still working within existing paper recycling systems. In fact, our RHOBARR™ 320 Barrier Dispersion coating is so thinly applied, often less than 8 microns in thickness, it supports up to 99% fiber recovery when those paper products are recycled.

“Dow paper coatings are designed to meet evolving regulations, brand sustainability commitments and consumer perceptions that drive interest in packaging options.” — Harry Fowler, global market segment leader for paper and metal packaging, Dow Coating Materials

We also make barrier coatings, like RHOBARR™ 214 Barrier Emulsion, with 30% bio-based content, meaning this latex incorporates plant-based raw materials. It is a part of our Ecolibrium™ sustainability pillar brand which provides our customers the assurance to confidently share that their packaging includes renewable or bio-based materials.

Dow Pack Studios: A collaborative approach to designing for recyclability

Design, materials and collaboration all contribute to sustainable packaging innovation.

That is what happens at Pack Studios. It is the place where our passionate teams work alongside our customers to develop innovative and better packaging ideas.

Pack Studios brings together advanced materials, cutting-edge technology, and industry expertise to help brands create effective packaging solutions. These facilities offer services like rapid prototyping, design testing and recyclability assessments.

Meeting our customers’ needs and consumer trends in packaging are priorities, but our commitment does not end there. We are working to address market demands, current challenges and pave the way for a sustainable future through our approach to materials science. Pack Studios collaborates with brands from concept to commercialization, ensuring solutions meet the highest standards, focusing on sustainability and performance.

About the article

This case study was developed by a cross-discipline team representing circularity and market expertise across Dow. To learn more about how Dow collaborates through science and sustainability to help transform waste, visit our Purpose in Action page.

Sources

1. Caballero, C. (2025, June 06). Colombia’s sustainable coffee sector and its lessons for climate solutions. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/columbias-sustainable-coffee-sector-and-its-lesson-for-climate-solutions/.
2. Colombia’s Economy To Grow 1.7% In 2024, With Coffee As The Protagonist. (2025, February 18). AmCham Colombia. https://amchamcartagena.org/en/colombias-economy-grew-by-17-in-2024-with-coffee-as-a-protagonist/.

View original content here.

International Olympic Committee news

For the first time in over a century, Parisians are once again swimming in the River Seine. What once seemed impossible is now a reality – thanks in large part to the vision, momentum and partnership inspired by the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Three new natural swimming sites – at Bras Marie, Bercy and Grenelle – officially opened to the public on 5 July 2025, just over one year after athletes swam through the Seine during the Olympic triathlon and marathon swimming competitions.

About 1,000 swimmers a day will be able to access the sites until the end of August. With clean waters and secure access, these sites offer not only places to cool down in the summer heat, but also a lasting symbol of what the Games can create when aligned with a city’s long-term ambitions.

An in-depth transformation

More than a sports venue, the Seine became the soul of Paris 2024. It hosted the Opening Ceremony, where thousands of athletes sailed down the river in a flotilla of boats, and served as the backdrop for multiple competitions.

But the real transformation happened beneath the surface – literally.

A century ago, swimming in the Seine was part of everyday Parisian life, but it was banned in 1923 due to pollution. The origins of the clean-up efforts date back to the early 90s. In 2015, the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority announced the plan to make the Seine swimmable by the time of the Olympic Games. These efforts targeted aging sewage systems, stormwater runoff and wastewater discharge – culprits long blamed for the Seine’s pollution.

A massive underground storage basin near Austerlitz now intercepts and retains overflow from the sewer system during heavy rains, preventing untreated water from spilling into the river. It is capable of holding over 50,000 cubic metres – roughly twenty Olympic-sized swimming pools – of wastewater until it can be safely treated.

Social, environmental and economic Impact

This effort, while technical, was never only about engineering. It was about giving the people of Paris – and its visitors – new access to green spaces, physical activity and leisure in the heart of the city.

The Seine now serves as a free, safe and refreshing public space. The sites offer fully accessible facilities, lifeguards, showers and sun decks. Kayaks can be borrowed at Grenelle. Swimming zones are clearly demarcated, navigation is temporarily paused during opening hours, and water quality is tested daily under strict safety protocols.

These open-air sites – carefully integrated into the urban landscape with removable, modular structures – were designed with the future in mind. They also address a growing climate need: public access to cooling spaces as urban temperatures rise.

But the Seine’s revival is not just about Paris. It echoes across France and beyond, with public swimming spots planned along the Seine and Marne throughout the Île-de-France region.

A living Olympic legacy

The Seine’s clean-up proves that the Olympic Games, when thoughtfully planned, can accelerate citywide – and regionwide – improvements that affect every layer of society. Although the efforts had already been in progress, they were accelerated by the Games, which provided an additional incentive – and a deadline – to complete them in time for the event, helping to reconnect Paris with its river.

In line with the goals of Olympic Agenda – the IOC’s strategic vision to ensure that the Games are more sustainable, more inclusive and better integrated into the fabric of host cities – Paris 2024 became a powerful catalyst for urban regeneration, environmental progress and social benefit.

“The spirit of the Games continues to live on in the streets of Paris. And now, in the waters of the Seine,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris. “This progress would not have come so quickly without the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is through this joint, demanding project, supported by all the stakeholders of the State and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, that we have been able to meet the environmental, health and technical challenges to make swimming possible, safe and sustainable.”

The reopening of the Seine is a reminder that the Olympic Games are not just about sport – they are about transformation.
Tania Braga, IOC Head of Legacy

“When a host city sees the Games as a catalyst for long-term progress, as Paris has done, the impact can reach far beyond venues and competition. It’s about reconnecting people to their environment, creating lasting public value, and showing how ambition and partnership can deliver change.”

For more information about Paris 2024 sustainability and legacy, see here.

Through innovation and cross-functional collaboration, Saint-Gobain North America has successfully created a circular economy program within its CertainTeed Interior Products Group, allowing insulation fibers from its facility in Kansas City, Kansas to be recycled and reused as raw material in the production of ceiling panels at its facility in L’Anse, Michigan. In its first full year, the project has saved over one and a half million pounds of insulation from landfills.

Established in 1951 and 1959 respectively, the manufacturing facilities in Kansas City and L’Anse are two of Saint-Gobain’s longest operating plants in the United States. Fiberglass, a lightweight and strong material made from fine glass fibers, is a key component in production for both insulation and acoustic ceiling panels, creating natural synergies that make the program possible. In addition to reducing waste-to-landfill in Kansas City, one of the world’s largest fiberglass insulation plants, the use of recycled materials in production lowers the global warming potential of CertainTeed L’Anse’s ceiling panels and is estimated to save nearly 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. 

“Creating circular economies within our production process is truly a win-win for our company, our customers and our communities,” said Jay Bachmann, President of CertainTeed Interior Product Group. “I commend our teams in Kansas City and L’Anse who through innovation, collaboration, and out-of-the-box thinking are reducing waste and exemplifying Saint-Gobain’s mission to be the leader in light and sustainable construction.”

Reducing waste and increasing the circularity of raw materials in its production processes remains a major commitment for Saint-Gobain. Over the past few years, the company has made significant advancements in circularity initiatives through several programs including: 

• Announced in October 2024, Saint-Gobain launched RenuCore^TM by CertainTeed, technology that enables the recycling of asphalt shingles to be reused in hot mix asphalt paving. 

• Working with partners The Durst Company and Infinite Recycled Technologies, Saint-Gobain North America has initiated a successful pilot to recycle architectural glass from buildings in New York City to be recycled and reused in the production of insulation. 

• In 2023, Saint-Gobain Canada celebrated a major achievement in its robust gypsum wallboard recycling program, returning over 1 million tonnes of recycled gypsum back into production. This program has expanded beyond British Columbia to other provinces throughout the country. 

• In its Ceramics division, Saint-Gobain has created a circular economy program for scrap finished goods, recycling and reusing materials from its Bryan, Texas facility in production at other plants throughout the United States. 

With over 160 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company’s team plays a vital role in achieving its sustainability goals. A current list of job openings, including in Kansas and Michigan, can be found on the company’s career website.

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050 

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain