Tag: 3BL

This past May, members of The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) convened in Sevilla, Spain, for its Spring 2025 Roundtable Meeting, bringing together global beverage leaders for three days of strategic dialogue, technical exchange, and on-the-ground inspiration. Generously hosted by Heineken at Fundación Cruzcampo, the gathering brought BIER’s mission to life: uniting global beverage leaders to drive environmental sustainability through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technical advocacy.

This meeting marked the first Roundtable under the leadership of Erica Pann, BIER’s new Executive Director. With deep expertise in sustainability strategy and cross-sector facilitation, Erica strengthens BIER’s commitment to technical excellence and collaborative progress.

Erica is joined in leadership by Nicolas Clerget (HEINEKEN), serving as Chair of BIER’s Steering Committee, and David Grant (PepsiCo) as Co-Chair. Together, this team reflects the diversity, experience, and vision of BIER’s global membership—and they are actively shaping the organization’s next chapter of impact.

Key Themes from the Spring 2025 Agenda

The Spring Roundtable set the tone for continued progress across BIER’s 2025 priority workstreams. The agenda reflected BIER’s vision of a beverage industry that is authentically sustainable, anchored in science and data, supported by world-class practices, and trusted by consumers, customers, and stakeholders alike. Highlights included:

• Nature-Positive Strategies: Members explored how to integrate regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, and watershed health into long-term sustainability and value chain strategies.
• Water Replenishment & Impact Metrics: Sessions focused on measuring the co-benefits of water replenishment, including climate resilience, biodiversity gains, and community well-being.
• Industry Consortia as Catalysts: The group examined how industry-wide coalitions like BIER drive consistency, credibility, and collective momentum in achieving environmental goals.
• Decarbonization & Net Zero Pathways: Members engaged with early insights on the SBTi Net Zero Standard 2.0 and participated in working sessions focused on Scope 3 emissions and hard-to-abate categories.
• Thermal Energy Innovation: Real-world case studies showcased renewable thermal applications, highlighting projects from Diageo, Asahi, and others advancing low-carbon heat solutions.
• Zero-Deforestation Claims: Sessions addressed the path from high-level commitment to credible implementation, with a focus on traceability, regulatory compliance, and phased action plans.
• Just Transition & Regional Resilience: Participants explored how companies are embedding climate justice into energy transition strategies and navigating emerging geopolitical dynamics.

From Strategy to Site: A Sustainability Showcase

Members also toured HEINEKEN’s brewery and solar farm, home to Europe’s largest solar thermal plant for industrial use. The visit underscored how science-based ambition, stakeholder alignment, and infrastructure investment can work together to drive measurable environmental performance.

What Members Say They Value The Most

Members often say that one of the most valuable aspects of BIER is having access to shared benchmarking tools, trusted methodologies, and resources that help them see where they stand and where they can improve. These insights are reflected in the Member Spotlight Series and were echoed throughout the Spring 2025 Roundtable meeting. Common themes include:

• Benchmarking and Standardization: Access to trusted metrics and methodologies helps members assess performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborative Innovation: BIER fosters a culture of co-creation, where companies share best practices and develop scalable solutions together.
• Collective Action and Credibility: Participation amplifies individual efforts through collective initiatives, reinforcing member credibility with stakeholders.
• Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: Members benefit from a platform that promotes open exchange and continuous learning.
• Strategic Alignment and Advocacy: BIER supports unified advocacy and strategic alignment on key sustainability issues, enabling more effective industry engagement.

A Global Membership, A Unified Purpose

BIER values a membership base that reflects the diversity and expertise of the global beverage industry, drawing insights from across the value chain. Representing many of the most recognized names in brewing, distilling, and non-alcoholic beverages, BIER members bring their knowledge, commitment, and passion to collaboratively address environmental challenges that no single company can solve alone.

Through the market leadership of its members, BIER continues to position itself as the sustainable voice of the beverage industry, driving stakeholder trust and advancing solutions that benefit both the sector and the planet.

Looking Ahead

The Spring 2025 Roundtable exemplified BIER’s mission in action. Through technical engagement, open dialogue, and shared vision, members continue to set the pace for environmental sustainability across the beverage sector. With the guidance of Executive Director Erica Pann, Chair Nicolas Clerget, and Co-Chair David Grant, BIER is well-positioned to support member-driven progress in the months and years ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to Heineken for their warm hospitality and to every member who attended, shared insights, asked questions, and contributed to the Sevilla Roundtable’s success.

Kimberly-Clark Chief Growth Officer Patricia Corsi has been recognized once again on Forbes’ prestigious World’s Most Influential CMOs list for 2025. This marks her second consecutive year earning this honor – a testament to the transformative impact she’s making not just at Kimberly-Clark, but across the global marketing industry.

The annual Forbes list celebrates marketing executives who are reshaping how major brands connect with consumers and drive business growth. It’s one of the most coveted recognitions in the marketing world, and Patricia’s inclusion speaks volumes about the innovative approach she’s brought to Kimberly-Clark since joining in July 2024.

Click here to see the complete 2025 World’s Most Influential CMOs list.

About Kimberly-Clark 
Kimberly-Clark (Nasdaq: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere for the seventh year in a row and one of Fortune’s Most Innovative Companies in America in 2024. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s more than 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 19, 2025 /3BL/ – As rising heat levels and costs of living continue to impact Southeast Texas communities, Entergy Texas marks the 25th anniversary of its annual fan distribution program to help vulnerable customers stay safe and cool. This year, the company partnered with 38 agencies to donate 2,000 boxed fans to 11 cities across Southeast Texas, bringing the total number of fans donated to more than 31,000 since the program started in 2000. For families without access to reliable air conditioning, box fans can be a cost-effective way to reduce indoor heat stress, particularly for seniors, children and those with medical conditions.

“This program started as a simple gesture to help families during the summer, and 25 years later, it’s become a vital part of how we serve our communities,” said Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service for Entergy Texas. “With extreme heat events becoming more common and in recognition of the economic challenges our communities are facing, our annual fan giveaway campaign helps bridge the gap between comfort, safety and affordability.”

Entergy Texas is implementing a series of additional measures to help customers and communities stay cool and pay their bills throughout the summer. In May, teams partnered with local contractors to offer A/C tune-ups and weatherization upgrades at no cost to customers during a series of community events in Cleveland and Huntsville. Additionally, Entergy’s online Bill Toolkit ensures customers have quick access to energy efficiency, bill management and financial assistance resources. 

“Whether it’s working to provide bill payment assistance, distributing fans or weatherizing homes, Entergy Texas is committed to helping our customers in need,” added Barrett. 

Learn more about how Entergy Texas is helping customers beat the heat while keeping costs down.

About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 524,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We’re also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergytexas.com and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.

The world is changing fast. Building resilience into your overall business strategy is key for continued growth. Investing in corporate sustainability has become a reliable source of competitive differentiation—yet many companies still struggle to quantify its value. 

This post provides a starting point for businesses to learn about sustainability and why it is crucial for long-term success.

The Business Case for Sustainable Strategies

Sustainability has substantial business benefits well beyond mitigating environmental impact. A comprehensive sustainability strategy can improve profitability, strengthen supply chains, and position businesses to meet investor, customer, and regulatory expectations head-on.

Operational efficiency boosts profitability

Sustainability initiatives often start as risk mitigation efforts but quickly reveal themselves as great drivers of efficiency. Take energy efficiency: businesses investing in advanced building automation and renewable energy integration are lowering operational expenses while reducing exposure to volatile energy markets.

Investor expectations play a key role

Capital markets are no longer neutral on sustainability. Institutional investors and lenders are evaluating businesses through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance metrics, and companies with weak sustainability strategies are seeing higher borrowing costs and diminished investor confidence. For C-suite leaders, the question is no longer if sustainability matters in financial performance, but how to maximize its impact.

Risk management amidst shifting regulations

Regulatory pressure on environmental performance is intensifying across industries, from carbon pricing mechanisms to supply chain due diligence laws. But compliance isn’t the only concern—businesses that lag behind in sustainability commitments are losing ground to competitors that are proactively managing risks and adapting ahead of regulatory shifts.

Beyond compliance, companies are also contending with increasing supply chain volatility. Extreme weather events, resource scarcity, and geopolitical instability are all creating material risks that sustainability-minded organizations are better equipped to navigate.

The impact on brand reputation

Customer and workforce expectations are evolving, and companies that fail to demonstrate authentic, measurable sustainability commitments are losing credibility. In B2B and B2C markets alike, procurement teams are prioritizing suppliers with clear environmental and social responsibility commitments, while employees are choosing employers that align with their values. The companies that lead on sustainability aren’t just meeting expectations—they’re setting the standards that others will follow.

Related resource: Environmental Sustainability Meets Business Sustainability

 

Core Sustainable Business Strategies

Organizations that take a structured, data-driven approach to sustainability are better positioned to optimize operations and future-proof their business. Below are four key areas where sustainability delivers measurable impact.

Optimizing resources through waste reduction

Waste can be a serious financial liability. Companies that systematically reduce material waste, water consumption, and excess energy see the dual benefits of improving costs while mitigating supply chain risks. Circular economy principles are reshaping industries, with businesses designing waste out of their systems through closed-loop manufacturing, product take-back programs, and materials innovation.

Supply chain sustainability and responsible sourcing

A company’s sustainability impact extends far beyond its own walls. Supply chain emissions (scope 3) often dwarf direct operational emissions, making procurement strategies a critical component of any sustainability plan. Businesses that actively engage suppliers on ESG performance are not only reducing environmental impact but also improving supplier reliability, lowering risks related to resource scarcity, and ensuring compliance with new and changing regulations.

Implementing energy-efficient operations

Energy costs and carbon reduction targets are pushing businesses to rethink their approach to power consumption. Companies investing in energy-efficient infrastructure, such as smart building systems, process automation, and heat recovery technologies, are seeing immediate returns in the form of lower utility bills and improved operational stability. Many are also shifting toward renewable energy, leveraging on-site solar and wind installations, power purchase agreements, and microgrids to stabilize costs and hedge against energy market volatility.

Sustainable product design

Sustainability is being engineered into products from the ground up. Companies are responding to regulatory shifts and consumer demand by prioritizing recyclable, biodegradable, and lower-carbon materials. Modular product designs, where components can be easily repaired or replaced, are reducing waste while unlocking new revenue models, such as product-as-a-service offerings. In sectors from packaging to electronics, organizations are redesigning products to meet end-of-life recovery goals, ensuring compliance with circular economy legislation, and differentiating themselves in increasingly sustainability-conscious markets.

Related resources:

Five Ways to Optimize Sustainability Across Global Facilities

Legislation and Best Practices in Supply Chain Sustainability

 

Measuring and Reporting Sustainability Performance

Sustainability commitments are only as strong as the data behind them. Investors, regulators, and customers increasingly demand measurable, transparent reporting. Companies that integrate robust sustainability metrics into their business strategy gain a competitive edge by demonstrating that accountability.

Establishing KPIs for sustainability goals

Setting clear, quantifiable sustainability goals is essential for driving real impact. Leading organizations establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with business objectives and stakeholder expectations. These may include:

• Carbon footprint reduction (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions)
• Energy efficiency improvements (kWh saved per unit of production)
• Water conservation efforts (gallons reduced per process or site)
• Waste diversion rates (percentage of waste diverted from landfills)
• Supplier sustainability compliance (percentage of suppliers meeting ESG standards)

The role of corporate sustainability reporting

Sustainability reporting has evolved a great deal. Frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are shaping how companies disclose environmental and social impacts.

High-quality sustainability reports are:

• Data-rich and transparent, backed by verifiable metrics rather than marketing statements.
• Aligned with recognized frameworks to meet regulatory and investor expectations.
• Forward-looking, showcasing progress, challenges, and future sustainability roadmaps.

Related resource: Back to Basics: A Step-by-Step Guide for Preparing an Annual Sustainability Report

 

Understanding ESG ratings and rankers

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings influence capital investment, brand perception, and stakeholder trust. However, the ESG rating landscape is complex, with different agencies using varying methodologies to assess corporate performance.

Businesses aiming to improve their ESG scores must proactively engage with raters, ensure accurate data submission, and align their sustainability efforts with investor priorities. Understanding how these ratings impact financial performance, regulatory compliance, and competitive positioning is critical for long-term success.

Related resources:

A Guide for Preparing an Annual Sustainability Report

ESG vs. CSR: Key Differences & What Businesses Need to Know

Understanding ESG Raters, Rankers & Corporate Sustainability

 

Resources for Sustainability Leaders

Whether you’re shaping corporate sustainability strategy, navigating ESG regulations, or seeking innovative solutions, staying informed and up to date on the latest developments is key. Below is a curated selection of books, podcasts, and conferences that provide expert insights, practical guidance, and global perspectives on sustainability.

Top books on sustainability and ESG

For executives and sustainability professionals looking to refine their strategies, these books offer research-backed insights and actionable frameworks:

Leaving Planet Simple: Embracing Sustainability, ESG, and Resilience to Transform Your Business by Dr. Alex Gold

Dr. Alex Gold challenges business leaders to embrace a resilience mindset. Drawing from his expertise in resilience science and corporate strategy, he explores how businesses can thrive by recognizing their role within interconnected ecosystems rather than operating in isolation. A compelling guide for leaders looking to embed sustainability and ESG into long-term success.

Where to Find It: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse by Dave Goulson

Biologist Dave Goulson sounds the alarm on the devastating decline of insect populations and what it means for the planet. Through accessible storytelling and rigorous research, he connects biodiversity loss to climate change and food security, highlighting the dangers of pesticide overuse while offering solutions to restore balance. A must-read for those concerned about the future of our ecosystems.

Where to Find It: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy

Douglas W. Tallamy presents a powerful grassroots approach to conservation, showing how homeowners can turn their yards into vital wildlife habitats. By planting native species, individuals can play a direct role in biodiversity restoration—without waiting for government action. Practical, inspiring, and full of actionable steps, this book makes conservation feel personal and achievable.

Where to Find It: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Explore more must-read ESG and sustainability books.

 

Podcasts: Sustainability Insights from Industry Experts

Podcasts provide a convenient way to stay informed on sustainability trends, regulatory shifts, and corporate best practices. Recommended listens include:

GreenBiz 350

Sustainability news, industry insights, and expert analysis—delivered with wit and clarity by GreenBiz veterans Joel Makower and Heather Clancy. This weekly podcast unpacks the latest trends shaping the future of sustainable business.

Available On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud

ESG in Conversation

Stay ahead of the ESG curve with expert-driven discussions on sustainability risks, investment opportunities, and corporate responsibility. Each episode breaks down the latest research and insights shaping business, finance, and global markets.

Available On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Sustainability Defined

Sustainability can be complex—this podcast makes it clear. Hosts Jay Siegel and Scott Breen tackle key sustainability topics with expert guests, making the issues (and solutions) easy to understand for pros and newcomers alike.

Available On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Find more top sustainability podcasts here.

 

Conferences to consider

Attending industry conferences and following key sustainability voices helps leaders stay ahead of trends, connect with peers, and gain insights into the future of corporate sustainability.

Top Conferences:

• Reuters Responsible Business USA 2025 – Focuses on embedding sustainability into brand strategy and corporate culture.
• Sustainable Brands: SB’25 – A premier global event where business and brand leaders gather to explore the long-term impact of innovation, purpose, and sustainability.
• FORUM25: NAEM EHS & Sustainability Management Forum – The largest annual event for EHS&S professionals, offering peer insights, emerging strategies, and practical solutions for advancing corporate sustainability.

See more must-attend sustainability conferences

 

Sustainability leadership requires continuous learning. Bookmark this page to help stay ahead of industry shifts as you refine your sustainability strategies.

Discover how Antea Group’s Sustainability Consulting services can empower your business.

International Olympic Committee news

As World Table Tennis Day is celebrated today, we highlight the work of Tanjun Associate LLP. This organisation uses table tennis as a vehicle for lasting environmental and social impact in rural communities in India, with the support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTF Foundation).

Tanjun Associate LLP introduced table tennis to a region in northern India primarily inhabited by farmers who rely on agriculture as their only source of income. Tanjun aims to empower marginalised women from these areas by equipping them with the skills to develop sustainable bamboo sports equipment, encouraging not only environmentally friendly practices, but also lasting social change in the mountainous and forest-covered regions below the Himalayas.

Working alongside local schools that serve as hubs for the project, Tanjun has already conducted four training sessions, and around 80 per cent of the 200 attendees were women. These sessions combine table tennis events, hands-on training in producing sustainable sports equipment and environmental awareness education on topics such as preventing deforestation, waste management and regenerative agriculture.

Tanjun’s contribution to gender equality is particularly noteworthy given the theme of this year’s World Table Tennis Day: diversity and inclusion. It also builds on the impact of initiatives that have already engaged thousands of schoolchildren. Thanks to Tanjun, mixed doubles table tennis – once a rarity – is now the norm at Paradise Academy, one of its partner schools.

Delivering lasting social and environmental impact

Rekha Dey, a managing partner at Tanjun, explains why sport has been key to unlocking the project’s potential. “We are mobilising women in remote rural areas, who are primarily from lower-income groups and who come from communities where caste-based and gender discrimination is high,” says Dey. “Sport is a relationship-builder and acts as a powerful tool to reach out to these communities; it creates an environment of friendliness and fun and breaks down the barriers you often face.”

The support from the IOC, through the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, has allowed Tanjun to increase the scale of its work and to benefit from a supportive network of social entrepreneurs in sport for development. “Our footprint in the community has increased sizeably,” says Dey. “The grant has really helped us reach out and meet the targets we had set for ourselves. This project is about sustainable livelihood development, taking positive climate action and the development of environmentally friendly sports equipment.”

Thanks to the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, Tanjun was also able to invest in research and develop further sustainable sports equipment out of bamboo, such as hand-woven jute nets, alongside its training programmes. By the end of this year, Tanjun aims to have built a 100 per cent bamboo-based table tennis table, and is also currently producing prototype equipment for badminton, volleyball and football.

Using these initiatives to spur continual growth is fundamental to Tanjun’s approach. “The products are environmentally sustainable and commercially viable. We aim to show women how they can develop a livelihood through these skills,” says Dey. “Successful prototypes will be donated to community schools, and we will be training more women to be involved in the manufacturing process as we scale up.”

Working directly with vulnerable communities

Tanjun operates primarily in the states of Uttarakhand and Utter Pradesh, in a region increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and where the importance of sustainable development is stark.

“The Himalayas are the oxygen bank for the whole of northern India, and it provides water for the entire Indo-Gangetic plain,” explains Dey. “But human development is taking place at the cost of environmental degradation; deforestation is occurring, glaciers are melting, we are having extreme climate events every monsoon season. There has to be a solution-centric approach to development.”

By embedding circular economy principles, Tanjun aims to deliver both environmental and social impact, empowering the communities most at risk. “We are trying to work directly with the people that are most vulnerable and directly affected,” says Dey. “We want to help them stand for the protection of the areas they live in and embrace climate action initiatives.”

Olympism365: A shared vision for sport for sustainable development

Tanjun is one of nine social enterprises that received IOC co-investment totalling USD 300,000 through the Olympism365 Innovation Hub – a collaboration between the IOC, Beyond Sport and Women Win – and its Enterprise365 funding stream. These enterprises promote sustainable finance solutions to advance sport for positive social change and contribute to Olympism365, the IOC’s strategy to use sport as an important enabler of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Representing Tanjun, Dey will attend the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, which will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 3 to 5 June 2025. The event will bring together representatives from the Olympic Movement, UN agencies, development and financing institutions, civil society, for-purpose business and safe sport community members who are working together to advance the UN SDGs through sport.

Dey is enthused by the chance to meet others who share Tanjun’s commitment to sport for sustainable development. “We’re looking forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration and partnership,” she says. “I would also like to learn from other projects that are being implemented around the world, and from other Olympism365 Innovation Hub initiatives and innovators.”

Find out more about World Table Tennis Day

Originally published on Rayonier.com

The world’s appetite for energy is growing exponentially, with each year’s new electricity demands exceeding Japan’s entire annual electricity consumption. In the United States alone, electricity demand is projected to rise by as much as 50 percent by the year 2040 due to growth in manufacturing, data centers and mass electrification. Amidst this surge, the need for affordable, clean energy has never been more critical. 

Solar energy is playing a growing role in shaping conversations about the future of sustainable energy.

Why Solar is a Strategic Fit for Rayonier’s Land-Based Solutions Approach

With more than 2 million acres of sustainably managed U.S. forests and nearly 100 years of land stewardship, Rayonier is uniquely positioned to strengthen the U.S. energy grid through strategic solar development.

Driven by our commitment to land-based solutions, we lease high-potential properties for solar energy development and storage.

Our expert team collaborates closely with solar developers to optimize these projects, delivering clean energy and strengthening surrounding communities through the creation of local jobs, increased tax revenue and significant economic investment.

“Renewable energy is a good fit for Rayonier,” says Rayonier Vice President of Energy Resources Rob Fancher. “Our timberlands provide a lot of environmental benefits, and renewable energy does the same thing. They’re both very long-term, focused projects. They’re both quiet, good neighbors.”

Why Solar is Important to the Growing Demand for Renewable Energy

On a macro level, solar energy enhances both the United States’ energy independence and its pursuit of energy dominance. This reliable source of domestic power reduces the nation’s need to depend on volatile global energy markets, bolstering its strategic position and global influence.

Increasing U.S. energy independence also provides more price stability for both consumers and businesses. As companies strive to meet sustainability goals and reduce operating costs, locations with robust renewable energy resources are becoming increasingly desirable for new facilities.

This trend is particularly evident in the advanced technology industry, including AI. The manufacturing industry is also a key driver of this shift, drawn to renewable energy’s cost-effectiveness and lower emissions.

​​What Research Shows About the Role of Solar

Countless studies point to clean, renewable energy as the key to meeting energy demand and reducing the impact of CO₂ in the United States:

• “After decades of innovation and cost reductions, solar is rapidly maturing, and with continued research, development, and deployment, it could potentially serve 40% or more of U.S. electricity demand.”—U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Futures Study
• “A net-zero pathway hinges on renewables capacity tripling between now and the end of the decade.”—Bloomberg’s New Energy Outlook 2024
• “Renewable energy technologies like solar and wind are the key to reducing emissions in the electricity sector, which is today the single largest source of CO₂ emissions.”— International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050 report

Rayonier’s First Solar Project

The first solar project on Rayonier land became operational in 2023. Longroad Energy’s 150 megawatt Umbriel solar project in Polk County, Texas, delivers enough clean energy to power roughly 30,000 homes, avoiding an estimated 250,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually (the equivalent to taking 55,000 cars off the road). The project also is expected to generate about $13 million in tax revenue for the community.

Project Highlights:

• Clean energy output: Powers ~30,000 homes annually
• CO₂ reduction: Offsets ~250,000 metric tons of emissions each year (equal to removing 55,000 cars from the road)
• Community impact: Expected to generate ~$13 million in local tax revenue

“Solar is the fastest-growing source of energy in the U.S.,” says Longroad Energy Vice President of Origination & Development Adam Horwitz, who led the project for Longroad. “It’s an abundant source of energy…and it’s economical.”

Advancements Driving Solar Forward

Thanks to advances in technology in both building and generating solar power, the levelized cost of solar electricity dropped by more than 80 percent since 2008, according to this Berkeley Lab study and Lazard’s 2024 Levelized Cost of Energy study. Even without national and global emissions reductions targets and federal tax incentives, market forces alone are projected to propel solar and other clean energy technologies forward. Solar is also established more quickly compared to alternatives, such as gas-powered turbines, which have a 7-8 year waiting list.

How the Umbriel Project Came Together

Longroad purchased about 1,900 acres of land needed for the Polk County project and leased the remaining 583 acres from Rayonier. The energy developer developed the site, found a long-term energy buyer for the solar project, secured financing, oversaw construction and brought the project into operation.

Advantages of working with Rayonier on a Solar Project

Working with Rayonier offers advantages to solar developers, including:

• Our company’s long history as a landowner and careful stewardship of our properties.
• Strong relationships with local and state leaders as well as neighboring property owners.
• Extensive records on the land, including topography, soil types, wetland delineation, any presence of vulnerable plants and wildlife, and other data.
• A large landbase to work with in order to optimize the plan.

Our team of experts works with the solar developer to identify ideal locations that meet their needs, buildable land at scale with access to strong power markets and transmission. The team also supports the development process by assisting with site design, layout and identification of sensitive environmental areas.

Working with a single, large landowner streamlined the process for the developer, explains Longroad Landman Cody Walker:

“When you deal with multiple landowners in one area, you have different personalities, you have to manage different needs and different histories with properties to manage,” he says. “When it’s one landowner, one use, you can easily work together to make the project work for both parties.”

Taking neighbors’ concerns into account

Cody worked closely with neighbors to ensure their concerns and expectations were taken into account during the project, as well. Kim Mueck, whose family owns nearby property, says they were at first skeptical about the project.

Kim says she expected noise and traffic, but was pleased that wasn’t the case after the solar project was built.

“We got Cody’s number and, any time we needed anything, the weekends, the holidays, if there was a problem, they were there,” she says. “It turned out to be a great relationship. The road to get to our own property is way better. They did leave a tree buffer there between our property and the solar farm, so you don’t really see it.”

“Once the construction’s done and it’s here, it’s just here,” she says. “You don’t see a lot of people. It’s not noisy. There’s not a lot of traffic. Like I said, you pass through it to get to our property, but once you’re back there, you really don’t know it’s there.”

Optimizing Land for its Greatest Sustainable Purpose

The Rayonier team is trained to look carefully at all of our properties, striving to find the best possible purpose for every acre. The majority of Rayonier’s land base is best suited for forestry activities, but our business development team is trained to recognize special sites and unique characteristics that are ideal for solar, wind and other critical land-based solutions.

Only Select Land is Right for Solar

“As we evaluate the properties that are best for solar, we find that to be a very small percentage of our portfolio overall,” explains Rayonier Business Development Landman Jose Villarreal.

Rayonier estimates that only a low, single-digit percentage of its forest land may ultimately become active solar projects.

Rayonier’s properties that are especially attractive to solar companies have proximity to a population in need of the energy and convenient access to power transmission infrastructure.

While the recent ramp up in solar projects across the nation may seem expansive, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Futures Study states that the most aggressive growth in solar energy development would use, at most, 10.3 million acres of land across the entire U.S. by 2050. That equates to less than 5 percent of land in all U.S. states (except for Rhode Island, which comes in at 6.5 percent).

Working with Sustainability-Centric Companies to Deliver Clean Energy

Rayonier uses a careful vetting process in determining which companies to work with to deliver clean energy. We choose to work with companies that, like us, put sustainability first; go well beyond the minimum standards to protect the environment; and treat our neighbors and communities with respect.

Choosing the Right Partners for the Long Term

“We want to work with solar development companies that share in our core values and our long-term commitments to environmental stewardship,” says Rayonier Energy Resources Manager Zan Frederick. He says his team was pleased with the steps Longroad Energy took to protect the environment around the project site.

Designing Solar Projects with a Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

While the project site encompassed about 2,500 acres, only 1,300 were developed for solar, allowing Longroad to work around sensitive features, such as streams and wetlands.

“The project from the very beginning was sited and designed to avoid and protect wetlands,” says Longroad Environmental Manager Lindsey Kester. “We had wetland ecologists survey the project area to identify those boundaries in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, and then our engineers sited and designed the project to avoid those boundaries. It’s a thoughtful process and it doesn’t just end with a plan. We have a whole team that ensures that that plan is in compliance through construction and operation through the life of the project.”

Construction of the solar project included the development of reservoirs, silt fences and other modalities to prevent impacts on wetlands and the surrounding area. The Longroad team also planted seed lots designed to ensure there will be vegetation such as flowering grasses on the ground year-round, stabilizing the soil.

“That vegetation includes native pollinator plant species that help enhance that environment and provide new habitat where wildlife can thrive,” Lindsey says.

You can learn more about Longroad’s approach to environmental stewardship by visiting their website here.

High Standards for the Life of the Project

Our solar leases typically span 30 years or more. When the projects come to a close, the developer will remove all materials, enabling us to resume use of the property for whatever its next highest and best use is, such as forestry.

By leasing land for solar projects on select sites, Rayonier ensures the land will be held to the same standards we hold all of our properties to: sustainable land management that will benefit our communities and planet for many years to come.

As previously seen on the CSRHub blog.

CSRHub is proud to announce that we have successfully completed our 15th B Corporation certification review, continuing a legacy that began in November 2010. Our commitment to sustainability and transparency has remained unwavering—and we’re honored to retain our B Corp status once again.

View our updated B Corp certification page →

What Being a B Corp Means to Us

From the beginning, CSRHub has aimed to be more than a “for profit” business—we’ve operated as a mission-driven organization from day one. Our vision was to offer transparent, trustworthy consensus ratings on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, helping people evaluate companies with clarity and impact.

Becoming a B Corporation back in 2010 reflected this core mission: to use sustainability / ESG data to drive positive behavior, from corporate boardrooms to supply chains around the globe.

A Platform for Global ESG Accountability

Today, more than 50,000 professionals visit our platform each month to explore how over 60,000 organizations are performing on ESG metrics. We know our work helps shape decisions by:

• Consultants helping clients with benchmarking and ratings improvement
• Supply chain managers assessing their supply chains and value stream
• Branding and marketing teams shaping corporate narratives to improve reporting
• Investors looking to allocate capital responsibly
• Consumers and stakeholders seeking accountability

Through partnerships and integrations, CSRHub data now reaches thousands more via analytics platforms, due diligence engines, and impact research tools.

15 Reviews, 3 B Lab Versions, and Growing Standards

Our latest review was conducted under Version 6 of B Lab’s certification framework—our first review used Version 2. We’re proud to have consistently scored above the 80-point threshold in every cycle, reflecting our long-standing commitment to ESG transparency and social accountability.

“It was easier to score higher in the early years,” said Bahar Gidwani, CSRHub Co-founder. “But we’ve stayed focused on growing our impact, ingesting more than 1,000 ESG data sources and continually improving our transparency.”

Why It Still Matters

As B Lab rolls out Version 7 of its criteria, we remain committed to maintaining the high standards required for certification. For us, this isn’t just a badge—it’s a living part of our identity and our purpose.

We’ll continue building the world’s most robust ESG consensus signal, so decision-makers everywhere can see corporate behavior clearly—and help improve it.

Ready to dive deeper?

Link to full B Corp listing

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers the most comprehensive global set of Consensus ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings, information, and tools. CSRHub’s business intelligence system measures the ESG business impact that drives corporate and investor sustainability decisions.  Founded in 2007, CSRHub covers 58,000+ public and private companies, and provides ESG performance scores on over 38,833 companies from 134 industries in 156 countries. Our Big Data platform uses algorithms to aggregate, normalize and weight ESG metrics from 989 sources to produce a strong consensus signal on corporate sustainability performance. Interested in learning more about CSRHub? Click here.

With nearly 40% of carbon emissions coming from the built environment, the construction industry is building and renovating more and more sustainably. With innovative solutions and new construction methods, we have a whole new vocabulary that this podcast is going to decipher for you!

“Clinkerization” is the technical term for the process of producing the backbone of cement: clinker. To produce clinker, non-renewable materials are heated to very high temperatures. One of the ingredients is limestone which releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide when heated. Consequently, the process has a big environmental footprint. Revolutionizing cement production has become a burning issue for the whole construction sector.

Listen here C…for Clinkerisation, a Saint-Gobain Podcast

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
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Every nine minutes, rabies claims a life. Each year, this deadly virus steals nearly 60,000 lives, despite being entirely preventable through vaccination.

Judith Masika from Kenya experienced this firsthand: Her husband died, due to a bite by a rabid dog. A tragedy that could have been prevented had there been better awareness.

Eliminating rabies requires a global effort and strong collaboration. Boehringer Ingelheim is working to help prevent these tragic stories through our Stop Rabies program. The program focuses on a holistic approach through three pillars: vaccination, education and surveillance. We’re collaborating with governmental and non-governmental organizations, health authorities, veterinarians, local communities, dog owners, and other partners, to Stop Rabies before it starts.

Judith’s story is a powerful reminder of why preventable diseases like rabies must be eliminated and how collaborative action can help save lives.

Find out more and explore other stories on Imagine: our sustainability story hub, where we share our commitment to sustainability and what we are doing to create a positive impact for humans, animals and our planet.

Southern Company

At a time when technological advancements are reshaping entire industries, Southern Company continues its longstanding tradition of embracing cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency, safety and maintaining industry-leading standards in delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to customers.

An example of this commitment is the recent testing and now ongoing implementation of Aetos technology at Alabama Power’s Plant Barry and within Power Delivery, with plans for near-term expansion to other generation and power delivery sites in the Southern Company system, allowing for the visualization of complex infrastructure and efficient access to associated documentation.

By integrating the Aetos solution, Southern Company is pioneering a transformation in how facilities are operated and maintained. This technology provides engineering, operations and maintenance teams with a high-resolution digital model of a physical location. This so-called “digital twin” provides a high level of detail, enabling them to conduct virtual walkthroughs and inspections without the need for physical presence.

Teams can remotely assess equipment documentation and training materials. They can identify potential issues and plan maintenance activities with precision. Safety is potentially enhanced by reducing the need for onsite inspections when they are not an absolute requirement.

Aetos technology is equally transformative for both generation and power delivery, facilitating comprehensive mapping of substations and plant infrastructure. The digital representation serves as a valuable tool for planning upgrades, conducting inspections and responding to outages, supporting the company’s commitment to delivering reliable service to customers.

Engineers, planners and field technicians can access the same detailed models, fostering a unified approach to problem-solving and decision-making, potentially accelerating project timelines and enhancing communication. The adoption of this technology is also an example of Southern Company’s Connected Worker program, an intentional effort to connect field workers with detailed asset information including engineering, maintenance and operations documents and data, and to develop site specific training and job aids for operations team members on processes, equipment and assets.