Tag: 3BL

View the original article at https://www.southwire.com/blogs/southwire-celebrates-inaugural-sustainability-week 

In honor of the company’s 75^th anniversary and in celebration of Earth Month, Southwire hosted its first ever Sustainability Week in April. The sustainability team hosted a week of communications, education and activities to engage team members across the globe.

“In order for Southwire to continue to be generationally sustainable for the next 75 years and beyond, we need everyone on board,” said Burt Fealing, Southwire’s EVP, General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer. “We hope that Sustainability Week helped all of our team members, 9,000 plus strong, better understand how they can get involved in sustainability and how they can be a leader in these efforts at home, at work and in their communities.”

Each day of Sustainability Week was focused on one of Southwire’s five core tenets of sustainability:

Growing Green Monday highlighted success stories from the sustainability champions at Southwire’s Denton, Tx., Lafayette, In., and North Campus, Ga. sites. Sustainability champions are volunteer roles at each site who are responsible for furthering local energy, water and waste efficiency projects.

Living Well Tuesday featured health and wellness benefits available to all Southwire team members, including free therapy and coaching sessions from Spring Health, digital musculoskeletal therapy for back and joint pain from Hinge Health, webinars and resources for National Stress Awareness Month & Substance Abuse Awareness Month and more.

Giving Back Wednesday promoted volunteer events in April including electronics recycling and our annual Walk for Water fundraiser. The day also highlighted Southwire’s Dollars for Doers program, which enables team members to earn donation credits for volunteer hours served, redeemable to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit of their choice.

Doing Right Thursday told the story of how Southwire’s ethics & compliance program was built from the ground up and how it contributed to Southwire being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere for the second year in a row.

Building Worth Friday included an educational presentation on sustainable innovations happening within Southwire, as well as a panel discussion on Building a STEM Career in Green Technology in partnership with Georgia Tech and Envision Racing, one of the founding and most successful teams in Formula E racing.

During Earth Month, Southwire also distributed nearly 400 trees to team members to plant at home or at a facility. Through the Arbor Day Foundation’s community canopy program, team members signed up to have trees delivered directly to their home or to their manufacturing or distribution site, with web-based tools to help them identify the ideal planting location to maximize energy savings and carbon sequestration. Southwire also partnered with Neighborhood Forest to gift trees to students at our two 12 for Life facilities in Carrollton, Ga. and Florence, Al. to plant with their families at home.

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

Originally published on PSEG ENERGIZE!

Every year, our PSEG Foundation’s Neighborhood Partners Program not only funds vital programs but also amplifies the work of nonprofits that are transforming communities. From initiatives that provide job training and financial literacy to those that promote environmental stewardship and food security, our partners are making a difference every day. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these impactful organizations – and how their work continues to inspire us all.

Rising Tide Capital

One of our Neighborhood Partners, Rising Tide Capital, is proving that when you invest in people, you invest in thriving communities. Through their comprehensive suite of services, they’re equipping a growing network of 10,000 entrepreneurs across New Jersey and 15 other states with the skills and support to build sustainable businesses. Participants in their Community Business Academy see a 95% increase in sales within their first two years – a testament to the power of hands-on training in business planning, management and marketing.

Beyond the academy, Rising Tide entrepreneurs receive targeted coaching through the Business Acceleration Services, helping them set actionable goals and access critical resources. And with the Credit to Capital Program, they’re gaining the financial guidance needed to invest in equipment, inventory and staff.

“We’ve had funding in this partnership over several years and this partnership has really become critical and core to what we do. These are real stories of impact in our community that are changing lives and they’re sustained by partnerships like ours.”

-Dr. Joynicole Martinez
President, Chief of Advancement & Innovation
Rising Tide Capital’

Rising Tide shares our commitment to meeting community needs and understands that the well-being of our neighborhoods is tied to the success of their people. We’re proud to support this work, fostering the next generation of resilient, visionary entrepreneurs.

America’s Grow-a-Row

Rising Tide Capital isn’t the only partner making waves. At America’s Grow-A-Row, their mission to combat hunger is rooted in every acre of farmland and every pound of fresh produce.

In 2024 alone, America’s Grow-A-Row delivered an astounding 3.6 million pounds of fresh produce to families in need – a powerful testament to their mission of mitigating hunger one crop at a time. This remarkable impact is made possible by 423 acres of farmland, 20 varieties of fruits and vegetables and over 10,000 dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to bring nutritious food to communities across New Jersey and 23 other states. Last year, in just one Friday morning, PSEG volunteers joined the effort with gathering 51,600 servings (12,900lbs) of fresh and healthy produce.  And the numbers don’t stop there. In 2024, America’s Grow-A-Row managed to:

• Have 11,732 individual volunteers.
• Spend 25,710 hours harvesting and gleaning.
• Reach 24 states with generous amounts of food.
• Donate 14,361,312 servings.

“Without the Neighborhood Partners Program, we could not grow all the fruits and vegetables that we are utilizing to feed people and positively impact their lives. This funding allowed us to hit our number of 3.6 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from people suffering from food insecurity.”

– Jackie Etter
Development & Marketing
America’s Grow-A-Row

We’re proud to partner with America’s Grow-A-Row as they continue to provide healthy, environmentally sustainable food to families who need it most. Together, we’re sowing the seeds for stronger, healthier communities.

Cathedral Kitchen

Just as America’s Grow-A-Row is nourishing communities with fresh produce, Cathedral Kitchen is nourishing both bodies and futures by serving more than just meals.

As South Jersey’s largest emergency meal provider, Cathedral Kitchen serves over 100,000 meals each year while also creating a welcoming space where community connections are forged and lives are transformed. And for those ready to take the next step, Cathedral Kitchen offers a free, 15-week culinary arts training program that prepares unemployed, underemployed, at-risk and low-income Camden residents for careers in the culinary field – providing a pathway to economic independence.

Since launching the program 14 years ago:

• 547 students have graduated.
• 90% of graduates secured employment within three months.
• 621 students passed the ServSafe National Food Safety & Sanitation Certification exam.

“The Neighborhood Partners Program has been such a blessing to Cathedral Kitchen for quite some time. Their funding has enabled us to continue to meet needs without cutting back on any services. It’s been instrumental.”

-Noreen Flewelling
Development Director
Cathedral Kitchen

Partnering with Cathedral Kitchen underscores the value of creating a welcoming atmosphere where people in need can find not only a warm meal but also a second chance – and a path to a brighter future.

More Than Bootstraps

While Cathedral Kitchen is paving the way for economic independence through culinary training, More Than Bootstraps (MTB) is breaking down barriers to higher education for first-generation students.

More Than Bootstraps understands the importance of assisting first-generation students with resources for getting into college and has built a community of underrepresented students who empower each other to access and succeed in higher education.

MTB was founded in 2018 and in that first year, they proudly served 11 students. As of Fall 2024, they’re serving a total of 50 students from Passaic Public Schools.. They base their success on four core components:

• Family engagement
• Financial assistance
• Near-peer mentorship
• Wellness and self-care

“We know there are students out there who are talented and ambitious … they just need a little bit of guidance and support to find their way. The Neighborhood Partners Program provides us with resources that enable us to serve more students.”

-Audrey Fisch
Founder & President
More Than Bootstraps

After graduating, each student returns the favor by providing tutoring and mentorship for the upcoming undergraduates in their program.

Together, we’re powering up the next generation of young bright minds by giving them access to higher learning and equipping them with the tools needed to succeed.

HomeFront

Education can open doors, but for families facing homelessness, stability is the first step toward a brighter future. That’s where HomeFront steps in.

By harnessing the care, resources and expertise of the community, HomeFront is working to ease the immediate hardships of homelessness while empowering New Jersey families to achieve self-sufficiency. With programs focused on housing, children’s activities and essential resources, HomeFront is committed to creating lasting change and building stronger communities.

To HomeFront, every number represents a deeper and unique story of the journey a family or individual faced to overcome adversity and step into stability. That’s why they’re adamant about not taking it for granted.

As of this year:

• 30,676 individuals were given shelter, food and life-changing assistance.
• 1,840,320 meals were provided.
• 139 children enrolled in their Joy, Hopes & Dreams program.
• 571 families assisted through their emergency housing assistance programs.

“When they say partners, they mean it. PSEG has been there for us, from coming on site and volunteering to providing connections with other organizations who can help us achieve our mission – they are more than just a funder, they’re in the work with us.”

-Sarah Steward
CEO
HomeFront

We’re proud to celebrate HomeFront by supporting their impactful programs and working alongside them through our passionate volunteers. Every individual and family represents a shared victory – a testament to the collective strength and progress of our community.

We’re deeply grateful for each and every one of our Neighborhood Partners and our world is brighter because of them. Pouring back into the community requires hard work, resources, commitment and effort – and our partners embody each of these values.

Every year, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to give back and advance meaningful work to create a more sustainable future for all. We’re excited to announce the applications for the 2025 Neighborhood Partners Program are now open! If you’re part of an eligible nonprofit organization in New Jersey or Long Island, click here to apply now through June 30, 2025.

Complimentary Webinar

Regulatory Shifts Ahead: What You Need to Know Now for Food Safety & Product Development

June 17, 2025 | 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT

REGISTER

Join SCS Global Services for a mid-year Regulatory review update, as the shifting priorities and focus by both the FDA and USDA is having a significant impact on how we develop and manufacture products. This webinar will provide you with an update on the key changes and give you the tools to navigate current requirements and compliance with the timelines. We will also explore how it starts with product development and considerations for food safety, quality and regulatory compliance from allergens, ready-to-eat status, to considering upcoming banned ingredients and reformulations. Lastly, you will take away a stronger understanding of actions your company should take now and those that can help to improve your current programs to achieve regulatory compliance and meeting customer expectations. 

REGISTER HERE FOR THE WEBINAR

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

For inquiries, contact:

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

Once seen as too vast to harm, the ocean is now being considered as too broken to fix. The lack of direct action and investment to protect and restore it risks its future.

The ocean generates our oxygen, regulates our climate and produces our food. However, the imbalance between what it gives and what we take is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

Around half of the oxygen produced on Earth today comes from the ocean.¹ It is not only the planet’s lungs, but also its biggest carbon sink, absorbing 25% of CO₂ emissions and 90% of excess heat generated by these emissions.² The ocean also provides nearly 20% of the world’s per capita animal protein.³

Pressures on the ocean, including plastic waste, acidification, tourism, pollution from shipping, and overfishing are all increasing. Two million tons of plastic are estimated to enter the ocean every year, while overfishing has increased to nearly 40% from 10% in the last half a century.⁴

On June 8^th each year, the world comes together to celebrate and reflect on the ocean. This year, the theme of World Oceans Day⁵ is “Wonder” and asks us to consider how wondrous the ocean is, and how we can better sustain what sustains us. If the ocean is more carefully protected and managed, it will recover.

Business can play a critical role in the race to restore harmony between humans and nature, including the ocean. Nature related investment finance is estimated to be between US$154-166 billion per year, but this still primarily consists of public funds.⁶

Business nature-positive strategies can help unlock finance, subsidies, and investment to support wider conservation and restore ocean ecosystems. Recent research shows that the investment benefits of ocean protection schemes, more sustainable shipping and other ocean dependent industries can be five times higher than the costs involved.⁷

By positioning nature at the heart of what they do through location-specific and cost-benefit analyses, organizations can introduce a bluer dimension to their business operations and help secure the ocean’s future.

High stakes of ocean decline

Lives and economies depend on the ocean; the value they bring is considerable. In 2025, the global ocean economy is estimated to be US$ 24 trillion with annual benefits of US$ 2.5 trillion. The ocean and the coastal areas around them directly support over 3 billion jobs.⁸

Many ocean-dependent industries are increasingly under threat. Overfishing is leading to ecosystem and economic collapse for the fisheries sector. A third of fishing grounds (38%) are now overfished at unsustainable levels, while the share of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels has declined to over 60 percent.⁹

Coral reefs are also in severe decline. An estimated 75% are impacted by industries such as fishing and tourism as well as warming sea temperatures.¹⁰ These ecosystems are worth US$ 375 billion per year to the global economy, from industries and services including fishing, food, pharmaceuticals and tourism.¹¹

Perhaps the biggest danger to the ocean is climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions are severely damaging blue ecosystems¹², warming and acidifying seawater. As the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide weakens, so has its ability to help protect the Earth from changes in temperatures and weather systems.

Unlocking opportunities in ocean sectors

While many organizations today have relatively mature sustainability and climate strategies, most have a stronger emphasis on terrestrial or “green” solutions, including forestry and land-based ecosystem restoration. ¹⁴ It means that investment in blue ecosystems is underrepresented, despite the critical role they have in climate mitigation and their importance to the global economy.

They are missing out on a vast investment opportunity. The “Blue Economy” offers inclusive economic growth and better livelihoods through ocean-based investment and sustainable projects. Research by the World Economic Forum shows that the value of the business opportunities offered by nature and the ocean could be as high as US$10 trillion, creating 395 million jobs by 2030.¹⁵

The global ocean economy doubled in real terms in 25 years, reaching a total value of $2.6 trillion. Tourism and offshore oil and gas extraction are the primary industries that have contributed to this total growth, while many new ocean sectors are also developing.¹⁶ These include marine technologies (e.g. marine biotechnology) and manufacturing (e.g. offshore wind and electrical equipment). These emerging sectors currently face relatively little competition.

• The marine biotechnology sector is experiencing rapid growth; its market value is expected to increase from nearly US$7 billion in 2024 to over US$11 billion by 2032. It spans diverse industries, including food, medicines, cosmetics and nutraceuticals.¹⁷ A driver of innovation, ocean projects such as the EU’s NOMORFILM initiative is already patenting antibiotic compounds from over 500 microalgae species.¹⁸
• Aquaculture is another ocean sector with huge potential. The global sale value of aquatic animals is estimated at US$453 billion (US$157 billion from capture fisheries and US$296 billion from aquaculture).¹⁹ As global demand for nutrient-rich, high-protein food grows (including shrimp, oysters, carp, tilapia, anchovies, and pollock), the aquaculture market is expanding rapidly but remains underinvested in many areas, notably in many African countries where food remains scarce.²⁰
• Offshore and coastal renewable energy is also growing fast. Offshore wind alone could remove up to 4.5 Gt of CO₂ emissions annually by 2050 and deliver net financial benefits of up to US$6.8 trillion. It has the potential to create more jobs than are being lost in the oil and gas industry. Despite this, there is a high funding gap (over US$1 trillion per year) in renewable energy and the need for increased investment in ocean-based renewables such as wave, tidal, offshore wind, and floating solar is now urgent.²¹

Meanwhile, traditional ocean industries, including fishing and shipping, are finding ways to become more sustainable and are transforming, with opportunities available to support them in reducing their carbon footprint.

• Going forward, the global shipping industry will operate under a new framework, approved by the International Maritime Organization. It is phasing in stricter standards for marine fuels and introducing a pollution pricing system, whereby high-emitting ships will pay for their greenhouse gas emissions.²²

As the ocean sector grows in volume and scale, the financial feasibility and attractiveness of nature investments is likely to increase with greater economic returns. By protecting nature, sectors will also be reducing some of the risk associated with investing in ocean dependent industries such as fishing and tourism.

Taking the lead in ocean protection and recovery

Supporting nature can sometimes feel isolating and overwhelming. The power of people coming together on World Ocean Day is an important reminder of why we do what we do.

By focusing on nature-led investments and following nature and ocean positive pathways, businesses can protect the ecosystem services they depend on, halting and reversing the impact of biodiversity loss. This is more than just compliance; it involves prioritizing a nature-centric business strategy.

The blue economy remains an untapped opportunity for organizations to progress climate and nature-positive plans. They can take the lead through targeted investments which integrate ocean-related projects into their business and climate plans. These can then be a tool for carbon offsetting and more nature positive outcomes.

Building awareness is important. Organizations need to leverage education, support research and tell their stories – spotlighting their investments and their role in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. They can also collaborate through global initiatives, such as Oceana;²³ the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance,²⁴ and the Blue Marine Foundation.²⁵

Partnerships to protect the ocean will be the focus of the June 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France.²⁶ Taking place just after World Ocean Day, this critical conference hopes to accelerate action and mobilize stakeholders in support of SDG 14, to conserve and protect the ocean.²⁷ The conference will adopt a “Nice Ocean Action Plan” and support initiatives to also support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 3, protect 30% of terrestrial, inland, water, and coastal and marine areas.²⁸

Finding compelling ways to communicate the message about the dangers to the ocean is crucial to building a future that values and protects it. A powerful new film “Ocean” narrated by Sir David Attenborough and released ahead of World Oceans Day, does just that. Talking about the film, he says “I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea”.²⁹

The message is clear; the ocean cannot wait, and neither can we. By empowering businesses to invest in and therefore safeguard what sustains us, World Ocean Day 2025 is already a success.

How KPMG can help

KPMG firms have experience in supporting organizations to establish their blue economy strategy. KPMG professionals can help organizations integrate blue economy considerations within their corporate and climate strategies.

We help organizations to identify and access funding for blue economy related investments and projects, aligning and reporting against the evolving measures from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), supporting and developing energy transition to integrate blue energy sources and protect and promote the social aspects of the blue economy.

Our coastal and marine service offering provides experience in climate scenario planning and assessment with more focus on the management of water assets and infrastructure. This includes more support with the planning and collection, tracking, and interpretation of water use using propriety data analytics.

Click here to view this article on kpmg.com

Footnotes

1. National Ocean Service: How much oxygen comes from the ocean?
2. United Nations: The ocean – the world’s greatest ally against climate change
3. American Geophysical Union “Farming the Sea: The Only Way to Meet Humanity’s Future Food Needs,” 21st August 2019 https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2019GH000204
4. United Nations Trade and Development “Fast-growing trillion-dollar ocean economy goes beyond fishing and shipping”, March 5, 2025. –https://unctad.org/news/fast-growing-trillion-dollar-ocean-economy-goes-beyond-fishing-and-shipping
5. United Nations World Oceans Day 2025
6. KPMG Finance adapted from UNEP “State of Finance for Nature” 2022 – https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2023/12/investment-in-nature.pdf
7. High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy “A Sustainable Ocean Economy for 2050: Approximating Its Benefits and Costs”, May 2022 – https://oceanpanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ocean-Panel_Economic-Analysis_FINAL.pdf
8. World Wildlife Fund website – Blue Finance
9. Food and Agriculture Organization “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture”, 2024 – https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/06690fd0-d133-424c-9673-1849e414543d
10. Science on a Sphere – Coral Reef Risk Outlook
11. United Nations “Coral reefs: We continue to take more than we give”, 14th February 2018 – https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/coral-reefs-we-continue-take-more-we-give
12. These ecosystems include seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, tidal marshes, and seaweed beds
13. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has sector-specific guidance for several ocean industries (e.g., fisheries, aquaculture, marine transportation, etc.). Each highlight sector-specific impacts, risks, and opportunities.
14. Future Business “How Many Businesses are Investing in Sustainability? 27th April 2023 –https://future-business.org/businesses-investing-in-sustainability/
15. World Economic Forum “New Nature Economy – Report 2: The Future of Nature and Business”, 2020 – https://www.wbcsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/World-Economic-Forums-WEF-second-report-of-the-New-Nature-Economy-Report-Business-Summary.pdf
16. OECD “The Ocean Economy to 2050”, 31st March 2025 – https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/03/the-ocean-economy-to-2050_e3f6a132.html
17. SkyQuest “Marine Biotechnology; Market Size, Share and Market Growth Analysis,” February 2025 – https://www.skyquestt.com/report/marine-biotechnology-market
18. European Commission webpage: Oceans inspire new antibiotics to tackle resistance
19. The United Nations “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024”, 2024 ( The UN defines capture fisheries as “the removal of aquatic organisms from natural or enhanced inland waters, or marine environments” and aquaculture as the “farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants”. – https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/06690fd0-d133-424c-9673-1849e414543d
20. The United Nations “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024”, 2024 – https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/06690fd0-d133-424c-9673-1849e414543d
21. Standard Chartered Bank “Towards a sustainable ocean: where there’s a will, there’s a wave,” 2024 – https://www.sc.com/en/campaigns/blue-economy/
22. International Maritime Organization “IMO approves net-zero regulations for global shipping,” 11th April 2025 – https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/pages/IMO-approves-netzero-regulations.aspx
23. Oceana
24. Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance
25. The Blue Marine Foundation
26. United Nations Ocean Conference, 2025 – https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025/about-unoc-2025
27. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 focuses on protecting the Ocean
28. Greenpeace “Governments to meet at UN to discuss first ever “Ocean COP””, 24th June 2024 – https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/governments-to-meet-at-un-to-discuss-first-ever-ocean-cop/
29. BBC “Attenborough at 99 delivers ‘greatest message he’s ever told’”, 6th May 2025 – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0wjxg0ex1o

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 11, 2025 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA is proud to announce that its service, Global Climate Risk Assessments, has been awarded the Grand Prize at the Antea Group Global Innovation Challenge 2025. This international competition, which culminated in an exciting final event in Amsterdam on May 23, celebrates and recognizes the most impactful and forward-thinking solutions developed across the global Antea Group network.

The winning team from Antea Group USA, comprised of Natalya Holm, Audrey Beattie, Celine Morris, Laurell Ahn, and Eileen Lo, developed the Global Climate Risk Assessments service to address the urgent need for public and private companies to quantify and disclose the potential financial impacts of climate-related risks on their organizations. This comprehensive service is designed to align with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework and emerging global regulations, helping clients navigate both current and future climate states.

“We are incredibly proud of the remarkable achievement of our team in winning the Global Innovation Challenge 2025,” said Brian Ricketts, CEO of Antea Group USA. “Their approach to Global Climate Risk Assessments exemplifies the forward-thinking mindset and dedication to addressing critical climate-related challenges for our clients. This service not only helps our clients meet complex regulatory demands but also provides them with actionable insights to build resilience and drive sustainable growth. It truly sets a shining example of innovation, teamwork, and excellence.”

The Global Climate Risk Assessments service offers a structured, five-step approach:

1. Geographic Climate Risk Screening: A global assessment of current-day climate-related physical and transition risks and opportunities.
2. Scenario Analysis: Evaluation of how identified climate-related risks are expected to develop under various future climate scenarios.
3. Financial Risk Modeling: Quantifying potential financial impacts based on client risks and business operation metrics.
4. Risk Mitigation & Strategic Opportunities: Identification of measures and opportunities to abate business impacts.
5. TCFD-aligned Disclosure: Disclosure of methods and results supporting compliance with various regulations leveraging the TCFD framework.

“Winning this award is a tremendous honor,” says Natalya Holm. “We hope this service empowers businesses to confidently move forward in their sustainability journeys, providing them with the clear data and strategic insights needed to understand, manage, and disclose their climate-related financial risks effectively.”

The victory of Global Climate Risk Assessments underscores Antea Group’s dedication to leading the industry with innovative solutions that provide tangible value to clients facing evolving environmental and regulatory landscapes. This achievement reinforces the company’s position as a forward-thinking partner in sustainability and environmental consulting.

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 at us.anteagroup.com.

Contact:
Alison Bryant
Marketing Director
alison.bryant@anteagroup.us
us.anteagroup.com

From the Spring 2025 Bioneers Conference – In this insight keynote presentation, biomimicry icon Janine Benyus helps us imagine a city that functions like a forest – storing the same amount of water, cleaning and cooling as well as the same amount of air, cycling of nutrients and the nurturing of biodiversity. She also shares inspiring news about Biomimicry 3.8’s Project Positive initiatives that reveal that this regenerative vision is indeed achievable and within our reach, if we are able to quiet our human cleverness sufficiently to be able to ask: What would Nature do here?

We encourage you to learn more about her work at Biomimicry 3.8 – it begins by watching her video here – https://greenmoney.com/janine-benyus-on-becoming-a-welcome-species-biomimicry-and-the-art-of-generous-design

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CLEVELAND, June 11, 2025 /3BL/ – For the twelfth time, KeyBank (NYSE:KEY) has been recognized by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America in 2025. The recognition is based on The Civic 50 survey that is administered by True Impact and consists of quantitative and qualitative questions.

The honorees are selected based on four dimensions of their community engagement and social impact programs: investment of resources, integration across business functions, institutionalization through policies and systems and impact measurement.

Key is one of only a small number of companies that have consistently achieved such high marks throughout the program’s 13-year history.’

Additionally, Key has also been recognized as this year’s Financials Sector Leader. This is the eighth year KeyBank has received this recognition.

“We are grateful to receive the Points of Light recognition which honors our long-held purpose of helping our clients, our colleagues, and our communities thrive,” said Eric Fiala, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for KeyBank and CEO of the KeyBank Foundation. “KeyBank has invested more than $50 billion in our communities since 2017 through affordable housing, small business and home lending, and transformative philanthropy. As we celebrate our bicentennial, we are excited to continue making investments that support the growth, revitalization, and sustainability of all of the communities we so proudly serve.”

The Civic 50 is an initiative of Points of Light that recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States. The Civic 50 survey is based on Points of Light’s Corporate Civic Engagement Framework that creates a roadmap for companies committed to using their time, talent, and resources to drive social impact in their business and communities.

ABOUT KEYCORP
In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

ABOUT KEYBANK FOUNDATION 
KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that supports organizations and initiatives aimed at improving financial wellness, education, and community development. Through strategic philanthropy, KeyBank Foundation works to create thriving communities and drive meaningful, lasting change.

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June 11, 2025 /3BL/ – The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) is thrilled to announce the publication of its inaugural Impact Report for 2024. This groundbreaking report highlights HPRC’s dedicated efforts to promote sustainable recycling solutions for healthcare plastics, showcasing the council’s achievements, challenges, and the collaborative spirit propelling its mission.

Founded 15 years ago, HPRC has been at the forefront of addressing the unique recycling challenges presented by healthcare plastics. As the healthcare industry continues to grapple with its substantial environmental footprint, HPRC’s role has never been more crucial. With the healthcare sector responsible for 4.4% of global emissions, and the US contributing 27% of that footprint, HPRC’s work aligns with global priorities and sustainable development goals.

“Heightened public awareness, consumer pressures, and climate challenges are driving significant investment in sorting and recycling technologies, circularity, and sustainability,” shared Executive Director Peylina Chu. “This convergence of forces, coupled with HPRC’s foundational work, growing membership, and strategic partnerships, positions us to make an even greater impact in the years to come.”

The Impact Report 2024 delves into several critical areas of HPRC’s work, including:

• Understanding the Challenge: The widespread use of single-use plastics in healthcare and its environmental consequences.
• Aligning with Global Priorities: HPRC’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future.
• Flagship Work: Building a foundation for change through innovative projects and multi-stakeholder collaborations.
• Current Work: Progress and challenges in healthcare plastics recycling, with detailed case studies and project outcomes.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The importance of collaboration in driving meaningful change within the healthcare plastics recycling space.

The report also features inspiring case studies, such as the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s zero-waste initiative and the Chicago Regional Recycling Project, which highlight the practical applications and successes of HPRC’s efforts.

HPRC invites stakeholders across the healthcare, manufacturing, and recycling sectors to explore the 2024 Impact Report and join in building a sustainable future for healthcare plastics.

Download the full report here.

About HPRC 

HPRC is a private technical coalition of industry peers across healthcare, recycling, and waste management industries seeking to improve the recyclability of plastic products within healthcare. Made up of more than 30 brand-leading and globally recognized members collectively representing greater than $1.3 trillion in market value, HPRC explores ways to enhance the economics, efficiency, and ultimately the quality and quantity of healthcare plastics collected for recycling in support of a circular plastics economy. HPRC is active across the United States and Europe working with key stakeholders, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and participating in industry events and forums. For more information, visit www.hprc.org and follow HPRC on LinkedIn.

Originally published by CMSWire

One team. One mission. One customer segment. Aflac’s hotline for newly diagnosed cancer patients proves that going deeper is the key to meaningful support.

The Gist

• Customer focus matters. Identifying one specific customer segment to serve deeply can create greater impact and align with your core values.
• Frontline insights vital. Employees who engage directly with customers offer critical perspectives on unique needs and ways to improve support.
• Specialized care counts. Training the right employees to provide tailored support builds stronger relationships and improves the overall experience.

Customer experience is never one-size-fits-all. That is especially true for customers who require specialized support or solutions tailored to their specific needs. They may have unique challenges or require a deeper level of care compared to your typical customer.

A couple years ago, my organization introduced what we now call the Aflac Cancer Care Hotline, a dedicated customer service line for policyholders who contact us with a first-time cancer diagnosis. This service gives policyholders the option to connect with a customer care specialist specifically trained to respond to calls with individuals facing cancer for the first time.

Since its inception, our team has responded with care and compassion to nearly 150,000 calls from policyholders navigating the physical, emotional and financial impacts of cancer.

Based on our learnings from creating the hotline, here’s how to identify customers within your organization who require additional support and how to build out the infrastructure to serve their needs.

Start By Prioritizing One Customer Segment

As with any business decision, offering specialized support to certain customers must be aligned with your values. Leaders can start by asking themselves, “What is the experience we’ve committed to providing to our customers, and how can we build on it and do it better?”

After completing this exercise, you may identify more than one type of customer that needs extra support, and prioritization may be necessary. Rather than try to address all these customers at once, pick one segment to focus on first, and then apply your learnings to others. You want to start where you can create the biggest impact, and it is up to each organization to define what impact means to them.

Providing this additional support may not affect the speed at which you’re able to serve customers or the number of calls you’re able to field within a given time frame, so the impact may be measured instead by the long-term emotional effects of meeting these customers’ particular needs.

At my organization, the decision to focus specifically on policyholders who have been diagnosed with cancer was an easy one. Cancer insurance is one of the first products we introduced, two years after our company’s founding. Our culture centers around being there for our customers during their times of need, and few events are as disruptive as a cancer diagnosis from a physical, emotional and financial standpoint.

Gather Insights From Frontline Employees

Employees who are on the front lines and who speak with customers daily are the ones who are the most aware of customers’ challenges and ways to reduce friction. Once you have made a decision to focus on a specific customer segment, frontline employees are an important resource to brainstorm and pressure-test ideas. They can also help identify those customers who need additional support.

The Aflac Cancer Care Hotline was born out of a brainstorming session with our call center specialists, who identified a key insight. A cancer diagnosis is challenging in many ways, but understanding and using your insurance benefits should not be one of those challenges. These employees, who have more direct interactions with current and prospective customers than anyone else, recognized that our policyholders with cancer require specialized support.

Concentrate on Your Strongest Areas

By now, you have identified a specific type of customer to focus on, and you have identified their pain points with the help of the employees who work with them directly. But here’s the thing. Your organization probably cannot solve everything. Instead, look at where you are uniquely qualified to help, and lean into that.

Sadly, my organization cannot change a policyholder’s cancer diagnosis. We can’t even influence the outcome of their treatment. But what we can do is provide a level of specialized compassion and expertise as we help these policyholders navigate our claims process. What we can do is make sure that every time a policyholder with cancer calls us, they speak with a human being who understands what they are going through and helps them get the most out of their insurance policies. This focus area makes sense because it aligns with our overall value proposition to provide financial assistance to our policyholders so they can focus more on treatment and recovery.

Train Employees for Specialized Roles

Working with a niche group of customers requires specific skills, knowledge and training. This includes developing a deep understanding of their unique challenges and needs, as well as expertise on how your organization’s products or services will benefit them. For this reason, the employees who are best suited to work with these customers are probably ones who have been with your organization for some time.

Once these employees have been specifically trained for their new role, it’s important to follow up with continuous microlearnings that reinforce key values and help them keep up with customers’ changing circumstances and needs.

For the Aflac Cancer Care Hotline, we asked for volunteers among our senior customer experience specialists. While this was not a prerequisite, many of these volunteers have been personally affected by cancer in some way and were already deeply empathetic toward our policyholders. Our original plan was to rotate these employees to a different customer experience team every 30 days, since we did not want them to burn out. But when the time came, no one wanted to leave the cancer care team. They knew they were making a difference, and they were proud of the work they were doing.

Key Elements of Specialized Customer Support Programs

This table outlines strategic components organizations can use to build tailored support experiences for niche customer segments.

Component	Description	Purpose
Prioritize one customer segment	Focus efforts on a single group with unique needs, aligned with your company’s values and mission.	Creates meaningful impact and helps refine the model before scaling.
Leverage frontline insights	Engage employees who interact directly with customers to identify pain points and propose solutions.	Ensures the initiative is grounded in real-world customer experiences.
Build on organizational strengths	Concentrate resources where your team can deliver the most value and consistency.	Aligns efforts with core competencies and brand promise.
Train employees for niche support	Select and educate staff members who are well-suited to handle sensitive or complex needs.	Fosters empathy, builds expertise, and prevents burnout.
Share insights across departments	Encourage collaboration and knowledge transfer between frontline teams and other departments.	Improves organization-wide CX strategy and promotes innovation.

Share Knowledge Across Departments

The people who work closely with these customers become the experts. It’s important to listen to them, give them autonomy to do their jobs effectively and share their key learnings with others. Developing a process to share these learnings with your organization’s sales, research and development, and marketing teams will help you continuously improve the support and services you provide to all customers.

If something works well, build on it. The employees who manage our Cancer Care Hotline hold a weekly meeting to talk about the calls they fielded and any challenges that arose. During one of these meetings, they came up with the idea of sending care packages to some of these policyholders as another way of showing our support. Our entire organization has benefited from their extensive knowledge of our cancer insurance plans and their deep empathy toward our customers.

If providing a best-in-class customer experience is one of your core business values, offering specialized support to customers who need it helps you consistently deliver on that promise. By identifying the right customers to focus on, working closely with those who know them best, equipping frontline employees with training and resources, consistently improving processes and building on successes, every organization can build the infrastructure required to effectively serve niche customers.

Creating this type of program requires time and investment, but, done correctly, it builds goodwill with customers, differentiates your organization from competitors and serves as a powerful way to demonstrate your values in action to employees.

At DP World, sustainability is not a “nice to have” initiative – it is foundational to how we build trade infrastructure, operate globally, and deliver impact locally. As the effects of climate change intensify, our responsibility is twofold: to reduce emissions across operations and to build resilience in the communities and ecosystems we serve.

From South America to the Horn of Africa, DP World is not just reducing emissions – we’re rewriting what climate leadership looks like for global corporations.

Setting the Course: DP World’s Net-Zero Roadmap

To tackle the climate crisis with ambition and accountability, DP World committed to a clearly defined and science-based decarbonization pathway.

With 2022 established as our base year for tracking emissions, we set a 2030 target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% and Scope 3 emissions by 28%. By 2050, the goal is net-zero emissions across the full lifecycle of our end-to-end shipping and logistics services.

This will be achieved through equipment electrification and efficiency, digitalization of processes, renewable energy use, low-carbon fuel production, and carbon compensation to offset unavoidable footprints.

Turning Strategy into Impact: DP World’s Track Record of Results

These environmental goals are built on a long history of sustainable operations in communities and regions across the world. Through partnerships spanning the nonprofit, government, and private sector, we have delivered results, including:

• Southampton’s Diesel-Free Milestone: DP World’s terminal in Southampton became the first in the UK to eliminate diesel use, switching entirely to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. This slashed emissions from terminal operations by over 80%.
• Reforesting Coastal Ecuador: In Posorja, Ecuador, over 200,000 mangrove trees were planted in partnership with CALISUR. This restoration project is expected to capture three million tons of carbon – the equivalent of offsetting the emissions from 950 wind turbines running for a full year.
• Renewable Energy in Chile: DP World in Chile became the first port operator in South America certified for 100% renewable electricity, sourced from hydro-electric plants.
• Solar Power in Somaliland: Through a partnership with Berbera Electric Company, DP World’s port in Berbera is now powered by an 8MW solar facility. This innovation is not only reducing Scope 1 & 2 emissions, it is also unlocking Berbera’s potential as a major sustainable trade hub.
• WASH Infrastructure in India: In India, DP World is addressing the water crisis by improving access to clean water and sanitation across five villages and schools, reaching over 15,000 people. This effort connects our climate and equity agenda at the grassroots level.

Leading Trade Toward a Sustainable Future

As the climate crisis escalates, DP World is stepping forward with solutions that are bold, inclusive, and scalable. Our approach delivers tangible climate benefits while positioning trade as a force for sustainability and resilience.

The road to net zero isn’t linear. But with the right partnerships, the right policies, and a deep sense of purpose – DP World is reshaping the global energy system from our position at the world’s trade gateways.