Tag: 3BL

IWBI Signature Interview Series: Q&A with the global bank’s Head of Real Estate on how its holistic approach integrates people-first strategies into its real estate roadmap

Multinational companies are uniquely positioned to advance and scale health and well-being across their global footprint. One standout example is Standard Chartered, which is leading by example through its widescale adoption of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) by way of WELL Certifications, as well as WELL ratings. The Bank is bringing health-focused strategies to its buildings and business practices to support both colleagues and clients around the world. With more than 800 locations across 53 markets totaling 8.5 million square feet of occupied space, Standard Chartered serves as a model for people-first workplaces, no matter where employees are based.

To date, Standard Chartered has achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating across 158 global locations and the WELL Equity Rating for nine offices spanning Mumbai, Singapore, Lusaka, Hanoi, Taiwan, Dubai, and Warsaw. This leading global financial institution continues to break new grounds in advancing health and well-being, as demonstrated by its recent achievement of the first-ever WELL Equity Rating in Africa for its head office in Lusaka, Zambia, as well as earning the first WELL Certified designation in Vietnam for its Capitol Tower in Hanoi. These accolades reinforce the bank’s strong track record of leadership in well-being.

By applying WELL’s people-first strategies across its organisation via the WELL at scale pathway, Standard Chartered is deploying science-backed global well-being strategies and solutions across the organisation and its workplaces. Through evidence-based design and operational protocols and management policies in WELL, the bank is able to support both physical and mental health of its stakeholders. The WELL at scale approach also provides a framework for the bank to chart progress across some of its broader corporate strategies, particularly in social sustainability.

To bring the story to life, Jack Noonan, Senior Vice President at the International WELL Building Institute Asia Pacific, sits down and talks with Shelley Boland, Global Head of Corporate Real Estate & Services at Standard Chartered. In this conversation, Shelley shares how Standard Chartered is putting people at the centre of its global real estate strategy, and reflects on the milestones, insights and impact achieved along the way.

Q: What are the key factors that drove Standard Chartered to adopt the WELL at scale approach?

A: At Standard Chartered, our commitment to employee and client health, safety, and well-being is integral to our strategic focus on serving our global clients, who expect consistent, high standards wherever they engage with us. The WELL at scale approach has been an invaluable tool in helping us deliver people-first places across our portfolio. It ensures we consistently upkeep high-quality built environments. This is crucial for colleagues and clients who engage with us across multiple regions, knowing that their health and well-being are always prioritised.

Second, WELL at scale aligns with our broader workplace investment strategy, which includes a $1.5 billion commitment to supporting the Bank’s wealth management strategy over five years. Part of this investment focuses on creating indoor environments that support both client experience and colleague well-being, enhancing productivity and helping us reach our growth goals in this segment.

Finally, our WELL journey is fully aligned with our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives. Investing in health and well-being not only enhances our employee satisfaction and performance, it also strengthens our ESG outcomes. Engaging WELL at scale reinforces our commitment to excellence and helps us deliver on the expectations of our clients while standing out in competitive markets through the validation by the globally recognised WELL Standard.

Q: While implementing the WELL strategies across the enterprise, what worked best to help achieve your goals?

A: Supporting talent attraction and retention is fundamental to our goal of sustainable high performance and building organizational resilience. Offering market-leading benefits, people-first policies, and aligning our workplace design and operations focusing on health promotion, ill health prevention rather than cure through the recommendations from the WELL framework have all been critical to our success.

I think clarity of purpose and how the program supports our real estate strategy is also important. We ensure our three major workplace partners – Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, and Turner & Townsend – feel as invested in this program as we are. We aim to build high performing workplaces, and we’ve found that strong leadership sponsorship, a clearly defined work plan with aligned teams, and celebrating our achievements along the way have all helped bring this vision to life.

Q: Are there lessons you learned that can help shape the future approach to well-being?

A: While we have made meaningful progress in creating workplaces that support the well-being of our colleagues at Standard Chartered, we recognise that there is still more we can do to improve employee experience and enable everyone to bring their best self to work.

The WELL Building Standard encompasses various concepts – Air, Water, Nourishment, Movement, Light, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community – to create holistic environments, and we aim to bring as many of the features as possible into our own design and operational policies.

For example, we conduct annual indoor air quality testing across our premises. Building on this, we are now exploring the use of air quality sensors in select offices to enable daily monitoring of key parameters. Studies show that indoor air quality directly impacts workplace productivity. In particular, one study looked at how creative thinking changes with different indoor environmental conditions. It showed that for every 100-ppm increase in CO2, the participants showed 3 – 11% decrease in the creativity involved for office tasks. This is just one example showing that maintaining high indoor air quality is crucial to supporting employee performance.

Another area of focus is promoting mental well-being in line with the WELL Mind concept. We collaborate with our HR partners and have recently launched an enhanced Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) called Unmind. The programme is focused on prevention as well as cure. It offers free and confidential support, enabling employees to connect virtually with a coach, counsellor or psychotherapist of choice. It also includes a 24/7 helpline providing immediate access to mental health, legal or financial support and a range of resources to help line managers support their teams.

We believe that employee experience is shaped by their relationship with line managers. Therefore, we introduced Unmind Manager, which provides resources to help managers handle difficult conversations, support their teams through changes, and build mental health literacy.

Looking ahead, neurodiversity is an area where we want to improve. Flexible working has numerous benefits but can also present challenges for neurodivergent team members if workplaces are not designed to accommodate sensory sensitivities. Here, even small improvements, such as better signage and wayfinding, or providing enough space for quiet work, and ways for colleagues to personalise their sensory preferences, can make a big difference for those with neurodivergent needs.

Q: Can you cite some local stories which speak to regional characteristics and innovative steps your team took to achieve certain WELL strategies?

A: Our recent Gold level WELL Certification for our Capitol Head Office in Hanoi, Vietnam is a great example. Achieving the first WELL Certification in the country shows our commitment to fostering positive environments where employees feel supported and energized.

As the first of its kind in the country, our project in Hanoi required a multi-disciplinary collaboration between our landlord, project management, design, and HR teams, setting a new benchmark for healthy, sustainable workplaces in Vietnam. Some of the key features of this groundbreaking certification include:

• Advanced indoor air quality management through real-time monitoring systems to promote optimal health outcomes for occupants, something we are now considering for other locations as well;
• Comprehensive water quality systems that provide purified water to encourage hydration;
• Human-centric design integrating natural elements such as generous daylight exposure across the office from large windows and open floor plans and indoor garden areas with soft natural lighting to promote employee well-being, satisfaction, and productivity.
• Biophilic designs that thoughtfully connect occupants with nature.

To catch up on new WELL ratings, certifications, and renewals, we appointed a WELL at scale Lead through our recent partnership with Cushman and Wakefield. The goal was to drive efficiency, improve cooperation, and enable our teams to focus on activities that deliver value to our colleague and clients.

Q: How do your employees and top leadership respond to the people-first approach you took by leveraging WELL, and what can we expect from Standard Chartered moving forward?

A: Our people-centered goals are a key enabler of the Bank’s performance and employee well-being. We are confident that our efforts are perceived positively. We recently included our achievements in our annual Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Impact Report 2024. The report underscores our commitment to building a culture of inclusion as a key enabler for how we execute our business strategy, which is to connect our cross-border and affluent clients to a network offering unique access to sustainable growth opportunities and returns across the markets in which we operate.

Since 2018, our internal Annual Employee Engagement survey has demonstrated a +5.14 ppt overall increase in our inclusion index (currently 82.08 per cent), with notable improvement of +3 ppt ability to choose a reasonable balance between personal and work life (currently 78.0 per cent).

We have a unique role to play as a sustainability steward in corporate real estate. This year, our goal is to expand our WELL Equity Rating to another 11 main buildings, bringing the total to 20, encompassing approximately 50% of our colleagues.

We also aim to have our new Marina offices in Chennai, India, WELL and LEED certified at the Platinum level – a first across our footprint and a bold statement about sustainable banking infrastructure in 2025 and beyond. At Marina, we’re integrating systems that not only minimise energy use but also optimise it in real-time. Our building will adapt its lighting and cooling based on actual usage patterns. We’re also harvesting rainwater, maximising natural light, and creating green spaces that double as carbon sinks and wellness zones.

Our WELL journey over the years reflects our commitment to building a brand that prioritizes sustainability and well-being. As we look ahead, we remain committed to scaling the impact of WELL across our global portfolio — fostering healthier environments, supporting our people, and advancing our role as a purpose-driven organization.

View original content here.

Covia is at the forefront of developing innovative mineral solutions that enhance the performance and sustainability of everyday products. Through dedicated research in polymer science, the company is pioneering advancements in mineral fillers that are revolutionizing how manufacturers approach plastic production across numerous industries.

Transforming Plastic Products and Processes Through Advanced Additives

At the heart of Covia’s innovation is the application of mineral science to polymer technology. The company’s research focuses on developing mineral-filled products that increase the service life of plastics while making them more sustainable.

One notable example is HIFILL® N, a functional mineral for plastics and elastomers. HIFILL is made with nepheline syenite, a naturally occurring mineral that is particularly interesting for plastic polymers like PVC. HIFILL’s refractive index allows for translucency and improved color stability, while also improving UV and scratch and mar resistance. These qualities make it appealing for applications like the PVC wear layer for luxury vinyl tiling.

While PVC products are one example, Covia’s work to spearhead advancements in mineral products affects a variety of everyday applications. These products include window frames, house siding, and pipes – items that are integral to daily life but whose materials could benefit from better, more efficient mineral additives.

Nepheline Syenite: A Key Mineral for Improved Additives

Minerals are at the core of Covia’s polymer solutions, and nepheline syenite plays a central role in improving applications through innovative additives. Nepheline syenite is a silica-deficient functional filler that boasts unique properties that set it apart from more conventional fillers, such as:

• Added physical properties, such as improved rigidity, durability, transparency, antiblocking characteristics.
• Quicker fusion times allowing processors to run lines faster and improve productivity.
• Chemically inert, allowing for synergy with other additives that allow for better processability and optimal formulation designs.

These benefits allow nepheline syenite to help both Covia’s customers and the people who use their products. Companies can improve products and streamline production, while the end users who invest in their products can address key areas of opportunity.

Our scientists’ work with nepheline syenite has done more than just enhance Covia’s mineral products – it’s also provided an excellent platform to showcase Covia’s capabilities. Recently, Covia presented research at ANTEC® 2025, the Society of Plastics Engineers’ Annual Technical Conference, highlighting the advantages of nepheline syenite during a session on polymer modifiers and additives.

Building the Future at Covia’s Innovation Center

Covia’s work with nepheline syenite and other mineral additives has already made an impact for PVC and polyethylene products. Now the organization is dedicating even more resources to help research new and improved additive solutions for polypropylene, nylon, PET, and other materials, and has the potential to inspire other talented professionals to join Covia.

The addition of Covia’s upcoming Innovation Center in Concord, North Carolina plays a notable role in the organization’s expanding mineral solutions for different materials. The new space will include significant laboratory space and new equipment that will help Team Members provide solutions for a wide range of applications.

Another key aspect of Covia’s success is the close collaboration between R&D and sales teams. This partnership enables the company to identify new applications for their mineral products and educate customers about these opportunities. Polymer scientists work with sales and marketing to develop newer products and collaborate with external agencies to test products and evaluate how they improve processes and performance.

Looking Forward: Mineral Filler Solutions for Tomorrow

Through continued research and the upcoming Innovation Center, Covia is positioning itself to lead the next generation of mineral-enhanced polymer applications. Covia continues to advance the science of mineral fillers in polymers, working toward solutions that make everyday products stronger, more durable, and more sustainable, from the grocery bags we carry to the windows and pipes in our homes.

Albertsons Companies partnered with Beast Philanthropy to create a high-energy, purpose-driven campaign that raised $300K for charitable causes.

With help from top creators and support from CPG leaders like Clif, ZOA Energy, Hellmann’s and more, Albertsons Cos. engaged millions of next-gen viewers while directly supporting nonprofits focused on health, family-building and hunger relief.

Watch the full story here.

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., May 1, 2025 /3BL/ – SCS Global Services, the world’s leading third-party certification body, has been accredited to provide verification services under the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Regulatory Module to support compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Currently, SCS is accredited to verify EUDR compliance for FSC Chain of Custody certification, with accreditation for Forest Management certification anticipated in the coming months.

The FSC Regulatory Module (FSC-STD-01-004) is a voluntary add-on standard that helps organizations holding or seeking FSC certification to meet the rigorous requirements of the EUDR. It complements existing FSC standards by specifying additional due diligence, risk assessment procedures using FSC’s Risk Assessment Framework, and enhanced supply chain transparency measures. Certificate holders both inside and outside the EU can benefit from adding this module to their certificate if their products are sold on the European market.

“SCS is proud to be among the first certification bodies accredited to deliver EUDR services through the FSC framework,” said Theodore Brauer, Managing Director, Forestry, SCS Global Services. “This milestone allows us to continue supporting our clients in meeting evolving global market requirements while advancing their sustainability goals.”

As part of the verification process, SCS will evaluate an organization’s conformity with the FSC Regulatory Module, beginning with a desk-based review before extending certification scope. Once the module is included in the certification scope, companies can make new regulatory FSC claims and pass these through their supply chains in accordance with the module’s requirements.

For more information, please visit our Resource Center to download our brochure detailing SCS’ EUDR services for the timber industry.

With a proven track record in sustainability certification and supply chain verification, SCS Global Services is committed to helping businesses navigate evolving regulatory landscapes like the EUDR. By offering accredited FSC Regulatory Module services, SCS empowers companies to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sourcing, enhance market access, and contribute to global efforts to halt deforestation.

Read More

About SCS Global Services

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

For more information about SCS, its programs and services, visit www.scsglobalservices.com

Media Contact

Madhumita Mohan

mmohan@scsglobalservices.com

Originally published on GoDaddy Newsroom

TEMPE, Ariz., May 1, 2025 /3BL/ — In honor of the humble domain name turning 40 this month, a new survey by GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) asked consumers to spill the tea on what they consider red and green flags when it comes to a business’s domain name. Although different generations had varying opinions, they all agreed on two things: size and spelling matter.

In the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey, an overwhelming majority (80%) of the 1,500 U.S. consumers polled in March said they avoided visiting or purchasing from a website because it had an oddly spelled domain name. This sentiment was stronger across younger generations, with 85% of Gen Z and 82% of Millennials reporting they passed up a business due to the spelling of its domain, compared to 76% of Gen X and Boomers.

Consumers (71%) expect businesses to maintain a dedicated website and domain and had a lot of thoughts about what makes for a good domain name.

Green flags: Short, easy to read domain names
Consumers appreciate when domains are short and sweet, with correctly spelled words that are easy to pronounce.

Qualities consumers said make a domain memorable:

• Full words spelled correctly – 43%
• A short domain of two words or less – 40%
• If the domain is easily pronounced – 38%
• Unique domain extensions (like .AI or .shop) – 23%
• A funny domain (rhyming or punny) – 19%

Red flags: Misspelled, mismatched or hyphenated domain names
Consumers are leery of domain names that have misspelled words or those that do not match the business’s name. In fact, 3 in 4 (74%) consumers are more comfortable when a domain name matches a brand name exactly.

Qualities consumers said make them NOT trust a domain:

• Misspelled words – 56%
• The domain doesn’t match the business’s name – 55%
• Hyphens in the domain name – 20%
• Numbers in the domain name – 20%
• Free domains (like sites.google.com, name.wixsites.com, godaddysites.com, etc.) – 20%

Yes, people still use their keyboard
In a world where click, tap and swipe are the norm, most consumers will still type in a business’s domain name if they want to shop at the business’s website.

• Half of consumers (50%) will regularly type in a business’s domain name if they want to shop on its website
• More than a quarter (27%) of consumers will type in a business’s domain only if they remember it
• Approximately 1 in 4 people (23%) never type in a business’s domain name and will get to the site through a search engine, emails, bookmarks or social media

“Businesses that don’t take time to choose the right domain name inadvertently put themselves three steps behind,” said Trip Briscoe, a domain name expert at GoDaddy. “It’s worth investing in a quality domain that is spelled correctly and exactly matches your business’s name. It’s the difference between a potential customer finding you effortlessly or getting lost in the vastness of the internet.”

Having experienced the internet for most—if not all—of their lives, younger generations seem to view domain names more critically.

Younger consumers’ shopping habits are more likely to be impacted by a company’s domain name. When asked if they have ever stopped shopping at a company online because of their website’s domain name:

• Gen Z – 39% said yes
• Millennials – 35% said yes
• Gen X and Boomers – 15% said yes

Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to find domains with a unique domain extension (like .AI or .shop) memorable compared to Gen X and Boomers.

• Gen Z – 34% said unique domain extensions are memorable
• Millennials – 30% said unique domain extensions are memorable
• Gen X and Boomers – 17% said unique domain extensions are memorable

Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to find funny (rhyming or punny) domains memorable compared to Gen X and Boomers.

• Gen Z – 25% said funny domains are memorable
• Millennials – 24% said funny domains are memorable
• Gen X and Boomers – 15% said funny domains are memorable

Gen Z and Millennials rely less on search engines, bookmarks, social media or emails to get to a website and instead type out the company’s domain name. When asked how often they type in a business’s domain name to go to their website:

• Gen Z – 16% said they don’t type in domains and click through to websites from other channels
• Millennials – 18% said they don’t type in domains and click through to websites
• Gen X and Boomers – 28% said they don’t type in domains and click through to websites

New businesses need to consider the importance of domain name availability when naming their company, and established brick-and-mortars need to take the same considerations when expanding online.

Businesses can search for a domain at GoDaddy.com. If the exact domain name a business owner wants isn’t available, they can attempt to acquire the domain on the domain name aftermarket — a secondary marketplace for domains where buyers purchase domain names that are already registered.

For those who want to start a small business but haven’t yet picked out a name, they can use GoDaddy Airo^® to suggest a host of creative, AI-generated ideas—and then secure a domain, create a logo, launch a website and more in minutes.

*GoDaddy Consumer Pulse is a series of surveys of consumers ages 18 and above conducted throughout the year.

About GoDaddy
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo^®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

SOURCE: GoDaddy Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 1, 2025 /3BL/ – Discovery Education today introduced a new collection of high-quality instructional materials supporting Mental Health Month. Established in 1949 by Mental Health America and observed each May, Mental Health Month educates about mental wellness. Discovery Education is the creator of essential K-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world.

The resources within Discovery Education Experience, the essential companion for engaged K-12 classrooms, include:

• Life Skills Channel: This collection helps students develop critical life skills in the classroom and beyond, including topics like resiliency, character, personal responsibility, and more.
• Biking and Mental Health Article Analysis: Middle school students will learn to identify the author’s purpose and evaluate how evidence is used to support the claim in a national news article from The Week Junior about the mental health benefits of cycling.
• Working with a Team: In this wellness activity, high school students will learn about the value of teamwork and collaboration.

Discovery Education also offers free resources in collaboration with select partners, including:

• Ready-to-Use Activities: Students can explore ready-to-use activities on topics such as substance misuse, medication safety, and mental health that are designed to empower them to make smart, healthy choices. With content for students in grades K-12, the activities in both English and Spanish feature educator guides, interactive content, lesson plans, videos, and more. The materials are from Dose of Knowledge: A Pharmacists Teach program, a resource developed by CVS Health in partnership with Discovery Education.
• Animated Topic Series: The animated video series offers students in grades 6-12 relevant lessons focused on body confidence and its role in self-esteem. Accompanying classroom activities, educator guides, and videos empower educators to plug and play the content into any lesson. These resources are from Amazing Me!, a program with the Dove Self-Esteem Project dedicated to fostering self-esteem and body confidence among students.

“Confidence and curiosity go hand-in-hand to support student wellness and success. It’s important to offer all students a wide array of resources to explore the topic of mental wellness,” said Lance Rougeux, Senior Vice President of Curriculum Instruction & Student Engagement at Discovery Education.

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

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

Contacts
Grace Maliska
Discovery Education
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

Published by Action Against Hunger.

New York, NY – May 1, 2025

Veronica Lalakal, Community Health Worker 

In one of Kenya’s most remote villages, Veronica Lalakal treks three hours nearly every day to reach families in need. The journey is not easy. Veronica travels over rivers without bridges and unpaved roads that are often obstructed. During the rainy season, the journey becomes far worse as flooding washes away all traces of paths. Still, Veronica is committed to visiting families in Oldonyiro, an area with some of the region’s worst rates of malnutrition. “Malnutrition runs rampant in Oldonyiro, and especially in the small village of Lebarsherik,” said Veronica.

Veronica is a Community Health Worker and one of Action Against Hunger’s many local heroes working in isolated areas that would otherwise not receive healthcare. Community Health Promoters are local volunteers who work with Action Against Hunger to educate their communities about nutrition and link them to the resources Action Against Hunger has to offer.

During one of Veronica’s door-to-door visits, she met a two-year-old named Enza. Veronica used a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) band during Enza’s check-up, a tool that helps caregivers and Community Health Promoters quickly and easily detect severe acute malnutrition in children. Based on the MUAC band’s results, Veronica suspected that Enza was suffering from malnutrition. She brought the toddler and her mother, Narikuni, to see the local health center for a full assessment.

Emily Lerosion, Nurse in Charge 

Emily Lerosion is the nurse in charge at the Lebarsherik Health Center, a facility supported by Action Against Hunger, and she works closely with Veronica to identify and treat malnourished children. Emily reports that the center treats several cases of severe acute malnutrition every week, providing holistic care that helps children return to full nutritional health. “Once we identify a child with malnutrition, we conduct tests to check for other health-related issues, such as anemia or malaria. We register them in our malnutrition register, enroll them in our outpatient therapeutic or supplementary feeding program, administer deworming medication, and collaborate with community health promoters to monitor their progress”, she says. “Children return for progress checks every two weeks.”

Emily confirmed that Enza was suffering from malnutrition and prescribed her ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF), a high-calorie, peanut butter-like medication that can help a child recover from malnutrition in only a few weeks. Soon enough, Enza was back to full nutritional health.

Winne Makena, Nutrition Volunteer 

Emily and Veronica work with Action Against Hunger nutrition volunteers like Winnie Makena, who holds another critical role in the community health system. Winnie leads nutrition counseling workshops for mothers across several villages in Oldonyiro. She trains mothers in the safest and most effective ways to feed their children. Without volunteers like Winnie who can work directly in hard-to-reach communities, many children would never be properly treated for malnutrition. Fighting malnutrition is a community effort and individuals like Veronica, Emily, and Winnie provide a crucial link between communities and Action Against Hunger’s nutritional interventions.

However, tackling hunger requires more than just short-term nutrition support; it is a complex and multi-layered issue not just caused by lack of food. Inequity, poverty, conflict, and lack of sanitation are just some of the major contributors to hunger. Action Against Hunger implements holistic, long-term strategies to address both the causes and consequences of hunger in all our programs.

Support Groups 

One of the methods for fighting hunger long-term in Kenya is creating support groups where peers can share experiences and learn from each other. After attending one of Winnie’s workshops, women are connected to a support group where they can continue developing their nutritional knowledge. “We have formed mother-to-mother support groups where mothers are trained on nutrition, specifically on which foods to use based on their nutritional value, and best practices to enhance their families’ health,” said Winnie.

Narikuni enrolled in one of Action Against Hunger’s women-to-women support groups. She started a kitchen garden at her home to grow vegetables like eggplants and spinach for a well-balanced diet that would help sustain Enza’s recovery from malnutrition. Action Against Hunger supported her with a water tank to store rainwater and installed a bio-sand water filtration system in the community to ensure clean water access. Now, Narikuni serves as secretary of her women-to-women support group.

Gerald Mwangi, Field Coordinator for the region, notes that Action Against Hunger is addressing a range of issues through support groups. “In Oldonyiro, Action Against Hunger has established over 60 mother-to-mother support groups, and through this integrated approach, we hope to support more households in breaking the cycle of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty,” he said. Many of these groups have evolved into Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which allow mothers to save money and access loans through table banking. The VSLAs are designed to enhance women’s economic agency, giving them financial decision-making power to improve their livelihoods.

“Action Against Hunger has truly transformed my life. I have learned a lot about nutrition and now I am able to give my children a better life. Through the Village Savings and Loan Association, I have been able to get money to buy a few goats that I keep as a source of livelihood”, Nakiruni says.

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

As businesses around the world face mounting water-related challenges, proactive water stewardship has become more essential than ever. In this a recent live Q&A entitled, “Bridging Waters: A Global Panel on Sustainable Water Management Practices,” Nadia Jebbour, Head of International Sustainability Services at Antea Group France; Janaina Silva, Water Engineer at Antea Group Brasil; and Natalya Holm, Climate Risk & Water Stewardship Service Line Lead at Antea Group USA, discuss global trends, site-level actions, consumer pressure, supply chain engagement, and collective action for meaningful impact.

To view the whole conversation for yourself, watch the on-demand webinar.

Watch On-Demand

Q: What are the main water-related challenges companies are currently facing? 

Nadia Jebbour (France): More companies are questioning the long-term water sustainability of areas where they operate. Some are asking whether it’s even viable to keep a factory running in a given location due to concerns over water availability, quality, and reputational risk. Others are seeking water-secure sites before building new facilities to avoid costly mistakes like constructing state-of-the-art plants without enough water to operate.

Janaina Silva (Brazil): The conversation around water is growing in Latin America, but challenges remain:

• Increasing pressure on shared water sources, especially in areas with weak watershed governance
• Lack of reliable data to assess risk or measure effectiveness
• Difficulty engaging external stakeholders due to trust gaps or unclear responsibilities
• A need for better water stewardship indicators that are measurable, meaningful, and context-specific

Natalya Holm (USA): Water stewardship has evolved beyond being a reporting metric. Companies now view water as a business-critical resource. Whether it’s physical risk to operations or reputational risk with consumers and stakeholders, water is increasingly viewed as a strategic priority.

Q: How are companies addressing water-related business continuity risks? 

Nadia: Relocation is one option, but when staying in a water-stressed area is necessary, companies are investing in alternative sources—like deeper aquifers that don’t compete with public or agricultural supply—and they are setting stricter water reuse and recycling targets. There’s also growing interest in basin-level replenishment projects to support shared water sustainability.

Natalya: One of the first concepts I learned in water stewardship is that of a “healthy fish in a dry pond.” Even the most efficient factory can’t thrive in an unsustainable watershed. That’s why we’re seeing a growing shift toward incorporating catchment-level action into enterprise risk management.

Q: Are consumers influencing corporate water stewardship? 

Janaina: Yes, especially in water-intensive sectors like food and beverages. While still emerging in Latin America, companies are starting to include water stewardship more explicitly in sustainability communications and ESG reporting to build trust and transparency.

Nadia: Consumer awareness is growing. While carbon was once the primary focus, water is quickly gaining ground. Companies are responding with more visible water stewardship actions, such as public commitments, AWS certification, and strong water strategies, to demonstrate accountability.

Natalya: Consumer concerns about water are increasingly tied to brand trust. We’re also seeing a parallel trend where companies are the “consumer” and are demanding more transparency and resilience from their own suppliers to ensure business continuity.

Q: What about supply chain risks—how are companies engaging suppliers? 

Nadia: Water risk in the supply chain is the next frontier. Many companies are just beginning to map water-related risks across their suppliers. Some are starting to require AWS certification or water-related disclosures during procurement to prioritize responsible suppliers and encourage improvement.

Janaina: In Latin America, agriculture supply chains are especially vulnerable. Companies are offering technical support, partnering with NGOs or universities, and promoting irrigation and soil management practices. The goal is to shift from transactional to collaborative relationships and emphasize shared responsibility.

Q: What’s the value of AWS certification? 

Janaina: Applying the AWS Standard gives companies a structured, practical framework to understand water use, assess risks, engage stakeholders, and plan meaningful actions. Certification adds credibility and aligns efforts with global best practices. Facilities also benefit internally by turning water from a technical issue into a strategic business priority.

Nadia: It’s also a helpful starting point for companies that want to act but don’t know where to begin. The AWS framework guides both site-level and basin-level strategy.

Natalya: It’s a well-polished framework that helps companies develop structured, measurable water strategies that lead to real, site-specific and watershed-wide positive outcomes.

Q: Where are companies succeeding—and struggling—with basin-level engagement? 

Nadia: Success often hinges on trust. Companies that invest time in building relationships, understanding stakeholder priorities, and engaging with basin-level institutions see better results. Struggles emerge when engagement is rushed, one-off, or out of sync with local dynamics. Having dedicated staff, or partnering with NGOs, helps build trust and coordination.

Janaina: Companies that treat engagement as a long-term investment see more meaningful results. Failures typically occur when companies don’t take time to understand local dynamics or treat stakeholders as partners. Aligning different actors’ timeframes and goals can also be a challenge.

Natalya: Success and struggle often go hand-in-hand. Before companies even reach external partners, they often have to navigate internal hurdles, such as legal, communications, and public relations, to align messaging and goals. Transparency is essential, but so is organizational readiness.

Q: What tools are missing to support collective action? 

Janaina: We need:

• Reliable basin-level data to align understanding
• Long-term dialogue platforms beyond compliance
• Simple tools to evaluate, monitor, and share progress
• Local capacity-building for communities and institutions

Natalya: Maybe what we really need is “speed dating” for companies, stakeholders, and implementers, something to foster quick but meaningful connection and trust-building across sectors.

Nadia: We also need methodologies that go beyond volumetric water accounting to include qualitative and social impacts. Broader frameworks would help companies justify projects with meaningful co-benefits, even if they don’t deliver massive volume savings.

Q: Can you share real-world examples of successful basin-level projects? 

Janaina: In southern Brazil, a payment for environmental services initiative supported local farmers to protect springs and riparian areas. Over 100 farmers participated, protecting 120+ springs and generating 60,000+ cubic meters of water benefits annually using volumetric water benefit accounting.

Nadia: In France, a small infrastructure project re-lined a faulty sewer pipeline to prevent clean spring water from unnecessarily entering the wastewater treatment system. It reduced overload and saved 180,000 cubic meters of water, all while improving local water quality. Even small projects can deliver big impacts.

Q: How are companies embracing circular water thinking? 

Nadia: Clients are increasingly integrating the “small cycle” of water (onsite use, reuse, recycling) with the “big cycle” (where the water comes from and returns to). Historically, these were managed separately, but a holistic approach is emerging to view water as a complete system.

Janaina: Companies are connecting water stewardship with broader themes like land use, agriculture, and climate resilience. There’s a mindset shift from controlling water to sustaining it as a shared system.

Natalya: It’s encouraging to see the shift from reactive to proactive strategies. Long-term resilience requires collaboration at both site and watershed levels.

Bringing it All Together 

As this global conversation shows, water stewardship is no longer a niche sustainability topic, it’s a business imperative. From facility-level resilience to collective basin action, companies are increasingly recognizing their role in protecting shared water resources. While challenges remain, from data gaps to stakeholder engagement, the momentum is building toward more holistic, transparent, and proactive strategies. Whether you’re just beginning your water journey or pursuing advanced certification, one thing is clear: collaboration and consistency are key to making a lasting impact.

Questions about your company’s water stewardship journey? Reach out to our team today!

Heading to the 10th annual Global Water Stewardship Forum with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) in June? Connect with Antea Group there! We are co-sponsoring the event through the Inogen Alliance. Learn more here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened our focus on medical waste management. Once largely overlooked, items such as syringes, personal protective equipment (PPE), and even face masks have become focal points in a broader conversation about sustainability and safety. From hospitals to personal use at homes and the workplace, the surge in medical waste has underscored an urgent need for more sustainable approaches to handling biohazardous materials. Given that much of the world’s waste is dumped or incinerated, we must rethink our approach to medical waste—especially in the context of advancing circularity.

The Historical Context of Medical Waste Disposal

Traditionally, medical waste disposal involves outdated methods such as autoclaving, burning, and landfilling. While autoclaving effectively sterilizes biohazardous materials, it raises serious environmental concerns. Burning materials such as PVC contribute to the release of harmful dioxins and other toxins. Over time, regulations have evolved to address these concerns, often driven by the growing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional disposal methods. However, as technology advances, the regulations that once governed the treatment of medical waste have struggled to keep pace with today’s new possibilities.

The Role of Technology in Changing Regulations

Technological advancements in medical waste treatment are outpacing the regulatory landscape. One notable innovation is non-thermal treatment methods, which provide several advantages over traditional thermal processes. These methods, including non-thermal chemical treatments, consume less energy and produce a significantly lower carbon footprint, especially when implemented at the point of generation and collection. As these new technologies become more commonplace, regulators face increasing pressure to adapt existing laws and guidelines to ensure that waste management practices align with emerging capabilities.

Moreover, the understanding of what defines hazardous waste has evolved. The increased awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with improperly discarded biohazardous waste will certainly shape future waste management strategies. However, it’s also essential to acknowledge that, once treated, many of these materials are as non-hazardous as common recyclables.

Circularity in Medical Waste Treatment

Circularity in waste management refers to the concept of reducing, reusing, and recycling materials within a closed-loop system, where waste is minimized and the resources within it are recovered and repurposed. In the context of medical waste, circularity has the potential to transform how we treat and dispose of used materials. Technologies that process medical waste without incinerating or landfilling it pave the way for new opportunities in recycling and recovery. With innovative methods, we can decrease the waste stream and progress toward a future where more of what was once discarded is reintegrated into the economy.

Today, advanced AI and material separation technologies allow for the safe recovery of treated medical waste, making it possible to recycle with a level of confidence comparable to that of metals and plastics used every day.

Case Studies and Real-World Examples

A common misconception about medical waste concerns syringes. Many people assume that all syringes present an extreme contamination risk, but the reality is more nuanced. In a recent discussion, an intriguing comparison was made: what’s the difference between the end of a water bottle and a syringe, aside from the needle? While a used syringe carries risks before treatment, advanced processing methods ensure that its plastic and metal components can be safely reclaimed—just as we do with beverage containers and food packaging.

We need to reconsider our approach to medical waste, recognizing that once correctly treated, it can be safely reintegrated into the circular economy—just like other recyclable materials. The real issue isn’t the item itself but the context in which it is disposed of and whether it undergoes proper treatment.

Conclusion

As the healthcare and waste management sectors continue to evolve, the advancement of technologies that promote sustainability and circularity in medical waste management will play a key role in shaping the future.

It is time for regulators, institutions, and innovators to unite and adopt solutions that address safety concerns while prioritizing environmental responsibility. To drive meaningful change, we must collaborate across sectors to speed up the adoption of technologies that provide sustainable, circular solutions for managing medical waste.

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, Webster Bank, together with Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Massachusetts, (BGCD) celebrated the opening of the Webster Bank Finance Lab, a program created to provide local students the skills needed for financial empowerment and future financial well-being. This program, funded by a $100,000 grant from Webster, is the second collaboration in Massachusetts. To date, Webster has invested over $1.7 million in nine Finance Labs throughout its footprint.

The Webster/Dorchester Finance Lab is part of a signature initiative designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment and improve financial literacy for youth. Through financial education tools, learning experiences, interactive workshops and engaging programs for children, teens, families, and staff, BGCD aims to provide the community with the knowledge and skills needed for financial confidence.

“We are proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester to open the second Finance Lab in Massachusetts,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank. “Webster continues to invest in programs that broaden financial empowerment opportunities, while supporting our commitment to creating economic vitality in the neighborhoods where we live and work.”

Program participants also will engage in hands-on learning opportunities including internships and financial literacy workshops with volunteers from Webster Bank.

“We are incredibly grateful to Webster Bank for their generous support in funding our new Financial Literacy Lab. This investment will empower our youth with essential financial knowledge and skills to help them build a strong foundation for their future. Thanks to Webster Bank, we can continue to provide transformative opportunities that prepare our members for lifelong success,” said Bob Scannell, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester.

In October 2024, Webster celebrated the opening of a Finance Lab with partners in Taunton, Massachusetts. Other Finance Lab partners are in Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Metro New York, Long Island and Yonkers, New York.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester

Established in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD) is dedicated to making a positive impact on the youth and families of the Dorchester community and beyond. Inside BGCD’s three clubhouses is a place for Dorchester’s young people to learn, explore talents, play, and make friends. A beacon of hope, BGCD is known for welcoming and connecting young people and families to opportunities that embrace diversity, nurture growth, and inspire success. Today, as always, members between ages five and 18 have access to 200+ activities for just $5 a year.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Webster is a values-driven organization headquartered in Stamford, CT, with $77 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Media Contact:
Elaine K. Ficarra
eficarra@websterbank.com
203-913-2716

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon
eharmon@websterbank.com
212-309-7646

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