Tag: 3BL

Originally published on PSEG ENERGIZE!

It was pure instinct. I didn’t even think.

Paul Manzi was stopped at a traffic light on Mount Prospect Avenue in Newark, New Jersey, when he witnessed the “surreal” scene of a young girl running into the street and around cars as a pit bull chased her, with her mother racing behind desperate to catch up to them.

While a slew of onlookers stood frozen with fear, our service technician Paul jumped into action to come to the rescue.

“When I saw a little 6- or 7-year-old girl getting attacked by an animal, it was pure instinct. I didn’t even think,” Paul said. “I ran to the back of my truck to get a stick, and I saw the umbrella.”

“I think [the umbrella] confuses dogs. I couldn’t believe it worked.

That pit bull tried to get at me, but he couldn’t get around the umbrella.”

-Paul Manzi, PSE&G Gas worker

The umbrella was key. About a year before, during a PSE&G safety training, dog handlers shared that an open umbrella is one of the best tools to use to stop a dog attack.

“I think it confuses dogs. I couldn’t believe it worked. That pit bull tried to get at me, but he couldn’t get around the umbrella,” Paul said, noting that while he had the dog occupied the mother and child ran behind a locked gate. Finally, the dog ran off.

Paul said that while he was searching for something to use to stop the dog, the dog had knocked the girl down and was on top of her. The girl’s mother attempted to pry the dog away but couldn’t. That’s when Paul was able to step in. He shudders to think what could have happened to both had he not been there.

After the dog ran off , Paul checked on the pair and asked if they were okay. The mother could only reply, “No.” He comforted them until an ambulance came, also staying to ensure the dog didn’t return.

“It was quite the week,” Paul said, noting that earlier in the week he responded to shut off gas at a house fire. Another day, he came to the aid of a cyclist he saw get struck by a car. Yet, he will never call himself a hero. “The mother is the real hero here,” Paul said.

“I’m pretty boring,” he said when describing himself and his nearly 19 years of service in PSE&G Gas Operations. “I’m a grandpa of four grandchildren and I think that had a lot to do with me helping that little girl.”

Paul said he’s a member of the PSE&G Safety Council and the company’s strong safety culture also helped him kick into action when needed.

“I went back to the safety council to tell everyone how well the umbrella worked,” Paul said. “Public Service is an amazing company with a great safety culture. Any one of us would have done the same thing.”

We’re grateful for employees like Paul, who jump into action to support members of our communities.

Hear Paul’s story on ABC7 Eyewitness News below.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 30, 2025 /3BL/ – The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), today announced the release of its new standard suite that provides a common framework against which companies can assess environmental, social, occupational health and safety, and governance performance in their operations and mineral supply chains.

The new standard suite expands the due diligence toolkit for responsible sourcing, processing and manufacturing of raw materials to meet new and emerging regulatory requirements and to encourage continuous improvement of supplier practices across a comprehensive set of indicators.

The new standard suite includes the revised Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, applicable for assessment of a mineral processor’s operations; and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Module Plus, focused on risk management systems for sourcing primary and secondary materials. The module is an add-on available only in combination with the RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) standards or Downstream Assessment Program (DAP).

The new standard suite provides a strengthened framework for risk management, based on internationally recognized guidelines including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct. The standards were also designed to support requirements outlined in new mandatory due diligence regulations, including the EU Battery Regulation and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. These RMI standards help companies identify, assess and mitigate risks, remedy impacts, monitor and report on sustainability management systems, and enhance transparency and accountability within their supply chains.

The RMI recognizes that the evolving regulatory landscape and voluntary standards present a significant expansion of expectations, actions, and investment by companies all along the minerals value chain. Thus, in concert with the new standard suite, the RMI has also expanded its team providing technical assistance, as well as new trainings, guidance and tools available to mineral processors engaged in an RMI assessment, free of charge.

“With this new standard suite and accompanying training and technical assistance resources, the RMI has significantly expanded its due diligence support to RMI members and mineral processors in our assessment program. The RMI standards remain rooted in longstanding international norms while now reflecting newly emerging company needs and stakeholder expectations for regulatory compliance, managing sustainability risks and impacts, and fostering responsible mineral supply chains,” said Jennifer Peyser, Executive Director of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).

The standard suite underwent an extensive review process in 2024-2025, beginning with benchmarking against new and incoming regulations, including the EU Battery Regulation, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. The review process included consultations with RMI members, the public, and the RMI’s Multi-Stakeholder Standards Advisory Committee to ensure alignment with regulatory developments, stakeholder priorities, and industry practices and practicalities.

Learn more about the new RMI standards and associated tools here on the RMI website.

About the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) 
The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), is a multi-industry initiative with more than 500 member companies. Its members contribute to the development and international uptake of a range of tools and resources focused on minerals supply chain due diligence, including independent third-party assessments for smelters, Minerals Reporting Templates, supply chain risk assessment tools, and guidance documents on responsible sourcing of all minerals/metals. RMI members also have access to specialized due diligence tools, including country of origin data and the RMI Facility Database. The RMI runs regular workshops on responsible sourcing issues and contributes to policy development with civil society organizations and governments. For more information, visit ResponsibleMineralsInitiative.org

Media Contact
Jarrett Bens, Senior Director of Communications
Responsible Business Alliance
Phone: +1 571.858.5721
jbens@responsiblebusiness.org

No one knew it at the time, but Christopher Hibbler’s grandparents got him interested in a medical career. Just not in the way you might think.

Both developed Alzheimer’s Disease, and Hibbler, who was a high school teenager at the time, helped care for them.

“That sparked my interest in the medical field,” he said.

More than a decade later, he works as a senior clinical specialist supporting our Cardiac Ablation Solutions (CAS) business, treating patients with abnormal heart rhythms.

Hibbler is on the road four to five days a week, traveling to hospitals across the southern United States, coaching and teaching electrophysiologists how to use Medtronic CAS devices.

“To care for people, it’s just overwhelming joy,” he said. “If I can supply a product that I trust and believe in, it warms my heart.”

Today he’s setting his sights even higher, thanks to the Medtronic Advancement Pathways and Skill building (MAPS) program. MAPS provides debt-free education for employees, and Hibbler leaped at the opportunity.

He had been a certified surgical technologist pursuing his bachelor’s degree in healthcare leadership—paying out of pocket while working fulltime at Medtronic—when he learned about MAPS.

“I was able to take 17 credits a semester. That really gave me the push to finish,” he said. “It was such a relief, knowing the tuition was paid for on the front end.”

Launched in 2022, MAPS now offers more than 800 degrees, skills courses and certifications to qualified employees, and pays the full course tuition upfront. Employees can choose courses from more than a dozen qualified institutions, in careers such as equipment maintenance, cybersecurity, facilities management, HR services and many more. More than 2,300 employees have already taken advantage of the program.

With the help of MAPS, Hibbler graduated nearly two years earlier than planned.

He intends to become an account manager and someday a vice president of sales, opportunities that might not have been within reach without the degree MAPS helped him earn. He’s such a fan of MAPS that he’s serving as an ambassador to help spread the word among employees.

“Education is so important. I became a first-generation college graduate in my family, helping fulfill a dream my parents had for me, and setting the path for the next generation,” Hibbler said. “My grandparents would be amazed to see how far I’ve come. I know they’re proud of me.”

Learn more about Medtronic and the MAPS program in the annual Impact Report.

Written by Luis Corrons | Security Evangelist at Gen

Gen Blog | Insights

Cybercriminals often operate unseen in the digital shadows, exploiting unknown vulnerabilities (“zero-days”) to breach systems before patches are available. In Netflix’s new political thriller “Zero Day,” a catastrophic cyberattack strikes the United States, taking down power grids, transportation networks, communications, and even hospital life-support systems all at once. This fictional crisis is orchestrated through zero-day vulnerabilities – unknown software flaws that hackers exploit to infiltrate critical infrastructure. The show’s creators have said they want to “bring light to real cybersecurity threats” and warn that “we’ve got to do something to protect ourselves before a real zero-day event occurs”. In other words, the high-stakes drama on screen highlights a very real concern off screen: zero-day attacks can and do happen, and everyone – from large enterprises to everyday people – needs to understand this threat.

What is a Zero-Day Vulnerability? 

In simple terms, a zero-day vulnerability is a security hole in software or hardware that the vendor or developer doesn’t yet know about. Because it’s unknown, there’s no official fix or patch available at the time it’s discovered by attackers. Hackers treasure these flaws since they can exploit them freely until the software maker finds out and rushes to plug the hole. The name “zero-day” itself comes from the idea that developers have had zero days to fix the problem – the attack happens before anyone even knows the vulnerability exists. Once a patch is released, the vulnerability ceases to be “zero-day,” but until then it’s an open door for cybercriminals. In short, a zero-day is an unpatched, unknown weakness – and that’s what makes it so dangerous.

A zero-day exploit, on the other hand, is the method or code hackers use to leverage such a vulnerability. When attackers launch a zero-day attack, they are taking advantage of a flaw that no one realizes is there, giving them a stealthy head start. Software makers often only learn of the issue after it’s been used in an attack, at which point they scramble to investigate and release a security update. This window of exposure – from the first malicious use until the patch – is when users are most vulnerable, since traditional antivirus or defenses might not recognize the new threat. It’s a race against time for defenders to close the gap once a zero-day comes to light.

Real-World Cases of Zero-Day Exploits 

Real incidents over the years show just how impactful zero-day exploits can be. One of the most famous examples is Stuxnet (2010) – a sophisticated computer worm that was first discovered in 2010 (but had been active for years prior). Stuxnet targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and managed to disrupt industrial machines by exploiting multiple zero-day flaws in Siemens industrial control software. It was essentially a cyber weapon, using at least four previously unknown vulnerabilities to spread and sabotage systems. Once Stuxnet was uncovered, those vulnerabilities were urgently patched, but the case became a textbook example of a zero-day attack in action – so much so that it even inspired a documentary called “Zero Days.”

Another notorious case was the WannaCry ransomware outbreak (2017), which showed how zero-day exploits could wreak havoc on ordinary computer systems worldwide. WannaCry spread rapidly across hundreds of thousands of Windows PCs in May 2017, encrypting files and demanding ransom. It propagated using an exploit called EternalBlue, a tool originally developed (and kept secret) by the U.S. National Security Agency. EternalBlue took advantage of a Windows vulnerability that, at the time of its theft and leak, had no available patch – making it a zero-day in the attackers’ hands. In fact, Microsoft released a security update in March 2017 once they learned of the flaw, but many organizations had not applied it by May. The result: WannaCry tore through unpatched systems, from hospitals in the UK to small businesses worldwide. This attack was eventually halted and the vulnerability patched on all supported systems, but not before it caused an estimated billions in damage. WannaCry was a wake-up call that even when fixes exist, delay in applying them can turn a known bug into a personal disaster.

Zero-day exploits aren’t just tools of nation-states or large criminal gangs – they have also been used against consumer devices in highly targeted ways. For instance, Apple has repeatedly had to issue emergency iPhone updates to stop “zero-click” spyware attacks. In one campaign uncovered in 2023, attackers used a pair of zero-day vulnerabilities (one in Apple’s image processing and one in iMessage) to silently install the notorious Pegasus spyware on iPhones. This attack, dubbed “BLASTPASS,” didn’t even require the victim to click a link – a malicious image file sent via iMessage could compromise a fully up-to-date phone. Upon discovery, Apple rushed out patches for iOS, macOS, and watchOS to close the holes and protect users. Similarly, a zero-day bug in the popular WebP image format (used by web browsers) was identified in 2023 after being exploited in the wild. The flaw (CVE-2023-4863) allowed attackers to hack devices just by tricking users into loading a booby-trapped image, prompting Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Mozilla to all issue out-of-band updates to their browsers. These cases show that zero-days can hit anyone – whether you’re an activist with a smartphone or a casual web surfer – if you happen to be in the blast radius before the fix arrives.

Small and medium businesses have also been victims of zero-day exploits. A dramatic example was the Kaseya VSA supply-chain attack (2021). REvil, a ransomware gang, discovered unknown vulnerabilities in Kaseya’s IT management software (widely used by managed service providers to support many SMB clients). On July 2, 2021 – before Kaseya could patch the issues – the attackers used those zero-days to breach about 60 MSPs and encrypt data on up to 1,500 customer networks downstream. This one attack effectively held hundreds of small businesses hostage, from local shops to schools, by exploiting a hidden flaw in software they all trusted. Kaseya worked quickly with researchers and law enforcement to develop a patch and help affected companies, but the incident underscored how a zero-day in a single service can cascade into a massive event.

These examples are not outliers. Zero-day exploits have become increasingly common in cyberattacks. In fact, in 2023, 11 of the top 15 most exploited software vulnerabilities were initially abused as zero-days – meaning attackers got the first strike before developers had any chance to fix those flaws. From industrial sabotage to global malware outbreaks, zero-day vulnerabilities have repeatedly been at the center of real-world security crises. Each time, the pattern is similar: a flaw nobody knew existed gets used for harm, and only then does a fix race out to contain the damage.

How Zero-Days Impact Individuals and SMBs 

It’s easy to assume that zero-day attacks only matter for governments or big corporations, but that’s a dangerous misconception. While high-profile targets grab headlines, everyday individuals and small businesses are also at risk from zero-day exploits. Many zero-day attacks aren’t specifically aimed at a single high-value victim – instead, attackers may deploy them broadly, hoping to compromise as many devices as possible before the vulnerability is patched. In these cases, regular users can become collateral damage. For example, a zero-day embedded in a malicious website or email attachment doesn’t discriminate between a Fortune 500 company employee or a home user – anyone who visits that site or opens that booby-trapped file could be infected. This kind of tactic can ensnare individual consumers, leading to financial theft and privacy breaches, all from a hidden flaw that users had no way to know about or defend against at the time.

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), zero-days are equally perilous. SMBs often rely on off-the-shelf software and devices (operating systems, routers, content management systems, etc.) that can contain unknown vulnerabilities just like those used by larger enterprises. The difference is that smaller organizations typically have fewer IT resources and less sophisticated security measures in place. That makes them attractive targets for cybercriminals, who may use zero-day exploits as a foot in the door. An attacker might unleash a ransomware worm built on a zero-day that tears through any network it can reach – hitting not only big companies but also small businesses that lack advanced defenses. We’ve seen cases where non-targeted zero-day attacks (like self-spreading malware) ended up infecting thousands of computers globally, many of them personal PCs and small business servers that just happened to be vulnerable. Even targeted attacks can spill over; for instance, a zero-day used to attack a software supplier (as in the Kaseya example) can indirectly affect dozens or hundreds of client businesses down the supply chain. The bottom line is that zero-days erase the notion of “too small to be noticed.” If you use technology – whether at home or at work – an unpatched unknown flaw in that technology could be exploited without warning. The impact might be stolen data, locked-up systems, or devices conscripted into a botnet. For an individual, that could mean identity theft or drained bank accounts; for an SMB, it could mean costly downtime, loss of customer trust, or worse. In short, zero-day vulnerabilities are everyone’s problem, not just an issue for tech giants or governments.

Best Practices to Stay Protected 

The idea of invisible software flaws might sound scary, but there are many practical steps you can take to reduce your risk from zero-day threats. Cybersecurity is about managing risk and limiting exposure, and even against unknown exploits, the following best practices make a big difference:

• Keep your devices and software updated. When vendors release security patches (often in routine updates), install them promptly. Many zero-day attacks only succeed until a fix is available – once patched, the threat is neutralized. Enabling automatic updates on your operating system, applications, and phone ensures you get these critical patches as soon as they come down. Regular updates close the holes that attackers might otherwise use. As the WannaCry example showed, delaying patches can leave you vulnerable to an exploit that’s already been solved.
• Use reputable security software. A good security solution can sometimes detect suspicious behavior even from new, unknown threats. Modern security software doesn’t rely solely on known virus signatures; it also looks at what programs are doing (heuristics and behavior analysis). While it may not catch every zero-day, it adds an extra layer of defense that could stop or contain an attack. Make sure your security software stays up to date so it can recognize the latest threats. Additionally, consider using a firewall (many operating systems include one by default) to block unauthorized connections, which can help limit the damage if some malware does get in.
• Practice good cybersecurity hygiene. Many zero-day exploits still require some action to reach you – for instance, convincing you to open a file, click a link, or plug in an infected device. By staying vigilant with your online habits, you can avoid falling into those traps. This means: Don’t download attachments or software from untrusted or unknown sources. Be wary of unexpected emails or messages, especially those urging you to run macros or enable content in documents. Use strong, unique passwords (and a password manager) so that if one account is compromised it doesn’t unlock everything. And always enable 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) whenever is possible. Good habits act like a safety net, catching a lot of threats before they can ever execute, whether zero-day or not.
• Beware of phishing – think before you click. Phishing is one of the most common ways attackers deliver exploits. A convincing scam email might lure you to a malicious website that quietly uses a zero-day to infect your computer, or get you to install a “document” that is actually malware. Always examine emails and texts critically: check the sender’s address, look for signs of hoaxes or urgency, and verify via other means if you get an odd request (like a supplier asking you to install an update or a “bank” emailing for login info). When in doubt, don’t click the link. This caution helps because even if a zero-day is involved, it often needs that initial hook to get to you.
• Enable strong security settings and isolate where possible. For businesses, network segmentation (keeping critical systems separate) and least-privilege access (limiting user rights) can contain the blast radius of a zero-day attack. For individuals at home, simply enabling built-in security features can help – for example, make sure your web browser’s security settings are on default or high, use an ad-blocker or script blocker if you’re tech-savvy (to reduce the chance of encountering malicious scripts), and turn off any software features you don’t need that could introduce risk. If you own IoT devices (smart cameras, etc.), keep their firmware updated and avoid exposing them directly to the internet. Essentially, remove unnecessary targets and entry points from your environment.
• Backup your data regularly. This won’t prevent an attack, but it can save you if the worst happens. If a zero-day powered ransomware or wiper malware strikes, having recent backups of your important files (and storing them offline or in a secure cloud service) means you can restore your system without paying ransom or losing everything. Test your backups occasionally to ensure they work. It’s a last-resort measure, but an essential part of resilience.

By following these practices, individuals and SMBs can significantly strengthen their defenses. You’re essentially making yourself a harder target and mitigating the fallout if something does slip by. No single tip is foolproof, especially against a brand-new exploit, but together these steps build a layered security posture. Think of it like home security: you lock the doors, install an alarm, and stay alert for suspicious activity – those precautions still matter even if the burglar has a new kind of lockpick. The same principle applies in cybersecurity.

Conclusion 

Zero-day vulnerabilities might sound like the stuff of thrillers – and indeed, “Zero Day” on Netflix dramatizes an extreme scenario – but the core threat is very real. In the real world, we won’t (hopefully) see an entire nation knocked offline in an instant, but we do see stealthy hacks, data breaches, and malware outbreaks powered by unknown flaws. The key lesson is that awareness and preparedness make a difference. You may not be able to prevent a determined attacker from discovering the next zero-day, but you can control how ready you are to respond. Keeping systems up to date, practicing smart online behavior, and maintaining good security basics will tilt the odds in your favor. For businesses, investing in proactive security monitoring and employee training can catch anomalies that hint at zero-day activity, buying valuable time to react. For individuals, staying informed (like knowing when there’s a critical update to install) and using the tools at your disposal will greatly reduce the chances of being caught off-guard.

In the end, zero-days remind us that no software is perfectly secure – there may always be a hidden crack. But by staying vigilant and proactive, we can shrink the window of opportunity for attackers. The fictional crisis in “Zero Day” makes for gripping entertainment; our job in reality is to ensure such disasters remain fiction. By applying the best practices and encouraging a culture of cybersecurity awareness, we can each do our part to protect ourselves and our businesses from the unseen threats lurking out there. Be aware, be prepared, and stay updated – that’s the real-world playbook to defend against zero-day vulnerabilities. Your future self (and your data) will thank you for it.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, world-class equipment, technology and services company, CNH, encourages employees to act as a positive voice for the communities where they work and live.

A group at CNH has taken on a project that exemplifies their commitment. The Sioux Falls Sustainability Committee is an employee driven committee made up of 16 dedicated members that meet monthly to plan ways they can help. Projects have included river clean-up efforts and Earth Day events. But their newest project is the largest they have taken on to date!

In partnership with Friends of the Big Sioux River (FBSR), the committee is designing and building a floating island system to support wildlife habitats on the river. These islands will eventually be anchored along the Big Sioux and provide several environmental benefits:

• Increased biodiversity.
• Protected areas for wildlife to live and breed.
• A root system to house spawning fish and filter the river water.
• A platform covered in native plants and flowers to provide pollination opportunities.
• Improved water quality, positively impacting agriculture in the area.
• Added beauty to the Big Sioux River for all visitors to enjoy.

FBSR is an organization on a mission to raise awareness about the impacts the river has on the surrounding area, people, wildlife, and agriculture.

More on the project and how it came to be:

The Sioux Falls Sustainability Committee recognizes the Big Sioux River as an important part of their local ecosystem. The committee is spearheaded by two members of the Precision Technology Product Development team, Sienna Mayer, Program Manager and John Waltz, Electrical Design Engineer.

In late 2024 Sienna and John reached out to FBSR on behalf of the committee and connected with Travis Enteman, the FBSR Executive Director. The conversation focused on upcoming projects or events that CNH could participate in. When Travis mentioned his ideas for this habitat system, Sienna and John agreed immediately and volunteered their engineering skills for the design.

CNH is driven by its purpose; a shared passion to continuously seek out opportunities for innovation, productivity and sustainability. By rising up to these challenges, we are doing the noble work of advancing global agriculture and supporting the world’s construction needs.

Companies have made significant progress in recent years in identifying the risks and opportunities related to how sustainability is considered in a company’s strategy. However, in many instances, the realization of these opportunities or risks falls outside the normal business planning cycle. Therefore, incentivizing sustainability-minded behavior is a key element of an overall governance model that supports day-to-day decision-making.

A company’s strategic course is set by its management, yet it is these managers who must help ensure that this course is adhered to in their daily decisions. An effective way of providing them with further incentives to stay on course is to anchor the company’s sustainability targets in their remuneration, in the same way as other strategic aims.

Consequently, linking strategic priorities to the key governance setup of a company remains an aspect of utmost importance to stakeholders, particularly investors. Remuneration is one strategic pillar of a robust governance model.

For this reason, the management board pay system is a key aspect of corporate governance for a company’s shareholders. With this overview of 375 companies from 15 countries, we take stock of the integration of sustainability criteria into board members’ pay, finding that an impressive 78 percent of these companies already do so. We hope this report can serve both as an inspiration and a contribution to debates within companies and between stakeholders.

Key findings

• 78 percent of the companies included in this research consider sustainability in their senior executives’ pay.
• Among companies that specify the sustainability targets used in their board members’ pay, 88 percent align these to ESG topics that are material to their businesses, although this varies widely by country.
• ESG targets included in executive remuneration are most commonly linked to climate change and a company’s own workforce. On climate change they typically refer to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, while those on a company’s own workforce often refer to employee engagement, the percentage of female managers and injury rates.
• Of the 274 companies that measure board performance based on sustainability-related targets and that provide information on how these are included in variable remuneration, 37 percent include ESG targets in both short-term and long-term incentives, 23 percent include such targets only in long-term incentives and the remaining 40 percent use them only in short-term incentives. Use of both short-term and long-term sustainability targets is more common in EU countries.

Click here to download this report on kpmg.com

Originally published by Progressive Grocer.

By Lynn Petrak.

Albertsons Cos., another winner of PG’s Impact Awards, has long highlighted its “Recipe for Change” commitment to making a positive commitment to the earth and people. That mission includes three pillars of products it sells, communities it serves and the planet it shares.

As part of that Recipe for Change framework, the company is using its social media pages during Earth Month and on Earth Day to showcase products with on-pack labels and certifications such as USDA Organic Certified, Fair Trade USA Certified, Responsible Choice and EPA Safer Choice Certified. The company also touts its Own Brands packaged salad with trays made from recycled plastic.

See original article on Progressive Grocer and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

• Veolia helps MassBio member companies reduce waste, ensure safety and compliance and increase recycling, including sustainable treatment of medical waste
• As part of the expanded agreement, Veolia will offer building energy management and digital metering services to support energy savings and decarbonization of lab buildings and research facilities. 

BOSTON, April 29, 2025 /3BL/ – Celebrating a partnership built on trust, expertise and a vision for the future, Veolia North America announced an expanded partnership with MassBio, one of the world’s leading consortiums of biopharmaceutical research and development companies. The multi-year contract extension allows the parties to continue providing sophisticated, safe and reliable waste management services to members along with digital energy efficiency management.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., MassBio includes more than 1,700 leading life sciences companies that require a deep level of expertise and resources to manage complex environmental needs. For over 20 years, Veolia North America has served as MassBio’s primary partner for meeting the waste management needs of its members, developing a strong track record for safety and customer service. Veolia and MassBio are today expanding the scope of the contract to accelerate efforts to make the biotech industry more environmentally sustainable.

As part of the agreement, Veolia will also provide MassBio members with leading solutions and recommendations to decarbonize buildings where MassBio members conduct research. The Cities of Boston and Cambridge require property owners to reduce the carbon output of their buildings, and Veolia’s expertise will help MassBio member companies meet and exceed these requirements by promoting energy efficiency solutions.

“MassBio is thrilled to take this important step toward ensuring the long-term future success of our member companies and the groundbreaking work they are doing on behalf of patients around the world,” said Jason Cordeiro, Chief Operating and Innovation Officer for MassBio. “Veolia North America has proven year after year that they are a committed and trusted partner to MassBio by offering best-in-class resources to our 1,700+ members at all stages of the biopharma life cycle.” 

“As the world’s leading environmental services company, Veolia is proud to support MassBio and the important work being done by their member companies to revolutionize healthcare and the sciences,” said Bob Cappadona, President and CEO of Veolia North America’s Environmental Solutions and Services business. “As part of our GreenUp strategy, we aim to help our customers meet their business goals and ambitions to make the planet a better place for future generations. That’s a passion that we share with MassBio, which is why this partnership has been such a success for over 20 years now.” 

Cappadona said the contract extension reflects the level of mutual trust and respect that has developed between Veolia and MassBio over the past 20 years, as MassBio has come to rely on Veolia to collect and dispose of a wide variety of waste streams with an emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance.

Cappadona said the added focus on sustainability is consistent with Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy for supporting innovation and growth to create a cleaner environment. He said Veolia is proud to support efforts by MassBio members to revolutionize healthcare.

“We know that the work we are doing at Veolia plays a key role in helping MassBio and their members on their quest to find the next great vaccine or medical cure,” Cappadona said. “It gives even more meaning to what we do.”

Click here to learn more about the partnership between Veolia North America and MassBio.

ABOUT VEOLIA
Veolia Group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024.
www.veolia.com 

ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.
www.veolianorthamerica.com 

ABOUT MASSBIO
MassBio is the driving force behind Massachusetts’ life sciences ecosystem, supporting innovation and industry growth by offering best-in-class resources to over 1,700 member organizations at all stages of the biopharma lifecycle. Founded in 1985, MassBio aspires to extend Massachusetts’ impact as the global center of excellence in biomedical breakthroughs. Through strategic cost-saving initiatives, robust business partnerships, educational and networking opportunities, and proactive advocacy, MassBio empowers its members to launch the next generation of medical advancements to deliver the cures and therapies that enhance patient lives.
www.massbio.org 

▁▁▁

CONTACT
VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
Matt Burgard
Tel: (203) 859-4168
matthew.burgard@veolia.com

At Trane Technologies, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. As a global leader in climate solutions, we are committed to creating a sustainable future through groundbreaking technologies and forward-thinking strategies. We believe that by fostering a culture of innovation, we can drive meaningful change, set new standards in our industry and create growth.

How Baris Akcora helps drive electrification and sustainability 

Baris Akcora, Thermo King® Power Portfolio Leader, is a transformational leader at Trane Technologies and exemplifies our commitment to innovation and collaboration. Baris is on the product management team and responsible for the power solutions portfolio for Thermo King EMEA, which includes new products launched within the last year such as our high voltage battery systems, AxlePower, EnergE Pack and E-COOLPAC.

Traditionally, our Thermo King brand is known for making refrigeration units for the transportation sector but in this case, we are also creating power solutions. These high-voltage battery solutions are helping our customers with the electrification of their fleets, removing the diesel operation, so we can help make the transport sector more sustainable.

“Our solutions have quite a lot of edge compared to what others have in the market,” shared Baris. “We offer self-sufficient technologies like AxlePower that allow our customers to transition to electric without negatively impacting their day-to-day operations,” said Baris. “Our customers can simply transition into electrification, stop consuming fossil fuels and see the benefits from day one. So, that’s what I call innovation.”

Our latest product, AxlePower, is state-of-the-art technology that works by utilizing an electrical axle and a high-voltage battery pack with a Thermo King trailer refrigeration unit with or without a diesel engine for hybrid or full-electric operation. The electrical axle generates power to recharge the high voltage battery pack, and the battery pack powers the refrigeration unit.

When the vehicle is running on the road, we are continuously recovering energy that’s normally lost energy. This recovered energy is used to recharge the battery pack and extend its autonomy while helping customers run an electric operation, reducing their operational costs. The result is the most advanced energy recovery system that is currently in the transport refrigeration market.

“It’s a win-win for everyone in the ecosystem. You know, it’s financially a win for the customer since we are helping them to reduce their operating costs, but also for the environment and our sustainability goals as an enterprise,” shared Baris.

A journey of growth and alignment with company values

Baris’ journey at Trane Technologies is a testament to the forward-thinking culture we foster. He started his career 12 years ago in our Accelerated Development Program, an early career program for recent graduates that provides broad exposure to Trane Technologies’ operations and senior leadership. After Baris’ two-year rotation, he held positions that offered him product management and business development experience. He has been promoted multiple times from within as he continues to gain skills and contribute to our company’s growth.

“When people ask me why I stay at Trane Technologies, it’s the team here, it’s the people I’m working with on a daily basis. It’s having a positive mindset towards sustainability and achieving profitable growth together,” said Baris. “And the mission of the company [to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world], what we want to achieve as an enterprise is also aligned with my personal values as well.”

Through his work, Baris continues to make a direct contribution to our sustainability goals and the Gigaton Challenge, which is our commitment to help our customers reduce one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) from their carbon footprints by 2030.

“We are daring to do things differently, and I really appreciate that,” Baris added. Reflecting on the company’s culture, he mentioned, “We are leading the industry in terms of innovation, developing new solutions that are more sustainable and future-proof.”

Join us in challenging what’s possible

Learn how every job can be a sustainability job at Trane Technologies.

By continuously pushing the envelope in the development of our products, Trane Technologies remains at the forefront of the HVACR industry, setting benchmarks for competitors to follow. Trane Technologies is a dynamic, innovative and globally-minded team dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.

Explore careers that challenge what’s possible for a more sustainable world.

RESTON, Va., April 29, 2025 /3BL/ – Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) is committing $10 million to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence for detecting and managing diseases, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE).

The initial focus of the five-year collaboration will be developing AI-powered tools for quicker detection of diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, reducing diagnostic turnaround times, and enabling earlier, more effective care management.

“Our investment is aimed at using the transformative power of artificial intelligence to speed detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect millions of people annually,” said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. “These efforts will also focus on developing future health care specialists, and expanding the care that’s available to underserved communities, including our veterans.”

For more than 25 years, Leidos has operated the National Cancer Institute’s Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, supporting progress in the fight against cancer. The company also brings more than two decades of experience applying AI to important areas like health care, national security, and energy, and helps improve care for military families and veterans by strengthening delivery, access, and continuity of care.

Key objectives of the Leidos-University of Pittsburgh collaboration include:

• Establishing a World-Class Research Hub: University of Pittsburgh will enhance CPACE by continuing development of its state-of-the-art Digital Pathology Research Center. These facilities will drive pioneering research in digital pathology and AI-driven diagnostics.
• Developing Digital Health Care Solutions: Advancing AI-powered technologies will cement the University of Pittsburgh’s leadership in digital pathology and enable Leidos to develop innovative solutions designed to support digital health and diagnostics.
• Accelerating Global Impact: Leidos plans to leverage the collaboration to deploy AI-powered digital pathology solutions across public and private health care sectors with the goal of leading the commercialization of innovative healthcare technologies.

“The University of Pittsburgh’s leadership in research and innovation, coupled with the expertise in technology solutions offered by Leidos, establishes a path forward to delivering advancements in diagnosis, disease management and health care delivery,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Through this multi-year collaboration, Leidos and the University of Pittsburgh will drive advances in several critical areas:

• Research & Technology Development: Joint research projects will explore new imaging methods, advanced scanning technologies to analyze tissue samples, and improved techniques for analyzing medical images with precision.
• Workforce Development & Education: The initiative will cultivate the next generation of health care and AI innovators through comprehensive educational programs, including industry-focused best practices, annual symposiums, and hands-on internship opportunities where students will collaborate directly with Leidos experts.

“We want these tools to impact as many people as possible globally. Leidos can help get them into many more hands, ensuring that they are validated properly and get through the right regulatory frameworks,” said Hooman Rashidi, executive director of CPACE and associate dean of AI in medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

By merging academic excellence with technological innovation, the collaboration is poised to redefine the future of health care delivery and disease management.

“This relationship with Leidos serves as a catalyst to expedite our mission. Industry partnership will help broaden the impact of Pitt’s innovation,” said Liron Pantanowitz, Dr. Maud L. Menten Professor and chair of the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 48,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

About University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

As one of the nation’s leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition.