Tag: 3BL

CINCINNATI, April 2, 2025 /3BL/ – J.D. Power named Fifth Third Bank No. 1 for Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction in Florida for the second year in a row as part of its 2025 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study^SM. The Study also noted that customers rated Fifth Third No. 1 for account offerings and value.

“I am incredibly proud to celebrate that, for the second year in a row, J.D. Power is recognizing our team for the most satisfying customer banking experience in Florida,” said Jamie Leonard, chief operating officer of Fifth Third. “This recognition is a testament to our vision to be the One Bank people most value and trust.”

Fifth Third has had a presence in Florida since 1991 and has been strategically and rapidly growing in the state as part of the Bank’s southeast expansion strategy. The Bank opened 37 locations in Florida in the past three years and plans for an additional 72 openings by the end of 2028, as part of Fifth Third’s plans to add 200 branches predominantly in the Southeast. Presently we provide consumer banking at 186 branches throughout the state, with additional non-branch locations for commercial banking and wealth and asset management needs.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies^® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ^® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 55 years. The world’s leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company’s business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.

Fifth Third Bank received the highest score in Florida in the J.D. Power 2024-2025 (tied in 2025) U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Studies, which measure customers’ satisfaction with their primary bank. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., April 2, 2025 /3BL/ – In the latest episode of 3BL’s ‘What the…?’ video series, industry leaders break down one of today’s biggest business challenges: trust. With stakeholders demanding more transparency and accountability than ever, brands must rethink how they build credibility— or risk losing their audience entirely.

Featuring insights from John Harper, Chief Executive Officer of FSG, and Noa Gafni, Managing Director of FSG this conversation uncovers what drives consumer confidence, how companies can navigate reputational risks, and why trust is now a non-negotiable asset when it comes to sustainability and social impact.

“What builds trust is being able to tell that story of the transformed outcomes, what it means for the communities and the customers and other stakeholders that you’re working for, and importantly, what it means for your business,” says Harper. 

Watch the episode.

Key insights from the episode include:

• Trust is earned, not assumed – Consumers and stakeholders demand proof, not promises.
• Authenticity wins – Audiences can spot performative actions a mile away; real impact matters.
• Transparency mitigates risk – Openness about challenges builds resilience and credibility.
• Trust drives business value – Companies that prioritize building trust see stronger engagement and loyalty.

Gafni notes, “If companies were able to rebuild trust with communities, with their employees, with their customers, with their investors and with their stakeholders around these initiatives… that will ladder up to big systemic changes.”

Catch the full episode here. 

About 3BL 
3BL is the leading sustainability and social impact communications partner, connecting organizations’ stories of purpose and progress with the audiences who matter most.
3BL partners with over 1,500 companies – from global corporations and mid-sized enterprises to NGOs and nonprofits – to elevate their reputations as players in the world of responsible business. We do this through unrivaled news and content distribution, bespoke storytelling support, and our digital media division, TriplePundit.

As water scarcity intensifies around the globe, industries are being called to rethink how they use and manage this essential resource. This live, interactive panel discussion will explore how companies across the globe are responding to growing water challenges by embracing circular water management practices and advancing sustainable water stewardship.

The session will explore how industries worldwide are adapting to water challenges and what role stakeholders, including environmental, health, safety, and sustainability (EHS&S) professionals, play in shaping resilient water management strategies.

Audience participation is encouraged throughout the session. Bring your questions, challenges, and ideas to join the conversation on how industries and communities can work together to create a more sustainable and equitable water future.

Join us on April 17th at 10:00 AM CDT. If you are unable to join the live, an on-demand version of the panel discussion will be available about 1 hour after the live broadcast time.

Register Here!

Originally published in Lenovo’s 2023/24 ESG Report

Lenovo’s Code mandates compliance with applicable laws in markets where it conducts business. Its policies strongly support ethical and responsible business practices, which include areas such as anti-bribery and corruption, data privacy, anti-competitive practices and fair competition, intellectual property and more.

Anti-bribery and corruption

Lenovo has zero tolerance for bribery and corruption. Lenovo complies with the anti-bribery and corruption laws in every jurisdiction where it conducts business. Lenovo’s Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy along with Lenovo’s Global Gift, Entertainment, Corporate Hospitality, and Travel Policy reinforce provisions in the Code and provide additional guidance regarding compliance with global anti-bribery and corruption rules and laws. The policies stress that Lenovo will not directly or indirectly solicit, offer, promise, authorize, provide, or accept anything of value to any person, including government officials, to influence action, inaction, or to secure an improper advantage as defined by applicable laws.

To help employees understand these requirements, training on anti-bribery and corruption is provided. 99.9% of Lenovo’s computer-based employees¹, including senior management and executives, completed the anti-bribery and corruption mandatory eLearning course assigned in FY 2023/24. In addition, 48 facilitator-led sessions focused on anti-bribery and corruption basics and case studies were provided to over 17,000 China-based employees of Lenovo.

Lenovo also provides Code training to new employees, which includes anti-bribery and corruption topics. The Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team are provided a facilitator-led training session on anti-bribery and corruption. Additionally, in FY 2023/24, Lenovo released an educational video in commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, urging all employees to participate in the global fight against corruption. The video garnered viewership from approximately 30,000 employees.

Bribery and corruption risks are also evaluated as part of Lenovo’s Enterprise Risk Management Program risk assessment to ensure Lenovo’s internal controls effectively address and mitigate bribery and corruption risk to the enterprise.

As Lenovo holds all employees to the highest ethical standards and requires compliance with applicable anti-bribery and corruption laws and regulations, it extends this obligation to its business partners. Lenovo’s business partners are expected to adhere to the same standards of integrity that Lenovo demands of itself. All business partners are subject to Lenovo’s Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy, which includes the requirement to conduct anti-bribery and corruption due diligence on any business partner identified as presenting elevated bribery and corruption risks to the organization. Lenovo actively monitors these business partners to address any potential areas of concern or inquiries regarding bribery and corruption.

In FY 2023/24, Lenovo received the verdict for a legal case related to corruption, which was transferred to authorities as a result of Lenovo’s internal investigation into the alleged misconduct. Two former employees were sentenced for accepting kickbacks of RMB1 million and RMB2.7 million, respectively, in exchange for providing improper benefits to various sales channel partners. In addition to being required to forfeit the money received through kickbacks, both individuals were sentenced by authorities. One individual involved received a two-year prison sentence, three-year probation, and a RMB100,000 fine. Another received a three-year prison sentence and a RMB200,000 fine. Lenovo terminated the employment of these individuals and implemented additional internal control measures to prevent similar incidents. The impact of the case on Lenovo’s business was minor.

Anti-competitive practices and fair competition

Lenovo competes for business ethically and lawfully. The Code and Policy on anti-competitive practices and fair competition sets out fundamental principles to serve as guidelines for employees in complying with the competition laws in every jurisdiction where Lenovo operates. In particular, the policies strictly prohibit employees from engaging in anti-competitive practices, including entering into an agreement or discussion that would result in price-fixing, limitations on the availability of goods or services on the market, or agreements to boycott a customer or supplier.

Lenovo continues to communicate requirements of global antitrust and anti-competition laws and regulations to the workforce on a periodic basis. In FY 2023/24, over 10 dedicated training sessions were delivered globally to our employees including executive level management.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property is a valuable asset for Lenovo. Lenovo expects its employees to protect its intellectual property and respect the intellectual property rights of other companies and individuals. Intellectual property rights include patents, copyrights, trademarks, confidential information, and related contract rights.

Lenovo secures its own intellectual property using these and other applicable forms of legal protection. Therefore, Lenovo’s employees must each sign and abide by their agreement with Lenovo regarding confidential information and intellectual property. Lenovo also expects its employees to contribute to Lenovo’s innovation leadership. To this end, Lenovo’s employees should submit their inventions and ideas to Lenovo’s patent review board for prompt review and protection with the support of the Intellectual Property Law Department.

Lenovo respects the intellectual property rights of other companies and individuals, including their proprietary materials, confidential information, software, patents, trademarks, or trade secrets. Employees should work with Lenovo’s counsel in the Legal Department as appropriate to ensure all necessary rights and licenses are obtained before utilizing any non-Lenovo proprietary materials.

Privacy and data protection

Lenovo maintains a Global Privacy and Data Protection Program, which leads the organization’s commitment to responsibly using and protecting customer, consumer, employee, and partner identifiable information. The Lenovo Global Privacy and Data Protection Program develops and maintains policies, processes, training, and other mechanisms and resources to ensure that Lenovo complies with global privacy and related data protection laws and regulations. These policies and Lenovo’s commitments in this area are communicated to all employees via the Lenovo Privacy Basics course which new employees are required to take within 30 days of their employment with Lenovo, and on a recurring basis thereafter. It is the individual and collective responsibility of Lenovo’s employees and contractors to act in accordance with the requirements of Lenovo’s privacy and security policies and standards and to report privacy and security incidents or vulnerabilities in a timely manner. The Lenovo Global Privacy and Data Protection Program, Chief Security Office, Chief Infrastructure Security Office, and Lenovo’s product security teams maintain incident reporting mechanisms and work together to investigate, mitigate, and prevent privacy and security incidents that could impact Lenovo, its customers, users, or employees.

Individuals may learn more about Lenovo’s product and website privacy practices by visiting https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/privacy/. The Lenovo Privacy and Data Protection Program may be reached at privacy@lenovo.com (or privacy@motorola.com).

Lenovo recognizes the great importance of privacy to individuals everywhere – customers, website visitors, product users, employees – everyone. The responsible use and protection of personal and other information under Lenovo’s care is a core company value. To ensure adherence to its privacy policies, principles, and processes, Lenovo maintains a global Privacy and Data Protection Program led by the Legal Department. The Privacy & Data Protection Program reports its progress regularly to Lenovo’s Chief Legal & Corporate Responsibility Officer and Chief Security Officer. In addition, the Privacy & Data Protection Program coordinates a cross-functional Privacy Working Group (PWG) comprised of key partners drawn from Infrastructure Security, Product Security, Product Development, Marketing, E-Commerce, Service and Repair, Human Resources, and other groups. The PWG meets several times per year and discusses Lenovo’s privacy policies, processes, legal developments, industry developments, and more. Key elements of Lenovo’s approach to ensuring meaningful privacy and data protection include:

• Monitoring global privacy and data protection legal developments and regulatory trends, and improving Lenovo’s privacy practices and processes
• Harmonizing global privacy and data protection requirements into an organization-wide set of Lenovo Guiding Privacy Principles that drive how Lenovo handles personal information and certain other types of data, including developing and updating its privacy policies and procedures
• Providing contractual support to ensure that risks associated with supplier and partner agreements include appropriate privacy and security terms; including assistance to the Lenovo Legal Center of Excellence (COE) in its efforts to update contract templates, and improve privacy and security-focused contract addenda
• Providing early input to product and service development teams by incorporating privacy checkpoints into formal product development plans, including privacy impact assessments, and conducting pre-launch privacy compliance reviews of products, software, services, websites, marketing programs, internal systems, and supplier relationships
• Responding to requests from individuals to review, correct, amend and/or delete their personal information
• Coordinating Lenovo’s response to law enforcement and other government requests for applicable personal and user information
• Developing and delivering privacy and data protection-focused training programs and working closely with the Chief Security Office (CSO), Corporate Infrastructure Security Office (CISO), and product security teams to timely identify and respond to privacy and data protection incidents
• Maintaining an internal Privacy Program portal and other resources for employees to provide guidance, documents, contract templates, compliance checklists, and additional privacy and data protection resources for Lenovo
• Requiring all computer-based employees globally to complete Lenovo’s Privacy Basics and Security Essentials courses. 100% of all computer-based employees completed the Security Essentials and Privacy Basics training during FY 2023/24.

Ethical management of responsible Artificial Intelligence

Lenovo embraces Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) across its product lines, from client to edge to cloud and network. Throughout the computing ecosystem, breakthroughs in Large Language Models and AI generated content mark a major leap in AI development and capability and serve as catalysts and accelerators to boost the adoption of AI.

Over the next three years, Lenovo is making large investments in people and resources for AI that will focus on providing AI devices, AI-ready and AI-optimized computing infrastructure, and embedded AI capabilities in intelligent solutions to accelerate productivity and provide new, revolutionary experiences to Lenovo’s customers.

In FY 2023/24, Lenovo announced its vision of “Smarter AI for All” and is focused on unleashing the power of AI to drive intelligent transformation in every aspect of people’s lives and in every industry – providing technology, solutions, and services that empower industries, enterprises, and individuals around the world. With this ability to empower and influence positive change, arises a profound duty to develop, deploy, and use AI responsibly.

Lenovo reinforces its commitment to responsible AI by upholding the following principles and guidelines:

1. Lenovo will not use AI in ways that harm people or put them or their rights at risk.

• Lenovo prohibits AI systems that deploy subliminal or manipulative techniques, exploit a person’s vulnerabilities, classify people based on their social behavior, socio-economic status, or sensitive personal information, and more.
• AI systems that pose a risk to a person’s health, safety, and civil rights will be carefully evaluated and implemented with additional risk mitigation.

2. Lenovo will ensure that its AI is fair, transparent, explainable, and efficient.

• Lenovo encourages responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI systems in pursuit of beneficial outcomes for individuals whose data is processed by an AI system user, society, and the environment.
• Responsible AI pillars will serve as the basis for evaluating AI systems throughout Lenovo, including diversity and inclusion, accountability, reliability, explainability, transparency, environmental, and social impact.

3. Lenovo will ensure that there is proper human oversight throughout the lifecycle of an AI system.

• Lenovo firmly believes in the indispensable role of human oversight in the development and use of AI. It recognizes that AI systems, while powerful and transformative, remain tools to be used in support of human endeavor and must be guided by human judgment and ethical considerations.
• Lenovo establishes mechanisms for human intervention to ensure proper oversight, validity of AI outcomes, detection of potential biases, and human intervention when necessary to detect and rectify biases, errors, or unintended consequences.
• By ensuring proper human oversight, Lenovo strives to instill trust, accountability, and fairness in our AI systems, empowering us to make informed decisions that benefit its customers, users, employees, and society as a whole.

4. Lenovo will protect people’s privacy at all stages of the AI Lifecyle.

• AI systems will collect and retain data from individuals only where there is a legitimate purpose, and then only to the minimum extent needed to fulfill that purpose.
• AI systems will be designed to help users comply with privacy requirements, including providing to subjects the reasonable ability to review, correct, amend, or delete their personal data processed by an AI system.

5. Lenovo’s AI will be developed and used with robust security protections.

• Technical robustness and safety require that AI systems preemptively address risks including, but not limited to, the unpredictability of AI performance and cybersecurity.
• Lenovo will establish standards to be used in the review, development, and operation of AI systems to ensure they are safe and reliable.

6. Lenovo will ensure that its AI respects and protects its own and others’ confidential information and intellectual property.

• Intellectual property concerns arise at all phases of AI development and use, including data selection and acquisition, model training and development, and operations and output.
• Lenovo will own or have permission to use all data it uses to train or operate AI systems and ensure that its AI systems are not given inappropriate information or prompts including:

(1) third-party information in Lenovo’s control not authorized for such use,

(2) Lenovo’s confidential or restricted information, if the AI system is not approved for such use,

(3) personal information of Lenovo employees, customers, or others who have not explicitly consented to such use, or

(4) prompts or directions that would tend to create problematic, biased, or infringing results.

7. Lenovo’s AI will be developed and used in strict compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Lenovo is dedicated to the highest standards of legal compliance in all of our worldwide operations and complies with applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we conduct business.
• As a result of the enactment of China’s regulations concerning AI, Lenovo established a comprehensive compliance committee consisting of various internal stakeholders to ensure Lenovo is following regulatory compliance requirements and industry-leading best practices.
• Globally, Lenovo continues to monitor the AI regulatory environment and is unwavering in its commitment to developing, deploying, and utilizing AI in accordance with regulatory standards and industry-leading best practices.

In addition to these principles, Lenovo is further solidifying its dedication to responsible AI by expanding its external presence through partnerships with esteemed organizations dedicated to promoting responsible AI practices. Lenovo is one of just eight technology companies to sign the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, and since 2021, Lenovo has been a signatory of the Cercle InterL Women & AI Charter for accountable and gender-fair AI systems.

Lenovo recognizes that the realization of its vision of “Smarter AI for All” hinges upon its steadfast adherence to principles that guarantee the responsible, ethical, and safe development, deployment, and utilization of AI. The principles outlined above not only underpin Lenovo’s vision, but also form the cornerstone of Lenovo’s mission to provide “Smarter Technology for All.”

Reporting Ethical Concerns

Lenovo is committed to fostering a speak up culture, where employees, contractors, and business partners are empowered to speak up on anything that appears unethical, illegal, or suspicious. Lenovo has established clear processes and various reporting channels to raise questions or report concerns.

Employees are encouraged to raise concerns to their managers, Human Resources, the ECO, Internal Audit, or the Legal Department about any potential issues including, but not limited to, those known about or suspected:

• Fraud by or against Lenovo
• Bribery or corruption
• Unethical business conduct
• Violation of legal or regulatory requirements
• Substantial and specific danger to health and safety
• Violation of Lenovo’s corporate policies and guidelines, particularly the Code of Conduct

Lenovo also provides formal, confidential ways to report concerns, ask questions, or request guidance in person, by email, or through the LenovoLine, a confidential reporting system that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the secure website, mobile app or by telephone. Where allowed by law, employees may report concerns about business practices anonymously.

Lenovo takes all allegations and concerns seriously. Lenovo maintains a Whistleblowing and Investigations Policy outlining the process by which concerns can be raised, are reviewed and are investigated. Lenovo also has an oversight body, the Investigation Oversight Committee (IOC), to ensure concerns raised are appropriately investigated and addressed.

Lenovo actively issues training and periodic communications to provide employees with information on Lenovo’s internal investigations process and to encourage them to speak up without the fear of retaliation. Lenovo prohibits retaliation for reports made in good faith. 99.9% of all computer-based employees, including senior management and executives, completed Lenovo’s Whistleblowing and Investigations Policy mandatory eLearning course assigned in FY 2023/24. Additional communications include detailed information about the LenovoLine, quarterly notifications from the IOC with summaries of notable investigations with no identifying details, computer screen lock messaging, posters, and more.

Results from the 2023 Lenovo Listens survey found that 93% of all employees feel comfortable raising concerns about compliance or ethics with management.

In FY 2023/24, Lenovo transitioned to a new whistleblowing and hotline provider to enhance the experience for reporters raising concerns. New features of the reporting platform include the ability to raise concerns via mobile app (iOS or Android), instant translation into the reporter’s local language while communicating with investigators, and the ability to easily communicate with Lenovo’s investigators through a chat box feature, which allows anonymous reporters to communicate without compromising their anonymity.

With these enhancements and Lenovo’s continuous communications campaign, Lenovo has seen an increase in the number of concerns raised year over year. 44% of reporters disclosed that they learned about LenovoLine from Lenovo’s internal communications campaign. To evaluate this impact, Lenovo monitors the number of cases received. In FY 2023/24, Lenovo received 361 cases involving ethics and compliance concerns compared to 251 cases in FY 2022/232. 57% of the reporters identified themselves and 70% of the cases have been closed and addressed accordingly.

Read more

¹ Lenovo’s “computer-based employees” are employees who have access to the Grow@Lenovo eLearning system through their Company-provided assets.

As previously seen on the CSRHub blog.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is bringing significant changes to sustainability reporting in Europe. Companies operating in the EU—or doing business with EU-based organizations—will soon be required to comply with stricter ESG disclosure requirements. The exact timeline and reporting indicators are still evolving, but the EU’s objective is clear: companies must capture and report sustainability data to be evaluated based on environmental and social performance.

To help businesses prepare, CSRHub has developed the CSRHub CSRD Readiness Calculator—a tool designed to assess how well companies align with CSRD reporting standards.

See our new page describing the CSRD Readiness Calculator options here.

CSRHub’s CSRD Readiness Calculator helps companies:

• Estimate CSRD performance using external ESG data
• Identify gaps in sustainability reporting
• Benchmark performance against industry peers

This tool is available in two versions:

The Free Trial is ideal for companies seeking a quick, one-time snapshot of their CSRD alignment. It delivers a high-level estimate based on CSRHub’s external ESG data, helping users understand their baseline position.

The Professional Version is built for organizations that need deeper insights and ongoing analysis. It allows benchmarking against up to 1,000 companies, includes in-depth materiality analysis, and offers Excel export capabilities—making it a powerful solution for compliance teams preparing formal CSRD reports.

Why CSRD Compliance Matters

The CSRD directive will impact thousands of companies worldwide, including non-EU businesses that operate in European markets. Non-compliance could affect corporate reputation, investment opportunities, and regulatory standing.

CSRHub’s Readiness Calculator simplifies the process by mapping ESG performance data to CSRD’s 35 top-level reporting categories. The result can be used to spot compliance weaknesses and improve readiness for CSRD reporting.

About CSRHub

CSRHub offers the most comprehensive global set of Consensus ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings, information, and tools. CSRHub’s business intelligence system measures the ESG business impact that drives corporate and investor sustainability decisions. Founded in 2007, CSRHub covers 57,528 public and private companies, and provides ESG performance scores on over 38,833 companies from 134 industries in 156 countries. Our Big Data platform uses algorithms to aggregate, normalize and weight ESG metrics from 967 sources to produce a strong consensus signal on corporate sustainability performance. Interested in learning more about CSRHub? Click here.

STAMFORD, Conn., April 2, 2025 /3BL/ – Henkel, a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, is introducing concentrated formulas and packaging across all®, Persil® and Snuggle® liquid laundry products. This update offers laundry-doers effective detergent cleaning power and fabric conditioning softness and scent at a more concentrated level per load – making every wash more environmentally conscious. The new formulas and packaging began shipping to store shelves early March 2025 and will continue to roll out in subsequent months.

This initiative is a testament to the ongoing commitment to sustainability at Henkel, evidenced by significant reductions in resources used across the value chain. This includes an average 16% dose concentration across laundry detergent variants* and the integration of 50% recycled plastic content into new bottle designs, unlocking sustainability improvements and efficiency from production to shipping and to consumer use.

“At Henkel, we are dedicated to leading with initiatives that not only enhance product performance but also demonstrate our corporate values for the good of all generations,” said Philipp Schaffer, Corporate Senior Vice President, Henkel Consumer Brands, North America. “Together, we’re fostering more mindful laundry days that create positive, lasting impact.”

Martina Spinatsch, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, North America adds, “By further concentrating the liquid formulas for these laundry brands, we’re reducing our environmental footprint from plastic to water-usage to shipping, providing efficacy our consumers know and trust.”

The introduction of these concentrated formulas also sets new benchmarks in environmental stewardship for the brands:

• Water Conservation: The new detergent formulas reduce water usage in our manufacturing facilities, conserving approximately 9 million gallons annually, equivalent to the water used in 450,000 standard laundry wash loads**.
• Plastic Reduction: With concentrated formulas comes smaller bottles. The initiative achieves a nearly 5% net reduction in plastic, which is equivalent to the plastic found in over 20 million one-gallon milk jugs.
  • Moreover, the majority of the brands’ laundry product bottles will be made with 50% recycled materials.
• CO2 Reduction: With smaller, more efficient packaging, Henkel can effectively reduce the number of trucks needed for transportation, resulting in a significant decrease in CO2 emissions. This change will contribute to a projected annual CO2 emissions savings of over 4,000 metric tons, which is equivalent to the absorption capabilities of approximately 169,100 trees annually.

Formula concentration supports the Henkel 2030+ Sustainability Impact Framework, which focuses on creating a regenerative planet, thriving communities and trusted partnerships. By reducing resource consumption and enhancing product sustainability, Henkel aims to help influence positive consumer behavior through effective and environmentally responsible products.

Consumers can support these efforts by choosing all®, Persil® and Snuggle® brand products which support Henkel Corporation’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. To learn more, visit henkel-northamerica.com.

*Includes all® & Persil®

**Based on 20 gallons per washload

About all®

Sold in the United States, the all^® laundry brand has been a recognized leader and laundry partner for generations. Its portfolio of laundry care products includes concentrated liquid and single dose pac detergents, as well as liquid and sheet fabric softeners. all^® free clear detergent is the #1 recommended detergent brand by dermatologists, allergists and pediatricians for sensitive skin. Follow all^® on Instagram @all_laundry and Facebook @allLaundry.

About Persil®

As a trusted leader in laundry care, Persil® laundry detergent is formulated to help keep clothes looking newer for longer versus the leading value detergent. The fabric care ingredients of Persil® help keep colors from fading and whites and colors stay vibrant. Persil® is also packed with powerful stain-fighting enzymes to deliver a premium deep clean. Sold nationwide in the United States, the Persil® laundry portfolio includes liquid and single dose pac detergents. The detergents can be used in all water temperatures and washer types, including cold water and high-efficiency (HE) machines. Stay connected with Persil® on Instagram @PersilLaundry, TikTok @PersilLaundry and Facebook @Persil for the latest updates and tips.

About Snuggle®

Snuggle® fabric softener has been making the world a softer, fresher place for over 40 years, providing the ultimate in Snuggly Softness® and long-lasting freshness to loads of laundry. The Snuggle® line offers a variety of high-quality fabric conditioning products, including liquid softeners, dryer sheets, and in-wash scent boosters that make clothes snuggly soft while providing long-lasting freshness. See www.Snuggle.com for full details.

About Henkel in North America

Henkel’s portfolio of well-known brands in North America includes all®, Purex® and Persil® laundry detergents, Snuggle® fabric softeners, Dial® soaps, Schwarzkopf® hair care, as well as Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives. With sales close to 6.5 billion US dollars (6 billion euros) in 2024, North America accounts for 28 percent of the company’s global sales. Henkel employs around 8,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com and on X @Henkel_NA.

Agency Contact on behalf of Henkel: Brittni Wade
Email: bwade@agencyh5.com

Henkel North America Contact: Erica Cooper
Phone: 475-232-4973
Email: erica.cooper@henkel.com

###

Did you know that each year, the U.S. sends more than 146 million tons of waste to landfills? It’s estimated that up to 75% of that waste could be recovered or recycled. To visualize, that’s enough recyclable material to fill the Hoover Dam 30 times over!

Since its inception in 2018, Global Recycling Day has highlighted the significant environmental and social benefits of recycling, reminding us that even small actions—like recycling cardboard boxes or composting food scraps and yard waste—can help create meaningful change.

Ready to make a difference? Discover practical tips to reduce waste, improve recycling rates, and adopt more sustainable practices by visiting the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s website: Reduce Waste: What You Can Do https://bit.ly/4ivefsj

View original content here.

About Georgia-Pacific 
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products.  Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us. For news, visit: news.gp.com. Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube.

FARMINGTON, Conn., April 2, 2025 /3BL/ – Four student teams from around the world are regional winners in Otis’ Made to Move Communities student challenge. These winning teams will go on to compete in Otis’ first global competition. In the fifth year of the annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) competition, more than 250 students from 28 schools proposed innovative ways for Artificial Intelligence to improve urban mobility. Otis (NYSE: OTIS) is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

Over the last several months, high school students, with the guidance of Otis volunteer mentors, designed concepts leveraging AI technology to enable more inclusive mobility in their communities, and presented their ideas to Otis judges in each of the company’s four regions: Americas, Asia Pacific, China and EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa).

Now, for the first time, the four regional winning teams will compete in a final round to determine a global challenge champion. Student teams will share how their solution to local challenges can be scaled globally, and present to a judging panel of Otis senior executives. The global winner will be announced in early May.

All schools with teams competing in the challenge receive a grant to further STEM learning. Each of the regional winner schools earned a $20,000 grant and the global champion team’s school will receive a total of $35,000 in STEM grants.

“It is exciting to witness the creativity and hard work these students have displayed – embracing AI and applying STEM skills to solve local challenges in urban mobility. I look forward to hearing our student participants expand on their outstanding ideas during our first global competition. Knowing our world holds immense potential for STEM-based solutions, we truly hope that this experience has inspired these students to continue exploring STEM programs and fields, setting them on a path to become our future leaders and innovators,” said Randi Tanguay, Otis Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer and global challenge judge.

The four regional winning teams are:

Pembroke Pines Charter High School, Florida, United States 

A smartphone application that uses AI to aid individuals with visual impairments by providing a description of their surroundings to help navigate spaces.

Yamagata Higashi High School, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

An AI-equipped mobility scooter to prevent falls and provide a safe mobility experience for the elderly.

Tianjin Farragut School, Tianjin, China

An AI-powered elevator system that optimizes multi-elevator coordination for efficient resource allocation, while integrating smart hardware to enhance travel comfort.

Üsküdar American Academy (UAA), Istanbul, Türkiye 

An AI-based app that sends audio, visual, and vibrating notifications to smartphones and smartwatches, helping individuals with hearing impairment recognize emergency alerts, audible hazards and warnings in their environment.

About the Made to Move Communities challenge

Launched in 2020, the Made to Move Communities challenge engages young minds to explore real-world urbanization challenges and develop innovative solutions with the potential to create more connected communities and improve mobility for all. This initiative brings together students, educators, and Otis colleagues as mentors with the goals of advancing STEM and leadership skills to help build the next generation of talent, ensure future workforce readiness, and sustain innovation.

Each year, the program focuses on a different theme that aligns with global priorities, such as sustainability, accessibility or technology. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, applying STEM principles to address mobility-related issues. Through workshops, mentorship, and collaboration, participants gain valuable insights and skills that prepare them for future careers while making a positive impact on society. Participating schools also receive grants at the conclusion of the program to support ongoing STEM education.

To date, the Made to Move Communities program has reached more than 1,000 student participants globally, involved more than 950 Otis volunteer mentors, and delivered nearly 100 grants totaling over $1 million to support ongoing STEM education at participating schools around the world.

To learn more about the Made to Move Communities challenge, visit www.otis.com/mtmc.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

In support of Black History Month, Griffith Foods is honored to have sponsored the 2025 Black Creativity Gala at the Museum of Science and Industry, celebrating Black innovators and artists.

This inspiring event showcases creativity, culture, and groundbreaking talent through the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition. We take pride in supporting initiatives that promote diversity and innovation, and we’re excited to be part of a future where both thrive.

To learn more about the event, visit: https://www.msichicago.org/education/creativity-and-innovation/black-creativity/gala

Our Sustainability Journey
At Griffith Foods, we are committed to driving positive impact through a regenerative mindset. Sustainability is connected to everything we do as a business, and by 2030, we are dedicated to significantly improving the future with a singular sustainable business strategy that we call our 2030 Aspirations. To learn more about Griffith Foods and its current sustainability efforts, visit them online and download the 2023 Sustainability Report.

About Griffith Foods
At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

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Originally published on GEC’s New Feed

Today the Global Electronics Council (GEC) released its Final Product Category Proposal for Enterprise Data Storage products, which initiates coverage of this category under the EPEAT ecolabel, and development of the EPEAT “data center stack” to enable more sustainable data centers. The final proposal reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process.

This document outlines the rationale for adding enterprise data storage to the EPEAT portfolio, including market analysis, summary of sustainability impacts and strategies to reduce impacts, and stakeholder interest. It also provides an overview of product composition and makes recommendations on the scope and approach for developing criteria for this product category.

In order to activate this new EPEAT Product Category, GEC will apply the newly updated next generation sustainability criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains. GEC will also make necessary changes to apply the next generation EPEAT Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria to data storage equipment by convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review draft proposals for a Limited Criteria Revision. Where select Sustainable Use of Resources criteria have product specific thresholds and/or functional performance requirements, such as for recycled content and availability of replacement components, GEC will seek Expert Ad Hoc Group input on the applicability of server requirements to data storage products. No other revisions to EPEAT SUR-2025 Criteria or other next generation EPEAT Criteria are proposed. Following conclusion of the Expert Ad Hoc Group vetting process, GEC will initiate a Voluntary Consensus Process with NSF International for a Limited Criteria Revision of EPEAT SUR-2025.

EPEAT’s sustainability criteria are built and finalized via a community driven process. Stakeholders interested in participating in the Expert Ad Hoc Group are encouraged to contact criteria@gec.org by 11:59pm ET on April 16, 2025.

Please contact Erica Terek (eterek@gec.org) with any questions.