Tag: 3BL

This article is authored by Jenelle Shapiro, Sustainability and Circularity Leader, Trane Technologies.

We live in an era where finite materials and critical resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. To ensure the long-term health of our business and a thriving planet, we need to rethink how we leverage our limited resources while reducing our emissions. But how do we achieve that goal? Enter circularity – a system designed to maximize the functional life and value of products and materials while tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

At Trane Technologies, we’ve embarked on a pioneering journey to build circularity into the core of our business, implementing circular systems throughout our value chain to drive innovation and impact at all levels.

By rethinking traditional design and production processes, we’ll spark the development of new materials and technologies. By expanding our internal systems and external supplier processes for material repurpose and repair, we’ll safeguard the environment and our supply chain. And by integrating circular systems throughout our operations, we’ll create improved business models that deliver long-term value.

A circularity definition

At its highest level, circularity is a system that maintains the value and usability of products, materials and resources for as long as possible while minimizing waste. To achieve this goal, we source products, equipment and materials efficiently and preserve their value to the fullest extent by reusing, redistributing, remanufacturing or recycling.

By embracing circularity, we’re creating a business ecosystem that is both more resilient and less carbon-intensive. The result? A future where the full transition to a circular economy helps scale profitability.

Six key circularity pillars

Our circularity strategy focuses on six key pillars that touch every stage of our value chain, from initial product design to end-of-life.

• Sustainable & circular design: We plan for the full equipment lifecycle during the product design stage, creating systems that are easily repaired, refurbished or recycled.
• Material selection: As we select materials, we prioritize those with low environmental impact, incentivizing a circular and sustainable supply chain.
• Maintain, prolong, share: We keep products and materials in use by maintaining them to extend their useful life while minimizing upgrades and unnecessary replacements.
• Reuse, redistribute: We use products and components multiple times for their intended purpose without significant modification, conserving valuable resources.
• Remanufacture, repair: Instead of disposal, we return our products or components into good working order by prioritizing upgrades, repairs, refurbishments or replacements of disassembled parts.
• Recycle: Whenever possible, we transform our scrap and end-of-life products back into their base materials to reprocess them into new products, minimizing waste and maximizing material quality and value.

Measuring impact: our circularity goals and key performance indicators 

Our primary goal is to increase our circularity capabilities throughout the business and reduce embodied carbon in our products and operations. Achieving this will help us reduce waste, conserve resources and create shared value with our customers and suppliers.

These circularity approaches will help us achieve our bold 2030 Sustainability Commitments – specifically our targets to reduce embodied carbon in our products by 40%, increase circularity in our systems design and send zero waste to landfills.

We’ve created several key performance indicators (KPIs) that will help us stay on target, including measuring the use of circular materials, tracking circular services and solutions and quantifying our greenhouse gas emissions impact. These high-level indicators are designed to help teams across our business set their own specific circularity targets to drive a circular transition at deeper levels of the organization.

Walking the walk: our circularity strategies, tools and resources

From design concept to end-of-life, our circularity strategies touch every facet of our value chain. Our core strategies include:

• Increasing our ability to integrate circularity considerations during the product design phase, integrating repairability, ability to remanufacture and recyclability from day one
• Reducing use of virgin, primary material while increasing and optimizing use of secondary, recycled or renewable alternatives
• Incentivizing suppliers and third-party organizations throughout our value chain to reuse, repair and remanufacture whenever possible

To implement these strategies, we’re facilitating cross-functional collaborations within our organization and outside collaborators. Internally, 19 leaders representing every Trane Technologies business and region serve on our Circularity Council, working to align our sustainability goals with our business strategies. Many more participate in our circularity working groups, breaking down silos and barriers across our organization to implement the most impactful activities and business models.

Externally, we’re working with key suppliers to create reverse logistics models and extend their remanufacturing capabilities. In addition, we’re collaborating with industry alliances like the REMADE Institute and the Remanufacturing Industries Council, and engaging with coalitions that facilitate stakeholder and policy engagement, like the Circular Economy Coalition, the World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

We’re also giving teams across our business concrete tools and resources to make progress and measure their impact. In 2024, we conducted a groundbreaking circularity maturity assessment, evaluating our entire business to assess what we are doing well today and where we want to scale tomorrow. This resource will serve as our baseline, helping us measure our progress.

Innovative new tools, like our Design for Sustainability and Circularity (DfSC) module, will help us leverage design as a mechanism for change. By utilizing the DfSC tool, business teams – including product management, engineering and operations – are expected to make design decisions reflective of both quantifiable and actionable product-level decisions.

Circularity outcomes: reducing emissions for our business and our customers 

The circularity work we do around resource efficiency, waste reduction and product life reduces our upstream and downstream Scope 3 emissions as we transition our business to a circular economy. For example, rethinking our product design may reduce our raw material needs. Using scrap waste at our facilities or integrating remanufactured or repaired components into our products decreases reliance on virgin inputs.

Our circularity work also helps our customers reduce their Scope 3 emissions by addressing the indirect emissions throughout the lifecycle of the products they use. For example, equipment containing recycled content, recovered components or remanufactured parts decreases these emissions. Design for durability and repairability helps reduce new material needs. Our support with asset recovery at end-of-life helps minimize disposal emissions.

Implementing these innovative circular systems will require hard work, investment and shifts in both our way of thinking and our business processes. But this hard work will create value in multiple ways. The beauty of circularity is that it’s not an “either/or” proposition: integrating these practices into our core business operations will achieve better environmental and better business outcomes.

AMSTERDAM and HONG KONG and Oakland, Calif., April 17, 2025 /3BL/ – Issued today, the “Vietnam Country Report: Macroeconomic, Socioeconomic, and Industry Analysis” report, developed by Cascale with support from the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), highlights the evolving macroeconomic landscape, sustainability challenges facing apparel and footwear manufacturing, and the rapid expansion of the consumer goods market in Vietnam. A strong economic outlook coupled with bold sustainability initiatives reveals a country poised to play a crucial role in global decarbonization efforts, even as tariffs threaten to put 5.5% of Vietnam’s GDP at risk and raise prices for American consumers (New York Times, April 6). Tariffs and other key topics impacting Vietnam will be on the agenda at the Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City on May 14-15, as Cascale members and non-members alike – including manufacturers, leading brands, service providers, and supply chain partners – come together for an immersive event to address urgent sustainability challenges and opportunities. 

The report includes critical analysis of data from Cascale’s Higg Facility Environment Module (FEM) tool, exclusively available on Worldly. It is the first in a series of actionable reports filtering Higg FEM insights through a regional lens.

In 2023, over 1,200 verified Higg FEM submissions showed coal exacerbates carbon emissions in the region: 12% of apparel and footwear facilities use coal for energy, while 94% rely on electricity purchased from Vietnam’s coal-dependent grid. Although renewable energy accounts for less than 2% of the sector’s energy use, the analysis underscores opportunities for transformation to a low-carbon economy, including through the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR) developed by Cascale and Aii.

The report shows Vietnam can couple growth with sustainable manufacturing. Vietnam’s economy is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2025, outpacing regional peers. The manufacturing sector continues to be a key driver, contributing 23.88% to GDP in 2023. Additionally, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains robust, reaching US$31.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2024, signaling investor confidence in Vietnam’s economic resilience. Employing around three million workers and generating an estimated US$71 billion in export revenues for 2024, the apparel and footwear sector is a vital component of Vietnam’s economy but faces significant sustainability challenges, including high energy consumption and carbon emissions. With commitments in place for a 65-70% increase in renewable energy by 2045 – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a projected 70-80% – Vietnam is committed to supply chain decarbonization, in line with the IDR.

The report brings Cascale and Aii’s IDR into focus as a potential solution. By uniting manufacturers, brands, retailers, and stakeholders around shared goals, the IDR emphasizes collective accountability and pre-competitive collaboration to accelerate systemic change across the supply chain. With a science-based target of reducing supply chain emissions by 45% by 2030, the IDR drives measurable progress through various interventions, solutions, and programs. The IDR ensures resources are targeted, so low-carbon sourcing and other benefits can be realized. This means prioritizing action in the 10% of facilities across the textile and apparel supply chain – including some in Vietnam – that account for over 80% of global manufacturing emissions. By aligning with these initiatives, facilities in Vietnam can play a pivotal role in the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

“This isn’t merely about compliance—it’s about long-term competitiveness,” said Colin Browne, Cascale CEO. “Brands increasingly prefer suppliers who meet robust sustainability standards. Manufacturers investing in sustainability today will secure long-term brand partnerships tomorrow.”

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

This week, Coach announced a multi-year partnership with the WNBA, marking the beginning of a new chapter on the brand’s journey to champion self-expression and authenticity. As the official handbag partner of the WNBA, Coach will play a pivotal role in empowering players and fans alike. This collaboration embodies our core purpose, the Courage to Be Real, by inspiring people to confidently explore all facets of their identity.

The collaboration kicked off celebrations on April 14 with the WNBA Draft 2025 presented by State Farm® at The Shed in New York City. Throughout the evening, the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach welcomed the newest class of WNBA rookies.

This partnership is a testament to Coach’s ongoing commitment to innovation and societal impact. We are proud to be part of the WNBA Changemakers Collective, working alongside purpose-driven companies to enhance the player experience, build the brand, inspire innovation, increase media coverage, and drive business transformation.

Coach will also partner with and amplify the stories of five WNBA prospects who are bridging the worlds of sport and fashion as exceptional athletes who express themselves with their own unique style. The five WNBA prospects are Paige Bueckers (University of Connecticut), Hailey Van Lith (Texas Christian University), Aneesah Morrow (Louisiana State University), Kiki Iriafen (University of South California), and Sonia Citron (Notre Dame).

Coach CEO Todd Kahn said, “This is a sport where the most successful players have that perfect combination of daring confidence, an unshakable commitment to teamwork, and a shared dedication to the dream. I see many parallels in Tapestry and Coach’s own story – after all, Coach was the first company to commit to moving their headquarters to Hudson Yards, and back then we couldn’t conceive of a world where the WNBA would be holding its draft on an old railroad.”

Additionally, Coach will become the presenting partner of WNBA Pride, a platform the league launched in 2014, which marked the first time a pro sports league formed an integrated program to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to a slate of nationally televised games, WNBA Pride presented by Coach will spotlight the third consecutive season of the Pride Is Love limited content series available on the WNBA App.

Empowering our communities
Giving back to our communities, and empowering them, is at the core of our corporate mission. In 2024, our focus on corporate social responsibility made a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers and communities, resulting in an economic impact of $153.52 million across our service area. Our dedicated employees were vital to this success, contributing more than 122,000 hours of volunteer service, valued at $4.09 million.

Bill assistance for our customers in need
With 40% of our 3 million residential customers living in poverty, Entergy is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve. When temperatures soared last summer, we donated $3 million to help our low-income customers become more energy efficient and save money on their energy bills.Through Entergy’s Beat the Heat program, our customers received bill payment assistance, fans, energy efficiency kits, home weatherization and invaluable support from localcommunity partners.

Free tax preparation for our customers
For more than 15 years, we have provided free tax preparation for our low-to-moderate-income customers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites across our service area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Every year, our IRS-certified employees help customers file their taxes and access valuable information on tax credits and deductions they are eligible for, maximizing their tax refunds. In 2024, Entergy helped low-to-moderate-income customersreceive $55 million in federal tax refunds. Of that amount, $21 million were Earned Income Tax Credits. Since 2009, our support of VITA sites has helped return $333 million to nearly 200,000 customers in our service area.

The Civic 50 honoree  
We were honored to be named an honoree of The Civic 50, Points of Light’s prestigious annual list recognizing the top community-minded companies in the United States. This is the ninth time we have been included on this list, and we were also named as this year’s Utilities Sector Leader for the second year. This recognition highlights our commitment to corporate citizenship and sets a national standard for driving social impact.

Read the full report here.

Originally published on TriplePundit

Subaru recently committed to sponsor the largest community tree distribution in the Arbor Day Foundation’s history. Dan Lambe of the Foundation explains more about the power of trees and the impact this effort will have on communities and ecosystems across the U.S.

It’s easy to take trees for granted since they’re embedded in the landscape of our lives. They grow strong and silent, never asking for anything and always giving something. Clean air. Cool shade. A sense of peace. But in order for us to continue to enjoy the benefits of trees in the future, we can’t afford to overlook them in the present.

Right now, communities across the country are enduring mounting challenges like rising temperatures, frequent extreme weather events, and poor air quality. These pressures put a strain on infrastructure, threaten public health, and disrupt daily life. Trees have a remarkable ability to help us address these impacts and make our communities more resilient in the process.

Unfortunately, we’re losing trees at an alarming rate. Factors like urban developments, natural disasters, and disease are thinning our tree canopy at a moment when we need it most. According to the U.S. Forest Service, cities and neighborhoods lose approximately 36 million trees annually — equivalent to 175,000 acres of coverage each year. The Arbor Day Foundation’s Canopy Report found more than half of Americans must drive to reach their nearest green space.

We feel the absence of trees in tangible ways. In the lack of shade at our children’s playgrounds. In the rising summer energy bills. In the flooding after periods of heavy rain. This isn’t just about statistics — it’s about the strength of our communities.

We need to bring an abundance of trees to our cities and neighborhoods, but we can’t do it alone. Because something that is bigger than all of us, takes all of us. While no single organization, company, or individual can solve our environmental challenges alone, together we can grow solutions at the scale our changing world demands.

This understanding drives the impactful partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and Subaru. As the world’s largest tree planting nonprofit, the Arbor Day Foundation has collaborated with hundreds of corporate partners to foster healthier cities and forests. Last year, Subaru joined our extensive network and has committed to sponsoring the largest community tree distribution in the Foundation’s history. Through this work, Subaru will activate its nationwide network of retailers to support more than 600 tree distribution events this year. More than 95 percent of Subaru’s retailers volunteered to be part of this initiative, all energized by the opportunity to make their respective communities greener. Thanks to their participation, there will be distributions in every state in the continental United States and Alaska, and luckily, the work is already well underway. This hands-on, community-driven approach is helping to create a ripple effect of environmental impact, with Subaru’s retailers serving as local hubs for environmental action.

In a moment that demands bold action, Subaru is a continued force for environmental stewardship. Subaru has already demonstrated its commitment to social impact through its Subaru Love Promise. The Subaru Love Promise is built on five core pillars including the environment, health, education, pets and community. The company has already helped plant 1.1 million trees in forests affected by wildfires while also supporting and protecting U.S. national parks. In addition to being a leader in the Arbor Day Foundation’s community tree planting initiative, Subaru is also collaborating with the Foundation to help plant 20,000 trees in forests of greatest need. A commitment of this scale is important as we continually seek to drive positive impact through tree-based initiatives.

Trees are a proven and vital community asset. For example, a single tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people while also absorbing nearly 10 pounds of polluted air each year. Collectively, urban and community trees across the country remove 711,000 metric tons of air pollution annually. Communities with robust canopies experience reduced rates of asthma and other respiratory problems. Trees also add value through their water management abilities. One mature deciduous tree intercepts 500 to 700 gallons of water annually, helping to prevent erosion, filter pollutants and manage the impact of urban flooding. Trees can even reduce high temperatures by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, a potentially lifesaving amount in an increasingly warmer world. Beyond these physical health benefits, research shows that people living near parks and green spaces report better mental health.

As part of its Subaru Loves the Earth initiative, the automaker’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation is not only an investment in trees, but also an investment in public health and community resiliency.

Work is already underway and as these trees take root across America, they’ll do more than strengthen our urban canopies. They’ll demonstrate how strategic partnerships can address environmental challenges while building happier and healthier neighborhoods. Each tree planted through this initiative will serve as a living testament to what can be achieved when we work together. Because the power of a tree extends far beyond the moment it’s planted. It’s the beginning of a long legacy, benefiting our communities and our planet. 
Trees have the answers to some of the most challenging issues facing our world today.

They just need bold leaders ready to plant them.

This article series is sponsored by Subaru of America and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team. 

Dan Lambe is the CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, founded in 1972, which has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with over one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Dan leads the strategic development of programs and partnerships through which the Foundation strives to educate, recognize, and empower people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Originally published in Lenovo’s 2023/24 ESG Report

Stakeholder engagement: Lenovo 360 Circle – Unveiling the origins and mission

As part of Lenovo’s stakeholder engagement efforts, Lenovo 360 Circle was established to increase collaboration and enhance its relationships with channel partners. Lenovo’s robust network of channel partners helps to deliver smarter technology to millions of customers around the world. When it comes to devices, infrastructure, and services and solutions, Lenovo provides channel partners with the resources needed to succeed in a highly competitive market. In 2021, Lenovo expanded that partner support to include sustainability resources through a partner community called Lenovo 360 Circle.

Built with inputs from channel partners, Lenovo 360 Circle was established as a community for partners to come together for collective learning opportunities and collaboration on addressing key issues in sustainability. The community is based on a self-service portal that follows a similar structure to the engagement process established by the UN Global Compact for private and public sectors.

Partners can apply for membership to Lenovo 360 Circle with their company’s sustainability lead and, through the application, identify where they stand in their sustainability efforts into one of three stages: “Connect” partners, who are just starting out and need some help getting their strategy up and running, “Learn” partners, who have a structure in place and are ready to expand their strategies, and “Lead” partners, who are considered ‘advanced’ in their strategies and may already have a track record of goals and success in their sustainability efforts. Once the partner stage is identified, partners are then connected with a set of resources that are tailored to their specific needs – from assessment tools to tailored curriculums, to access to subject-matter experts and community events and webinars.

Lenovo envisions the Lenovo 360 Circle not only as a strategic advantage, but also expediting the shift to more sustainable business practices and models. As a community, the Lenovo 360 Circle addresses sustainability as a new business driver, while unlocking new business opportunities and aligning on common ESG goals.

Thriving together: Collective learning, collaboration, and partnerships in action

FY 2023/24 Lenovo 360 Circle in a few numbers:

• Since September 2023, 343 members joined. The community now counts 363 members representing 2,181 local partners in 43 countries
• 379 sustainability experts as part of the Lenovo 360 Circle community coming from members, from third party’s advisors as well as from Lenovo, representing a year-to-year increase of 102%.
• The community forum participation increased by 179% since the broader opening of the community (~50% panelists coming from members).
• 280+ hours of collaboration through focus groups, sustainability workshops, regular interlocks.
• 5.5 hours training resources developed to support channel sellers and sustainability experts representing 14 courses and 65 modules (~50% industry agnostic content).
• The overall engagement of Lead partners into the community common goals⁴ keeps improving year over year:

Percentages of Lead partners engaged⁵ in or reached common goals in FY 2023/24

(percentage changes compared to prior year)

Goal-category	Renewable Energy	Alignment with SBTi	Circular economy	Philanthropy	Women in Leadership
Engaged	65% (+5%)	65% (+0%)	91% (+1%)	57% (+2%)	78% (+3%)
Reached	33% (+13%)	33% (+2%)	n/a6	54% (+18%)	67% (-6%)

FY 2023/24 key projects linked to Lenovo 360 Circle Priorities:

• Scope 3 inventory management: The Mode of Transportation (MOT) dashboard is providing detailed emissions data for transported goods for channel partners. It allows them to move away from spend-based assumptions to more accurate calculations, consolidating Scope 3 emissions from transportation based on real logistics data, depending on MOT (including air, sea, and truck) and detailed route from manufacturing location to destination. The MOT dashboard has been developed by Lenovo’s Global Supply Chain, while integrating partner feedback.
• Products sustainability attributes: Facilitating access to product sustainability attributes while ensuring transparency and reliability is a key focus of the Lenovo 360 Circle. For this reason, in Spring 2023 the community has joined the “Product ESG Data Transparency” project led by Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) and CONTEXT. This project has been built in consultation with IT vendors, IT distributors, and IT resellers to create an ESG data platform, primarily focusing on environmental attributes as a first step.
• Packaging: The Lenovo 360 Circle supported Lenovo’s EMEA Education team to design and launch an initiative called ‘Turning Waste into Educational Wonder’, which encourages students and educators to sustainably repurpose Lenovo’s packaging. This initiative comprised a dedicated webpage, instruction booklet in multiple languages and a STEM competition for students to promote skills such as design, engineering, and problem-solving. Overall, there were 160+ submissions from 4,000+ students in 23 countries with nine winners.
• Learning and Development: Leveraging the dedicated focus group and answering to a requirement coming from founding partners, Lenovo has developed the Lenovo 360 Sustainability Learning Paths. The training, primarily targeted at sales and sustainability leaders, offers four learning paths, comprised of courses and interactive, bite-sized modules, to provide essential sustainability knowledge and skills. Learners embark on a journey from sustainability fundamentals, to understanding Lenovo’s ESG approach, and skills to embed sustainability within their business practices. Upon completion, individuals will receive credentials and partners receive Lenovo 360 Accreditation and progression through the levels of Lenovo 360 Circle membership status, where applicable.

As an active participant of the UN Global Compact, Lenovo 360 Circle is also consistently promoting the initiative’s solutions amongst the members of the community while supporting the SDG 17: partnerships for the goals.

Championing sustainability across the value chain

Lenovo 360 Circle has been recognized with Champion status in the 2023 Canalys Global Sustainable Ecosystems Leadership Matrix for outstanding achievement in sustainability-focused partner programs and robust sustainability strategies at an organizational level. Lenovo 360 Circle was also awarded the Best Value Chain Initiative of the Year at CRN’s inaugural Sustainability in Tech summit. This award recognizes a company, or partnership of companies, which are taking steps to reduce emissions across their entire supply chain, reduce waste and resource usage, and provide tangible results of the impact they are making on the environment.

Testimonials from participants:

“Connection is honored to participate as a charter member of Lenovo 360 Circle initiative. Participating in this community has been a tremendous learning experience and has served as a tipping point for Connection to invest in the creation of policies and develop executive sponsored initiatives focused on Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility.”

Brian Hicks, Senior Vice President Product Management and Operations at Connection

“Tackling complex social and environmental challenges is a team sport. The Lenovo 360 Circle systemic approach is a visionary and ambitious, yet complex journey we can all learn from”.

Arnaud Mourot, VP – Global Corporate Alliances and Changemaker Companies at Ashoka

Embracing tomorrow: Mapping out the year ahead for Lenovo 360 Circle

As Lenovo embarks on its journey forward, Lenovo 360 Circle commits to:

• Actively seek out new members who share its vision and values,
• Prioritize and cultivate strategic partnerships that amplify its mission and magnify its impact,
• Quantifying its impact and enhancing its methodologies and tools.

Stakeholder engagement: Corporate Compliance Summit

Lenovo continues to focus on engaging its various stakeholders who may be impacted by its ESG efforts and whose actions can affect Lenovo’s value. On January 15, 2024, Lenovo held a Corporate Compliance Summit in Beijing, inviting guests from the government, industry, university, and research field to discuss corporate compliance issues, jointly exploring new trends, challenges and opportunities, promoting internal compliance management, enhancing risk prevention awareness, and promoting high-quality development of enterprises to create a healthy market environment together

Read more

⁴To become a Lead member, companies must set at least three out of the five common goals relevant to five topics.

⁵Engaged is defined as companies who have set a goal.

⁶“n/a” as circularity goal for each partner is defined individually thus incomparable between the companies.

Logitech Blog

With strict criteria and a growing emphasis on sustainability, the iF Design Awards continue to be one of the industry’s most prestigious and celebrated awards. This year, the iF Design Awards had close to 11,000 entries from 66 countries, and Logitech was awarded four awards for the following products: Logitech G Racing Sim, MX Creative Console, EVERBOOM and MINIROLL. 

One of the industry’s oldest independent design organizations, iF Design curates one of design’s most sought-after accolades: the iF Design Award, which highlights outstanding design throughout several disciplines — including product, packaging, UX, and UI.

Additionally, Logitech designers Sean Su, head of design in APAC, and Xinyue Zhou, head of UX for Personal Workspace, were named to the jury, which consisted of over 100 designers from all over the world. They did not participate in evaluating Logitech’s iF submissions. 

“We are honored to receive continued recognition from the iF Design Awards as we strive to design and innovate with purpose,” said Sean Su. “It was equally a privilege to represent Logitech Design and serve alongside a distinguished panel of jurors and engage in thought-provoking discussions about the inspiring entries from across the globe.”

Thank you iF Awards for your ongoing recognition of Logitech Design.

See the full list of winners here.

PARIS and HAMBURG, Germany, April 16, 2025 /3BL/ – Chief Sustainability Officers of the most influential corporations of Europe will gather at the Futur/io CSO Reception on 24 April in Paris to discuss the future of the fashion industry.

The event is part of the ChangeNOW Summit, known as “The World Expo of Solutions for the Planet”. For 3 days, 40 thousand people will gather at the Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées to discuss innovative solutions to the pressing challenges of our time and to take action together.

The Futur/io Institute, a pioneering organisation dedicated to nurturing and inspiring leaders in sustainability, has partnered with ChangeNOW for this exclusive event.

“In uncertain times, being part of a purpose-driven community is the key to building up resilience and innovative strategies,” said Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute. “Our CSO Reception brings together leaders in sustainability to share insights and co-create the bold plans necessary to shape desirable futures.”

In the setting of the Palais’s Rotunda, an intimate yet inspiring space, change-makers will discuss the role of France and Europe in leading global change. A carefully curated panel of executives in the fashion industry will share their views on how CSOs can shape business transformation and design a more sustainable sector.

Futur/io CSO Reception

The event will take place on 24 April at 12h, at the Grand Palais, in Paris.

The panel “The Role of the CSO in a Shifting World” will include Ulrike Sapiro, CSO at Henkel, and Carine de Boissezon, Chief Impact Officer at EDF. Harald Neidhardt, CEO of Futur/io, will be the moderator.

The panel “Sustainable Futures in the Fashion Industry” will feature Dounia Wone, CIO at Vestiaire Collective; Barbara Martin-Coppola, Board Director at INSEAD and Former CEO of Decathlon; and Geraldine Vallejo, Sustainability Programme Director at Kering. Isabelle Grosmaître, Founder & CEO at Goodness & Co, will moderate.

Additional speakers will include Patricia Torres, Global Head of Sustainable Finance Solutions, Bloomberg Global; Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO at We Don’t Have Time; and Joachim Swensson, CEO of Made in Sustainability and co-founder of Waste Equity.

Futur/io CSO Executive Leadership Programmes

With a proven track of sustainable leadership events and initiatives, the Futur/io Institute has built a powerful community of thought leaders around the world. Amongst the Institute’s initiatives is the CSO Awards, which celebrate the most impactful corporate sustainable leaders in Europe and North America. The Awards ceremonies take place annually in Davos, during the World Economic Forum annual meeting, and in New York, during Climate Week. For the first edition of the CSO Awards Latin America in November 2025, the celebration will be set in the Amazon region during the COP 30 in Belem, Brazil.

The Futur/io House (Davos & Belem) is hosting several day-long series of talks about the intersection of innovation and sustainability in sectors such as energy, technology, finance, and desirable futures.

The CSO Impact Podcast interviews leaders in sustainability every week, reflecting on the role of the Chief Sustainability Officer and how companies can make a positive impact on the planet. And finally, the Futur/io Leadership Forums are exclusive gatherings where carefully curated thought leaders meet in countries such as France, Portugal, and Germany.

About Futur/io Institute

We believe in co-creating desirable futures where ideas and innovation drive a regenerative economy that benefits people and the planet within planetary boundaries.

The Futur/io Institute is a pioneering organisation to serve the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers dedicated to transforming businesses to drive positive impact for people, planet, and prosperity. We do this through publications, podcasts, and convening at inspiring locations like Davos, Basel, Lisbon, Venice, and New York.

With a mission to inspire ambition, action, and cross-pollination to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the institute provides a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape the futures of business and society.

Futur/io works with organisations like the UNFCCC or corporations in leadership training and curates Executive Programmes to inspire future leaders in sustainable innovation. Each year in Davos, the institute organizes executive receptions and recently debuted the annual CSO Awards to shine a light on the leadership role of Chief Sustainability Officers.

Futur/io is based in Hamburg and works as a think-tank with a selected international and diverse faculty of 100+ leaders in sustainability. The most recent book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” was published in May 2024 with Murmann Publishers. CEO & Curator Harald Neidhardt hosts the CSO Impact Podcast.

futur.io

Additional Info
https://www.futur.io/events/paris-cso-reception-2025 
Photos of the speakers are available in our Press Folder.

Media Contacts
Barbara Axt, Media Relations – barbara@futur.io
Luciana Prestes, Head of Marketing – luciana@futur.io

April 16, 2025 /3BL/ – Reuters Events: Net Zero USA 2025 (May 6-7, San Diego) is built to be the West Coast meeting point for you and 200 senior sustainability leaders to have candid discussions, forge new partnerships and create a community that will help you and your company in its quest to decarbonize operations and de-risk the business from future climate impacts.

3BL Members can attend with an exclusive discount code. Register and use the code NZ3BL100 to save $100 on your pass.

This year’s agenda focuses on giving leaders the opportunity to have candid discussions on scope 3, supplier engagement, demonstrating the profitability of sustainable business and building an engaged sustainability culture. 
This is a must-attend event for those working to decarbonize their business through real relationships and human connections.

Speakers joining in May: 

• Jeff Fyre, Chief Sustainability Officer, Kontoor Brands
• Erin Augustine, Co-lead Global Sustainability and VP Sustainability Operations and Supply Chain, Oatly
• Sara Neff, General Manager – Sustainability, Microsoft
• Hugh Welsh, President – North America, DSM Firmenich
• Holly McHugh, VP Sustainability and Social Impact, Mejuri
• Jenna Stauffer, Climate Strategy Lead, Google
• Katina Boutis, Director of Sustainability, Everlane
• Laura Sweitzer, Director of Sustainability and Strategic Sourcing, TCHO
• Kristen Spalding, VP Investor Network, Ceres
• Shea Jameel, Senior Director – Head of Sustainability, Marsh McLennan
• Virginia Li, Executive Director – Sustainability and ESG, Nexteer

Join us in May as we address climate risk and build supply chain resilience.
Register and use the code NZ3BL100 to save $100 on your pass.

For information on speaking, attendance or sponsorship, please contact: Claire Tillotson, Project Director

Read More

Nature-based solutions for water play a significant role in the overall approach Dow takes to environmental stewardship. By valuing nature and building it into our business models, everyone benefits—our customers, our communities and the planet.

This article showcases some exemplary projects, partnerships and initiatives that highlight how industry can support resilient watersheds and healthy ecosystems by implementing robust water conservation initiatives and land management practices that conserve natural environments, enable business growth and deliver long-term value.

Take a tour of how Dow has supported and continues to support sustainable watershed management and habitat conservation around the world.

Water and ecosystem conservation projects in North America

Michigan: Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Dow and Ducks Unlimited have announced a multi-year, multi-national partnership to restore and conserve natural habitats across North America. One of the initial projects from this collaboration includes the restoration the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, one of Michigan’s largest managed wetland complexes.

This initiative, focused in the area where the Tittabawassee, Shiawassee, Cass and Flint Rivers converge, aims to improve the resiliency of the region by increasing biodiversity, improving water quality and enhancing flood storage capacity.

Louisiana: Loch Leven project

In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Ecolab, the Caterpillar Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other partners, Dow supported the Loch Leven project, a conservation initiative in an area of the Mississippi River watershed located about 70 miles upriver of Baton Rouge.

The goal of this work is to restore and enhance 10,000 wetland acres and provide 12.1 billion gallons (45.8 million cubic meters) of flood storage capacity to local communities within the Mississippi River Delta’s Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley in Louisiana.

Arkansas: Mining site restoration

In Arkansas, Dow tackled the challenge of acidic water with high zinc levels seeping from an abandoned mining site. By constructing a sinuous channel lined with limestone, Dow increased the water’s alkalinity, which in turn raised the pH and created conditions for reducing metal concentrations through biological processes.

This innovative solution resulted in a natural streambed that requires no operational and maintenance costs, ensuring that the mine seep water is treated before reaching downstream creeks.

Kentucky: Wetland for fire prevention

The Dow manufacturing site in Elizabethtown needed a way to retain storm water and a barrier to help manage fires. Rather than constructing a conventional retention pond, they instead opted to construct a five-acre wetland.

This solution helps to reduce downstream flooding and filters storm runoff for cleaner water. The design also supports the containment of fires should the need arise.

Texas: Seadrift constructed wetlands

The Seadrift constructed wetlands project in Texas is an example of engineered natural technology. In 1996, the Dow Seadrift manufacturing site, located about 60 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, converted 110 acres of a water treatment pond into wetlands that have been fully compliant with regulations for almost 30 years.

These constructed wetlands have provided treatment for 5 million gallons of industrial wastewater daily as a natural filtration system. The land also serves as a wildlife refuge, supporting various species and local biodiversity.

This innovative project demonstrates how manufacturing can coexist with and even enhance natural ecosystems. It is also a proof point of valuing nature as a business strategy. The project cost about $1.4 million, a fraction of the $40 million price tag for an industrial wastewater treatment plant.

Michigan: Ash pond to wetland transformation

Utilizing the Ecosystem Services Identification & Inventory Tool, also known as the ESII Tool, developed by The Nature Conservancy and Dow, a restoration plan was developed for 23 acres adjacent to the Dow Michigan Operations manufacturing site.

Located along the Tittabawassee River, this project exemplifies the valuable transformation that is possible for industrial areas through sustainable land management practices. It involved excavating ash and soil for secure disposal and reintroducing over 25,000 native plants. The restoration improves water and air quality, supports biodiversity, and connects to a network of parks and trails in Michigan.

Louisiana: Coastal wetland restoration

Ducks Unlimited and Dow have partnered to enhance about 2,030 acres of coastal freshwater wetlands between Cameron Prairie and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges in Louisiana.

This project aims to protect critical natural infrastructure, improve habitat for migratory waterfowl and wildlife, and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities. The first phase, completed in 2023, included infrastructure improvements like levee refurbishment and water-control systems.

Nature-based solutions and biodiversity projects in Latin America

Brazil: Erosion protection solution

In 2009, the excavation of an area on Matarandiba Island in Aratu, Brazil created 24-meter-high embankments that were slowly eroding and causing safety concerns. Rather that stabilizing the slopes with conventional solutions like concrete and tie-back anchors, the local team installed green gabion walls made from steel mesh and natural fiber filled with locally sourced stones. Native vegetation was planted over the top to create a living wall that protects against soil erosion.

The approach to this project reduced costs and the amount of energy and materials needed for the solution while enabling a lower-emissions scope for the project and more natural plants in the local area.

Brazil: Biodiversity assessment for eucalyptus farming

EcoMetrix Solutions Group, The Nature Conservancy and Dow have collaborated to develop tools for assessing biodiversity around the Dow Breu Branco site in Pará, Brazil. These tools help local businesses understand their impact on biodiversity so they can make informed decisions that support business goals and ecological health.

The project revealed that Dow’s eucalyptus plantations significantly improve biodiversity compared to the surrounding farmland through minimizing soil disturbance, carefully managing crop rotation and conserving natural corridors throughout the site. This initiative underscores the role that valuing nature has in achieving sustainable business practices.

Brazil: Amazon rainforest conservation initiative

Project Ybá is a collaborative initiative by Dow, Natura cosmetics, The Nature Conservancy, and the Peabiru Institute to conserve biodiversity and support sustainable development in the Amazon rainforest. The work focuses on the sustainable extraction of forest resources, such as Andiroba seeds, to produce bioactive ingredients for cosmetics, supporting a local community economically.

Through biodiversity mapping, sustainable harvesting training, and the breeding of stingless bees for honey production, this initiative aims to combine conservation with social transformation, promoting a sustainable bioeconomy in Brazil.

Sustainable water resource and habitat management in Europe

Germany & Netherlands: Protecting shared water resources

The Dow manufacturing sites in Böhlen, Germany and Terneuzen, Netherlands, have launched the Reshape Water Use Initiative to reduce freshwater intake intensity by 20% at key water-stressed sites. The project includes increased water recycling, digitalization, raising awareness about water resources, and local collaborations with stakeholders.

As part of this initiative, in tandem, Dow is taking part in the EU-funded AquaSPICE project to trial new water treatment technologies and develop a digital model of the water network for better decision-making. This initiative aims to sustainably reduce freshwater withdrawals, stabilize water supply, and enhance efficient use of natural resources.

Germany: Advanced wetlands as an additional freshwater source

As part of the Reshape Water Use Initiative, the Dow Böhlen site in Germany expects to achieve at least a quarter of its targeted water savings by treating captured rainwater through advanced wetlands and using it as an additional freshwater source. This project employs an innovative, close-to-nature technology for treatment, helping to secure an important resource for Dow in a water-scarce region. The wetlands are expected to enter test operation in the fall of 2025. Starting in May, more than 50,000 plants will be planted, which will grow over the summer and help treat the rainwater in the future.

Mangrove restoration and ecosystem conservation in Asia Pacific

Thailand: Mangrove forest conservation and restoration

The Dow Thailand team has been working for over a decade to protect and restore mangrove forests, which are crucial for coastal protection, water quality, and biodiversity. The Dow & Thailand Mangrove Alliance collaborates with local governments, communities, and NGOs to advance conservation efforts across five provinces, covering approximately 2,000 acres.

Initiatives include reforestation, promoting eco-tourism, tackling marine debris, supporting carbon credit mechanisms, and fostering young conservation leaders through mangrove camps and educational materials for students. These efforts not only support the environment but also create economic and social opportunities for local communities.

China: Conserving the Yangtze River’s tributary water source

In collaboration with local partners, the Dow China team has launched a project to support the water source area of Qingyi River, one of the tributaries of Yangtze River which plays a vital role in the history, culture and economy in China. Various wild animals live in and alongside Qingyi River. Chinese universities and government organizations have been involved in ecological studies of local species like giant salamanders, fishes, frogs, etc.

Twelve villages populate the surrounding area. Some families have been there for multiple generations. Since 2024, residents have participated in a local “River Inspection Team” to collect real-time data on water quality while cleaning the river and shoreline. Later this year, Dow will help support sustainable agriculture training sessions for local farmers, aiming to advance knowledge and best practices which supports the continuous improvement of local water quality.

Building a resilient future through sustainable water stewardship

Nature is a shared resource. Through implementing environmental stewardship projects and sustainable practices for its use and management, Dow not only helps safeguard the environment but also ensures long-term business value. In fact, ahead of schedule, Dow surpassed its 2025 Sustainability Goal for valuing nature by realizing $1.2 billion in net present value (NPV) from business-driven projects that enhance nature.

The work of water and land management requires understanding local dynamics, utilizing advanced technologies, and collaborating with others. The projects, partnership and initiatives reflected in this article not only preserve vital ecosystems but also offer economic and social benefits to the communities and collaborators. By working alongside one another, a holistic approach to sustainability helps ensure a resilient future for the planet and everyone who lives here.

#Sustainability

About the article

This case study was developed by a cross-discipline team representing geographic and sustainability expertise across Dow, Inc. To learn more about the many initiatives Dow is involved with that enable a sustainable future, visit the Company’s Purpose in Action pages.