Tag: 3BL

Cordant™ Asset Performance Management delivers actionable insights for greater operational performance for energy and industrial customersFive-fold growth in Cordant™ APM deployments since the start of 2024Enhancements across asset health and strategy capabilities and advanced analytics to drive greater operational efficiency, resource productivity and risk management

FLORENCE, Italy, February 19, 2025 /3BL/ – Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced the general availability of the latest version of Cordant™ Asset Performance Management (APM), further advancing the digital transformation of asset management for energy and industrial customers worldwide. This highlights Baker Hughes’ continued commitment to driving operational excellence, sustainability and safety through innovative digital solutions.

Since its launch in 2023, Cordant™ APM has been deployed by customers across the globe, including some of the world’s largest national oil companies (NOCs), international oil companies (IOCs), and leading industrial companies in the chemicals and fertilizer industries, with a five-fold increase in deployments over the last year. It is delivering measurable results for customers, enabling improved reliability, reduced maintenance costs, and safer, more sustainable operations.

A global petrochemical player is targeting a $50M reduction in maintenance cost and increased availability with the implementation of Cordant™ Asset Performance Management.A large LNG operator deployed Cordant™ Asset Health and iCenter™, powered by Cordant™, enabling more than 12 hours of increased production with incremental value of more than $10M.A fertilizer manufacturer saw between 2-15% increase in equipment availability across their plants following the implementation of Cordant™ Asset Strategy.

“Today’s energy and industrial leaders consistently face three critical questions: How do I keep my people and operations safe? How do I improve productivity? And how do I enhance sustainability?” said Aravind Yarlagadda, senior vice president of Industrial Solutions, Industrial & Energy Technology at Baker Hughes. “We continue to innovate, delivering enhancements to our Cordant™ Asset Performance Management offering to address these challenges and support our customers in their pursuit for operational excellence and sustainability.”

The latest release of Cordant™ APM includes new capabilities across the following areas:

Enhanced Resource Productivity: Hybrid AI and physics-based analytics reduce manual analysis time, seamlessly connecting recommended actions to execution in the maintenance management system. Integration between Cordant™ Asset Health and Baker Hughes iCenter™ streamlines workflows and reduces touchpoints.Operational Efficiency and Sustainability: Opportunity analysis minimizes risk and resource costs, while asset efficiency analytics identify under-performing assets for corrective action, optimizing energy consumption.Comprehensive Risk Management: Mitigate risk exposure with optimized spares and materials holdings, compare production units to enhance performance, and register risks aligned with corporate objectives using a web-native risk register.Improved Maintenance Spend Visibility: New widgets integrate maintenance spend components, enabling proactive spend reduction initiatives and visibility on risk impacts.Enhanced Notification and Action Management: Integrated workflows and customizable notifications support cross-functional collaboration, prioritization, and faster decision-making. New reporting capabilities provide a holistic view of risk reduction and value gained from Cordant™ recommendations.

With a 100-year heritage of energy innovation, Baker Hughes is integrating digital solutions such as Cordant™ with our proven technologies to help customers achieve greater efficiency, extend asset life, and maximize returns. Learn more about the company’s end-to-end digital portfolio here.

About Baker Hughes 
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations

Kerry Davis 
+44 7443 157 262
Kerry.davis@bakerhughes.com 

LinkedIn

Our KFC team in the Middle East launched 3al Asl Tawar almost 18 months ago – and has already made a difference to over 300 people. This truly inspiring program has had amazing success, working predominantly to improve literacy among women and girls, and we can’t wait to see what the next year will bring.

When we launched 3al Asl Tawar in September 2023, we wanted to empower underrepresented Egyptian youth. In just one year, we’ve proudly impacted 300+ lives! 

On International Day of Education, we reflect on how our literacy program KFC 3al Asl Tawar impacted the humble community of Ezbet Khirallah:

We witnessed youth learners writing their names for the first timeWe are proud to say that 73% of the learners are women and young girls219 learners graduated from the program in the first yearThe Program improved literacy levels among 12-35-year-olds 

ProLiteracy Worldwide, Alesha Anderson, Christelle Marpaud, Raghad ElAssi, Ahmed Arafa

Sustainability is a priority in many sectors, and the world of sports is no exception. Sports organizations are increasingly adopting sustainable solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance energy efficiency. This shift is accelerated by the realization that sustainable practices not only benefit the environment but can also enhance the fan and player experience.

In this evolving landscape, materials play a critical role. By leveraging our advancements in materials science, Dow contributes to sustainable sports facilities. Materials science, an interdisciplinary field, explores how to design materials with specific properties. This expertise enables our teams to develop solutions that meet the unique demands of athletes and where they play.

From the ground up, Dow materials are at the forefront of driving sustainability in sports. These innovations help organizations achieve their sustainability goals, providing durable, high-performance solutions that address environmental impact and elevate the overall experience of venues.

Sustainable materials for playing surfaces and footwear

Athletic fields, tracks, courts and equipment made with advanced materials can offer the optimal combination of performance, strength, and sustainability—supporting a top-tier playing experience across every sporting pursuit.

Artificial turf

Artificial turf has transformed sports by providing a versatile and durable surface that reduces water usage and maintenance needs. Dow’s innovative materials for artificial turf, such as ELITE™ and DOWLEX™ polyethylene resins, enhance turf safety and durability, while REVOLOOP™ 30-LL E Recycled Plastics Resin, which contains 30% post-consumer recycled content, can help organizations enhance sustainability and meet their goals.

Athletic tracks

Materials science has transformed the way athletic tracks are designed and utilized, providing innovative solutions that cater to the rigorous demands of athletes. One of those innovations is DIAMONDLOCK™ Track technology, which has revolutionized athletic tracks by providing a high-performance, waterproof system made from 60% recycled materials. This innovation ensures durability and sustainability, adapting to diverse climates and reducing environmental impact. An exemplar of DIAMONDLOCK™ Track is found at Joan Samarra Vila Communal Stadium in Andorra. Installed by Sportan, this track system demonstrates exceptional performance and adherence to sustainability standards.

Hard courts

The push to enhance the sustainability of playing surfaces has led to advancements such as RHOPLEX™ Acrylic Emulsions. Used in hard-court coatings, it supports resilient surfaces that dry quickly and resist weather and UV degradation, reducing downtime and maintenance. Dow alongside B.T. Sports developed GreenPave® PermeaCourt a permeable hard court surface to address rain disruption on play. ECOGROUND™ technology further enhances the court surface strength, while enabling steadfast color retention. GreenPave® PermeaCourt technology is showcased at SportsSG’s Jurong West Centre in Singapore, certified by the International Tennis Federation and the Singapore Green Building Council for its sustainability attributes.

Footwear

Dow collaborates with leading manufacturers to enhance high-performance athletic shoes. For instance, INFUSE™ Olefin Block Copolymers supports midsoles that offer exceptional recovery and compression, contributing to stability and shock absorption for injury reduction, while ENERLYTE™ Polyurethane Elastomers helps insoles and midsoles offer lightweight energy return to enhance rebound and VORALAST™ Polyurethanes helps shoes maintain flexibility and performance over time.

Building materials and energy-efficient stadium systems

By maintaining precision control and improving the overall efficiency of facility systems, material science contributes to significant energy savings and the sustainability of sports venues.

Lighting

Energy-efficient stadium lighting systems are vital for reducing electricity consumption while maintaining optimal performance. Innovations like SILASTIC™ Moldable Optical Silicones in next-generation LED designs enhance efficiency and light output, supporting venues with optimal visibility and appealing aesthetics. Dow has collaborated to help enhance stadiums such as the Dow Diamond with state-of-the-art LED systems, improving light levels, uniformity, glare control, and energy efficiency, even under harsh conditions. Dow also worked alongside Schréder, to develop reliable LED floodlights to illuminate the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium in Hungary under intense conditions and UV exposure—introducing Eastern Europe’s first LED-illuminated sports stadium.

Heat and cooling

In ice venues, heat transfer fluids such as DOWTHERM™ SR-1 are used to maintain precise temperatures, ensuring optimal ice conditions for sports such as hockey and speed skating. The fluid is chilled by refrigeration equipment and circulated through pipes beneath the rink, extracting heat and freezing a smooth ice layer. This technology not only provides better ice grip for athletes but also simplifies maintenance and protects pipes from corrosion.

Heat transfer fluids are also crucial in stadium HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, enhancing energy efficiency and protecting components from corrosion and scaling, thereby extending the system’s lifespan. By ensuring optimal air flow and maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures, these fluids help reduce operational costs and environmental impact in large sports facilities. DOWFROST™ Heat Transfer Fluids serve as secondary refrigerants in air conditioning systems, playing a vital role in the overall performance of the HVAC systems.

Stadium seating

Dow contributes to this aspect of the fan experience through water-based coatings formulated with acrylic resins, which protect seating from the relentless sun and corrosive elements. Our SPECFLEX™ circular polyurethane foam technologies are also bringing a new level of comfort and support to spectators, ensuring that every game can be enjoyed with ease.

Materials science enhancing sporting venues around the world

Building state-of-the-art stadiums requires sustainable materials and innovative techniques to ensure the longevity and human-centric design of the structures.

The Japan National Stadium served as the Olympic Stadium during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This existing venue was retrofitted with several Dow technologies including foam sealants to fill gaps between materials and provide structural stability during heat expansion, cable insulation for reliable power throughout the venue, water-based coatings to meet low-VOC requirements, and telecommunications compounds for the seamless transmission of event footage across the world.

The Dow Center stadium in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, a flexible-use facility supported by Dow and other partners, was the first LEED-certified sports complex in Latin America. Its construction includes polyisocyanurate panels and SILASTIC™ silicone elastomers to create effective insulation that reduces energy consumption and improves the acoustics of the venue.

In 2019, the Golden State Warriors moved into the Chase Center, a premier facility in San Francisco featuring an 18,000-seat arena and mixed-use office and retail space. To meet the tight build schedule and to achieve LEED Gold certification, they teamed up with Dow technical experts to install a DOWSIL™ Silicone Air Barrier System for the damp climate conditions and DOWSIL™ silicone structural sealants for the challenging façade design.

Performance from the ground up

Materials science is transforming the world of sports. By focusing on sustainability, durability, and performance, it is enhancing the experiences of fans and athletes and contributing to the long-term sustainability of stadiums and other venues.

Dow aims to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible, so that every aspect of the sporting world can benefit from our innovative technologies and solutions.

 

™ELITE, DOWLEX, REVOLOOP, DIAMONDLOCK, RHOPLEX, ECOGROUND, INFUSE, ENERLYTE, VORALAST, SILASTIC, DOWTHERM, DOWFROST, SPECFLEX, and DOWSIL are trademarks of Dow or an affiliated company of Dow

®GreenPave is a registered trademark of BT Sports

Originally published in Lenovo’s 2023/24 ESG Report

Keeping a product in use for a longer period is an important aspect of circular economy and reducing climate impact. Lenovo designs its products to maximize its product lifecycle by focusing on durability and ease of repair for customers of all skill levels.

To help keep products in use, Lenovo offers three-year standard warranties and five years of replacement parts availability on many of its top-selling commercial products. Three-year warranties are offered as the base warranty on many top-selling Think branded products, including monitors, notebooks, desktops, and others. Customers can also purchase warranty upgrades to extend the base warranty by one or two years for many products. Base warranties for consumer products vary by product type and geography but typically start at one to two years for the base warranty with the option for customers to purchase an extended warranty for many products.

In addition to the warranty offerings, Lenovo makes available service and maintenance manuals for many products along with parts removal and replacement videos. Customers can source spare parts from Lenovo or its authorized partners. Lenovo’s serviceability engineers are focused on minimizing the interruption to customers during repair and maintenance and consider the products’ eligibility for onsite repair as an indicator for ease of repair.

For more details, see Lenovo’s Warranty and Maintenance Services webpage. Lenovo’s ESG KPIs include a repairability KPI, for more information see Section 9.0. To support progress against this KPI Lenovo continues to increase the number of parts that are Customer Replaceable Units (CRU).

Lenovo is continuously designing innovative features for its products to help extend their useful life. For example, its battery technology extends notebook battery cycle life through key technologies, including:

Increased use of lithium polymer cells: Used in notebooks and tablets with embedded batteries, these cells typically provide longer life cycles than lithium-ion cylindrical cells.Longer lifespan batteries:Many of Lenovo’s embedded batteries are designed to last two to three times longer than standard batteries.Offering warranty upgrades up to five years on many embedded batteries. The longer lifespan is made possible with carefully selected cells and charge algorithms.

Product carbon footprint

The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) or Global Warming Potential (GWP-100) has become a key product attribute for Lenovo and customers. Knowing the PCF of a product allows customers to better understand the environmental impact of the products they purchase.

To provide Lenovo’s customers with PCF values for the broadest set of products, Lenovo continues to utilize the Product Attribute to Impact Algorithm (PAIA) platform to calculate streamlined Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of desktops, notebooks, tablets, and workstation computers as well as monitors, servers, storage, and network switch products.

With a suite of simplified online tools, PAIA delivered a methodology for information and communications technology (ICT) product footprints which originated from a multi-stakeholder initiative of ICT companies that shared insights and best practices.

Lenovo’s participation in PAIA is helping to drive a sector-wide streamlined methodology that will be key to transforming ICT companies into sustainable businesses.

Using PAIA tools to calculate product footprints has significantly reduced the time and cost of calculating environmental footprints for its products. The quality and accuracy of the calculations allow Lenovo to confidently communicate this information with customers and other stakeholders. Lenovo shares these results with enterprise customers and publishes them publicly as PCF information sheets. PCF sheets for specific products can be found on Lenovo’s ECO Declarations webpage.

Lenovo’s product life cycle assessment system is based on the ICT industry eco-design requirements that analyzes the product’s full life cycle and design process to help bring products to the market with less environmental impact. Its product LCA system utilizes the ICT product footprint tool which assesses the core product design and manufacturing plan by using a scientific and quantitative configuration that supports improvement initiatives. In addition to products, Lenovo is working to expand this exercise to include materials and technologies, and components. In 2023, Lenovo conducted 24 LCAs and LCA– based PCF for notebook, desktop, display, server products, and components. The notebook, desktop, display and server products for which LCAs were conducted are ThinkPad T14 Gen 3, Legion 9 16IRX9, Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9, Yoga 9 2-in-1 14IMH9, Yoga Book 9 13IMU9, ThinkBook 13x G4 IMH, ThinkCentre M950t, ThinkStation K-C2, ThinkVision P27q-30, ThinkVision E22-30, ThinkVision E24-30, ThinkVision E24q-30, ThinkSystem SR650 V3, ThinkPad T14 Gen3 notebook, and P27q-30 display.

While there are other voluntary standards available to guide practitioners in compiling PCF, these standards are not designed to establish comparative values between products. The degree of flexibility written into the standards can produce variations in results for the same products when the same standard is applied by different practitioners. Compiling PCF using these standards is also a very lengthy and resource-intensive process. Other commonly used standards include the British Standards Institute’s PAS 2050, WRI/WBCSD’s GHG Protocol Product Lifecycle Accounting and Reporting Standard, ISO 14040, ISO 14044 – Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and ISO 14067 – Carbon Footprint of Products.

Environmental spotlight

Lenovo continues to promote the use of sustainable materials beyond its products. On March 31, 2023, Lenovo, People’s Daily New Media and Chishui City of Guizhou Province jointly launched the “Future With Bamboo” Sustainable Development Action in Chishui City of Guizhou, China. This initiative is in response to the “Bamboo as a substitute for Plastic Initiative” joint campaign launched by China and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization.

Read more

By Candace Higginbotham 

Students are at the midterm of a busy fall semester at the University of Alabama.

It’s an exciting time, especially for freshmen. Getting accustomed to dorm living, balancing social life and academics, managing class workload – these are ordinary activities every new student has to figure out. But adapting to life at a large university is even more challenging for some students.

Many of these UA freshmen overcame major difficulties just to get here. But the university’s REACH program offers resources and guidance to ensure they succeed.

The University of Alabama REACH Program, part of the Capstone Center for Student Success, provides services and support to current and former foster youth, legal orphans, wards of the state, current and former kinship and guardianship youth and homeless youth.

“While I had a scholarship that made entering UA possible, REACH is what kept me there,” said 2021 graduate Samantha Whitley.

The Regions Foundation recently announced a $30,000 grant to support the work of the REACH program, to help students access needed services in a supportive environment, including academic, financial, emotional and social support.

The Regions Foundation® is a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank. Regions Foundation grants and investments to organizations create more inclusive prosperity in communities across the South, Midwest and Texas. The Regions Foundation, along with Regions Bank, focus on initiatives that advance economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness.

“We are proud to support the University of Alabama REACH program and the essential services they provide to students facing unique challenges,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation.

“Many of these young people don’t have the family safety nets that most college students have, and the REACH program fills that gap. With this extra support, students are able to focus on their academic goals and enjoy the campus experience, which makes them more likely to graduate and successfully enter the workforce.”

“Many of these young people don’t have the family safety nets that most college students have, and the REACH program fills that gap.” 
Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation

The program’s relationship with Regions goes beyond the Regions Foundation grant. Regions Bank has also provided financial support to Alabama REACH and recently bank associates hosted a financial education seminar for more than 65 Alabama REACH participants. Students took part in the Regions Next Step® Reality Check program, where they were presented with real-life scenarios to help them learn to make good decisions around budgeting and spending.

Alabama REACH began in 2013 and in recent years has gained momentum, with an increased number of students participating and expanded support services. According to Shannon Hubbard, Alabama REACH program manager, they welcomed their largest incoming class ever this fall, with 51 freshmen registered. They’re serving between 130 and 140 students total in the 2024-2025 school year.

And it’s making a real difference.

“The national graduation rate for foster and homeless youth is between 2 and 9 percent,” Hubbard said. “The graduation rate for the University of Alabama REACH program is 55 percent. And we have a strong 87 percent second-year retention rate.”

According to Hubbard, the program serves students with four main areas of focus.

Financial Support: REACH provides a $1,000 scholarship per year to each participant with the potential for another $1,000 in funding available. Emergency small-dollar funds are also available on an as-needed basis, in case a student can’t purchase a book, has a dead car battery or faces a healthcare need. Participants also have access to a supply pantry with food and snacks, household staples, cleaning supplies and personal care items.Emotional and Social Support: Students have a special lounge area to hang out with each other and enjoy being around other students with similar backgrounds. “The lounge gets tremendous utilization,” Hubbard said. “It’s a space of their own where they always feel like they belong and can get the peer support they need.” The students also have bi-monthly community meetings, which provide comradery as well as helpful information. The sessions cover what Hubbard calls “Adulting 101” – cooking, budgeting, financial education, tax guidance and other life lessons. They also receive advice on developing soft skills, like how to communicate with professors by email, job interview skills and basic etiquette.Academic Support: Participants meet twice every semester for one-on-one academic coaching. The first meeting is scheduled as classes begin, to help students figure out the logistics of their class schedule and identify potential trouble spots. The students also have the opportunity to participate in group tutoring sessions and individual meetings to address issues that may be standing in the way of their success. “Sometimes academic support means helping them manage life, such as work, childcare, mental health issues, physical issues or any outside influences that are affecting their ability to go to class or maintain their grades.”Mental Health Support: Alabama REACH offers group sessions on topics such as stress management, holiday grief, boundary setting and other issues that are especially relevant for this population. “Imposter syndrome is real for these students,” Hubbard said. “They don’t feel like they’re good enough to be here and often struggle with low self-esteem. Some students feel guilty because they have this opportunity that perhaps their siblings don’t have.”

“REACH helped a lot with my self-confidence,” Whitley said. “I entered the foster system when I was 13. The program connected me with other youth that faced similar issues I had, which opened the door for me to build relationships. With a little bit of support, a foster youth can do things they never thought possible.”

Whitley graduated from the university with a degree in criminal justice and a double minor in cyber criminology and social welfare. She currently works at the Children’s Aid Society of Alabama, an organization that provides services to families in need or at risk.

Current student Jamal Cumbie also credits the REACH program for keeping him on track, especially early on.

“REACH was a big help to me from the start,” Cumbie said. “When I arrived on campus, my meal plan hadn’t been activated and they helped me get that straightened out. They also helped me figure out my classes, especially when I decided to change my major during freshman year.”

Cumbie just started his senior year as a secondary education/social studies major. Looking back on the last three years, Cumbie said he really enjoyed the community of the REACH program. “I made friends with people I could relate to, with similar backgrounds, and got a lot of peer support,” he said.

He’s enjoying offering the same support to freshmen participants. When asked what advice he’s giving the new students, Cumbie said, “You’re going to get out of it what you put into it.”

Elizabeth Winter, Tuscaloosa market executive at Regions Bank, is excited about the Regions Foundation grant and other means of support the bank provides to Alabama REACH. “This is such an important program,” she said. “These students have unique needs and I believe that without tailored support many of them would face real difficulty adjusting to a university environment.”

“But with the extra coaching, mentoring and guidance – as well as financial assistance – they are able to enjoy all the wonderful parts of college life: making lifelong friends, learning about subjects they’re passionate about, planning their careers and, of course, going to Alabama football games!”

“An investment in Alabama REACH is an investment in our future.”

“These students have unique needs and I believe that without tailored support many of them would face real difficulty adjusting to a university environment. But with the extra coaching, mentoring and guidance – as well as financial assistance – they are able to enjoy all the wonderful parts of college life.” 
Elizabeth Winter, Tuscaloosa market executive at Regions Bank

My mom worked for Quest Diagnostics, and she always talked about what a great company it is, so I had long waited for an opportunity to also work for Quest. I actually saw three job openings for the Logistics team, and I applied for all of them to get the opportunity to work for this company. When I filled out the application, I felt the positive vibes because I knew this was my chance.

Since joining Quest, I have learned to problem solve much better. I realized there is nothing I can’t figure out. But my favorite part of the job is talking to all our clients and getting to know them. I love helping people, and Quest provides me the opportunity to do that.

We have a great team. My coworkers and I work hard to always make sure specimens are delivered promptly. When I was still kind of new, I drove out to Grover Beach to make sure that the specimens got there on time. At the time, I was terrified to drive in the snow, but I overcame my fear when my coworker and I drove out there together. I have so much respect for all of my coworkers as they make sure specimens make it to their destination. We go above and beyond for doctors and clinics, which I feel makes us stand out as a lab! We provide excellent service, and we are truly always happy to help.

I also love that Quest is good to their employees. We get a yearly bonus and raises, and we have the opportunity to grow in our roles and in the company. I also have leaders who I have learned so much from, including my Group Lead, who always guides me in the right direction, as well as a Supervisor and Regional Manager who are always supportive of me. I absolutely love and am proud to work for Quest Diagnostics.

Allow us to introduce our 2025 co-operative students, over 50 of them, who are now part of our Northern Trust Ireland team. We wish them the very best of luck over the coming eight months with us.

They join various teams across Fund Accounting, Financial Reporting, Derivatives, Transfer Agency, and more. Our placement program is designed to enable students to develop their skills and expertise in a global financial company while preparing them for the future world of work.

This group is from both the University of Limerick and the Technological University of the Shannon.

“New Year, New Cohort. Having participated in this placement program for over a decade, we are thrilled to welcome our 2025 interns to the Northern Trust, Limerick office. We are fortunate to have well-established relationships with both the University of Limerick and the Technological University of the Shannon, where we recruit many high-calibre and diverse students each year”. Jessica O’Brien – Early Careers lead for EMEA.

Want to discover more about our global Student and Graduate opportunities?

Click here to find out more https://www.northerntrust.com/united-kingdom/about-us/careers/students-and-graduates

Take a spin through the latest in Gilead’s science and innovation in our new series, The Centrifuge Sessions. Today we sit down with D. Barry Crittenden, Executive Director of Clinical Development, to discuss how Gilead is helping make an impact for people living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a rare autoimmune disease that affects the liver.

Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

Our world is rapidly changing, and policymakers face no shortage of challenges. Solutions are increasingly complex requiring global coordination of all stakeholders, all sectors, significant financial investment and engagement with local communities to ensure sustainability and uptake.

Consider this: an environmental crisis has become a major public health threat. It contributes to millions of deaths per year. It’s on track to cost the world economy trillions. And it requires world leaders and businesses to work together to find a solution – rapidly.

In this case, we’re not talking about climate change or biodiversity loss. But this problem is just as frightening: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when bacteria no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, thereby making antibiotics and other drugs ineffective. Since Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have underpinned all aspects of our public health systems. Today, everything from a knee replacement to root canal to heart surgery is achievable because antibiotics can prevent infection and potential death. Unfortunately, that’s not a guarantee of future effectiveness.

AMR impacts everyone and has multiple drivers. Its causes and effects are complex and affect populations unevenly across the globe. And because of climate change, the problem is getting worse. Rising global temperatures accelerate bacterial growth rates and enhance horizontal gene transfer[1], which increases AMR not only in humans, but animals, plants, and the environment.

Together, climate change and AMR pressure health systems, particularly the most fragile. Without immediate global engagement, our health systems risk being pushed to their breaking point, no matter where you live. A coordinated global response should focus on three priorities: fostering innovative solutions, further driving access and stewardship, and controlling for AMR in the environment.

First, we must foster the innovation required to solve the problem. We do that by developing new drugs, technologies and approaches and ensuring we use the drugs we currently have in the right way to protect their future efficacy. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Innovations must span a wide range – from new diagnostic tools and delivery mechanisms to backstopping a broken antibiotic marketplace. Health systems and policy makers need to be adaptable, delivering the right capabilities at the right time, all tailored to local contexts and the needs of people.

Stewardship and access are also critical in addressing AMR, as responsible management of antibiotic use helps slow the development of resistance. Ensuring equitable access to effective and appropriate treatments also prevents the overuse of antibiotics, reducing potential misuse and the spread of resistance. But this doesn’t look the same to everybody. A key lesson from other global health responses, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and COVID-19, is the vital role of local communities. Only when health systems, policies, and services are co-designed with the communities that use them can they be scalable, sustainable, and effective. Focusing on people, not just diseases, allows health systems to better address the realities they face.

AMR is often spread in the environment we live and work in through public wastewater or improper sanitation, for example. This can even be true in the manufacturing of the very antibiotics we need to combat AMR. Fortunately, the AMR Industry Alliance (AMRIA) published the Antibiotic Manufacturing Standard in June 2022, facilitated by BSI Standards Limited (BSI), providing clear guidance to manufacturers in the global antibiotic supply chain to ensure that their antibiotics are made responsibly, helping to minimize the risk of AMR in the environment, with an accompanying independent certification in line with the AMR IA Standard for Antibiotic manufacturing. In fact, Viatris, a global healthcare company, earned its first BSI Kitemark Certification under the AMRIA Manufacturing Standard in early 2024 in India, with more sites to follow.

Ultimately, we must work together to ensure all people have access to antibiotics when they need them while at the same time ensuring we have the capacity to innovate for the future. Creative approaches to collaboration will be needed, such as PLATform for Innovation of Existing Antibiotics, which brings diverse stakeholders together with a focus to address the gap between the needs and availability of antibiotics in Sweden while optimizing antibiotic use to preserve efficacy of existing antibiotics in the future.[2]

Following the 2024 UNGA High-Level Meeting on AMR, the Global Ministerial Conference and World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, now is a critical time to keep the momentum to continue to raise awareness about AMR and ensure progress. Governments, NGOs, civil society, youth organizations, private sector, universities, and media all have roles to play in keeping AMR at the forefront of global health discussions and preventing the dangers of complacency.

The time to act is now. The future depends on it.

New Film Highlights Cross-Sector Partnerships Tackling AMR

Viatris is committed to partnering with other stakeholders to help secure a future where antibiotics continue saving lives. As part of that commitment, we are participating in PLATform for Innovation of Existing Antibiotics, a Swedish initiative driving cross-sector partnerships to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Learn more through a new film produced for us by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. Click here to view it on YouTube.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9914631/#:~:text=While%20temperatures%20rise%20as%20a,horizontal%20gene%20transfer%20%5B75%5D. 

[2] https://www.platinea.se/w/pl/en 

In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Pilar Galán Gavilá Partner, KPMG in Spain, and Global Head of ESG Legal, KPMG Law, Conor Chell Partner, ESG Law, KPMG in Canada, and Lisa Navarro, Partner, Head of Regulatory Law, KPMG in the UK, who will explore the risks, challenges and regional differences in regulations associated with greenwashing.

Click here to listen to episode 34 of ESG voices