Tag: 3BL

Our team has put together a comprehensive dashboard tool to view all international holidays in one place. With our Global Holiday Dashboard you can view overall trends, search by upcoming weeks or months, or in the final tab search by specific holiday, month, date or country. This enables global teams to be aware of public holidays and out-of-office dates to help with scheduling purposes and to foster better international relationships with your colleagues or clients.

As the world grows increasingly interconnected, understanding and appreciating different cultures and traditions has become more crucial than ever. Beyond the diverse cuisines, languages, and landscapes, one aspect that unites people worldwide is the celebration of holidays. From colorful festivals to solemn religious observances, holidays offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of global customs.

“I think the most interesting part for me was understanding how different calendar types work – especially lunar calendars. It reminds me of learning a new language, where direct word-for-word translation often fails because the process is more complex. Looking at holidays from different calendar bases is similar. For example, the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar. This date does not correspond to a specific day in the Gregorian calendar, which is solar-based, leading to a shift in the Gregorian date of Eid al-Fitr each year. This distinction highlights the challenges of making a global calendar that captures the important dates across the world, like languages,” Jill Berry, digital solutions team, Antea Group USA.

Here at Inogen Alliance, and in our globalized work environment, acknowledging and respecting holidays can foster stronger relationships, enhance cross-cultural communication, and ultimately help us navigate the intricacies of international collaborations. So, enjoy going through a journey with us to explore holidays around the world and uncover the significance of embracing these cultural treasures to manage our work effectively across borders.

Wish your colleagues a Happy Lunar New Year in February across many Asian countries, Anzac Day in April in Australia and New Zealand, and Eid al-Adha across numerous countries in June.

Click here to gain access to our comprehensive International Holiday Dashboard showing all major global holidays across the Alliance for 2025. 

February 17, 2025 /3BL/ – Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) has been recognized with several prestigious industry awards for its exceptional corporate governance and ESG efforts. The awards were given by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) and jointly from the Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies (CHKLC) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU).

Lenovo’s Gold Award in the Most Sustainable Companies/Organizations category of the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards, organized by the HKICPA, highlights its outstanding performance in both corporate governance and ESG practices. This accolade reflects Lenovo’s commitment to integrating these principles into its group’s values, strategies, and operations. Notably, this marks the twelfth consecutive year that Lenovo has received awards from the HKICPA. According to the judges’ report, Lenovo was awarded the Gold Award for its thorough articulation of key risks and relevant disclosures in its annual report, ongoing investment in diversified business growth, appointment of the lead independent director, provision of direct access for investors to engage with independent directors, promotion of a diverse board, development of its own ESG data management system and collaborations with accredited third parties on verification for certain environmental data.

Furthermore, Lenovo received the Award of Excellence in Corporate Governance and Award of Excellence in ESG under the Hang Seng Index Constituent Companies category, organized by CHKLC and the Centre for Corporate Governance and Financial Policy (CCGFP) of HKBU. These awards recognize listed companies for their robust governance practices and structure that fuel the business growth, as well as their comprehensive ESG strategies. Lenovo’s governance structure, and board diversity and independence were praised by the judges, along with its mature ESG management system and innovative actions.

Early this month, Lenovo was awarded the Platinum Medal by EcoVadis, the leading global provider of business sustainability ratings. With a score of 85/100, this recognition places Lenovo in the top 1% of all companies rated by EcoVadis worldwide and underscores its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

For more information on Lenovo’s global sustainability, environmental and social impacts and governance practices, please refer to the latest Environmental, Social and Governance Report published in June 2024.

About Lenovo 
Lenovo is a US$57 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #248 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

9th consecutive year Dow technologies have won BIG Innovation AwardsSix Dow technologies awarded, more than any other companyHighest number of BIG Innovation Awards Dow has won in a single year, matching the record set in 2024

MIDLAND, Mich., February 17, 2025 /3BL/ – For the 9th consecutive year, Dow (NYSE: DOW) has been recognized for innovation by the Business Intelligence Group (BIG). In the 2025 BIG Innovation Awards, Dow technologies won six awards in the Transformative Products category—more than any other company. This matches the record number of BIG Innovation Awards Dow received in 2024.

“Once again receiving six BIG Innovation Awards is a testament to the unwavering commitment and ingenuity of our team,” said A. N. Sreeram, senior vice president of R&D and chief technology officer. “These awards not only highlight our dedication to developing transformative products that address the evolving needs of our customers but also reinforce our passion for driving sustainable and impactful innovations.”

2025 BIG Innovation Award Winners
The Dow technologies listed below were all awarded in the Transformative Products category.

ACUSOL™ Prime 2 Polymer is a biodegradable dispersant with high bio-based carbon content for automatic dishwashing applications offering excellent shine performance while contributing to more sustainable cleaning.

AXELERON™ FO 6321 BK Telecom Cable Compound is a black, UV-stabilized HDPE cable jacket material designed for mini- and micro- fiber optic applications but useful across all power and telecommunication applications. It allows for more fibers in smaller cables that are easy to identify and trace, allowing for more efficient installations. Its high-performance properties support cables that are tough, weather-resistant, and can be produced quickly.

DALPAD™ A Plus Coalescing Agent is a low SVOC low-odor additive used in aqueous coatings and emulsion polymers to help form a homogeneous, strong coating during the drying process. It enables more sustainable coating solution with > 60% SVOC reduction for significantly improved indoor air quality and less worker exposure during application and ensures that the coating has excellent performance. The product has high efficiency in reducing the minimum film-forming temperature of the emulsion, as well as adapting to lower operating temperatures and reducing the impact of low temperatures on the decoration period. Coatings with DALPAD™ A Plus Coalescing Agent remain viscosity stable even after freeze-thaw or heat storage. And the coating has good low-temperature crack resistance and scrub resistance.

DOWFROST™ LC Heat Transfer Fluid is used for the direct-to-chip cooling of heat generating rack components in data centers. Cooling accounts for up to 40% of the energy demand from data centers, direct-to-chip cooling is an innovative solution offering a more effective option compared to conventional air cooling. DOWFROST™ LC Heat Transfer Fluid provides exceptional heat removal, corrosion protection, and compatibility with various materials, significantly reducing energy consumption. It extends the life of IT equipment, has minimal toxicity, is biodegradable, and has been rigorously tested for long-term reliability.

DOWSIL™ TC-3080 Curable Thermal Gel offers exceptional thermal management for advanced cooling technologies in high-performance computing (HPC) manufacturing and applications. As a dispensable or printable gel, it has low viscosity and can be cured at higher temperatures for accelerated curing. While incumbent solutions led to thermal failures and module shutdowns, TC-3080 maintained lower and more consistent temperatures. With its exceptional thermal gap-filling capability, it reduces total power consumption for cooling helping drive development of next-generation high-performance computing technologies.

TRITON™ FCX Surfactants are biodegradable alternatives to fluoro-containing materials, offering improved performance and sustainability benefits for paint formulations. Dow’s patented, multifunctional TRITON™ FCX Surfactants demonstrate superior block resistance and ease of use compared to fluoro-containing materials, making them safer for end users and cost-effective for paint formulators.

The BIG Innovation Awards celebrate organizations and individuals pushing boundaries and advancing their industries. Winners are evaluated by a panel of seasoned business leaders and executives who consider creativity, measurable results, and overall impact in their selections. For more information about the BIG Innovation Awards, visit their website.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

###

For further information, please contact:

Alicia Harpham
aharpham@dow.com

Southern Company

PowerSecure, a subsidiary of Southern Company and a leading provider of innovative energy solutions, announced its collaboration with Edged Energy to supply critical electrical and mechanical systems for its highly differentiated data center platform. This collaboration, part of a six-year alliance, marks a milestone with the opening of Edged Energy’s first North American data center in Atlanta.

“PowerSecure is proud to team with Edged Energy and to bring an innovative solution to our customers with a strong commitment to sustainability in this constantly evolving global technology and infrastructure environment,” said Chris Cummiskey, PowerSecure CEO. “Tremendous load growth is affecting utilities nationwide, and we are excited to see PowerSecure emerging as a critical service provider in the data center landscape.”

Edged data centers are uniquely optimized for energy efficiency and water conservation. The facilities are designed to cut overhead energy consumption by 74% portfolio-wide and operate efficiently, even in the hottest climates. Advanced cooling systems support high density AI workloads while consuming no water for cooling.

Key features of the Edged Atlanta Campus include PowerSecure PowerBlocks with EPA certified Tier 4 Final ultra-low emissions onsite backup generation. Tier 4 Final represents the most rigorous EPA emission standards for stationary diesel engines currently in place. Engines that comply with these stringent requirements contribute to cleaner air, enhanced fuel efficiency and superior performance.

The campus also has the capability to implement a patented autonomous frequency control system for robust and stable onsite power generation. Full microgrid connectivity with the local grid enhances the campus’s reliability and resilience, supporting continuous operations under adverse conditions.

Additionally, it features a fully automated, self-healing 24.9 kV medium voltage distribution system, which provides optimal energy efficiency.

The Edged Atlanta Campus, designed as a 168 MW critical IT campus, includes the recently completed 27 MW data center, a second 100 MW facility currently under construction and a third 41 MW facility.

This project exemplifies PowerSecure’s dedication to delivering sustainable, reliable and resilient power solutions, and reinforces Edged Energy’s commitment to a clean energy future.

About PowerSecure

PowerSecure, a subsidiary of Southern Company, stands at the forefront of the distributed energy infrastructure sector in the United States. With a rich history spanning two decades, PowerSecure’s dedicated team of professionals has successfully developed, installed, managed and serviced over 2 gigawatts of microgrid capacity. This achievement underscores PowerSecure’s commitment to advancing energy solutions that are both efficient and sustainable, having implemented energy efficiency upgrades valued at more than $900 million. To learn more, visit www.powersecure.com.

In our latest episode of ESG Voices, we’re diving into the fascinating implications of the UK’s brand-new “failure to prevent fraud” offence. This legislation aims to be a game-changer for corporate accountability and ESG reporting, and we’re here to help you navigate it! Join us for an engaging chat with Annabel Reoch, Simon Stiggear, Michael Pollitt, and Ethan Salathiel, as they share valuable insights on how this offence enhances fraud risk assessments, tackles potential challenges, and offers approaches for your organization to maintains compliance and transparency in ESG reporting.

Click here to listen to episode 33 of ESG voices

Originally published on 3M News Center

Sirish Subash, the winner of the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, was recently celebrated at the Georgia State Capitol. Sirish, his family and his 3M mentor, Aditya Banerji, sat in the House Gallery while he was honored with a proclamation from House Minority Whip Sam Park.

The proclamation recognized his Challenge victory, and his innovative device called PestiSCAND, which can detect pesticide residue on produce. Following the ceremony, Sirish was presented with a framed copy of the proclamation and spoke with Rep. Park about his education and future plans.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by my state,” said Sirish. “It was a really cool experience. We got to go through the Capitol, and there was a recognition by my representative and my district senator.”

On the Senate side, Sirish was invited to the chamber floor by Senator Sheikh Rahman. Rahman delivered a statement about Sirish’s accomplishments, his recognition as “America’s Top Young Scientist” and his bright future. After the announcement, multiple senators introduced themselves to Sirish and asked about his work.

“It is incredible to see Sirish recognized in different forums and the level of interest his work on PestiSCAND has generated globally,” said Aditya Banerji, Sirish’s 3M mentor and senior research engineer in its corporate research process laboratory. “He is an exceptionally bright mind who is already looking ahead to how to solve the next societal issue while forging ahead with his studies.”

Those who met Sirish at the Capitol were eager to learn what Sirish is planning next. “I’ll be doing more work on PestiSCAND in the next few years, but for now I’m thinking on new projects, like a detector for microplastics in water—that’s what I’m currently working on,” said Sirish.

While 3M and its partners at Discovery Education will continue to celebrate Sirish’s achievement, they recently announced that the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge is now open to entries. As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” The Challenge is kicking off its 18th season and entries will be accepted until May 1 at YoungScientistLab.com .

###

Recently, Mosaic CCDA welcomed Whirlpool Corp. mentors and students from Benton Harbor High School’s Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) program powered by Youth Solutions, Inc. for a morning of hands-on experience in project management, retail merchandising, sales and customer service. During the career exploration experience, students learned about community resources and even helped with the Whirlpool Corp. Feel Good Fridge initiative to fight food insecurity!

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the last-remaining major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers.  Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

View original content here.

LINCOLN, Neb., February 17, 2025 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation is investing in technology to help trees grow faster. This investment aims to draw millions of tons CO2 out of the atmosphere over the next decade, while restoring microbial biodiversity to thousands of acres of forests.

The global tree planting nonprofit’s Impact Fund, created to drive innovation in nature-based solutions, is supporting Funga PBC. The startup utilizes DNA sequencing and advanced data analysis to identify growth-promoting, native fungal communities that used to be present and have been degraded over time by land management practices and other factors. Funga then inoculates seedlings with these fungal communities at the nursery, so that these fungi will be established on the tree’s roots at the time of planting. Early results have shown that Funga’s inoculants can increase survival rates and boost tree growth by an average of 30%. This process not only restores and protects belowground biodiversity, but it also enables forests to pull more carbon out of the atmosphere.

“As a global leader in forestry, we feel a responsibility to find the next innovation in nature that can be a game changer to help solve some of the Earth’s biggest problems. That’s why our team is energized to help power Funga’s innovative work,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Funga’s method has the potential to create planet-shaping impact and deepen the layered benefits of tree planting.”

Funga was founded in 2021 by Dr. Colin Averill and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The organization has already helped to restore fungal biodiversity across more than 6,500 acres of managed forests.

“I used to plant Arbor Day Foundation seedlings in grade school. Many people’s first tree planting experience is tied to Arbor Day Foundation’s work. This investment is personally meaningful, and signals a broader realization within the reforestation community that belowground fungi are an essential component of not just planting trees, but revitalizing entire forested ecosystems,” said Dr. Colin Averill, Founder and CEO of Funga.

The Arbor Day Impact Fund makes strategic investments in leaders and startups whose solutions have the potential to accelerate the pace, scale and quality of work in alignment with the Arbor Day Foundation’s mission. Funga is the Impact Fund’s second portfolio company.

Parties interested in receiving funding from the Arbor Day Impact Fund can learn more and submit opportunities to arborday.org/impact-fund or email impact@arborday.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

###

DENVER /3BL/ – DaVita, a leading provider of kidney care services, today announced the success of its third annual Move It With Purpose (MIWP) event with more than 8,300 participants, including DaVita teammates, friends, family and key members of the kidney care community. The month-long initiative encourages physical activity — whether it’s walking, running, swimming, bicycling or other activities — to benefit Bridge of Life, a nonprofit founded by DaVita to support the prevention and treatment of chronic disease globally.

This year, participants set new records with nearly 150 events across the country and 550,000 miles of activity logged. Collectively, participants raised more than $750,000 for Bridge of Life.

“The engagement we’ve seen with MIWP is incredible, especially in watching it grow since it first started in 2022,” said Lori Vaclavik, executive director of Bridge of Life. “We couldn’t be prouder of the event’s success, and the funds raised will have a direct impact on how we’re able to fight against chronic illness around the world as we provide life-saving care to those in need.”

Since 2007, DaVita has hosted annual fundraising events for Bridge of Life, raising more than $15 million for the organization. The funds generated through these events support Bridge of Life’s mission to enhance chronic disease prevention and treatment for underserved communities worldwide. Bridge of Life provides essential screenings, delivers vital medications, and offers chronic disease education in countries including Bangladesh, Belize, Guatemala, South Africa, Vietnam, and more.

Throughout its 18-year history, Bridge of Life has benefited from the dedicated efforts of over 3,000 volunteers and the generous support of its donors. This collaboration has enabled the nonprofit to expand its reach to 34 countries, positively transforming the lives of nearly 150,000 individuals globally.

2024 Move It With Purpose sponsors include Cencora, CSL Vifor, WellDyne, Akebia Therapeutics, Wells Fargo, Henry Schein, Inc., Sidley Austin LLP, Morgan Lewis, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Staples, Universal Facilities Group, WilmerHale, Fresenius Medical Care, Akerman LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, Mintz, Promotional Images Inc., Softserve, Bain & Company, and Mar Cor Purification.

About Bridge of Life

Bridge of Life (BOL), an independent 501(c)(3) public charity founded by DaVita Inc., is an international nonprofit organization working to strengthen health care globally through sustainable programs that prevent and treat chronic disease. Our vision is a world where all human beings have access to quality health care. We strive to empower local staff, community health workers and patients through training and education to make sustainable changes to health care. To learn more, visit bridgeoflifeinternational.org.

About DaVita

DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. As a comprehensive kidney care provider, DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journey—from slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of September 30, 2024, DaVita served approximately 265,400 patients at 3,113 outpatient dialysis centers, of which 2,660 centers were located in the United States and 453 centers were located in 13 other countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care industry to adopt an equitable and high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.

Media Contact: 
DaVita Newsroom 
newsroom@davita.com

This episode of ESG Talk is a special crossover with the accounting and finance podcast, Off The Books! The momentum behind sustainability is changing around the world. How are companies adjusting their environmental, social, and governance programs as the political landscape shifts? 

Steve and Catherine ask Brandon Buhler, Chief Accounting Officer for Playa Hotels and Resorts, and Esther Toth, Senior Industry Principal at Workiva, about the future of sustainability. 

Read some original research on this topic here.

Listen Now

Looking for more? Subscribe to the ESG Talk podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. 

ESG Talk is brought to you by Workiva, the world’s only unified platform for financial reporting, ESG, audit, and risk. Learn more at workiva.com.