Tag: 3BL

EMERYVILLE, Calif., May 1, 2025 /3BL/ – SCS Global Services, the world’s leading third-party certification body, has been accredited to provide verification services under the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Regulatory Module to support compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Currently, SCS is accredited to verify EUDR compliance for FSC Chain of Custody certification, with accreditation for Forest Management certification anticipated in the coming months.

The FSC Regulatory Module (FSC-STD-01-004) is a voluntary add-on standard that helps organizations holding or seeking FSC certification to meet the rigorous requirements of the EUDR. It complements existing FSC standards by specifying additional due diligence, risk assessment procedures using FSC’s Risk Assessment Framework, and enhanced supply chain transparency measures. Certificate holders both inside and outside the EU can benefit from adding this module to their certificate if their products are sold on the European market.

“SCS is proud to be among the first certification bodies accredited to deliver EUDR services through the FSC framework,” said Theodore Brauer, Managing Director, Forestry, SCS Global Services. “This milestone allows us to continue supporting our clients in meeting evolving global market requirements while advancing their sustainability goals.”

As part of the verification process, SCS will evaluate an organization’s conformity with the FSC Regulatory Module, beginning with a desk-based review before extending certification scope. Once the module is included in the certification scope, companies can make new regulatory FSC claims and pass these through their supply chains in accordance with the module’s requirements.

For more information, please visit our Resource Center to download our brochure detailing SCS’ EUDR services for the timber industry.

With a proven track record in sustainability certification and supply chain verification, SCS Global Services is committed to helping businesses navigate evolving regulatory landscapes like the EUDR. By offering accredited FSC Regulatory Module services, SCS empowers companies to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sourcing, enhance market access, and contribute to global efforts to halt deforestation.

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About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, currently celebrating its 40th year of services. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com 

For more information about SCS, its programs and services, visit www.scsglobalservices.com

Media Contact

Madhumita Mohan

mmohan@scsglobalservices.com

Originally published on GoDaddy Newsroom

TEMPE, Ariz., May 1, 2025 /3BL/ — In honor of the humble domain name turning 40 this month, a new survey by GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) asked consumers to spill the tea on what they consider red and green flags when it comes to a business’s domain name. Although different generations had varying opinions, they all agreed on two things: size and spelling matter.

In the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey, an overwhelming majority (80%) of the 1,500 U.S. consumers polled in March said they avoided visiting or purchasing from a website because it had an oddly spelled domain name. This sentiment was stronger across younger generations, with 85% of Gen Z and 82% of Millennials reporting they passed up a business due to the spelling of its domain, compared to 76% of Gen X and Boomers.

Consumers (71%) expect businesses to maintain a dedicated website and domain and had a lot of thoughts about what makes for a good domain name.

Green flags: Short, easy to read domain names
Consumers appreciate when domains are short and sweet, with correctly spelled words that are easy to pronounce.

Qualities consumers said make a domain memorable:

• Full words spelled correctly – 43%
• A short domain of two words or less – 40%
• If the domain is easily pronounced – 38%
• Unique domain extensions (like .AI or .shop) – 23%
• A funny domain (rhyming or punny) – 19%

Red flags: Misspelled, mismatched or hyphenated domain names
Consumers are leery of domain names that have misspelled words or those that do not match the business’s name. In fact, 3 in 4 (74%) consumers are more comfortable when a domain name matches a brand name exactly.

Qualities consumers said make them NOT trust a domain:

• Misspelled words – 56%
• The domain doesn’t match the business’s name – 55%
• Hyphens in the domain name – 20%
• Numbers in the domain name – 20%
• Free domains (like sites.google.com, name.wixsites.com, godaddysites.com, etc.) – 20%

Yes, people still use their keyboard
In a world where click, tap and swipe are the norm, most consumers will still type in a business’s domain name if they want to shop at the business’s website.

• Half of consumers (50%) will regularly type in a business’s domain name if they want to shop on its website
• More than a quarter (27%) of consumers will type in a business’s domain only if they remember it
• Approximately 1 in 4 people (23%) never type in a business’s domain name and will get to the site through a search engine, emails, bookmarks or social media

“Businesses that don’t take time to choose the right domain name inadvertently put themselves three steps behind,” said Trip Briscoe, a domain name expert at GoDaddy. “It’s worth investing in a quality domain that is spelled correctly and exactly matches your business’s name. It’s the difference between a potential customer finding you effortlessly or getting lost in the vastness of the internet.”

Having experienced the internet for most—if not all—of their lives, younger generations seem to view domain names more critically.

Younger consumers’ shopping habits are more likely to be impacted by a company’s domain name. When asked if they have ever stopped shopping at a company online because of their website’s domain name:

• Gen Z – 39% said yes
• Millennials – 35% said yes
• Gen X and Boomers – 15% said yes

Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to find domains with a unique domain extension (like .AI or .shop) memorable compared to Gen X and Boomers.

• Gen Z – 34% said unique domain extensions are memorable
• Millennials – 30% said unique domain extensions are memorable
• Gen X and Boomers – 17% said unique domain extensions are memorable

Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to find funny (rhyming or punny) domains memorable compared to Gen X and Boomers.

• Gen Z – 25% said funny domains are memorable
• Millennials – 24% said funny domains are memorable
• Gen X and Boomers – 15% said funny domains are memorable

Gen Z and Millennials rely less on search engines, bookmarks, social media or emails to get to a website and instead type out the company’s domain name. When asked how often they type in a business’s domain name to go to their website:

• Gen Z – 16% said they don’t type in domains and click through to websites from other channels
• Millennials – 18% said they don’t type in domains and click through to websites
• Gen X and Boomers – 28% said they don’t type in domains and click through to websites

New businesses need to consider the importance of domain name availability when naming their company, and established brick-and-mortars need to take the same considerations when expanding online.

Businesses can search for a domain at GoDaddy.com. If the exact domain name a business owner wants isn’t available, they can attempt to acquire the domain on the domain name aftermarket — a secondary marketplace for domains where buyers purchase domain names that are already registered.

For those who want to start a small business but haven’t yet picked out a name, they can use GoDaddy Airo^® to suggest a host of creative, AI-generated ideas—and then secure a domain, create a logo, launch a website and more in minutes.

*GoDaddy Consumer Pulse is a series of surveys of consumers ages 18 and above conducted throughout the year.

About GoDaddy
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo^®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

SOURCE: GoDaddy Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 1, 2025 /3BL/ – Discovery Education today introduced a new collection of high-quality instructional materials supporting Mental Health Month. Established in 1949 by Mental Health America and observed each May, Mental Health Month educates about mental wellness. Discovery Education is the creator of essential K-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world.

The resources within Discovery Education Experience, the essential companion for engaged K-12 classrooms, include:

• Life Skills Channel: This collection helps students develop critical life skills in the classroom and beyond, including topics like resiliency, character, personal responsibility, and more.
• Biking and Mental Health Article Analysis: Middle school students will learn to identify the author’s purpose and evaluate how evidence is used to support the claim in a national news article from The Week Junior about the mental health benefits of cycling.
• Working with a Team: In this wellness activity, high school students will learn about the value of teamwork and collaboration.

Discovery Education also offers free resources in collaboration with select partners, including:

• Ready-to-Use Activities: Students can explore ready-to-use activities on topics such as substance misuse, medication safety, and mental health that are designed to empower them to make smart, healthy choices. With content for students in grades K-12, the activities in both English and Spanish feature educator guides, interactive content, lesson plans, videos, and more. The materials are from Dose of Knowledge: A Pharmacists Teach program, a resource developed by CVS Health in partnership with Discovery Education.
• Animated Topic Series: The animated video series offers students in grades 6-12 relevant lessons focused on body confidence and its role in self-esteem. Accompanying classroom activities, educator guides, and videos empower educators to plug and play the content into any lesson. These resources are from Amazing Me!, a program with the Dove Self-Esteem Project dedicated to fostering self-esteem and body confidence among students.

“Confidence and curiosity go hand-in-hand to support student wellness and success. It’s important to offer all students a wide array of resources to explore the topic of mental wellness,” said Lance Rougeux, Senior Vice President of Curriculum Instruction & Student Engagement at Discovery Education.

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, K-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts
Grace Maliska
Discovery Education
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

Published by Action Against Hunger.

New York, NY – May 1, 2025

Veronica Lalakal, Community Health Worker 

In one of Kenya’s most remote villages, Veronica Lalakal treks three hours nearly every day to reach families in need. The journey is not easy. Veronica travels over rivers without bridges and unpaved roads that are often obstructed. During the rainy season, the journey becomes far worse as flooding washes away all traces of paths. Still, Veronica is committed to visiting families in Oldonyiro, an area with some of the region’s worst rates of malnutrition. “Malnutrition runs rampant in Oldonyiro, and especially in the small village of Lebarsherik,” said Veronica.

Veronica is a Community Health Worker and one of Action Against Hunger’s many local heroes working in isolated areas that would otherwise not receive healthcare. Community Health Promoters are local volunteers who work with Action Against Hunger to educate their communities about nutrition and link them to the resources Action Against Hunger has to offer.

During one of Veronica’s door-to-door visits, she met a two-year-old named Enza. Veronica used a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) band during Enza’s check-up, a tool that helps caregivers and Community Health Promoters quickly and easily detect severe acute malnutrition in children. Based on the MUAC band’s results, Veronica suspected that Enza was suffering from malnutrition. She brought the toddler and her mother, Narikuni, to see the local health center for a full assessment.

Emily Lerosion, Nurse in Charge 

Emily Lerosion is the nurse in charge at the Lebarsherik Health Center, a facility supported by Action Against Hunger, and she works closely with Veronica to identify and treat malnourished children. Emily reports that the center treats several cases of severe acute malnutrition every week, providing holistic care that helps children return to full nutritional health. “Once we identify a child with malnutrition, we conduct tests to check for other health-related issues, such as anemia or malaria. We register them in our malnutrition register, enroll them in our outpatient therapeutic or supplementary feeding program, administer deworming medication, and collaborate with community health promoters to monitor their progress”, she says. “Children return for progress checks every two weeks.”

Emily confirmed that Enza was suffering from malnutrition and prescribed her ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF), a high-calorie, peanut butter-like medication that can help a child recover from malnutrition in only a few weeks. Soon enough, Enza was back to full nutritional health.

Winne Makena, Nutrition Volunteer 

Emily and Veronica work with Action Against Hunger nutrition volunteers like Winnie Makena, who holds another critical role in the community health system. Winnie leads nutrition counseling workshops for mothers across several villages in Oldonyiro. She trains mothers in the safest and most effective ways to feed their children. Without volunteers like Winnie who can work directly in hard-to-reach communities, many children would never be properly treated for malnutrition. Fighting malnutrition is a community effort and individuals like Veronica, Emily, and Winnie provide a crucial link between communities and Action Against Hunger’s nutritional interventions.

However, tackling hunger requires more than just short-term nutrition support; it is a complex and multi-layered issue not just caused by lack of food. Inequity, poverty, conflict, and lack of sanitation are just some of the major contributors to hunger. Action Against Hunger implements holistic, long-term strategies to address both the causes and consequences of hunger in all our programs.

Support Groups 

One of the methods for fighting hunger long-term in Kenya is creating support groups where peers can share experiences and learn from each other. After attending one of Winnie’s workshops, women are connected to a support group where they can continue developing their nutritional knowledge. “We have formed mother-to-mother support groups where mothers are trained on nutrition, specifically on which foods to use based on their nutritional value, and best practices to enhance their families’ health,” said Winnie.

Narikuni enrolled in one of Action Against Hunger’s women-to-women support groups. She started a kitchen garden at her home to grow vegetables like eggplants and spinach for a well-balanced diet that would help sustain Enza’s recovery from malnutrition. Action Against Hunger supported her with a water tank to store rainwater and installed a bio-sand water filtration system in the community to ensure clean water access. Now, Narikuni serves as secretary of her women-to-women support group.

Gerald Mwangi, Field Coordinator for the region, notes that Action Against Hunger is addressing a range of issues through support groups. “In Oldonyiro, Action Against Hunger has established over 60 mother-to-mother support groups, and through this integrated approach, we hope to support more households in breaking the cycle of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty,” he said. Many of these groups have evolved into Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which allow mothers to save money and access loans through table banking. The VSLAs are designed to enhance women’s economic agency, giving them financial decision-making power to improve their livelihoods.

“Action Against Hunger has truly transformed my life. I have learned a lot about nutrition and now I am able to give my children a better life. Through the Village Savings and Loan Association, I have been able to get money to buy a few goats that I keep as a source of livelihood”, Nakiruni says.

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

As businesses around the world face mounting water-related challenges, proactive water stewardship has become more essential than ever. In this a recent live Q&A entitled, “Bridging Waters: A Global Panel on Sustainable Water Management Practices,” Nadia Jebbour, Head of International Sustainability Services at Antea Group France; Janaina Silva, Water Engineer at Antea Group Brasil; and Natalya Holm, Climate Risk & Water Stewardship Service Line Lead at Antea Group USA, discuss global trends, site-level actions, consumer pressure, supply chain engagement, and collective action for meaningful impact.

To view the whole conversation for yourself, watch the on-demand webinar.

Watch On-Demand

Q: What are the main water-related challenges companies are currently facing? 

Nadia Jebbour (France): More companies are questioning the long-term water sustainability of areas where they operate. Some are asking whether it’s even viable to keep a factory running in a given location due to concerns over water availability, quality, and reputational risk. Others are seeking water-secure sites before building new facilities to avoid costly mistakes like constructing state-of-the-art plants without enough water to operate.

Janaina Silva (Brazil): The conversation around water is growing in Latin America, but challenges remain:

• Increasing pressure on shared water sources, especially in areas with weak watershed governance
• Lack of reliable data to assess risk or measure effectiveness
• Difficulty engaging external stakeholders due to trust gaps or unclear responsibilities
• A need for better water stewardship indicators that are measurable, meaningful, and context-specific

Natalya Holm (USA): Water stewardship has evolved beyond being a reporting metric. Companies now view water as a business-critical resource. Whether it’s physical risk to operations or reputational risk with consumers and stakeholders, water is increasingly viewed as a strategic priority.

Q: How are companies addressing water-related business continuity risks? 

Nadia: Relocation is one option, but when staying in a water-stressed area is necessary, companies are investing in alternative sources—like deeper aquifers that don’t compete with public or agricultural supply—and they are setting stricter water reuse and recycling targets. There’s also growing interest in basin-level replenishment projects to support shared water sustainability.

Natalya: One of the first concepts I learned in water stewardship is that of a “healthy fish in a dry pond.” Even the most efficient factory can’t thrive in an unsustainable watershed. That’s why we’re seeing a growing shift toward incorporating catchment-level action into enterprise risk management.

Q: Are consumers influencing corporate water stewardship? 

Janaina: Yes, especially in water-intensive sectors like food and beverages. While still emerging in Latin America, companies are starting to include water stewardship more explicitly in sustainability communications and ESG reporting to build trust and transparency.

Nadia: Consumer awareness is growing. While carbon was once the primary focus, water is quickly gaining ground. Companies are responding with more visible water stewardship actions, such as public commitments, AWS certification, and strong water strategies, to demonstrate accountability.

Natalya: Consumer concerns about water are increasingly tied to brand trust. We’re also seeing a parallel trend where companies are the “consumer” and are demanding more transparency and resilience from their own suppliers to ensure business continuity.

Q: What about supply chain risks—how are companies engaging suppliers? 

Nadia: Water risk in the supply chain is the next frontier. Many companies are just beginning to map water-related risks across their suppliers. Some are starting to require AWS certification or water-related disclosures during procurement to prioritize responsible suppliers and encourage improvement.

Janaina: In Latin America, agriculture supply chains are especially vulnerable. Companies are offering technical support, partnering with NGOs or universities, and promoting irrigation and soil management practices. The goal is to shift from transactional to collaborative relationships and emphasize shared responsibility.

Q: What’s the value of AWS certification? 

Janaina: Applying the AWS Standard gives companies a structured, practical framework to understand water use, assess risks, engage stakeholders, and plan meaningful actions. Certification adds credibility and aligns efforts with global best practices. Facilities also benefit internally by turning water from a technical issue into a strategic business priority.

Nadia: It’s also a helpful starting point for companies that want to act but don’t know where to begin. The AWS framework guides both site-level and basin-level strategy.

Natalya: It’s a well-polished framework that helps companies develop structured, measurable water strategies that lead to real, site-specific and watershed-wide positive outcomes.

Q: Where are companies succeeding—and struggling—with basin-level engagement? 

Nadia: Success often hinges on trust. Companies that invest time in building relationships, understanding stakeholder priorities, and engaging with basin-level institutions see better results. Struggles emerge when engagement is rushed, one-off, or out of sync with local dynamics. Having dedicated staff, or partnering with NGOs, helps build trust and coordination.

Janaina: Companies that treat engagement as a long-term investment see more meaningful results. Failures typically occur when companies don’t take time to understand local dynamics or treat stakeholders as partners. Aligning different actors’ timeframes and goals can also be a challenge.

Natalya: Success and struggle often go hand-in-hand. Before companies even reach external partners, they often have to navigate internal hurdles, such as legal, communications, and public relations, to align messaging and goals. Transparency is essential, but so is organizational readiness.

Q: What tools are missing to support collective action? 

Janaina: We need:

• Reliable basin-level data to align understanding
• Long-term dialogue platforms beyond compliance
• Simple tools to evaluate, monitor, and share progress
• Local capacity-building for communities and institutions

Natalya: Maybe what we really need is “speed dating” for companies, stakeholders, and implementers, something to foster quick but meaningful connection and trust-building across sectors.

Nadia: We also need methodologies that go beyond volumetric water accounting to include qualitative and social impacts. Broader frameworks would help companies justify projects with meaningful co-benefits, even if they don’t deliver massive volume savings.

Q: Can you share real-world examples of successful basin-level projects? 

Janaina: In southern Brazil, a payment for environmental services initiative supported local farmers to protect springs and riparian areas. Over 100 farmers participated, protecting 120+ springs and generating 60,000+ cubic meters of water benefits annually using volumetric water benefit accounting.

Nadia: In France, a small infrastructure project re-lined a faulty sewer pipeline to prevent clean spring water from unnecessarily entering the wastewater treatment system. It reduced overload and saved 180,000 cubic meters of water, all while improving local water quality. Even small projects can deliver big impacts.

Q: How are companies embracing circular water thinking? 

Nadia: Clients are increasingly integrating the “small cycle” of water (onsite use, reuse, recycling) with the “big cycle” (where the water comes from and returns to). Historically, these were managed separately, but a holistic approach is emerging to view water as a complete system.

Janaina: Companies are connecting water stewardship with broader themes like land use, agriculture, and climate resilience. There’s a mindset shift from controlling water to sustaining it as a shared system.

Natalya: It’s encouraging to see the shift from reactive to proactive strategies. Long-term resilience requires collaboration at both site and watershed levels.

Bringing it All Together 

As this global conversation shows, water stewardship is no longer a niche sustainability topic, it’s a business imperative. From facility-level resilience to collective basin action, companies are increasingly recognizing their role in protecting shared water resources. While challenges remain, from data gaps to stakeholder engagement, the momentum is building toward more holistic, transparent, and proactive strategies. Whether you’re just beginning your water journey or pursuing advanced certification, one thing is clear: collaboration and consistency are key to making a lasting impact.

Questions about your company’s water stewardship journey? Reach out to our team today!

Heading to the 10th annual Global Water Stewardship Forum with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) in June? Connect with Antea Group there! We are co-sponsoring the event through the Inogen Alliance. Learn more here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened our focus on medical waste management. Once largely overlooked, items such as syringes, personal protective equipment (PPE), and even face masks have become focal points in a broader conversation about sustainability and safety. From hospitals to personal use at homes and the workplace, the surge in medical waste has underscored an urgent need for more sustainable approaches to handling biohazardous materials. Given that much of the world’s waste is dumped or incinerated, we must rethink our approach to medical waste—especially in the context of advancing circularity.

The Historical Context of Medical Waste Disposal

Traditionally, medical waste disposal involves outdated methods such as autoclaving, burning, and landfilling. While autoclaving effectively sterilizes biohazardous materials, it raises serious environmental concerns. Burning materials such as PVC contribute to the release of harmful dioxins and other toxins. Over time, regulations have evolved to address these concerns, often driven by the growing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional disposal methods. However, as technology advances, the regulations that once governed the treatment of medical waste have struggled to keep pace with today’s new possibilities.

The Role of Technology in Changing Regulations

Technological advancements in medical waste treatment are outpacing the regulatory landscape. One notable innovation is non-thermal treatment methods, which provide several advantages over traditional thermal processes. These methods, including non-thermal chemical treatments, consume less energy and produce a significantly lower carbon footprint, especially when implemented at the point of generation and collection. As these new technologies become more commonplace, regulators face increasing pressure to adapt existing laws and guidelines to ensure that waste management practices align with emerging capabilities.

Moreover, the understanding of what defines hazardous waste has evolved. The increased awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with improperly discarded biohazardous waste will certainly shape future waste management strategies. However, it’s also essential to acknowledge that, once treated, many of these materials are as non-hazardous as common recyclables.

Circularity in Medical Waste Treatment

Circularity in waste management refers to the concept of reducing, reusing, and recycling materials within a closed-loop system, where waste is minimized and the resources within it are recovered and repurposed. In the context of medical waste, circularity has the potential to transform how we treat and dispose of used materials. Technologies that process medical waste without incinerating or landfilling it pave the way for new opportunities in recycling and recovery. With innovative methods, we can decrease the waste stream and progress toward a future where more of what was once discarded is reintegrated into the economy.

Today, advanced AI and material separation technologies allow for the safe recovery of treated medical waste, making it possible to recycle with a level of confidence comparable to that of metals and plastics used every day.

Case Studies and Real-World Examples

A common misconception about medical waste concerns syringes. Many people assume that all syringes present an extreme contamination risk, but the reality is more nuanced. In a recent discussion, an intriguing comparison was made: what’s the difference between the end of a water bottle and a syringe, aside from the needle? While a used syringe carries risks before treatment, advanced processing methods ensure that its plastic and metal components can be safely reclaimed—just as we do with beverage containers and food packaging.

We need to reconsider our approach to medical waste, recognizing that once correctly treated, it can be safely reintegrated into the circular economy—just like other recyclable materials. The real issue isn’t the item itself but the context in which it is disposed of and whether it undergoes proper treatment.

Conclusion

As the healthcare and waste management sectors continue to evolve, the advancement of technologies that promote sustainability and circularity in medical waste management will play a key role in shaping the future.

It is time for regulators, institutions, and innovators to unite and adopt solutions that address safety concerns while prioritizing environmental responsibility. To drive meaningful change, we must collaborate across sectors to speed up the adoption of technologies that provide sustainable, circular solutions for managing medical waste.

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, Webster Bank, together with Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Massachusetts, (BGCD) celebrated the opening of the Webster Bank Finance Lab, a program created to provide local students the skills needed for financial empowerment and future financial well-being. This program, funded by a $100,000 grant from Webster, is the second collaboration in Massachusetts. To date, Webster has invested over $1.7 million in nine Finance Labs throughout its footprint.

The Webster/Dorchester Finance Lab is part of a signature initiative designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment and improve financial literacy for youth. Through financial education tools, learning experiences, interactive workshops and engaging programs for children, teens, families, and staff, BGCD aims to provide the community with the knowledge and skills needed for financial confidence.

“We are proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester to open the second Finance Lab in Massachusetts,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank. “Webster continues to invest in programs that broaden financial empowerment opportunities, while supporting our commitment to creating economic vitality in the neighborhoods where we live and work.”

Program participants also will engage in hands-on learning opportunities including internships and financial literacy workshops with volunteers from Webster Bank.

“We are incredibly grateful to Webster Bank for their generous support in funding our new Financial Literacy Lab. This investment will empower our youth with essential financial knowledge and skills to help them build a strong foundation for their future. Thanks to Webster Bank, we can continue to provide transformative opportunities that prepare our members for lifelong success,” said Bob Scannell, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester.

In October 2024, Webster celebrated the opening of a Finance Lab with partners in Taunton, Massachusetts. Other Finance Lab partners are in Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Metro New York, Long Island and Yonkers, New York.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester

Established in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD) is dedicated to making a positive impact on the youth and families of the Dorchester community and beyond. Inside BGCD’s three clubhouses is a place for Dorchester’s young people to learn, explore talents, play, and make friends. A beacon of hope, BGCD is known for welcoming and connecting young people and families to opportunities that embrace diversity, nurture growth, and inspire success. Today, as always, members between ages five and 18 have access to 200+ activities for just $5 a year.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and Healthcare Financial Services, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits and administration of medical insurance claim settlements solutions. Webster is a values-driven organization headquartered in Stamford, CT, with $77 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Media Contact:
Elaine K. Ficarra
eficarra@websterbank.com
203-913-2716

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon
eharmon@websterbank.com
212-309-7646

View original content here.

Download the Saint-Gobain 2025 Sustainable Construction Barometer Report here.

A greater awareness for sustainable construction

At the crossroads of demographic, social, energy, and climate challenges faced by societies, the construction sector must accelerate its transformation towards a more sustainable model. This involves designing a built environment that positively contributes to the health and well-being of individuals, is resilient to climate hazards, has low carbon emissions, and provides accessible housing for all—without compromising on quality or performance.

This transition cannot happen without the collective commitment of all industry stakeholders. It is with this goal in mind that Saint-Gobain launched the Sustainable Construction Observatory in 2023. As part of this initiative, the 3rd edition of the Sustainable Construction Barometer, a global study conducted with Occurrence–IFOP, measuring the progress made on this essential topic.

This study is structured around 24 questions, asked to 4,000 stakeholders representative of the sector, along with an additional 27,000 citizens who responded to four specific questions. The responses helped identify key levers to accelerate sustainable construction in The United States  and globally. 

Four key learnings

• Greater awareness, a shared sense of urgency, and strong public support.
• A general, shared desire to go further. Across the board, private actors are seen as the most legitimate driving force, though regional priorities differ.
• A notion still centered on the environment, but resilience is gaining ground, while residents’ well-being remains secondary.
• Well-informed but insufficiently trained stakeholders, which hinders concrete commitments.

To learn more, download the 3rd edition of the Sustainable Construction Barometer here.

MUMBAI and NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /3BL/ – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, reported that its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programming resulted in 8.9 million global hours of employee volunteerism during its 2025 fiscal year, which concluded on March 31, 2025, a growth of over 30% compared to the prior fiscal year. Immediately benefiting the communities where its employees live and work, TCS volunteers in the U.S. and Canada donated their time to advance the missions of national and local nonprofits; facilitated STEM education programs for K-12 students; and mentored women, veterans, and youth to open doors to digital opportunity and careers of the future.

“We are grateful to our team members who took part in our programs to achieve meaningful change. Their efforts align TCS’ social and environmental efforts with our core business values,” said Lina Klebanov, Head, CSR, North America, TCS. “Thanks to last year’s intentional and impactful results, we’ve started FY26 with momentum and I look forward to TCS’ further contributions to sustainability.”

Volunteerism and pro bono services

During the 2025 fiscal year, TCS’ North America CSR team graduated its sixth Leaders with Purpose (LwP) class and started a seventh. Members of the cohort, , who competed for entry into the highly competitive nine-month learning program, finished the program after completing intense online and classroom learning about nonprofit operations and ending with a capstone project demonstrating local impact for a nonprofit in their region. The team also curated hundreds of volunteer opportunities and offered them through TCS’ myPurpose employee volunteerism app, which helps employees find volunteer opportunities and keep track of them. This helped thousands of TCS North America employees activate for positive social and environmental change and contribute to TCS’ global HOPE campaign.

Generous employee volunteers gave their time, talents, and expertise to local and national nonprofits, scientific research organizations, and to TCS community engagement programs including Go Innovate Together (goIT), Ignite My Future, and Tech4Hope, TCS’ pro bono consulting and service program for selected nonprofits. In the past fiscal year, TCS’ Tech4HOPE supported the following North America-based nonprofits: Council for Responsible Sport, Global Giving, Marici, NAF, PAN Foundation, Pathway to Tomorrow and Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA).

Student empowerment

During the 2025 fiscal year, TCS’ two STEM education initiatives reached almost 2 million K-12 students in North America, providing them with skills they’ll need now, in the age of artificial intelligence and later, in their future careers. Ignite My Future, a teacher-focused initiative, uses computational thinking as a catalyst for transforming education. By the end of the last TCS fiscal year, it had reached nearly 32,000 teachers and more than 1,825,543 students in all 50 US states and multiple provinces in Canada with such activities as training teachers to implement the program, Family STEM Nights, and Career Day events.

goIT (Go Innovate Together), which celebrated 15 years last year, prepares students with the skills, confidence, and mindset necessary to pursue careers of the future. The goIT program is a digital innovation experience that introduces students from all backgrounds to STEM, computer science, design thinking, and product innovation. Since its launch in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2009, goIT has engaged about 83,882 students in 207 cities across the US and Canada, reaching and engaging more than 310,000 students across 49 countries. In North America, in the 2025 fiscal year, goIT:

• Reached more than 16,172 students (56% young women) through goIT curricula, summer camps, and participation in the goIT Global Innovator of the Year program or goIT’s popular Monthly Challenge
• Delivered goIT opportunities to students, teachers and other program facilitators in 83 North American cities through offerings including its two student challenges and:
  • goIT Live
  • goIT Online Experience
  • goIT Work Experience
• Piloted a Generative AI curriculum – soon to be added to learning pathways — that includes machine learning, mobile app design and the Internet of Things
• Reimagined its goIT Monthly Challenge to increase access and create greater flexibility for educators, parents, and students
• Delivered more than 253,981 hours of high-impact skill building and computer science programming for students under the age of 18 in North America, many of whom are members of groups or communities that are often underrepresented in Computer Science

Digital opportunity 

TCS’ Digital Empowers initiative brings together practitioners, thought leaders, local government, and industry leaders to explore how to advance skills, resources, and mindsets for individuals to find a prosperous role in the digital economy. During the past fiscal year, Digital Empowers:

• Held its Together Toward Inclusion Digital Equity Summit with 10 corporate or social sector event co-designers contributing
• Continued the momentum with the TCS Digital Empowers Sustainathon
• Embarked on two deep research projects with business, government, and nonprofit leaders in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Toronto, and New York
• Published insights and recommendations from a report, “The Digital Skills Imperative in Canada”
• Embarked on a soon-to-be-published Digital Opportunity Playbook outlining best practices and next steps for key digital opportunity stakeholder collaborations

These activities, all in pursuit of opening pathways to digital inclusion and opportunity to underserved communities, have resulted in the strong collective thought leadership that has grown Digital Empowers’ community to nearly 12,000 practitioners, thought leaders, local government, and industry leaders.

About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) is a digital transformation and technology partner of choice for industry-leading organizations worldwide. Since its inception in 1968, TCS has upheld the highest standards of innovation, engineering excellence and customer service.

Rooted in the heritage of the Tata Group, TCS is focused on creating long term value for its clients, its investors, its employees, and the community at large. With a highly skilled workforce of over 607,979 consultants in 55 countries and 180 service delivery centers across the world, the company has been recognized as a top employer in six continents. With the ability to rapidly apply and scale new technologies, the company has built long term partnerships with its clients – helping them emerge as perpetually adaptive enterprises. Many of these relationships have endured into decades and navigated every technology cycle, from mainframes in the 1970s to Artificial Intelligence today.

TCS sponsors 14 of the world’s most prestigious marathons and endurance events, including the TCS New York City Marathon, TCS London Marathon and TCS Sydney Marathon with a focus on promoting health, sustainability, and community empowerment.

TCS generated consolidated revenues of over US $30 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. For more information, visit www.tcs.com

Follow TCS on LinkedIn| Instagram | YouTube| X

TCS media contacts:

Corporate Communications & India	Email: corporate.communications@tcs.com Email: saxena.kritika@tcs.com| Phone: +91 22 6778 9999 Email: kimberly.solomon@tcs.com | Phone: +91 22 67789098
U.S.	Email: james.sciales@tcs.com | Phone: 917 981 7651
Canada	Email: tiffany.fisher@tcs.com | Phone: +1 416-999-2140

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The international environmental and social due diligence (ESDD) process can be challenging for even the most seasoned professionals, particularly in Asia Pacific (APAC). The location is unfamiliar, the risk profile is unclear, and challenges are amplified by complex regulatory landscapes, diverse cultural context, language barriers, and varying levels of market maturity. Collaborating with a local partner is an effective strategy to mitigate risks and navigate uncertainties. The selection of an appropriate partner is a critical component of a successful due diligence process.

Many multinational firms offer environmental due diligence services, and these experts offer different kinds of assessments in many countries around the world. Although their geographical coverage is vast, many of these firms lack a key ingredient to success: a true, genuine local perspective. This article highlights how a local perspective can help provide unique insight for the environmental and social due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions.

Why Local Expertise Matters in Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD):

1. Knowledge of Local History and Market Insights

An EHS consultant with a local perspective will understand the specific historical circumstances surrounding an identified issue, and their team of specialists will turn the typical “snapshot” of the due diligence process into a complex analysis. Local businesses understand the history of the country, the reputation of the different stakeholders, and the previous history of the acquisition target in an intimate way.

Besides acting as a historical reference, local consultants can also use their historical knowledge to contribute to the implementation of the diligence process in several ways. They can help identify possible issues which are not clearly apparent, like tensions between different groups of stakeholders. They can suggest areas to focus the process more effectively by considering what other issues have come up in past investigations. They can help identify priorities for compliance actions based on their relationship with and understanding of local regulators. This historical knowledge, when combined with their company’s technical expertise, offers unique value and insight to due diligence professionals that will help ensure a more accurate and successful examination of the target.

In APAC, historical circumstances can significantly impact business operations and stakeholder relations. Local consultants possess a deep understanding of the nuances surrounding past political events and economic shifts. Countries like Japan and South Korea have long industrial histories, while emerging markets like Vietnam and Indonesia have undergone rapid economic transformation. These dynamics create unique challenges and opportunities that local consultants are well-equipped to navigate.

Local consultants have intimate knowledge of the country’s history, the reputation of various stakeholders, and the acquisition target’s previous history.

2. Appropriate Mindset and Operating Experience

A local consultant offers unique insights into regional challenges, unlike foreign professionals working remotely. A potential risk identified while due diligence will be analyzed using a broad understanding of the impact on the client, the local risk profile, the regulatory environment, and the operational challenges present in the region. The due diligence exercise will incorporate many of the unique insights that can be gained only by working locally in the region, which provides significant value to clients, especially those operating in parts of the world where they’re unfamiliar.

In Asia Pacific, this is vital due to the diversity of business practices, regulatory standards and cultural norms across different countries. For example, due diligence in Australia might focus on strict environmental compliance, while in developing economies, risks could stem from inconsistent regulatory enforcement or informal practices that may pose reputational risks.

3. Cultural, Social and Language Proficiency

Cultural, social, and language barriers can significantly impact successful completion of due diligence. Some countries cultures prioritize relationship-building and trust, such as Thailand and Malaysia; while others such as Japan emphasize consensus-driven decision-making. Understanding these nuances is crucial to ensure a communications and management approach will be well received.

Understanding of the social context provided by the local partner can support and guide a foreign investor to successfully complete the due diligence. This can include recognizing the importance of community engagement in regions where local communities strongly influence environmental and business decisions, such as parts of India, Indonesia, or the Philippines. Local consultants can gather complex social intelligence and assess factors like community sentiment, labour dynamics, and local stakeholder priorities.

Language barriers are a frequent challenge, with documents available only in local languages and critical discussions requiring interpretation. Without skilled local partners who are fluent in both technical and conversational language, foreign professionals risk missing important details or encountering miscommunication.

4. Practicalities around Regulatory Climate

Qualified local consultants intimately understand the regulatory climate of their countries. They understand which current regulations are most important, the intent behind those regulations, and how the regulations are enforced in practice. Some regulators take a very strict stance on certain issues and a more collaborative approach on others. This insight requires a long history of operational experience in-country and cannot be effectively gained by foreign personnel who are visiting only for a short-term project. A proper risk analysis also considers potential future changes to the regulatory climate, and local experts are best positioned to offer this kind of advice.

APAC’s regulatory landscape is both dynamic and fragmented, presenting a complex environment for businesses. Some countries, like Singapore, offer transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks, making it easier to navigate compliance requirements. Other countries are growing in maturity, reflecting updates in regulations and evolving requirements for compliance. Concurrently, APAC is influenced by other countries’ regulatory requirements as well as global trends in best practices.

Local EHS consultants play a crucial role in this environment. They offer guidance on current rules and anticipate changes, helping businesses remain compliant and strategic. Their deep understanding of local regulations and ability to foresee regulatory shifts are invaluable.

5. More Effective Post-Transaction Support and Services

After the due diligence process is completed, local partners continue to support in a crucial role. Post-transaction integration requires careful consideration of cultural, operational, and linguistic factors. Maintaining business continuity after a merger or acquisition is particularly challenging in a foreign country. A misalignment of expectations around working hours and methods, cultural practices, compensation, or other relevant issues can damage a company. New employees must be onboarded into the acquirer’s business using a method that creates buy-in and a feeling of ownership. All of these services are done more effectively by partnering with an effective local partner who understands the history, culture, and politics of the country.

Local partners assist in implementing integration strategies, managing cultural differences, and ensuring compliance with local regulations. This support is essential for achieving a seamless transition and long-term success in the new market.

Looking for support with an international merger or acquisition? Check out our global network of over 6,000 local experts on the ground who can support you in Environmental and Social Due Diligence Services!

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of over 70 of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn.