An award-winning start to 2025.
We have been recognized as multiple award winners by Built In and Built In Chicago 2025 Best Places to Work lists, including:
100 Best Large Places to Work in Chicago 100 Best Places to Work in Chicago
Working with all of our people, we have built a culture of care and collaboration that has been recognized, most notably in Chicago, which is the birthplace and the heartbeat of our 135+ year organization.
An award-winning start to 2025.
We have been recognized as multiple award winners by Built In and Built In Chicago 2025 Best Places to Work lists, including:
100 Best Large Places to Work in Chicago 100 Best Places to Work in Chicago
Working with all of our people, we have built a culture of care and collaboration that has been recognized, most notably in Chicago, which is the birthplace and the heartbeat of our 135+ year organization.
January 14, 2025 /3BL/ – The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) proudly announces the release of Version 4.3 of its groundbreaking Beverage Industry Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Sector Guidance. This latest iteration is designed to further support the beverage industry in aligning with global GHG reporting protocols while enhancing consistency, accuracy, and leadership in emissions calculation and reporting.
A Comprehensive Tool for Sustainability in the Beverage Sector
The updated guidance builds on BIER’s commitment to providing beverage companies with sector-specific tools that go beyond standard protocols. It supports the industry’s efforts to measure, manage, and report emissions effectively across Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (indirect), and Scope 3 (value chain) categories. By tailoring the framework to the unique needs of the beverage sector, the guidance ensures actionable insights and meaningful progress toward decarbonization.
“Version 4.3 represents a critical step forward for the beverage industry,” said Erica Pann, Executive Director of BIER. “It enables companies to confidently navigate the complexities of GHG reporting while fostering greater transparency and accountability within the sector.”
Key Updates in Version 4.3
The latest guidance incorporates cutting-edge developments in GHG reporting standards and methodologies, including:
Alignment with Emerging Standards: Integrating updates from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Science-Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) FLAG guidance for forest, land, and agriculture emissions.Enhanced Methodologies: Improvements in data allocation for recycling, transportation logistics, and cooling models to ensure accuracy and compliance.Focus on Transparency: Strengthened protocols for data verification and disclosure to meet the demands of stakeholders, from regulators to consumers.
Commitment to Net Zero Leadership
As part of a broader commitment to a net-zero future, BIER member companies are embracing ambitious science-based targets. Many have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040-2050. The updated guidance underscores near- and long-term decarbonization strategies, providing a clear pathway to align with global climate goals and build resilience in the face of climate change.
A Collaborative Industry Effort
Developed by BIER, a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies, the guidance exemplifies the power of collective action. It unites the industry under a shared framework for measuring and reducing emissions while driving innovation and sustainable practices.
“This guidance reflects the beverage industry’s leadership in sustainability,” said Inez Prosee, GHG Guidance Project Manager and Associate Director at BIER. “By working together, we’re setting the standard for GHG reporting and creating a more sustainable future for the entire sector.”
The Beverage Industry Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Sector Guidance, Version 4.3 is available for download at https://bit.ly/BIERGHG25.
For more information, please contact: Erica Pann, BIER Executive Director Erica.Pann@anteagroup.us
About BIER
BIER is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. Formed in 2006, BIER is a common voice across the beverage sector, speaking to influence global standards on environmental sustainability aspects most relevant to the sector, affect change both up and down the supply chain, and share best practices that raise the bar for environmental performance of the industry. By doing so, BIER is able to monitor data and trends, engage with key stakeholders, develop best practices, and guide a course of action for the future. BIER members include Anheuser-Busch InBev, Asahi Group Holdings, Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg Group, The Coca-Cola Company, Constellation Brands, Diageo, Heineken, Keurig Dr Pepper, LION, Molson Coors, Monster Energy, Ocean Spray Cranberries, PepsiCo, Pernod Ricard and Suntory Global Spirits. For more information, visit www.bieroundtable.com.
Originally published in Lenovo’s 2023/24 ESG Report
Under the EMS, energy-related targets are set annually. Since decreased energy use or increased renewable energy use impacts emissions, these energy-related targets are related to Lenovo’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction targets and similar actions are taken to achieve all three types of targets. For Lenovo’s specific energy targets and its performance against them see Section 8.0.
By FY 2025/26, 90% of our global operations’ electricity will be obtained from renewable sources. 2
Energy consumption also occurs throughout Lenovo’s value chain. Energy is used by Lenovo’s suppliers and its supply chain is encouraged to develop energy targets, use renewable energy, and report energy usage. Customers also use energy to power products and Lenovo has set targets to improve energy efficiency in many of its products.
For more information, see Section 9.0 for Lenovo’s energy-related KPIs.
Renewable energy
Lenovo’s renewable energy installations help to reduce Scope 2 emissions at its facilities. In July 2023, Lenovo enabled additional 3 MW solar electric at a factory in Hefei, China, increasing this location’s total solar generation capacity to 10.1 MW. Moreover, the LSSC site in Shenzhen, China, and TJSC site in Tianjin, China, added new 2.3 MW and 4.02 MW solar installations, respectively, in FY2023/24. Lenovo’s total solar generation capacity increased 48% compared to last fiscal year.
In addition to the 25.12 MW of solar electric that are currently operational, Lenovo continues to investigate additional opportunities for solar installations in China and other locations including Brazil and Mexico.
In addition to onsite solar generation capacity, Lenovo is proactively looking for opportunities for sourcing renewable electricity directly from utility suppliers. The TJSC campus in Tianjin, China, has signed a purchase agreement with a local utility supplier to provide 100 percent renewable electricity for its manufacturing and distribution area starting in January 2024. The Green Electricity Certificates documenting this renewable electricity are provided semiannually based on actual electricity consumption.
Where the use of onsite renewable energy sources is not technically or economically feasible, Lenovo chooses to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (REC), International Renewable Energy Credits (I-REC), Guarantees of Origin (GO), and Non-fossil certificates (NFCs). In FY 2023/24, Lenovo purchased renewable commodities that supported 100 percent renewable energy projects consisting of wind and/or solar power in various parts of the world including Brazil, China, India, Japan, Europe, Mexico, and US. During FY2023/24, Lenovo expanded its renewable energy procurement for the first time to Japan.
Operational energy efficiency
Given that one of Lenovo’s most significant environmental aspects is emissions associated with energy consumption, it has a goal to continually improve the energy efficiency of its operations. In FY 2023/24, Lenovo’s initiatives to help reduce energy consumption included the following methods:
Energy Conservation – Active Method:Installation of low-energy equipment (including LED lighting, smart lighting system, air compressor, air conditioning, and chillers)Usage of air compressor heat recovery and reuseHarmonic control technology application of power distribution networkUsage of High-efficiency power transformerEmployed digitalization, including multiple-level smart energy metering devices, Lenovo ESG Navigator, campus energy management platform, and carbon 3D visualizationEnergy Conservation – Passive Method:Installation of energy-efficient windows or low-emissivity windowsAdoption of energy-saving and environmentally conscious materials in new constructionCentralized design of power roomArchitectural design with natural lighting (including dome design, adding lighting windows, and split-level floor design)Dock leveler heat isolation improvementManagement System and CertificationVarious manufacturing sites, office locations in EMEA, and the Beijing headquarters location are ISO 50001:2018 certifiedThe new Tianjin manufacturing site’s buildings 1 and 8, and the Beijing headquarters are LEED Gold certifiedEnergy Conservation EducationEmployee awareness trainingEnergy conservation promotion (emails and tip signs)
Environmental spotlight
In November 2023, Lenovo’s Tianjin Smart Campus (TJSC) was completed and put into operation. TJSC has implemented a total of 90 carbon reduction measures in nine major fields, including architectural design, construction process, campus management, manufacturing process, logistics, canteen, data center, digitalization, and renewable energy.
Lenovo deployed the Lenovo ESG Navigator to support TJSC. This integrated solution replaces the traditional manual management of ESG metrics with a flexible, transparent, and highly automated approach as it captures data across the value chain.
Logistics
Logistics is an important part of Lenovo’s global supply chain and a key component of Lenovo’s plan to meet net-zero by 2050. Lenovo is decarbonizing its logistics by deploying innovative solutions including demand management, low carbon transport, low carbon fuel, consolidation and utilization, and external partnerships.
In FY 2023/24, the priorities of Lenovo’s logistics included:
Demand management
Lenovo is reducing transportation activity by using ultra-light pallets for its Intelligent Device Group’s (IDG) business group’s products.Lenovo is directing shipments to Australia and locating fulfillment centers closer to its customers in Malaysia.
Low carbon transport
Using rail and sea freight when feasible which are lower carbon transportation compared with road and air freight.Lenovo progressed its transition from air freight to road and sea freight including using the roll-on/roll-off shipping which replaced more than 50 percent emergent air delivery in Asia Pacific, and more than 96 percent of total Infrastructure Solutions Group’s (ISG) shipments are transported by road in North America and China.Lenovo increased the usage of rail freight in China, Europe and Latin America, thus reducing carbon emissions and other air pollutants by avoid using diesel truck.
Low carbon fuel
Air shipments contribute roughly 87 percent of Lenovo’s logistics-related emissions, Lenovo aims to cut emissions by transitioning to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is made of waste biomass such as used cooking oil (UCO). SAF causes around 80 percent less CO2 emissions per flight than conventional aviation fuel.Lenovo expanded alternative fuel delivery in Brazil, China, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Thailand, and the UK.
Consolidation and utilization
Lenovo optimizes the trailer loading for each business unit and combines trailers where possible. In FY 2023/24, Lenovo improved container utilization of truck shipments in Hong Kong from 51% to 71% as well as co-loading goods between business groups’ products for ocean freight.
External partnerships
Lenovo is an active partner to industry-wide coalitions, sustainable logistics initiatives, government organizations and NGOs, such as Global Logistics Emission Council (GLEC), Smart Freight Centre China and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay program.Striving to further reduce emissions, Lenovo aims to ensure that all stakeholders make a difference. Lenovo updated its logistics KPI methodology to require logistics suppliers to share their carbon emissions data with Lenovo. Lenovo also works with suppliers to set goals to reduce emissions. In addition, Lenovo shares its logistics CO2 report with its customers to improve transparency and increase awareness.
2 May be accomplished through installation of onsite renewable energy generation, entry into power purchase agreements (PPA) with power providers and/or the purchase of renewable energy credits.
In this latest blog Cascale’s Executive Vice President, Andrew Martin shares insights on the organization’s membership requirements, which were designed to unite our global members across brands, retailers, manufacturers, and affiliates – to address the industry’s most pressing challenges. Martin highlights how these guidelines are driving real impact across the global consumer goods industry; from reducing GHG emissions to improving labor practices, our members are uniting around shared goals and making measurable progress.
Read the full blog, titled: How Cascale’s Membership Requirements Can Mobilize Change
Rockwell Automation is donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross to support wildfire relief efforts in and around Los Angeles, California. Rockwell funds will support the American Red Cross network and their work to provide emergency shelter, relief supplies, and meals, and to assist with rescue efforts.
The fire in Pacific Palisades is now the most destructive in Los Angeles history. Fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, the wildfires have burned more than 40,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings. More than 300,000 people are under evacuation orders. A state of emergency has been declared and there are signs in the forecast that the situation could get worse.
“These wildfires already have caused historic destruction, and the winds are predicted to build again,” said Rockwell’s Patricia Contreras, vice president, Community Impact. “This is an evolving and changing situation with long-term consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. We are proud to support the Red Cross and their frontline efforts to help the people in need now and throughout the long recovery and rebuilding process.”
January 14, 2025 /3BL/ – AEG’s LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Kings have united with 10 other local professional sports franchises to pledge a combined donation of more than $8 million to help those impacted by the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. These combined financial resources will be utilized to support American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Fire Foundation, Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund, Team Rubicon and various local animal rescue organizations.
“We are learning more information about the fire and its impact each day, and at this point, are aware of families, friends, and colleagues impacted by this disaster,” said LA Galaxy President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Braun. “We are deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of dedicated first responders, and in the coming days and weeks, will learn the full extent of the damage to our community. We are dedicated, along with our larger AEG family and our committed fans, to helping LA rebuild.”
Bolstering their financial contributions, the 12 teams (in partnership with the teams’ own foundations) have also joined forces with Fanatics and the Fanatics Foundation to distribute $3 million worth of Fanatics merchandise to Angelenos who have been evacuated from their homes. In addition to the apparel items being donated by Fanatics, teams are collectively contributing thousands more items that will be given out at three upcoming events. These events will also feature individual teams’ community partners on site at various locations distributing personal hygiene kits, school supplies, sneakers and more. To learn more about the events, please click here.
Additionally, Fanatics, the professional sports leagues and Los Angeles sports organizations have partnered to launch an “LA Strong” collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts, with all proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the American Red Cross. Fans can visit fanatics.com/lastrong to purchase the limited items and support communities in need.
Separately, AEG’s owned sports franchises – MLS Cup Champions, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign — will be hosting donation drives to support those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.
“Our entire organization joins our city in sorrow over the loss and destruction from these fires,” said LA Kings President Luc Robitaille. “However, we are emboldened by the response of our first responders and fire-fighting professionals, as well as the community on the whole who are coming forward with unconditional support and resources.”
Donation drives will be held at:
Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, home of the LA Galaxy, will be a supply and resource drop-off location. The LA Galaxy fans and community members are invited to drop off new and unused items in Legends.The Toyota Sports Performance Center (TSPC) in El Segundo, CA, home of the Los Angeles Kings, has been approved to serve as a supply collection site on behalf of the YMCA. LA Kings and TSPC staff joined other volunteers in mobilizing and collecting critical supplies in support of the fire relief and recovery efforts due to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. All items donated will be delivered to local YMCAs who are on the front lines distributing to those in need.The Ontario Reign are hosting a collection drive during the club’s next three games. The Reign will be urging fans and community members to donate essential items for victims of the LA wildfires, including new toiletries, packaged diapers, new or gently used clothing, bottled water, canned or non-perishable food items and pet supplies.
Additionally, the LA Galaxy team is supporting its local first responders. The LA Galaxy Foundation has been a steadfast and dedicated community partner for over a decade. As more is learned about recovery efforts, the Foundation will work with existing and new partners to deploy volunteers.
For more information, please visit lagalaxy.com/LAFireRelief and www.lakings.com/firerelief.
Clorox’s environmental, social and governance goals are integrated into our IGNITE strategy because we believe they create value for our company, brands, people and communities. We’ve focused on areas where we can make the biggest impact, and much of our progress is realized through the work of our purpose-driven brands.
Our Litter manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, West Virginia, recently achieved zero-waste-to-landfill, or ZWtL, status. This puts our company one step closer to our ambitious goal to reach ZWtL in 100% of our plants by 2025 and in our global facilities by 2030. We spoke with Martinsburg’s continuous improvement manager, Paul Baublitz, about how our teammates mobilized to meet Clorox’s ZWtL criteria.
How did you engage and motivate your team to adapt to waste-reducing practices?
Communication is key for driving motivation and engagement with our Clorox teammates at our Martinsburg plant. ZWtL is a topic that was brought up frequently in our all-plant meetings, and as we embarked on this journey, time was made available to answer any questions the team had about next steps and best practices.
In late 2023, the Martinsburg Eco Team was established to drive engagement throughout the site. One key learning opportunity was ensuring that team members were aware of and clear about sorting of recyclables versus waste in office and break room areas. To that end, signage was placed all over the plant to label waste and recycling bins, and training was implemented to engage the team about the benefits of reducing waste in our day-to-day work.
Were there any unique challenges this team faced during the transition to zero waste to landfill? How did they overcome them?
As with any manufacturing process, we inevitably encounter something called off-spec byproduct — meaning litter that doesn’t meet the quality standards or specifications in order to use in the products we sell. This byproduct is not recyclable through traditional means, and it cannot be incinerated at a waste-to-energy facility. We partnered with a local concrete fabricator that was able to accept this byproduct stream and reuse it in their manufacturing process. This process required extensive collaboration and testing to ensure that the material would be suitable for the manufacturer’s needs. The end result was a win-win for both of our businesses and has become a cornerstone for the Martinsburg ZWtL achievement.
What advice would you give to other manufacturing plants aiming to achieve zero waste to landfill?
Engage your whole team as early as possible, because achieving zero waste is an all-hands effort. Like safety and quality, it needs to become a part of the facility’s daily norms if you want to be successful. Fully utilizing workplace organization is critical for proper material sorting and recycling on the production floor. I encourage other manufacturing site leaders to make the process fun and explain why it is important. Once waste reduction becomes part of a site’s culture, it becomes second nature.
Every facility will face its own challenges and opportunities, so get creative and find solutions that work for your team. Don’t forget to celebrate the wins along the way and keep pushing until you cross the finish line.
Clorox’s environmental, social and governance goals are integrated into our IGNITE strategy because we believe they create value for our company, brands, people and communities. We’ve focused on areas where we can make the biggest impact, and much of our progress is realized through the work of our purpose-driven brands.
Our Litter manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, West Virginia, recently achieved zero-waste-to-landfill, or ZWtL, status. This puts our company one step closer to our ambitious goal to reach ZWtL in 100% of our plants by 2025 and in our global facilities by 2030. We spoke with Martinsburg’s continuous improvement manager, Paul Baublitz, about how our teammates mobilized to meet Clorox’s ZWtL criteria.
How did you engage and motivate your team to adapt to waste-reducing practices?
Communication is key for driving motivation and engagement with our Clorox teammates at our Martinsburg plant. ZWtL is a topic that was brought up frequently in our all-plant meetings, and as we embarked on this journey, time was made available to answer any questions the team had about next steps and best practices.
In late 2023, the Martinsburg Eco Team was established to drive engagement throughout the site. One key learning opportunity was ensuring that team members were aware of and clear about sorting of recyclables versus waste in office and break room areas. To that end, signage was placed all over the plant to label waste and recycling bins, and training was implemented to engage the team about the benefits of reducing waste in our day-to-day work.
Were there any unique challenges this team faced during the transition to zero waste to landfill? How did they overcome them?
As with any manufacturing process, we inevitably encounter something called off-spec byproduct — meaning litter that doesn’t meet the quality standards or specifications in order to use in the products we sell. This byproduct is not recyclable through traditional means, and it cannot be incinerated at a waste-to-energy facility. We partnered with a local concrete fabricator that was able to accept this byproduct stream and reuse it in their manufacturing process. This process required extensive collaboration and testing to ensure that the material would be suitable for the manufacturer’s needs. The end result was a win-win for both of our businesses and has become a cornerstone for the Martinsburg ZWtL achievement.
What advice would you give to other manufacturing plants aiming to achieve zero waste to landfill?
Engage your whole team as early as possible, because achieving zero waste is an all-hands effort. Like safety and quality, it needs to become a part of the facility’s daily norms if you want to be successful. Fully utilizing workplace organization is critical for proper material sorting and recycling on the production floor. I encourage other manufacturing site leaders to make the process fun and explain why it is important. Once waste reduction becomes part of a site’s culture, it becomes second nature.
Every facility will face its own challenges and opportunities, so get creative and find solutions that work for your team. Don’t forget to celebrate the wins along the way and keep pushing until you cross the finish line.
NAPERVILLE, Ill., January 14, 2025 /3BL/ – Nicor Gas celebrated the opening of its first renewable natural gas (RNG) interconnection with Air Liquide’s largest RNG facility in the world. The plant converts biogas from a nearby landfill into energy through the utility’s first-ever RNG interconnection. To mark this historic moment in Illinois’s clean energy future, the companies hosted an official ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by company leaders, local and national elected officials and community partners.
“This interconnection is a significant step forward for Nicor Gas and Southern Company Gas on the path to a sustainable energy future for Illinois and facilitating economy-wide carbon reductions while fueling resiliency, energy security and the growth of the clean energy economy,” said Wendell Dallas, president and CEO of Nicor Gas.
The interconnection was established under Nicor Gas’ Renewable Gas Interconnection Pilot Program approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2021. This is the utility’s first-ever interconnection of a biogas upgrading plant to the Nicor Gas delivery system, which went live June 12, 2024.
Located in Rockford, Illinois, Air Liquide’s state-of-the-art plant uses biogas from the adjacent Winnebago Landfill operated by Waste Connections, Inc. to create RNG. The plant is projected to produce approximately 1.3 million Metric Million British thermal units (MMBtu) per year, which is the estimated equivalent to replacing natural gas with RNG in 12,000 homes annually.
RNG is a low-carbon intensity fuel produced from biogas that is derived from organic waste sources such as household waste in landfills, wastewater treatment processes and agriculture. As organic waste decomposes, it produces biogas – a mixture of primarily methane and carbon dioxide. Instead of allowing it to be flared into the atmosphere, Air Liquide’s Winnebago facility captures it at the landfill and purifies it into a pipeline-quality gas that is interchangeable with geologic natural gas. In some cases, RNG is one of the only energy sources that can have a negative carbon intensity on a lifecycle basis, depending on the feedstock.
Nicor Gas’ pipeline infrastructure is a vital component in enabling reduced emissions for those entities who are purchasing and/or retiring the environmental attributes and delivering energy to end users, as well as encouraging RNG development. The company will receive and retire 13,900 MMbtu annually of environmental attributes associated with this project, contributing directly to Nicor Gas’ reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.
To learn more about Nicor Gas’s commitment to a clean energy future, visit https://www.nicorgas.com/sustainability.
About Nicor Gas
Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and more than 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities.
SOURCE Nicor Gas
For further information: Jennifer Golz, 331-222-8716, jgolz@southernco.com
