Tag: 3BL

Originally published on HARMAN Newsroom

STAMFORD, Conn., December 10, 2024 /3BL/ – HARMAN Automotive is celebrating success having been named “Best Supplier” at the 2024 CDN People Awards, a prestigious annual award ceremony hosted by Car Design News that recognizes excellence in automotive design globally.

The CDN People Awards’ expert judging panel selected the HARMAN Automotive Design Team for its collaborative approach with its OEM customers and suppliers to deliver industry-first solutions and award-winning product experiences.

“We’re thrilled to have received the ‘Best Supplier’ honors at the CDN People Awards,” said Philipp Siebourg, Senior Director, HARMAN Automotive Design. “The entire HARMAN Automotive Design Team has made such incredible strides in recent years, enabling us to become a globally recognized team supporting the industry to deliver next-generation experiences. It’s a huge collaborative effort by all our creative talent from CMF team to the UX designers and everyone in-between; I’m honored to accept this award on the entire team’s behalf and thank every single person for all their incredible hard work.”

HARMAN’s in-house design team comprises over 200 multi-disciplinary creatives across the globe with expertise in UX/UI, motion and industrial design that enables it to craft beautiful experiences, leading-edge solutions and award-winning products. Collaboration is at the heart of HARMAN’s creativity—between its own internal teams and with its OEM partners and suppliers. Its worldwide reputation has resulted in long-standing customer relationships, with its exceptional work including bespoke digital experiences and crafting holistic interior acoustic landscapes for leading global automakers. Recognized for innovation and agility, the HARMAN team enhances automotive in-cabin experiences, prioritizing safety, precision, quality, wellbeing, and communication.

The CDN People Award celebrations took place on December 5, 2024, at The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, London. Organized by Car Design News—the leading resource for car design professionals globally—and now in its third year, the annual awards celebrate the automotive design teams and individuals of all levels behind today’s mobility, spanning UX, exteriors, interiors, lighting, along with color, material and finish design (CMF). A panel of esteemed car designers and experts from leading automotive companies reviewed a record-breaking roster of more than 200 entries to determine the worthy winners.

HARMAN Automotive also played an important role as VIP Host for this year’s awards, helping facilitate connections amongst the expert judging panel and VIPs, allowing them to meet, network and share insights, and ensure a transparent and engaging judging process.

To learn more about HARMAN Automotive visit: https://car.harman.com/

To learn more about Huemen, HARMAN’s in-house design team, visit: https://www.huemendesign.com/

Originally published on Illumina News Center

Illumina Vice President of Bioinformatics James Han has been in the industry for decades—so he’s witnessed every stride the company has made in that time. “Illumina has worked tirelessly for the last 20 years to improve sequencing,” he says. “We brought the cost of a genome from hundreds of thousands—maybe even millions—down to $200. Now, as labs move toward whole-genome sequencing, the bottleneck is no longer the lab workflow; it’s really in the informatics, in getting the insights from the data. This is why this work is so important.”

For over six years, DRAGEN Secondary Analysis software from Illumina has stood out among its competitors for its speed and accuracy. But one comment its developers have heard from members of the scientific community has been that, because it’s a commercial product that uses proprietary code, the inner workings of its algorithms—the secrets to its success—are invisible to the user.

Senior Director of Bioinformatics Severine Catreux has even encountered the assumption that the DRAGEN team relies on open-source components to achieve such high performance and rapid algorithmic evolution. “However, our approach is fully independent,” she says. “We develop all methods in house, from initial concept through to complete implementation.”

This perception needed to change. “Illumina believes in objective review of our methods,” Han says. “So, we’re being open with the scientific community about how the algorithms work.”

A new peer-reviewed study in the October 2024 issue of Nature Biotechnology publishes the results of an unprecedented third-party validation by the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine of every single one of DRAGEN’s germline sequencing algorithms, rigorously comparing the software against other tools on the market and measuring it against industry-standard benchmarks.

The most challenging genes require a custom solution

One of the study’s lead authors, and head of the validation effort at Baylor, is associate professor of molecular and human genetics Fritz Sedlazeck. His research focuses on complex parts of the genome that are linked to rare diseases and cancer, and his group has never balked at the prospect of delving into even the largest and most challenging of these regions. He says, “I’m very curious and driven by the fact that we should study all types of variants that occur in our genomes, not just the small ones.”

Back in the mid-2010s, he found that the secondary analysis software available at the time often misreported these regions, and he concluded that better accuracy would require specialized algorithms and targeted variant callers. Eventually he got in touch with the DRAGEN team at Illumina to provide feedback, though he stresses that he’s not partial to any one company, saying, “I just want to get the science right.”

The DRAGEN team prioritized a shortlist of genes of greatest interest to the scientific community because of their potential relevance to medical research, and in the past few years, they’ve rapidly developed tailored solutions for characterizing these genes—for instance, GBA, which is linked to Gaucher’s disease and Parkinson disease; or LPA, the copy numbers of which are directly correlated with cardiovascular disease risk.

These high-priority genes are often present in multiple copies and/or located in highly homogenous regions of the genome. This repetitive genetic code can vary widely from person to person, and it constitutes a booby trap that confuses genomic sequencers during the demultiplexing step, which stitches the complete genome back together from the smaller fragments created during library preparation.

DRAGEN now includes over a dozen specialized variant callers, tailor-made to accurately read these most challenging sections of the genome. (For more detail on DRAGEN targeted callers, follow this link.) Sedlazeck explains that researchers from various institutions have done well developing individual variant callers, but few to none of them are designed to work together. This paper shows that with DRAGEN, “you have a really comprehensive genomics workflow built together, where each component efficiently communicates with the others. DRAGEN is one of the few cases—or the only case—where these components are connected, and benefit from the innovations across them.”

Accurately reflecting the world’s genetic diversity—and showing our work

Another recently developed feature—and major strength—of DRAGEN is its pangenome reference, sometimes called a multigenome reference or graph genome. This breakthrough aims to counter the Eurocentric bias present in most of the available reference data to date.

The reference genome most often used by researchers today, GRCh38, has its roots in the Human Genome Project of the 1990s. It has served researchers well for a long time, “but honestly, in my opinion it’s nothing more than a kind of ruler,” Sedlazeck says. Unique genetic sequences that appear in non-European ethnic groups are poorly represented or even absent in this data. “We compared every human genome to that ruler, and it doesn’t cope well with different variants across different ancestries.”

The pangenome reference in DRAGEN compares newly read genetic sequences against other known variations in that position, drawing from sample data that better captures the spectrum of people groups across the world. Sedlazeck says this feature, combined with the power of machine learning and Illumina’s proprietary algorithms, is a significant milestone that improves variant calling at any scale—from single-nucleotide variants all the way up to large copy number variations. “With this paper, we hope to show that DRAGEN has matured a lot in identifying more complex variants. This is a significant jump forward to get the whole picture of what a genome looks like in a certain individual; hopefully this catches on, and more and more studies will make use of it.”

In the spirit of scientific transparency, the paper in Nature Biotechnology references all the data and truth sets used, and all the command line parameters necessary for other computational biologists and geneticists to reproduce the same results. DRAGEN is built to handle everything from individual samples to population-size studies (such as the UK Biobank and the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program), encompassing hundreds of thousands of them.

The numbers don’t lie: DRAGEN’s speed and accuracy is in a class of its own

DRAGEN demonstrated higher accuracy and faster reads compared to eight other variant callers in this study—when tested on the same fully characterized benchmark data from the US National Institute of Standards, one third-party caller had 144% more false-positive and false-negative errors than DRAGEN; another showed 470% more errors.

And it enables this laser-sharp analysis in just 30 minutes of computation time. “DRAGEN can go from raw reads to VCF files to variant reports in 30 minutes for the whole human genome,” Sedlazeck says. “For many people, this takes, like, half a week.” These comprehensive, scalable methods are necessary to detect medically relevant variants of all types, and to discover novel genetic markers and drug targets.

Catreux has been with Illumina ever since 2018, when the company acquired Edico Genome, the original developers of DRAGEN. She says that acquisition completely changed Illumina’s software landscape: “I’ve seen the whole evolution of DRAGEN, starting from its infancy when nobody knew about it, to the point where we talk about it worldwide. We completely take ownership of how we help our customers with data processing, and we’re having a real impact in improving human health.”

She and Han are proud to share the latest fruits of their labor with the world—and they’re excited to tackle the challenges that lie ahead, all the while listening to customers and using feedback from leading labs like Baylor. Sedlazeck says, “I think the genomics you can now accomplish with this framework is astonishing. And I’m really looking forward to seeing how scientists will use it.”

Originally published on Habitat for Humanity 2024 Annual Report

Giving back to our communities is an essential part of who we are. That commitment is the inspiration behind Wesco Cares. This corporate philanthropic program allows Wesco to make a positive and lasting impact within the communities where our employees work and reside.

Habitat for Humanity and Wesco International are partnering to build sustainable homes in Monte Sión, a mountain community in the municipality of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico.

Monte Sión was founded by Indigenous families displaced by conflict. The residents have been heavily involved with Habitat and have named the building project Lekil Na’, which means “sustainable housing” in their native Tzotzil.

When Wesco International learned about the Lekil Na’ development, they were eager to support the project, donating more than US$111,000. The global supply chain solutions provider has five branches in Mexico and has previously supported Habitat Mexico’s housing affordability efforts.

“We’re committed to making a difference environmentally and socially in the global communities we serve. We are proud to partner with Habitat and families in Monte Sión to build sustainable and healthy homes.”

Christine Wolf, Wesco International’s executive vice president and chief human resources officer

Lekil Na’ homes will have biodigesters for wastewater treatment, solar water heaters, and energy-saving wood stoves designed to maximize heat while minimizing the use of firewood. The houses will be built with cement blocks enhanced with RESIN8TM, a material made from plastic waste that will reduce the homes’ environmental impact and improve thermal efficiency.

Habitat Mexico worked collaboratively with families and community leaders to design energy-efficient homes for the Lekil Na’ project that incorporated local needs and customs. Through the process, community members shared that kitchen and bathroom areas were most often constructed separately from the main house.

The resultant responsive design of the homes features a bathroom that is only accessible from the back patio in accordance with local practices. The patio acts as flexible space, and the homes also include a front porch for welcoming guests. The kitchen area is designed to easily close off from all other living spaces, including two bedrooms and a dining and living area, to avoid smoke inhalation.

Together, Habitat and Wesco International are focused on working with communities like Monte Sión around the globe to build sustainable homes that help families, and our planet, thrive.

To learn more, view the 2024 Habitat for Humanity Annual Report on habitat.org. 

Originally published by the State of Washington Department of Ecology 

Ecology’s Food Center Lead Jade Monroe was at a Seattle Safeway store this week where she gave tips to reduce holiday food waste. As a Use Food Well campaign partner, Safeway helps Ecology promote food waste prevention through simple steps like smart shopping, meal planning, and proper food storage.

See original post at the State of Washington Department of Ecology and learn more about Use Food Well here. Read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Vital Voices Global Fellowship’s VV Venture Program and FedEx are proud to spotlight a few exceptional fellows.

We’ll meet the first fellow in our three-part series this week and two more fellows over the coming weeks. Their inspiring stories, notable achievements, and active engagement throughout the Fellowship truly embody the spirit of innovation and leadership

Durga Das is an extraordinary entrepreneur and former professional sportswoman. From representing India in cricket to captaining the US cricket team and later pursuing a career in professional golf, Durga’s early sporting experiences laid the foundation for her resilience and leadership. Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged at the age of 14, compelled by family circumstances that led her to venture into business. Despite facing several challenges, Durga’s determination led her to a long career marked by continuous growth. Her commitment to learning brought her to the 10,000 Women program, a transformative experience that not only validated her instincts but also provided crucial insights for her as the founder of Aeronero.

In her role at Aeronero, Durga is at the forefront of revolutionizing the water industry through innovative air water generation (AWG) solutions. Aeronero’s ground-breaking technology harnesses the humidity in the air, converting it into clean water. Durga’s dedication to addressing the global water crisis is evident not only in Aeronero’s commercial success but also in her philanthropic initiatives. Beyond serving commercial clients, Aeronero actively engages in charitable efforts. Durga established the charity WODER in the United Kingdom, collaborating with influential figures like Amir Alkayed and Mansee Bal Bhargava to address water scarcity in refugee camps and promote water independence for women. Durga’s strategic vision spans the globe, with operations from India to the Americas, underscoring the urgency of tackling water challenges on an international scale. As she navigates the challenges of scaling Aeronero, Durga remains a trailblazer, embodying the spirit of entrepreneurship and social responsibility.

Through the work that Aeronero does, it also enables United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,10: Reduced Inequalities, 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, 13: Climate Action, 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Durga is an advisor on the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) platform under Water – Industry, a Joint Secretary of Asian African Chamber of Commerce, and advisor to the World Talent Economic Forum which is a team of International Experts for Research Enrichment and Knowledge Exchange. Durga has more than thirty years of experience in the critical early stages of start-ups – with skilled emphasis on creation, management, business development, marketing, and sales. She has mentored and invested in several start-ups and shares her insights and experiences on several platforms to guide new age entrepreneurs in their vision and growth.

Aeronero’s Impact to Date:

270+ Solutions Delivered: Aeronero has successfully deployed over 200 innovative water solutions, transforming access to clean water in diverse communities and environments.4 Million Lives Impacted: Their solutions have directly improved the lives of 4 million people, providing safe and reliable access to water and enhancing health and wellbeing across communities.12 Million Liters of Water Generated: Through their technology, they have produced 12 million liters of fresh, potable water, offering a sustainable water source in areas with limited access to traditional supplies.50 Million Liters of Water Saved: Their initiatives have helped conserve 50 million liters of water, contributing to global water preservation efforts and promoting more efficient water usage.

Recently Durga won the “Best Innovator” award at the HIEx platform at the World Health Assembly held in Geneva on May 29th, 2024, in addition to winning a woman leadership award in Delhi in 2024 from Ms Kiran Bedi. Aeronero’s inclusion in the 2024 MB100 global awards list by Meaningful Business highlights their vision for water security and their dedication to reducing inequality. This prestigious recognition provides access to a valuable network, investment prospects, capacity-building resources, and pro-bono services from partners like EY Global, Hogan Lovells, Babson College, Green Frontier Capital, Kenya Climate Ventures, and Innovision. Being acknowledged by the Meaningful Business community validates Aeronero’s mission to change the world, one clean sip at a time. Durga has also partnered with Mauro Pantaleo of BioVitae, their exclusive technology partner for LED-based sterilization. This advanced technology, integrated into Aeronero’s latest machines, ensures superior hygiene standards. BioVitae’s innovative LED lighting technology targets and neutralizes harmful microorganisms, creating safer, healthier environments by leveraging specific light frequencies to eliminate viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Overall, Durga and Aeronero’s commitment remains steadfast to their vision of “Water for all, always.”

Durga is honored to be part of the Vital Voices Global Fellowship program as a VV Venture Fellow, a transformative platform dedicated to empowering and supporting women social entrepreneurs. Durga believes that the VV Venture program is not just a mentor; it’s a lifelong partner, supporting participants not only during the program but throughout their journey of making meaningful, sustainable impact. Her aspiration is to harness Vital Voices’ support to enhance the outreach and effectiveness of her for-profit social enterprise, reaching communities in need and deepening their social impact. She views Vital Voices’ extensive reach and expertise as having the potential to amplify solutions worldwide, including in regions like Africa and areas affected by disasters where water security is critical. Through her participation in VV Venture, she aims to advance not only her enterprise’s mission but also contribute to global efforts in livelihoods and women’s empowerment.

Translating her learnings from VV Venture into actionable impact, she has designed a program called Windependence. This initiative empowers women—historically the stewards of water across all social and economic backgrounds—by enabling them to produce and distribute alkaline, healthful water. By creating a source of income and fostering independence, Windependence supports water security, enabling women to nourish both their families and their communities. Through this initiative, they aim to build a resilient, self-sustaining network that transforms water into a tool for both economic and social empowerment.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

At Covia facilities, the Community Action Plans (CAPs) exemplify our commitment to proactive community engagement, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development. In recent years, we have steadily increased the number and sophistication of these plans across our operations. Some of these CAP milestones have included:

Narrowing the focus of priorities to address critical local needs as determined in partnership with community leaders and facility neighbors;Introducing end-of-year implementation summaries to capture key learnings, achievements, and areas for continuous improvement; andFor our U.S. locations, incorporating environmental justice into our plans; Mexico, Canada, and Denmark identify their vulnerable populations.

For example, Covia’s Ahuazotepec, Mexico, facility operates with a high level of environmental, social, and community responsibility, which is reflected in its CAP. The facility’s exceptional programs include the following ongoing partnerships and initiatives:

The facility participates in the prestigious Clean Energy Certificate program, a voluntary environmental assessment that is aimed at conserving Mexico’s ecological balance.Focused on reforestation as part of a multi-year partnership with the Zacatlán Municipal Government, the State Government of Puebla, the National Forestry Commission, and the Drinking Water Operating System, the plant donated 30,000 trees to local communities and participated in 60 reforestation events.Wildlife Habitat Council Certification demonstrates the site’s commitment to biodiversity and conservation initiatives.A comprehensive environmental audit is conducted annually, evaluating the site’s environmental management systems, environmental compliance alignment, and measuring against best practices for water usage, waste reduction, energy efficiency, soil conservation, and air quality.The implementation of Covia’s Operations Management System allows the facilitation and monitoring of improvements regarding operational efficiency, safety, and environmental stewardship.As one of the first sites to implement Covia’s formal Environmental Management System, the Ahuazotepec facility regularly monitors key environmental indicators, evaluates opportunities, and actively manages risks.The site holds an annual community meeting, inviting neighbors, local businesses, political leaders, and regulatory officials to discuss environmental and biodiversity initiatives as part of a shared vision for a vibrant community.

Learn more about Covia’s Goals That Inspire: Environmental Stewardship today.

Meet Kristopher Charles, our Product Owner Lead based in Toledo, Ohio! Kris is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of our Salute Affinity Group, which is a community of Owens Corning employees focused on accelerating the inclusion and recognition of our current and former military members. When Kris is not supporting his fellow Veterans, you can catch him spending quality time with his family riding bikes or enjoying playing video games with his kids. Follow along as Kris takes us through a typical day in his life! From everyone at Owens Corning, we thank you, Kris, and all of our Veterans for your service.

The demand for transparency and accountability regarding environmental impact has never been louder. Stakeholders, regulators, and consumers are all calling for more insight into business operations, prompting organizations to turn to voluntary reporting frameworks to proactively share their sustainability initiatives.

But what exactly are these frameworks, and why do they matter?

Understanding Voluntary Reporting Frameworks

A voluntary reporting framework offers businesses a structured way to disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, beyond what is strictly required by law. Unlike mandatory regulations, voluntary frameworks give companies the flexibility to choose how they report their efforts. 

For companies with operations across borders, frameworks like the Carbon Disclosure Project and Ecovadis offer tools to standardize and showcase their sustainability progress. These platforms have become essential resources for global brands, helping them communicate their impact to diverse stakeholders and actively support global sustainability goals.

Overview of CDP and Ecovadis

Each of these frameworks offer distinct approaches to sustainability assessment, catering to various aspects of environmental and social impact.

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

CDP focuses primarily on environmental transparency, offering companies a robust framework to disclose their impact on critical areas like climate change, water security, and supply chain sustainability. With CDP, businesses can report on how they manage carbon emissions, conserve water resources, and engage suppliers in their sustainability practices. This data is then scored to reflect an organization’s progress in addressing these issues, providing a snapshot that’s useful for both investors and regulatory bodies. 

Given the European Union’s increasing emphasis on environmental impact, CDP reporting aligns well with the EU’s climate objectives, positioning it as a vital tool for companies looking to support global sustainability benchmarks. For U.S. companies with global ambitions, participation in CDP can serve as a strategic step toward meeting international standards and aligning with investor expectations.

Ecovadis 

This framework takes a broader approach, assessing companies across a range of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ESG criteria. Ecovadis evaluates areas such as labor practices, ethics, and sustainable procurement alongside environmental performance, offering a comprehensive assessment of corporate responsibility. 

Ecovadis appeals to businesses seeking to present a holistic image of their ethical and sustainable practices. With a strong presence in Europe, Ecovadis has become a trusted source for many EU-based organizations, while its growing influence in the U.S. market makes it an equally relevant choice for North American companies aiming to showcase their ESG credentials globally.

Why Voluntary Reporting is Essential in a Global Context

Voluntary frameworks offer companies a proactive way to align with evolving regulations, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which is broadening ESG disclosure requirements. Using reporting frameworks like CDP and Ecovadis helps businesses prepare for compliance before it becomes mandatory, easing the transition to future regulations.

These frameworks also support global sustainability goals: CDP aligns with the Paris Agreement by helping companies track and reduce emissions, while Ecovadis addresses broader sustainability issues, including labor and sourcing practices, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

For multinational organizations, voluntary reporting creates a consistent structure across regions, helping them navigate varying regulations and demonstrate commitment to sustainable practices, accountability, and leadership across global markets.

Comparing CDP and Ecovadis: Choosing the Right Fit

Both CDP and Ecovadis offer valuable tools but cater to different aspects of ESG performance. Here’s a closer look at each.

CDP

Focus: Primarily on environmental metrics, such as climate change, water security, and supply chain impact.Best suited for: Industries with significant environmental footprints, like manufacturing, energy, and transportation.Benefits: Ideal for companies with ambitious carbon reduction goals, as CDP provides a structured way to track and publicly disclose greenhouse gas emissions.Geographic relevance: CDP’s alignment with EU environmental targets makes it especially beneficial for companies with European operations or those aiming to meet EU regulatory standards.

Ecovadis

Focus: A broad assessment of ESG factors alongside CSR practices.Best suited for: Companies that prioritize a range of ESG criteria, such as sustainable procurement, labor practices, and ethical operations.Industries: Often a strong choice for retail and consumer goods sectors, where a well-rounded approach to sustainability is key for brand reputation and stakeholder trust.Geographic relevance: With a strong foothold in Europe and growing relevance in the U.S., Ecovadis supports companies aiming to showcase a comprehensive ESG commitment across diverse markets.

Selecting a framework—or combination—that best aligns with your sustainability goals, industry, and geographic reach, can ensure your reporting efforts are impactful, transparent, and supportive of global accountability standards.

Empowering Businesses with Voluntary Reporting

As global demands for transparency and accountability grow, voluntary reporting frameworks like CDP and Ecovadis offer a powerful way for companies to move beyond basic compliance and truly drive impactful sustainability efforts.

Our Associate in Australia, Peter J. Ramsay and Associates, went through the Ecovadis certification because one of their major clients was requesting it for all their suppliers. The benefit to PJRA was that they critically reviewed their sustainability performance. The end result was benchmarking by Ecovadis as performing at the gold level of sustainability which is the highest and rates them in the top 5 %.

In Spain, for our Associate MediTerra, the process of obtaining Ecovadis certification was a transformative and enriching experience. Initially, the process started as a requirement to be able to collaborate with an important global technology client. However, as they got deeper into the assessment, they realized that it was an invaluable opportunity to reflect on their own sustainability processes and practices.

“Reviewing our internal aspects allowed us to identify areas for improvement and strengthen our commitment to the environment and social responsibility. We are proud to have achieved the silver medal in this certification, which reflects our effort and dedication in this area. But we are not stopping here; we are motivated to keep moving forward and working on internal improvements that will allow us to aspire to the gold medal in the future. This journey has not only benefited our company, but has also strengthened our organizational culture, encouraging an environment where sustainability is a priority. We are excited for what is to come and committed to continue making MediTerra an example of best practices in sustainability,” Nila Nielsen, Founder & Director of MediTerra.

What also makes this process unique and transformational is the support seen across Inogen Alliance Associates where in some cases smaller companies may not have as much experience yet, so our more mature or larger companies have guided and mentored those with less experience.

Now is the time for companies to embrace voluntary reporting as a core element of their ESG strategies. Whether aiming to reduce carbon emissions, improve supply chain resilience, or enhance corporate social responsibility, these frameworks provide a pathway to meaningful, measurable change.

Learn about Global Sustainability Reporting services offered by Inogen Alliance Associates

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens 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 here and follow us on LinkedIn.

Originally published by TriplePundit

 By Erin Bakst

Imagine the power of harnessing every employee’s creativity and brainpower to drive your company’s success. At Indigo, we’ve found that one of the most effective ways to make work meaningful — and to stay at the cutting edge of our industry — is by giving everyone the opportunity to innovate. This means providing employees with the space and support to contribute to the company’s mission, even outside the bounds of their “official” roles.

You’ve probably heard of hackathons, which, after their humble beginnings in the tech sector in the late 1990s, have grown into a widespread phenomenon that now transcends industries. At Indigo, hackathons are an important and enduring part of our culture. They are designed to foster collaboration, creativity and professional growth. Each year, for one day (and sometimes a night), employees from all departments come together to “hack” on projects that can directly impact the business. The ideas they generate can offer valuable insights into our company’s strategic direction and inspire new investments in our future.

The beauty of a hackathon lies in the diversity of ideas and the freedom to experiment. It’s an event where an engineer might team up with a marketer and a data analyst to solve a problem, drawing on each other’s skill sets and unique experiences. Anyone at Indigo can participate, which encourages collaboration across departments. Together, people create solutions that could have a real impact on our mission and our customers — whether that’s a prototype, a productivity tool or a new way to tackle a complex problem.

Innovating for real-world impact

The true goal of these hackathons goes beyond generating ideas and solving problems. By working on projects they’re passionate about, employees develop new skills and learn to think creatively. Their projects are reviewed by a team of Indigo’s senior leaders, who vote for their favorites across categories such as “Instant Gratification” (for the quick wins) and “Customer First” (for solving a customer need), as well as more distinctive categories like “Engineer’s Best Friend” and “One Indigo.” These awards encourage both fun and focus, rewarding the projects that demonstrate the greatest promise for Indigo and our customers.

Some ideas may end up on the back burner or be tossed out altogether, but others lead to substantial change. A standout example is Project Lightning, which won several awards in 2023. This project aimed to significantly reduce the data-entry burden for farmers participating in our Carbon Program, all while preserving the scientific rigor needed to ensure data integrity. By rethinking and streamlining the data-entry process, Project Lightning achieved a remarkable outcome: an estimated 90 percent reduction in the time farmers spend submitting data — a real, measurable impact on their experience and ours.

Then there’s Credit Explorer, an interactive tool created in Indigo’s 2024 Hackathon to democratize access to carbon program metadata for internal users. Before the Hackathon voting was even complete, the tool had already been launched and put to use. Credit Explorer basically became the prototype for a reimagined Carbon Calculator — making our carbon program outcomes more explainable and predictable for our customers.

From hackathons to innovation sprints: Expanding the impact

Recognizing the positive results from our hackathons, Indigo decided to build on the concept and make it a part of our regular operations. In September 2024, we launched what we call Innovation Sprints — a year-round initiative that empowers employees to bring fresh ideas forward whenever inspiration strikes, not just during our annual Hackathon. This program encourages “bottom-up” thinking, allowing employees to propose ideas or tackle items from our roadmap backlog that they feel passionate about.

During an Innovation Sprint, team members dedicate focused time to dig into a new idea and explore its potential. The goal is to push the idea to a new level of maturity and determine if it’s worth pursuing further. Two leaders from different areas of the company champion the Innovation Sprint program, offering support and guidance while ensuring that promising ideas align with Indigo’s strategic goals. This structure allows us to prioritize impactful projects while maintaining accountability.

Balancing the day-to-day with big ideas

Of course, dedicating time to Hackathons and Innovation Sprints means that employees are pulled away from their “day jobs” for a period. However, we believe the potential return more than justifies the time invested. When people are given the opportunity to work on “what ifs,” we unlock a wealth of talent and creativity that often goes untapped in the normal course of business.

This approach not only helps generate innovative ideas, but also fosters a deeper connection to Indigo’s mission. Employees feel empowered and trusted, knowing their ideas can make a difference. By making innovation an integral part of our culture, we’re building a workforce that’s engaged, motivated and equipped to help us get in front of challenges.

In conclusion: A culture of innovation = more meaningful work

Fostering a culture of innovation not only advances business goals, but also makes work deeply meaningful for employees by connecting them directly to the company’s purpose. When employees can participate in problem-solving and contribute ideas, they feel valued and empowered. This can lead to a stronger sense of ownership and pride in the company’s success.

Programs like Hackathons and Innovation Sprints also break down silos and encourage collaboration across departments, unlocking potential in ways that traditional roles may not always allow. Employees gain new skills, see the tangible impact of their contributions, and experience the satisfaction of creating solutions that help the company grow. In an age where purpose and engagement are essential for employee retention, providing meaningful avenues for employees to influence the company’s future is both a business strategy and a way to foster a fulfilling work environment.

By inviting employees to bring fresh ideas and address real challenges, companies create a workplace where everyone can be part of something bigger than their day-to-day responsibilities — a place where innovation isn’t just a buzzword but a shared mission that brings out the best in people.

Discover how our employee-driven innovation fuels the sustainability solutions that can benefit you — click here to learn more.

This article series is sponsored by Indigo Ag. 

As 2024 comes to a close, companies across the U.S. who conduct business in California are gearing up for the climate-related financial risk disclosures required under Senate Bill 261 (SB 261), passed in 2023 and reinforced with the amendments provided in SB 219.  

This landmark legislation positions California as a leader in addressing the economic implications of climate change by mandating qualifying companies to publicly report their exposure to climate-related financial risks and the strategies they employ to mitigate them. With the new year on the horizon, understanding who must comply, when to act, and what data to collect is critical for ensuring compliance and aligning with California’s push for transparency and accountability in the face of environmental challenges. 

Who Must Comply?  

SB 261 applies to public and private companies, including financial institutions, that conduct business in California1 with gross revenues over $500 million in the preceding fiscal year. The law’s reach is expansive, covering not just companies directly involved in environmental sectors, but those across industries like banking and real estate, which might face significant financial risks from climate change. While insurance companies are considered to be exempt from SB 261, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners adopted a standard for insurance companies to also report their climate-related risks in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). For covered subsidiaries, if the parent company also qualifies, then the parent company disclosure satisfies the requirement for both.   

It is estimated that 10,000 companies will be affected by this regulation. This means that organizations operating in California need to start thinking about how climate change may affect their financial health. Failure to comply may result in financial penalties of up to $50,000 USD per year.  

When Does Compliance Begin?  

Companies need to act soon. The law requires the first climate-related risk disclosures be published on or before January 1, 2026, with biennial updates thereafter. This first deadline provides only a limited window to prepare, making early action critical for meeting the stringent requirements. Companies should begin developing a plan, identifying relevant internal stakeholders, identifying where external expert support will be needed, and building internal systems to assess and manage climate risks. 

What Data Must Be Collected?  

The heart of SB 261 lies in its demand for clear, actionable climate-related disclosures in alignment with the internationally recognized TCFD framework. As such, companies must report the following: 

1. Climate-Related Financial Risks 

Companies must identify material risks to their operations, assets, and value chains associated with climate change, and disclose the potential financial impacts of the identified risks, over the short-, medium- and long-term. These risks are divided into two categories: 

Physical Risks: Risks associated with events such as extreme weather, wildfires, floods, and droughts. Transition Risks: Economic risks stemming from the global societal shift to low-carbon technologies and regulatory environments. 

Companies will also need to perform scenario analysis to determine how risks and impacts are expected to develop under different future climate states. The scenario analysis should include a low carbon scenario, such as a 2° Celsius or lower warming trajectory.  

2. Governance

Companies must describe the role of their board of directors and senior management in overseeing climate-related risks and opportunities. This includes outlining how these risks are identified, assessed, and managed at various levels of the organization. 

3. Risk Management and Adaptation 

Companies need to demonstrate how climate-related risks are addressed in broader business planning and strategy. This may include strategies like transitioning to renewable energy sources, reinforcing supply chain resilience, and adopting energy-efficient technologies. 

4. Metrics and Targets 

Companies must disclose the key metrics used to measure and manage climate-related risks and opportunities and describe any relevant climate-related targets (e.g., emissions reduction targets).   

Important Note on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting:  

Senate Bill 253, passed along with SB 261 in October 2023, establishes reporting standards for GHG emissions. Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are part of the TCFD’s recommended disclosures, and entities may need to calculate them to fully understand their climate risks. Scope 3 emissions—those resulting from indirect activities such as supply chain operations—can be challenging to measure but are critical for comprehensive risk assessment.  

Senate Bill 253 will be covered in a future blog, so stay tuned! 

Why Does This Matter?  

As climate change accelerates, the financial risks tied to it become more significant. SB 261 seeks to ensure that businesses remain transparent and accountable for their actions, providing investors and stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions. The regulation also encourages businesses to take proactive steps in managing climate-related risks, helping mitigate potential long-term financial losses. By requiring companies to address these risks now, California is setting a nation-wide precedent for climate action that is inspiring similar measures in other states and regions such as Illinois, New York, and Washington. 

For businesses subject to SB 261, compliance will require careful planning, data gathering, and risk assessment. However, those who act now can not only meet the regulatory requirements but also position themselves as leaders in climate responsibility. 

Ready to get Started?  

Discover how Antea Group can assist you with comprehensive climate-related risk assessment and disclosure preparation. Learn more about our Climate-Related Risk Assessment services.  

 

FOOTNOTE: 

1 The State of California defines “doing business” if you meet any of the following: 

Engaging in any transaction for the purpose of financial gain within California;  Are organized or commercially domiciled in California; or  The company’s California sales, property, or payroll exceed certain thresholds.